Mini-posts to catch things up a bit

Well, since I have been so busy this past week and haven't had time to even finish up last weeks posts I am gonna combine a whole bunch into one. This one's gonna be quick and dirty.

Ok, first up is pony pony run run, a French band steeped in garage rock and electro-pop. If I had to make a comparison, I might name drop All-American Rejects or maybe Motion City Soundtrack or some similar band. Definitely worth a listen.

MP3: pony pony run run - My TSNm Love

MP3: pony pony run run - Easy Cash

Check out their site here and befriend them here.

Next up is some bedroom casio-pop courtesy of Sweden. You know Sweden is a lot like Snapple, made from the best stuff on Earth, lol.

MP3: Happy Go Lucky - Cuomo

The Psychic Ills check in with some great psych-rock courtesy of the Social Registry label, yeah I know they've been blogged about before but I've been in the mood to listen to them lately. Myspace them here, their site is here.

MP3: The Psychic Ills - Another Day Another Night

Stop by their label here (buy something!) and check out some other great bands, all highly recommended, especially Samara!) and join the growing friendship legion here.

Some French folk-pop here from Warren Worthington (gotta love those X-Men references, Claremont Rules, 'nuff said!!!)

MP3: Warren Worthington - Not Forever

Thy Surfyn' Eyes bring us, conveniently enough, surf music. Is there more appropriate summer music, lol?. These guys come from Barcelona and this instro is very mellow and soothing and isn't your typical surf sound but its worth the listen. Or repeated listen.

MP3: Thy Surfyn' Eyes - Rompepistas 13


And last but certainly not least, some poppy, indie-punk songs from Orlando, F-L-A (if you get that reference, you've no worries in life if you find yourself facing questions about movies from the 70's starring Paul Newman), courtesy of The Elks, who make me smile. A lot. Like great big ear to ear smiles. I'm anxiously awaiting the great things I know this band will do in the future.

MP3: The Elks - The Smoking Guns

MP3: The Elks - Laser Ray

MP3: The Elks - Shut Down and Locked Out (my personal fave)

The Year Zero

You can blame the Venerable Bede for the lack of a year zero in western history. But you've only yourself to blame if you don't take the time to listen to the band The Year Zero. Take an equal part of the Cocteau Twins, and Lush add a few acoustic guitars here and there and you have a semi-close approximation of The Year Zero. But that doesn't really come close to truly describing their sound. This is a band that demands to be heard in order to grasp what they truly sound like. I gotta say I have been extremely satisfied with their debut full-length, Oceania, I Will Return. What makes this band even better is the artwork that goes along with the music. I feel like I am listening to a soundtrack for Heavy Metal when I throw on their album. And the artwork fits so perfectly with it. This band is amazing. Get in on it now so you can impress your friends in five years with "I heard them when..." comments. Here's some mp3's to prove the all these points I just made:

MP3: The Year Zero - Moon Viewing Parties

MP3: The Year Zero - Dreamers Under the Sky

Check them out here for their website (and buy an album!) and be someone cool for once in your life by becoming their friend here.

Swim Party

Another band out of San Diego, this one with a sound that's not unlike a mixture of Modest Mouse with violin (and a few strains of Godspeed). While they play some of the same angular styles that Modest Mouse does, they temper it with the violin, which adds a whole new dimension to the sound. I've listened to these three songs over and over for a while and now that the ep is out. Their sound is huge for a four piece at times, I can only imagine what they would sound like with the amount of members as Godspeed. I'm in love with this band already and can't wait till they put out a full length album.

MP3: Swim Party - Sunlight and Sprawl

MP3: Swim Party - Simplest Ways

MP3: Swim Party - Twenty Five (my personal fave)

Their myspace could use some more friends (like you!) and buy their ep here.

Secret Apollo

I've been a bit behind on posting anything lately, had to get another computer up and running again and it took longer than expected. Anyways, this band has been on my myspace for a while now and its about time to post something about them. Secret Apollo are a three piece out of San Diego with Amber on bass/vocals, Adam who plays the guitar/vocals and finally Steve on the drums. Their sound is fairly straitforward, I think they would have fit well in the late 90's alternative scene, and that's not a diss by any means, I like this band a lot and they are well worth the download. Hopefully you will enjoy. Their myspace and their band site.

MP3: Secret Apollo - Piccolo

MP3: Secret Apollo - My Solo Album

MP3: Secret Apollo - Leaps and Jumps (recommended)

Math the Band

This band is definitely one of the most comical bands (but in a serious way) I have come across in a while. Their stage dress is quite something to see. The band goes by several pseudonymns on stage, and its easiest just to link to their myspace instead of posting the pics that are necessary to properly describe the full regalia of there live personas. I really like this band. They're fun, witty and the lyrics put a smile on my face. These songs are perfect for all your summertime adventures. Enjoy.

