It’s rare that a band manages to masterfully merge the catchy hooks of yore with that je ne se qua indie sensibility and a bit of proto-punk abrasiveness (remember The MC5?)– but it proves to be a conglomeration of endearing traits which have already helped NYC’s own Darlings garner notoriety outside the city that never sleeps. Peter Rynsky ensures rapt attention with both the right mix of angst and anger, stream-of-consciousness prose, and sporadic screams, all without sounding sappy or trite. Their new record, If This is Love, is out in stores now. You should get it.
With a collection of clever remixes, rhythms and Swedish Guerilla farts, Stockholm’s Dada Life stands poised to take the electronica world by storm. Their latest magnum opus, Happy Hands and Happy Feet, carries an unusual blend of influences– everything from underground trance, to punk, to the same bizarre artistic revolution that makes up their name. The DL have once again proved that if there’s a vital contender for the coveted electronica-DJ throne, Olle and Stefan are determined to get there, or die trying (to burn it down).
On Thursday , July 30 Club Social in Hollywood opened its doors to some of the most outrageous fashionistas around. The occasion was Gold Vs. Petker: a runway fashion mash-up show created by designer Jared Gold and artist Joshua Petker and a monster of an event surrounding it – with everyone from Lenora Claire and Tarina Tarantino to Clint Catalyst and Selene Luna hosting, DJing and adding fluffy clouds of charm to the already-glittery atmosphere. There was even a portrait studio hosted by Austin Young where everyone got to put their best face forward. The show was spectacular to be sure but the real fun was throughout the numerous rooms of Club Social. I photo-sniped the night away amidst towering models, sharp gents and enough wigs to stuff several mascot costumes.
When we told you about the relaunch of the Los Angeles branch of Doctor Sketchy’s, there was promise of hosting the event at The Medusa Lounge I recently made my way to this Gothic (in interior design terms only, though the Goth club Batcave does happen here as well) bar to see the new location and the cabaret life drawing extravaganza for myself. As it turned out, Medusa Lounge has been around since the 1930′s under the name “Lowenbrau Keller”. Back in the day it even served as a laid-back hideaway for the likes of Elvis Presley! Just as I was getting acquainted with the low-lit statues, stained glass windows and sparkling chandeliers, Bob the esteemed Doctor Sketchy’s host approached me with a dilemma: one of the models had taken ill, could I stand in for a couple of poses? Though I wasn’t about to drop my drawers on the spot to match some of the other less-dressed models, I did negotiate a quick costume change in the bathroom, and managed a couple 10-minute poses. The night was saved, art happened and the “Bacchus Drunken Shrimp” were intensely awesome.
Not often does a band with almost 20 years of history and a well established presence take such a long break in between recordings, but that was very much the story for Chicago based Tortoise. Although they have toured here and there, the band just recently release their first album in five years this past June 23. Beacons of Ancestorship is the band’s sixth official full-length album and has been long awaited by fans and music industry affiliates.
Tortoise, formed in 1990, has thoroughly confused the world with their almost impossible to categorize and exceptionally unique sound. According to member, Dan Bitney, it can be hard for the band to even classify themselves. Attempts at stamping a genre on their music aside, it is pretty unanimous that Tortoise is one of today’s more innovative and musically revolutionalizing projects. With the launch of a new album and the power of the press on their side, the band is out on the road, performing songs off the new disc across the United States and overseas.
There’s a reason that Speech Debelle’s debut album is called “Speech Therapy” and that’s because she speaks straight from the heart, with complete intimacy, as if only addressing one person. As if she expects the record never to be heard.
Perhaps in some way, that’s not an unreasonable assumption. The 25 year old South Londoner has been through the mill both before and since she started working on this set of recordings. The oldest song on here is called “Finish This Album”. It was the tune she first played when she visited Big Dada almost five years ago. Its theme is that she has to hold it together, look after herself and try to get the record done, as if the act of finishing will somehow liberate her from the problems in her life. It’s both intimate and epic, moving back and forth between the personal and political, the mundane and the spiritual. It’s a journey acoss London and a journey across her life thus far. Speech is both young and old beyond her years. At the age of twenty five her fragile voice can make her sound like a teenager, but she’s packed in enough experience to last most people forever.
Ninja Tune | Masters of noise both ambient and abrasive, midwestern misfits Cougar have one-upped themselves with a brilliant follow up to 2007′s critically-acclaimed Law. With their new album, one of the hardest-hitting things out of Madison, Wisconsin since Brett Favre has returned with another sui generis work of art-rock experimentation, proving that their knack for creativity never detracts from their permanent tap on the mainstream pulse. Cougar flaunts both open disdain for the trends, yet an acute awareness that too much hip can be a bad thing. Where thick, distorted noise-driven guitar/bass meets electronica new and old: a collective of the experimental and just plain mental. And how about a band so dedicated to innovation and their hometown, they offer all their swag through a privately-owned, Madison-based clothing shop? After moving from Layered Records to the Ninja Tune Label, Cougar’snew gem, Patriot, is due out in Fall of 2009.
Former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp reforms 90s’ hitmakers The Rentals with a vengeance, bent on taking modern rock radio back and injecting a withered pop music scene with some fresh blood–in this case, a revolving lineup of exceptional musicians (including Joey Santiago of The Pixies)–and masterful riffage from Sharp himself. Those who missed the Moogy, manic melodies on their classic Return of the Rentals: never fear, becauseit’s still The Rentals you always knew and loved. And with the classic influence of both his band’s early incarnation still intact, those who know of Sharp’s undeniable influence on classics like Weezer’s self-titled debut and Pinkerton will be pleased to learn that The Rentals’ brand-new EP, Songs About Time, is out now. As if that weren’t enough, Sharp has discussed both a 3-CD collection of new Rentals music, along with a more experimental foray into film and photography, all set to come out later this year in box-set form.
Introducing… Necklush. Is it a necklace? Is it a scarf? Is it a statement piece? Who the hell knows, really?
But do truly wonderful things need labels? I don’t think so. The Necklush speaks for itself. The idea is really beautiful in its simplicity. The garments are made from one single piece of cotton, which is cut & sewn into seamless loops, before being layered to create a long whorl which can be worn a number of ways. Down to the knees, knotted, wrapped, or tied up in a complicated manner, you can really make the Necklush look any way you want.
Them Crooked Vultures, new rock super group featuring Dave Grohl (Foo fighters), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and John Paul Jones (Led Zepplin) have been scientifically scooping out bite size morsels of content for consumption. It seems like everyday there is a facebook post with some kind of clue about something; a teaser video on youtube, some photos of posters in Amsterdam, a map of the world. Its all a big game to these guys while we are waiting, waiting, waiting to hear the music.
However, not to rub your noses in it, but I was one of the lucky few who had the opportunity to see them live in Chicago at Metro during Lollapalooza. It was wall to wall humans, forget personal space…you were making friends with your neighbors fast. I was fortunate enough to be up in the balcony area at the rail. Every time the people on the floor let out a scream it was like a blast of hot breathe that came up like out of a furnace and kissed you on the mouth. Pleasant!
But the music was rockin’. You know that when you get 3 seasoned professionals in a band of this caliber they are bound to know what the eff they are doing. My only complaint is I really want to live with the songs, dissect the lyrics, dive into the melodies. One listen doesn’t leave the same impression on you as repeated, please god turn that song off, listening does. And I can wear a song out like no other, ask my tortured husband.
So listen up “vultures”…kick us something we can sink our teeth into. Stop being such a chic-tease!
