Big Name Bands That Don't Interest Me

For me, the attraction of this festival lies in the mid tier bands, the incredibly talented ones who are yet to gain widespread fame. On the other hand, some of the bands that are supposedly huge and will no doubt pull massive crowds, actually interest me very little. The irony is that while I couldn’t care less about them, these are the bands that contribute most to the ticket price and also led to the festival selling out in record time, denying me the chance to see the bands that I actually like. Well at least it would be if the fence wasn’t so stupidly easily to jump. THAT’s irony for you. Some of these selections will surprise you, others won’t. Either way, these AREN’T the bands that are attracting me to Homebake

You Am I – Berlin Chair

Yes, You Am I fall here also. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of respect for them, but I just don’t like them. Tim Rogers’ drunkenness seems to come out in their music and it just doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve seen them live and was similarly unimpressed. It’s probably that they have an ‘acquired taste’ and I’ve never given them the time they deserve. But despite this I feel no great desire to rectify this problem and so will probably continue with my indifference.

Something For Kate – Captain

It may sound bad, but if I’m not in the right mood, I swear these guys could put me to sleep. To me the vocals sound bland and monotonous and if I don’t pay close attention, they just wash over me. I do admit that they do have quite a few great songs, showing that they have strong song-writing ability, but sadly this isn’t all that makes a great live show. Seeing as the last time I watched them I found it utterly boring, I doubt I’ll be checking them out again.

Eskimo Joe – Turn Up Your Stereo

Once upon a time Eskimo Joe played simple, catchy music. Once upon a time Eskimo Joe had fun. Once upon a time Eskimo Joe were good. However, as time has passed, they have developed into commercial music’s sweethearts, selling their souls in the process. I must admit I don’t hate their music, in fact if I actually went and listened to their new album, I’m sure I wouldn’t mind it. But principles mean I won’t be doing that. I can’t exactly put my finger on it, but Eskimo Joe, somewhere along the line you lost me.

The Butterfly Effect – Phoenix

I guess you could say that this band isn’t as big as some of the other headliners but if you think in terms of Triple J exposure, they’re up there. Their music is a heavy blend of rock, but personally, it fails to excite. I do however get the feeling that they would have a lot energy when playing live, so I may be checking them out if have some spare time.

Big bands, big deal. I don’t find these bands so horrible that I can’t understand why people like them, it’s just a matter of personal preference. If you’re into them, then by all means go see them! But to me, their names signify short dinner queues rather than a great live show.

You may have to bear with me for a few days while I get the bands that I DON’T like out of the way, in order get to the ones I DO like. Don’t worry, you’ll still get plenty of information and mp3s, they just won’t be any good…to an extent. No mp3s means they suck (to me) one mp3 means I’m undecided (and hence I’m leaving it up to you to decide), while two mp3’s means they’re HOT.

Bands I Have Already Written About

As you may have gathered from the title, these are the bands I have already written about and I thought I may as well get them out of the way first. Pretty much without exception, if I’ve written about a band then it means I love them. The logical progression then is that these are bands that I highly recommend you go see. I won’t repeat myself in saying why I love them so much, instead click the links and see for yourself. Ideally I’d like to see all of these bands, but in the inevitable event of a clash, this is would be my order of preference:

1. Red Riders / The Presets
2. Midnight Juggernauts / Wolf And Cub / British India
3. The Valentinos / Youth Group

Clearly I don’t cope well with clashes.

Dappled Cities Fly - Granddance

I knew there was a reason why I followed this band around habitually. Dappled Cities Fly just have a knack for entertaining and they’re yet to let me down. With their second album, Granddance, they have continued this trend, producing an absolutely stunning record that puts their previous work to shame. That’s not to say their previous work wasn’t incredible, it was, but it almost sounds dull when compared with the pure exuberance of this latest effort. You could probably put this down to the production process that went into it’s making. Not only did they fly to America to record it but they enlisted the help of a couple of celebrities to produce and mix it. No doubt that helped. But I also see it as bunch of talented young guys maturing in their ability. Having been to a couple of recent live shows and warmed to the pre-released tracks (Within Hours, Fire Fire Fire) my first listen of the album was a somewhat familiar one. But despite this I was still blown away by how well the songs had been put to record. All of the energy has been captured and the sound so clean that it creates an almost eerie atmosphere. It’s sure to get your heart pumping. It also appears that the quirkiness has been toned down a bit, with lyrics no longer so blatantly outlandish. But rest assured, their charm has not been lost. This is especially true in regards to their signature twin falsettos, courtesy of lead vocalists Tim and Dave. The vocals are definitely one of Dappled Cities Fly’s finest strengths. They craft such luscious melodies that you’ll be swept up in a euphoric bliss as you try hopelessly to sing along. But despite this album’s greatness, I can’t but help but feel they can do better. I don’t mean this in a negative way, rather it feels like we’re only at the beginning of what will eventually become an illustrious career. So far their music has earned them a cult following, while the masses have remained largely indifferent. It remains to be seen whether this record will change that. But without a doubt it confirms what we loyal fans have known all along; Dappled Cities Fly are one very special band.

