Mitten: now more than Ralph Wiggum’s favorite swear. This is an EP, by the way. It has a lot of late ’80s synth style to it, as well as some 8-bit sounds on the side. Fans of Ming & Ping will appreciate what’s done here.
“All That I’ve Got” makes me feel cooler than today’s kids, because I understand why this sound exists. I’ve heard something like “Cavalcade” before, but I can’t place it. Now today’s kids feel cooler than me, because their memory still works.
A more indie sound gets “742” off to a different start. Real guitar and no synths showcase the band’s diversity, I guess. Really, that tells me this is the modern-day Big Audio Dynamite.
The two styles collide well on “Similar Sense.” The only problem with that is now it sounds like 30 other bands out right now. Maybe they should just be dorks and play music inspired by days gone by.
“Solitary Moves” is fine but pales in comparison to the other tracks. The last song is “You’re the Runner.” It’s another throwaway synthy modern indie effort. Again, nothing wrong with it, but I prefer it when they embrace their inner Roland, or is it Moog?
Archive for October 2011
Mitten “See You Bye”
October 9, 2011Sleep Over “Forever”
October 9, 2011Rate this as ethereal music with a woman singing, similar to Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance. “Romantic Streams” has an ’80s intro, in the Atlantic Starr style. Then the vocals start, and it’s a blanket of velvety goodness. Your uncle likes this sound.
I’ve never found a good replacement for Dot Allison’s efforts in One Dove. Sleep Over don’t fill the void, either, but tracks such as “The Heavens Turn by Themselves” do help mend the heart. I could listen to this forever.
I thought I knew all there was to know about “Crying Game,” but iTunes wants me to think it is one word with one “g.” The song itself is an instrumental but sounds like a variation of a remix of Electronic’s “Feel Every Beat.”
I like stickers, and I like “Stickers.” The vocals are extra haunting here. This is another winner on this record. The last track is “Don’t Poison Everything.” It’s got more of a psychedelic feel, trip-hop if you well. The vocals border on Siouxsie as well.
Definitely a record designed for me, it will be one of my favorites for album of the year.
Primus “Green Naugahyde”
October 9, 2011We can skip the Primus pretense and just go to the songs, right?
“Hennepin Crawler” has the distinctive smart-ass guitar sound that only Primus can offer. Vocals are the same. This is exactly what fans have been waiting for. Slightly less weird, and slightly more funky, is “Tragedy’s a’Comin’.” The bridge is a lot of fun on this one.
“Jilly’s on Smack” is unsurprisingly trippier. Although it meanders for nearly seven minutes, you never feel bored. I always thought the Grateful Dead would eventually go in this direction, if only they weren’t so old.
You almost feel set up when you see a song titled “Moron TV.” The bar ends up set a little high, but it’s still a good song even if it doesn’t meet the lofty expectations. And if you’re a reject in high school with funny hair who draws on his arm with a pencil to pass the time, you’ll be quite proud to embrace this as your anthem.
I like “Extinction Burst” because it makes a reference to Takeru Kobayashi. That’s all it takes for me.
You get what you want on this record if you want to get something from this record. Primus continues to suck, 20 years later.
Caitlin Rose “Own Side Now”
October 9, 2011With a name like Caitlin Rose, I was expecting pop sensibility from an ironically named singer. Nope. This country-sounding folked-up name represents a country-folk singer. Huh.
The tracks are a little long for this type, but “Learnin’ to Ride” defeats this as the four-plus minutes fly by. Or perhaps mosey by on a horse, given the song title.
“For the Rabbits” is in the Joanna Newsom/Edith Frost vein. This is almost good enough to be in an iPhone commercial. “New York” has a more traditional sound and is good for Neko Case fans, as is “Things Change,” especially for those who like The Virginian.
The harmonizing in “Sinful Wishing Well” make this one folking fun. All in all, this record delivers what it promises once you actually listen to it.
Big Harp “White Hat”
October 9, 2011Saddle Creek has definitely evolved to the point that you know what a band will sound like, just by knowing it is on that label. In that context, Big Harp don’t surprise much at all. In this case the band is a husband and wife. Chris Senseney does the singing, including on lead-off track “Nadine,” whose song title probably doesn’t make Stefanie Drootin-Senseney jealous.
“Goodbye Crazy City” has a country tinge to it. Pure Saddle Creek. Also, BTW, Saddle Creek pioneer Rilo Kiley bassist Pierre de Reeder did the recording and mixing on this record. It’s a small world, just like in Silicon Valley.
