THE CARS vs. THE RAMONES a.k.a. New Releases by SHONEN KNIFE and KRIS DELMHORST

Posted on October 14th, 2011 by ekko

I had a discussion recently with my wife about the 1980s.  We were watching VH1’s “One Hit Wonders” show—a guilty pleasure—and the focus was on 1980s movies.  The themes to both Dirty Dancing and St. Elmo’s Fire made their list, and I was reacquainted with how incredibly awful those tunes are.  My wife was prompted to say that the 1980s sucked, but I had to disagree.  The argument can be made that so much of what hit the charts back then was treacle—but there’s a reason why so many of today’s pop artists seem to be structuring their tunes as if they were created thirty years ago.  And when else could you find a chart shared by a three-chord punk band of screamers like The Ramones and a synth-driven, hyperstructured band like The Cars?

What are the other similarities between these two titans?  Both bands had a string of top 40 hits that are as indelible today as they were when they were created. Both featured incredibly ugly, gangly and tall lead singers.  Both knew, more than anything, how to market themselves—even if Joey Ramone professed to eschew commercialism, his appearance in the brilliantly campy Rock and Roll High School shows his true colors.  And both have tribute albums released this year.

Hit the cut for the reviews…

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Covers, Covers On Fridaze, Indie Pop, indie punk, Punk

HOWLING BELLS-The Loudest Engine

Posted on October 12th, 2011 by ekko

The Howling Bells remind me a little (just a tiny) bit of the Cocteau Twins. At least some of their songs do. On the great Cooking Vinyl label, the band features tremendous Australian vocals (and guitar work) of Juanita Stein, along with her brother Joel on lead guitar. It was recorded in Las Vegas and produced by a member of The Killers (Mark Stoermer). And that kind of glitz and glam is all over it. Which isn’t a bad thing.

Here’s the single, Into the Sky (mp3 DL).

And the video therefor:

Tags: Indie Pop

KOO KOO KANGA ROO-Midnight Slushie

Posted on October 6th, 2011 by ekko

This one is my kids’ fault.  I was playing through some of my (non-R-rated) submissions in the car with them, and I was about to hit skip when they both screamed “No!”  They loved this.  So I stayed a little longer.  And I have to admit, there’s something here.  I’m not sure what.  But there’s something.

They call themselves a “fake kids band” and promote themselves by saying…

Koo Koo Kanga Roo is all about dancing, yelling, and bringing the party. Founders Bryan and Neil won’t be satisfied until the entire room has joined in on the fun. Think the Beastie Boys multiplied by Sesame Street plus the driving dance beats of Daft Punk and the live show antics of the Flaming Lips! You will get sweaty and wild! Oh…and costumes are encouraged!

Taste “Ninja Training ft Justin Pierre” (direct mp3 DL).

Name your price at Bandcamp.

Tags: Indie Pop

DOMINANT LEGS-Invitation

Posted on October 2nd, 2011 by ekko

Dominant Legs=Smart San Francisco Pop.

About My Girls

Where We Trip the Light

Hoop of Love

Tour Dates:
10-1 Tucson, AZ – Solar Culture Gallery
10-3 Denton, TX – Dan’s Silver Leaf
10-4 Austin, TX – Lambert’s
10-5 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
10-7 Atlanta, GA – 529 Club
10-8 Charlotte, NC – Casbah
10-9 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10-11 Washington, DC – Red Palace
10-12 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
10-14 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
10-15 Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands Gallery
10-16 Boston, MA – Great Scott
10-17 Burlington, VT – Monkey House
10-18 Montreal, QUE – Casa Del Popolo
10-19 Toronto, ONT – Drake Hotel
10-22 Chicago, IL – Schubas
10-25 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
10-28 Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
10-29 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret

Tags: Indie Pop

LOVEDRUG-The Best Of I Am Lovedrug

Posted on August 26th, 2011 by ekko

“The Best of I Am Lovedrug” is a collection of covers funded buy fans of the band.  It’s also the band’s first full-length album.  It’s quite unusual for a band to introduce itself to the world via the words and music of others, but it’s also a canny way to get internet buzz.

The selection (and arrangement) of songs ranges from the common to the quirky, as you’d expect.  There’s a the obligatory Fleetwood Mac song, “Dreams,” which, frankly, nobody seems to be able to do a bad version of.  Oddly, there’s also a Stevie Nicks song (“Talk to Me”).  Both are pretty faithful to the originals.  Then there’s some “street cred” selctions (“Only Shallow” (My Bloody Valentine)) and “Me and My Arrow” (Harry Nilsson)).  Again, the versions are fairly true to the original—although “Talk To Me” shines with its male vocals; it kind of changes from a pop song to a blues ballad.  Kind of.  It’s still pop, though.  The other big standout is a cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” a song I always found grating until Lovedrug made it more contemplative, eschewing the screamo chorus.

