Sometimes one of the best parts of a band's website is where they talk about who (or what) they sound like. Sometimes it's something like "A Moluccan Cockatoo's feather falling to the Earth on a cloudless December night in Istanbul while Nitzer Ebb plays in the background." Right. In LadybiRdS' case, it's "Pop tunery inspired by an 8 bit Nintendo or Atari 2600 or Cyndi Lauper superfan meets a (cupcake pop version of) The Postal Service on diet pills (before Ephedra was banned by the FDA.)." The fact of the matter is that in this case, I couldn't put it any better myself.

LadybiRdS is composed of Tyler Pursel (of Gym Class Heroes) and Teeter Sperber (formerly of Ley Royal Scam), as well as a whole slew of guest vocalists. The pair works magic with one another, making music that's just plain sugary sweet fun. It's very low-fi electronica (hence the Atari 2600 reference) with quirky vocals loud and clear on top. In many ways, it reminds me of Au Revoir Simone's album The Bird Of Music from earlier this year, but a little more playful.

The following two tracks will give you a good feel of what the album is about. I've included the opening lyrics from Andy Lex because I enjoy them so much (and to give you can idea of what I mean by sugary sweet music).

i never saw a face so sweet
as the one that frames your eyes
i never cared about wyoming
but could tell that you were wise
i wonder now if i missed out by not agreeing to stay the night
after i held you while we watched the princess bride

The album doesn't drop until September 18th, but in the meantime, enjoy the following tracks:


LadybiRdS - The Brown And Red Divide : Regional Community Theater
LadybiRdS - Andy Lex : Regional Community Theater


Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun : She's So Unusual

Au Revoir Simone - Dark Halls : The Bird Of Music

I'm going to come right out and say it and consequences be damned. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers remind me of an updated version of a cross between Neil Diamond and Jimmy Buffet. There, I said it. Strike this blog from your list of blogs to visit while killing time at work if you will.

Now that I've got that out in the open, I'll continue in my confessional manner. Growing up, my favorite musician was Neil Diamond. That's right. Going through my father's record collection, I would often choose Diamond's albums to look at and play. I don't know if it was his name or his music, but he was the first musician that I can remember liking.

So what does all this have to do with the matter at hand? Good question. Simple answer: Roger Clyne's voice instantly sparked memories of listening to Neil. Where does the Jimmy Buffet part come in? Close your eyes while listening and the general feel of the music will put you on a beach somewhere in Baja California holding a mixed drink with an umbrella sticking out of it . It's that simple.

If Roger's name sounds familiar to you, it might be from his involvement with The Refreshments (and their composing the theme song for King of the Hill). When the band split up, Roger and P.H. Naffah went on to form the Peacemakers. Since then they've put out five albums, with the fifth, No More Beautiful World, released this last March. It's got a definite earthy southwestern feel to it which prominantly runs throughout the album which means you either like it, or you don't. The whole affair has got an air of fiesta time in a mexican cantina, regardless of the seriousness of the lyrics (try Wake Up Call below to see what I mean).

If you like what you hear below, for those of you who still believe in having the CD in your grimy little hands, you'll get a second disc with 80+ minutes of bonus video content if you buy it. Regardless, give the following a try:


Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Maybe We Should Fall In Love : No More Beautiful World

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Wake Up Call : No More Beautiful World


Neil Diamond - Thank The Lord For The Night Time [Live] : Glory Road 1968 To 1972 [Disc 2]

Jimmy Buffet - Margaritaville : Songs You Know By Heart

The Refreshments - King of the Hill theme song : King of the Hill

Take a good look at the man above (he's Frank Carter, lead vocalist). Listening to Gallow's debut album Orchestra Of Wolves will have the same effect on you. This is not an idle threat.

Time to put aside all those Sex Pistols albums you've been listening to, and make room for the UK's latest hardcore punk offering, Gallows. They've been working on their Johnny Rotten snarls and their Henry Rollins' ear rupturing sweet nothings, and are ready to wreak havoc in the US this summer playing the main stage on the Warped Tour. Their album was originally released in the UK in 2006, and is scheduled to be out in the US on July 10th. As recompense for having to wait, US listeners will get three additional tracks, including the band's version of Black Flag's song Nervous Breakdown.

I will again refer to the picture above. This music is not glammed up punk of the type you might see on MTV or hear on the radio. This is the real deal, full of ferocious energy and amped out anger. Do not listen to this to relax. Do not include any of these songs on a mix tape of love songs for your significant other. Do not play this music while asking your parents if you can go to the Warped Tour. Want to get some aggression out and break things? Then spin the following at the maximum volume your music producing device can go.


Gallows - Kill The Rhythm : Orchestra of Wolves

Gallows - Orchestra Of Wolves : Orchestra of Wolves



Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown : Nervous Breakdown

Last Saturday (the 23rd), I got a chance to see The Hourly Radio open, along with Stars of Track and Field, for Shiny Toy Guns at the Webster Theatre in Hartford. Their debut album, History Will Never Hold Me, was released last year, and since then the band has been touring like banshees, crisscrossing the country over and over again, steadily building up their fan base and playing larger shows.

The night I saw them, they were first up, and played to an audience that was slowly growing primarily to see Shiny Toy Guns. If you didn't read my review of the album from February (here it is if you care), it really sounds to me like an homage to new wave / Brit-pop. I could be completely off with that assessment, but that's what my ears enjoy most about the band. It could have been the sound system (or the person manning the sound board), but that sound failed to completely come across in their live show. The album has been out for a while now, so maybe the band is shifting directions and growing in ways that differ from where they were in 2006. I'll have to wait until the next album to see, but in the meantime, I will continue to enjoy their debut.

Before going to the show, I was able to ask Ryan Short, guitarist for the group, some questions:

You guys have crisscrossed the country on tour in a little over one month. Any plans you have to relax once you're done?

RS: Not really... we are looking to be on the road most of the summer and the rest of the year. We'll get a couple weeks at home, but we'll be working on new material, etc...

