Monday Mix #2

Take Pills - Panda Bear
This comes off Panda Bear's brand new album, Person Pitch, which is a spectacle to say the least. The style is similar to Animal Collective's though I would say it's more powerful, tribal even. If you're a fan of either of these band's previous work, you will undoubtedly find plenty to enjoy here. This song may take a while to get started, but the second half is sublime.

We Built A Raft And Floated - The Shins
Is there anything this band can do wrong? Even their old EPs and B-sides sound great. How cool is that weird sound!? I've really gotta find out what instrument it is.

Dance With Me (Lords of the New Church) - Nouvelle Vague
For those who don't know, Nouvelle Vague play Bossa Nova style covers of 80's New Wave. Most of the album is just a joke, but this is one song that really stuck with me

In A Minute - Bird Automatic
Bird Automatic are an up and coming Sydney band that show plenty of promise. They played the Playground Weekender festival and are beginning to make a name for themselves. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they'll come up with in the future

Technology - The Whigs
Thanks goes to Ivy League records for putting me onto this band. In fact it's one of the few times I've been sent something that I really liked. I'd classify their sound as somewhere between The Kooks and US counterparts, The Strokes. It's nothing groundbreaking, but well worth a look.

Deerhoof

This post probably comes a little late for Australian audiences as they have recently completed a tour, however it would be a shame if this band went unmentioned. To put it simply, Deerhoof are one the weirdest bands you will ever come across. Their sound varies from pure genius at one moment to complete stupidity at the next. They create a barrage obscure sounds that are sure test the boundaries of what you consider a conventional song. They’ll be darting off in all directions (sometimes none) and very often the singing doesn’t manage to articulate into proper words. Now this may all sound rather unpleasant, but somehow they manage to pull it off in a way that works surprisingly well. Seeing them live them was an even more interesting experience, as all three band members had their own quirky characteristics. For starters, the drummer used the barest setup I’d seen, consisting only of bass, snare and two symbols. Yet within this he managed to play with enough depth and intensity that I found myself mesmerised by his every move. Meanwhile the guitarist had a habit of contorting his face with every note he played, to the extent that you could be forgiven for thinking he was making the sound with mouth. Finally, singer and bassist, Satomi Matsuzaki, could be seen jumping up and down, which was rather amusing considering how small she was. It was made even funnier by the fact that the drummer (who was fairly tall) would sporadically walk over to the microphone and have to bend down a good 50cm as he delivered random messages to the crowd. I’ll be the first to admit that Deerhoof’s music isn’t easy to get into, but if you do get there, do your best to go see them because it’s definitely a spectacle.

Wrong Time Capsule – This was the first Deerhoof song to really draw me in. It comes off the album ‘The Runners Four’ and one was one of the few tracks that could be classified as a complete song. It is solely thanks to this song that I didn’t chuck them in the loony bin.

The Perfect Me – This comes off the recently released ‘Friend Opportunity’ which I quite like. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s better than their old stuff or because I’m used to them now. Either way, I plan on venturing into their back catalogue once I build up the courage.

Bonus: Kidz Are So Small – Couldn’t help myself. Besides, I had to balance out the rather conservative song choices above.

Website | Label | Myspace

Silverchair - Young Modern

Silverchair. I don’t know where to start. I’ve been following them since I was 9 and over that time the relationship has definitely had its ups and downs. As an avid fan of their first two albums, I was rather disappointed when Neon Ballroom was released. By comparison, I found it rather wanky. The same went for Diorama. However as time passed, I came to realise that while these albums were different from what originally brought me to the band, they were special in they’re own way. Well after a significant break and plenty of uncertainty, Silverchair have returned with a brand new album that marks the next step in their continuing evolution. The question is, did we need ANOTHER new Silverchair sound?

The answer is a resounding maybe. I’ve built up enough respect for Daniel Johns over the years not to dismiss this album, but I can’t help but I think he’s really outwanked himself this time around. I’m confident that this feeling is largely brought on by the shock of the vastly different sound, but in all honesty, if another band had released this, I wouldn’t been caught dead listening to it. Though it’s difficult to pigeon-hole any of Silverchair’s albums, this would definitely be Johns’ poppiest effort to date. He finally seems to have overcome whatever demons were troubling him and it’s reflected in this album, which emerges as bold and energetic. The decision of whether or not to buy this album ultimately lies in how you responded to their last two albums. If you enjoyed in one way or another, you’ll probably enjoy this too. It may not feel like a Silverchair album at first, but it should get there eventually. I hope.

Straight Lines – I’m surprised that no one I talk to actually likes this song. I mean sure it’s a little gay but it’s not THAT bad. Is it being flogged on radio or something? I wouldn’t know as I rarely listen. Anyway, I’ve liked it ever since I saw them live and it was the only new song that grabbed me. So for that, I’m gonna stick by it.

