Album Review: Small Black - New Chain

Aren't new genres just annoying? Just when you start to wrap you head around the wide expanse of indie music, some blogger/label/subversive marketing rep comes up with the latest greatest sound and suddenly everyone is ass over teakettle. For a few months, tastemakers are gushing about any unsigned band working in this genre then turn snarky on the head of a pin because the "movement" has played itself out before it actually bloomed. Does any of this sound vaguely familiar? Chillwave has its followers and detractors for sure. Is it a loving homage to the 80's or a vain lack of originality? Whatever your perspective, I will still stubbornly refer to it as indie. Sure I recognize that putting music tastes in little groups makes for an easier life. For me, indie music equals good music. Then I give it a listen and decide how good it truly is. I am going to stop before I start sounding like some modern music Andy Rooney and get to the nuts and bolts of it. Although I have liked some of the chillwave artists I have heard, Small Black's first full length released October 26 on Jagjaguwar has captured my attention.

I am not sure what about Small Black's LP New Chain makes it stand out over Neon Indian, Memory Tapes or several other similar sounds. For me, New Chain, like so many other great albums, are about a balancing act between simple,accessible melodies plus those intangible elements of border pushing and successful attempts at concocting the right formula that leaps ahead of merely interesting. New Chain has a warm inviting nature despite the often steely distance that I find in most chillwave. To find the best example of this, look no further than the single "Photojournalist". The groove is surely infectious, but the circuit-made music envelopes the listener like a cloud of mist so the vocals can creep close and whisper in your ear. I know there is New Wave influences here, but I don't remember it being this lovely.

Another noticeable attribute on New Chain is the production clarity and the efficacious choice let the vocals to come forward just enough rather than mired the mix as another instrument. Although there is still a drifting echo on standout tracks like "Search Party, "Crisp 100s" and "Light Curse", there is no code to decipher. Whether Small Black choose to combine a dance beat, electro handclap or keyboard pulse and swirl, the quality is evident in the clean studio polish. There is no argument that the swooning, woozy snyths is what drives each song, but the voice stands proudly next to it rather than being washed away. Finally, what Small Black succeeded at was making an album that contains no empty spaces or tracks to skip. New Chain possesses what all great albums have: a start to finish flow that plays like a classic novel, comforting and familiar. While you give it a listen below, I will be figuring out what the hell witchhouse is.

Purchase Small Black - New Chain here. Right click to download "Photojournalist" for free here.

Bonus: Thinking of starting a new chillwave band but at a loss for a moniker? Use this helpful name generator and get to rockin'.

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Small Black - Tracks From New Chain

Tapes n' Tapes Release New Track, Album Out January 11

Twin Cities (my hometown!) natives Tapes n' Tapes came together in 2003 making their quirky hybrid of Midwest indie jangle that referenced the West Coast slacker 'tude of Pavement. They reached it's pinnacle on 2006 LP The Loon where beauty, tragedy, sex and misanthropy came crashing together on 11 tracks of hook-laden good times. It has been a couple of years since their most recent release Walk It Off. Fear not, for the release date of Tapes n' Tapes third full length Outside is due out January 11 on their own Ibid Records.

The first teaser is given in rocker (not disco cover) "Freak Out" that channels some of the strongest tracks on The Loon. The slow country-tinged intro is a just a train building momentum. When that riff kicks in and the drums then hit their double-time stride, the hairs stand up and you know their is no stopping. The breakdown for the whispering confessional to that demon heartbreaker is just a pitstop on the road to indie-pop perfection. I am now official excited for 2011. Download "Freak Out" here.

Purchase Tapes n' Tapes - The Loon here.

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Tapes n' Tapes - Freak Out


Bonus: Tapes n' Tapes were featured in a skit on MTV's sadly short-lived comedy show Human Giant. The premise is that "Indie Marketing Guru", played by Aziz Ansari, basically threatens bloggers and beats up people at Pitchfork to get a higher rating for their album. His intro to their live set was real, because I was there. Hilarious.

New Lykke Li Single Available For Free

The Swedish singer Lykke Li made a lot of noise with her low key debut Youth Novels back in 2008. The ethereal, come-hither nature of her voice conjoining with the varied reflections shown on her tracks made for a promising debut. Those promises have come to fruition with the freebie release of her latest single. Although the physical 7 inch will be available next week on Rough Trade, fans can submit their email and get the track and the b-side now.

