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The joke I’ve been using this week in comparison to last week’s show is that these bands are so new, they haven’t even heard of themselves. It’s not far off. Last week was a show of mainly headliners, and besides Muse, this week contains plenty of bands that I would imagine still have day jobs in some capacity. But that’s how the web works. Ebb and flow, ebb and flow. Anyway, we dug deep this week. Enjoy.
Wild Beasts – All The Kings Men
From the first vocal notes, it’s the Smiths. Finally. I say that because we get a few Morrissey solo-style comparisons from artists, but its rare that a band hits the forced falsetto from the early Smiths days so right. The few tracks I’ve heard from this disc are all really interesting, and mostly catchy. Pick it up now.
Fun – Be Calm
If you’ve been following the Daily Feed, you’d know how much I’m looking forward to this record. Every track that’s found its way to computers across the world is an amazing, carefully constructed blast of prog-pop done by some gent who’s no stranger to theatrical indie rock – Nate Ruess, who use to front the band The Format. Here, he’s teamed with members from Steel Train and Jellyfish for the upcoming Aim & Ignite disc that is a helluva lot of fun – start to finish.
Muse – United States of Eurasia
Muse have been building closer and closer to becoming the ultimate mashup of Queen and Radiohead with every record, and I can’t imagine they’d be able to get any closer than this 6 part epic. In truth, that’s also a bit unfair, as they’ve made a sound of it that is uniquely Muse. They haven’t shied away from the lyrics of paranoia, but then again, that’s so in this decade. The new disc Resistance is out 9/14.
Vandaveer – Fistful of Swoon
Mark Heidinger use to be in The Apparitions. They were awesome. When the band split, or dissolved, a few of them went to Scourge of the Sea and then to These United States. Mark went on his own under this pseudonym. I can’t say enough great things about it. Its brooding in all of the right ways. The lyrics are original. The melodies are hypnotizing. The occasional female harmony is perfect. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be living this disc right now.
Jemina Pearl (featuring Iggy Pop) – I Hate People
Jemina use to be in Be Your Own Pet. Don’t you just love running themes? Her solo effort is a small jump from how we’re use to hearing her, but that only makes this pop run with Mr. Pop even that more fun. Its like she’s letting down her hair… or something.
The Octopus Project – Wet Gold
Wet Gold got a ton of blog hits last week, catapulting it to the top ten on both Elbo and Hype Machine. Maybe its because they’re from Austin and surround and tour with good company (Explosions In The Sky, Wooden Birds). I’m not sure. Its okay. The ending has that Snow White vibe that St. Vincent scored with so… I dunno, maybe its that.
Theoretical Girl – Rivals
Artrocker.TV just laid out a nice interview with Amy Turnridge, the constructive force behind Theoretical Girl. She likes telling jokes without the punch lines, and yet its still charming. More of that St. Vincent vibe. It’s the new ukulele.
The Mountain Goats – 3:23
This song grows on me with every listen, kind of like how R.E.M. has always done. A song about nostalgia for your previous place of residence, it’s laid out in an album that is getting a lot of attention because all of the track titles are Bible verses. You won’t find religion in these jangly walls though, but rather a set of songs that are, as lead dude John Darnielle was quoted saying, “twelve hard lessons the Bible taught me, kind of.” Pick up the disc on Oct. 6th.
Teengirl Fantasy – Portofino
Dreamy. Trippy. Redundant after about a minute, but its great chill-out music. Best played at 2AM on the drive home. A light rain hitting the ground and the streetlights reflecting off of the pavement. You’ve been there. This song should have been playing.
A Mountain of One – Bones
There’s been a lot of Woodstock talk lately, and I can’t help hearing this song and thinking about a late sixties era flashback, some droopy shirt sleeves, and a slow moving body swaying to the feel. The album Institute of Joy lands on Sept. 7 which also includes a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Who By Fire.”
Vic Chestnut – Chains
When I posted this on The Daily Feed, so many people commented about Chestnut being one of the most underrated songwriters out there, and that could very well be true. This tune in all its simplistic, life-support speed music and reprising lyric is about as real as you can get. It creeps to an ending, and not a happy one at that. The Athens based artist is touring using members of Fugazi and Godspeed You Black Emperor as his backing band to support his disc At The Cut. Sex Beet – Scarecrow
Which would be a good time to pick the beat back up, Chuck. The English have found the secret ingredients that NYC and Cali bands have been using to create their lo-fi surf throwbacks as of late, and the result is this dirty romp called Scarecrow (their recipe must of added some haggis or something). Its fun, though I’m confused if I’m suppose to be the happy-go-lucky beach kid, or the angry pit-kid.
Kid Sister – Right Hand Hi
Okay, a lot of the kids love it. To me, you can throw it in with MIA and that whole genre. No disrespect to any of them, but it just falls flat to me. What’s she got going for her? Kanye gave her the good-go on her previous EP, so folks took notice this time around. Will it result in longevity? She has a debut LP coming out this month if this is your kind of dance floor mambo.
Soft Black – Ashtray Christ
A good little ditty that was passed over by most reviewers when it was released last month but has sense started to find its audience. File under the category of “I Just Can Put My Finger On It” but I like it.
Lake – Madagascar
Some Portland kids giving one of the breeziest summer dreams we’ve had. From the disc, Let’s Build a Roof, Lake offers just right amount psychedelic playfulness, a lot of cool, and an easy shot of singing it after that 7th margarita. You can grab the disc on Oct. 6th.
So there you have it: 15 easy steps to living a better life. Keep singin’, keep dancin’ and keep believin’. The roads never long when your body’s lying under the wheels. The night’s never young after 3AM. These eyes have seen a lot of love but they’re never gonna see another one like I had with you. Etc, etc.
Especially the etcetera. Make sure to visit us on our Facebook group, but you’ll need to bring the chips or dessert. ****************************************************
The Weekly Feed is distributed by WFPK and Louisville Public Media. Produced and hosted by Kyle Meredith. Make sure to say hi, yeah?
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