When Animals Attack!
|
BEARS The one thing that each of the writers told me was that this band is “really fun”. I would also add that this band is actually pleasant-sounding, I mean these songs sounds like it’s from a mellow 60s. My favorite song on here is “Wait and See”, surprisingly very retro-sounding and I wish it would’ve continued on – only it sort of just ends in the middle of the song or something (at least that’s how it feels). A close second is the first track, “Please Don’t”, which grabbed me and made me pay attention. Both really great songs. If you like indiepop, you should definitely give this band a chance – I think you’ll find yourself humming along. Simple Machinery‘s been out since September 2, 2008. You can buy the album directly from them or the low-costing Tone Vendor. They promise a vinyl version of Simple Machinery will be “available soon”. Check them out live: 18 Oct 2008 St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, New York
|
BELA KAROLI The reason why Bela Karoli is on here is that their 2008’s Furnished Room features an odd bee’s behind on its cover. The band seems to be driven by singer/upright bass player, Julie Davis. She sounds like a passive singer, letting the music play around her vocals – yet her voice does drive the songs. My favorite song on this album is “Some Things That Fly There Be”, which I think the cover art was inspired by this song or vice versa. Check out that French-sounding accordion, that cool, cool, cool, vocals saying “some things that fly there be, birds, hours, the bumblebee: of these no elegy“. Yeah, I know, it sounds more like poetry than it sounds like a song! Furnished Room is out now on Helmet R00m Records and it looks like they are playing Halloween! That should be an amazing sight to see: 31 Oct 2008 Boulder Theater w/ Devotchka and Paper Bird Boulder, Colorado
|
|
MINIATURE TIGERS Charlie Brand, the singer, has a very comfortable, laid back, and non-threatening vocals – that helps when he’s singing these geeky love lyrics such as:
and
The band is gaining momentum, already on Rolling Stone’s “25 best bands on Myspace” and with this Tell It To the Volcano (released September 16th on Modern Art Records), they are planning on playing the famed-CMJ in New York. 13 Oct 2008 w/ Birdmonster @ Yucca Tap Phoenix, Arizona
15 Oct 2008 w/ Say Hi @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona 21 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York 24 Oct 2008 CMJ New York, New York 03 Nov 2008 @ Echoplex Los Angeles, California 06 Nov 2008 @ Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona PS, You can purchase their merchandise from them directly. Looking at the store, I did notice a very reasonly-priced limited edition of 1,000 copies (individually numbered-stamped) in an “Arigato-Pak, printed on a 150-year-old letterpress” – for, get this, only $10. That’s a bargain. |
AMY RAY I really love this album, there’s a nice mix of easy-southern comfort feel, but there are the occasional rock-type songs such as “Bus Bus” to make you take notice. And it feels honest. Songs like “Cold Shoulder” tells us it is, detailing about a straight girl that is secretly into other girls. My favorite song on the album is the love song, “She’s Got to Be”. I found out that this was Amy Ray’s experimenting with using her head voice: There’s also an underlying statement in her songs, that’s not blatant. Take for instance, “Who Sold the Gun”, which is an anti-gun song from the sounds of it. The last line is pretty powerful: “because we’re just as f*cked up, yeah“. I don’t want to read too much in “SLC Radio”, but I feel that this is a woman-rights/polygamy associated with Mormons and Salt Lake City. These songs reminds me of classic protest songs. Didn’t It Feel Kinder is out now on her own non-profit label, Daemon Records. Vinyl fans should want to check out the 180gm limited edition with new artwork. You can catch her on her upcoming fall tour: 19 Oct 2008 3rd & Lindsley Nashville, Tennessee