The single "Get Some" stomps with a primitive drumbeat and Lykke Li's familiar sensual vocals cooing then urging through the song's hip swaying style. Being such a departure from Youth Novels, the new track makes quite the impression. B-side "Paris Blue" is a torch song bathed in chilly acoustic guitar and reverberating ambiance which is much more characteristic with it's delicate ways. At this point, there is no new information on a new album, but something has to be on the horizon soon.

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Download the new single here.

Purchase Lykke Li Youth Novels here.

Lykke Li - Get Some


Lykke Li - Paris Blue


Bonus: Lykke Li was also featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. Give it a listen and download it below.

Lykke Li – Possibility

Wiping Off The Dust with RFC: Pixies - Come On Pilgrim

My plan, along with the garden variety album and concert reviews, will be to wipe the dust off my old CD's and bask in the glow of fond memories. Hopefully, you can wistfully stroll with me and give these nuggets another spin. If you are one of the unlucky folks who have not experienced these "dusties", let my fawning praise inspire a listen and, perhaps, a future investment for you to make your own memories.
My choice for my first installment is a calculated one for sure. Often times when referring to one's music affections, one uses the phrase "biggest fan". My inner snob often snorts in disbelief in the face of such a superlative. This statement, I feel, is saddled with strict requirements. Examples are:

• owning copies of all albums, including many EP's and singles.
• seeing a band multiple times in concert, especially in smaller venues, if applicable.
• starting your fandom early in a band's career. (sorry, but the biggest Beatles' fans are at least 55 years old)
• having encyclopedic knowledge of the band's output. (e.g. knowing all song titles and their proper order on the album, reciting a song's lyrics while being able to state the song's meaning, knowing the place of origin of the band and it's members)

With these strict requirements imposed, I cannot claim "biggest fan-ness" with very many artists. However, I can definitely attempt to align with one group: Pixies. For those who don't know them, this four-piece group formed in Boston area filled the late 80's-early 90's with creative alternative (back when that word meant something) rock delivered with dynamic hooks. To call the Pixies influential is compulsory; many bands cite them as an inspiration including Kurt Cobain referring to Nirvana as "ripping off the Pixies".
And so we go back to me, circa 1987, a suburban teenager just starting to form his music tastes. I was consuming a heady diet of progressive sounds around that time: R.E.M., The Smiths, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen. Luckily, I could buy most of these cassettes tapes (!) at my friendly neighborhood corporate record store without much fuss. Often, I would have to travel to downtown Minneapolis and enjoy the incredible amount of independent record shops to find the newest, most obscure cuts. However, that day I was at the mall, trudging through the alternative rock section when the album cover above caught my eye. Come On Pilgrim was stark and spooky, but not in your typical Iron Maiden/heavy metal way. There was art behind this creepy photo, and it sucked me in. Since it carried the moderate price of an EP, I gave it a whirl. That is how it all began.

Check out the full article with more listening pleasure included at Radio Free Chicago.

Pixies - I've Been Tired

Listen To First Warpaint LP Out October 25, Download Free Track Here

All-female LA outfit Warpaint has been gathering accolades off of last year's EP Exquisite Corpse and their attention getting performance (of which I caught some of) at Lollapalooza this year. Their sound is haunting and deliberate yet warm and aching that never feels overly delicate. It is that balanced output that has us music chatterers worked up over their debut LP The Fool out this Tuesday on Rough Trade.

The first single "Undertow" is Warpaint at their most melodic, coupling the ethereal siren of dual vocals with a lean, empty room ambiance. The shackles are removed halfway through as the tempo picks up and the open space is brushed with flourishes of drums, guitars and strings that lock together and unravel as the end in a spellbound conclusion.

Purchase Warpaint - The Fool here. Give it a listen before you buy below.

Download "Undertow" here. Also, give the video a watch below.

An additional bit of trivia: Actress Shannyn Sossamon is the former drummer of Warpaint and sisters with bassist Jenny Lindberg. Her skills are featured on the Exquisite Corpse EP. This is only brought up because she is a fine....um....actress.

The Ting Tings Release Brand New Track And Remix

About a couple months back British indie dance duo The Ting Tings teased their first single "Hands" from their upcoming second album. Although "Hands" officially hit stores last week, that did not delay the band from teasing their fans once again. Released as a cross promotional piece for a Tommy Hilfiger fragrance, the new track is available for free with no obligations.

