MoogFest returns/The Rosebuds have a new album
June 2, 2011
The Rosebuds have been around since 2003, and were one of those “awww it’s a husband/wife band” bands. Little did I know that they’d been going through relationship issues over the past couple of years… in fact, Kelly Rosebud packed up an moved to Brooklyn, NY alone. Amazingly, they put their personal issues aside and made a record, which is coming out June 7 on Merge, called Loud Planes Fly Low. I caught the band opening for British Sea Power at Mercy Lounge several years back… 2008 I believe… and I remember it being a pretty good show. Good enough that I checked out their album Night of the Furies. You won’t find any soaring disco anthems like “Get Up Get Out” on Loud Planes Fly Low, but how could one expect that given the circumstances under which this album was made? These songs are much more honest and emotionally charged than ever before, and all in all the album has a more earnest feel than Night of the Furies. But I can’t compare it with other albums because I only have a few tracks from the rest of their discography. Overall this is a good album. Here’s the track “Come Visit Me”:
The Rosebuds – Come Visit Me (download)
MoogFest is back in 2011, and the lineup is absolutely phenomenal. I wanted to go last year because A) the lineup was awesome, B) the whole idea was awesome, C) Asheville is a pretty cool town. This year, I just don’t see how I can miss it. All efforts will be made to attend. I mean, just look at this freaking lineup:
Consider me there.
Moustache May: the Final Cut/music tidbits
June 1, 2011
If you didn’t know already, I participated in the final (probably) chapter of Moustache May, the annual celebration of the follicle curated by local web design wizard Michael Eades (aka Yewknee). It was bittersweet to see such a ridiculous and awesome thing come to an end, and honestly I’m torn between shaving mine off and attempting to grow it out longer just to see if it can be tamed into a nice handlebar. That could possibly take another month or so of growth, so we’ll just have to see if I can hold out. To be quite honest, a lot of people stigmatize an ordinary moustache as “creepy” or otherwise undesirable. But I feel that a well waxed/curled handlebar sets its bearer apart as much classier. The above video is a mock movie trailer created by several of the “core” MM participants… or at least those around Nashville who have been a participant for many years. It’s quite hilarious and well worth a watch.
A few random music tidbits I felt like mentioning:
–SebastiAn just released his first full-length album, titled Total. I hate to make this comparison but it can’t be avoided- if you liked Justice’s 2008 album Cross, you will like this album. It’s really fucking good. Thick, juicy, sexy, filtered-French-sample-funk/electro.
–Stacked is a mix by Royal Sapien that somehow crams 300 tracks into one hour. I had it going in the background for a bit and it’s just that- very background-y. But the feat of fitting/mashing 300 tracks into one hour alone is worth mentioning. (Via Harder Blogger Faster)
-Speaking of DJ-related things. I may or may not have mentioned on here the fate of my La Paz Late Night series. Basically I’ve decided that space is cursed. No restaurants can seem to find success there and neither can any DJ nights, despite its great location and swanky interior. I don’t have the means to promote a huge multi-sponsor event and that’s what the owner wanted. So, I’m talking to some people involved with a thing that seems like it’ll be pretty badass, but I don’t want to jinx it, so that’s all I’m saying for now. Stay tuned.
The Summer of The Features
May 11, 2011
As reported today on the Nashville Cream, Nashville/Murfreesboro’s hometown heroes The Features are prepping for the release of their 3rd full length album Wilderness on July 26. Their last album Some Kind of Salvation was simply fantastic, but this next one seems as though it will be the “perfect” Features record. I’ve heard absolute rave reviews from the first few local folks who got a promo copy to review, and hopefully *ahem, Rory/Rollum/somebody* I’ll have one to review soon as well. I can remember having a somewhat drunken conversation with producer/vacuum tube wizard Brian Carter one night at Mercy Lounge late last year in which he excitedly said something like “this is the record the guys and I have always wanted to make.” Basically I get the feeling this album was done the way the band wanted to do it, where they wanted to do it, and with whom they wanted to do it. Mad props to the Kings Of Leon for signing them to their own 429 Records and allowing the band to do what they want, when they want, and how they want.
Building up to the release, the first of probably many promotional items to whet our appetite is a 7″ single with the track “Rambo” b/w “This Much I Know.” The video above it a promo for that release, set for May 31st.
Epic Ditch/Natural Child
April 21, 2011
How did it get to be Thursday so fast? Sorry for the lack of posts this week.