Holy Chord – What an opener! It gradually builds from a slow whisper to an all-out romp. There’s plenty of high-pitched goodness and it features the Tim’s rather ‘jerky’ singing style which I really enjoy.

Colour Coding – This song is another that stands out for me, plus it’s only fair to pick one of Dave’s. I really like the way it appears to jump about, rather than making gradual progressions. The keyboard is also really noticeable explaining why they needed to add a new member (Ned) on keys, to keep their live shows fluent (I do believe it isn’t actually him playing here though)

See the comments for more topical information

Click to buy?

You may (or may not) have noticed that I’ve made it so that when you click the album art, you’ll be brought to a page where you can buy the album. I’ve done this because as you already know, supporting artists is something very important! I can’t force you to buy albums but if I tell you about one you like, the least I can do is a give you a link, helping you to take the next step. I feel I must stress this very clearly, DO NOT FEEL OBLIGED TO BUY FROM THIS PLACE. If you have a preferred shop then BY ALL MEANS, buy from there! These links are only there if you have no particular preference or can’t find the album elsewhere. The shop I link to is called Red Eye Records and I do so for the following reasons:

• This is the shop I go to to buy music so I don’t feel hypocritical by sending you there
• It stocks a wide variety of music, including the abstract international acts I talk about, as well as the unknown Sydney bands
• It has reasonable prices
• It exports to all over the world

However there are a few downsides

• I only ever use the physical shop which is located in Sydney and have never used it’s online store so can’t tell you how good it is
• It’s an online shop! Like any other online shop it caries the associated risks. It’s up to you whether you’re comfortable with this

While I feel obliged to give you that warning, I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be safe. The physical shop acts professionally so without a doubt the online section will be reliable also. The safety issue a universal issue and while internet shopping is pretty much always safe, you never know. Payment is by credit card though they do offer other options such as Direct deposit which is my personal preference.

The other main problem is it’s a bit ugly, being purely text based. This really annoys me as many other sites have easily visible album art and tracklistings. However it’s superior range means it’s about the only store that stocks what I talk about. The only other option would be JB Hi-fi who have a nice looking site and a large range though it falls a bit short. I’ll be pursuing this option but for now I’ll stick with Red Eye Records.

My eventual hope is that if people actually use this, I could ask to have a sub-page within whatever site I partner with which displays all the albums and artists I’ve talked about in one simple, organised area, making it nice and easy to buy. On top of this I could ask for a cut of the profits which could go back into the site (it won’t be long before this site starts losing me money) but this all depends on whether people use it or not.

In the near future I’ll be making a purchase to test it out but basically I just wanted to let you know that the option is there, should you choose to use it.

Midnight Juggernauts

Midnight Juggernauts posses a quality so rarely found in the musical world: A name that fits. This Melbourne duo pump out some impressive late-night dance beats and they’ve already established themselves as heavyweights of the industry. My knowledge of electro music is about as limited as my like for it, but lately I’ve found myself slowly being won over. The likes of Cut Copy, The Presets and now Midnight Juggernauts, all of which I'm proud to say are Australian, have led me into unfamiliar territory. I think where these bands have succeeded is in there their ability to blend the line between electro and rock, essentially opening up the world of dance music to a whole new audience. After all, we were all born with the inherent desire to flail ourselves around uncontrollably in the hope that we look cool. Well I’m pleased to report that this is one feeling that Midnight Juggernauts are sure to invoke. Their sound incorporates a wealth of crazy sounds, including quirky vocal stylings, providing plenty of depth and variety. But at the same time the backbone of their music, drums and synthesiser, means it’s always great to dance to. One thing I’ve noticed however, with bands such as Cut Copy and The Presets, is that (for me) their music is either hit-or-miss. Midnight Juggernauts on the other hand, not only have their hits, but the ‘filler’ is equally enjoyable. True, they haven’t released an album yet, but they’re definitely one to look out for. I saw these guys live before I’d really got to know their stuff and I still had fun. Now I can’t wait to unleash my pre-prepared moves on the unsuspecting dance floor!

