A Fine Mess
Archive for May, 2009
You are a lightning bolt. You are a wonder.
May 28th
Sorry if things seem a bit dead around here, but I’m not feeling very well at the moment. Rae Spoon’s music and lyrics are providing some comfort though, which I will share:
You are a lightening bolt. You are a wonder.
You are a warning shot before all the others.
Withstanding the pressure of words.
Waving a white flag in a forest of birch.
If you are worn down by being in public.
Remember you are beautiful even in judgement.
~ Rae Spoon – “Bones In A Museum” ~
Scarlett Johansson and Pete Yorn “Break Up”
May 25th
Scarlett Johansson isn’t letting the bad reviews and poor sales of her debut album, Anywhere I Lay My Head (2008), discourage her from continuing to pursue a music career. The actress has stated that she’d like to record more original material as well as covers in the future. Now however, an album that predates her debut is being released.
Recorded in 2006, Break Up is a duets collaboration with Pete Yorn and will be out this September 8 via ATCO/Rhino.
Many might shake their heads at this and wonder why its being released considering Scarlett’s ill-received rendezvous with covering Tom Waits, but I’m quite thrilled by this news. In contrast to what seemed to be the majority of music bloggers, I actually liked Anywhere I Lay My Head, and the first single of Break Up sounds really promising. You can listen to it at the official website and MySpace, where you also can pre-order the album.
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Tour Dates
May 25th
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is heading out on a US summer tour in support of the albums Vs. Children (which, as seen above, has one of the prettiest covers so far this year) and Advance Base Battery Life, a collection of 7-inch split-singles and compilation tracks recorded between 2004-07:
05/28/09 – Chicago, IL – The Hideout >
06/25/09 – Bloomington, IN – Russian Recording
06/26/09 – Columbus, OH – Cafe Bourbon Street
06/27/09 – Louisville, KY – Skull Alley
06/28/09 – Nashville, TN – The End
06/29/09 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light
06/30/09 – Atlanta, GA – 529 (529 Flat Shoals Ave) /+
07/01/09 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 /+
07/02/09 - Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Chapel /+
07/03/09 - Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel /+ &
07/05/09 – Keane, NH – EF Lane Hotel /+
07/06/09 – Cambridge, MA – TT The Bear’s /+
07/07/09 - Montreal, QC – Il Motore /+
07/08/09 – Toronto, ON – The Boat /+ *
07/09/09 - Grand Rapids, MI – DAAC /+
07/10/09 – Chicago, IL – The Hideout /+
07/11/09 – St Paul, MN – Turf Club /+
07/12/09 – Fargo, ND – The Aquarium /+
07/14/09 - Seattle, WA – Healthy Times Fun Club /+ ^
07/15/09 – Portland, OR – The Artistery /+
07/16/09 - Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret /+ #
07/17,18,19/09 – Anacortes, WA – What The Heck Fest 2009
07/21/09 - San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill %
07/22/09 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Steynberg Gallery %
07/23/09 - Los Angeles, CA – The Echo %
07/24/09 - San Diego,CA – The Casbah%
07/25/09 - Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space %
07/26/09 - Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture %
07/28/09 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive %
07/30/09 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
07/31/09 – Iowa City, IA – Public Space One
06/25/09 – Bloomington, IN – Russian Recording
06/26/09 – Columbus, OH – Cafe Bourbon Street
06/27/09 – Louisville, KY – Skull Alley
06/28/09 – Nashville, TN – The End
06/29/09 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light
06/30/09 – Atlanta, GA – 529 (529 Flat Shoals Ave) /+
07/01/09 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 /+
07/02/09 - Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Chapel /+
07/03/09 - Brooklyn, NY – Market Hotel /+ &
07/05/09 – Keane, NH – EF Lane Hotel /+
07/06/09 – Cambridge, MA – TT The Bear’s /+
07/07/09 - Montreal, QC – Il Motore /+
07/08/09 – Toronto, ON – The Boat /+ *
07/09/09 - Grand Rapids, MI – DAAC /+
07/10/09 – Chicago, IL – The Hideout /+
07/11/09 – St Paul, MN – Turf Club /+
07/12/09 – Fargo, ND – The Aquarium /+
07/14/09 - Seattle, WA – Healthy Times Fun Club /+ ^
07/15/09 – Portland, OR – The Artistery /+
07/16/09 - Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret /+ #
07/17,18,19/09 – Anacortes, WA – What The Heck Fest 2009
07/21/09 - San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill %
07/22/09 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Steynberg Gallery %
07/23/09 - Los Angeles, CA – The Echo %
07/24/09 - San Diego,CA – The Casbah%
07/25/09 - Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space %
07/26/09 - Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture %
07/28/09 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive %
07/30/09 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
07/31/09 – Iowa City, IA – Public Space One
> w/ Lineland & Animal Hospital
/+ w/ Cryptacize
& w/ Katie Eastburn
* w/ Mantler
^ w/ Ribbons
# w/ No Kids
% w/ Concern
Crime Waves
May 24th
~ New Roman Times – “Smoke In Your Disguise” ~
Great opening track to a great album, New Roman Times’ latest On The Sleeve. Don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone sing the words “you’re breaking my heart” so seductive.
~ Cats On Fire – “Fabric” ~
A delightful little song, with a wistful melody and a sweet sadness about it. Sounds very much like The Smiths meets with The Go-Betweens.
~ Dreamdate – “Go Fish” ~
Really cute lo fi-tune, with male/female vocals interacting the quirky lyrics between each other. From the album Patience.
