SOTD June1: Where Songs Sound Just Like Ones I LIke Already, But I Can't Quite Pinpoint Which One(s)

Scrolling through some music blogs today, I stopped by Indie Rock Cafe (http://www.indierockcafe.com) and came across this song by The Long Afternoons. Apparently formed in 1985 in Pennsylvania, I can't say I've ever heard of this band before, but check them out - this song is pretty representative of the stuff I found, and I like it a lot. Reminds me a bit of another obscure band, now long defunct, The Flashing Astonishers, (I'm sure that reference is REALLY helpful..) but anyway, They have the lower register vocals that are muted in the mix, some wah wah guitar and that thing that good bands do - you know, where the guitar, drums and bass just lock in a tight groove...enough chatter - enjoy.

Signifying Nothing by The Long Afternoons

Something Extra for the end of May - Nosferatu D2

Just came across a random link for Nosferatu D2 - and who can't love a band named after vampires and Star Wars? I can't find anything on them but that they're from England. They have a drummer who plays really fast and there's not much distortion on the guitar. And I like this song..

Footnote by Nosferatu D2




thanks to clicky click music blog

SOTD 5/29 Blast from the Past. The Scottish Past You Forgot You Had

I was sitting in my office yesterday, iTunes on shuffle, and this came on - I can remember when Teenage Fanclub was a big deal, but I only feigned interest in them. Bandwagonesque was a good album, but...eh, it didn't rock HARD like I liked at the time. But now? Good Lordy Lord, I do love me some Teenage Fanclub. Sometimes, I guess, it takes a good 15 years or so for a band to grow on you...

Star Sign by Teenage Fanclub

SOTD 5/28: Back to Usual

There's been a few detours around here into sunny happy music, some twee pop, even some old school rawk...but let's be honest, I love me some indie rock. The Boy Koan, because I work in a building with absolutely hideous firewalls and ridiculous limits on Google searches (you can't get to the second page of Google results in a CPS building. Really? How stupid that?), is a mystery to me. 3hive.com says they're from New York. not City. not state. but let's face it, if you throw down like they do, people will find you...

I especially dig the transition from the skronky squall of feedback that opens, to the acoustic riffing, and the closing grind of guitars that say "we rock. that's what we do..."

Beast From More Rustic Times by The Boy Koan

and a bonus:

Russian Doll by The Boy Koan


(thanks 3Hive.com - go visit them, they're great.)

SOTD 5/27: Channeling Your Inner AC/DC

Wanna feel like a 14 year old boy? Put this thing on your iPod, put on the headphones, and be prepared to rock yo' ASS off. The Charm City Devils put every single rock cliche in the world into this song: sing along chorus "let's rock. and. roll. rockandroll....save my soul.." there's references to the endless road, drunkeness, Angus Young style riffs, and you can sing along to this song without EVER having heard a note of it before.

I love it with all my heart in a completely unironic way. Let your inner Rawk Lord loose with this bad boy:

Let's Rock and Roll by the Charm City Devils

Little Somethin' Extra on the 26th....

Go to iTunes, or Best Buy, or your local independent music store, and buy Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. In fact, stop reading. go RIGHT NOW and get it. I'll wait...

What took you so long? Now, do this: listen to the first minute of each song. Now go back and listen to every song, start to finish. Brilliant, aren't they? Every one of them. Even the ambient techno kinda experiments aren't awful.

This just may be album of the year. Much like a band like, oh, Radiohead, Phoenix has a distinctive sound - plaintive high pitched vocals, (and I mean that as a compliment), really well done synthesizer work, propulsive rhythm section...I can't take this thing off the iTunes. I just can't. I'm even forgiving the fact that they're pretty French boys, but I'm sure for some of you, that's a huge bonus, too.

All right, I'm done gushing. If you haven't gone and bought it by now, well...you're just dumb. Sorry, but it's true. Go get it. Soon.

edit on 5/27: ok, so the ambient 'love like sunshine pt. 1 and pt. 2' aren't the GREATEST thing i've ever heard. I'll admit it, I got swept up in the great Phoenixian (is that a word? it is NOW) wave of pop hysteria. But I'll stop by saying there's not a dog on the album after those - and they're not the worst things ever. They just aren't up to the rest of the album...

and cause my brother is whiny baby: armistice

S.O.T.D. 5/22 Lots of Times It Doesn't Happen Like This

Usually, you know how it goes - you're just blah blah blahing around on websites, clicking stuff, not looking for anything in particular, you have a bunch of tabs open, and then suddenly you notice that the song that's playing isn't terrible at first, then it kinda gets better, until you find yourself really, really liking it. even if it's got some violin and cello and viola in it. and even if it kinda veers into an almost Fall Out Boy-esque kinda pop thing, just for a second. Know what I mean? There's nothing wrong with good pop hooks layered over with some chuggy guitars and and the rhetorical rock cliche question, "Are you having a good time?" repeated over and over. There just isn't.