'06 was a fairly big year for you with your debut album placing high on a lot of people's lists (Billboard, Music Slut, Torr, etc...). How has this year been to you and what do you hope to accomplish in the last 6 months of it?

RS: 2006 was great and we were glad the album was received so well by the press, but 2007 has been more about getting the music and our live show out there to people. There are still a ton of people who have no idea who we are so the fact that our record was on a best of list doesn't mean much. With the last 6 months we just hope to keep playing to bigger and bigger audiences. So far so good, our largest shows have all been our last few dates.

Do you already have some songs that you've been playing which will show up on the next album?

RS: On this tour we have been playing 2 new songs... some of form of those will probably show up on the next record.

Your tour plane crashes on a desert island. You can only one album to pick to listen to until you are rescued. What would it be?

RS: Wow we have a tour plane!?! Mine would be "Come Down" by Dandy Warhols. It has everything... 8 minute epic songs, slow burning shoegaze songs and pure pop songs.

What kind of music do you picture yourself playing in ten years?

RS: If I am still playing music in 10 years, at least as a career, then I imagine that means we had been fairly successful in our earlier years and we'd now be a little out of touch and doing some reunion tour and putting out a garbage record and trying to reclaim our youth and cash in.

The Hourly Radio - Crime Does Pay : History Will Never Hold Me

The Hourly Radio - He Said / She Said : History Will Never Hold Me



Stars of Track and Field - Centuries : Centuries Before Love And War

Shiny Toy Guns - You Are The One : We Are Pilots

Lately, I seem to be listening to A LOT of good music that is coming from the neighborhood of North Carolina, and the Bowerbirds are no exception. The group is a trio based out of Raleigh, NC that is set to release their debut effort, Hymns for a Dark Horse, on July 10th.

Yesterday I wrote about the soundtrack to Once, and the whole singer meets waitress, they write some songs together, and then fall in love thing. Coincidentally, something very similar happened to stimulate the formation of the Bowerbirds. Originally, Phil Moore and Mark Paulson had moved to Raleigh from Iowa to form a band, Ticonderoga. When they arrived, Phil met Beth Tacular (what a cool name - it sounds like spectacular!), Ticonderoga fell apart, and Phil and Beth moved in together to paint pictures and write songs about them. From these ashes, the Bowerbirds arose. You can't get much more romantic movie ending then that!

On the surface, the album sounds relatively straight-forward. The three members use fairly basic instrumentation (including some lovely strings and an accordion here and there) to create a light palette to paint the lyrics onto. Phil Moore sings the majority of the vocals and his style reminds me very much of Elvis Perkins (whose debut release earlier this year I still love and will easily make my best of 2007 in December). Try In Our Talons below to enjoy Beth's accordion playing and The Marbled Godwit to hear those lovely strings amongst an otherwise sparse arrangement.


Bowerbirds - In Our Talons : Hymns for a Dark Horse

Bowerbirds - The Marbled Godwit : Hymns for a Dark Horse



Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping : Ash Wednesday

I've not seen the movie Once yet as I don't think it ever played anywhere near me, but I've heard bits and pieces of the plot line. Glen Hansard (of The Frames) is "the guy." Markéta Irglová is "the girl." Their paths cross on the streets of Dublin, and fate steps in to make their paths cross. He's a street musician and she's as struggling single mom, and the music they make brings them together.

The movie was produced by John Carney, who played bass for The Frames from 1991 to 1993 (hence the Hansard connection). The soundtrack is simply dynamite original music, and from what I hear, plays a major part in the plot development. Frames fans will recognize Hansard's vocalistic stylings on these moving pieces. Along with music newcomer Markéta Irglová, the duo released The Swell Season last year, from which four tracks appear on this soundtrack, along with nine additional tracks (one of which is from the band Interference - anyone know anything about them?).

Give the pair a listen, if you haven't already. Below is a track from Glen and Marketa (in which you get a wonderful listen of her hauntingly beautiful voice) as well as a rather cheeky one from just Glen. And of course, how could I not include one from the Frames?


Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - If You Want Me : Once Soundtrack

Glen Hansard - Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy : Once Soundtrack

The Frames - Star Star/Pure Imagination (live Medley) : Set List

Probably about a month ago, I was talking with Rich over at Modern Acoustic (figuratively speaking that is via e-mail) about Grace Potter and he recommended that I check out another female singer/songwriter by the name of Sarah Borges. So here I am, one month later, with lots of kudos to share with you about Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles' second album Diamonds in the Dark.

The album opens up with The Day We Met, a track that you have to listen to repeatedly while dancing around (unless you don't have a pulse). There are no two ways about it; the song features some catchy gutiar hooks and an equally catchy chorus. The album could end here and it would be worth the price. But luckily, it doesn't. The album is an eclectic feeling mix of some plain out twangy Nashville feeling tunes (even though Sarah is from Boston) as well as more straight out upbeat indie rock, and everthing inbetween. What's amazing is that Sarah's voice sounds equally at home regardless of what is playing behind her. Try out the following two tracks to see for yourself. Sarah jams on Open Up Your Back Door, a bluesy number that reminds me of The Blues Brothers singing Sweet Home Chicago.


Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - The Day We Met : Diamonds in the Dark

Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles - Open Up Your Back Door : Diamonds in the Dark



The Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago : The Blues Brothers Soundtrack

Although nothing as exciting as a free trip to Iceland, I do have a few other freebies to share with you today. The first is an entire album of music absolutely free. That's right, no strings attached. Twelve tracks of light electro-pop poetry titled Eclectric (not a spelling mistake...eclectic + electric), which is the debut album from native Russian, now New Yorker Svoy.

Svoy first studied at the Russian Academy of Music and then later at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, through the influence of an eclectic range of music including electronica, R&B and rock, Svoy decided to defect from classical music to the writing and production of his own confluence of genres. If need be, try the following two tracks to convince you to download the entire album for yourself.