Call it a supergroup if you want, but don’t attach the stigma of other failed supergroups to Epic Ditch, the new band from Superdrag’s John Davis. He’s recruited Knoxville-turned-L.A.-turned-Nashville producer Nick Rasculinecz, former Slack and Har Mar Superstar drummer Nick Slack, and Knoxville musician Stewart Pack to round out the lineup. They’ve yet to play a live show, but they have an EP up on Bandcamp for a measly $5, and I recommend checking it out. If you were a Superdrag fan, or a fan of any 90’s power pop or skater punk, it would be hard not to like this stuff. Very straightforward, intense, punch-in-the-face rock that will have you waxing nostalgic on most anything you listened to in your high school years. If you’re my age, and a dude, because this is pretty dude-tastic rock and roll.
After a run of several 7″ singles, Natural Child is finally releasing their debut LP 1971 through Infinity Cat Records. Their brand of greasy, dirty, and sometimes raucous stoner-rock hits the spot. Exile on Main St. hangs blatantly from their sleeves, yet they never get too derivative. But don’t take my non-professional music blogger opinion- check out what Patrick Rodgers, the Scene’s new music editor, had to say about it on the Cream. You can also snag the track “Hard Workin’ Man” there. Speaking of tracks, another one from the record, “Yer Birthday,” can be found on both Nashville’s Dead and RCRD LBL. That’s right- our local boys got some major non-local love. Good job, fellas.
If you haven’t heard yet, R.I.P. Gerard Smith, former bassist of TV on the Radio.
Loch Lomond: new discovery
February 8, 2011
My appetite for intricate orchestral folk-pop has been waning lately, but Loch Lomond is a refreshing take on that dreamy, melancholy end of the sub genre. In fact, this band sort of embodies the dreary yet ironically cheerful mood of their hometown of Portland, OR. Their instrumentation is perfect for the songs- mandolin, violin, cello, you get the picture. One can’t help but draw comparisons with bands like Lost In The Trees, or even Belle & Sebastian. Their album Little Me Will Start a Storm drops in two weeks on 2/22 on Tender Loving Empire. Highly recommended if you like either of the bands I just mentioned. They’ll be all over SXSW this year, and I plan on checking out the live incarnations of these songs.
Some awesomeness to drop on you today:
- Those Darlins’ new 7″ “Be Your Bro” drops today. The B-side is “Let U Down” and believe me when I say that these are two great songs. I joined them back in September of last year for a week-long segment of their east coast tour, and remember these songs well. I’ve yet to hear any of the recorded versions of these songs, so it’ll be interesting to hear what they sound like on vinyl. Their second full-length LP drops on March 29th. Both releases are on their own label Oh Wow Dang. Their website also had a bit of a makeover, so I recommend checking it out.
- Tristen’s new album Charlatans at the Garden Gate got a pretty glowing review from the A.V. Club. The album is available today digitally, but the physical release has been pushed back to 2/15 due to “a production delay and bad weather early this month in the south east” according to Facebook.
- Jensen Sportag are basically going to rule 2011. They rescued last week’s “Vital” at Mai by filling in for the snowed-into NYC Bit Funk, DJing a slew of new jams from their upcoming EP Pure Wet, which will be released via Cascine. Head over to Vitalic Noise to stream the track “Mapquest” and watch the video for “Everything Good.” Seriously, DO IT. There is really only one way to describe this: SEXY. Basically this is the sexiest thing to come out of Nashville in… forever? I’m talking classy sexy here, not slutty sexy. I also hear that JS is working on a new live setup, incorporating a 3rd member on keys, and possibly even more. No word on when we can catch a glimpse of this live arrangement locally, but I’m sure there will be opportunities, and I’ll be sure to post as soon as I find out.
Did I really just mention the rough-edged wild ones known as Those Darlins in the same post as the smooth, sexy sounds of Jensen Sportag? Why yes, I did. That is a shining example of the wide diversity of great music coming out of this non-country scene in Nashville. Keep it comin’ y’all.
