Thursday, May 31, 2007
Breakfast of Champions playlist for May 31st, 2007 on WMBR Cambridge, MA
(8:00 - today we peruse the I section of our vinyl library)
The Icicle Works - "Understanding Jane"
Illiterate Beach - "Traces"
The Idle Strand - "Tonight"
Immediates - "If Only She Were Mine"
Illegal District - "My Dream" (background music)
(8:15 - there's not too many "I" bands ... this section runs from IC to IN)
Immaculate Fools - "Sad"
Icky Joey - "Smokin' The Devil's Bud"
Impulse Manslaughter - "Gimme Shelter"
Th' Inbred - "Satan Youth"
impLOG - "Holland Tunnel Drive" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time)
Babes in Toyland - "Bruise Violet"
Babes in Toyland - "Sweet 69"
Babes in Toyland - "Watching Girl"
Ike Yard - "Sense of Male" (background music)
(8:45 - closing out our tour of the "I" section)
Icky Boyfriends - "Katemania"
I Love You - "Bone"
Ill Repute - "Wayward"
IKS - "We're Trying"
The Ides of March - "One Woman Man"
Ignatius - "Baggage Handler" (background music)
(9:00 - beginning our exploration of the new rack)
Dappled Cities - "Beach"
Piano Magic - "Saints Preserve Us"
Thomas Fehlmann - "Schaum" (concert report music)
(9:20 - after the concert report)
Keren Ann - "Lay Your Head Down"
Southerly - "A Coarse Design"
The National - "Racing Like A Pro"
Wheat - "Little White Dove"
(9:40 - before the end of the show)
Rabbit Is A Sphere - "Drag"
epo-555 - "Hyperschlieb"
Blitzen Trapper - "Sci-Fi Kid"
Dungen - "Sa Blev Det Bestamt"
(9:55 - closing it out)
Motor - "Night Drive"
thanks for listening, if you missed it you have two weeks to check out WMBR's archives!
(8:00 - today we peruse the I section of our vinyl library)
The Icicle Works - "Understanding Jane"
Illiterate Beach - "Traces"
The Idle Strand - "Tonight"
Immediates - "If Only She Were Mine"
Illegal District - "My Dream" (background music)
(8:15 - there's not too many "I" bands ... this section runs from IC to IN)
Immaculate Fools - "Sad"
Icky Joey - "Smokin' The Devil's Bud"
Impulse Manslaughter - "Gimme Shelter"
Th' Inbred - "Satan Youth"
impLOG - "Holland Tunnel Drive" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time)
Babes in Toyland - "Bruise Violet"
Babes in Toyland - "Sweet 69"
Babes in Toyland - "Watching Girl"
Ike Yard - "Sense of Male" (background music)
(8:45 - closing out our tour of the "I" section)
Icky Boyfriends - "Katemania"
I Love You - "Bone"
Ill Repute - "Wayward"
IKS - "We're Trying"
The Ides of March - "One Woman Man"
Ignatius - "Baggage Handler" (background music)
(9:00 - beginning our exploration of the new rack)
Dappled Cities - "Beach"
Piano Magic - "Saints Preserve Us"
Thomas Fehlmann - "Schaum" (concert report music)
(9:20 - after the concert report)
Keren Ann - "Lay Your Head Down"
Southerly - "A Coarse Design"
The National - "Racing Like A Pro"
Wheat - "Little White Dove"
(9:40 - before the end of the show)
Rabbit Is A Sphere - "Drag"
epo-555 - "Hyperschlieb"
Blitzen Trapper - "Sci-Fi Kid"
Dungen - "Sa Blev Det Bestamt"
(9:55 - closing it out)
Motor - "Night Drive"
thanks for listening, if you missed it you have two weeks to check out WMBR's archives!
Monday, May 28, 2007
It's memorial day and I'm home sick, what better time to review the late May releases at WMBR.
Lavender Diamond – “Open Your Heart”
A pop gem worthy of Barbara Manning complete with a jubilant pace, repetitive lilting vocals, sweet strings and a rollicking piano. Overall this release is rather thin with an unfocused neu-folk air but one star shines very tightly. Wanted to hate this album based on the rather thin ep that preceded it but must admit this one song is immense. Spun this on 4/17/07.
Trembling Blue Stars – “November Starlings”
If you’re familiar with Robert Wratten’s works this new TBS release will not contain any surprises beyond a welcome sonic step backwards. More recent TBS tunes seemed to stray into Cure-lite territory. While I certainly have no complaints, this new one harkens back to the Field Mice days with more prominent jangle, female backing vox and even a little synth. Played 4/24/07.
The Ladybug Transistor – “Three Days From Now”
Something seems slightly off on this latest release from Ladybug Transistor, the first one in 3-4 years. While it’s not easy to pinpoint the issue, best I can say is the production brings the male vocals forward while pushing some of the sonic delights to the background. Even the solos are barely able to distinguish themselves from the rhythm section at times. Still, the choruses are just as sweetly 60’s retro as ever and I doubt their fans will find much fault with this effort. Played this one on 4/24/07.
Bitter Bitter Weeks – “Terrified”
New one from Philadelphia area retro-poppers, another sonic avenue for Brian McTear’s revisionist tendencies. This is a rather slick affair for him, I usually associate McTear with an energetic lo-fi feel but the result here is just as smooth as the Ladybug Transistor track about without as memorable of a chorus. If I have an issue with the disc as a whole, it’s exactly that … the songs have difficulty distinguishing themselves from each other.
South Ambulance – “Saturdays for Sad Excuses”
For some reason this band’s Labrador debut LP has been ported to the US market through Rollerderby. Not that I’m complaining as pretty much anything with the Labrador imprint is of high quality. But why this release instead of the new Mary Onettes debut, which promises to be one of the best of 2007? Perhaps it’s the Hidden Cameras sonic feel, with ascending piano lines and a everybody-join-in-it’s-easy-to-learn chorus.
Mary Timony Band – “Killed By The Telephone”
Place this release squarely on the rock side of Mary’s ledger, though there’s still some prog leanings on display here (especially if you actually try to figure out the lyrics) for the most part the execution is smooth, urgent and crisp. This track has a signature stop-start pace punctuated with a simple repetitive Polvo-esque guitar lick. You may have heard it on 5/17/07.
Hardware – “Walking”
For some reason I tend to skip over the Hyped2Death comps that end up in the new rack. If you’re not in the know, H2D unearths super-obscure 7”s, categorizes them (geographically in this case, Messthetics #103 is all Midlands UK) and throws the tracks on CD for our perusal. Considering how much I enjoy spelunking in our record library these things should be right in my sweet spot. But there are far more misses than hits (just like our record library, actually) and often my attention wanes. There’s a bit of Television to this one, perhaps providing some perspective on a “what if Television made it into the New Wave era” ponderance.
Mystery Jets – “The Boy Who Ran Away”
Strongly reminiscent of the first Futureheads release, with that trademark jumpy early 80’s UK pop feel. Nice harmonies abound, though I just can’t embrace it as much as I probably should. There are some effective period pop touches in these songs with a bit of mod organ or harmonica popping up here and there. I should probably spin it a bit more to see if the milk will boil. Played on 5/24/07.
Motor – “Night Drive”
The significant other pegged the vocal as Alan Vega and while I can’t dismiss some Suicide influence here for the most part his lines have a deadpan delivery with heavy modification, there’s not even a hint of creeping insanity much less full-on yelling. Not that there needs to be, musically it finds a trenchant synth beat and marches forward in robotic military fashion. I was hoping for more instrumentals like the previous record but it’s not to be I’m afraid.
Rabbit Is A Sphere – “Drag”
This disc arrived in the mail with its case heavily damaged, the promo sticker was basically the only thing holding it together. Turns out that was a perfect analogy for the content, a hard-to-pin-down rock band with occasional experimental forays in the midst of traded male/female vocals. I prefer the female, she has a way of dispassionately talk-singing while still infusing emotion into her drawling style. “I want to sweat you out like a fever / I want to sweat you out of me” while the guitars roll and ebb like the tide of her restrained emotions.
