W♥M (Archive)

Hunters, Run!

Tour 02/01/08 Don Pedro’s Brooklyn, NY 02/02/08 The Lamp Post Jersey City, NJ 02/16/08 Tonic Lounge Portland, OR 02/17/08 Skylark Cafe Seattle, WA 02/19/08 Grant & Green San Francisco, CA 02/20/08 Retox Lounge San Francisco, CA 02/21/08 Tokyo Garden Fresno, CA 02/22/08 The Derby Los Angeles, CA 02/28/08 Luna Lounge Brooklyn, NY Discography [2006] Broken Sounds [2008] Forgotten Souvenirs of the Modern Age Sounds Like Elvis Costello http://weheartmus... And, as a bonus, Elvis Costello tells us all to sit the fuck down and get to work.

 

 

Hunters, Run! - Forgotten Souvenirs Of The Modern

Hunters, Run!'s sophomore album, Forgotten Souvenirs of the Modern Age was released last week, January 22nd.

Their biography lists that they were formed from a chance meeting at a strip club in New York City between Larry Hess (previously in The Feud) and Nelson Colon. After successfully recording some songs together, they recruited Steve Shodin (guitars), Dan Fodera (bass) and Doug Fallone (Jack of All Trades) to form Hunters, Run!

By the time their second album was recorded, they ditched their guitarist (his name is still credited on the album) and the mysterious "The Bone" joined the band. I'm sure his name is too mundane to repeat. I mean, would you think The Edge was cool if he was called David Evans?

So here are some songs you should check out on the latest album.

"It's Gonna Be a Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark Night" had a wonderful bassline, but ultimately sounding too repetitive (just imagine dark dark dark dark dark dark night repeated five times). If only they kept the tone of the first half of the song, this would be a most excellent song.

The guitar song, "The Manly Art", features some distorted vocals at the beginning. It's pretty much all rock n roll, toe-tapping and clapping included.

If you liked "The Manly Art", then also listen to "Shake What God Gave Ya" and "Check The Jacket And Shoes". Both songs have some nice guitar work... and surely they were meant as dance-alongs and sing-alongs at concerts.

I ended up using "Forgotten Souvenirs Of The Modern Age" as the song to represent them, because I think this song sounds a little like Elvis Costello, whom they admire. 

Anyway, check out these guys on tour on the West Coast.

Trivia: The incredible album artwork is by Jeff McMillan. By the way, in case you were wondering, they call those things fez hats.

 01/31/2008 23:16:49  vu my♥posts www.huntersrunrock.com myspace.com

Parkway Drive

Tour 01/31/08 Water St Music Hall,  NY 02/01/08 Starland Ballroom, NJ 02/02/08 Toad’s Place, RICHMOND VA 02/03/08 Club Octane CHARLEROI PA 02/04/08 Magic City Music Hall, NY 02/05/08 Webster Theatre, HARTFORD CT 02/13/08 Panthers NEWCASTLE 02/14/08 Ex Services Club COOMA 02/15/08 High School WANGARATTA 02/16/08 MS Fest TASMANIA 02/17/08 HQ ADELAIDE 02/20/08 PCYC WAGGA WAGGA 02/21/08 Shellharbour Workers 02/22/08 Entertainment Ctre SUTHERLAND 02/23/08 Manly Youth Centre MANLY 02/24/08 Exhibition Centre COFFS HARBOUR SHOWGROUNDS 02/28/08 Icon Theatre TOOWOOMBA 02/29/08 Lk Kawana CtreSUNSHINECOAST 03/01/08 Southport RSL GOLD COAST 03/05/08 Aitkenvale PCYC TOWNSVILLE 03/06/08 PCYC Stadium MACKAY 04/12/08 Club Nosturi HELSINKI 04/13/08 Orlandina ST. PETERSBURG 04/15/08 Tabula Rasa MOSCOW 04/16/08 Underworld club ATHENS 04/17/08 Traffic ROME 04/18/08 Rockfabrik BRUCHSAL 04/19/08 Sputnikhalle MUNSTER 04/20/08 Melkweg AMSTERDAM 04/21/08 Logo HAMBURG 04/22/08 Klubben STOCKHOLM 04/23/08 Brew House GOTHENBURG 04/24/08 Magnet BERLIN 04/25/08 Conne Island LEIPZIG 04/26/08 Frei.Raum ST. POLTEN 04/27/08 Estragon BOLOGNA 04/28/08 Feierwerk MUNCHEN 04/29/08 Abart ZURICH 04/30/08 Roxy SAARBRUCKEN 05/01/08 TJs NEWPORT 05/02/08 Rock City NOTTINGHAM 05/03/08 Academy 3 MANCHESTER 05/04/08 Barfly GLASGOW 05/05/08 The Orange Box YEOVIL 05/06/08 Corporation SHEFFIELD 05/07/08 Underworld LONDON 05/09/08 Underground KOLN 05/10/08 Groezrock Festival MEERHOUT Band Members ♥ Winston McCall ♥ Luke Kilpatrick ♥ Jeff Ling ♥ Ben Gordon ♥ Jia O'Connor Sounds Like Metal http://weheartmus... The Metal Opera albums are considered to be all-time classics by fans and followers alike. Althou...

