You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2010.
They say it’s all in the packaging. But is that true when it comes to indie music? Is something more appealing when it’s dressed up all nice and accompanied by special un-ordered extras?
I’ve noticed a trend recently– labels and artists are trying to give a personal touch to the records they distribute, to both customers and writers/bloggers. Is this an attempt to forge a connection between producer and audience, or is it a blatant display of bribery?
One artist said he was sending me a “CD.” Instead, I received two extra cassettes complete with DIY art and a swatch of paper with candy dots on it, in addition to the CD. (Hey guys, thanks!) For the record, i’ve only listened to the CD so far. Another label sent In and Out Burger stickers.
Chocolate Bobka, blogger, writer and show promoter, is about to launch “The Report,” a personally bound for each order “magazine.” Depending on how much you pledge to the project, you may also receive cookies, and a host of other treats. Is that personal touch the connection we are all missing from living our lives on the Internet? Is it a suitable replacement? Also for the record, I don’t have much money so i couldn’t pledge much, but damn I want to get cookies!
So what is this about, really? I don’t think extras are included to try and elicit warm reviews. No, I think they are included to try and bring people together, IRL (in real life.) Because no matter how connected we may be to our music, on a personal level, being connected to the producers of that music/cultural product, is also something we all most likely want. And why not?
The music industry gets smaller, and consumers demand more personal attention. Why do we think all these famous people are on Twitter? To connect.
What do you think?
If you live in NYC area, look out your window and play this song right now. It’ll only take 3:04. Use headphones if you can. Quick before it’s all gone. The snow mixed with this sound will take you someplace else.
Woven Tales: Handful of Fireflies
This song is off the Breakfast of Champions Mozart Park All Stars Compilation. Get the whole thing here. Woven Tails is from St. Petersburg, Florida. Brian lives in the sun, his music will make you feel warm.
Tanlines, FaderFort, CMJ '08
The new song “Real Life” from the upcoming True Panther released EP by Tanlines, Settings, is available now.
If you’ve been following Tanlines and the band’s rapid ascent of the mountain, you’ll recognize this song. They have played it live, and it’s a jam. For the first time, I think, Tanlines is featuring the vocals of Eric Emm more so than the beats of Jesse Cohen or Emm’s guitar parts. This is an interesting move– Emm’s voice is David Gray like in it’s tenor, in a really nice and comforting way. It gives the song a romantic vibe… over all those dance-like inflections there is heartache and yearning! It’s a refreshing mix.
The EP is available soon. Info here.
Tanlines is playing Brooklyn Bowl, (will they fill the cavernous bat cave with sound??), with Acrylics on Feb. 5.
Tanlines: Real Life
TONIGHT
Bear in Heaven, Oh No Ono at Mercury Lounge, 8ish
THURSDAY
Team Robespierre, Truman Peyote, Total Slacker at Don Pedro’s, 8ish
Dinosaur Feathers, Carnivores, Shark? at Cake Shop, 8ish
FRIDAY
Northampton Woods, Death Unit at Coco 66, 9ish
Evan Dando at Maxwell’s, 10 (and Saturday at Joe’s Pub)
Les Savy Fav, Vivian Girls at BAM, 8
Pure Ecstasy, Twin Sister, Family Portrait, Run DMT at Bruar Falls, 8ish
Oneida, Zs, Noveller at Market Hotel, 8ish
SATURDAY
HOT SHIT FUCK YEAH, (DJs plus original and rearranged beats) at Royale, 11ish
Wild Yaks, Violent Bullshit, etc. at Bruar Falls, 8ish
Pure Ecstasy, Twin Sister loft party, Bushwick? time?