Dungen – “Sa Blev Det Bestamt”
If there’s one element I value most in Dungen, it’s the ability to produce psychedelic influenced jams that are basically indistinguishable from their late 60’s/early 70’s brethren. I really shouldn’t be disappointed here but the authentic fuzziness of the previous records has basically been polished away. It sounds almost professionally recorded, instead of like something unearthed in the back of a long-abandoned home studio. There are some new instruments in the mix as well, furthering the feeling that I really shouldn’t complain even though that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Je Suis France – “Chemical Agents”
Good luck getting a hold on the sound of Je Suis France because beyond a certain haphazard urgency they don’t really have one. The two songs I liked the most sounded alternately like the Pogues and Trans Am if that gives you an idea of their range. This is one of the tighter songs, half of them seem like they never got past the failed rough demo #2 stage. Even this one has some sort of persistent buzz buried in the mix.
Ov – “The Noctilucent Valley”
Concert report music from 5/17/07. Generally quiet and meandering instrumentals with some buried wordless female vocals. There will often be long passages with seemingly little focus beyond something being plucked or struck, which eventually coalesce into a bit more meaningful structure.
Fennesz + Sakamoto – “Haru”
As you might guess from the artist name this is a collaboration between Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto. This particular cut is a lethargic but light just-after-the-rainstorm piano tune. Sitting here in the home office with the windows open I still can’t tell if the birds chirping are from the track or the feeder outside. Reserved it for concert report music but still haven’t made it there yet.
Casual Fog – “Weighted Day”
Pulled this one off a compilation of bands from the Nevada City, CA area called the Grass Roots Record Co. Family Album. Amongst their more famous brothers like Hella and Golden Shoulders was this piano tune with some haunting reverb and backing vocals that practically grow out of the rather flat lead. Doesn’t really go anywhere, perhaps it doesn’t need to.
Joan as Police Woman – “Broken Eyes”
This is Joan Wasser’s new project, she formerly of local band the Dambuilders and super group Those Bastard Souls amongst many other projects (Lotus Eaters!). I really wanted to adore it but couldn’t find much to my liking on the disc. It seems like she’s democratically trying to get her bandmates involved which is kind but leads to at least one “they really forced that solo/backing vocal/etc” moment in each song. Luckily there’s a bonus b-sides disc which gave me the higher Joan-to-other-band-members ratio that I expected. There could be more hopeless desperation in this low-expectations love song than anything on PJ Harvey’s Dry. Played it on 5/17/07.
Spouse – “Boys Vs. Girls”
Easily the best-sounding release from this band with local ties (are they still local? I dunno). Their early singles had a lovely Yo La Tengo lo-fi feel but the subsequent full-lengths had very little immediacy, it was like the whole band set up five feet from the mics and pressed record. That's been corrected here, now-vibrant pop tunes mix with slow soul-tinged ballads like this one ... perfectly constrasting the lead-singer’s grainy voice with the band’s precise play. Spun this on 5/24/07.
The National – “Slow Show”
This is the cut I want to play but can’t due to multiple s-bombs buried in the lyrics. Not a big worry as there are more than enough standouts on this new release to fill out the National quota on the BoC. For those not familiar this NY by-way of the mid-west band has an amazingly authentic British feel complete with a captivating Tindersticks growl and the ability to be both delicate and powerful at the same time.
Dog Day – “End of the World”
This pop tune has a bass-heavy sound with a chattery drumming style and nasal male vocals. I hesitate to say they remind me of the Ropers, as the Ropers are one of my favorite shoegazer pop bands of all time and these guys are not shoegazer pop. Yet certain elements are eerily reminiscent, like the way the vocalist ticks up a register during seemingly random words to inflect them with more meaning. Pretty good for a bunch of Canadians.
Voxtrot – “Easy”
I thought their debut LP would kick-start the indie-pop revival, unfortunately it takes a deliberate step away from the affectionate early 90's sound of their eps for a much slicker commercial shell. Hate to say it but the album as a whole feels a bit forced and lifeless, like a piece of plastic fruit. Played it on 5/24/07, unfortunately not a Commodores cover.
The Pipettes – “Guess Who Ran Off With The Milkman?”
Well, I guess Interscope has finally decided to favour the US with one of the best albums of last year, We Are The Pipettes. I’ll gladly take any opportunity to spin it again as it was very high on my year-end list, plus we received a promotional single with several b-sides not on the UK version of the record. If you missed it the first time around I highly recommend picking up this 00’s topical update of the 60’s girl group sound. They'll be at Great Scott on June 4th, I'll likely be in bed.
Sugar and Gold – “Sometimes”
They just wanna ape electronic soul from the 80’s, a strange ambition for an indie band these days but nevertheless here they are. This particular selection at least has an honest guitar solo, the other tune of theirs I played on 5/17/07 has no such pretentions and went straight for the Ready For The World vibe. Or izzat The Jets I’m thinking of …
Lavender Diamond – “Open Your Heart”
A pop gem worthy of Barbara Manning complete with a jubilant pace, repetitive lilting vocals, sweet strings and a rollicking piano. Overall this release is rather thin with an unfocused neu-folk air but one star shines very tightly. Wanted to hate this album based on the rather thin ep that preceded it but must admit this one song is immense. Spun this on 4/17/07.
Trembling Blue Stars – “November Starlings”
If you’re familiar with Robert Wratten’s works this new TBS release will not contain any surprises beyond a welcome sonic step backwards. More recent TBS tunes seemed to stray into Cure-lite territory. While I certainly have no complaints, this new one harkens back to the Field Mice days with more prominent jangle, female backing vox and even a little synth. Played 4/24/07.
The Ladybug Transistor – “Three Days From Now”
Something seems slightly off on this latest release from Ladybug Transistor, the first one in 3-4 years. While it’s not easy to pinpoint the issue, best I can say is the production brings the male vocals forward while pushing some of the sonic delights to the background. Even the solos are barely able to distinguish themselves from the rhythm section at times. Still, the choruses are just as sweetly 60’s retro as ever and I doubt their fans will find much fault with this effort. Played this one on 4/24/07.
Bitter Bitter Weeks – “Terrified”
New one from Philadelphia area retro-poppers, another sonic avenue for Brian McTear’s revisionist tendencies. This is a rather slick affair for him, I usually associate McTear with an energetic lo-fi feel but the result here is just as smooth as the Ladybug Transistor track about without as memorable of a chorus. If I have an issue with the disc as a whole, it’s exactly that … the songs have difficulty distinguishing themselves from each other.
South Ambulance – “Saturdays for Sad Excuses”
For some reason this band’s Labrador debut LP has been ported to the US market through Rollerderby. Not that I’m complaining as pretty much anything with the Labrador imprint is of high quality. But why this release instead of the new Mary Onettes debut, which promises to be one of the best of 2007? Perhaps it’s the Hidden Cameras sonic feel, with ascending piano lines and a everybody-join-in-it’s-easy-to-learn chorus.
Mary Timony Band – “Killed By The Telephone”
Place this release squarely on the rock side of Mary’s ledger, though there’s still some prog leanings on display here (especially if you actually try to figure out the lyrics) for the most part the execution is smooth, urgent and crisp. This track has a signature stop-start pace punctuated with a simple repetitive Polvo-esque guitar lick. You may have heard it on 5/17/07.
Hardware – “Walking”
For some reason I tend to skip over the Hyped2Death comps that end up in the new rack. If you’re not in the know, H2D unearths super-obscure 7”s, categorizes them (geographically in this case, Messthetics #103 is all Midlands UK) and throws the tracks on CD for our perusal. Considering how much I enjoy spelunking in our record library these things should be right in my sweet spot. But there are far more misses than hits (just like our record library, actually) and often my attention wanes. There’s a bit of Television to this one, perhaps providing some perspective on a “what if Television made it into the New Wave era” ponderance.
Mystery Jets – “The Boy Who Ran Away”
Strongly reminiscent of the first Futureheads release, with that trademark jumpy early 80’s UK pop feel. Nice harmonies abound, though I just can’t embrace it as much as I probably should. There are some effective period pop touches in these songs with a bit of mod organ or harmonica popping up here and there. I should probably spin it a bit more to see if the milk will boil. Played on 5/24/07.
Motor – “Night Drive”
The significant other pegged the vocal as Alan Vega and while I can’t dismiss some Suicide influence here for the most part his lines have a deadpan delivery with heavy modification, there’s not even a hint of creeping insanity much less full-on yelling. Not that there needs to be, musically it finds a trenchant synth beat and marches forward in robotic military fashion. I was hoping for more instrumentals like the previous record but it’s not to be I’m afraid.
Rabbit Is A Sphere – “Drag”
This disc arrived in the mail with its case heavily damaged, the promo sticker was basically the only thing holding it together. Turns out that was a perfect analogy for the content, a hard-to-pin-down rock band with occasional experimental forays in the midst of traded male/female vocals. I prefer the female, she has a way of dispassionately talk-singing while still infusing emotion into her drawling style. “I want to sweat you out like a fever / I want to sweat you out of me” while the guitars roll and ebb like the tide of her restrained emotions.