Svoy - Driving Away : Eclectric

Svoy - One Night Stand (Moon Kisses Day) : Eclectric



The other offer in this post of bountiful booty is a contest, so unfortunately it's not free for ALL of you...just the lucky winner. You might remember me posting on the Aussie band Augie March last month. Well here's your chance to score a copy of Moo, You Bloody Choir (before it is released on August 7th) and a lovely Augie March t-shirt.

All you have to do is leave a comment (or e-mail me) with your name and e-mail, and your favorite Aussie slang term. I'll pick a tinny winner (that's lucky winner for those of you not from down-under) next Sundayish and notify them faster than a dingo's breakfast (a yawn, a leak and a good look round...in other words, no breakfast). Want to brush up on your Australian slang while waiting to see if you're the winner? Head over to Koala Net.


Augie March - One Crowded Hour : Moo, You Bloody Choir

Augie March - There Is No Such Place : Moo, You Bloody Choir

Despite his boyish face, Patrick Wolf has a set of lungs on him that would do a broadway performer proud. His third and latest release, The Magic Position, does an amazing job of showcasing Wolf's range and incredibly expressive voice. It extends from an almost guttural growl to soaring crescendos of happiness, and every note in between.

I know he's practically been around since the Ming Dynasty (by today's standards at least), but I only stumbled across him recently. I simply love his album for its dramatic overtones and excitement. It feels like a breath of fresh air compared to all that subtle, pensive, and depressing music that's all the rage now-a-days. With it's orchestral eccentricites and it's electronic flourishes, The Magic Position grabs you and takes you for what feels like a musical roller-coaster ride. The following two tracks will prove its worth the price of admission.


Patrick Wolf - Augustine : The Magic Position

Patrick Wolf - The Stars : The Magic Position

Although the name Joan Wasser may or may not ring any bells for you, I'm sure your ears have reveled in her musical artfulness. Her resume includes performing as a member of the Dambuilders, Black Beetle, Antony and the Johnsons, and Rufus Wainwright's band. And now finally, she performs for herself as Joan As Police Woman.

From Joan's bio on her website...


How that translates into your ear...

Joan's music simmers with a soulful feel that begs you to listen over and over again. You probably won't pick up on what is tantalizingly there on the first few listens, but give her some time and your ears will start to tease out the heart of it. The album starts with the slow and steady, piano driven title track Real Life where Joan invites the listener "...take the chance, be reckless with me." From there, things pick up with Eternal Flame, but the music never loses its languid heat which emanates from Joan's voice. Think Amy Winehouse, but more mature, more depth, more meaning.

The album is out now, and if you take the time to visit your favorite music store or order a physical copy of it you'll not only get the 10 tracks on Real Life, but a second CD with 6 additional tracks appropriately titled Real Life (B Sides). They've got a VERY different feel to them compared to the 10 on the album and I would really recommend you getting them both instead of digitally purchasing Joan. Try the following:


Joan As Police Woman - The Ride : Real Life

Joan As Police Woman - Save Me : Real Life

Joan As Police Woman - Endless Supply Of Poison : Real Life (B Sides)


Catch her live:

Jun 26 2007 Paradiso Amsterdam
Jun 28 2007 Peace And Love Festival Borlange
Jun 29 2007 Rock Werchter Werchter
Jun 30 2007 Les Nuits de Fourviere Lyon
Jul 1 2007 Radar Live (solar beach) Istanbul
Jul 3 2007 Opera of Rennes - Theatre du Vieux St Etienne Rennes
Jul 6 2007 Wye Fayre - Ashford UK Ashford
Jul 8 2007 Vera Groningen Groningen Netherlands
Jul 11 2007 Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK with Loney Dear + Andrew Bird
Jul 14 2007 Latitude Festival - UK ipswich
Jul 15 2007 Letterkenney - Earagail Arts Centre - Donegal Donegal
Jul 17 2007 Mercati Generali - Catania catania
Jul 18 2007 Pico Castle Courtyard - Mirandola Modena
Jul 19 2007 Nuvolari Festival - Cueno Cueno
Jul 20 2007 Sesto Fiorentino- Area Osmannoro
Jul 31 2007 Schubas Chicago, Illinois
Aug 9 2007 IOTA Club & Cafe Arlington, Virginia
Aug 10 2007 Tin Angel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sep 3 2007 Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, Washington
Sep 4 2007 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, Oregon
Sep 5 2007 Sam Bond's Garage Eugene, OR
Sep 6 2007 Cafe du Nord San Francisco, California
Sep 7 2007 Spaceland Los Angeles, CA
Sep 8 2007 Casbah San Diego, California
Sep 15 2007 End Of The Road Festival - UK Salsbury

The Chieftains with Nanci Griffith - Red Is the Rose : An Irish Evening (live)


Big Bad Bollocks - Guinness : Night On The Tiles

The Clancy Brothers - Whiskey, You're The Devil : Best Of The Vanguard Years

The Dubliners - Seven Drunken Nights : Spirit of the Irish

OK folks, here's your chance to win a trip to Iceland to see the Iceland Airwaves Festival courtesy of Reyka Vodka. That's right, you and 9 of your friends will be flown to fly to Iceland for three days and 2 nights of partying, soaking in the Blue Lagoon, sight seeing and to attend the world renowned Iceland Airwaves Music Festival. All you have to do is HEAD HERE to enter (and if you win, consider one of your nine spots already taken by ME!). While at the festival, you'll get to see the following bands perform:

Bloc Party * Of Montreal * !!! * Best Fwends * Mum * GusGus * Buck 65

Bonde de Role* Annuals & Others to be announced soon

Here are some fun facts to amuse your friends with about Iceland while you're telling them about the contest:

- 10% of the population of Iceland believes that elves “definitely” exist

- Bjork’s mother fasted for 3 weeks in 2002 to protest the building of a dam

- In 2006 Iceland was ranked as the 4^th happiest nation in the world by an independent scientific study

