Tags: Picture of the day
Canada’s Rebekah Higgs has been getting some bloglove recently for the quirky little pop ditties on her Little Voice EP, and I say good for her. She’s been around for about five years ago, both as a solo act and as part of Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees. She may not change your world, but she will make it a better place to live in.
And here’s a neat little video:
“Nearer the Earth” is the debut album of the eclectic HoneyChild, a band who filter elements from R&B, folk, and progrock through the filter of pure indie to come up with wholly original sound. Usually the words “original sound” connote something wacky or inaccessible, but that’s not the case here. At a scant 8 songs, the album is just long enough to get you interested and just short enough to leave you wanting more. Oh, and it’s free and endorsed by Adam Duritz.
What more can you ask for, really?
Free on Facebook or from their website.
Tijuana
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Tags: Free Album!, Indie rock
“Nothing But Our Love,” the first cut off of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.‘s EP titled, “Horse Power,” feels a little twee at first. It’s a very simple song, vocalized like a mantra (“All we have/All we have/Is nothing but our love”)–like one of those old contemplative Paul McCartney love songs. It’s very simple, yet immediately captivating. I really didn’t want to like this song, either, because it sounded so meek at first. But I couldn’t help myself.
It goes on to “Vocal Chords,” which is at once similar and different. And then comes “Simple Girl,” which perfects the McCartney influence just in time for the closer: A cover of my least favorite Brian Wilson song, “God Only Knows.” But it works. Quite well, actually. In fact, I like it a lot more than the original. The vocals are stil airy and heavy on harmony, but there’s more bottom here and the singer lets his voice crack a few times. It makes the song less idealistic–now it feels real, grounded. Like someone really loves someone else so much it makes him afraid. It hurts.
Yeah, this is a fluffier review than you’re used to reading here. This is a fluffier album than I tend to listen to. But if you’re looking a lovely, meditative record like Grizzly Bear or Postal Service, this hits the spot. There’s a lot of music like this out there these days, but this is some of the best.
God Only Knows (Beach Boys cover)
Okie From Muskogee-The Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys
Tags: Covers, Grateful Dead, Indie Pop
What a strange year we’ve had. Don’t like Killers? Go see Knight and Day! Don’t like The A-Team? Go see The Losers! And now, don’t like Liz Phair? Check out Elika!
The reviews have pretty much been universally “meh” for Liz Phair’s “Funstyle” album (even if CD kinda liked it): “Funstyle stands as something far greater than the sum of its dubious, ostensibly bullshit parts“; “I think I might be one of the few people who doesn’t see Funstyle as a total disaster!“; “It’s unclear whether Phair herself thinks Funstyle is a joke, although it’s not completely out of the question.” So if Funstyle wasn’t fun for you, or funny, or just left you cold, you might want to check out what happens when “Take A Bow” era Madonna covers Liz Phair, and throws in some atmospheric shoegaze transitions. Because that’s what you’ll find on Elika‘s “Snuggle Bunnies,” the latest release from Brooklyn’s electropoppers who self-released their latest on Bandcamp–and it’s way better than the five bucks they’re charging for it. (You can pay a lot more if you buy direct from the label.)
I remember when Madonna’s “Bedtime Stories” came out. I was living above this crackhead who used to flood his basement apartment until it was knee-deep, and then blast “Take a Bow” over and over (and over) until finally the cops came. This was a Friday ritual for the guy. So you’d think I hate the record, but I actually think it’s Madonna’s best. It’s sleek and sexy, but without the nonsensical pop bounce of a lot of her work. It’s got an overall spacey vibe, but holds to a dance beat and doesn’t sacrifice hooks. And Elika’s record has a very similar vibe.
Make sure you give this one a full chance and listen. At first you’ll want to write it off as derivative and beneath you, especially if you’re a music snob with a short attention span (like me), but if you let yourself go, the album will creep up on you. You’ll hear some wicked drumbeat loops and terrific vocals. Listen in the car and you might find yourself driving a lot smoother. If you close your eyes, you might even find yourself floating. (Don’t do that while you’re driving–it makes police ornery.)
Seriously, I’ve listened to this album twice now and keeps growing on me. A very surprising album, and a very solid release.
Okay, WTF. I don’t know anything about the band that appears to call themselves “Apache, The,” other than the fact that they’re from Utah. Utah?! And there are four of them. And all of the songs on what appears to be their debut are named after people and dates. Like “Ed Templeton or Rodney Mullen (1993),”James Coburn or Samantha Morton (1833),” and “Paul Newman or Sidney Poitier (1958).”
But I don’t know why. And they don’t offer any explanation. In fact, the bio they sent to me just says this:
Apache, The is a band based out of Utah featuring Bastian Salazar, Hector Steele, B. Borealis and Dik Stevenson. They were together less than 2 months and after recording 8 songs and before they played enough shows you could count on one hand, they broke up. Probably because they were all assholes. But maybe just because they got tired of sharing such good music with a world too stupid to realize what they were missing.