Dungen – “Sa Blev Det Bestamt”
If there’s one element I value most in Dungen, it’s the ability to produce psychedelic influenced jams that are basically indistinguishable from their late 60’s/early 70’s brethren. I really shouldn’t be disappointed here but the authentic fuzziness of the previous records has basically been polished away. It sounds almost professionally recorded, instead of like something unearthed in the back of a long-abandoned home studio. There are some new instruments in the mix as well, furthering the feeling that I really shouldn’t complain even though that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Je Suis France – “Chemical Agents”
Good luck getting a hold on the sound of Je Suis France because beyond a certain haphazard urgency they don’t really have one. The two songs I liked the most sounded alternately like the Pogues and Trans Am if that gives you an idea of their range. This is one of the tighter songs, half of them seem like they never got past the failed rough demo #2 stage. Even this one has some sort of persistent buzz buried in the mix.
Ov – “The Noctilucent Valley”
Concert report music from 5/17/07. Generally quiet and meandering instrumentals with some buried wordless female vocals. There will often be long passages with seemingly little focus beyond something being plucked or struck, which eventually coalesce into a bit more meaningful structure.
Fennesz + Sakamoto – “Haru”
As you might guess from the artist name this is a collaboration between Fennesz and Ryuichi Sakamoto. This particular cut is a lethargic but light just-after-the-rainstorm piano tune. Sitting here in the home office with the windows open I still can’t tell if the birds chirping are from the track or the feeder outside. Reserved it for concert report music but still haven’t made it there yet.
Casual Fog – “Weighted Day”
Pulled this one off a compilation of bands from the Nevada City, CA area called the Grass Roots Record Co. Family Album. Amongst their more famous brothers like Hella and Golden Shoulders was this piano tune with some haunting reverb and backing vocals that practically grow out of the rather flat lead. Doesn’t really go anywhere, perhaps it doesn’t need to.
Joan as Police Woman – “Broken Eyes”
This is Joan Wasser’s new project, she formerly of local band the Dambuilders and super group Those Bastard Souls amongst many other projects (Lotus Eaters!). I really wanted to adore it but couldn’t find much to my liking on the disc. It seems like she’s democratically trying to get her bandmates involved which is kind but leads to at least one “they really forced that solo/backing vocal/etc” moment in each song. Luckily there’s a bonus b-sides disc which gave me the higher Joan-to-other-band-members ratio that I expected. There could be more hopeless desperation in this low-expectations love song than anything on PJ Harvey’s Dry. Played it on 5/17/07.
Spouse – “Boys Vs. Girls”
Easily the best-sounding release from this band with local ties (are they still local? I dunno). Their early singles had a lovely Yo La Tengo lo-fi feel but the subsequent full-lengths had very little immediacy, it was like the whole band set up five feet from the mics and pressed record. That's been corrected here, now-vibrant pop tunes mix with slow soul-tinged ballads like this one ... perfectly constrasting the lead-singer’s grainy voice with the band’s precise play. Spun this on 5/24/07.
The National – “Slow Show”
This is the cut I want to play but can’t due to multiple s-bombs buried in the lyrics. Not a big worry as there are more than enough standouts on this new release to fill out the National quota on the BoC. For those not familiar this NY by-way of the mid-west band has an amazingly authentic British feel complete with a captivating Tindersticks growl and the ability to be both delicate and powerful at the same time.
Dog Day – “End of the World”
This pop tune has a bass-heavy sound with a chattery drumming style and nasal male vocals. I hesitate to say they remind me of the Ropers, as the Ropers are one of my favorite shoegazer pop bands of all time and these guys are not shoegazer pop. Yet certain elements are eerily reminiscent, like the way the vocalist ticks up a register during seemingly random words to inflect them with more meaning. Pretty good for a bunch of Canadians.
Voxtrot – “Easy”
I thought their debut LP would kick-start the indie-pop revival, unfortunately it takes a deliberate step away from the affectionate early 90's sound of their eps for a much slicker commercial shell. Hate to say it but the album as a whole feels a bit forced and lifeless, like a piece of plastic fruit. Played it on 5/24/07, unfortunately not a Commodores cover.
The Pipettes – “Guess Who Ran Off With The Milkman?”
Well, I guess Interscope has finally decided to favour the US with one of the best albums of last year, We Are The Pipettes. I’ll gladly take any opportunity to spin it again as it was very high on my year-end list, plus we received a promotional single with several b-sides not on the UK version of the record. If you missed it the first time around I highly recommend picking up this 00’s topical update of the 60’s girl group sound. They'll be at Great Scott on June 4th, I'll likely be in bed.
Sugar and Gold – “Sometimes”
They just wanna ape electronic soul from the 80’s, a strange ambition for an indie band these days but nevertheless here they are. This particular selection at least has an honest guitar solo, the other tune of theirs I played on 5/17/07 has no such pretentions and went straight for the Ready For The World vibe. Or izzat The Jets I’m thinking of …
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The date is May 24, 2007
The show is Breakfast of Champions
The station is WMBR Cambridge MA
The playlist is ready for your perusal
(8:00 - we continue exploring the WMBR record library)
Holly and the Italians - "Tell That Girl To Shut Up"
The Holy Modal Rounders - "Boobs A Lot"
Buddy Holly - "Not Fade Away"
Rupert Holmes - "Our National Pastime"
Hoodoo Gurus - "Bittersweet"
The Homeboy Project - "Do Your Dance" (background music)
(8:15 - we're in the HOL to HOO section of our vinyl records)
Honeymoon Killers - "Histoire A Suivre"
Honeymoon Killers - "Hard Life"
Honeymoon Red - "Dead In The Head"
Honor Role - "My Place"
Fugazi - "Lusty Scripps" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time)
Fugazi - "Margin Walker"
Fugazi - "Styrofoam"
Fugazi - "Epic Problem"
(8:45 - I'm starting to feel the need to apologize for the letter H)
Holy Moses - "Six Fat Women"
Holy Terror - "Distant Calling"
Holy Cow - "Blue Bottle Boy"
Mic Holwin - "Burning Beyond" (background music)
(9:00 - the new music hour, thank the deities!)
Joel Plaskett Emergency - "The Instrumental"
Joel Plaskett Emergency - "Soundtrack for the Night"
Arms and Sleepers - "Arms/Sleepers"
(9:20 - more new music for you)
Trembling Blue Stars - "November Starlings"
The Ladybug Transister - "Three Days From Now"
Voxtrot - "Easy"
Spouse - "Boys Vs. Girls"
(9:40 - even more new music for whoever)
The Pipettes - "Guess Who Ran Off With the Milkman?"
Dog Day - "End of the World"
Mystery Jets - "The Boy Who Ran Away"
The National - "Apartment Story"
Laura Veirs - "Cast a Hook In Me"
(9:55 - close it out with a flourish)
Rush - "The Main Monkey Business"
If you missed the show you can always visit WMBR's archive ... you have two weeks to do it!
The show is Breakfast of Champions
The station is WMBR Cambridge MA
The playlist is ready for your perusal
(8:00 - we continue exploring the WMBR record library)
Holly and the Italians - "Tell That Girl To Shut Up"
The Holy Modal Rounders - "Boobs A Lot"
Buddy Holly - "Not Fade Away"
Rupert Holmes - "Our National Pastime"
Hoodoo Gurus - "Bittersweet"
The Homeboy Project - "Do Your Dance" (background music)
(8:15 - we're in the HOL to HOO section of our vinyl records)
Honeymoon Killers - "Histoire A Suivre"
Honeymoon Killers - "Hard Life"
Honeymoon Red - "Dead In The Head"
Honor Role - "My Place"
Fugazi - "Lusty Scripps" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time)
Fugazi - "Margin Walker"
Fugazi - "Styrofoam"
Fugazi - "Epic Problem"
(8:45 - I'm starting to feel the need to apologize for the letter H)
Holy Moses - "Six Fat Women"
Holy Terror - "Distant Calling"
Holy Cow - "Blue Bottle Boy"
Mic Holwin - "Burning Beyond" (background music)
(9:00 - the new music hour, thank the deities!)