 

 

Parkway Drive-Carrion

Parkway Drive is not a street, but a metalcore band from Byron Bay, Australia. I wanted to mention these guys before February, because they are in the middle of a US tour. They are heading into Europe in the next few months with Bury Your Dead and Suicide Silence.

So, eh, I've mentioned this before, but metal is not my cup of tea, nor do I understand it. Literally, I can't hear what the singer is saying.

Looking at the lyrics on the liner notes, they are actually really intelligent! It's really too bad that my untrained ears cannot pick up the lyrics (which sounds like angst and fury).

Check out an excerpt of "Carrion":

In a moment I'm lost
Dying from the inside
Her eyes take me away
Tear me apart from the inside out
Dead eyes speak in volumes?
But our lips refuse to move
Could this ever be the last time?
The final time that we see this through?

I think this is a love song.

If you love metal, check them out on tour - I'm sure they're a riot to watch on stage, as seen on their Boneyards video. The video splices imageries of a hurricane... which pretty much sums up this song.

 01/31/2008 08:01:20  vu my♥posts parkwaydriverock.com myspace.com

Saturday Looks Good To Me

Saturday Looks Good to Me - Make a Plan Saturday Looks Good to Me Discography [2000] Saturday Looks Good To Me [2003] All Your Summer Songs [2004] Every Night [2006] Sound on Sound [2007] Fill Up The Room Sounds Like Belle and Sebastian http://weheartmus... Belle & Sebastian that well-loved band from Glasgow, Scotland, are back with a new Christmas song...

Saturday Looks Good To Me are an indie pop group from Michigan. It is the brainchild of Fred Thomas, who's the only consistent band member.

The Saturday Looks Good to Me was a project by Thomas, who went around asking various musicians to record some songs with him in 2000. What resulted was nine songs sounding like "dusty, loopy Motown-inspired pop".

I have to admit, the band's name is very unique and I've always thought it in reference to a sentence someone in the band said:

Let's meet this weekend for band practice.
Saturday looks good to me.

 

Saturday Looks Good to Me - Meet Me By The Water   Saturday looks Good to Me - Lift Me Up

They first came to the attention of music lovers when emo band Saves The Day asked SLGTM to be their supporting tour band in 2002.

Although it may be unfair to group SLGTM as in the emo category, I honestly think it helps more than hinder (although it depends on who you ask). I have to argue that they remind me more of Belle & Sebastian than Saves the Day, especially because Thomas wisely rotate his vocals with various women-singer.

Anyway, as a result, from their endorsement, their album, All Your Summer Songs, is probably their best-selling and most-loved album.

Their latest album is called Fill Up the Room, released last October.