45 And Rising – This is the latest single of their EP ‘Secrets of the Universe’ and it has really grown on me of late. It features the modulated vocals which pop up every now and then and appear to be a crowd favourite. It also changes pace nicely, settling into a mellow rhythm and then jumping up to a higher level at just the right time

Raised By Wolves – This is a slightly older track and I think the first of their’s I heard. It’s a bit rockier than the norm, with guitars taking preference to the synth and while the background vocals could easily get on the wrong side of you, it’s a solid and highly enjoyable track

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - #3

This album may have been released last year but it’s new to me and that’s all that matters. Besides, I’m sure many of you out there missed it when came through and it would truly be a shame for me not to share it with you. For those who don’t know, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names are from Sweden and they make incredibly catchy pop music (surprise, surprise). Never before have I taken to lo-fi music so whole-heartedly but their amateur sound is just so charming. They make you feel involved and immersed in their music and it becomes quite infectious. I’m not sure if this is the truth or just some fantasy I’ve created, but when I imagine these guys creating music, I see them cramped up in a tiny bedroom, recording anything that makes a sound, feeding it into their computer and having a ball playing around with it. This album truly is a heap of fun and you can’t help but think they thoroughly enjoyed making it. With only two band members I can’t see how they would manage performing their music live, simply due to the sheer number of instruments they incorporate. Last time I checked, two guys can’t play drums, bass, acoustic guitar and piano all at once. Add to this horns, glockenspiels, flutes, trumpets, keyboards, whistling, hand clapping, a drum machine and well, you get the picture. There’s even bongos and at one point what sounds like spoons! But what’s important is that on record, they’re all combined brilliantly to create fantastic pop music, that’s both immensely rich and highly enjoyable. Look out for them in the future, no prizes for guessing what their next album will be called.

Loop Duplicate My Heart – I simply could not go past this song purely for it’s hilarious lyrics. Nerdiness never seemed so appealing! Add to that an erratic artificial beat and you have yourself a winner!

Rent A Wreck – I picked the two songs that first grabbed in the hope that they’d also grab you. Unfortunately this means a lot of the obscure instrumentation and charm has been lost in the process. But this song is absolutely brimming with energy so you’ll be hard-pressed not to be drawn in for more.

Yo La Tengo - I am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass

Belonging to a generation known for our short attention spans and need for instant gratification, Yo Le Tengo’s latest album, the name of which is too ridiculously long to repeat, was always going to struggle to make it into my heart. With an opening and closing track, each above 10 minutes and a 9-minute instrumental track, it is not what I would normally call my cup of tea. But as I settled down and gave it the time it deserved, I discovered it to be an incredible album. In fact the more I listen to it, the higher it climbs on my list of albums of the year. For me, the strength of this album lies in its diversity. The range of different styles here is amazing and despite its epic 75-minute length, the album remains fresh from start to finish. The sound ranges from piano ballads to distorted garage rock to quirky pop songs to all the in-between. But what is truly impressive is that despite dipping their toes into so many genres, the song writing remains solid. In a way this band reminds me of Belle & Sebastian, not in terms of sound, but in the listening experience. At first I found their music uninviting, boring even, but as I became familiar with all its intricacies, I slowly fell in love. This was the first time I’d ever heard of Yo La Tengo and I was quite surprised to find that it is actually their 10th album! As it turns out, this American 3-piece have been around since 1984 and are renowned for their incredible longevity and consistency. With no previous experience to speak of, I can’t really offer any opinion on how this compares to their previous work, but what I can say is that it is a terrific album that I would recommend to old fans and newcomers alike. Rest assured, I’ll be delving into their back catalogue with great enthusiasm.

The Room Got Heavy – With such diversity, the songs I picked here were never going to give an accurate indication but well I tried my best. This is one of the few songs that caught me early on and saved me from dismissing the album before I realised it’s full potential. It has a quite a funky beat to it and the vocals, which come off as indifferent create a very interesting sound

I Feel Like Going Home – Despite the album containing more songs by the male vocalist, I’ve ended up choosing two female songs. This song highlights the beauty of their slower, piano and string based music, which pops up every now and then.

Also check out Mr Tough on their myspace, it's great!