The title track is first. This is fun for alt-country and folk fans. Mostly male vocals, but the female backing vocals are no accident. There’s not much that sets these guys apart, but it’s not hard to listen to either. As my boss says, not everyone has to be an innovator.
“Beat, Beat, My Heart” threatens to use more commas than I do, which is a big challenge. This one does balance the singing duties quite well. “As a Matter of Fact” is above average and worth a listen.
“AOK” channels Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac. There’s nothing that makes you cringe when you listen to this record, but nothing makes me want to get off my ass, either.
Archive for July 2011
Vandaveer “Dig Down Deep”
July 17, 2011Bethesda “Dreamtiger & Other Tails”
July 17, 2011It’s an EP. “A Song for the Peasant Farmer” is first and features female falsettos. “Oh, How We Crane Our Throats!” has a slight country tinge to it. “Homage” is a ballad and, apparently, an ode to Mom. “This Rock” is midtempo, which is as fast as it gets with Bethesda. They’re not here to rock, despite the name, instead being happy with emotional indie tunes. The whole band is set up to focus on lead singer Shanna Delaney, who is merely adequate as a singer. But what makes “This Rock” work are the backing vocals. Delaney needs to be the lead singer, but the band needs to perform more as a unit, rather than a singer with a backing band. They figured it out on this one. “Dreamtiger” is the last track and also holds up fairly well. I have no idea what Bethesda is interested in accomplishing as a band, but if they focus on the faster stuff, they could make some noise with their noise.
Medals “Dancing in Ceremony”
July 17, 2011I took this one because the band has someone Japanese in it, and my grandma is Japanese. As far as the music goes, it’s a little trippy and a little noisy. “Lonestars” is the first track and is synth-heavy and sounds better with headphones.
I’d like Modern Mark to play “The Modern.” I think it would work on his show. Although slightly repetitive, it has a good melody. “Dickens” has synths similar to You Say Party We Say Die’s “Laura Palmer’s Prom.” The vocals make me think of the Cult. It’s a pretty good combination.
The aptly titled “Bossanueva” is slightly off-key but still a good show of Medals’ versatility. The last track is “Puzzle,” and it is good for fans of progressive rock and newer Yeah Yeah Yeahs (although with a dude singing). All in all, it’s a vaguely modern alternative rock band.
Boat “Dress Like Your Idols”
July 17, 2011I saw Boat play at the Rickshaw Stop when they opened for All Girl Summer Fun Band, a band that can ignore the hell out of me but still have my unconditional love. Boat sold handmade baseball cards, proof that they were about the same age as me as well as a sign that they were just as goofy as me. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for them because of this.
So here is Dress Like Your Idols. The lead singer is kind of like Jimmy Pop from Bloodhound Gang, but the difference is that the songs aren’t all about him. Really, this is just another power pop band with good taste in hobbies. So give “Bite My Lips” a listen, but don’t expect funny lyrics. He only sounds like Jimmy Pop.
It’s time to listen to “Forever in Armitron.” It’s very straightforward, upbeat, driving pop rock. It should get its own All-Star card or maybe an autographed insert card with a jersey swatch.
“Landlocked” is a clever song title when your band name is “Boat.” The song itself is just OK. When Boat returns to the Bay Area, I will do the best I can to see them, even without the AGSFB crutch that caused me to see them the first time.
La Sera “La Sera”
July 17, 2011These songs are all really short. It’s like someone made a CliffsNotes (that’s how they spell it now — look it up) version of a Cocteau Twins record. This is like those 100-calorie packs of Oreos you can buy that cost more than a whole box of Oreos but apparently help you when you can’t make your own decisions about what you want to eat.
“Beating Heart” is the first track and a pretty good way to understand what La Sera can bear. “You’re Going to Cry” is a nice track, but the bridge is mixed a little louder than one would expect.
Fans of the Softies and twee in general will melt into the floor when they hear “I Promise You.” It’s a good thing a pen isn’t nearby, because I’d sign my life away right now. “Hold” is also similar in style. Good stuff. Jen Sbragia would be proud.
“Devils Hearts Grow Gold” has a rhythm similar to a lot of Everclear songs, although of course the lyrics are completely different. But the bassline is the same as “I Will Write You a New Song,” er, I mean, “I Will Buy You a New Life.”
This record is a lot of fun, and I hope they come to the South Bay soon, headlining a Grand Fanali Presents bill at Nickel City.
