Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil

A while back I wrote about The Ocean Floor and mentioned how their music wasn’t particularly groundbreaking, but it was a heap of fun regardless. I’d have to put Black Lips in the same category. For me, it’s the kind the music I would listen to when I’m looking to change things up. The album certainly never sits still, with no song exceeding the 3 minute mark. As it progress, the sound varies greatly, at times entering some rather bizarre territory. Even the lyrical content ranges from self harm to infant interaction. I’ll leave it to you to discover the rest of this album’s intricacies. But whatever the music sounds like the overwhelming feeling is always one of light-hearted fun. Apparently this band is renowned for their crazy on-stage antics and while this album isn't exactly in that category, it's hard to see. These guys are clearly enjoying themselves and it's good to have a break from the seriousness of music every now and then.

Bad Kids – This song has a really energetic vibe to it, which is probably how it caught my attention. You can also hear their more childish side coming through.

Step Right Up – This song has great juxtaposition between the rough, wild sound of the intro and the relative calm of the chorus. Very nice.

Released: 11/9/07 | Website | Myspace

The Go! Team

The Go! Team have come along way in the last 3 years. In fact, for those who aren’t aware, they have evolved from a one-man bedroom project into a collective very worthy of their name's exclamation mark. When you see this colourful, excitable bunch live on the stage, it’s hard to believe that much of their music began on one guy’s laptop, but that’s (pretty much) how it was. When Ian Parton produced the brilliant Thunder Lightning Strike, the next, not-so-logical step was to get a band together and turn the music into a live performance. Despite all the odds, they’ve done incredibly well and when I saw them last year, it was a highly memorable experience. Sure they’ve got plenty of novelties (constantly changing instruments, two drummers and a rapping lead singer named Ninja), but they’re bursting with so much playful energy that these things become huge assets. But what impresses me most is that despite undergoing such a massive transformation, they’ve somehow managed to remain true to the original spirit of the Go! Team name. It’s something that’s definitely worth commendation.

Thunder Lightning Strike (2004)

Despite my first reference to this album being about its apparent ties with the sport of skipping (or maybe because of it), Thunder Lightning Strike quickly became a favourite. It champions instrumentation without overdoing it and commands an army of samples to brilliant effect. It is music in its purest form. Not just songs, melodies or riffs, but rewarding, inspirational MUSIC. I’ve had many favourites over the years, but the song below occupies a special place in my heart after seeing it used very nicely in a ski movie during a video-editing phase of mine.

MP3: Huddle Formation

Proof Of Youth (2007)

I’ll be quite honest and say straight up that I don’t enjoy this album as much as the last, but that isn’t to say I’m not incredibly impressed by it. I expected this album to sound like it was from a completely different band and instead, I was met with more great Go! Team. The rapping element of their sound isn’t too pervasive and the instrumentation still reigns. It definitely fits in with their live sound and will continue to fuel many shows into the future. I tried to pick a song that really captures this live energy of theirs.

MP3: Doing It Right

Label | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #24

Skinny Boy – Amy Milan
For those who don’t know, Amy Milan is the girl from Canadian band, Stars. While there are of course similarities, her solo album is actually quite different from the band’s sound. It has an overarching country element to it, though I seemed to have picked the least country, and most stars-like song of the lot. Typical. It’s a great album nonetheless.

You Sound Like Louis Burdett – The Whitlams
I recently saw The Whitlams with a ninety-something piece orchestra at The Sydney Opera House. It confirmed many things in my mind. The Whitlams are great, the opera house is the stupidest, yet coolest piece of architecture ever created and this song is brilliant. It may not have benefited the most from the orchestra (that honour goes to Blow Up The Pokies), but it didn’t matter because it’s so good in its own right.

Grand Pacific Son – The City Lights
I must admit that I judged The City Lights a little too early. After repeatedly slagging off their new album, I’ve actually come to enjoy it. Whoops. I still wouldn’t say it’s deep or particularly far-reaching, but as some good old rock n roll fun, it does the job. Hearing this song on the radio one night is what made me realise that I had possibly made a mistake in my initial verdict. Such clean guitars. Mmmmm

Lake Michigan – Rogue Wave
There’s no doubt that Rogue Wave’s new album has its moments. As I listened back through it, I discovered that it had already formed a substantial part of my image of Rogue Wave. Despite this, however, I still feel underwhelmed by it. Fans of the band and this song should still check it out, but you’ve been warned. Never know, it could just be me.