MP3: Math the Band - My Algebra Teacher

MP3: Math the Band - Wear Wolf Fever

MP3: Math the Band - Clouds are Clams

MP3: Math the Band - Shark Attack

The Smittens

Continuing the twee , here's a great band from Vermont that are churning our some of the best pop songs I've heard come out of the North East. I guess all the twee from the North West has migrated coasts.... This five piece (now a SIX Piece!) has two full length albums to their credit already and are hard at work on their anticipated third album, due out this fall. They are of course playing the Athens POPFEST this year as well, so I look forward to seeing them then. Here's some songs from their myspace.

MP3: The Smittens - The Garden

MP3: The Smittens - Doomed, Lo-fi and in Love

MP3: The Smittens - Momus, Where are You

MP3: The Smittens - Party Time

MP3: The Smittens - Stop the Bombs


BONUS VIDEO - My Favorite Dream

The Specific Heats

This and the next few posts are all Twee bands as I have been in that kind of mood and been a little lazy about finding things to post about. The Specific Heats are a great 3 piece band out of Boston. They play the usual blend of guitars drums and keyboards but I really like this band and can't wait for another full length from them. Join them as a friend here and check out their site here.


MP3: The Specific Heats - Take the Wheel (demo)

MP3: The Specific Heats - Standards

MP3: The Specific Heats - Things Get in the Way (demo)

MP3: The Specific Heats - Winter Fashions (Alternate Version)

The Grade Grubbers

This morning was a flurry of myspace link clicking. I found The Grade Grubbers off of someone who had added me as a friend and this in turn led to many more bands being added as well as a trip to my one of fave labels, Asaurus Records. The Grade Grubbers are Eric Ellman on vocals & guitar Shell Matthews on vocals, melodica & casio and Artie Vallone on the drums. This band made my day. Pure and smple. I listened to them on the bus all afternoon. Great great stuff. These songs are all from demos from the band but are insanely good already. Their songs are all great fun twee pop that I can't get enough of, especially"Jessica Pancakes" its almost a semi-cover with its nods to the Association's "Windy". Its a fantastic song and is definitely going on the summer mix I am putting together. If you don't download this song, God will take a kitten's life. No, I mean it. Download it. Now. Its that good, I swear.


MP3: The Grade Grubbers - Jessica Pancakes (so highly recommended it's not worth saying!!!)

MP3: The Grade Grubbers - Leaf Pile

MP3: The Grade Grubbers - Kelsi Page

MP3: The Grade Grubbers - Snowman

UPDATE: Special thanks to Andreas for pointing out to me that Jessica Pancakes is actually a cover of a Parcels song! His blog is so highly recommended that if you've not clicked the link already you should just shoot yourself. Only the finest in twee and indie pop can be found at his site, so check it daily!

Second-Hand Furniture

Ahhh, bands from Sweden.... Is there any other place on earth so devoted to pop music and the making of it? From such a long history of great sing-a-long songs to this band. "Nice Try Sunshine" is with a doubt my all-time-number-one-summer-soundtrack-sing-along song. Its great from start to finish, great melodies, a hummable tune, and those have to sing-a-long-to lyrics. The only thing that could have made me more addicted to this song would have been handclaps. I'm a sucker for handclaps in a song. To be hoenst, I can't think of a song with them that I don't like. Anyway, as I said Second-Hand Furniture hail from Sweden and I think they're phenomenal. I know next to nothing about this band other than the members and that they are evidently no more :-(( , but these guys are definitely worth the bandwidth to download. You ever feel like you arrived to late for the party? Plastilina Records plans on releasing all of their eps along with some unreleased songs later on in '06. How cool is that? You know I'm excited. Without more of my nonsense, here's some songs:


MP3: Second-Hand Furniture - Nice Try Sunshine

MP3: Second-Hand Furniture - Hard to Distinguish From Each Other

MP3: Second-Hand Furniture - People Like You

MP3: Second-Hand Furniture - Think You Should Know at This Point

Plural

Plural are a great four piece band out of San Diego, CA. It seems like nearly every band I come across on myspace comes from either San Deigo, LA, Portland or Sweden (!). You know I love the Swedish pop (go Abba!!). Their myspace namedrops Wilco, the Shins, GBV and tons of other bands I dig quite a bit. While most of these influences are not as transparent in their songs, I do find a lot to like in this band and look forward to hearing more in the future. I'd recommend Summer Song and Broken Boat. Their latest album is Love Sleeps Where Love Lies and is available here.