20 Oct 2008 Hi Tone Cafe Memphis, Tennessee 21 Oct 2008 Blueberry Hill St. Louis, Missouri 23 Oct 2008 The Slowdown Omaha, Nebraska 24 Oct 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, Minnesota 25 Oct 2008 The Maintainance Shop Ames 26 Oct 2008 High Noon Saloon Madison, Wisconsin 28 Oct 2008 High Dive Champaign, Illinois 29 Oct 2008 Metro Chicago, Illinois 31 Oct 2008 Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Cleveland, Ohio 01 Nov 2008 Mr Smalls Theater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 02 Nov 2008 Tralf Music Hall Buffalo, New York 04 Nov 2008 The Mod Club Toronto, Ontario 05 Nov 2008 Higher Ground Ballroom Burlington, Vermont 07 Nov 2008 Somerville Theater Somerville, Massachusetts 08 Nov 2008 Pearl Street Upstairs Northampton, Massachusetts 10 Nov 2008 Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut 12 Nov 2008 Bowery Ballroom New York, New York 13 Nov 2008 North Star Bar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 14 Nov 2008 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington DC 15 Nov 2008 Capital Ale House Richmond, Virginia 18 Nov 2008 The Jewish Mother Virginia Beach, Virginia 19 Nov 2008 Cat’s Cradle Carborro, North Carolina 21 Nov 2008 The Orange Peel Asheville, North Carolina 22 Nov 2008 The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, Georgia |
|
MERCURY REV I don’t have Snowflake Midnight to compare to, but from what I’ve heard on Strange Attractor, Attractor seems to be more electronic/ambient – basically background-type of music. The most interesting song on here (“Nocturne For Norwood”) uses samples from some guy talking. For some reason, I thought Mercury Rev had singers? This feels like it’s an album of background music that they lay down for audio to go on top of it, so it doesn’t feel at all complete. I guess I can’t complain because it is, after all, free. Regardless, they are getting some major buzz and press, selling out all their dates in Ireland. 30 Oct 2008 Electric Avenue – SOLD OUT Waterford, Ireland
31 Oct 2008 Cyprus Avenue – SOLD OUT Cork, Ireland 01 Nov 2008 Roisin Dubh – SOLD OUT Galway, Ireland 02 Nov 2008 Vicar St. Dublin, Ireland 04 Nov 2008 Mandela Hall Belfast, UK 05 Nov 2008 Academy Manchester, UK 06 Nov 2008 Academy Leeds, UK 07 Nov 2008 Academy Birmingham, UK 09 Nov 2008 Academy Newcastle, UK 11 Nov 2008 Corn Exchange Brighton, UK 12 Nov 2008 Academy Bristol, UK 13 Nov 2008 Shepherds Bush Empire London, UK 14 Nov 2008 Academy Oxford, UK 16 Nov 2008 Den Atelier Luxembourg, Luxembourg 17 Nov 2008 Luxor Koln, Germany 18 Nov 2008 Train Aarhus, Denmark 19 Nov 2008 Vega Copenhagen, Denmark 21 Nov 2008 Lido Berlin, Germany 22 Nov 2008 Paradiso Amsterdam, Netherlands 24 Nov 2008 Ancienne Belgique Brussels, Belgium 25 Nov 2008 Elysee Montmartre Paris, France 26 Nov 2008 La Vapeur Dijon, France 27 Nov 2008 Espacio Movistar Barcelona, Spain 28 Nov 2008 Joy Madrid, Spain 29 Nov 2008 Aula Magna Lisbon, Portugal 30 Nov 2008 Art Cafe Muza Sosnowiec, Poland 05 Dec 2008 Paradise Boston, MA, Massachusetts 06 Dec 2008 Trocadero Philadelphia, PA 07 Dec 2008 Highline Ballroom New York, NY, New York 08 Dec 2008 Cabaret Du Musee Juste Pour Rire Montreal, QC, Quebec 09 Dec 2008 Opera House Toronto, ON, Ontario 11 Dec 2008 Metro Chicago, IL, Illinois 12 Dec 2008 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN, Minnesota 14 Dec 2008 Fox Theater Boulder, CO, Colorado 16 Dec 2008 El Rey Los Angeles, CA, California 17 Dec 2008 The Independent San Francisco, CA, California PS, the cover to this album is creepy! Check out that cat on the bottom, starring back. |
SUPER XX MAN Once again, the fine people at Tender Loving Empire shows off their silk-screening awesomeness. I really dig these cover art, which kind of feels rubbery on touch. Super XX Man is actually one Scott Garred, who started his career in the 90s in the Austin-based indiepop band Silver Scooter. There’s elements of indiepop, but he’s also experimenting here with a variety of instruments and sound (including the ukulele!). Although it’s mostly a serious storytelling album, I did find that there are hints of humor (“little duckie you’re the one” line in “What Lies Beneath”). Check out my favorite song here, “There’ll Be Diamonds”, the title track, demonstrating said variety of instruments (can you hear a xylophone?) Good news is that they’ll be setting on an upcoming tour, including that crazy CMJ everyone is talking about: 22 Oct 2008 St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub Alexandria, Virginia
23 Oct 2008 OS Art House – Fanatic Showcase New York 24 Oct 2008 Knitting Factory – PDX Showcase New Yok 24 Oct 2008 Alphabet Lounge CMJ Showcase New York 29 Oct 2008 White Eagle Portland 30 Oct 2008 Sam Bonds Garage Eugene 31 Oct 2008 Make Out Room San Francisco 01 Nov 2008 UC Davis The Old Firehouse Davis 23 Nov 2008 Someday Lounge Portland PS, the artwork for this album is by Brian Oaster. |
)