I was sad to see that Betty Marie Barnes (who I believe does most of the girl vocals) only appears on one song ("Hands in the Snow") off Fill Up the Room. This is my favorite song, mostly because of Barnes's indie-friendly voice.

The lyrics "Hands in the Snow" also appears on their song, "Make a Plan" (the song is available for download on myspace.com). If you listen to it, you'll realize that these guys are pretty good.

The lyrics are incredible:

Jenny Jenny Jenny Jenny Jenny Jenny Jenny
So theatrical
So theatrical
Keep it with your secrets
In the cabinet with epaulette's and birth control
And don't let no one know

 

Saturday Looks Good to Me - The Girl's Distracted

Tell me that is isn't Fred Thomas channeling Stuart Murdoch.

 

As a special bonus, here are other SLGTM songs - all available free on their official website.

Find out more about Fill Up the Room on K Records and I will be sure to mention SLGTM if they announce any future tour dates.

 01/30/2008 21:30:41  vu my♥posts www.slgtm.com myspace.com

Andy Juhl

Andy Juhl - Down The Lane Andy Juhl Shows 02/01/08 Potbelly Coon Rapids, MN 02/05/08 Pharaohs of Rhythm - Fine Line Minneapolis, MN 02/06/08 Potbelly Coon Rapids, MN 02/08/08 Potbelly Coon Rapids, MN 02/09/08 Cafe Juliahna West St. Paul, MN 02/21/08 Pharaohs of Rhythm - 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN Sounds Like Cat Stevens http://weheartmus... i agree with vu that harry chapin's 'cat's in the cradle' is perhaps the best father-song ever, b...

Did you know that besides from delicious sandwiches, Potbelly also allows musicians (singer/songwriter) to play at their restaurant?? I discovered this, while looking at Andy Juhl's show schedule.

His biography, as of this writing, doesn't list that he's actually in a band called The Pharaohs of Rhythm (their next major performance is on February 5th at the Fine Line in Minneapolis). Their official website it didn't offer much information, so I wrote and asked about The Pharaohs, and I was told that this band is brand new and Juhl's biography was not current.

So having checked out The Pharaohs on myspace, it's a contrast to Juhl's more acoustic and folky debut album called A Simple Life on Land.

The album was released last year (I am guessing around December 2007). The recording sounds like it might have been recorded in a small room, the acoustic came through really good, but I can't say much about the hand drums, which sounds very distant to me.

Of the songs that stood out for me are the non-acoustic tracks, which includes "Down the Lane Part 2", "I'm Going To Lose Again", and "Voice On The Wind". "Down the Lane Part 2" sounds as if it's just a jamming session, and I don't think the song had anything to do with "Down the Lane" (part 1). You can hear part two off myspace.com.

I'm going to use is part one as I think this song best fit Juhl's style of music: acoustic guitar... although it does starts off with the harmonica.

The lyrics asks if he's just wasting time walking down the lane, but a deeper meaning is really about stopping to smell the roses. And I hope you stop and give this song a listen, it will only take two and a half minutes of your time.

Andy Juhl's album, A Simple Life on Land, and can be bought at CDBaby or iTunes.

 01/30/2008 14:19:45  vu my♥posts www.andyjuhl.com myspace.com

News: Face to Face, Calvin Johnson, Donnas, Peter Moren, and SOTY

Just as there were a ton of album releases yesterday, there was also a ton of news. Here's your roundup:

Face to Face Announce Plan for Reunion

http://weheartmus...

Los Angeles, CA – After announcing their break-up in 2003 FACE TO FACE has revealed plans to reu...

Punk rock band Face to Face announced that they are reforming.

We miss playing these songs live. That's the only reason. We don't plan on writing any new material or releasing new records as FACE TO FACE, but we are looking forward to getting out there and playing for people. The live shows have always been the best part of this band so why not continue to do something we love to do.