Waiting All Day – One interesting aspect of this album is that at times it sounds a lot like The Sleepy Jackson. This certainly isn’t anything to complain about.

Released 31/03/07 | Website | Myspace

Monday Mix #1

Chameleon Girl – Dappled Cities Fly
Here’s a little treat for all the Dappled fans out there. It was one of their first singles and is vastly different to their current style. It’s actually quite good, but I can’t help but laugh every time I hear it. Be sure to heckle them to play it next time you see them.

I Don’t Need Love, I’ve Got My Band – The Radio Dept.
This is just one of those random songs I have sitting around on my computer that I keep coming back to. I know nothing about the band and on the merits of this song, should probably check out more of their stuff. But of course, I am one very lazy human being, so the chances are that will never happen.

Jellybones - The Unicorns
I thought it was about time some respect was paid to a less appreciated masterpiece by arguably the decade’s most unique band. It’s so painful that I never got to see them live.

Rape Me – Richard Cheese
No party should go by without this song being played. I’m certain this was the sound Kurt Cobain had in mind when he wrote these lyrics.

Our Velocity – Maximo Park
It appears that in the ‘learned’ music community, Maximo Park and their contemporaries are often looked down upon for their simplistic style. Well I find their music fun and energetic, so pretty much couldn’t care less. Besides, it won’t be long before other artists start to realise that the easiest way to rhyme is just to use the same word. Genius!

V Festival - Sydney 2007

Last Saturday saw the inaugural V Festival take place in Sydney. The line-up was interesting to say the least, featuring massive acts from across many genres. These acts were arranged by genre into various streams, which may have suited those with very particular tastes, but left those with wider interests feeling short changed. Something about the way it was organised made it feel very short compared to other festivals and from the very beginning, the end seemed to be approaching far too quickly. But other than that it was quite an impressive day and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.

Things began early for me as I wanted to catch the first band, The Seabellies. After an annoying 45min wait for the gates to open, I headed across the vast open fields to where they were playing. It was quite amusing to see a band who is usually fighting for space, spread out on this gargantuan stage. The performance was powerful as always and I was quite surprised that they sounded so good in the outdoor setting. It was probably one of the most impressive midday festival sets I've seen in a while.

The rest of the morning proceeded rather casually as I waited for the big bands to begin. I caught bits of Mercy Arms and The Temper Trap, though not really enough to pass judgement on. I also saw my first international act for the day, The Softlightes. They sound a lot like Death Cab For Cutie and while it was nice to see their songs translated to stage, it was nothing spectacular.

Things really got going when Phoenix hit the stage. I was a big fan of their music and expected the show to be good, but their performance exceeded all expectations. They all walked out looking so clean and reflected this in the precision with which they played. It was full of energy as the drummer belted his kit harder than I've ever seen and the singer put on plenty of theatrics. He even climbed into the audience at one point and it was funny to see the look of bewilderment on the other band member's faces, as if they had no idea what he was up to. But of course they kept it together and finished things off nicely. It was a performance in every sense of the word and overall very satisfying. Even the stereotypical French guy on the right added to the experience, just because it was funny imagining how thick his accent must be.

After Phoenix, I went to see a bit of Nouvelle Vague just for the novelty factor. Seeing French women sing samba style covers of 80s New Wave is just something you shouldn't miss out on in life. After that, I headed to New Young Pony Club, which was probably my biggest mistake of the day. I find their music rather drab so why I chose them over New York Dolls is beyond me. The worst part was the crowd, with all the ‘fashionable’ types out in force. Like everything Modular has their hands on, this band makes me wonder whether their popularity lies in their music or their image.

After the worst hot chips of life (apparently you CAN do chips wrong) I headed back into the crowd to see The Rapture. I wasn’t exactly blown away by them, but it was still a heap of fun. Like you would expect, they got the whole crowd moving and it was good to finally get some dancing done. Once the cowbelling had subsided, it was time to head to the main stage and begin the Pixies countdown.

I managed to catch the last few songs of Jarvis Cocker who seemed rather energetic, making me question my decision to miss him. It was quite hilarious to see him turn to his guitarist, midway through a song and tell him to stop playing because he was out of tune. Such British wit is sorely missed these days.

Beck followed after a painful 45 minute break and to be honest I found it quite boring. I’m not the biggest Beck fan, but I still expected him to put on a better show with a reputation such as his. There were some interesting bits such as a crazy dancing guy, live puppet show and dinner table orchestra, but overall it felt like it was lacking intensity. Even my friends who were big Beck fans said they found it disappointing.

As the night was drawing to a close, I was beginning to feel the effects of being on my feet all day. I’m just one of those weak people who struggle to make it through an entire festival. In fact if I had money, I would probably never go to a festival and instead just see the sideshows, which are nearly always superior. But of course, as those who know me are aware, I don’t have money and find myself pouncing on these value-packed festivals whenever I can (then again, this festival wasn't exactly what I'd call cheap). So with a 30 minute wait ahead of me and my legs already starting to hurt, I was beginning to wonder whether my Pixies experience would be ruined. How very wrong I was.