One Of These Days – 78 Saab
Speaking of Rogue Wave, this band sounds quite a bit like them. I’ve never really been the biggest 78 Saab fan, but I’ve still always enjoyed them. This song comes from their new album, which thanks to this song, I’m quite looking forward to.

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

I’ve always liked Animal Collective, but never really embraced them. In fact I never really gave their last album, Feels, a proper listen because by then I’d figured they just weren’t for me. However, in recent times this view has been changing, in part due to the brilliant Panda Bear album, and I’ve been giving them a second chance, to see what I missed. A few weeks ago I was at uni, listening to Feels. It came to an end and rather than looking for something new to put on, I took the easy option and flicked the radio on. I was greeted with a monotonous dance track which wasn’t an ideal start, but thankfully I stuck around because the next track was by Animal Collective. And so was the next one. AND the next one. This continued until 9 tracks later I had listened to their entire new album. It just so happened that in my time of Animal Collective need, I had tuned in to FBi’s album show who decided to treat me with Strawberry Jam, the exact album I wanted to hear. I wasn’t just impressed by the coincidence of this occasion, but I also by how great the album sounded. Never before had an Animal Collective album grabbed me in such a complete manner. It retains all the Animal Collective wackiness, yet this time feels like it’s all going in the same direction. I’m not saying the other albums are bad, it’s probably just me missing the point, but what I can say is that this one is great. For those who’ve never really listened much to Animal Collective, this is your chance. They’re one of those special bands that everyone should get to know

Peacebone – I simply can’t get over this song. I love it. Such raw energy. YES!

Chores – This song definitely delivers on what the Panda Bear album promised. It mixes excitable bounciness with deep drawn out moments to create quite a powerful song.

Released: 11/9/07 | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #23

We’re Here – The Guillemots
I never really mentioned The Guillemots when they came through last year, because to be honest, I didn’t think they were that special. Looking back, I found that their album actually had some pretty impressive highlights. This song in particular is just plain brilliant. It feels more like a joyous moment than an actual song.

Yamanote Line – The Paper Scissors
This one goes out to some friends in spite. We were recently struck with ‘last song syndrome’, where we would sporadically burst out singing this song every few minutes, just because it happened to be the last playing as we got out of the car. With such ‘unique’ vocals, you can understand how it quickly became an exercise in annoying one another.

Turn On Your Mind - The Laurels
The Laurels recently took out the USyd band comp and, dare I say it, they thoroughly deserved it. They remind me of My Bloody Valentine, but within this forge their own path, heading more towards psychodelic territory. It’s a very compelling sound that slowly drags you in. They’re live show is very impressive and quite an experience. They’ve got screeching guitars, a dual vocalist setup and best of all, two leads that look like Craig Nicholls in different stages of his career (destruction?). Check them out at Spectrum this Saturday. By the way, I still can’t get over how decent this mp3 sounds for 56kbps. It’s a miracle of modern technology.

And now I turn to dance music. Not because I want to, but because it appears the world won’t have it any other way. This once-niche genre is gradually spreading into more and more aspects of music and I’m not too pleased about it. Radio stations that once championed excellent music are being infected by this latest trend. It’s hard to blame them when it’s the listeners that are driving the change. I flatly refuse to take place in such a shift because, to put it simply, the vast majority of this music is horrible. Repetitive beats aren’t enjoyable no matter how many drugs you’re on. Don’t get me wrong, I love to bust out some moves on the dance floor, and any song that gets people moving is worth a chance, but in case of this latest wave of tunes, the appeal well and truly escapes me.

So here’s couple a dance artists who I do actually have respect for. I’m not professing a great love, but at least these guys are going about it the right way. Hopefully other artists will take note and will spend less time playing with loop button and more time thinking about what they’re creating. And to those who listen to this music, bear in mind that while you mindlessly use this scene as an excuse to take drugs, you are imposing a bleak musical future on the rest of us. At least pick a different genre to get blind to. Drugs fuelled some the greatest artists of the 80s, what will this current wave offer the next generation? Ha! I pity them.

Colours – Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is on the border of what I can bear, but at least he mixes things up a bit.

Genesis – Justice
I was quite surprised to find that I actually enjoy Justice’s album. Sure there are parts that I would happily cut out, but on a whole, it’s actually music I would want to listen to. There’s no denying that this song has a certain grandeur about it, even if it is just supposed to be an intro.

