Category Archives: general

The Soft Province: One Was a Lie
(Besnard Lakes side project)

softprovince

I’m excited enough about a new album from the Besnard Lakes coming out on March 9, and now comes news of a side project of frontman Jace Lasek and Michael Gardiner, co-founder and former member of the Montreal-based band.

The project is called The Soft Province – the first time the pair have collaborated since the first incarnation of the Besnard Lakes in 2001.

Their self-titled debut is due for release in early summer on Three Ring Records, and the early previews at MySpace sound very promising. The pysch-rock influence of Besnard is evident (and probably unavoidable), but there’s also a driving sense of pop that colors the sound. Check out I See Two Eyes, a song that rides a perfectly gorgeous guitar tone, at MySpace and download One Was a Lie below.

Frightened Rabbit: Nothing Like You (video)

As my friend Casey pointed out, there’s quite a dilemma brewing on the Valley concert schedule.

On April 19, Frightened Rabbit, Japandroids (previous post) and Beach House are all slated to play at separate venues. It’s rare this happens in Phoenix, save for in March and April, when bands criss-cross through our state on their way to and from SXSW and Coachella.

Granted, it’s a nice problem to have, but, like Casey, I’m pretty torn on this one – for different reasons. I’m not a huge Beach House fan, so I’ve tossed that one out immediately. Frightened Rabbit – an absolute favorite of this site and household – seems like a no-brainer, but I did see them three times in the past year or so, and I’ve yet to see Japandroids, whose debut Post-Nothing crept into heavy rotation last year (and, despite Casey’s argument, contains more than one good song). Not to mention, up-and-coming Sub Pop signee Avi Buffalo is opening for Japandroids. What’s a man to do??

At this point, I’m leaning toward Frightened Rabbit for a few reasons: For starters, it’s two days after my wife’s birthday and she’ll be front and center, for sure, and who would ditch his wife on her birthday weekend? Second, the band will be armed with new material from their March 9 release of The Winter of Mixed Drinks. Lastly, they’re playing The Clubhouse, a bigger venue than ones I’ve seen them play previously, and I’m interested to see how the songs carry.

Sigh. Decisions.

In the meantime, here’s a new FR video for the song Nothing Like You, the second video the band has released in advance of the new record.

Lymbyc Systym: Bedroom Anthem (video)

After the December release of a video for the single Ghost Clock off their new album Shutter Release, the New York-by-way-of-Arizona brothers of Lymbyc Systym have a new video for the song Bedroom Anthem, probably my favorite song off their sophomore full-length.

The track – whose video takes a nostalgic trip through a box of photos – is brief (2:35) but quickly builds steam before riding out with a beautiful flourish of horns that leaves you wanting more.

Shutter Release is available through Mush Records.

RELATED:
Q&A with Lymbyc Systym
Lymbyc Systym: Ghost Clock (video)

Turn Back O’ Man-Devil Like Me

4134362174_115343e31d
Photo courtesy of our tight bros at Electricmustache.com

It’s hard to say anything clever about Turn Back O Man, Phoenix’s premier gothic-Americana combo, when the guys have  said it all themselves. Their bio boasts comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave, labels the band “a group of sexy, dangerous, incredibly intriguing men,” and name-drops a laundry list of acts the members have shared the stage with, including M. Ward, Giant Sand, the New Pornographers, Calexico, Magnolia Electric Company, American Music Club, Neko Case, Califone, Devotchka, Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Smog, Pernice Brothers, My Morning Jacket, and “other artists too impressive to even mention.”

But none of that would mean squat if the band, lead by singer/songwriter Daryl Scariot, didn’t have the songs to back such bravado up. “Devil Like Me,” taken from their debut EP, should make clear that the rogues and scoundrels facade works wonders for the band on record, a sinister, hilarious murder ballad, showcasing not only Scariot’s ensnaring wordplay, but the skill of his crack band-drummer Shane Kennedy, Matt Wiser on pedal steel and, on this recording, playing a particularly mean bass, Dario Miranda.

As our friends over at Electric Mustache said, Turn Back O Man are one of the best bands in Phoenix, as “Devil Like Me” will attest to.

The Smith Westerns-Be My Girl

the-smith-westerns-portrait

Joining their pals and current tourmates Girls at the forefront of bratty, lo-fi pop bliss, are The Smith Westerns, another band that as far as I can tell justifies their buzz.  “Be My Girl,” is their standout track, a ramshackle bust up at the sock hop, with sloppy jangle-guitars, don’t care vocals and a perfect melody.  I’ll freely admit I’m a sucker for this stuff, and were I not DJing at the Yucca, I’d love to make the trip down to Tucson’s Club Congress for their date with Girls and the equally righteous Hunx & The Punkettes on the 26th.