"We're Not The Same" sports their practiced live rock drums and disco guitar stabs that made the music off their first album We Started Nothing so infectious. However, this new track features and electro machinery hum and waves of disco synth that screams to be extended and remixed. Speaking of remixes, The Ting Tings also made gave away a redux of "Hands" by Passion Pit. Both tracks are available for your listening pleasure below. The new album to be entitled Kunst is supposed to be released in autumn. Which is now...so who the heck knows?


Download "We're Not The Same" by clicking here.

The Ting Tings

Concert Review: The Walkmen/Japandroids - Metro Chicago 10/13/10

The following is an excerpt from my feature on Radio Free Chicago.

I have always enjoyed it when two bands tour together that are not an obvious listening match. The best thing about indie is that it is such a huge tent where all any artists have in common is a singular motive to do something different. The Walkmen, proud proprietors of popularity from a radio single a few years back and a critically praised album this year in Lisbon, are a band who trick you with their deceivingly lazy riffs and low-key delivery. Eventually the heady listener is slowly smothered by the weighty, swooning style and the reaching cries of lead singer Hamilton Leithauser.Japandroids cash their checks by simply hitting you in the face with a sledgehammer while wearing a big goofy grin. From last year's breakthrough album Post-Nothing to their consistently awesome 7 inch series this year, they are a duo that sinks themselves into their wistful lyrics about better days and longer nights as they precisely follow the Holy Trinity of Rock: drums, guitar, volume. When two bands like The Walkmen and Japandroids find enough commonality and mutual admiration to travel together and share the stage, it warms my heart and gives me renewed faith in music.

To read the full article, click here to go to Radio Free Chicago.

Angela Surf City - The Walkmen


The Walkmen - Blue as Your Blood


Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire

Wire Releases New Track, New Album Out January 10

Godfathers of punk Wire are responsible for so many amazing elements of modern music that I may just genuflect as I type. Start by checking out their first three albums, obverse that they were released between 1977 and 1979, recognize their gradual shift and sonic experimentation without losing any creative momentum, realize all of the bands that came out over the past 30 years you like that sound like this and try to keep it together as the epiphany hits you like a thunderbolt.

Apologies for the hyperbole.

Now performing as a trio, Wire have a new album in the works. Tentatively entitled Red Barked Tree, the album has a scheduled street date of January 10 on their own Pink Flag label. From the sound of the teaser track, "Two Minutes" is taking a page from their first (and perfect) release Pink Flag. The song is short, intense and spilling over with the klaxon wail that made them the musical touchstone they are today. Give a listen to the new track below and enjoy the video from a 1979 performance of "Heartbeat".

Purchase Wire - Pink Flag here.

Wire - Two Minutes

Holy Fuck Have A New Video Out Starring Kitties!

Instrumentalist quartet Holy Fuck is much more than its name. Honestly, to have a moniker that drops the f-bomb, you really want to separate yourself from anything cliche or conventional. Their music is a mixture of straight up rock-based indie funk and electro experiments, teetering on the hard line into the sample heavy digital artists of this era, but restraining themselves by employing only analog equipment for their varied sound. The result is something powerful and otherworldly, reaching beyond the need for lyrical content. Their latest album Latin was released to much adulation May 11 on Young Turks. If you have not given it a try, do so with my reverent blessings.

However, this post is about kitties. Rockin', rambunctious, devil-may-care kitties driving 70's muscle cars with no regard for the safety of others. The video for the track "Red Lights" stars a feline vehicle operator who obviously has no concern for any sort of traffic indicators as it tries desperately to leave it's mortal enemy in the dust. All of our protagonist's efforts are for naught as the band carries us out in a raging ball of hellfire. Purchase Holy Fuck - Latin here.



Bonus: Use the widget below to listen to Holy Fuck's first single "Latin America" and click on the mp3 button to download the track for the price of one email address.

Album Review: Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner

Essex born Gold Panda has been exploring his unique brand of electronica in his teenage years using his record-producing uncle's professional equipment. Remixing artists as diverse and credible as Little Boots, Telepathe, Bloc Party, Simian Mobile Disco, HEALTH and The Field has rounded this young man's sound into a realized artistry on his debut album Lucky Shiner. Choosing to only reveal his actual name as "Derwin Panda", Gold Panda has created a near perfect first LP, drawing from influences both organic and electronic with a plethora of sounds that span the globe while bursting like firecrackers of circuitry through your speakers. This year, on his first attempt, Gold Panda has created one of the best albums of the year in any genre.