- Trever Keith (singer/founder)

Although Face to Face will not be recording new material, Keith's recorded a solo album. The press material points to www.treverkeith.com, but at of this writing, there was practically nothing on that page.

 

 

Peter Bjorn And John - Teen Love

Peter Bjorn and John's Peter Morén Releases Debut Solo Album on April 8!

http://weheartmus...

On April 8, 2008, Quarterstick Records will release the highly anticipated solo album from Peter...

Speaking of solo album, Peter Morén (you know him as Peter from Peter, Bjorn and John) will also be releasing a solo album through Quarterstick Records.

Apparently the album was "several years in the making". I suppose, because PB&J exploded last year and they were constantly touring and promoting Writer's Block that it's no wonder his solo album was set on the backburner until now.

According to the press release, the acoustic, low-key album is called The Last Tycoon and will be available on April 8, 2008.

Tour 02/12/08 Chicago, IL - The Co-Prosperity Sphere 02/14/08 New York, NY - NY University 02/15/08 Cambridge, MA - The Lily Pad 02/16/08 Providence, RI - Underground 02/17/08 New York, NY - Bowery Poetry Club 02/18/08 Brooklyn, NY - Lutheran Church 02/23/08 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College 02/24/08 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room 02/26/08 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge 02/27/08 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court 02/28/08 Boise, ID - Neurolux 02/29/08 Seattle, WA - The Vera Project 03/02/08 Olympia, WA - Capitol Theater Calvin Johnson on US tour Febuary 2008! http://weheartmus... Calvin Johnson - I'm Down from weheartmusic.vox.com Calvin Johnson sets out into the world, acous...

 

 

Calvin Johnson - I'm Down

Calvin Johnson announces his tour dates with fellow K Records artist, Mahjongg.

I did check out Johnson's biography page which allows two free songs for download (which I'll include one of them here).

Apparently when not hanging out with Beat Happening, The Go Team, Dub Narcotic Sound System, and The Halo Benders, he founded and runs K Records since 1982!

Random Trivia: There is a football player also named Calvin Johnson.

Bonus Random Trivia: Kurt Cobain has a tattoo of the K logo on his arm.

Story of the Year Unleash The Black Swan

http://weheartmus...

St. Louis alternative rock heavyweights Story of the Year will release their hotly anticipated n...

Story of the Year's third studio album is called The Black Swan, to be release on April 22nd through Epitaph (the band was previously on Maverick).

Not much to add to the announcement, except that you can hear the new single, "Wake Up" on armyoftheblackswan.com, where fans are encouraged to sign up for "updates and exclusive opportunities."

Musically, we've grown so much. We have some very unique, timeless, face melting guitar riffs and solos that have come to define our sound, without compromising the idea of a classic song.

- guitarist Ryan Phillips.

The Donnas Head on the Road with The Hives

http://weheartmus...

After a headbanging European tour this fall and a memorable, crowd-pleasing performance during t...

The Donnas teams up with The Hives for a major tour, per their press release.

Their promise of "quality, ass-kicking performances" made me smile... and the two bands would compliment each other as their sound are similar.

I always think these girls are a lot of fun, with a lot of humor. Remember when they were underage and when they finally became adults, they released The Donnas Turn 21 in 2001.

They've been in the music industry for 15 years now - something about the rock n roll that keeps these girls going!

 01/30/2008 06:52:46  vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic.com

CD Releases (1/29/2008)

 

 

The Mars Volta - Birthday

The Mars Volta

There are a ton of album releases today! Here are the ones that might interest you:

The Mars Volta - The Bedlam In Goliath
From the ashes of At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta releases their fourth album, The Bedlam in Goliath, today.

There's a bunch of "exclusives", so for die-hard fans, you will have a very tough time tracking down all the extra bonus tracks.

I know that Best Buy have an exclusive 2nd live disc and if you got your CD from Japan, it comes with a DVD and a cover song of The Sugarcubes' "Birthday".

Their version is very... er.. very strange. I have to say "good try" though.