Asylum by Skidmore Fountain

S.O.T.D. 5/21: Continuing the "Upbeat Songs on a Sunny Day" Theme that's started

This band, saddled with the unfortunate moniker, The Kooks, who are, I believe, from the U.K., does this thing I normally really despise in bands - add a faux white guy reggae kinda thing, normally an unforgivable sin for me - but this song is one piece of really excellent pop magic, specially designed for the kind of 80 degree sunny day we have in Chicago today. (how's THAT for a run-on sentence??)

So go by the window and open it wide when listening...

She Moves in Her Own Way by The Kooks

S.O.T.D. 5/20: Cause it's SO NICE OUT...

I dunno why, but I can't listen to The Polyphonic Spree in the fall or the winter. There's nothing about their sound, (a multi-vocal chorus and a huge variety of instruments playing anthemic songs), that says 'gray drab day' in any way shape or form. Then, on my drive home from work, with the windows down, the warm breeze, all that cliche "I love these kinda days" stuff, and the iPod coughed up this:

Reach For The Sun by The Polyphonic Spree

and a bonus:

Hold Me Now by The Polyphonic Spree

5/19 Little Somethin' Extra

Cause you got nothing else going on today, so there's plenty of time to sit down with:

Two Hours+ of Live Radiohead broadcast by NPR

In case you ever forget just how amazing they can be, let this serve as a reminder.

S.O.T.D. 5/19 Swedes....they seem to have a gift for upbeat pop songs, don't they?

The Shout Out Louds, The Hives, Mando Diao, Sahara Hotnights, and now, The High Fives...that's just a few of the Swedish bands who've put out souped up American-ized pop songs that rock like nobody's business. Why Sweden? Is it the cultural isolation? The high standard of living? The long winters and dark nights? What happened, American bands? Why this onslaught of Swedes?? It's something I just do not understand, but, cannot resist.

Here's a couple from their debut album, Work of Art.

The Show Must Go On

Duracell

S.O.T.D. 5/18: the anti-hardcore punk posting

Well...Pegboy was a pretty astonishing show. If the tinnitus in my right ear, which hasn't cleared in nearly 48 hours, is any indication, it was one monstrous blast of righteous punk squall...but let's face it, I'm old now. I can't do that kinda thing all the time. So once in a while I have to pull out a piece of quiet, moody acoustic music played with heartfelt sincerity by bearded dudes from Canada.

Which brings me to this: All the Money I Had Is Gone by The Deep Dark Woods. Pretty much the perfect antidote to an overdose of punk-ish ferocity. Make sure to sit in a quiet spot when you listen to it....

Oh...and while we're on the topic of Canadians, who seem to be putting a LOT of good music lately, I'm really enjoying this song by The Details, called Capture and Develop It. They're from Winnipeg, check 'em out.

Special Edition: Chicago Hardcore Punk Night - Pegboy at the Metro

For those of you who still care about such matters - Pegboy is playing the Metro tonight. In tribute, here's a bit of a flyover on some seriously good Chicago hardcore punk:

Strong Reaction from Pegboy, Live at the Metro

and from Chicago heroes - Naked Raygun

Styrofoam

S.O.T.D. 5/15: Is it TOO early?

To mention Coltrane Motion again? I posted a song from them a while back, and I have to say, the more I hear of them, the more I love them. Their newest is called "The Year Without a Summer" and the retro synthesizer, awesome drummer, and sweet-ass hooks all come together in a melodic mash that made these songs stick in my head all day.

Blue Maya

The Year Without a Summer

SOTD 5/14: This Week's Theme - Bands That No Longer Exist That I JUST Heard About

Today, it's The Situationists. According to the blog "Come Pick Me Up" (cpmu.blogspot.com, I think, go check it out, they rule), the Situationists last show is May 14th. So...run right out and see them. But still listen to them after they're gone, too, cause remember when that Bloc Party album, Silent Alarm, came out a few years ago, and you thought to yourself, "wow..listen that drummer, and those angular guitars, and the accents and the frenetic pace and...all the other great stuff. I LOVE this album..." and then the next one came out, and it kinda sucked?

Well...The Situationists wrote the songs that Bloc Party should have.

Digital Love

Onwards and Upwards

Public Service Announcement: Wilco

In case you didn't know already, the new Wilco album, which sports the snazzy title of "Wilco", is streaming online at their site.


Instant verdict: pretty damn good. Go on, check it out, you know you want to.


Also on the site, check out a live set from Milwaukee, recorded April 15th, 2009

S.O.T.D. 5/13 Better Late Than Never Edition...

I hate when this happens...say you're just wasting time surfing the 'net, finding songs on random blogs, when suddenly the ears perk up a bit, there's a sequence of notes that sound, if not perfect, then perfect for that exact second, and you click on it, say, and see a band name: The Beauty Shop. Isn't that a Queen Latifah movie? But no..you look 'em up on wikipedia, find the myspace page, here a few more songs, and start reading the "thanks for all the good times, guys, but we're hanging it up now.." blog entry and you realize that, man, this band is pretty damn good and they're done before you even started with them...

so, yeah. I hate that. But I like finding songs worth hearing, and The Beauty Shop gives us this one...