Rad Cloud “Super Kung Fu”
July 17, 2011This is not Kung Fu USA, another San Francisco band. They’re fairly similar, though, with the key difference in garage rock sound being that there is a bit of surf rock thrown in here. “She Writes Her Letters” sounds like Run for Cover Lovers if the organ were synths instead. This one is pretty amazing, especially the chorus.
“The Spooky Movie” is a bit of a pop culture reach, but it’s fun the same way an episode of Family Guy is. “California Totally Rad” also sounds like a Run for Cover Lovers number. This one is my favorite.
This record is a rad excuse to play local music. They are probably fun live and sell witty T-shirts as well.
Lykke Li “Wounded Rhymes”
July 17, 2011Like a steal in the NFL Draft, this record fell to me, and unfortunately I’m just now retrieving it from the black hole known as “the stack of stuff to review.” Sorry, KSCU. You shouldn’t have let it come to this.
Lykke Li? Great stuff? Record of the year? Yes, yes, and yes. It’s the same story on her second album, Wounded Rhymes, as it was on Youth Novels. The similarly named “Youth Knows No Pain” leads off and is freakin’ awesome.
That everything old is new again is super action cool. “Love Out of Lust” has hints of Kate Bush, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Book of Love throughout. It’s like drinking a rose wine. “Get Some” makes me want to. I bet this one is a single. It’s fine, but there’s too much going on. It sounds like if Gigi dropped the ’60s facade.
“Sadness Is a Blessing” slows it down and better have been played at proms everywhere. “Jerome” is another winner of a track. It makes me think of East Jerome in the Sims Online, even though I never lived there. This one is like a less-melodic version of Tilly and the Wall, replete with what sounds a bit like tap-dancing percussion.
Abbe May “Mammalian Location”
July 17, 2011You know, “Abbe” is usually the name that doesn’t have an “e” at the end of it, while “May” can. Maybe her real name is “Abby Mae.” That seems as if it can be Catholic, or maybe even Jesuit, which works really well for SCU, goddammit.
Uh, it’s a single with a remix and a B-side. The first track is the single. The second is the remix. Both are standard rock ‘n’ roll tracks, although the remix has a little bit of synth — but not necessarily dance-based percussion.
The B-side is “Disney on Acid.” And yeah, it has that psychedelic guitar thing going on.
Joel’s Hit Show, Episode 116, 13 July 2011 Playlist
July 13, 2011Acid House Kings, Waterfall
The Coathangers, Tabbacco Rd.
Marissa Nadler, Baby I Will Leave You in the Morning
Cults, Abducted
Seapony, Dreaming
Esben and the Witch, Light Streams
Raveonettes, Veronica Fever
Emilie Mover, Born in the Wrong Time
Scumbag Philosopher, Tickbox Exercise
Emilie Mover, Breakup Medley (Pain & Regret)
Amor de Dias, Foxes’ Song
Bodies of Water, One Hand Loves the Other
Radical Dads, Alondra Rainbow Under Attack
Sarah Jaffe, Black Hoax Lie
Sleeper Agent, Scream Out
Agnes Obel, Riverside
Lemuria, Wise People
Bjork Guomundsdottir & Trio Guomundar Ingolfssonar, Kata Rokkar
Bitesize, Cold Turkey
Black Box Recorder, Sex Life
Blake Babies, Waiting for Heaven
Blondie, Mother
Boyskout, Imaginary
Boyracer, A Friend for Life
Misty Boyce, How Long
Bosque Brown, This Town
Basia Bulat, Sugar and Spice
Brooke Waggoner, Go Easy Little Doves, I’ll Be Fine
Kate Bush, Mrs. Bartolozzi
The Butchies, Huh Huh Hear
Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career
Street Chant – Less Chat
Pussy”cat” Warmers – I Had a Dream
Police Teeth – Send More Cops
Death Set – We Are Going Anywhere Man
Meshuganas – Dropout Girl
Pour Habit – Heads of State
Fung Wah Freakout – Frankie
Touch My Rash – Sexless Existence
Uglies – Goner
Texas Thieves – Abandoned Cars
Simple Jack – Oren
Network – Joe Robot
NoFX – Franco Unamerican
Unseen – Dead Weight Falls
The Oops – On The Lift
The Clutters – I Wanna Be Known
Take Warning – Spiral Staircase
Turbonegro – Do You Do You Dig Dustruction
The Spits – Nuclear Bomb
Amazombies – Riot in Cell Block #9
The Shivering – Blue
Undertones – Teenage Kicks
Broken Bottles – Generation USA
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