The “we’re so weird we’re cool” pick is from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: “Pure Imagination.”  And it’s handled quite well.  Lots of fun.

I wasn’t familiar with this band prior to getting this solicit, and I have to confess that after having listened to the whole thing, I still don’t feel lI know them.  They’re clearly a talented and tight pop band, skilled on the synths and good singers, all, but what are they about?  No clue.

But I had fun trying to figure them out!

“Talk to Me” (Stevie Nicks cover)

“Dreams” (Fleetwood Mac cover)

BONUS FLEETWOOD MAC COVERS!

Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover)-Vampire Weekend

Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac) Death Cab for Cutie w/The Decemberists

Dreams-Whiskeytown

Dreams-New Pornographers

Tags: Covers, Covers On Fridaze, Indie Pop

TEAM ME-Team Me EP

Posted on August 21st, 2011 by ekko

Sunny, bright, crisp and clear.  At first listen, Team Me is glossy and cute-but seemingly vapid.  But don’t cut it off too quickly.  You’ll miss some fabulous hooks and melodies—some perfect, shining examples of power pop.

I think this lyric sums it all up: “We’re not as boring as you think we are/No, not at all!”

$4.95 at Amazon

Come Down

Tags: Extended Player (EP), Indie Pop

BLACK JET RADIO-Sex Sex Riot

Posted on August 9th, 2011 by ekko

When a band’s name would make an equally good album title, and the band’s album title would make an equally good band name, you should be suspicious that there’s been major label manufacturing at hand. Not so with Black Jet Radio, who self-released their Sex Sex Riot debut…but I wouldn’t count on them staying indie for long. This Fort Wayne, IN, band is ready-made for the mainstream–strong pop hooks, sultry female vocals, fuzzy guitar and hot bass-n-drums interplay.

On sale at CD Baby, where all the cool kids buy music.

Stream the whole thing at their soundcloud page, or have a little sample below.

SexSexRiot by blackjetradio

And check out the video for Dead Wine. Stylized, but cool.

Tags: Indie Pop

THE FEATURES-Wilderness

Posted on August 4th, 2011 by ekko

I’ve been supporting The Features, whether albums or EPs (“Contrast” was one of the best EPs of 2007), since their 2005 debut.  I wish I could find my first post in  them, but this site was attacked by the RIAA back in 2007, and I lost everything from before that time.  Sigh.

But back to the review: “The Wilderness” is their third abulm, and it’s more great hook-filled indie pop.  Lead singer Matt Pelham’s voice has developed–it’s rougher, and more comfortable being tough–which gives the band greater range and a more mature sound, but he still can sound a little bit like a member of Dr. Teeth’s Electric Mayhem (particularly on “Another One”).  And I don’t mean that as an insult–part of the charm of this band is that his voice is so distinct, you can’t forget hearing it.  And, coupled with the great hooks and songwriting, you can’t “unhear” it either; many of these songs will kick around your head for days.  This album is exactly what I expected when I received it for review.  And thank God for that.

Content

Tags: Indie Pop, Indie rock

THE ALTERNATES

Posted on July 19th, 2011 by ekko

Would you dig a band based on one song?  Plenty of folks do, I suppose.  It must be.  Girl, you know it’s true–because Milli Vanilli won a grammy.

The Alternates‘ “Spiders and Webs” EP is the debut of this Los Angeles pop band, and overall the EP is pretty good.  But it’s the single, “Modern Way,” that brought it from the “review” to the “thanks, but no thanks” pile for me.  The band has a very “L.A.” sound–slick, well-produced, and tight.  That’s not a bad thing, but it’s a tough thing to raise from just good to really good to great.

“The Modern Way” is a great single.  The kind you feel like you’ve heard before the first time you hear it, so you scratch your head as you hum along and ask “Why do I know this song?”  Pop thrives on that kind of instant familiarity–it’s what makes pop popular: Everyone likes it, ’cause it’s not strange, scary or off-putting.  It’s fun!

Good stuff.  Check it out below.

The Modern Way by The Alternates

Tags: Indie Pop

THE DEMOS-Lovely

Posted on July 18th, 2011 by ekko

So they’re called The Demos and their album is called “Lovely.” Now try to google them. Go ahead. I dare you.

In short, it’s hard to find out much about these guys, but I dig this album. It’s very Beatles/Bangles-ish pop—sunny, happy, straightforward and clean, and full of harmonies. They sound young, fun, and full of hope.

Get it for ten bucks on Bandcamp.

Tags: Indie Pop