Whitley

I remember when Whitley (not White-ly) first entered my consciousness. I had bargained my way into a band night at Spectrum and was looking forward to seeing The Seabellies. They were great (surprise, surprise), but it was another artist who caught my eye. In between the bands, everyone I chatted to seemed to suggest that this Whitley guy was pretty special. I had no idea what to expect and when I saw him walk out with just a stool and acoustic guitar, I was a little sceptical. But as is so often the case, I was wrong. While I normally need a certain amount familiarity to truly enjoy a live set, Whitley managed to impress me with his soothing folk music. While I didn’t fall in love instantly, he did enough for me to remember him (someone casually crossing the stage behind him mid-song may also have helped to cement the occasion). For a forgetful person such as myself, that’s an achievement.

So with his music somewhere at the top of my todo list, I was understandably excited when I received his brand new album, The Submarine. Almost as if it was destined to happen, it quickly became a favourite. It was all I wanted to listen to. Every time I listened to something different, I would have to follow it up with a healthy dose of Whitley. In fact I listened to it so much that I managed to damage the CD before getting a chance to rip it. Just as I was told when I first saw him, there’s something special about Whitley. I don’t often delve into the world of folk, but he seems to offer something more. His music has the characteristic beauty of folk, yet it also has the suspense and melodies of pop (or some other loosely defined genre). Whatever it is, I like it.

The fairy-tale continued last Tuesday when I unexpectedly got the chance to see him again. I was on my way to a psychology lecture when a very familiar sound drifted towards me. I looked over and saw a band playing inside a giant yellow tent. As I went in for a closer look, I discovered that sure enough, it was my ‘artist-of-the-moment’, Whitley. Rather than calculating the odds of this Melbourne artist starting a show at my university at the exact moment I walked by, I just basked in the fortune of it. This time round, he had a full band, who did a great job and complimented him perfectly. But it wasn’t just his music which impressed me, it was his whole persona. This guy was born to be a musician. At just 22, he seemed so at ease whilst playing to the crowd. Even his stage banter, which so often is either mumbled or lame, added to the experience of seeing him (the Mighty Boosh references were much appreciated). I walked away thoroughly satisfied and completely indifferent to my missed lecture. I even bought a shirt, throwing my principles of financial stinginess out the window.

If you’re looking for a new favourite artist, may I suggest Whitley. I don’t mind sharing him, just as long as his shows don’t become expensive. If you like what you hear, head to his website for plenty of goodies and also consider getting his album, because as you may have gathered by now, it’s pretty good.

The Life I Keep – This is one of the softer songs that I really enjoy. I like to sing along, despite the fact that I’m utterly hopeless at it. Somehow I still manage to get the words ‘looking’ and ‘searching’ wrong more often than not.

All To Whole – This song really shone when I saw it performed live. He was struggling to hit the notes, but by no means failing. It was quite a powerful performance.

Label | Website | Myspace

Good Shoes - Think Before You Speak

I've noticed something interesting amongst my musically minded friends. While we all have similar tastes, we each have our own little 'niche' that only we enjoy. I guess it makes sense if you think of the entire musical spectrum as a giant piece of paper and you're personal preferences as a circle that covers a certain area (I should write a thesis on this). It's unlikely you'll find people whose 'area of interest' is exactly the same as yours, but usually they'll overlap enough for you to get along. As for the areas that don't overlap, they become your guilty pleasures. It's the music you might get ridiculed for or perhaps have to keep secret. Well amongst my pretentious indie friends, my niche is mainstream music. Now I don't mean that commercial slosh kind of mainstream, but more mid-tier mainstream. The bands that got popular so you're not supposed to like them anymore. The Franz Ferdinands, Maximo Parks and White Stripes. The bands that 'esteemed' critics may frown upon while thousands of regular people enjoy them. Well in these cases, I'll happily join the masses. So what does all this have to with Good Shoes? Well, you see, they epitomise this type of music. Good Shoes are your typical British indie-rock band from head to toe. This may sound negative, but it's not because they're delivering on a successful formula. Their album is exactly what you'd expect. It's not particularly deep, but it's a heap of fun. Their music isn't revolutionary, but it's still mighty fine. They won't ever be my favourite band, but they appeal to a side of me that just wants to forget about the details of life and bop along to some energetic pop music.

Blue Eyes - There sure is a lot of songs out there about Blue Eyes. One more can't hurt can it?