~ Clara Luzia feat. E. McGlynn – “Faces” ~
Simple and intense at once with nearly spoken verses and a highlighting chorus, a sparse use of instruments with added strings towards the end, creating something very beautiful.
~ The Magnetic Fields – “The Book Of Love” ~
A classic.
Parlovr
May 19th
I can’t be the only one who instinctively thinks of Ivan Pavlov and his dogs when seeing Montreal rockers Parlovr’s name. Not that that’s important, but the former psychology student in me had to mention it (and Parlovr are probably pretty likely to induce drooling amongst indie-nerd like myself).
This self-described sloppy pop band have been causing quite a stir lately, being compared to bands like Animal Collective, Talking Heads, The Pixies and Wolf Parade. Formed in 2006 by Louis David Jackson (vocals, guitars) and Alex Cooper (vocals, keyboards, guitars) , the band became complete with the addition of Jeremy MacCuish on drums the following year.
At the end of 2008 Parlovr independently released their self-titled debut, which is jam packed with energetic, danceable indie pop highlighted by screaming and falsetto vocals, sharp hooks and quirky lyrics. While some songs tend to stand out a bit more than others (“Hiccup!”, “Archy & Mehitable”, “On The Phone”, “Pen To The Paper”, “Sleeping Horses”) each still has its own irresistible charm.
Besides recording an album, the band has also done some extensive touring around Canada, which they will continue with during the coming summer. New material is also in the works, so if you’re on the look-out for the next big whimsical indie pop act, Parlovr could very well be it.
~ “Hiccup!” ~
Josh Reichmann Covers Bat For Lashes
May 18th
Another cover and this time it’s Josh Reichmann Oracle Band who has taken on the gorgeous song “Daniel”, originally by Bat For Lashes.
While it’s easy to argue that the original is perfect as it is (which it is), Reichmann’s stripped down folk version is good in its own right. This isn’t the first cover he does though, Reichmann has also recorded interpretations of songs by Deerhunter and Bill Callahan. So why so many covers?
“I’m aiming with these covers o showcase the songwriting that I think is strongest by these artists and reference there production but put my spin on them- which is to bring a raw strange life to there voices and re-contextualize or open up the lyrical themes to new dimensions. I only cover things that feel soulful or timeless, something I strive for in my music.”
Of course, it’s also a good way to get attention. Reichmann is releasing the “Daniel” mp3 in celebration of his debut album Strange Power being out now on Paper Bag Records.
~ “Daniel” ~
The Woodlands
May 17th
When you’re having a bad day (or as in my case – a bad week), it’s nice to have music such as The Woodlands to drown out outside world with. This husband-wife duo makes indie folk-pop so intimate you can feel it under your skin at times, almost to the point where it’s a bit eerie.
The intimacy of their music can most probably be explained by the fact that they wrote, recorded and produced the self-titled album themselves in the comforts of their Portland home.
It’s all very relaxed and simple: Hannah’s voice is as soft and gentle as the guitar she plays, while her husband Samuel helps to build the tender songs lyrically as well as instrumentally.
If you have a black little cloud over your head, I suggest you listen to the Woodlands. Even if the sky doesn’t clear up completely, you’re still armoured against the rain. Because their music offers comfort and beauty, which I think is what most of us need from time to time.
The Woodlands’ debut album can be purchased here.
~ “Can We Stay” ~
Cryptacize – “Blue Tears” Video
May 15th
A light post for this Friday: new video by Cryptacize called “Blue Tears”, from their second and latest album Mythomania. Good track, cool video!
Argon 40 – “Free Fallin’”
May 13th
An electropop cover of Tom Petty’s “Free Falling” will no doubt set off warning bells with many, including myself. But experimental project Argon 40 pulls it off pretty well, turning it into a fresh summer-track. The intro is a bit cheesy, but the song picks up rather quickly and before you know it, you’re chillin’ on an imaginary beach.
So who are Argon 40? They’re New York singer/songwriter/keyboardist Heather Greene and former Powerman 5000 guitarist/programmer Adam Williams. They have a few original songs on their MySpace that I like as well, such as “When The Words Don’t Come”, “Stay” and the pretty “When I Fall”. Other than that, I don’t know much about them. Yet, anyway.
~ “Free Fallin’” ~
Magic Wands – “Magic Love & Dreams”
May 11th
Finally, the promised EP by Magic Wands is here – Magic Love & Dreams. I’ve been thirsting to hear more from this love-duo since last year when they enchanted us “Black Magic” and “Teenage Love”. Surprisingly those tracks are two of the four on this EP, which makes me feel a bit cheated. I was expecting all new material, or at least more than just two songs. Sure they’ve been revamped a bit courtesy of producer John Hill, but they’re not very exciting anymore (especially not “Teenage Love”).
I was also hoping that the gorgeous demo of “Kaleidoscope Hearts” would be featured, but that was another disappointment (apparently it’s being released as an 7″ together with “Black Magic” instead).
It’s not all bad though, not at all: the remaining two songs, “Kiss Me Dead” (which has been on their MySpace pretty much since the beginning but now finally in good audio) and “Starships” are indeed quite magical. Shrilling guitars, instant hooks, boy/girl vocals and dark, dark love – what’s not to like about that? Overall Magic Wands almost sound like what New Order producing The Jesus and Mary Chain back in the 80′s might have been like. With some added fairy dust, that is.
The Magic Love & Dreams EP is set for release in May, 2009 via Bright Antenna (US, Japan) and Young and Lost Club (UK).
~ “Black Magic” ~