Joel Plaskett Emergency - "The Instrumental"
Joel Plaskett Emergency - "Soundtrack for the Night"
Arms and Sleepers - "Arms/Sleepers"
(9:20 - more new music for you)
Trembling Blue Stars - "November Starlings"
The Ladybug Transister - "Three Days From Now"
Voxtrot - "Easy"
Spouse - "Boys Vs. Girls"
(9:40 - even more new music for whoever)
The Pipettes - "Guess Who Ran Off With the Milkman?"
Dog Day - "End of the World"
Mystery Jets - "The Boy Who Ran Away"
The National - "Apartment Story"
Laura Veirs - "Cast a Hook In Me"
(9:55 - close it out with a flourish)
Rush - "The Main Monkey Business"
If you missed the show you can always visit WMBR's archive ... you have two weeks to do it!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Playlist for the Thursday May 17th Breakfast of Champions on WMBR
(8:00 - our exploration of the vinyl library continues with the letter "G")
Crispin Hellion Glover - "The New Clean Song"
Glorious Din - "Red Dirt"
Goblin Mix - "The Water"
God - "Meat Head"(background music)
(8:15 - this cubbyhole covers late GL to early GO bands)
God Bullies - "Do It Again"
God's Acre - "Wood"
Godfathers - "This Damn Nation"
Godflesh - "Pulp"
Roger Glover - "The Next A Ring of Fire" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time!)
Superchunk - "Driveway to Driveway"
Superchunk - "Watery Hands"
Juno Reactor - "God Is God (Optical Instrumental Mix)" (background music)
(8:45 - clearing out the rest of the G's)
The Go-Betweens - "Palm Sunday (On Board The S.S. Within)"
God and the State - "Art for Spastics"
The Glove - "Like An Animal"
Gobblehoof - "Sacrifice"
God Lives Underwater - "Nothing" (background music)
(9:00 - new music hour surfaces)
Joan as Police Woman - "Broken Eyes"
Shannon Wright - "In The Morning"
Elk City - "Melody"
Ov - "Soul of Swan" (concert report music)
(9:20 - new music hour emerges)
Mary Timony Band - "Killed By The Telephone"
Shapes and Sizes - "Head Movin'"
The Karl Hendricks Rock Band - "The Last Uncompromising Hardcore Band"
The Only Children - "Invisible Streets"
(9:40 - new music hour receeds)
Monsterbuck - "Like It Did Before"
The Everyday Visuals - "I'll Take It All In Stride"
Feist - "Past in Present"
Lavender Diamond - "Open Your Heart"
(9:55 - new music hour submerges)
Sugar & Gold - "Neighborhood"
Appreciate your attention this morning, if you missed it just visit WMBR's lovely archive within two weeks for the streaming version.
(8:00 - our exploration of the vinyl library continues with the letter "G")
Crispin Hellion Glover - "The New Clean Song"
Glorious Din - "Red Dirt"
Goblin Mix - "The Water"
God - "Meat Head"(background music)
(8:15 - this cubbyhole covers late GL to early GO bands)
God Bullies - "Do It Again"
God's Acre - "Wood"
Godfathers - "This Damn Nation"
Godflesh - "Pulp"
Roger Glover - "The Next A Ring of Fire" (background music)
(8:30 - band of the week time!)
Superchunk - "Driveway to Driveway"
Superchunk - "Watery Hands"
Juno Reactor - "God Is God (Optical Instrumental Mix)" (background music)
(8:45 - clearing out the rest of the G's)
The Go-Betweens - "Palm Sunday (On Board The S.S. Within)"
God and the State - "Art for Spastics"
The Glove - "Like An Animal"
Gobblehoof - "Sacrifice"
God Lives Underwater - "Nothing" (background music)
(9:00 - new music hour surfaces)
Joan as Police Woman - "Broken Eyes"
Shannon Wright - "In The Morning"
Elk City - "Melody"
Ov - "Soul of Swan" (concert report music)
(9:20 - new music hour emerges)
Mary Timony Band - "Killed By The Telephone"
Shapes and Sizes - "Head Movin'"
The Karl Hendricks Rock Band - "The Last Uncompromising Hardcore Band"
The Only Children - "Invisible Streets"
(9:40 - new music hour receeds)
Monsterbuck - "Like It Did Before"
The Everyday Visuals - "I'll Take It All In Stride"
Feist - "Past in Present"
Lavender Diamond - "Open Your Heart"
(9:55 - new music hour submerges)
Sugar & Gold - "Neighborhood"
Appreciate your attention this morning, if you missed it just visit WMBR's lovely archive within two weeks for the streaming version.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Hello friends, time for another tour of the new releases - Mid May edition.
Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Melt Me”
This album heralds a continued progression towards more polish and less experimentation / piss-takes. It’s now sounding like an actual full band, and the overmodulating synths have a unique feel that bubbles to the surface consistently. Definitely the best record of the bunch. Packed with 20+ songs but most of them are actual songs, albeit short ones.
Epo-555 – “Tess La Coil”
This Danish band ranges far and wide on their album, trading off vocals and styles from track to track. This one is strictly for the new wave lovers with glossy synths and what sounds like a looped video game sample. As satisfying as the recent Brothers Martin release for those who like their music set in the 80’s. Played on 5/10/07.
PlayRadioPlay – “Confines of Gravity”
I should’ve known better when the accompanying press release touted their prodigious amount of myspace friends. Musicially their Postal Service era beats are fine, but the heavily pitch corrected vocals seek emo-level earnestness with a horribly forced astronaut analogy in the lyrics.
Boom Bip – “Rat Tail”
Mostly instrumental (there are a few “yo’s”) song off their new ep, a funky little electronic number with an Purple Rain era Prince backbeat and enough variation in the foreground to keep things interesting and dancy.
Young Galaxy – “Wailing Wall”
There’s a definite early 90’s Cure feel here, especially in the simple chiming guitars that punctuate the song. Vocally it’s laid back retro-60s psych but doesn’t get excessively trippy. While simple, they carry the lethargic energy quite strongly and it eventually gets under the skin. Spun this on 5/3/07.
Julian Fane – “The Moon Is Gone”
The other tunes on this disc feel a little too Radiohead-ish for me, but this one sticks to the retro-shoegazer formula faithfully enough to satisfy my needs. It’s more drum machine and synth driven with some fuzzy bass than the traditional guitar howling, though some of that is present in the chorus too. Aired on 5/10/07.
Ulrich Schnauss – “Look at the Sky”
New ep from Ulrich Schnauss promises his new full-length will be a little different from his previous two lps. The leadoff track is a full-on shoegazer experience complete with breathy female vocals and waves of guitars and distortion. This doesn’t follow the slowly shifting sonic pattern of his previous releases but instead treads a more aggressive path. Played on 5/10/07.
Paula Frazer & Tarnation – “Another Day”
Paula reunites with her original band, though I can’t say this distinguishes itself much from her solo efforts. If you’re hoping for a revisit of the haunted Patsy Cline-ish vibe of the first Tarnation release it’s not here, these are country-pop confections with plenty of reverb. Think late-model Mazzy Star.
Dreadful Yawns – “Due South”
Gentle folk pop confections yearning for an early 70’s sunny country feel. The vocals aren’t quite strong enough, though the skittering drums and Dean Wareham-esque jangly guitar are pluses.
Southerly – “A Course Design”
The chorus is the selling point here, with some nice piano accents over a repeated “you don’t know me anyway” lyric delivered with the appropriate amount of yearning. The verses serve as the connecting tissue and don’t really distinguish themselves beyond a “don’t judge by appearances” vibe.
The Only Children – “Invisible Streets”
Really wanted to like this Anniversary offshoot as I adored the progenitor. They’re very studiously country rock, carrying the tunes with enthusiasm and strong backing vocals along with the omnipresent organ. Unfortunately I just can’t get into new sound. This song is pretty much their justification for pursuing this sonic course, namedropping the Stones and Muddy Waters as inspiration
Taxi Taxi – “X Marks the Spot”
Probably the most consistent song on this inconsistent record, a dreamy soft rock tune awash with twiddling synths that add a little unpredictability to the scene. Played this one on 5/10/07.
Electrelane – “At Sea”
After their wonderful first release I’ve had little time for Electrelane, the more prominent the vocals the less interesting they become. There are a few attention grabbers on this new disc, the guitars are more rhythmically prominent with added organ creating some urgently energetic passages. The mostly wordless vocals on this track don’t detract from the overall effect, which is why it got spun on 5/10/07.
The Boggs – “Arm In Arm”
A case study in too much being more than enough, there are over 20 musicians equally credited on the liners of this cd. At least it all sounds like they’re having a good time as they fight for prominence in this hectic but messy stew. This is the only track I thought was relatively coherent from beginning to end.