An unlocking door coupled with the Indian-tweaked beats of "You" starts this kaleidoscope of sound. The basic concept of hip-hop tempo supporting clipped loops of sitar and chants has been done, but rarely with this firm grasp of balance. Simplicity is the current that flows through Lucky Shiner when many artists opt for overwrought construction. Switching it to uptempo, "Vanilla Minus" is as supple as butter with it's house inflections and tinkling synths gliding over the icy club bounce. Breaking up the electronica is the lone acoustic guitar and outdoor ambiance of "Parents" as a reminder that the true power in Lucky Shiner is the origins of the samples, not the machinery that manipulates it.

The strengths are in the elemental integrity in Gold Panda's tracks as he breathes life in a characteristically reticent school of music. "Same Dream China" could easily be a Philip Glass composition with the percussion and woodwinds holding the center firm as the mix swirls around the perimeter. "Snow & Taxis" gives a nod to laptop musician The Field, taking moments from a full song and playfully twisting the minutiae until the song is entirely his own. The next tracks challenge the casual listener as each track reveals a new experimenting facet of Lucky Shiner. "Before We Talked" could invent a new classification of techno: minimal juke. The opening of "Marriage" could actually be a pop song, missing only a soulful chanteuse purring the latest earworm chorus. Everything comes full circle at the end of the album with the world music reworking on "India Lately" that crashes in at the finale and begs for a extended mix. Although not available for listening below, the digital release includes three tracks: the aptly named "Greek Style", the piano inflected techno assault of "Casio Daisy" and possibly Lucky Shiner's best track.  "Rush Job" uses samplings ripped right off of a Boards Of Canada MIDI. Gold Panda makes the engine hum with a thump and grind that drops the pretension and raises your hands up for a swaying finish.

There has been a lot of great electronic releases this year. It seemed early that solid albums from Four Tet, Caribou and even the Chemical Brothers were going to overshadow a disappointing showing from the bigger names in indie rock. However, the latter half of this year has sprung some surprises on me and eased my opinion as 2010 comes to a close. However, Lucky Shiner is the best kind of electronica for an indie guy like me. The songs are born, not built as they relax and flex with life, never obscuring the true fundamentals of the samples themselves. Lucky Shiner is a monumental step for Gold Panda from remixing gun-for-hire to a true musician. It is solely up to him how much more of him we get to know.

Right click to download "Same Dream China" for free here. Click here to download "Snow & Taxis" for free.

The physical album will be released October 26 on Ghostly International. You can purchase the mp3 version now or  pre-order Lucky Shiner here.

New Marnie Stern Album Released October 5, Download Two Tracks For Free

There has not been enough female guitar gods lately. Or ever for that matter. Yet us indie fans are blessed to have Marnie Stern as one of those rare examples of women who not only can rock, but can shred. Shamefully, she is more famous for interminable album titles and starting a kissing booth at a couple of shows to pay off a traffic ticket. Her new self-titled album was released on Tuesday and early results are that it is another prog-rock tour de force. The opening track entitled "For Ash" is a sledgehammer from the start, invoking earsplitting freakouts from artists like Battles and Dan Deacon. It is a upfront bloodletting, punishing the listener with speed metal drums and finger tapping axe wails that are moving as well as jaw dropping. "Transparency Is The New Mystery" is comparatively more relaxed, but no less stunning as Stern's sweet vocals take over. The anthemic force rushes through like nature herself as she laments her situation stating "It's not enough...I'm not enough". Like that could ever be true.

The new album was released October 5 on Kill Rock Stars. Listen to the tracks below.

Download "For Ash" here. Download "Transparency Is The New Mystery" here. 

Purchase the Marnie Stern album here. Check out her blog here.

Marnie Stern - For Ash/Transparency Is The New Mystery

New Broken Social Scene Track On It's Kind Of A Funny Story Soundtrack

The emotive and heart-strung music of Broken Social Scene lends itself well to movie soundtracks, as was readily apparent in the 2006 film Half Nelson. The directors of that film, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, have a new film out October 8. It's Kind of A Funny Story stars the uber-present comedian Zach Galifianakis and Keir Gilchrist from the Showtime TV series United States Of Tara. Broken Social Scene reportedly wrote much of the instrumental music for the new film and the new track "Not At My Best" is the opening song on the movie soundtrack. The song's title and theme are appropriate for a film taking place in a mental hospital. The frantic one-off nature of the track fits as well; a quick, light ditty that grabs you right out of the gate. The band has two other tracks on the album which it available for purchase now.

