ICARUS HIMSELF-”Coffins”

Posted on May 31st, 2009 by ekko

Okay, so there’s this guy, Nick Whetro, right?  And he was in this band called National Beekeepers Society. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Anyway, he decides he’s gonna, like, spread his wings and go solo but instead of calling himself Mr. Whetro, he calls himself Icarus Himself, which of course is doubly ironic because (a) he’s not Icarus and (b) when Icaraus spread his wings, he burned and plummeted. Also, it’s not just Mr. Whetro; he’s helped out (significantly) by Karl Christenson.

Anyway, don’t let the pretention keep you away.  This is a smooth, albeit somewhat nerdy, collection of well-crafted tunes that fall somewhere between indie rock and mood rock and (ocassionally) folk.

For fans of: Beirut, Bright Eyes, Nick Drake, and maybe even Syd Barrett.  I hear a lot of old Floyd in here . . . Good stuff.

Sometimes I Can’t Stand You, But That Doesn’t Mean I Don’t Want You Around

BONUS PINK FLOYD COVERS!

See Emily Play (Pink Floyd)-Martha Wainwright

Breathe-The Shins (Floyd cover)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on May 31st, 2009 by ekko

I wish to God this were my family photo . . . But I don’t wish to be the kid in the bandana, ’cause there’s a screaming baby next to him.

Mr. Brownstone-Jeff Klein (Guns N Roses cover)

Tags: Picture of the day

PICTURE OF THE DAY: SUPERSIZED! Two pics!

Posted on May 30th, 2009 by ekko

Super Size Me is, like, one of my favorite movies.

Tags: Picture of the day, Ronald McDonald, Vomit

BRASSTRONAUT-Old World Lies (EP)

Posted on May 29th, 2009 by ekko

Brasstronaut, a brass-and-keys centered quartet, released a strong EP in ’08 called “Old World Lies.”  I just received it as a submission, and I’m passing my recommendation to you.  It’s a little sad, a little moody, quite dramatic, and quite unlike anything you’ve heard before.  Indie rock without the guitar, these songs would probably be straightforward if they had your average instruments, but with trumpet, flugelhorn, and piano, there’s nothing “normal” here.

Lead singer Edo Van Breeman has an unusual voice as well—it’s clear and without range, but perfectly suited to this incredibly musical band.  For fans of Radiohead, Beirut, and rock-jazz.

Old World Lies

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on May 28th, 2009 by ekko

Buttholeville/State Trooper (Springsteen)-Drive By Truckers

Tags: Covers, Picture of the day

MOVERS & SHAKERS-”Larrabee”

Posted on May 27th, 2009 by ekko

Gruff Americana has been all the rage since The Drive-By Truckers began making their mark on the world of indie rock, and in that spirit comes the slightly punkier Movers & Shakers‘ D.I.Y. debut album, Larrabee.  They may not be changing the genre, but they’re right on top of it, making tough rock and roll withi especially hot drums. One thing that sets them apart is their ability to change things up midsong, which they do on the the almost Clash-like track, “Bottom of the Ocean,” my personal favorite song on the album.  It starts like a Gaslight Anthem tune, but ends up with (almost sweet?) vocal harmonies and a great tempo change halfway through.  It’s the kind of song that makes you wanna shout.  “The Evidence, The Proof,” is another standout track and obvious cut for first single, mixing a Springsteen vibe with a ’80s mullet chant.  Music for young men, by young men.  And don’t leave before the great closing track, “Take Me Home.”

Dig it!

Take Me Home

Bottom of the Ocean

BONUS AMERICANA!

Falling Rain (link wray cover)-Calexico

Wasn’t Born To Follow (Byrds)-Uncle Tupelo

KILLED BY 9V BATTERIES-“Escape Plans Make It Hard To Wait For Success”

Posted on May 26th, 2009 by ekko

Killed by 9v Batteries have been reviewed here before, when I likened them to punk shoegaze. Their new album, Escape Plans Make It Hard To Wait For Success, still has a little bit of that, particularly in “This City Is Lit When You’re On Top Of It,” which has a pulsating noise in the background that makes one feel like being drowned in the music. This song is so great, in fact, that it threatens to swallow the whole album.

But it doesn’t.

Austria’s best punk export, the band never disappoints. Even on comparatively more mellow tracks, like “Tell The People I’m In Bed With Fever ,” there is a raw aggression under their music that says shut-the-fuck-up-and-listen-to-me-KILL-this-shit! Escape Plans is the band’s best album so far because of its range—from angry, cymbal-smashing chainsaw punk to the nearly new wave sound of “Make Her Parties Unique,” this is a fantastic record that will probably be appearing on my best of ’09 list.

This City is Lit When You’re On Top Of It

AN OLDER SONG BY THE BAND!

Note All the Curses I Have Made

COOL COVERS BY 9v!

Like a Hurricaine-Killed by 9v Batteries.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart-Killed by 9v Batteries.

Old Man (Neil Young)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on May 26th, 2009 by ekko

Tags: Horror, Picture of the day

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Posted on May 25th, 2009 by ekko

Tags: Picture of the day

GRATEFUL DEAD-AVALON ’69

Posted on May 25th, 2009 by ekko

To me, the Dead never got better than their 1976-77 period, where we had Cornell, the first Terrapin Station shows, and some phenomenal Eyes jams. But a close second for me is their early 1970s period, including some ’96 shows. Like this one. From April 5, 1969, at the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, CA, where they played so many of their best psychedelic shows, this is cut from a soundboard.

Set One:
Dupree’s Diamond Blues ->Mountains Of The Moon ->Dark Star ->St. Stephen ->The Eleven ->Turn On Your Lovelight

Set Two:
Hard To Handle ->Cosmic Charlie, China Cat Sunflower ->Doin’ That Rag, Cryptical Envelopment ->Drums->The Other One ->Weather Report Suite Tease->Cryptical Envelopment ->The Eleven ->It’s A Sin, Alligator ->More Drums ->Feedback ->

Encore:
And We Bid You Good Night

DUDE, LIKE, UNZIP IT MAN

Tags: Grateful Dead