Charlotte Gainsbourg-IRM

charlotte_gainsbourg_-_irm1

Next week finally sees the US release of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s IRM on Because Music.  The album has already gained some major attention: The video for “Heaven Can Wait,” directed by Kevin Schofield, was featured as one of Spin Magazine’s Best Videos of 2009.  Produced by Beck, I half expected to the album to recall the moody soundscapes of his album, Sea Change, but the title cut seems to contradict that idea; “IRM” is a glitchy, dance-floor ready number, with Gainsbourg’s multi-tracked vocals coming across particularly icy.

I’m actually waiting for the record to drop legitimately to hear the whole thing.  If you’re anything like me, this single will have to tide you over for a bit.

The Quick: Mondo Deco

quick_mondodeco_cvr

More great stuff from Radio Heartbeat Records, who’ve already wowed me by re-issuing awesome stuff from Milk n’ Cookies, Radio City, 20/20 and Hubble Bubble.  The Quick work the intersection between glam, power-pop and punk.  Produced by the legendary Kim Fowley (Runaways, Modern Lovers), the record is a high energy, bratty, melodic slice of glittering pop.  I’d recommend heading to Eastside Records to get it, they seem to be the only local store the label distributes to.

And for further reading, check out our friends at Aquarium Drunkard’s awesome post about Fowley, and his oft-overlooked solo work.

Vintage AZ-The Psalms

psalms-02

The story of Long Wong’s imminent return to Tempe as a live music venue brings with it not only the requisite amounts of media drama and hope for the Phoenix Metro Area’s live music scene, but also discussion about how “cool” the scene actually was in it’s Mill Ave. heyday.  I can’t speak with much authority about those days; my exposure to the whole scene was mostly limited to my mom’s then boyfriend blasting stuff like The Refreshments around her apartment. By the time I found myself going to shows in the late-nineties/early two-thousands, I was frequenting more punk establishments, like The Nile and Nita’s Hideaway.

But I’ve always had a measure of respect for The Gin Blossoms, the flagship act of that era. While the Blossoms jangle-pop inspires chuckles or outright scorn from most Phoenix musicians under forty-or-so, dismissed as antiquity, I’ve always really enjoyed their song-craft, owing a lot to my favorite group, Big Star, especially the compositions of Doug Hopkins, the band’s original guitarist, who was fired by the band during the recording of their major label full-length, New Miserable Experience. Hopkins committed suicide not long after, reportedly smashing the gold record her earned for the band’s breakthrough single “Hey Jealousy,” a tune he penned.

Pre-Gin Blossoms, Hopkins had played in the rougher-sounding Moral Majority, writing charming sounding songs like “Eddie’s Going Faggot” and “B.Y.U. Fight Song.” While that band’s recording have yet to surface, he followed their breakup by forming The Psalms, who’s recordings are floating about the interweb.  The Psalms foreshadow the jangle of the Blossoms, but come across far more New Wave influenced, recalling The Cure and New Order.  My search into Arizona’s punk, power-pop and garage past (aided significantly by Marc Reid and local blogs and sites such as AZ Local and Lost Horizons) has revealed plenty of interesting acts, which I plan of discussing more in the future, but The Psalms have proven to be the most immediately arresting, a particularly bad-ass sounding chapter of Phoenix’s musical history.

Favorite albums of 2009

“How can it be bullshit to state a personal preference?” – Rob Gordon, High Fidelity

For many reasons – personal and otherwise – I’m glad 2009 is over. I realize this is probably an unpopular sentiment, but the year in music seemed like a dud. As my friend Royce claims, it was the year of the No. 8 album – as in, the best albums belong no higher than the eighth spot on year-end lists. That’s his theory and I’m sticking to it.

That said, I know I’m only getting back as much as I put in, and I felt particularly curmudgeonly in ’09. I shunned Wavves and chillwave. I didn’t really get into The xx or Animal Collective or Dirty Projectors (so sue me). And don’t get me started with the lo-fi/no-fi/glo-fi/bro-fi bullshit. This is the first year in the almost five I’ve written this blog that I felt sort of mentally drained by it all.

If it seems the circle of artists and albums I’m listening to is slowly shrinking, that’s probably because it is. I’d like to think I’m trimming the fat and listening smarter. Who has time for all that’s out there? (And how much of it is really that good anyway?) So, as always, I don’t even pretend that my list is comprehensive or a collection of the “best” albums – these are just my favorites and, aside from record No. 1, the rankings are negligible.