- Traditional Icelandic dishes include: pickled ram’s testicles, putrefied shark, singed sheep heads, sheep head jam, and blood pudding

- Astronauts practiced for their moonwalk in Iceland

- There are only 300,000 people in Iceland , 137 of them are in jail

- All of Reykjavik is heated by underground hot springs

And while you're tricking your friends into thinking you're a brainiac, listen to the following to prepare yourself for the festival:

Bloc Party - Helicopter (Weird Science Remix feat. Peaches) : Helicopter single

Of Montreal - Voltaic Crusher/Undrum To Muted Da : Suicide Squeeze: Slaying Since 1996

Annuals - Nice Day : This Is Indie Rock - Volume 3

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about David Bowie and how long he's been on the scene making music. While listening to Suzanne Vega's latest, Beauty & Crime (due out July 17th), it's very hard to believe that she's also been around for over 20 years. It seems like just yesterday that I was listening to Tom's Diner and Luka for the first time. Anyone remember the Lilith Festival? Suzanne was the first artist to play at the very first one back in 1997. But here it is, 20 years after her debut album, and she is poised to release her 7th album.

The eleven tracks on Beauty & Crime all revolve around Suzanne's experiences in New York City, where she was born and now lives. From the opening track, Zephyr & I, where she recounts a conversation with a grafitti artist, to strolling through the Lower East Side in Ludlow Street. Also on the album are several personal songs: a love song dedicated to her husband, Bound, as well as one for her daughter, As You Are Now (which I especially enjoy, especially as I write this after Father's day thinking about my daughter).


Suzanne Vega - Zephyr & I : Beauty & Crime

Suzanne Vega - As You Are Now : Beauty & Crime

Suzanne Vega - Luka (acoustic) : studio version on Solitude Standing

Suzanne Vega - Stockings : WXRV Presents Live From The River Music Hall Vol. 1


Catch her on tour this fall:

7/12/2007 New York, NY Highline Ballroom
7/22/2007 Camden, NJ Wiggins Waterfront Park
9/15/2007 Poughkeepsie, NY Waryas Park
9/16/2007 Great Barrington, MA Mahaiwe Theatre
9/18/2007 Alexandria, VA Birchmere
9/19/2007 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live
9/20/2007 Sommerville, MA Somerville Theatre
9/22/2007 Lebanon, NH Lebanon Opera House
9/23/2007 Brattleboro, VT The Latchis Hotel and Theatre
9/25/2007 Montreal, QUE LaTulipe
9/26/2007 Toronto, ONT Mod Club
9/29/2007 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
9/30/2007 Chicago, IL Park West
10/3/2007 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater
10/4/2007 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre
10/5/2007 Iowa City, IA Englert Civic Theater
11/29/2007 New York, NY Town Hall

Check out this article connecting candy cigarettes to smoking. According to the study refered to, "22 percent of current or former smokers had also regularly consumed candy cigarettes." Now don't get me wrong, I've never touched a cigarette in my life, and I think it's a dirty habit, but I could probably find 22 percent of any group of people who have also gone to work without wearing any underwear. Does that cause people to start smoking too?



Arctic Monkeys - Cigarette Smoker Fiona : Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys

Brownsville Station - Smokin' In The Boys Room : Hit Singles 1958-1977

Ben Lee - Cigarettes Will Kill You : Breathing Tornados

This last week I was working on poetry with my students and one day we focused on writing a blues poem (poems that follow the traditional pattern of early blues music). To help them understand blues as a genre, we talked about how blues music developed into rhythm and blues which eventually influenced both hip-hop and early rock and roll. As inspiration, I was playing some blues music in the background for the class and Leadbelly's version of New Orleans (The Rising Sun Blues) came on. This got me to thinking about rock songs that were borrowed from the blues (and which probably many listeners never realize) and specifically The Animals' version of the song The House of the Rising Sun.

A little research over at Wikipedia revealed a wealth of knowledge about the song that I had not known. I did know that it was a traditional song with an unknown creator. One thing I didn't know was that House of the Rising Sun is a euphemism for a brothel (hence the above picture). Another fact I did not know was that besides being a hit for The Animals (which is the one most people are familiar with), it hit the U.S. pop chart again for the band Frijid Pink.

So anyway, without further ado, below are all of the versions that I could gather together. If you have one not listed here and are willing to share, feel free to send it my way and I'll add it (and only take 60% of the credit).


Leadbelly - New Orleans (The Rising Sun Blues) : The Tradition Masters

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun : House of the Rising Sun

Nina Simone - House of the Rising Sun : Live At the Village Gate

Cat Power - Wild Is The Wind/House Of The Rising Sun : Live Volksbohne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz - 11-9-06 (thanks to now defunct rbally)

The Beastie Boys - House of the Rising Sun : Live at CBGB's Nov. 20, 1982 (thanks to Berkeley Place)

The Be Good Tanyas - House of the Rising Sun : Chinatown

Courtney Love - House of the Rising Sun : Live 2004

Dan Bern - House of the Rising Sun : Live at Cafe Zapata (Berlin) on 2007-03-08

Radiators - House of the Rising Sun : Live at Trocaderos (Minneapolis, MN) on 2006-10-28

Night Train - House of the Rising Sun : Live at Melinda's Club 52 (South Point, OH) on 2004-02-27

Addison Groove Project - House of the Rising Sun : Live at Paradise Rock Club (Boston, MA) on 2006-03-17

David Grisman, Jerry Garcia And Tony Rice - House of the Rising Sun : The Pizza Tapes

Woody Guthrie - House of the Rising Sun : The Original Folkways Recordings

Pete Seeger - House of the Rising Sun : American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 2

One look at the album cover of Bonde Do Role's debut release With Lasers will clue you off that there's going to be something a little wacky about their music. Originally discovered by Diplo (yes THAT Diplo, who also produced the album), the trio hails from Curitiba, Brazil and plays their own take on what people outside of Brazil refer to as Baile Funk, which according to the all knowing wikipedia is defined as "A type of dance music from Rio de Janeiro, derived from and superficially similar to Miami Bass, with deep rapid beats and aggro vocals." (In reality, the term Baile Funk refers to the party the music is played at, not the actual music itself) That sounds nice and dandy, but what exactly is going to come out of your speakers when you press play?