Photos - Barring a little introduction, this song is the first track and really serves to get the album off to a powerful start

Released: 26/03/07 | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #22

Melody Day - Caribou
Caribou is one of those artists who sit at the back of my collection and don't often get a look. But after putting his latest album on and getting hit by this brilliant opening track, I'm starting to think I should pay more attention.

Come Along - Ice Cream Hands
Ice Cream Hands are yet another Melbourne artist that has entered my consciousness in recent months. Just when I was wondering who they were, their CD arrives on my doorstep. And now, just as I've come to like them, I find out they have a Sydney show soon. Too easy!

The Mollusk - Ween
I'm not really much of a Ween fan, but I probably should be. Every time I put them on, I enjoy what I hear, even it is a bit odd. This song is one that has managed to stick with me.

Girls Like That - Custard
A friend recently did a DJ set and we had fun pulling out the old Hottest 100 volumes to find some classics. Just be thankful I didn't choose Pauline Pantsdown.

Unless It's Kicks - Okkervil River
Okkervil River are another of those frequently-raved-about bands that just don't do it for me. I enjoy them, and at times (like this song) REALLY enjoy them, but in the overall sense, they just fail to have me well and truly convinced.

Gig Reviews

Here's some of the highlights in my last month of live music for you to peruse:

Bluejuice

If you had of told me a year ago that I’d be going to see Bluejuice, I would have laughed. This is because for all intensive purposes, they are a hip-hop band. And according to the laws of the universe, I don’t like such bands. I remember they had a song called Unemployed which I found amusing, but still far from my thing. Well this all changed with the release of Vitriol. As one of the years best Aussie songs, it pulled me into the crazy world of Bluejuice. I knew that if I went to see them, most of the show would be hip-hop. But on the merit of this song, it was a gamble I was willing to take.

To put it simply, the show was amazing. From start to finish, the intensity was at full throttle and I was swept up in the sheer insanity of it all. Of course Vitriol went off, but it was the other songs that impressed me most. Unknown and at odds with my tastes, they had me dancing like a lunatic. It’s testimony to the incredible energy that this band creates. From Jake climbing along the roof and then into crowd to the song where they got half the crowd up on stage, the whole night was a blast. If you ever get a chance to see Bluejuice, just do it.






MP3: Vitriol

(I wanted to get a different song to use but alas I didn’t have time. Ah well, the brilliance of this makes up for it)

Silent Riot

Silent Riot is a great little festival that takes place at the Abercrombie Hotel. It’s on pretty frequently so you can always be sure there’s one on the horizon. Basically they get a bunch of bands and a bunch of DJs and put on a great night where the proceeds go to charity. The one I went to last Saturday was great fun.

Admittedly I was playing in it, so I’ll try not to sound biased, but I think not to mention it would just be biased in the other direction. Early on were John Columbus who I’m really coming to like. I seem to be seeing them at a rate of about once a week, but I think I’ll save the praise for when they put out their EP in October.

The Statics were entertaining as always, busting out an entertaining set despite missing a band member. It was a highlight when Pat joined the stage with The Small Hours and John Columbus to perform an ill-rehearsed, yet lively cover of The Go-Betweens’ Spring Rain. The video can be seen below.

It was also good to finally get to see Ghosts of Television. For some reason my expectations weren’t very high, but on the night were definitely impressive. They have a sort of performance aspect to their show, like they’re trying to mess with your mind. I dunno how to feel about it, but I think it worked quite well. The weirdest part was their lead singer was the spitting image of a friend of mine. That really was bizarre.

All in all, a great night. Can’t wait for the next.





Belles Will Ring

Last night I got to see Belles Will Ring for the first time in a long while. I was beginning to wonder whether all the hype surrounding them was just that, hype. Well it didn’t take long for me to realise that that was far from the truth. The dual front men are quite simply superb. Their vocal harmonies are dynamic, their guitar playing energetic and general stage presence spot on. They are Belles Will Ring. Sadly I can’t say the same about the others. The drummer looked positively bored, the bassist did little more than provide the necessary notes and whilst the keyboard/tambourinist was energetic, she seemed a little superfluous. I guess you can’t expect to have a band full of stars, but I did find it a little distracting. Beyond my minor quibbles, Belles Will Ring make some excellent music and their front men are sure to put on an excellent show for you. They’re currently on a tour with The Lovetones so you still might have a chance to catch them.