10. JASON LYTLE: Yours Truly, the Commuter (Anti-)
So maybe it sounds a lot like a Grandaddy album … is anyone going to complain about that? Lytle stays true to his old band’s spaced-out sound, prominently declaring his return in the first line of the album opener: “Last thing I heard I was left for dead. I could give two shits about what they said.”
Favorite tracks: Brand New Sun, Birds Encouraged Him.
MP3: Jason Lytle | Brand New Sun

9. TELEKINESIS: Telekinesis! (Merge)
Every year, I need an album like this: a bundle of expertly crafted indie-pop that crawls into and lives inside my brain. Michael Benjamin Lerner possesses a keen sense of melody that is airtight. You won’t find a weak song in the bunch.
Favorite tracks: Coast of Carolina, Tokyo, Calling All Doctors.
MP3: Telekinesis | Coast of Carolina

8. MOS DEF: The Ecstatic (Downtown)
After experimenting — but misfiring badly — on two albums following his seminal debut Black on Both Sides (1999), Mos Def rediscovered the touch that made him a force 10 years ago. Sharp production from supreme beatmakers like Oh No (Supermagic) and Madlib (Auditorium) appear to have put Mos back on the path to greatness.
Favorite tracks: Supermagic, Auditorium, Casa Bey.
VIDEO: Supermagic

7. NEKO CASE: Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
It just seems like a given any more that when Neko Case puts out an album it’ll end up on my top 10 list. Hers is a voice I never get tired of hearing. (It’s also hard to think of a better album cover for the year.)
Favorite tracks: People Got a Lotta Nerve, Polar Nettles, Prison Girls.
MP3: Neko Case | People Got a Lotta Nerve

6. JAPANDROIDS: Post-Nothing (Polyvinyl)
For an album I almost entirely overlooked, Post-Nothing (whose title cleverly mocks genre labeling) may stick with me as long as any other release from 2009. Brian King and David Prowse strike a nerve here with an energetic mess of rock songs about dysfunctional love (Crazy/Forever) and fading youth (Young Hearts Spark Fire).
Favorite tracks: Young Hearts Spark Fire, Heart Sweats, Crazy/Forever, I Quit Girls.
MP3: Japandroids | Young Hearts Spark Fire

5. BUILT TO SPILL: There Is No Enemy (Warner Bros.)
A brilliant return to form for Boise’s finest, led by Doug Martsch, the everyman’s rock hero. It’s not hard to imagine the highlights here — Aisle 13, Oh Yeah, Done — ranking among some of the band’s best tracks from a storied catalog.
Favorite tracks: Aisle 13, Oh Yeah, Done, Things Fall Apart.

4. VARIOUS: Dark Was the Night (compilation) (4AD)
Based on logistics alone, this two-CD benefit compilation deserves hearty recognition. Recruiting some of the brightest names in indie rock — Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Dirty Projectors, Spoon, My Morning Jacket and so on — to contribute can be no easy feat. But instead of a ragtag collection of B-sides and throwaways, we get all-star original material.
Favorite tracks: Deep Blue Sea (Grizzly Bear), So Far Around the Bend (The National), Tightrope (Yeasayer), Hey, Snow White (The New Pornographers / Destroyer cover), Well Alright (Spoon).
MP3: Yeasayer | Tightrope

3. MAYER HAWTHORNE & THE COUNTY: A Strange Arrangement (Stones Throw)
Mayer Hawthorne’s falsetto-heavy soul owes an obvious debt to the Motown Sound, his sweet-sounding vocals recalling the best of the 1960s R&B movement.
Favorite tracks: Maybe So, Maybe No, Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’.
MP3: Mayer Hawthorne | Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out

2. PHOENIX: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Glassnote)
On the strength of the undeniably catchy 1901 and Lisztomania, Phoenix earned its well-deserved breakout in 2009 (hello, Grammy nomination). But the album that launched a thousand remixes digs down past Phoenix’s pop mastery. It’s the sprawling, two-part Love Like a Sunset that anchors the album and shows a band eager to venture outside its comfort zone.
Favorite tracks: 1901, Lisztomania, Love Like a Sunset.
MP3: Phoenix | 1901

1. THE TWILIGHT SAD: Forget the Night Ahead (Fat Cat)
If The Twilight Sad’s debut Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters was a cathartic gut punch, Forget the Night Ahead is the emotional comedown. There are fewer drastic swells, both in the music and James Graham’s vocals, but it’s no less powerful with the songs wrapped in dark tones and Graham’s thick Scottish accent, making for another dramatic — and sometimes emotionally draining — effort.
Favorite tracks: Interrupted, I Became a Prostitute, Reflection of the Television.
MP3: The Twilight Sad | Reflection of the Television

The next five (in no particular order): The Cave Singers, Welcome Joy (Matador); Port O’Brien, Threadbare (TBD); We Were Promised Jetpacks, These Four Walls (Fat Cat); Wilco, Wilco (The Album) (Nonesuch); Andrew Bird, Noble Beast (Fat Possum)

RELATED:
Favorite song of 2009
Favorite albums of 2008
Favorite albums of 2007
Favorite album of 2006
Favorite albums of 2005