Hightower Smith – “Don’t Lift Your Breath”
Similar in vocal tone to the Great Lakes Myth Society record from a few weeks ago, with a deadpan sing-songy style. Nothing complex musically, with a few happy-to-be-punctual guitars that remind me of Bishop Allen in their brainier moments. Pleasant but not outstandingly so.
Fields – “If You Fail We All Fail”
This band’s best song does that sprawling M-83 synth thing, but on a major label. Still, this particular tune gets it right enough for me to consider spinning it. Nothing else on the record measured up.
Karl Hendricks Rock Band – “I’m Not Crying, Karl”
An 8+ minute epic of cynicism served up the Karl Hendricks way. Musically they still follow the muscular rock sound they’ve possessed since the early 90’s. Lyrically not much has changed either, Karl’s rather negative outlook on the human race is given plenty of space to roam in this series of encounters with people holding similar viewpoints. But as always there’s at least a spark of hope, or at least a reason to keep on living.
Shapes and Sizes – “Head Movin’”
Most of their songs seem like they’re on the verge of falling apart, paper mache constructions that begin to sag about ¾ of the way through. This one rides the cymbal hard and contains a handclap solo, which will always draw my attention. The whole effort has a raw production feel, the guitar practically pokes its way through the speakers. The female vocals are thankfully limited to a few “oohs.”
Miracle Fortress – “Next Train”
I’m thinking I reserved this song because it namedrops Wisconsin and contains snapping as percussion almost all the way through. The build at the end is much appreciated as the bulk of the song has an almost hypnotic effect until a few other instruments join in the restrained cacophony.
Jay Mitchell and the Mitchellites – “I Am The Man For You Baby”
From the latest Numero Group release spotlighting the Bahamian label Grand Bahama Goombay. Some of the lyrical passages are amusingly awkward, including “I may not be the best looking guy you’ll ever see / but I sure try my best to be neat and clean.” But the lead does a decent Impressions impression and the catchy backing band includes some tight horns and a sure fire chorus.
Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Melt Me”
This album heralds a continued progression towards more polish and less experimentation / piss-takes. It’s now sounding like an actual full band, and the overmodulating synths have a unique feel that bubbles to the surface consistently. Definitely the best record of the bunch. Packed with 20+ songs but most of them are actual songs, albeit short ones.
Epo-555 – “Tess La Coil”
This Danish band ranges far and wide on their album, trading off vocals and styles from track to track. This one is strictly for the new wave lovers with glossy synths and what sounds like a looped video game sample. As satisfying as the recent Brothers Martin release for those who like their music set in the 80’s. Played on 5/10/07.
PlayRadioPlay – “Confines of Gravity”
I should’ve known better when the accompanying press release touted their prodigious amount of myspace friends. Musicially their Postal Service era beats are fine, but the heavily pitch corrected vocals seek emo-level earnestness with a horribly forced astronaut analogy in the lyrics.
Boom Bip – “Rat Tail”
Mostly instrumental (there are a few “yo’s”) song off their new ep, a funky little electronic number with an Purple Rain era Prince backbeat and enough variation in the foreground to keep things interesting and dancy.
Young Galaxy – “Wailing Wall”
There’s a definite early 90’s Cure feel here, especially in the simple chiming guitars that punctuate the song. Vocally it’s laid back retro-60s psych but doesn’t get excessively trippy. While simple, they carry the lethargic energy quite strongly and it eventually gets under the skin. Spun this on 5/3/07.
Julian Fane – “The Moon Is Gone”
The other tunes on this disc feel a little too Radiohead-ish for me, but this one sticks to the retro-shoegazer formula faithfully enough to satisfy my needs. It’s more drum machine and synth driven with some fuzzy bass than the traditional guitar howling, though some of that is present in the chorus too. Aired on 5/10/07.
Ulrich Schnauss – “Look at the Sky”
New ep from Ulrich Schnauss promises his new full-length will be a little different from his previous two lps. The leadoff track is a full-on shoegazer experience complete with breathy female vocals and waves of guitars and distortion. This doesn’t follow the slowly shifting sonic pattern of his previous releases but instead treads a more aggressive path. Played on 5/10/07.
Paula Frazer & Tarnation – “Another Day”
Paula reunites with her original band, though I can’t say this distinguishes itself much from her solo efforts. If you’re hoping for a revisit of the haunted Patsy Cline-ish vibe of the first Tarnation release it’s not here, these are country-pop confections with plenty of reverb. Think late-model Mazzy Star.
Dreadful Yawns – “Due South”
Gentle folk pop confections yearning for an early 70’s sunny country feel. The vocals aren’t quite strong enough, though the skittering drums and Dean Wareham-esque jangly guitar are pluses.
Southerly – “A Course Design”
The chorus is the selling point here, with some nice piano accents over a repeated “you don’t know me anyway” lyric delivered with the appropriate amount of yearning. The verses serve as the connecting tissue and don’t really distinguish themselves beyond a “don’t judge by appearances” vibe.
The Only Children – “Invisible Streets”
Really wanted to like this Anniversary offshoot as I adored the progenitor. They’re very studiously country rock, carrying the tunes with enthusiasm and strong backing vocals along with the omnipresent organ. Unfortunately I just can’t get into new sound. This song is pretty much their justification for pursuing this sonic course, namedropping the Stones and Muddy Waters as inspiration
Taxi Taxi – “X Marks the Spot”
Probably the most consistent song on this inconsistent record, a dreamy soft rock tune awash with twiddling synths that add a little unpredictability to the scene. Played this one on 5/10/07.
Electrelane – “At Sea”
After their wonderful first release I’ve had little time for Electrelane, the more prominent the vocals the less interesting they become. There are a few attention grabbers on this new disc, the guitars are more rhythmically prominent with added organ creating some urgently energetic passages. The mostly wordless vocals on this track don’t detract from the overall effect, which is why it got spun on 5/10/07.
The Boggs – “Arm In Arm”
A case study in too much being more than enough, there are over 20 musicians equally credited on the liners of this cd. At least it all sounds like they’re having a good time as they fight for prominence in this hectic but messy stew. This is the only track I thought was relatively coherent from beginning to end.
Hightower Smith – “Don’t Lift Your Breath”
Similar in vocal tone to the Great Lakes Myth Society record from a few weeks ago, with a deadpan sing-songy style. Nothing complex musically, with a few happy-to-be-punctual guitars that remind me of Bishop Allen in their brainier moments. Pleasant but not outstandingly so.
Fields – “If You Fail We All Fail”
This band’s best song does that sprawling M-83 synth thing, but on a major label. Still, this particular tune gets it right enough for me to consider spinning it. Nothing else on the record measured up.
Karl Hendricks Rock Band – “I’m Not Crying, Karl”
An 8+ minute epic of cynicism served up the Karl Hendricks way. Musically they still follow the muscular rock sound they’ve possessed since the early 90’s. Lyrically not much has changed either, Karl’s rather negative outlook on the human race is given plenty of space to roam in this series of encounters with people holding similar viewpoints. But as always there’s at least a spark of hope, or at least a reason to keep on living.
Shapes and Sizes – “Head Movin’”
Most of their songs seem like they’re on the verge of falling apart, paper mache constructions that begin to sag about ¾ of the way through. This one rides the cymbal hard and contains a handclap solo, which will always draw my attention. The whole effort has a raw production feel, the guitar practically pokes its way through the speakers. The female vocals are thankfully limited to a few “oohs.”
Miracle Fortress – “Next Train”
I’m thinking I reserved this song because it namedrops Wisconsin and contains snapping as percussion almost all the way through. The build at the end is much appreciated as the bulk of the song has an almost hypnotic effect until a few other instruments join in the restrained cacophony.
Jay Mitchell and the Mitchellites – “I Am The Man For You Baby”
From the latest Numero Group release spotlighting the Bahamian label Grand Bahama Goombay. Some of the lyrical passages are amusingly awkward, including “I may not be the best looking guy you’ll ever see / but I sure try my best to be neat and clean.” But the lead does a decent Impressions impression and the catchy backing band includes some tight horns and a sure fire chorus.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
For those of you who like to follow me around (the dial, that is), I'll be the Wednesday fill-in host tomorrow on Lost and Found from noon to 2pm on WMBR. So those of you who normally tune in for Gorilla Got Me feel free to flick on the radio a bit earlier!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Here's the latest playlist from the Breakfast of Champions on WMBR, May 10th edition
(8:00 - the cubbyhole visits the letter "F")
Fire Party - "Jerk"
fIREHOSE - "Sometimes"
Fire Engines - "Get Up and Use Me"
Fire Dept (Group) - "Golden Egg"
The Fire Escape - "The Trip"
Fin Fang Foom - "Negative Numbers" (background music)
(8:15 - today's slice of the vinyl library is from "FIG" to "FIS")
Fire Town - "Favorite Song"
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition - "Tell It All, Brother"
Fish & Roses - "Ostrichlike"
Teddy Fire - "Tax Deductible Dribble Raisin"
Fireballet - "Centurian (Tales of Fireball Kids)"
(8:30 - band of the week time!)