 

 

Chris Walla - Everyone Needs A Home

Chris Walla - Field Manual
Ceji previously wrote the review for this album, I suggest you read it if you're at all interested in Death Cab for Cutie.

There's not much to add, except that there is a limited edition (with a bonus CD) and as pointed out by Dale, you also get a couple of extra songs for downloads.

Description from Barsuk:

Available in two versions: Standard digipak cd package, or limited-edition deluxe clothbound cd package. Both come with a 32-page booklet featuring Chris' original photography.

SPECIAL LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Order by February 4th and get 3 non-album MP3 bonus tracks!

 

 

Shelby Lynne - I Only Want to be With You

Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin'
There's a few country albums released today, but since I don't have Willie Nelson's A Moment of Forever, I'm just going to talk about Grammy-Winner Shelby Lynne's Just a Little Lovin'.

Her 10th album is an all Dusty Springfield cover album. I take it back, there is one original song on here, it's called "Pretend". This song is written by Shelby Lynne and is mostly acoustic... in the same vein as her Dusty covers.

I love the album artwork, I think it may have been inspired by the live album Dusty in Memphis.

If you get the Best Buy digipack version as it comes with a bonus DVD with two live songs.

 

 

Louis XIV - Tina

Louis XIV - Slick Dogs and Ponies
The only thing I know about Louis XIV is that all their songs are about drugs and sex. Right?

I'm glad to see that their latest release does not feature old porno images, instead you get darken green pictures of the band (I think).

Anyway, according to wikipedia: There's a Traitor in This Room is the lead single for the album, but I couldn't find evidence of this anywhere. It's not even available on the US iTunes store. By all accounts, it looks like Guilt by Association is the single.

 

 

Xiu Xiu - Under Pressure (Feat. Michael Gira)

Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers
You may have remember seeing the disturbing album artwork for A Promise. Trust me, it's an image you cannot unsee.

Their cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" is also equally as disturbing.

Anyway, I haven't listen to Women as Lovers, but I noticed that they did another cover on the new album. This time it's Queen's "Under Pressure".

This version is actually pretty good, I wish it would utilize more of that awesome bass that Vanilla Ice took advantage of.

 

 

Joe Jackson - Invisible Man

Joe Jackson

Joe Jackson - Rain
Don't forget that the CD/DVD combo album Rain by Joe Jackson is released today! It looks like I may have to review the album as Ryan is computerless.

Besides from from the awesome DVD (please see my review), the album is reminiscence of his popular Night and Day album. Joe Jackson returns to his piano-driven music, which I'm calling the Joe Jackson Trio (all jazz trios are named after their pianist).

Listening to the album, I was drawn to "Rush Across The Road", a song about seeing a complete stranger and wanting to rush over to her to get to know her. It's very easy-listening reminds me of a more optimistic version of the very bitter Positively 4th Street.

Jackson's ability to tell stories in short pop/jazz songs can also be heard on "Invisible Man" which I think is about a famous person slowly fading into obscurity.

Like most of his songs, it's open for interpretation.

 01/29/2008 17:24:35  vu my♥posts www.weheartmusic.com

Rotten Cheri - "02"

Rotten Cheri - Get Out Go Away Rotten Cheri Sounds Like Garbage http://weheartmus... The leading single, is "Tell Me Where It Hurts", and according to press release and from their o...

Rotten Cheri, the rock trio from Brooklyn, N.Y., is continuing to grow with latest record, "02".

The band, formed in 2004, consists of Stephanie St. Hilaire on vocals, Howard Alper on drums, and guitarist Kee Chung.  They fit so well together to create a catchy rock sound that has some punk roots to it.

At times on the record, the band sounds very deep, dark and a little disturbed.  But at the same time, Stephanies' vocals are a ray of sunshine that make you want to sing along on the choruses. There are 9 tracks on the record and all of them are good.  My favorite track is "Get Out & Go Away". This is rock and roll with attitude, but also lets you know they deeply care and are serious about their music and what they are saying.