Tristen: Charlatans at the Garden Gate
January 25, 2011
To those of us immersed in the Nashville local rock scene, it seems almost like a catharsis for Tristen’s debut album Charlatans at the Garden Gate to finally be released. There’s been talk around town of her album for a good two years, ever since she started working on it with Jeremy Ferguson at Battletapes. I worked with her on a promo photo shoot in October of 2009 during which one thing was very clear- she is the type of person who won’t release her art to the masses until she’s absolutely sure it’s perfect. That’s why this album took 2 years to make, but the result was well worth the wait. She and Jeremy managed to find just the right guest musicians and instrumentation to fit the songs. Good production is hard to describe, but the best I can do is say that when you hear a certain guitar part or tone, or certain keyboard sound, you just know that it’s RIGHT. You think to yourself, “that song needed to sound that way.” That’s what I think after listening to virtually every song on this record. Possibly the best example of this is the closing track “Save Raina.” The subject matter of her songs is mostly serious and sometimes rather dark, but the melodies and song structure never allow the songs to become downright depressing, just earnest. There’s always some degree of catchiness as well- these songs will stick in your head; not a single one is forgettable. Her voice is really the overwhelming factor, though. Just the right amount of cracks and warbles are left in so that she sounds incredibly human; incredibly real. This girl has got it all- the songwriting chops, the voice, the looks, and the band. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this album when it hits shelves on Feb. 1st via American Myth Recordings. She’s currently on tour in support of the album, so check her myspace to see if she’s coming to your town. You can order a copy of the album through her main website, or check your local record store.
MP3: Tristen-Baby Drugs
Photo by Rachel Briggs
The Zut Alors: Boy Girl Party
December 16, 2010
Local synth rockers The Zut Alors are a shining example of what can be accomplished through Kickstarter. They started a campaign to raise money to press their debut album Boy Girl Pary on vinyl. They succeeded, and now they have the shiny new records in hand, ready to ship. The album is an impressive collection of medium-tempo sometimes dark, sometimes catchy, synth pop/rock. Singer Nick Bennett’s voice is often draped in reverb or delay and fuzzed out with distortion, but always with a clever underlying melody. You can clearly hear a strong Echo & The Bunnymen/Smiths influence on the vocals. Every instrument and layer in every song sounds calculated and precise, and the parts seem to fit together like a puzzle. The end result, though, is a set of carefully crafted pop songs that make an album well worth your money. It took this album a few listens to grow on me, but now I find myself putting it on repeat. Highly recommended.
The album will be available in Nashville at Grimey’s and online at their bandcamp page starting tomorrow, 12/17. Also, they’re hosting a listening party in the Blue Bar at Goldrush this Sunday night (the 19th). The party starts at 9pm and they’ll be selling the vinyl LP (which includes a free download code) for super cheap.
Download- Take Take Take
Those Darlins prep new album
December 7, 2010
Having a day job prevents me from being timely on these sort of things sometimes, so the rest of the internet has probably already told you that Those Darlins released info yesterday about their next album titled Screws Get Loose, set for a March 29, 2011 release. Back in September when I spent roughly a week on the road with them as part of a photo documentary project, I got to hear most of the new songs played live every night, and I must say I’m very eager to hear how they sound recorded. There’s definitely a shift towards more bluesy, boosey, Stonesy-style songwriting. As mentioned in the press release, drummer Linwood Regensburg contributed to the songwriting this time around, and I’ve also heard he even sings lead on one of the tracks. It’s still Those Darlins through and through, but it seems they’ve shed some of the Carter Family influences for something a little more aggressive and hard-nosed. Indeed, when you tour as much as they have over the past couple of years, it’s going to show in your songs.
In other news, I invite you to experience all of Billy Joel’s greatest hits played at once:
(Via Clusterflock)
And The Relatives: Green Machinery
December 1, 2010
And The Relatives just released their first full-length album Green Machinery via Theory 8 and YK Records. I’m no professional music critic by any means, so I’ll keep it short. Get this album. The band put a lot of time and effort into this record and it shows. I must disclose that these guys are friends of mine, but again, I don’t claim to be a professional music critic. ATR’s style has always been heavily influenced by early/mid 90s indie rock, and they wear that on their sleeve. This album is anything but derivative, however. They somehow manage to inject a sense of freshness in the songs that keeps them from feeling stale. You’ll hear a little Guided By Voices, a little Built to Spill, and plenty of clever guitar riffage. Top it all with Andrew Brassel’s mellow yet rough-edged voice and just the right dose of production and you have yourself a quality album. Production-wise it’s pretty much spot-on. It was recorded at bassist Eli Beaird’s home studio, and the sounds achieved perfectly match the songs. The artwork is worth noting as well- Micheal Eades, Kyle Scudder, and BOSS Construct did a great job on the packaging, and it’s well worth it to buy the limited edition vinyl to get the full effect. If you’re short on cash, have no fear though- you can pay as little or as much as you want for the digital version at their bandcamp. The standout track on the album is easily “Hammer Down,” and you can check out the video for it below.
steve cross loves music and science 