MP3: Plural - Summer Song

MP3: Plural - Mondial

MP3: Plural - John Faster

MP3: Plural - Broken Boat

The Prids

There's not a whole lot one can say about a band like the Prids. I mean there is, but its all been said before and far more eloquently. I'll confess I had only a passing fancy with the band until seeing them open for Built to Spill last weekend. Their recorded sound compares little with their live sound. Which was fucking HUGE! I was blown away by their live show. Lots of energy, the songs played out much better live than on my headphones. Maybe I was being overly harsh on them and the whole 80's revival since I already lived through the 80's once and this current wave of nostalgia for a time when I went to bed every night thinking I was going to wake up to mushroom clouds everywhere isn't quite so fond for me. I swear I think the only cool thing I think I still like about the 80's was Saturday morning cartoons. Ahhh, serenity now.... Yaada yaada The Cure, yaada yaada New Order, yaada yaada Joy Division. Anyways, here's the Prids in all their new wavey goodness: (and yes they've definitely made a fan out of me with their live show).

MP3: The Prids - Shadow & Shadow

MP3: The Prids - Let it Go

MP3: The Prids - Love Zero

Their new album is due out in July, check out their site here where you can download additional songs as well as videos. Join them on their myspace too.

Hello Damascus

Although the sound is a bit more somber than I normally listen to, Hello Damascus's plaintive and mellow indie-folk has helped quiet some of the more hectic moments lately. Comparisons to Red House Painters or Silver Jews would not be off mark. Songs like Harvest Dolls are slow-rolling rockers while ones like Etheridge showcase the moodier aspects of their craft. Their song Randy will be featured on this year's PDX POP Now! CD. I look forward to seeing them on Saturday with Bright Red Paper, I think its gonna be a fun evening.

MP3: Hello Damascus - Randy

MP3: Hello Damascus - Blame King Blues

MP3: Hello Damascus - Etheridge

And of course:

MP3: Hello Damascus - Harvest Dolls (highly recommended!)

The band has no website as of yet, but they are of course on myspace, check them out here and become a friend.

Bright Red Paper

Bright Red Paper are something of an anomaly in a city dominated by the "NorthWest" Indie sound. Their sound is more akin to post rock bands, Explosions in the Sky and Do Make Say Think than bands like Modest Mouse or Built to Spill. They play a more somber and dream-like style (more symphonic) which is probably closer to Explosions than anything else I can think of at the moment. Their sound is larger than it seems coming from only a four piece group. The four members are Daniel Enberg, guitar and vocals Douglas Jenkins, cello, Arcellus Sykes, bass, Eben Dickinson, drums and I will get my fiurst chance to see them this Saturday at Mississippi Studios here in Portland. Check them out on myspace and their own site. Dead Sea is highly recommended. CDs may be purchased through the band's site or though CDBaby.

MP3: Bright Red Paper - D is For Dead Sea

MP3: Bright Red Paper - A World Collapse

MP3: Bright Red Paper - Kid of Speed

MP3: Bright Red Paper - A Minor

The Galactic Heroes

The next few days I am going to post about some of the great bands from Portland. To kick off summer here's another great band that's custom made for summer-time listening, The Galactic Heroes (though not all the members of this band call Portland home). There are several reasons I can give for why I love this band but the biggest (next to their sound) is the fact that their name comes from one of my favorite video games of all time, Galaga. You see, I am completely obsessed with Galaga and find it irresistible to drop a quarter into its slots whenever I am near one. That's kind of how this band is to me. I find it hard to stop listening to them once I start. Their music is addictive in that teeth cringing syrupy-sweet way that Kool-Aid is when you've added too much sugar. You can't quite put the cup down once you start taking a big swig of it until its all gone and you have to get another glass. That's what the Galactic Heroes are like when you listen to them. Hopefully this year or the next will see a new release from them.

MP3: The Galactic Heroes - These Days

MP3: The Galactic Heroes - Coffee and Pastries

MP3: The Galactic Heroes - Cherokee

Join them on their myspace and buy their records from here. Also check out their home page as there are tons more mp3s there.

Summer is Almost Here!!!

Ever since I moved to Portland I have heard great tales of how great the summers are here. So far, I like what I have seen. Coming from a place where the summers are near unbearable to be outside in during the day, to actually being able to enjoy the summer will make for a decent change of pace. The band I will share tonight has been around for quite a while now and have a handful of eps and singles to their credit so far. Pas/Cal are one of those bands whose tunes seem to evoke distinct feelings of seasons in their music to me. They effortlessly meld songs that seem written for no particular one time of the year into ones that you just cannot seem to live without when that time of the year is here. Pas/Cal have been the soundtrack to my summers (and my autumns and winters and springs!) ever since I first heard them. This band produces one of the most harmonious sounds to ever be paired with those glorious summer days and nights that one fondly recalls from their youth. Their infectious melodies, glorious handclaps, and sing-a-long lyrics make my heart skip a beat each time I listen to their songs. Its hard to describe without having heard them. The band hails from Detroit, MI and are set to release their debut full-length sometime this year (we hope). Check out their blogsite for info on the recording of their album, Citizens Army Uniform. Join their growing legion of fans on myspace.