Visit their label Domino Records and become their friend on MySpace.

2 Live Crew - Me So Horny : As Nasty As They Wanna Be

Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod : Psalm 69

The Go! Team - Ladyflash : Thunder Lightning Strike

For those of you who used to be down with the now defunct San Francisco band Pleasure Forever, your time to bask in the glory days is here. Conspiracy Records has put together a collection of eight unreleased songs, B-sides and rarities, titled Bodies Need Rest, which was released May 29th. Here's one track from it:

Pleasure Forever - Miles Underneath : Bodies Need Rest




Ready for a new face to listen to this summer? Try giving Frankel a spin. Michael Orendy, the man behind the moniker, plays virtually every instrument on Lullaby for the Passerby, his debut full length album which hit shelves yesterday. Try out the first two tracks of the album below. Thermostat is a peppy little number that kicks things off in a high note (which reminds me of another acoustic signer / songwriter type, Aaron Schroeder, who I wrote about last year) while Tooth Decay slows things right down with a cymbal crashing in the background like you're on your death bed. And if An Aquarium Drunkard says “Absolutely an artist to watch out for in 2007," you know you have to at least try a little bite.

Frankel - Thermostat : Lullaby for the Passerby

Frankel - Tooth Decay : Lullaby for the Passerby

With the release of their third album, Heartland, comes the addition of a third member to the group Client. Joining the mysterious Client A and Client B is the equally sultry Client E.

For those of you unfamiliar with the band, they sing a flavor of synth-pop that will throw you back to the days or early Erasure and Depeche Mode. You could even go so far as to call it techno / industrial lite, which accounts for the bands move to Metropolis Records, a label known for their electronic / dance roster, and the tight black dresses the three clients adorn themselves in.

For those of you who have heard Client before, if you enjoyed their previous albums, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. Even with the addition of a third member, the girls stick with what they do best: detached unimpassioned lyrics over electronic dance beats. Listen to Client A, B, and E sing exhibits X (the title track of the album), Y (who could have thought singing about a copier machine could sound so good?), and Z (when they say wet dreams, they're not talking about bladder control problems) below to figure out if they're your thing or not.


Client - Heartland : Heartland

Client - Zerox Machine (Adam & the Ants Cover) : Heartland

Clinic - Diary of an 18 year old boy (wet dreams mix) : http://www.client-online.net/

My first experiences with They Might Be Giants date back to around 1991 with their third album Flood. It was something COMPLETELY different than anything I had heard at the time. Heck, it's completely different than anything I've heard since! I played that CD to death. Not only was it quirkier that a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle, but you could actually understand all the words and sing along with each and every song. I can remember years later driving up to New Hampshire to go backpacking for a weekend and the person who was driving had Flood on tape in the bottom of her glove compartment for me to dig out. We popped that in and the whole car sang the whole album from beginning to end. It was just that kind of album.

I bought the next couple of albums after Flood, Apollo 18 and John Henry, and I enjoyed them, but they never quite topped Flood for me (the whole first album phenomenon - you absolutely love the first album you hear from a band and nothing after ever quite lives up to your expectations - anyone out there know what I'm talking about?). Since then I've also seen the band live probably more times than I've seen any other band play and good times are guaranteed at their shows. They've always kept it affordable, too, which I've got to commend them for. It's hard to believe that they've been around for 25 years!

So enough with my reminiscing, on to the matter at hand. And in this case, the matter at hand is titled The Else, and it's the Giants' newest creation that is scheduled to be released July 10th. It's been a while since I've been an avid listener of the band, so it was with some small trepidation that I pressed play on this album (the whole first CD phenomenon let down that I talked about before).

Listening to John and John sing brought back some memories for sure. Since I haven't listened to their last few (although I do want to pick up their kids albums to play for my daughter) I'm not sure of their development since the late 90's. What I can say about this album though is that it seems to be more straight out indie rock compared to what I remember. While the voices and lyrics of the two Johns are still there and recognizably quirky, the instrumentation on it is much more standard drums, guitar, bass. At about track 9, you can hear some horns taking semi-prominent places in the song structure, but these days, horns are fairly common fare. It's not until the final two tracks (Feign Amnesia and The Mesopotamians, which is offered below) that the group reaches their stride that I remember from Flood days, and consequently initially found the warmest place in my heart. Final verdict: it's taken a few listens and I've had to set aside my initial preconceived expectations, but TMBG's new sound is growing on me.

If you have LOTS of time to kill, check out both of the band's websites linked to below. There is a whole smorgasbord of things to do: podcasts, live shows that you can purchase, unreleased songs to download, videos to watch, ringtones for your phone, etc. etc. etc...


They Might Be Giants - With The Dark : The Else

They Might Be Giants - The Mesopotamians : The Else

They Might Be Giants - Dig My Grave : Apollo 18

They Might Be Giants - Particle Man : Flood

Although the one man band Terrene first started making waves back at the end of the 90's with his song Fifty-One (which was named "Cool Track of the Day" by SPIN Magazine and which is offered up below), John Dylan (the man who is the nucleus of Terrene) is just set to release his first full length album titled The Indifferent Universe (which will include 51) on July 17th. Since his humble beginnings, he's recruited some help to assist with the playing and production of the album.

The band defines themselves as "a new band of space-rock engineers." What exactly does that mean? The album is a healthy dose of instrumental, shimmery, dreamy, laptop loopy tunes that sort of sneak up under you and take you for a visceral 42 minute ride. Along the way, there are a few scenic overlooks that root you in the here and now; Enemy Landlord is a curious mix between an answering machine message and music that leads into Unwelcome, a bleepy bloopy song that could be straight out of a Nintendo game.