Velvet Underground fans will appreciate “All Bets Are Off.” A familiar melody embraces “Here’s Hoping.” It is some sort of homage to ’50s slow dances, perhaps. The accompaniment is a little too hyper to do the job well.
There’s a bit of soul in “Out in the Field.” They done well with this one.
Don’t expect a lot of male-female harmonies on this one, but can you imagine the on-stage banter when there’s infidelity afoot? See these guys live.
Joel’s Hit Show, Episode 128, 5 October 2011 Playlist
October 5, 2011Jolie Holland, Gold and Yellow
Maria Taylor, Idle Mind
Hildur Victoria, Palisades
Sleeping in the Aviary, You and Me, Ghost
The Hindi Guns, She’s All Right
Hissyfits, Tired
St. Vincent, Cruel
Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions, On the Low
Feist, How Come You Never Go There
Jesca Hoop, Bed Across the Sea
Horrorpops, Bring It On!
Diva, Glow Worm
The Hot Toddies, Wet Dream
Hot Lava, Mummy Beach
Family of the Year, 6 AM
Frida Hyvonen, Djuna!
Lida Husik, Fly Stereophonic
HTRK, Synthetik
The Icicles, New Haircolor
Ida, So Worn Out
The Big Scary, Spring
Imperial Teen, City Song
Imaginary Cities, Cherry Blossom Tree
Radiation City, Salsaness
Ida Maria, Oh My God
Lia Ices, Love Is Won
Caroline Smith & the Good Night Sleeps, Strong Shoulders
Imogen Heap, First Train Home
Immaculate Machine, Only Love You for Your Car
Exitmusic, The Hours
Is/Is, So Long
Innocent Bandits, Madman’s Cackle
San Cisco, Golden Revolver
I Was a King, Someone Is Waiting
The Innocence Mission, Bright as Yellow
Release the Sunbird, Come Back to Us
Ivy, Digging Your Scene
Internal/External, Various Transmission
Imelda May, Pulling the Rug
Sarah Jaffe, Two Intangibles Cant Be Had/Working for a Nuclear Free City Remix
Jared Mees and the Grown Children, Strong Black Coffee
Shugo Tokumaru, Video Killed the Radio Star
Jenny and Johnny, Big Wave
J. Perdiod and Nneka, Spread Love
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sinner
Sleeping in the Aviary “You and Me, Ghost”
October 2, 2011How am I not supposed to think of these guys as a Weezer ripoff? Maybe that’s what they want, though. You can tell from the whimsical nature of the music and lyrics that the band takes itself a little less seriously than it could. The loose attitude removes whatever pretense remains with these goofballs.
The title track, “Are You Afraid of Being Poor?” and “Pathetic Housewife Remembering Her First Martini” are the standout tracks here. Fun times with falsettos and a mix-and-match of singing and ’60s mod-group harmony more complex than the New England Patriots offense dominate throughout.
Alessi’s Ark “Time Travel”
October 2, 2011We could just write this band’s review as “two-minute versions of Mazzy Star songs” and be done with it, but what fun would that be? There’s not much else to say, though. The best songs are “Time Travel” and “Stalemate,” but they’re all good. “Stalemate” in particular has thought-provoking lyrics. You can’t go wrong, so don’t worry about it.
Sentinel “For Days Deep”
October 2, 2011This band is from Oakland. How is it that I’d never heard of them? Clearly this is an oversight on my part. In short, this act follows the footsteps of other local greats Minipop and Julie Plug. It’s female-fronted indie-pop all the way on “Kinda Light Up.” This instantly is my new favorite record.
“Locator” located my heart and seized it. But the best track on here is “Whaley.” The backing vocals do what parsley never could: make an entree taste better. Oh yes.
When you name the last track “Sunset,” it makes you wonder whether “Kinda Light Up” is a reference to the morning overcast Oakland often gets. I should ask them. At any rate, a good record. Let’s hear more.
Emblems “Our Bare Bones”
October 2, 2011It’s an EP. “Summer Air” has lots of whistling in it. This song has a completely different meaning once you see they are from Chicago. Is the wind blowing out? We need to know!
“Goosebumps” isn’t about the children’s book series. It’s a phenomenal indie rock song, though. It just doesn’t get much better than this. “Morning Breath” has well-orchestrated strings.
Sometimes the noise doesn’t turn into a cohesive song. “To Your Door” unfortunately has this problem. But the last track quickly puts this song’s memory in the dust. “Coyotes” is frank when it takes the viola and says, “Viola!”
Some good stuff on here. With time they should be able to learn and make a full length with all strong tracks.
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