Shark?, Aval Luna, Dinowalrus, The Shivers, Javelin at House of Yes (342 Maujer St.), 8ish
The Entrance Band at Knitting Factory, 9ish
Weekends, Golden Girls, Sisters, Fluffy Lumbers, Total Slacker at Shea Stadium, 9ish
SUNDAY
An Albatross, The Wharton Tiers Ensemble at Knitting Factory, 7ish
Golden Ages is a Philadelphia synth-sound machine. Moving gracefully along with shimmering vocals while traversing well worn paths, Golden Ages finds sonic comfort. This band makes music that can feel like how the natural environment does after a good rain fall. It blossoms and grows and thus, generously gives.
“Everything Will Be Alright” is the most accurate song title for a song that I’ve heard in a long time. The album, Tradition, is out on Deerhaus on February 1.
Golden Ages: Everything Will Be Alright
by keith mcarthur
Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk is such a good name for a band. Also, they recorded this most recent song in Oregon, the land of dreams, the last great frontier. Or something.
This song, “Jeremy Irons Couples Skate” doesn’t conjure feelings or even thoughts of Jeremy Irons for me. No matter. It makes me feel kinda like i’m ready to go for a drive, a bike ride, a trip off into a lake. The band is ready for a big tour, (and is playing a bunch of NYC dates with Coasting) and the release of their upcoming album, Skeletor and Me.
Starting with a Velvet Underground inspired guitar line, some shakers and atmospheric haze, and eventually turning into a fuzzed orgy of sound, this song shows BBDDM’s promise. This is a track that is both sway and swoon worthy.
By the way, “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam is a great follow up to “Jeremy Irons Couples Skate.”
Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk: Jeremy Irons Couples Skate
the Beachcomber, Wellfleet, MA, Aug. 2009
Dinosaur Jr. are continuously on tour. But their shows sell out pretty fast. If you weren’t able to see them in town last week, NYC Taper’s got you covered. The whole set, in one file. They do a good job. Notes on recording:
The venue was only allowing taping in the balcony section, which is less than ideal, but we were able to set up almost dead center. The instruments sound great; vocals are a little low in the mix but you’re not here for the words, are ya?
Sometimes you wake up before you should, before you want to, before you need to. This is one of those times. To fill the silence, the eerie feeling of the world being asleep around you, music is called for. Not just any music will do. It should be either something you’ve never heard before, or something you know so well you could play it in your dreams. Your ears and mind, when you just wake up, pick up on bits and tones and connotations they normally don’t.
I received Pineapple Dream by French act Double u weeks ago. I listened and was immediately entranced by the dramatic sounds, the pianos, drums in crescendo and decrescendo. This particular song, “Breathing the Wind,” is aptly named. Listen to the breaths, the strings… It’s haunting.
The sun is starting to finally lighten the horizon. The sky is a lighter dark blue.
Pineapple Dream is out in March on Wool Recordings.
Double u: Breathing the Wind
Always interesting and always intricate, the new High Places shows why they moved to Cali– they were looking for clarity and simplicity in the face of chaos. While “On Giving Up” is less crazy than the band’s previous work, it’s still rich and detailed and… moody. Check it out.
The new album, High Places v. Mankind, is out n March 16 on Thrill Jockey.
High Places: On Giving Up
Kurt Vile just won’t be stopped. It seems he’s been on tour for a year. He’s always “back in Brooklyn” and there’s always new songs, recordings, what not. Did you check out NYCTaper’s live show from the Bowery Ballroom? What a GREAT recording. It’s almost like Vile, who is knows for echoes and reverbs and hazy sound, was made to play a place like BB, which is a cavernous echo chamber…
“I Wanted Everything” is a haunting, acoustic song that is typical Vile.The 7″ it’s off of, Meet the Philly Elite, is sold out.
Available now: a lovingly 4-tracked new LP, God Is Saying This To You, which is a compilation of tracks from Overnite KV, a tour-only CDR made in conjunction with Kurt’s other project (The War on Drugs), and a handful of other songs. Get it here.
Vile is playing Maxwell’s on Feb. 18 and Europa on the 19th. Go to Maxwell’s, it’s not too far…
Kurt Vile: I Wanted Everything