If you decide to order a physical copy of the album, you'll not only get the 13 musical tracks, but a dual-disc featuring a full-length live performance and a documentary featurette. Ready for take-off? Strap yourself in and check out the following:


Terrene - Fifty-One : The Indifferent Universe

Terrene - Unwelcome : The Indifferent Universe




The Beta Band - Space : Heroes To Zeros

Stereolab - Space Moth : Sound-Dust

A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song : The Wedding Singer Vol. 2

John Williams - Star Wars Main Theme : Star Wars Trilogy

In his new album titled S.O.S.: Save Our Soul, due out June 26th, Marc Broussard delves deep into the history books and into the vaults of Motown and Stax Records to create a tribute to the veritable who's who in the soul, blues, R & B, and gospel world. As he puts it, "I want to take what was beautiful and right about old-school soul and make it alive again."

This album, his third counting a benefit bootloeg he produced for the victims of Hurrican Katrina, includes tracks originally sung by some well known names such as Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and Marvin Gaye, as well as some less familiar names such as The Rance Allen Group and The Staple Singers. Marc takes them and updates them a bit, but doesn't lose their original feel. Check out the track listing below:


1. You Met Your Match (Stevie Wonder)
2. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
3. Harry Hippie (Bobby Womack)
4. Let the Music Get Down In Your Soul (The Rance Allen Group)
5. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
6. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (Marvin Gaye)
7. Love and Happiness (Al Green)
8. I've Been Loving You Too Long (Otis Redding)
9. Respect Yourself (The Staple Singers)
10. Yes We Can, Can (Allan Toussaint)
11. Come In From The Cold (Marc Broussard original)


Marc Broussard - Come In from The Cold : S.O.S.: Save Our Soul


Marc Broussard - Love and Happiness (Al Green cover) : S.O.S.: Save Our Soul




Al Green - Love and Happiness : I'm Still in Love With You

Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long : Good To Me: Recorded Live At The Whiskey A Go Go Volume 2

Just in case my opinion of Grace Potter & the Nocturnal isn't clear, read what I've said about them here, here, here, here, here, and finally here. Get the picture? In the 14 months or so of writing this blog, more posts have been dedicated to Grace and company than any other band. With that in mind, you can imagine how excited I was to get my hands on their newest creation, This Is Somewhere, due out August 7th.

For those of you who've listened to Grace since the beginning, or others (like me) who've worked their way back from her last release (Nothing But the Water), you've probably noticed evolution at work. For those of you new to Grace, be prepared for a rockin' good album. With the last album several years old, if you've seen the band recently you've noticed a shift in their sound. The soulful bluesiness is still there, but it's turning into a more rhythm and bluesiness and hitting a little harder. What's incredible about that is it seems Grace's voice is growing with the band's sound. Or maybe it's the band's sound growing with Grace's voice.

The group's first album, Original Soul, has got a jazzy feel to it, with many of the tracks easily fitting into a smokey lounge atmosphere. Much of the emphasis is on Grace's voice and organ(even the CD is attributed to just Grace, with no mention of the Nocturnals), with many tracks only having light instrumention keeping the beat in the background.

On Nothing But the Water, the band seemed to step up and add more to the compostions in general. Don't let this imply that they were simply background support of the first album, but they seem to come into their own on this one. The overall feeling of the album also turns a little bluesy and a few tracks really start to jam (try Joey below). There are still tracks that highlight Grace's beautifull voice, but the instruments make themselves a little more felt.

With This Is Somewhere, the band once again grows and take their craft to another level. For those of you who have caught the group on tour in the last year or two, you'll recognize many of the tracks as those they've been playing on the road (Stop The Bus, Ain't No Time, Falling Or Flying, etc...). The band as a whole has kicked it up a notch, and unlike previous albums, you can really hear the entire band here, each showing their chops. Check out the song below to see it for yourself.


Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Ah Mary : This Is Somewhere

and some from their older albums...

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Joey : Nothing But the Water

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Deliverance Road : Original Soul

I just got home from seeing Feist play in Northampton, MA on her first US date and felt the need to write about it immediately.

Yes, it was that good.

She opened up with Honey Honey and continued to play almost all of the songs off the new album, The Reminder, as well as some crowd favorites such as Mushaboom, Gatekeeper, When I Was A Young Girl, and my absolute favorite Secret Heart. Highlights of the night? Hmmm...almost all the songs of the new album (I Feel It All comes to mind particularly). Highlight of the highlights? Without a doubt it would have to be Leslie's version of Nina Simone's See Line Woman. Without a doubt. It was freakin' incredible. I'm not sure how I can express how flippin' rocking it was without using expletives.

I've figured out something about Feist and why her music is so entrancing. It's its simplicity. She uses just a few notes, just a few chords, but they're all the right notes, all the right chords. And that voice on top of the music.


Feist - I Feel It All : The Reminder

Feist - Sealion : The Reminder

Nina Simone - See Line Woman : Mojo Club Dancefloor Jazz


And if she is coming ANYWHERE near you, make sure to get tickets to see her live at one of these dates (if it's not already sold out!):

Jun 9 2007 8:00P	Berkelee Performance Center	Boston, Massachusetts
Jun 11 2007 8:00P	Town Hall	New York, New York
Jun 12 2007 8:00P	Town Hall	New York, New York
Jun 13 2007 8:00P	9:30 Club	Washington D.C., Washington DC
Jun 14 2007 8:00P	Carolina Theatre	Greensboro, North Carolina
Jun 15 2007 8:00P	Variety Playhouse	Atlanta, Georgia
Jun 17 2007 8:00P	Bonnaroo	Manchester, Tennessee
Jun 19 2007 8:00P	The Vic	Chicago, Illinois
Jun 20 2007 8:00P	Pantages Theatre	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jun 22 2007 8:00P	Boulder Theatre	Boulder, Colorado
Jun 24 2007 8:00P	Moore Theatre	Seattle, Washington
Jun 25 2007 8:00P	The Crystal Ballroom	Portland, Oregon
Jun 26 2007 8:00P	The Fillmore	San Francisco, California
Jun 27 2007 8:00P	The FIllmore	San Francisco, California
Jun 29 2007 8:00P	The Wiltern	Los Angeles, California
Jul 28 2007 8:00P	Fuji Rocks Festival	Yuzawa