MP3: Mad Love

Lazy Tuesday Mix #3

Winter Wooskie – Belle & Sebastian
Today I had one of those “I’m sick of always listening to music I don’t know, just to see if I like it or not, just so I can go straight back to listening to music I don’t know” moments. Thankfully I put Belle & Sebastian on just in time and was instantly calmed. Phew.

Pieces Of Me – The Lovetones
Lately I’ve had negative comments about The Lovetones coming from left, right and centre (i.e. myself). But on further inspection, I must say I don’t think it’s all justified. Sure, occasionally they sound a bit like everything and yet nothing, but still, there’s some impressive music here.

Rebellion (Lies) – Arcade Fire
I didn’t get to say much about Arcade Fire when Funeral came out so therefore I justify my use of it now. It came on the radio recently and I was reminded how great life can be. It was then followed by 20 minutes of the same techno beat and I was brought right back to Earth and then some.

Mistaken For Strangers – The National
Ah The National. They are the band that just can’t seem to impress me. I mean I like them, but it feels like it’s only because I should, not because I have a great craving for their music. Still, the odd song here and there manages to rise above the rest.

Mt Kill – Surf City
This New Zealand 4-piece have really impressed with their debut EP. In fact I even considered going to Bondi this Thursday to see them until I realised I couldn’t. True story. They remind me of a more colourful incarnation of Sonic Youth. It’s an image which this cover undoubtedly helped form.

Bishop Allen - The Broken String

I couldn't help but laugh when I heard a radio DJ make this statement not too long ago...."that track came off Bishop Allen's brand new album, The Broken String. They haven't released anything since an EP they put out in 2003, so it's good to hear from them again". Now I'm not normally one to pull up others' mistakes, but the enormity of this one just couldn't be overlooked. Firstly, in 2003 they released an LP, it was called Charm School and I really enjoyed it. Secondly, they have released material since then. Lot's of it. In 2006 they embarked on the ambitious task of producing an EP for every month of the year. I didn't follow the project completely, but what I did hear impressed me. The songs occasionally sounded rushed or bare, but there's plenty of great material there. So you can see how being told they hadn't done anything would be quite amusing. This new record is actually composed of 10 tracks from the EP project plus a couple new ones, so is a nice alternative for those who, like me, are a little daunted by the idea of listening to twelve EPs. At first I thought the rushed nature in which many of these songs were written hurt them, but the more I listen, the more this impression fades. Bishop Allen have proven themselves as incredibly adept song writers. Their innovative take on indie rock music continues to enter new territory as they build a diverse collection for all to enjoy. If you're new to them, I'd probably recommend Charm School as a good starting point, but this album is definitely a worthy follow up.

Rain - The energetic mood of this song quickly led it to become and remain favourite.

The News From Your Bed - I remember hearing this one over a year ago when it came out on an EP (February was it?). It's still as enjoyable as ever.

Released: 24/07/07 | Website | Myspace

Lazy Tuesday Mix #2

Be Gentle With Me – The Boy Least Likely To
It’s always nice to come back to an old album you’d forgotten about; especially one this joyful. I came across The Boy Least Likely To rather early in my musical ‘enlightenment’ and they were probably my first foray into the tweeish side of indie music.

Tonight I Have To Leave It – Shout Out Louds
I’ve been enjoying the Shout Out Louds of late, though not as much as I’d have hoped. They seem to be sitting just below the point of greatness and just can’t cross it. In time perhaps. This song, however, is definitely doing it for me. That little intro riff is brilliant.

Candy Cut – I Heart Hiroshima
I Heart Hiroshima are one of those bands I’ve always known of, but never known. In fact I couldn’t even have told you what they sounded like if I hadn’t found this mp3 sitting on my computer 2 days ago. Not quite what I had imagined, but still enough to prick my attention. If all goes to plan, I should get to see them this Sunday.

Don’t Fall – The Chameleons
Finding The Chameleons has alerted me to the fact of just how many bands there are out there. I don’t know whether to be excited or depressed by the fact that I will never come close to knowing them all. There are people out there whose favourite band of all time hasn’t even entered my consciousness. That IS depressing. It’s kind of like that conundrum people face of whether or not they’ll meet their ‘perfect match’. For me it’s the perfect band that I worry about. Actually that’s a lie. Until ten minutes ago, I hadn’t even contemplated such a possibility, let alone been affected by it. I much prefer to bask in my own arrogant belief that I know everything. Ignorance is bliss.