Purchase the It's Kind of A Funny Story soundtrack here and watch the movie trailer below.


Broken Social Scene - Not At My Best

Hot Chip Members And Bernard Sumner Collab To Sell Converse Shoes

Converse shoes has always been an emblem for the throwback hipster movement. No matter the age, anyone rocking a pair of skinny jeans will invariably be wearing one of the rainbow assortment of Chuck Taylor hi-tops. It seems that Converse is riding the wave on that connection as they have been producing songs collaborating different indie-credible artists to push product. Earlier this year it was Kid Cudi, Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij making the sales pitch "All Summer".

Now we have a track from Alexis Taylor & Joe Goddard from Hot Chip mixing it up with the infamous member of Joy Division/New Order Bernard Sumner. Entitled "Didn't Know What Love Was", this coupling could have easily be found on a LP by either group. Whether you enjoy the last gasp of the 80's beat of Technique-era New Order or the retro house piano joy of Hot Chip's latest One Night Stand, you should be plenty satisfied, commercialized music or not.

Check out the Converse blog here for more info and to download the track for free.

Bonus: Watch the promo video below of Mr. Sumner strolling through Manchester discussing his musical roots in a confessional, news-magazine style.

Hot Chip, Bernard Sumner - Didn't Know What Love Was

I Am Posting The Duck Sauce Barbra Streisand Video Because I Want To

I can't help it. The disco beats. The simple premise (or lack of one). The video making urban life out to be one big party. The song is unadulterated fun.

Download the original song below by clicking on the arrow then check the video mix as well.

Purchase Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand here.

Album Review: No Age - Everything In Between

There are a lot of angles to take in taking apart and analyzing the thoughtful punk rock of No Age. First, has anyone else noticed the downpour of indie rock duos making their presence known right now? I am not sure how much can be attributed to the road previously laid by Jack and Meg White, but at least the drummers are better. I am thinking that No Age should tour with Japandroids, The Black Keys and White Mystery and call it the "2x4 Power Duos Tour" and get it a dual sponsorship from Doublemint Gum and Black & Decker. But I digress.The sensitivity in the lyrics juxtaposing the raw, lo-fi fuzz of No Age is the stuff Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr., and early SubPop grunge. Sadly, raging guitar rock tinged with feeling spun itself into ultra-sensitive, guy-lining emo over the past decade or so. In contrast, the duo of Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt keep it thoughtful and artful with one foot firmly in the past, never forgetting to pay alms to their forefathers and always praying at the altar of their past influences. After two successive albums of drenching pop-punk with experimental noise, No Age constructs a calmer clamor on Everything In Between, turn down the fuzz but keeping fan attention with hooks that stick with you throughout the day. Think of it as comfort food for your ears.

The urgent thump of "Life Prowler" is the starting pistol for Everything In Between, the first stripped down showcase of the album's many anthems. Next is the early single "Glitter" raising the ante with a cheerleading beat and a lyrical cry for keeping those important people close. (Read my full review of "Glitter" here.) By the next tracks "Fever Dreaming" and "Depletion", No Age is all in for tearing the roof off any listening space, screaming, squealing and amp-shredding through 13 minutes of audio, rocking harder than anything else has in 2010.

Things begin to spread out from here as No Age interweave their fuzzed out experiments, alt-rock homages and their reflective nature to fill out Everything In Between with eye-opening moments and interesting twists. The boys keep in simple on the coffee-house style of "Common Heat" then get punchy again with drum roll and bursting finale on "Skinned". For good measure, they channel the shoegazing beauty of My Bloody Valentine in the instrumental interlude "Katerpillar" and stretch it out through backward tape loops on "Dusted". The power pop of "Valley Hump Crash" makes the indie historian want to blow the dust off their old Posies and Sloan LPs. Finishing up the album is the accurately monikered "Shred and Transcend" where they shake the shit out of you as a reminder that they still can and the melodic closer "Chem Trails" putting the exclamation point on an amazingly varied album that proves once again No Age can do a lot with a little.

Give the entire album a listen below courtesy of SubPop, then watch the promo video for Everything In Between as well.

Purchase No Age Everything in Between here.

Click here to download "Glitter" for free. Click here to download "Fever Dreaming" for free.

No Age - Everything in Between (Note: The tracks "Skinned" and "Sorts" are mislabeled and should be transposed.)



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