You might not recognize Jesse Harris' name at first sight, but I can almost guarantee you've heard his musical craftsmanship coming from the seductive mouth of Norah Jones; he wrote her smash mood-setting romantic ditty Don't Know Why (listen to his original version below). Although you probably recognize the song, you probably don't realize that the man behind it has six (soon to be seven with the release of Feel on July 10th) of his own albums to his credit. He's also slated to release the soundtrack for Ethan Hawke’s The Hottest State (out on Think Films in August 2007) of which he composed and produced.

I'll admit right off the bat, without even listening to the music I love the album title (Feel - it's just so open to personal interpretation) and the album cover (colorful, simple, and simply joyful). Delving into the album only reveals more reasons I've been listening to it compulsively lately.

First off, listen to the opening title track of the album, Feel, below. Tell me that it doesn't sound like a Fleetwood Mac song to you. I dare you to. I love it. Then check out the xylophone on Walk On, also available below.

Go deeper and the music remains just as good. Harris' voice reminds me of Paul Simon, and the musical stylings on the album remind me of Brett Dennen's last album with a tropical island feel to it. This last part can be attributed to the fact that Harris sites Brazilian music as the initial inspiration for the album. In fact, in conversations with noted percussionist Mauro Refosco, he originally was planning on recording the album in Rio de Janeiro with a Brazilian band backing him up but after realizing the complexity such a project might create, he instead decided to stick closer to home and let things go as they may.

Incredibly, the album only took three days to record, although you wouldn't know it by listening to it. Harris has lost the Ferdinandos (his band on previous albums) and instead recruited friends and others he's played with in the past to help shape what would become Feel. Even if you haven't heard any of his older music, try out the following and see how it makes you feel.


Jesse Harris - Feel : Feel

Jesse Harris - Walk On : Feel

and some older ones...

Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos - Mirror Ball : While the Music Lasts

Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos - Don't Know Why : Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos



Fleetwood Mac - Go Your own Way : Rumours

Paul Simon - Kodachrome : There Goes Rhymin' Simon

Brett Dennen - Darlin' Do Not Fear : So Much More

The Willowz are back with their fourth release, titled Chautauqua, this time on Dim Mak Records. For those of you not familiar with the band, their sound is a boisterous mix of some throw-back sounds like Led Zeppelin, some more modern flavors such as The White Stripes (and even more-so The Raconteurs), some stylistic eccentricities of Primus or Modest Mouse, and the southern rock twang of [fill in the name of your favorite twangy southern rock band here]. Although the voice of Richie James Follin, the lead vocalist, falls a little short on the slow song Once In A While, it can also soar like Robert Plant's at points and then twist and turn in the next moment when given something to rock with. If you're up for a good old-fashioned (modernized) 60's rock revival, look no further than The Willowz.

Led Zeppelin - Hot Dog : In Through the Out Door

The Raconteurs - Intimate Secretary : Live Session at BBC's Radio1 (studio version on Broken Boy Soldiers)

Modest Mouse - A Life Of Arctic Sounds : Suicide Squeeze Slaying Since 1996

Although you've probably not heard of New Zealanders The Phoenix Foundation (anyone out there remember MacGyver?) before (or maybe you have and you're way more hip than the rest of us), I'm pretty sure you'll be hearing from them a lot this summer. Besides having just released their third second (thanks Rich) album Horsepower on June 5th in the US, they also wrote the score for the soon to be released (June 12th) film Eagle vs Shark (I ended up on Team Shark if you take the quiz and are interested - I'm a "dangerous person" who is "awesome at video games" and "on the hunt for love." - How about you?). (I've used way too many parentheses in this paragraph and am going to move on to the next one now which will be completely devoid of their (parentheses) use.)

As I was saying before all of the punctuation interruptions, The Phoenix Foundation is trying to make their break in the States with the release of their latest album along with the soon to be released film score. It's a rather languid affair for the most part with a couple notable exceptions, including Bruiser (Miami 4000) [please note the unavoidable use of parentheses due to their use in an official track title], the 6th track which has a shredding guitar solo and a robotic interpretation of something which I can't identify and which is available below. Besides that one track smack dab in the middle of the album, and another somewhat upbeat track Gone Fishing near the end, the rest sounds like a heat-melting day sitting on a beach chair embodied in a song. That's simply the best way I can explain it. So choose a comfy spot in the shade, and give them a spin.


The Phoenix Foundation - Bruiser (Miami 4000) : Horsepower

The Phoenix Foundation - Sally : Horsepower



MacGyver Theme song (thanks to MacGyverLand)

Following up their debut album, Bruno, from 2005, San Franciscoites Scissors for Lefty is finally set to release their sophmore effort titled Underhanded Romance, on June 12th via Eenie Meenie Records.

Formed in the college town of San Luis Obispo, CA way back at the turn of the millenium (that's 2000 for all you still trying to figure it out), the band was originally composed of Bryan Garza and brothers Peter and James Krimmel. Since then they're recruited two other members to bolster their sound. Strange but true fact about Peter and James' mother: she was a Malaysian pop star in the mid-'60s and is still played on the radio in Borneo to this day. True fact. That must be how they got their break into the music biz.

One might think that SFL's sound would pay homage to classic Malaysian pop, but unforunately that's just not the case. Or at least I don't think it does. It doesn't sound like Malaysian music, or at least like none of the Malaysian music I have in my collection (which is rather thin...OK, microscopic, alright already, non-existant). I must admit some ignorance of 60's Malaysian pop and therefor can't really give an accurate assessment.