The New Sun – Richard In Your Mind
I'm yet to be blown away by Richard In Your Mind’s recorded work and probably wouldn’t have featured this song had I not known how great they are live. That is where they thrive and that is where you should experience them. No questions. Just do it.

Weezer - Weezer

The problem with having so many new albums to listen to is that often it means your attention gets divided and none of them get the time they require. So when it came time to do a review and I had about 5 albums which showed some promise but hadn’t yet proven themselves, I decided to go for a classic. And what better classic then Weezer’s self-titled debut album (the blue album). I was exposed to a few songs from this album early in my life, thanks to my older brother, but it was until about year 9 that I truly embraced it. For me, this album epitomises the nineties. Not because it is in some way all-encompassing, but because it’s the only sound I really listened to back then. That alternative rock sound and garage band image was so perfectly defined by Weezer and this album. I can vividly remember coming to school each day and having passionate discussions with a friend about which song was our favourite and why. The funny part is that pretty much every song occupied that spot at one point or another. As I listened more and more, I would discover merit in songs I previously ignored, until eventually I realised that the whole album was brilliant from start to finish. Etched in mind, these songs will forever have an impact on me.

The World Has Turned And Left Me Here – For some reason thing song is separated from the rest in my mind. It’s as if they’re all just songs, but this has some higher purpose. I dunno, it’s weird. But whatever the case, I love it.

In The Garage – I can remember a time my friend was obsessed with this song and I just couldn’t understand how. Or maybe it was the either way round. Either way, there’s something special about this song.

Released: 10/05/94 | Website | Myspace

Super Furry Animals

Super Furry Animals were part of the first post I ever unleashed unto the internet. I hadn’t really listened to them much, but a bizarre instrumental track called Oi Frango managed to catch my attention. Thankfully this led me to devote more time to their then-new album, Love Kraft, which I discovered to be equally bizarre. But in a world saturated by reused formulas, it is the bizarre who reign supreme. Their different approaches are what keeps music fresh and interesting. They add colour to our drab lives. I think this is why I’ve come to enjoy Super Furry Animals so much. They are so invigoratingly odd! For this reason, I’m not going to even bother trying to describe their sound. They come from Wales, but that probably won’t explain much more than their accents. Across their many albums, they’ve experimented with countless styles and I’m only just beginning to get to know them. 2005’s Love Kraft remains my favourite, but then again, it’s the one I’ve listened to most so who knows. They have a new one (Hey Venus!) coming out very soon and early indications are good. If you’ve never entered the land of Super Furry Animals, now is the time. Either they’re out this world or out of their minds; I’m yet to decide.

Run Away – This track comes of Hey Venus! and I must admit that I am totally and utterly consumed by it. Something about that chorus just drags me in everytime. It’s a little tame by their standards, but great nonetheless.

Lazer Beam – While it may not be my all time favourite, this song seams to epitomise their sound. It’s full of whacky sounds yet still maintains a somewhat solid structure.

Back On A Roll – This is another of the sing-along songs which they do so well. They have a knack for crafting melodies that seep into your consciousness and take control.

Label | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #19

Single Days – Pale Young Gentlemen
For the record, this ISN’T Franz Ferdinand. They may share similarly deep vocals, but that’s where it ends. Still, I’m quite impressed with my Mum for hazarding such a guess. Next she’ll be telling her friends about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Getting back on track, Pale Young Gentlemen make a quirky blend of music that seams to combine foreign flavours, circus themes and radio pop into formula that quite bizarrely, works.

Salvador – Jamie T
Jamie T is a bit TOO English for me to take. At least with Lilly Allen, the underground themes were polished beyond recognition. Here, it’s raw and in your face. With slurred vocals that make Arctic Monkeys look proper, it can sometimes get a bit much. Still, underneath all the grime there’s plenty of energy and if you’re not quite as soft as me, you may well find something you like.

Lovers Who Uncover – The Little Ones
A while back, The Little Ones released a VERY impressive EP called Sing Song. They were so perfectly indie that they looked destined to reach a heavenly status amongst the likes of The Shins and Belle & Sebastian. Since then however, I haven’t heard much at all from them. But rather than investigating, I’m posting this song and hoping it will prompt me (and you) into seeing what they’re up to.