Danny & the Nightmares - "Haunted House"
Daniel Johnston - "Casper the Friendly Ghost"
Daniel Johnston - "Big Business Monkey"
The Essential Firmament and the Elements - "Maxence Cup" (background music)
(8:45 - let's close out the F's)
Figures on a Beach - "Decay"
Fischer-Z - "Room Service"
Fingerprintz - "Fingerprince"
Fini Tribe - "Make It Internal" (background music)
(9:00 - time for the new music hour)
Electrelane - "At Sea"
Tin Cup Prophette - "Going Numb"
Harmonia - "Walky-Talky"
(9:20 - how to follow up the concert report, step 1)
Paula Frazer and Tarnation - "Another Day"
Laura Veirs - "Phantom Mountain"
Epo-555 - "Tess La Coil"
Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Melt Me"
(9:40 - let's trawl through the rest of this new stuff)
Taxi Taxi - "X Marks The Spot"
Ulrich Schnauss - "Look at the Sky (Rob McVey Version)"
Julian Fane - "The Moon Is Gone"
The Clientele - "The Dance of the Hours"
(9:55 - the big showstopping closer)
Monotract - "The Ballad of Lechon"
Thanks for listening to the radio, if you missed it you still have two weeks to check the archive!
(8:00 - the cubbyhole visits the letter "F")
Fire Party - "Jerk"
fIREHOSE - "Sometimes"
Fire Engines - "Get Up and Use Me"
Fire Dept (Group) - "Golden Egg"
The Fire Escape - "The Trip"
Fin Fang Foom - "Negative Numbers" (background music)
(8:15 - today's slice of the vinyl library is from "FIG" to "FIS")
Fire Town - "Favorite Song"
Kenny Rogers and the First Edition - "Tell It All, Brother"
Fish & Roses - "Ostrichlike"
Teddy Fire - "Tax Deductible Dribble Raisin"
Fireballet - "Centurian (Tales of Fireball Kids)"
(8:30 - band of the week time!)
Danny & the Nightmares - "Haunted House"
Daniel Johnston - "Casper the Friendly Ghost"
Daniel Johnston - "Big Business Monkey"
The Essential Firmament and the Elements - "Maxence Cup" (background music)
(8:45 - let's close out the F's)
Figures on a Beach - "Decay"
Fischer-Z - "Room Service"
Fingerprintz - "Fingerprince"
Fini Tribe - "Make It Internal" (background music)
(9:00 - time for the new music hour)
Electrelane - "At Sea"
Tin Cup Prophette - "Going Numb"
Harmonia - "Walky-Talky"
(9:20 - how to follow up the concert report, step 1)
Paula Frazer and Tarnation - "Another Day"
Laura Veirs - "Phantom Mountain"
Epo-555 - "Tess La Coil"
Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Melt Me"
(9:40 - let's trawl through the rest of this new stuff)
Taxi Taxi - "X Marks The Spot"
Ulrich Schnauss - "Look at the Sky (Rob McVey Version)"
Julian Fane - "The Moon Is Gone"
The Clientele - "The Dance of the Hours"
(9:55 - the big showstopping closer)
Monotract - "The Ballad of Lechon"
Thanks for listening to the radio, if you missed it you still have two weeks to check the archive!
Saturday, May 05, 2007
It's early May and time for another round of new release reviews. The timing of these all depends on the amount of stuff flowing into the station ... as the summer comes closer the frequency
Automusik – “Sexy Body”
Heard Andrea play this on one of her L&F Wed shifts and wondered how the heck I missed it. Behind some production-line robotic beats an equally robotic and doubled female vocalist opines on her sexy body and the listener’s inability to have it. Kitsch, but fun.
Maximo Park – “Girls Who Play Guitars”
Personally I prefer girls who play bass. Spun this on 4/26/07. The last Maximo Park was worthy of an EOY compilation appearance so I had high hopes for this new release. Upon first listen it’s not as engaging as the previous one, though the debut was a grower so the jury is still out. This tune unfolds in a past-tense reminiscing tone with trademark urgent guitar stabs, detailing a friendship or relationship (the singer seems to think it’s the latter) that has lost its luster over time for at least one of the participants.
Cat-A-Tac – “Past Lies & Former Lives”
Played this song on 5/3/07. Has a vaguely late 80’s House of Love feel to it, with dreamy vocals and a slow building energy behind some gauzy guitars. Beyond that feeling, there’s no real hook either lyrically or sonically to grab me, just that slow build over some moony post ‘you broke up with me’ thoughts.
65daysofstatic – “The Distant Mechanized Glow”
Used this as concert report music on 4/26/07. Interesting melding of several different styles, there are some proggy keyboards here that get sucked in with a super-glitchy drumbeat pattern across some stoner rock guitars. A little too busy for my personal foreground listening tastes, but works well for covering up my vocal tics.
Drakes Hotel – “Songs I Forgot About”
There was something just slightly off in the production of this dreamrock sounding band. The male vocals are a bit too upfront and the guitars not quite obscured enough for my comfort. Perhaps they’re trying to mix up the early Jesus & Mary Chain formula (guitars up front, vocals in back) but the rather simple and repetitive guitar backbone doesn’t hold my interest, and neither does the slightly nasal vocal tone.
Monotract – “The Ballad of Lechon”
These freak-rockers don’t follow much of a discernable pattern from song to song, so maybe that’s why I usually can find one song on each release that’s to my liking. This is a loping mid-tempo tune with some trash can vocals that are quickly eschewed for an extended dual guitar solo punctuated by some effective symbol riding on the drums and a welcome false ending.
Ian Hunter – “Soul of America”
New solo release from Mott the Hoople lead singer is no short back n sides. This song took the honor of closing tune on 5/3/07, my weekly attempt to annoy Joanie (or at least her listeners). Indeed, we did get a call accusing me of playing John Cougar Mellencamp. Not quite, at least this song has an authentic roots rock sound and some nice harmonica work, plus the lyrics are not as push-button jingoistic like John’s – though it works the same territory with a bit of a Springsteen what-the-hell-can-we-do-about-it-anyways angle.
Arctic Monkeys – “Fluorescent Adolescent”
Not on the Arctic Monkey bandwagon, not me. But I can find one tune on this sophomore release. This band already has a flavor-of-last-month feel to it, as if all the magazines who touted them as the next coming of genius suddenly started looking away with a nervous avoid-your-eyes gait. I initially was attracted to the song by the reggae feel to it but on second thought it’s just a jaunty mid-tempo tune with a Pavement-esque title.
Sea Wolf – “Sea Monuments”
This week’s nomination for the what-the-hell-do-they-sound-like-again award. I guess this usually happens to nondescriptly named bands like this one, where I stare at my notes and struggle to recall their distinguishing sonic markings. Has a galloping Belle & Sebastian pace (complete with violins) but the guitars ring electrically and the vocalist drawls out the end of each line which morphs it into something beyond jangle pop.
Matt Lutz – “Took Me A While”
Guessing that it was the constant presence of chimes that attracted me to this pop tune. Singer is slightly off in a glammy sort of way, his voice stretching across bass (and chimes!) dominated backing that stays relavitely consitent throughout the song, never cashing in on its initial energy.
Harlan – “The Ruralist”
Still can’t figure out if the band is Harlan and the album is The Ruralist, or vice-versa. In either case it has a very home-recorded feel, polished as it may be. The vocalist is endearingly awkward in that Andy Partridge sort of way and there’s an unexpected piano solo in the middle that delighted me on both first and second listen. When the guitars pick up in the 2nd half of the song it unfortunately obscures the lyrics. Vocalist uses left-right channel phasing nicely to create a conversational feel.
Bears – “Reason To Cry”
Received a new ep of sub 3-minute songs from this jangly indie-pop band. I don’t think this song has drums, though it does has percussion and hand claps plus a persistent acoustic guitar keeping the tempo happy in a Lucksmiths sort of way. Vocalist reminds me of Holiday a little.