So what DO they sound like then? Although from San Francisco, they've definitely got that Brit-band sound thing going on. Sort of the Franz-Monkeys thing going on but with a little spin on it. It's got some danceability to it that makes you think of Cansei De Ser Sexy, especially the fourth track Ghetto Ways, available below.


Scissors for Lefty - Ghetto Ways : Underhanded Romance

Scissors for Lefty - Marsha : Underhanded Romance

and from their debut album...

Scissors for Lefty - More Than the Summer : Bruno

So to be honest with you, when I first came across the band Nurses, and realized they were all men, I instantly thought of Ben Stiller's character Gaylord Focker in Meet the Parents.

Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down is the debut album from San Diego'ites Nurses, although it's well polished enough to make you think otherwise. One of its charms is its seemingly random instrumentation that pops up and then cuts out, leaving you to wonder what's going to come into the song next, and another is that the lead singer's voice (Aaron, I think) reminds me quite often of Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Put the two together and you get songs that make you feel like you're having wildly changing mood swings. After reading this you might be thinking that it sounds like a jumbled mass of musical pieces tossed together haphazardly, but somehow they manage to pull it off. Listen for yourself:


Nurses - And Now The Curse Of Marjorie : Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down

Nurses - Wait For A Safe Sign : Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down



Tim Curry - Sweet Transvestite : The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Soundtrack

Sometimes it's nice to just rock out to an album. Or should I say RAWK out! Enter Blacktop Mourning.

No Regret is the debut release by the young band Blacktop Mourning; it is also the debut release from Tyrannosaurus Records, a new label founded by Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz. Not only has Duritz chosen Blacktop Mourning for his label's first release (which came out May 15th), he also helped produce it as well as provide some background lyrics on a few tracks. With such support, it's no surprise that the album has received some fairly heavy publicity, through MySpace and especially on MTV.

Hailing from Chicago, the band is headed up by Max Steger, the 18 year old who plays lead guitar for the band as well as being responsible for writing and arranging all of the songs on the album. What does the album sound like you might ask? Like I said before, they get a lot of play on MTV. If that statement turns you off, I'm guessing you're probably not going to like the album. IF, on the other hand, you can enjoy some power-punk-rock music that's heavy in sound if not deep in intracacies, this album might be what you've been looking for while you've been driving around on these first hot days of summer with the windows down. Consider it a mix between the frenzied riffs of Blink-182 and the sugary-sweet vocals of Third Eye Blind, accept it as an album to listen to for fun, and rawk on!


Blacktop Mourning - Future's Gone : No Regret

Blacktop Mourning - Hardly Recognize : No Regret



Blink-182 - The Party Song : Enema of the State

Third Eye Blind - Narcolepsy : Third Eye Blind

When asked to name some rock icons around today that have outlasted their peers, people might come up with The Rolling Stones, The Police (reunited again), maybe even U2 could arguably fit into this category at this point. I think only a handful of people would come up with David Bowie, which is unfortunate, for he truly has demonstrated incredible artistic ability over the last 40 years or so. He's evolved and re-invented himself throughout his career, never allowing his style or material to grow stale or predictable. Countless artists have cited him as an influence, and he's collaborated with many of them throughout the years.

On June 5th, Virgin and EMI Music will release a pair of offerings by The Thin White Duke, as Bowie is sometimes called. Although technically nothing new, both contain material not previously available in one package.


The first is an expanded special edition of Bowie's classic 1974 album Young Americans. It will include the original album's eight tracks, three bonus tracks, and a DVD which will contain new mixes of the tracks by Tony Visconti as well as a “Dick Cavett Show” performance and interview clips from 1974.

David Bowie - Young Americans : Young Americans (Expanded Edition)


The second is titled The Best of David Bowie 1980-1987: Sight & Sound, and is also a two disc affair. The first disc contains 19 audio tracks which include some of Bowie's best hits from these years, as well as some tracks which will be less familiar to most listeners who might not have been listening to his music during this period. The second is another DVD containing the videos for 15 of his songs (two of which were previously unavailable and one which is live).

David Bowie - Let's Dance : The Best Of David Bowie 1980-1987: Sight & Sound

The torch has been passed: the Boston indie power-pop torch that is. It started with The Pixies in the 80's, then Juliana Hatfield and Belly and all the incarnations its members moved on to in the 90's. Now it's Static of the Gods' turn. Although the band is now based out of Beantown, ironically none of the members actually grew up in Massachusetts (although bassist/guitarist Ben Voskeritchian was technically born in Boston, he grew up in Richmond, VA).

Jen Johnson, lead vocalist for the threesome, actually started out her musical career as a classically trained singer (it seems almost cliche now that some of the best of today's musicians defect from the classical side - no wonder the genre isn't doing so good) in Stockton, CA. Although the band's sound strikingly resembles those previously mentioned Boston bands, it was the now long defunct Los Angeles band, that dog (of which one of the members went on to perform with the Decemberists - Petra Haden. Check out her discography, it's absolutely incredible who she has performed with!), that inspired Johnson to pick up a guitar and start playing non-classical compositions. "For me it was seeing these really strong women who were really sassy and cool and writing music they wanted to write with these great melodies."

On a personal note, I absolutely LOVE that dog's last album, Retreat From the Sun (which I actually discovered AFTER the band had broken up unfortunately), and for this point alone, Jen has me rooting for her. Luckily for me, Static of the Gods just released their debut full-length album, Cycles Follow Signs, April 17th, so there's no chance of me missing the boat on them. If even a sliver of you enjoys that Boston indie sound, do yourself a favor and give this album a try.


Static of the Gods - Cycles Follow Signs : Cycles Follow Signs

Static of the Gods - Between Us : Cycles Follow Signs



that dog - Never Say Never : Retreat From the Sun

that dog - He's Kissing Christian : Totally Crushed Out!

The Pixies - Blown Away : Bossanova

Juliana Hatfield - Here Comes The Pain : This Is Fort Apache

Belly - Thief : Tank Girl Soundtrack