The Year Of The Rat – The Whitlams
I’m currently giving The Whitlams’ latest album, Little Cloud, a thorough listening in preparation for when I see them this September. Being at The Sydney Opera House and with a 100 piece orchestra, I get the feeling it is going to be nothing short of spectacular. Expect me to come back raving about how much of a god Tim Freedman is.

Wicked Light Sleeper – The Joggers
This one comes straight from the archives. Not archives as in old, but archives as in didn’t quite make the cut. I think that sums up the Joggers pretty well. Their album showed so much promise, but it always fell short in some way. However, I still like to put it on every now and then and enjoy the bits they did get right.

Assorted Musings

THE SHINS

I finally got to see The Shins the other day. I loved it. It was kind of odd because it wasn’t one of those shows that ‘went off’ and yet I came out thoroughly satisfied. They played a perfect mix of new and old and played it all brilliantly. Even if their drummer did happen to be asleep…..

MP3: Turn A Square

Quarter Acre

I’m gonna do something out of the ordinary here and recommend a band. That band is Quarter Acre and they put on one of the best shows you’ll ever witness. I saw them last night and didn’t stop smiling the whole time. It’s a well known fact that main man Andrew Burgess is insane, but it's the GOOD type of insanity. The whole show is just him and his antics and it's brilliant. They’ve been around for a while now and I can’t understand why they aren’t better known. The songs are all good in their own right, but live they are simply amazing. People of Sydney, write this down somewhere. Go. See. Quarter Acre.

MP3: Castle Hill

America Sucks

I’d always found it funny that Americans couldn’t drink till they were 21, but it wasn’t until ten minutes ago that I thought about the consequences. It’s not the lack of alcohol that is significant, but the inability to go to licensed events. In Australia, nearly every venue you go to sells alcohol and because of this, 95% of gigs are overage only. How you could live through this period with such limited gig access is beyond. These are the years when you’re carved into an indie connoisseur or a brain-dead clone. The implications for young musicians are even worse. Just recently I was thinking back to some of the unforgettable nights I had had since coming of age and how much better life gets when you turn 18. What are Americans doing during these years? I can only hope that underage gigs are far more frequent or they at least have a healthy fake-ID trade because otherwise it would be a very bleak outlook. Sucks to be them.

MP3: Who’s Ya Daddy? (Gerling)

Gerling were my first such gig. Very memorable indeed.

Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War

When I think back to Star’s previous album, I’m always reminded of the emotional, climatic moments they produced so well. Through a combination of duel vocals and rich instrumentation, they always managed to create music that was positively uplifting. For a moment, I thought they’d lost it with this new album. If I had trusted my own instincts, I would have pushed it aside. But sure enough, as I began to immerse myself in it, the beauty soon emerged. When Stars make music, they do so to make an impact. This album is no exception. The lead vocals of Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan bounce off one another playfully, allowing them to create such special moments; from serene tranquillity to thrilling intensity. This is album is still yet to surpass 2003’s Set Yourself on Fire, but it is quickly gaining ground.

Take Me To The Riot – Note how seamlessly the female vocals kick in at the 20 second mark; you can barely notice it. It’s the perfect example of how very well they gel together. And then the chorus kicks in and things just keep getting better!

Today Will Be Better, I Swear! – It was tempting just to pick powerful moments such as the one above, but I felt someone a little slower was more appropriate. This song is particularly good for stirring up some warmth.

Released: 10/07/07 | Website | Myspace

Melbourne Mix #18

As I was compiling this week’s mix, I noticed that I was using a number of Melbourne artists. Seeing it as a good excuse to look for more, I decided to do an all Melbourne feature. In no way is this list exhaustive or comprehensive. If anything, it represents my need (and desire) to get to know Australia’s ‘other’ music scene a lot better.

The Laughter Across The Street – Ned Collette
Once upon a time, my underage self stumbled into a seemingly uninhabited building, climbed a few sets of dodgy staircases and entered a room occupied by no more than 15 people. I was then treated to music by three artists, all of which were then unknown to me. Their names were Dave Rennick, Jack Ladder and Ned Collette. It was a special experience to say the least.

Hush Puppy – Summer Cats
If I was an unsigned Australian artist and I had a track reviewed on Pitchfork, you can bet I’d be bragging about it too. This Summer Cats song certainly has me craving more. Apologies about the poor quality, but it was taken from Myspace. If you want better, I guess you’ll have to buy it. Perhaps there is method in their madness.