To which I would say: Yeah, they were assholes. Because they didn’t even give us a chance to realize what we were missing.
You might think the band is affected, with a bio like that and song titles that scream Ivy League intellectual, but the lyrics are pure Johnny Cash violence, the vocals are anger personified, and the guitar work is easily as good as any shredding from Drive-By Truckers. This album is awesome.
Available on Halloween 2010 for download from Amazon, and well worth it. The copyrights appear to be owned by Drew Danburry, but I figure this shit out. I just know it’s freakin’ awesome, and all of you should run the Hell out and buy it. Seriously.
Robert Redford or Kristen Wiig (1973)
Yosarian Lives or Peter Weir (1944)
Tags: indie punk, Indie rock
I know, I know, I have no original sources and just rehash the stories and rumors I find whilst surfing the series of tubes, but admit it—I perform a vital service . . . And you love it.
GREEN LANTERN. I’ve learned that his costume is entirely CG. That’s a little odd. Also, they released a plot synopsis. The Green Lantern Corps will confront Parallax. Earth’s first ringbearer, Hal Jordan, will have to prove himself to the Corps (obviously, they have nothing but contempt for Earthlings—something that they have in common with . . . most other Earthlings). He’ll save Earth with the help of Carol Ferris (played by Blake Lively).
WOLVERINE IN X-MEN: FIRST CLASS! A taxi driver published on Facebook that he’d taken Hugh “Wolverine” Jackman from the airport toJekyll Island, where Bryan Singeris filming X-Men First Class. Singer denies that Woverine will make a cameo, but clearly this blew what was supposed to be a surprise. How stupid can the studio be to let Jackman cab it from a public airport—they can’t spring for a studio limo escort? Idiots.
PLANNING TO SEE IRON MAN 3? It will be out on May 3, 2013. Hmmm. My throat’s scratchy. Think I’ll be too sick to work that day . . .
BATMAN 3. Thankfully, they’ve backed off the plan for 3D, but it will be filmed in IMAX. Does that mean we have to wear special goggles and/or pay twice the ticket price? Will there be an alternate “regular” print as well? Enquiring minds want to know. Nolan has specifically said there will be no Riddler, which is fine with me (sorry Eminem), but there may be a Catwoman. Personally, I hope they go with The Mad Hatter and Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Kidding, of course. But I would like to see me some Bane or Killer Croc—you know, a really powerful foe as opposed to another psychotic. They’ve already done two “Batman beats the crazy guy” movies—now it’s time for something bigger. Rumors also abound that Commissioner Gordon will get to bang Charlize Theron. Lucky guy. The movie will be called “The Dark Knight Rises.” Stupid title. I know Batman has no powers, but he’s at least more powerful than yeast.
THE GREEN HORNET SUCKFEST. The film’s release date has now been pushed back (a second resked) to January—when bad films are launched to die quietly. The preview looks godawful. But my 9-year-old thinks the idea of shooting a traffic light is pure brilliance.
THE WALKING DEAD. You all delivered for the new AMC show, with the highest ratings ever for a show on that network. Still no order for season two, but if next Sunday’s ratings are comparable, I’d say it’s pretty much a guarantee.
YOU BLEW IT UP! DAMN YOU! The bastards cancelled Caprica. I can’t blame them—it wasn’t doing very well—but I thought it was terrific. It didn’t catch on, perhaps because it was too intellectual (read: no real action sequences). The last 5 eps will be burned off in 2011.
REST GETS A DEAL. NBC has signed a development deal with actor Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) to develop the Top Cow comic “Rest” into a TV show. The book is about a guy addicted to a drug that makes it so he doesn’t have to sleep.
ROB LIEFELD’S ZOMBIE JESUS. Rob “Deadpool” Liefeld’s next comic is ZOMBIE JESUS. But it’s actually a lot better than it sounds.
MARVEL POINT ONE. In February 2011, Marvel is starting up “Marvel: Point One,” designed to bring new readers into long-running books with self-contained stories that will jump new readers into major story arcs. I hope regular readers don’t also have to shell out for them.
MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE. Marvel also has announced another possible universe—not Ultimate, not What-If or alternate. This one will based on Marvel Studio’s movie universe. It will include direct adaptations, but will also tell “side-stories” of events mentioned in a film but not shown. I think I’ll be saving my money and voiding this one like the plague.
Tags: Comic books, Filthy Muties, Green Lantern, Iron Man, The Caped Crusader, Zombies
Some of you may recognize Chicago’s Greta Salpeter’s perfect-for-pop voice from her prior band, The Hush Sound. Well, that band is long gone, but now she’s returned with Gold Motel’s self-titled debut EP–five light pop songs with sweet hooks and killer vocals. A pianist, guitarist, songwriter and singer, Greta is basically the whole band. Yeah, there’s a band, but she’s the reason to show up. This is a strong solo-debut that proves that she can duplicate the pop-chops she showed in Hush Sound.
Tags: Indie Pop