On some of the tunes they sound a bit like early No Doubt, on some others they sound a bit like Veruca Salt, and yet the vocals remind me more of Garbage.  But they have their own Rock/Pop/Punk/Alternative sound.

If you like any of these bands or are simply into punk/ska with female vocals, this album will not let you down.   The band is tight and the sky is the limit for this trio, as I am sure we will be hearing a lot from Rotten Cheri in the months and years to come.

 

 01/28/2008 18:53:24  Todd my♥posts www.rottencheri.com myspace.com

The Magic Numbers

I first came across The Magic Numbers in an issue of either GQ or Esquire Magazine a couple of years ago. The article included a nice illustration of them by artist Zohar Lazar, which is what really drew me to the article. I wish I could find the article, but I can't find it; I may have thrown it out :(

 

Gone Are the Days

The Magic Numbers are comprised of two pairs of brother/sister siblings; Romeo and Michele Stodart & Sean and Angela Gannon. They released their self-titled debut album in 2005 that was critically acclaimed. That same year, they contributed "Gone Are the Days" to a compilation album to help War Child International called War Child: Help! A Day in the Life. For the project, War Child invited artists to contribute a brand new, unique track and the songs were all recorded in 24 hours. Other artists part of the project include Coldplay, Radiohead, Bloc Party, Gorillaz, etc. "Funds raised by the charity's deal with Independiente Records will immediately go to their projects in Iraq and DR Congo. Further funds, profile and membership raised will go to maintain these projects and others in countries such as Afghanistan and Bosnia".

 

The Beard (Live)

2006 brought their sophmore album Those the Brokes, but it didn't get released in the US until a year later. The album was well received though some reviews thought the songs were too long. In 2007, they released a limited edition 2-disc live album that was recorded by Concert Live at the Kentish Town Forum in London. I've only seen The Magic Numbers in concert once at Webster Hall (with The Elected opening) and they were absolutely outstanding live. I've posted "The Beard", a song they tend to close with during live shows and will probably remain a live-exclusive. According to Romeo when asked about it on their message board he said, "I don't think there'll ever be a studio version of 'The Beard' as it would seem strange without an audience". So enjoy a live recording or catch it at one of their live shows.

 

Sissy & The Silent Kid

Most recently, they released a six-track EP consisting of their single "Undecided", an alternate version of "Let Somebody In" and four unreleased recordings.

Their vocals have also been part of songs by The Concretes ("Your Call"), The Chemical Brothers ("Close Your Eyes"), Ed Hardcourt ("Revolution in the Heart"), and a couple of others (List on Wiki).

Links: Official Site | MySpace | Wikipedia /// Similar Artists: Belle & Sebastian | The Zutons | The Mamas & The Papas

Posted by Jason

A Beginner's Guide to Beth Orton

Beth Orton - Stars All Seem To Weep Beth Orton Discography [1993] Superpinkymandy [1996] Trailer Park [1997] Best Bit EP [1999] Central Reservation [2002] Concrete Sky EP [2002] Daybreaker [2003] The Other Side of Daybreak [2003] Pass In Time: The Definitive Collection [2006] Comfort of Strangers

I would have to admit, I'm a huge Beth Orton fan. I've written about other musicians that sounds like Orton, but since I haven't don't an article on her, I couldn't make reference to her music. That's going to change because I'm going to do a my guide to Beth Orton now.

Beth Orton - The Prisoner Beth Orton - Stolen Car Beth Orton - Best Bit Beth Orton - Concrete Sky Beth Orton - Anywhere Beth Orton - Worms

So I'm basically going to tell you about Orton through her discography. Her first record is called Superpinkymandy, which I think she's a bit ashamed of or something. It was only released in Japan and had more of an electronic feel to it, which was mostly because of her boyfriend William Orbit (I don't think they're still together). Orbit is probably best known for the Madonna album, Ray of Light

I guess Beth Orton thought that Superpinkymandy was more of an Will Orbit album that she's left it off her own discography on her website. Two of her songs on this early album made it onto other releases, including "She Cries Your Name" on Trailer Park.