Backwards – The Motifs
I almost considered having two Motifs songs just to fill the time. Their (or should I say, her) music is renowned for being incredibly short (we’re talking 1 minute short) and incredibly cute. These bite-sized pop gems are right up my alley.

Kicks – Telecom
Telecom were the first band to ever send me something in the mail. It was the day I knew starting this blog was the right thing to do. It’s about time I gave them something in return. Their EP, especially this song, was quite impressive (almost as impressive as the stickers).

Appetite For Destruction – Julian Nation
Here’s some more twee-ish indie-pop that Melbourne is so famous for creating. While I’ve only heard two of his songs, Julian Nation has really grabbed me and I hope to hear more of him soon.

Honourable mentions go to Oh Mercy and Eddy Current Suppresion Ring who just missed the cut.

Also, as thanks for helping me compile this post, I’d like to give a shout out to the kids over at Off The Record. While only one of these songs came from them, they had a number of other artists I was after. In terms of quality, quantity and frequency of mp3s, you can’t get much better.

Architecture In Helsinki

I must say that my initial impressions of Architecture In Helsinki's latest album were less than favourable. In fact they were awful. But having learnt my lesson from the lead single, Heart It Races, I decided to stick at and see if things improved. After about the tenth listen, things were certainly getting better, but I still wasn't loving it. It was crazy. It was energetic. But it lacked that sense of pure joy that originally brought me to them. Why had they changed? Were they now appealing to a crowd far cooler than I could ever hope to be? These were the thoughts going through my mind as I wallowed in my disappointment. But then I realised that I really didn't know Architecture In Helsinki at all. My listening experience with them had been patchy at best. And so I decided to go back and really get to know them. The result was a number of interesting conclusions. Firstly, Places Like This is, unlike my previous convictions, a perfectly natural progression of their sound. Secondly, I had been missing out on some excellent music from their earlier days. And finally, I am a complete idiot for not going see them at bargain prices, not once, but twice in the last few months.

In Case We Die (2005)
I'll start here because until recently, it was solely responsible for my image of Architecture In Helsinki. Just like I thought I knew them, I thought I knew this album. In reality, I'd mostly listened to it selectively, picking my favourites and putting them in mixes while the others went unnoticed. Going back and listening to it in full, I've really come to appreciate it as a whole piece, even enjoying the moments that I previously considered nothing more than filler.

MP3: Frenchy, I'm Faling

Fingers Crossed (2003)
I dismissed this album far too quickly. Once I realised all my favourites were on their next album, I pushed it aside, even dropping it from my mp3 player. I now realise what a mistake that was. This is Architecture at their most pure. When I listen to it, I hear a bunch of musicians excited about making noise. It's an infectious feeling that makes you smile with every quirky little sound they try out.

MP3: The Owls Go

Places Like This (2007)
I'd be lying if I said this album had won me over. I would happily trade this rawer, ‘tribal’ (for lack of better word) sound and rougher vocals for the whispery innocence of before. They've streamlined their line-up, cut out the frilly bits and produced a far more accessible album. For this I'm not bitter. It's opened their colourful sound up to a whole audience and that's great. I do enjoy quite a bit of it, I think I'll always prefer their earlier music.

MP3: Nothing's Wrong

Label | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #17

Mad World - Gary Jules
I must admit that it was a bit of a shock to discover that the dirty 80s electro version of this song was actually the original. I, however, will always prefer this cover version, commonly known as the Donnie Darko version, largely because that film had such an impression on me.

Tread Easy – The Bank Holidays
I was trawling through all my old songs, trying to get them sorted, when I discovered this gem. The Bank Holidays are from Perth (I think), but I haven’t heard of them in over a year so who knows what they’re up to.

Cool It Down – The Velvet Underground
I never have been much of a Lou Reed / Velvet Underground fan, more because of laziness than dislike. However thanks to persistent friends, I am slowly being introduced to his world.

Her Hairagami Set – The Brunettes
The Brunettes latest album is as polished as they come and home to some excellent pop sounds, but the more I come to like their music, the more I despise their lyrics. Why must you be so lame? It’s gone well beyond the cute factor. Still, there’s enough on this album to keep me coming back.

Crumble – Dinosaur Jr.
Considering there was a 10 year gap, Dinosaur Jr’s latest album is quite impressive. It’s actually the first I’ve heard of them and it will probably lead me to check out one of their more celebrated releases.