You are currently browsing the monthly archive for May 2010.
Dirty Projectors is a great band. It’s not often, at all, that a band will put out an album where every single song is good, especially these days. I can only really say that for a handful of bands of the past few years… Bitte Orca pretty much ruled my life for maybe, 5 months.
“Stillness is the Move” was the jam of last summer, and while Lucky Dragons‘ remix of it is certainly not a “summer jam” this cover is totally worth getting lost in. Amber’s voice hangs like a veil over this jittery song, it’s fascinatingly eerie. In a way, this song couples the alterna-R&B of the Dirty Ps song and the more straight forward R&B of the Solange Knowles version. Genius re-working.
There’s a little bit of vintage High Places here: shakers, jingly jingles, high pitched and staccato rhythms. Very nice.
The single is coming out with the original “Stillness Is the Move” on the A-side on Domino in the UK.
Lucky Dragons: Stillness Is the Move (remix)
Directed by Sam Carroll, who is my Hampshire College buddy. Yoooo!
Here’s Tooth Ache, a Vermont band (with fans in Mountain Man, another Vermont band that covers a Tooth Ache song, “Holy Father.” You know it, “You must be some holy son and father son and only father… one, one, one, one.). The music of Tooth Ache is mystical and hums with curiosity. “Skin” is intoxicating–what with those hand claps, angelic voices and synth-y keyboard lines.
There’s something to be said about the music that is haunting solely because of its simplicity. That’s what’s up with “Skin.” The break down comes at both the obvious and perfect point in the song. And…. repeat.
This song will come out on the “Lazarus/Skin” 7″ on Father/Daughter Records in late August or early September. Tooth Ache plays Silent Barn on June 29.
Tooth Ache: Skin
Last night, Stereogum and Videogum hosted The Gum Bowl at Brooklyn Bowl. The restaurant wasn’t serving food to the lowly public, and I blame that fact for my not great night. The best part about Brooklyn Bowl is the fried chicken!
Not that I don’t love the place, it’s Chuck E Cheese for adults, where a hipster can be a kid. I love those damn leather couches… But every band I see perform there is a let down. And that really saddens me. Last night this was especially too bad, because I really, really love Woods.
They performed well, but their interesting and quirky sound just didn’t come through as strongly as is possible. The last time I saw Woods was at Monkeytown, (RIP), and I was on a comfy couch surrounded by psychedelic projections. Clearly, this was a better setting for this intimate, albeit loud and extreme sounding, band.
The place to catch Woods, and you should do this, is at their annual Woodsist Festival in Big Sur, California. Kurt Vile and Real Estate will be there too, among other amazing acts. SO WORTH IT. Get to California!
It’s a band, featuring dudes from Jersey. Fun, groovy pop all around.
Delicate Steve sent me a few jams this morning, including this great one, “Butterfly.” It reminds me of a modern twist on Doug Martsch of Built to Spill, when he went solo. (If you don’t know that project, look into it asap.)
This is a frenetic and pretty ditty, I can call it that, you’ll see when you listen. All instrumental, this track is.
It sounds sparse but Delicate Steve is actually a 5-person band. They are opening for Yeasayer on June 5 on Governor’s Island. That’s a free show. I think this pop will sound good really LOUD.
Delicate Steve: Butterfly
TONIGHT
Woods, Effi Briest, St. Vincent DJ set at Brooklyn Bowl, 9
WEDNESDAY
No Joy, Adult Themes, I’m Turning Into, Shark? at Shea Stadium, 9
THURSDAY
Dan Deacon, Eternal Summers, Big Troubles, Height with Friends, Dustin Wong at Cake Shop
No Joy, North Highlands, Psychobuildings, The Surprisers at Cameo Gallery, 8
FRIDAY
Twin Sister Record Release, w/ Lost Boy, Data Dog at Glasslands, 9
Braids at Open Road Rooftop Films, 8
SATURDAY
Sunburned Hand of the Man, Psychic Ills, Golden Triangle, Hopewell, White Hills, The Black Hollies, Future Hunter, Weird Owl, Revival Times at Glasslands, 9
MONDAY
Ava Luna, Truman Peyote, Nude Beach, Quiet Hooves, Bubbly Mommy Gun at Knitting Factory, 7
Matador has just made available for one day only Kurt Vile‘s EP, Square Shells. How nice of those folks!
The most interesting song is “Losing Momentum (for Jim Jarmusch), which feels to me like parts of Neil Young’s score to another Jarmusch film, and one of my favorites ever, Dead Man.The sound isn’t the same, it’s more of a vibe. Like being lost in a thick haze of confusion brought on by Peyote.
What do you think?
Glasslands is always a sweaty mess. Winter, spring, fall, you name it- the two-tiered warehouse across the street from the old Domino Sugar refinery in Williamsburg is on fire all the time. Saturday night was no different.
Read more about Dom, Happy Birthday and a topless lady at Sound of the City.
While Baltimore-based one-man guitar chorus Ecstatic Sunshine never made it to Ridgewood, Queens for Friday’s Silent Barn-hosted benefit for the local DIY broadsheet Showpaper, Dan Friel of experimental Brooklyn act Parts and Labor did….
Read more on Village Voice’s Sound of the City…