I bought Trailer Park on the strength of her other album, Central Reservation, and I lent it to someone and I've since long lost the album :/ Fortunately, I did have them on MP3 for my iPod. I can't remember which songs were the good one ... I think I really liked "Someone's Daughter". Overall, I don't think I liked the album all that much.

"Stolen Car" is the song that got me interested in Beth Orton. I got the album and was impressed with the single and also "Stars All Seem to Weep", which for the sake of not re-using the cover artwork for Central Reservation, I am including it on her greatest hits CD.

I ended up picking up her EP Best Bit and was kind of surprise that it had a more blues influence. The EP featured Terry Callier, who is somewhat of a cult blues and jazz man. (I've never heard of him, but he sounds a bit like Arthur Alexander).

Her other EP is Concrete Sky which I wanted to include here to showcase her incredibly skinny frame. I think she's also quite tall! The "Concrete Sky" was released about the same time as Daybreaker and features Ryan Adams on guitars and backup vocals. This song was also co-written by Johnny Marr from the Smiths, making it extra special.

Although Daybreaker seems like a departure from her folktronic songs, she did gave the go-ahead to release The Other Side of Daybreaker which I sort of regret buying. The Other Side... features mostly remixes of her songs. I realized that I like her vocals and some of these remixes uses very little of her vocals, and especially in the Roots Manuva remix had mostly Manuva's rap overpowering Orton.

Around the same time, there was a greatest hits CD called Pass in Time. The package did a good job collecting some of her best-known work. Unfortunately, it doesn't contain "Star Guitar", her work with The Chemical Brothers^[W♥M], which I'm almost certain everyone knows her from.

Comfort of Strangers is her latest release, and it's an album that I haven't really given a fair listen to. I had ordered it and when it arrived, I discovered that there was apparently a "Limited Edition" version which made me instantly hate the version I already own. Her record company should really do a better job at marketing her Limited Version (trust me, I would much rather perfer the extras and pay a little more - but not too much more).

I enjoyed "Worms" a lot from Comfort, it has some comedic lyrics: "Worms don't dance they havn't got the balls/No matter how do you do/It's just you do thats all... Chickens don't fly but they have got the wings/No matter how hard they try/They bump into things/They're all running around/But their heads on the ground/They got a wish bone where their back bone should've grown"

She'll have a new 2008 album coming out, no details about the title or when it's release. I can guess that it will be very stripped down and more folk. Her recent interview on AOL stated that:

I was never really into dance music.

I tried listening the said-interview on The Interface. It makes you install an aol plugin (to ensure adverts). Then it asks me to upgrade to Windows Media Player 11. I'm gutted that I can't watch this, but I have Windows Media Center and it won't upgrade (nor would I upgrade Windows Media) - AOL really need to get their act together.

 01/27/2008 20:10:54  vu my♥posts www.bethorton.co.uk 

Nada Surf - Lucky

Nadasurf2 Tour 1/30: Seattle, WA @ Triple Door[1] 1/31: Portland, OR@ Doug Fir[1] 2/02: SF, CA @ Swedish American Hall[1] 2/07: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 2/08: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 3/17 – 3/29 – Little Ones support 4/1 – 4/13 – What Made Milwaukee Famous support w/ the exception of NYC 3/17: Tempe, AZ @ Clubhouse 3/18: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues 3/19: LA CA @ Henry Fonda Theater 3/21: Pomona, CA @ Glass House 3/22: San Francisco, CA @ Fillmore 3/25: Sacramento, CA @ Harlow's 3/28: Seattle, WA @ Showbox at The Market 3/29:Vancouver,CA@Commodore Ballroom 4/01: Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre 4/02: Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room 4/03: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue 4/04: Chicago, IL @ Metro 4/05: Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall 4/07: Toronto, CA @ Opera House 4/8: Montreal, CA @ Club Soda 4/10: Boston, MA @ Paradise 4/11: New York, NY @ Terminal 5 4/12: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 4/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero [1] w/ Port O'Brien - Acoustic Nada_surf-lucky See Also Nada Surf http://weheartmus... In 1996, their hit song "Popular" from the album "High/Low" made Nada Surf an MTV buzz band, ...