The Everyday Visuals – “I’ll Take It All In Stride”
Jeff Breeze of Pipeline has already spun this a few times so I can reasonably surmise that it’s local. There are some strong Beach Boys touches here including a repetitive organ, booming drums that drop in and out, and a guitar that plays one … note … at … a … time. Plus the aaahing backing vocals. But I’m a sucker for the Wilson production homages so keep ‘em coming.
Great Lakes Myth Society – “Heydays”
Played this one on 5/3/07. Has a very nostalgic look back in awe type feel to it, gladly romanticizing someone’s high school and/or college experience of music and girls across a stretch of yearning guitars. Any song that admits haircuts and jackets are all a band needs to be interesting to a teenager works for me, even if it admonishes us to let loose our deliciously obscured memories of the past at the conclusion.
Keren Ann – “Lay Your Head Down”
I had a negative impression of this singer, thought she ached for the East-Village-in-the-late-60’s vibe too desperately. But someone sent me a mix with one of her earlier songs on it that charmed me, so I’ve opened up considerably. This tune has some nice strings and punctuating handclaps, along with some very effective vocals in the chorus. Played it on 5/3/07. Lovely harmonica/handclap/guitar solo as well.
The Clientele – “Somebody Changed”
Continuing the progression from their previous album away from the narcotically dreamy guitars & pace into more of a full-fledged retro-pop band. The vocals still have punch-in-the-gut potency, when he said “I don’t want to wake up” the emotion is perfectly communicated. I do miss those 7+ minute guitar exercises but the result is still beguiling and delicious.
Shannon Wright – “Everybody’s Got Their Own Part To Play”
Considerably lighter than her previous albums, which always had a stark feel to them. There was an immediacy to her vocal thrust with a bit of empty-room hollowness to the music that gave everything a bit of an edge-of-breakdown feel to it, everything sounded considerably heavier. Not that I’m complaining about the lighter sonic shift, these songs are not light puffy pastries to be consumed and forgotten. The insistent piano is still there, her vocals still carry potent bitterness when she growls “what’s the point” and the subject matter is still decidedly dark. Give me a few weeks and I’ll be extolling its virtues rather than nothing what it is not.
The Sea and Cake – “Middlenight”
Overall another very satisfying Sea and Cake record, delivering tight pop tunes that still have an almost jazzy improvisational feel to them despite all the evidence to the contrary. In truth these guys are just as slick as Matt Pond PA, but somehow seem less intent on achieving that end. In a word … smooth. There’s a more organic sound here than their previous few releases.
Guitar – “Just Like Honey”
The title gives me a Jesus & Mary Chain flashback before I even press play, and once the (female) vocals breathily jump in that promise is cashed in quickly. Though if you expect ear-splitting guitars here you’ll be disappointed, as Guitar carries their songs with repetitive beats and wispy synths rather than their namesake instrument. It’s a very effective formula, the song never lacks for energy yet still has a light feel to it.
Desolation Bells – “She’s Optimistic”
Boston based musician Mike Hibarger has passed through many a pop and rock band over the years, the Sonic Bubblegum label on the back of this CD immediately distinguishes it as one of his efforts. What’s inside is a pretty little retro 90’s pop/rock band with male/female vocal swapping, some pretty guitars and a glossy coat of reverb. Played this song on 5/3/07.
The Sea Navy – “Sir Pants”
This local rock band usually includes one song per release that catches my ear, in this case a jumpy power popper with a soulful lead vocal treatment.
Feist – “Brandy Alexander”
You might notice these updates often skip bands that get played multiple times on the BoC Thurs. That’s because these updates are driven off the sampler discs I make at the station. The purpose of these compilations is to provide exposure to one song off the various new rack releases and cement their ‘to play or not to play’ status. So when a new album comes in that I know I’m going to buy it usually gets skipped for inclusion on the comp, and hence gets skipped in the blog rundown. Feist is one such victim of this practice, as I’ll definitely be picking up The Reminder in full sometime this week. But since her previous record Let It Die was my favourite of 2005 I’ll just quickly note that the new one takes a more cautious approach, sacrificing the emotional power of her voice and arrangements for more immediate charm. Perhaps over time it’ll ignite my auditory senses like the previous one, but for now only two or three songs inspire my ardor.
Automusik – “Sexy Body”
Heard Andrea play this on one of her L&F Wed shifts and wondered how the heck I missed it. Behind some production-line robotic beats an equally robotic and doubled female vocalist opines on her sexy body and the listener’s inability to have it. Kitsch, but fun.
Maximo Park – “Girls Who Play Guitars”
Personally I prefer girls who play bass. Spun this on 4/26/07. The last Maximo Park was worthy of an EOY compilation appearance so I had high hopes for this new release. Upon first listen it’s not as engaging as the previous one, though the debut was a grower so the jury is still out. This tune unfolds in a past-tense reminiscing tone with trademark urgent guitar stabs, detailing a friendship or relationship (the singer seems to think it’s the latter) that has lost its luster over time for at least one of the participants.
Cat-A-Tac – “Past Lies & Former Lives”
Played this song on 5/3/07. Has a vaguely late 80’s House of Love feel to it, with dreamy vocals and a slow building energy behind some gauzy guitars. Beyond that feeling, there’s no real hook either lyrically or sonically to grab me, just that slow build over some moony post ‘you broke up with me’ thoughts.
65daysofstatic – “The Distant Mechanized Glow”
Used this as concert report music on 4/26/07. Interesting melding of several different styles, there are some proggy keyboards here that get sucked in with a super-glitchy drumbeat pattern across some stoner rock guitars. A little too busy for my personal foreground listening tastes, but works well for covering up my vocal tics.
Drakes Hotel – “Songs I Forgot About”
There was something just slightly off in the production of this dreamrock sounding band. The male vocals are a bit too upfront and the guitars not quite obscured enough for my comfort. Perhaps they’re trying to mix up the early Jesus & Mary Chain formula (guitars up front, vocals in back) but the rather simple and repetitive guitar backbone doesn’t hold my interest, and neither does the slightly nasal vocal tone.
Monotract – “The Ballad of Lechon”
These freak-rockers don’t follow much of a discernable pattern from song to song, so maybe that’s why I usually can find one song on each release that’s to my liking. This is a loping mid-tempo tune with some trash can vocals that are quickly eschewed for an extended dual guitar solo punctuated by some effective symbol riding on the drums and a welcome false ending.
Ian Hunter – “Soul of America”
New solo release from Mott the Hoople lead singer is no short back n sides. This song took the honor of closing tune on 5/3/07, my weekly attempt to annoy Joanie (or at least her listeners). Indeed, we did get a call accusing me of playing John Cougar Mellencamp. Not quite, at least this song has an authentic roots rock sound and some nice harmonica work, plus the lyrics are not as push-button jingoistic like John’s – though it works the same territory with a bit of a Springsteen what-the-hell-can-we-do-about-it-anyways angle.
Arctic Monkeys – “Fluorescent Adolescent”
Not on the Arctic Monkey bandwagon, not me. But I can find one tune on this sophomore release. This band already has a flavor-of-last-month feel to it, as if all the magazines who touted them as the next coming of genius suddenly started looking away with a nervous avoid-your-eyes gait. I initially was attracted to the song by the reggae feel to it but on second thought it’s just a jaunty mid-tempo tune with a Pavement-esque title.
Sea Wolf – “Sea Monuments”
This week’s nomination for the what-the-hell-do-they-sound-like-again award. I guess this usually happens to nondescriptly named bands like this one, where I stare at my notes and struggle to recall their distinguishing sonic markings. Has a galloping Belle & Sebastian pace (complete with violins) but the guitars ring electrically and the vocalist drawls out the end of each line which morphs it into something beyond jangle pop.
Matt Lutz – “Took Me A While”
Guessing that it was the constant presence of chimes that attracted me to this pop tune. Singer is slightly off in a glammy sort of way, his voice stretching across bass (and chimes!) dominated backing that stays relavitely consitent throughout the song, never cashing in on its initial energy.
Harlan – “The Ruralist”
Still can’t figure out if the band is Harlan and the album is The Ruralist, or vice-versa. In either case it has a very home-recorded feel, polished as it may be. The vocalist is endearingly awkward in that Andy Partridge sort of way and there’s an unexpected piano solo in the middle that delighted me on both first and second listen. When the guitars pick up in the 2nd half of the song it unfortunately obscures the lyrics. Vocalist uses left-right channel phasing nicely to create a conversational feel.