I managed to pass the time quite well by occupying myself with all sorts of useless conversion. It ranged from whether Frank Black would fit on the stage (even funnier if you saw it) to when Richard Branson was going to jetpack in and sing guest vocals. Finally the moment came when they walked out stage and the crowd (myself included) went nuts. Kim opened with the words “In heaven…” and couldn’t have more accurately described how I felt. The first two songs were rather slow and the crowd just stood, singing along, but on the third song, they launched into a heavier number and all hell broke loose.

Previously I had been blocked by an impenetrable wall of people, about 10 rows back, but as soon as this song hit, I managed break my way through and enter the eye of the storm: the area with all the angry men going crazy. These would be my brothers for the night. I was jumping about, throwing my head around like a lunatic and it felt so good! I would have covered an area of about 20 metres squared as I was tossed around by the crowd, but I couldn’t care less because I was so absorbed in the music. This was how the Pixies should be experienced.

I really can’t express how good it was. There was never a point when I was waiting for a particular song or disappointed with what they chose to play. Instead, each time they started something new, I would think “YES!!, THIS ONE!!” and proceed to dance and yell like an idiot. There’s not many bands out there with a back catalogue as flawless as theirs. And the best part about this was that the whole time, I didn’t feel the least bit sore. The euphoria had taken over my body like a drug and given me a massive burst of energy. At the end of it I was running round in circles and I hadn’t even had a drink all night!

The moral of this story is that if Phoenix or The Rapture come to town, do your best to get down there. But if Pixies are playing a show nearby, sell your house car and kids; whatever it takes to go see them. Happiest moment of my life.

Pixies - Gouge Away [live]

The Seabellies

Wow. I don’t think any other word could more accurately describe the experience of seeing The Seabellies. Hailing from Newcastle, this 6 piece has hopped on van (or two) and has been taking Sydney by storm. Playing a number of shows across town, they’ve been quickly transformed from relatively unknown to the next big thing. Recents shows include a battle of the bands comp where they trounced their opposition to earn themselves a spot at the V Festival. They even looked comfortable when they took to Richard Branson's oversized stage proving they've got the ability to go all the way. What’s their secret you ask? Chaos. Like a bunch of kids who can’t sit still, you’ll see band members swapping places, pressing buttons and picking up all sorts of interesting instruments in order to create the desired sound. It may be a little confusing at times, but all this anarchy results in beautiful music. Never does it feel over-cluttered, instead it’s rich, colourful and full of intensity. When all six members start pounding away on drums, you can’t help but be blown away. Whilst the instrumentation definitely takes the lime-light, vocals play an equally important role. This duty is mostly taken by Trent Grennel, who actually reminds me of Daniel Johns at times (coincidence?), which is testimony to his powerful singing style. He is also helped occasionally by the lone female, Steph Setz, who like all the band members is amazingly multitalented. The Seabellies are continuing to play a bunch of shows around town so keep an eye out for them and DEFINTELY go see them if you get the chance.

MP3: Song We Don't Speak Of | Myspace | Label: ....

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

I am proud to say that I am now a Modest Mouse fan. I may have claimed it in the past, but I was only just kidding myself. Sure I liked Float On and The View but then again, who didn’t? In fact off the top of my head, I couldn’t even remember the name of their last album(Good News For People Who Love Bad News). It was never a case of not liking them, just that I never took the time to get into them. I even went to see them live, however probably wouldn’t have if a friend hadn’t given me his spare ticket. But now that this album has arrived, I’ve been well and truly converted. There’s just so much to like about it. For starters it’s absolutely brimming with raw energy thanks to Isaac Brocks signature rough-edged style. It can occasionally be in your face, but overall it’s executed excellently to create quite an exciting listening experience. As an added little bonus the album also features guest vocals from arguably my favourite musician of today, James Mercer, and every time he pops up it brings a grin to my face. I can’t really offer much insight into how it compares to previous Modest Mouse work as I don’t really know it (yet). But all in all, I really am impressed by this album. I don’t even feel annoyed that I saw them live before I got to know the songs. Instead the album has altered my consciousness so that I now recollect the experience as three times better than I originally did. Now THAT’S impressive.

March Into The Sea – Whenever I hear this song I visualise Brock stamping up and down, screaming like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum (except with slightly more coherency (only slightly)). It nicely showcases both the energy and string instrumentation I mentioned earlier. Clearly they’ve been taking a few tips from Bridezilla (sorry, Sydney joke)

Missed The Boat – If only marrying a voice was legal……or acceptable…….or in fact practical in any way, shape or form.

Released US: 20/03/07 , Aus: 17/03/07 | Myspace | Website