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This past Saturday, we hosted a trio of bands that amounted to some of the best music I've seen on one stage in quite a while. Wussy (from Cincy), Harper Simon (the traveling companion in Graceland), and Company of Thieves. Now, I've seen the Thieves twice this year already, but nothing could have prepared me for the wrath that Geneveve unleashed on that stage. I've truly never seen anything like her and won't be a bit surprised when the rest of the country catches on. So, obviously, take that as a recommendation. On top of it all, the night was for Dare To Care, who deliver foods to hungry young'ins, and we had a TON of food dropped off, including quite a few frozen turkeys, so the night was a pretty large success all around. Its nice when it all comes together.
The Builders & The Burchers – Vampire Lake
There have been a handful of songs in this vein lately, but this Portland via Alaska outfit still knows how to weave the jangly-acoustic, tale-spinning genre to its best strong points. And just because it’s past Halloween, don’t think its too late for a song about Vampire’s. Besides, Vampire’s are soooo in. They’re like robots and ninja’s from the last dozen years.
Pants Yell! – Cold Hands
This feels like some decent,120 Minutes style under-the-radar, 90’s lo-fi/post grunge. Apparently, this is the 2nd time ‘round for this song, previously recorded for an EP with a longer title and less polished. I’d like to hear that version as well some time to see if anything was lost in the re-working. Fans of late-era Nada Surf might want to pay attention.
The Bravery – The Spectator
So, they’re back. Again. No one paid any attention to their 2007 sophomore disc and I’m not sure they will this time either. It’s not that its bad, its just not that special. Trading in the guitars for more synthis no big surprise either – maybe just a few years late. I can’t help but think that with a little foresight, they could have done this as their 2 nd disc and probably would have received quite a bit more credit.
Brown Bird – Danger and Dread
Now, here is a b-e-a-utiful song. Well done and infectious. Musically, it could sub for a Tom Waits dust-bowl tale, but the vocals are all their own, sitting comfortably and building into a finale singalong. The rest of the disc is pretty great as well.
My Cousin, The Emperor – A Long Way From Home
One of my favorite finds for the week. It’s indie-cana, a self-proclaimed “country band from NYC.” The full length, also called A Long Way From Home, dips its feet into several different genres, but always feels cohesive and honest. Its worth keeping an eye on this group.
Memory Tapes – Graphics (Sci-Fi Edit)
Dayve Hawk has the web kids eating out of his hands this year. The man with four monikers (Tapes, Cassettes, Weird, etc.) seems to have found some comfort with this one specifically and recently took this much longer song and condensed it down for radio. Its one of the most listenable works he’s done in a bit, leaving the playful experimenting and 30-minute episodes in the shadows. If we get more tracks like this, he might make the jump from obscure-but-loved blog find, to relatively-better-known blog find. And who knows, your local radio station might play it as well.
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)
See what I mean? Anything he touches right now gets instant attention. After editing down his own track (see: above), he tackled the big, big buzzy song from Yeasayer. And its good. As you’ve heard from our playlists all year, its so easy to put a few extended beats in a song, add some blips, beeps, etc., and as long as you can move you butt to it, its called a remix. Memory Tapes keeps the best parts in tact and brings new dimensions at all of the right spots. It’s a new song, but one you can sing along to the first time.
Atlas Sound – Doctor
Most of the stuff that Bradford Cox puts out is a wee-bit too lo-fi for my personal liking, but he’s really done something fun here with the cover of this old Five Discs tune. Grab it for free as a virtual 45, complete with a b-side (an original) that I fully expect to pop up on next weeks show.
Little Fish – Darling Dear
When I hear this, I can’t help but think of Heartless Bastards right off the bat. I’ll say that plays to this UK band’s strong side, since I can’t name many others who fall in that direction. Plus, it’s like a more commercial version of the Bastards, which was really the only thing they were missing, so it could be said that this definitely betters that sound. So far, there is only a 3 disc EP out, but you can look for the full length early next year.
Vetiver – More of This (Neighbors Remix)
Remixed by the band themselves, this once acoustic-pop tune that was a bonus track on the Tight Knit album has been given a makeover that could credit it as its own lead single, properly. Its now a fun track that stands out way more, with a bit of an African-jangle lead guitar that breezes through over a subtle beat. Its not a remix that’s meant for the dance floor. Contrary to the title, its more of a retooling all together. And a good one at that.
Editors – Papillion
Read the review of the new Bravery single above and place those words here. I’ll say that its grown on me after a few more listens, but not enough for me to remember it over their previous works.
Sambassadeur – Days
A nice find. Piano, strings, and a female voice might sound cliché, and its certainly nothing new that’s going on here, but it works well in its inoffensiveness. Look for it in a trailer for your next favorite indie movie.
People Eating People – All the Hospitals
So, it takes what Sambassaduer did, tightens it a bit, and makes it a bit cooler, too. They got a big leg up this week as the American choice for the Music Alliance Pact, which you can check out on I Guess I’m Floating.
Magic Kids – Superball
The Raveonettes – The Chosen One
As much as I enjoyed their last record, I can’t seem to find any footing for this latest disc at all, which is surprising since they haven’t really done anything different. We might have to chalk this up to “moving in different directions” or something. Anyway, you can grab this one as a bonus download to prep the duo beginning their U.S. tour. Its fuzzy in the way you already know, if you know The Raveonettes.
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The Weekly Feed is distributed by WFPK and Louisville Public Media. The executive producer is Stacy Owen, with additional help from WFPK’s Laura Shine. Produced and hosted by Kyle Meredith. Make sure to say hi, yeah?
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