Bears – “Reason To Cry”
Received a new ep of sub 3-minute songs from this jangly indie-pop band. I don’t think this song has drums, though it does has percussion and hand claps plus a persistent acoustic guitar keeping the tempo happy in a Lucksmiths sort of way. Vocalist reminds me of Holiday a little.
The Everyday Visuals – “I’ll Take It All In Stride”
Jeff Breeze of Pipeline has already spun this a few times so I can reasonably surmise that it’s local. There are some strong Beach Boys touches here including a repetitive organ, booming drums that drop in and out, and a guitar that plays one … note … at … a … time. Plus the aaahing backing vocals. But I’m a sucker for the Wilson production homages so keep ‘em coming.
Great Lakes Myth Society – “Heydays”
Played this one on 5/3/07. Has a very nostalgic look back in awe type feel to it, gladly romanticizing someone’s high school and/or college experience of music and girls across a stretch of yearning guitars. Any song that admits haircuts and jackets are all a band needs to be interesting to a teenager works for me, even if it admonishes us to let loose our deliciously obscured memories of the past at the conclusion.
Keren Ann – “Lay Your Head Down”
I had a negative impression of this singer, thought she ached for the East-Village-in-the-late-60’s vibe too desperately. But someone sent me a mix with one of her earlier songs on it that charmed me, so I’ve opened up considerably. This tune has some nice strings and punctuating handclaps, along with some very effective vocals in the chorus. Played it on 5/3/07. Lovely harmonica/handclap/guitar solo as well.
The Clientele – “Somebody Changed”
Continuing the progression from their previous album away from the narcotically dreamy guitars & pace into more of a full-fledged retro-pop band. The vocals still have punch-in-the-gut potency, when he said “I don’t want to wake up” the emotion is perfectly communicated. I do miss those 7+ minute guitar exercises but the result is still beguiling and delicious.
Shannon Wright – “Everybody’s Got Their Own Part To Play”
Considerably lighter than her previous albums, which always had a stark feel to them. There was an immediacy to her vocal thrust with a bit of empty-room hollowness to the music that gave everything a bit of an edge-of-breakdown feel to it, everything sounded considerably heavier. Not that I’m complaining about the lighter sonic shift, these songs are not light puffy pastries to be consumed and forgotten. The insistent piano is still there, her vocals still carry potent bitterness when she growls “what’s the point” and the subject matter is still decidedly dark. Give me a few weeks and I’ll be extolling its virtues rather than nothing what it is not.
The Sea and Cake – “Middlenight”
Overall another very satisfying Sea and Cake record, delivering tight pop tunes that still have an almost jazzy improvisational feel to them despite all the evidence to the contrary. In truth these guys are just as slick as Matt Pond PA, but somehow seem less intent on achieving that end. In a word … smooth. There’s a more organic sound here than their previous few releases.
Guitar – “Just Like Honey”
The title gives me a Jesus & Mary Chain flashback before I even press play, and once the (female) vocals breathily jump in that promise is cashed in quickly. Though if you expect ear-splitting guitars here you’ll be disappointed, as Guitar carries their songs with repetitive beats and wispy synths rather than their namesake instrument. It’s a very effective formula, the song never lacks for energy yet still has a light feel to it.
Desolation Bells – “She’s Optimistic”
Boston based musician Mike Hibarger has passed through many a pop and rock band over the years, the Sonic Bubblegum label on the back of this CD immediately distinguishes it as one of his efforts. What’s inside is a pretty little retro 90’s pop/rock band with male/female vocal swapping, some pretty guitars and a glossy coat of reverb. Played this song on 5/3/07.
The Sea Navy – “Sir Pants”
This local rock band usually includes one song per release that catches my ear, in this case a jumpy power popper with a soulful lead vocal treatment.
Feist – “Brandy Alexander”
You might notice these updates often skip bands that get played multiple times on the BoC Thurs. That’s because these updates are driven off the sampler discs I make at the station. The purpose of these compilations is to provide exposure to one song off the various new rack releases and cement their ‘to play or not to play’ status. So when a new album comes in that I know I’m going to buy it usually gets skipped for inclusion on the comp, and hence gets skipped in the blog rundown. Feist is one such victim of this practice, as I’ll definitely be picking up The Reminder in full sometime this week. But since her previous record Let It Die was my favourite of 2005 I’ll just quickly note that the new one takes a more cautious approach, sacrificing the emotional power of her voice and arrangements for more immediate charm. Perhaps over time it’ll ignite my auditory senses like the previous one, but for now only two or three songs inspire my ardor.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
The playlist for the Breakfast of Champions radio show on WMBR dated May 3rd, 2007
(8:00 - this week's cubbyhole is sponsored by the letter E)
The Elm Street Group - "Do The Freddy"
The Electric Lucifer - "Song of the Death Machine"
Elli et Jacno - "Mad Affair"
Yvonne Elliman - "I Can't Get You Outa My Mind"
Larry Elgart - "Wait for the Night" (background music)
(8:15 - We're visiting the EL section of our vinyl library)
Elevator to Hell - "Why I Didn't Like August '93"
Electric Peace - "Big Man"
Eleventh Dream Day - "Awake I Lie"
Elvis Hitler - "Black Babies Dancing on Fire"
el ron - "Side One Song Two" (background music)
(8:30 - we interrupt this theme for band of the week)
Unwound - "Lady Elect"
Unwound - "Hexenzsene"
Electric Skychurch - "Creation (Amoeba Mix)" (background music)
(8:45 - concluding the EL portion of the program)
Electronic - "Get The Message (extended mix)"
Danny Elfman - "Cool City"
Electric Love Muffin - "What We Talk About"
Ellis Island Sound - "Republica Evescarra" (background music)
(9:00 - starting the new music hour)
Feist - "Brandy Alexander"
Keren Ann - "Lay Your Head Down"
Shannon Wright - "Everybody's Got Their Own Part to Play"
Echoboy - "Elektrik Soul (Suite)"
(9:20 - continuing the new music hour)
Red Collar - "Stay"
Cat-A-Tac - "Past Lies and Former Lives"
Desolation Bells - "She's Optomistic"
Great Lakes Myth Society - "Heydays"
(9:40 - wrapping up the new music hour)
Rumskib - "Hearts on Fire"
Blonde Redhead - "Spring and By Summer Fall"
Young Galaxy - "Wailing Wall"
(9:55 - a metaphorical handshake with Joanie)
Ian Hunter - "Soul of America"
thanks so much for listening, or if you didn't you have two weeks from the date to catch it on WMBR's archives.
(8:00 - this week's cubbyhole is sponsored by the letter E)
The Elm Street Group - "Do The Freddy"
The Electric Lucifer - "Song of the Death Machine"
Elli et Jacno - "Mad Affair"
Yvonne Elliman - "I Can't Get You Outa My Mind"
Larry Elgart - "Wait for the Night" (background music)
(8:15 - We're visiting the EL section of our vinyl library)
Elevator to Hell - "Why I Didn't Like August '93"
Electric Peace - "Big Man"
Eleventh Dream Day - "Awake I Lie"
Elvis Hitler - "Black Babies Dancing on Fire"
el ron - "Side One Song Two" (background music)
(8:30 - we interrupt this theme for band of the week)
Unwound - "Lady Elect"
Unwound - "Hexenzsene"
Electric Skychurch - "Creation (Amoeba Mix)" (background music)
(8:45 - concluding the EL portion of the program)
Electronic - "Get The Message (extended mix)"
Danny Elfman - "Cool City"
Electric Love Muffin - "What We Talk About"
Ellis Island Sound - "Republica Evescarra" (background music)
(9:00 - starting the new music hour)
Feist - "Brandy Alexander"
Keren Ann - "Lay Your Head Down"
Shannon Wright - "Everybody's Got Their Own Part to Play"
Echoboy - "Elektrik Soul (Suite)"
(9:20 - continuing the new music hour)
Red Collar - "Stay"
Cat-A-Tac - "Past Lies and Former Lives"
Desolation Bells - "She's Optomistic"
Great Lakes Myth Society - "Heydays"
(9:40 - wrapping up the new music hour)
Rumskib - "Hearts on Fire"
Blonde Redhead - "Spring and By Summer Fall"
Young Galaxy - "Wailing Wall"
(9:55 - a metaphorical handshake with Joanie)
Ian Hunter - "Soul of America"
thanks so much for listening, or if you didn't you have two weeks from the date to catch it on WMBR's archives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