Monster by The Beauty Shop

S.O.T.D. 5/12

We Sing In Time by The Lonely Forests

If you were born prior to 1975, chances are you ran across a band called The Connells in the early/mid 80's. Boylan Heights was the album of theirs I loved the most, but they also had a moderately sized 120 Minutes hit called "Slack-Jawed" - remember??

Ok, so. Maybe your aren't a total geek who remembers obscure alt rock bands from the hills of North Carolina from two decades ago...but if you WERE, you'd totally love this band cause they're cut from the same melodically inclined rock cloth.


UPDATE 5/12: Ok, today is BEAUTIFUL...and while I drove from my morning meeting to work this popped up on iPod shuffle....and it fit perfectly. Motor Away by Guided By Voices

New Toy

Lemme know if the cool little music player function doesn't work when you check the site, I'm just learning how to use it, but it's pretty damn cool.

S.O.T.D. 5/11

Tonight I was listening to the School of Seven Bells new album, Alpinisms, and read that Benjamin Curtis, the guitarist, used to also be the guitarist in The Secret Machines - and that reminded me of a time JP, Addie, and I saw a late show at the Metro where Secret Machines were simply brilliant. I think it was fair to say we didn't know them well, but the show exceeded all expectations. So today's song was, for me, anyway, the highlight of that show..

Lightning Blue Eyes by The Secret Machines

and a bonus track that I just heard on KEXP.org while I was working in the office this morning...

Cabin Fever by Escape Act suffice it to say, this is a VERY good find for a Monday. you can download their really quite decent debut album, Loosely Based on Fiction, here, for free, (or you can do a Radiohead-like pay-as-you-go for higher quality formats) - a very enjoyable Monday morning listen..

S.O.T.D. Weekend Edition 5/9-10

not much to say here, just...enjoy.

Story by Great Northern

I tried it in the 'about me' but it was messed up - E*Music 100

but here's the albums downloaded on EMusic this month. Feel free to put what you've downloaded in the comments - what's worth getting?

May's EMUSIC 100 Downloads:
Bound Stems - The Family Afloat

Coltrane Motion - Songs About Music

Even in Blackouts - Zeitgeist's Echo

H-burns - how strange it is to be anything at all

Hammer No More the Fingers -self titled debut, and Looking For Bruce

It's A Buffalo - Don't Be Scared

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - self titled debut

Shop Assistants - Anthology 1985-86

Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances

S.O.T.D. - T.G.I.F. edition 5/8

No Secret Why by The Coast from the album, Expatriate

It's a slow burner, but a good one..

5/7 Bonus track(s)...

still feeling guilty for the damn apple orchard song...

some interesting music from a chicago band, coltrane motion.

the song is called ex-girlfriend in a coma

and also from Chicago, more from Bound Stems

sugar city magic

video on youtube
that's two great songs from that Bound Stems album, 'the family afloat', making it 20% great so far, but I've not listened closely to the other 8 songs yet...

S.O.T.D. 5/7

hopefully we're back on track...

lost coastlines by okkervil river

Upon further listening...

I respectfully request that anyone who has come to this blog looking for a good song to listen to accept my apology for that apple orchard song. I sincerely have no idea what I was thinking. Upon further listening, I really don't like it, at all. Not even a little bit. I have no idea what I was thinking. I'm blaming the sangria I had for Cinco de Mayo.

As my apology, please re-live this blast of acoustic punk from the past...proving that acoustic guitars and girly voices CAN, in fact, rock.

hey suburbia by even in blackouts

S.O.T.D. 5/6, in which we listen to songs about apples. and trees in straight rows.

"there will be...braeburn, macintosh, and gala...and i would moonlight, as a pastry chef.."

i know. i know. who writes lyrics like that? but this is a little slice of pop song heaven.

Robertson's Dream Orchard by 21 Tandem Repeats from the album, No Junk Mail Please...

JP's Fwd Request

for Polvo.

so here it is: Everything's in Flames

(in the ultra rare mp2 format...who sees THAT anymore?)

S.O.T.D. 5/5

Young Adult Friction by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

S.O.T.D. 5/4 new Superchunk

That's right, NEW Superchunk

Misfits and Mistakes

the new EP, Leaves in the Gutter is available on the Merge site. Time to party like it's 1990...

Free sampler from Lookout! records and SXSW Hold Steady at Daytrotter

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00274DZMM/ref=nosim/largeheartedb-20

lotta good stuff on there....and it's gratis.

and The Hold Steady stopped by Daytrotter at SXSW 2009

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/the-hold-steady-sxsw-session-these-are-the-people-in-our-neighborhood-concert/20030649-3737967.html

SOTD 5/2-5/3 Weekend Edition

1901 by Phoenix

Who doesn't love French pop groups? That, you know, don't sing in French...