 

Nada Surf - See These Bones

At first listen, Nada Surf’s fifth album , Lucky, which is to be released in the United States on February 5, 2008, on Barsuk Records,  sounds like an easy –going  great bunch of harmonious indie songs.  When you really listen and focus on the lyrics though, you hear that each song tells  a story of something deep and honest, filled with images of restlessness and conflicting desires, longing, mortality, renewal, hope, excitement of parenthood, family history, and the elusiveness of love.  What makes this album so desirable beyond the lyrics is the blend of uplifting music complimenting singer/guitarist Matthew Caws emotional voice which brings these songs together as purely blissful.  The honesty in his voice makes you really feel for the stories being sung, while bassist  Daniel Lorca and drummer Ira Elliot  add in the essentials that carry these songs  and make them sound so alive and beautiful. No wonder these guys have been together for thirteen years strong.  

"I tend to be pretty hopeful about things further in the future, but full of anxiety about the next eight hours…I think I'm manic depressive without the mania. Yet I'm ready to be cheerful at the drop of a reason. I’m always looking for rapture in music." Caws jokes.

I can tell this album was really well produced. It just has that great sound quality to it.  Nada Surf co-produced and John Goodmanson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sleater Kinney, Blonde Redhead) did an amazing job producing, mixing, and engineering this masterpiece.

 According to their MySpace page, The first song on the album, See These Bones, was inspired by a visit Caws made a few years back to the Crypt of the Capuchin Monks in Rome, who created a macabre but stirring environmental sculpture from the bones of their departed brethren. Caws says, “It’s a chilling place. Seeing all those old bones up close really drives home that this is it – and you better make the most of your life. Ultimately, it’s uplifting. I left there in a bizarrely good mood.”  Joining them on this song is Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie, and Harvey Danger’s Sam Nelson. 

 

Nada Surf - Weightless

A few other guests on the album include  English singer-pianist Ed Harcourt, on “Weightless” and “Beautiful Beat”, which are two really great songs with strong lyrics and upbeat tunes, and John Roderick, on “Ice on the Wing”. – which references Caws’ family lore: his grandfather’s adventures as a fighter pilot and an ambulance driver in two world wars and his father’s rearing in (and escape/excommunication from) a British religious cult.

One of the other really catchy songs inspired from the  beginnings of a long awaited romance , “I Like What You Say”  uses clever lyrics  -

“They say if you’re not lonely being alone

Boy there is something wrong”

Also from MySpace - “The Fox” melds the personal and the political, the delusions in a relationship mirroring lies from the government. The image in the chorus – “On the grass at Beachy Head/On the cliff to which you’ve been led” – almost pilfers the scene in the Who’s Quadrophenia when protagonist Jimmy launches his scooter off the enormous grassy cliff on the Southern English coast: Caws says “We visited Beachy Head when I was a kid and I remember standing on the slope and sensing that if I took two or three more steps down the soft grass, I would just tumble off. I remember feeling like I was standing right next to death.”

 

Nada Surf - I Like What You Say Video

Two songs on Lucky reminded me of nostalgic 60’s and 70’s folk songs , very much Beatlesque  as well.  The closer, “The Film Did Not Go ‘Round” , written by indie singer Greg Peterson,  is haunting of lost love and spooky enough reminds me of The Beatles “Yesterday”. 

Nada Surf is going to be on tour  to coincide with the release of Lucky.

For more on Nada Surf , check out their website www.nadasurf.com

 01/27/2008 09:05:26  Kristine my♥posts www.nadasurf.com