Here's a taste of summer in the form of song:

MP3: Pas/Cal - What Happened to the Sands

MP3: Pas/Cal - Bronze Beached Boys of the Summer (C'mon Let's Go)

MP3: Pas/Cal - O, Honey We're Ridiculous (Demo)

MP3: Pas/Cal - The Glorious Ballad of the Ignored (Demo)

If you are in New York on Thursday be sure to check them out at the Mercury Lounge for the record release party for Asobi Seksu!!!

mattandkim

MattandKim are a great indie pop outfit out of Brooklyn, NY in the vein of Mates of State. Just drums and keyboards with Matt on the keys and Kim on drums. Their output so far consists of just a few demos posted to myspace but they are set to release a full-length album this summer on IHeartComix Records. Check out their profile off of their record label's site as there is a funny little story from Matt there. Look for the self-titled full length in August, which is entirely too long for me to wait for. Perhaps some more demos on myspace might sate my appetite. All in all I can't say enough good things about this band just off the strength of these handful of songs and I am sure their debut album is going to get a lot of play this fall from me.


MP3: mattandkim - YeaYeah

MP3: mattandkim - Silver Tiles

MP3: mattandkim - Verbs Before Nouns

BONUS VIDEO: mattandkim - 5K

The Parson Red Heads

The Parson Red Heads are one of those great new bands I have enountered through the wonder of modern music known as myspace. They originally hail from Oregon but now reside in sunny Los Angeles and are carrying on that great tradtition of breezy jangle-pop in the same vein as The Byrds, CSNY and The Zombies. I'm rather upset that now that I live in Oregon that a great band like this has left. At least my chances of catching them live this summer are better here than back on the east coast. They've recently released a new 5-song EP called "Field Mouse Carnival" and its available from Yukon Records for a scant $8, to think that skipping 2 Starbucks drinks can pay for some of the sweetest sounds you'll hear all summer.... Here's a couple songs for you, one from the latest ep which has me completely enthralled and another off their 2005 release " The Ghost of a Crab". Check out their myspace for an additional song and summer tour dates, of which many are in Oregon!!!

MP3: The Parson Red Heads - Punctual as Usual

MP3: The Parson Red Heads - I'm Always at Hand

Built to Spill

No updates the past few days as I went to see Built to Spill Friday and Saturday and got back far too late to blog anything. I managed to score free tickets to the Sat show thanks to a local radio show but Friday's show was definitely better as I think I liked the playlist much better. I'm still disappointed that Velvet Walt was not played either night. But there is silver lining to this cloud. The band played not one, but 2 new songs and one of them may just be the best song I've ever heard from BTS. Well maybe not, but I am insanely in love with this song in either case. The word is the boys are using their time in between shows to work on a follow up album to You in Reverse. And if the songs I've heard so far are any indication it may be their finest work yet. Seems like the hiatus the band was on has only served to fuel the creativity of the group. Anyways, here's your mp3:

MP3: Built to Spill - Good Ol' Boredom (live 2006-06-14)

Buy Built to Spill albums here

Buy Built to Spill tickets here

BONUS MP3: Built to Spill - Liar

Wow, The Go! Team Covers..... Sonic Youth?

So I woke up this morning to a bulletin from the Go! Team on myspace with the headline: new go! team song bull in the heather + summer touring..... Needless to say that's 2 of the best things I've heard today already. I would not have thought Bull in the Heather would be such an awesome song for the crew to cover, but they do a fantastic job with it. The opening chant almost seems like one of their usual team cheers. Its a pity that they do not have this song for download, but it can as always be streamed from their myspace page. The second part of this news is tour dates. Here's their summer tour schedule:

The UK dates:

Jul-08 - Oxegen Festival - Ireland (Green Room - second to last on )
Jul-09 - T in the Park - Scotland - (King Tuts Tent- second to last on )
Jul-22 - Ashton Court - Bristol - Headlining
Aug-19 - V - Chelmsford (JJB Arena - second to last on )
Aug-20 - V - Stafford (JJB Arena - second to last on )

The US dates:

Jul-28 Twin Lakes, WI HedgePeth Festival - USA
Jul-29 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre - USA - supporting The Flaming Lips and Ween - USA
Jul-30 Lawrence, KS Granada - USA
Jul-31 Omaha, NE Sokol Underground - USA
Aug-02 Indianapolis, IN Music Mill - USA
Aug-03 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center - USA
Aug-04 Detroit, MI Magic Stick - USA
Aug-05 Chicago, IL Grant Park / Lollapalooza - USA
Aug-06 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre - USA - Supporting Sonic Youth
Aug-08 Toronto, ONT Kool Haus - Canada - Supporting Sonic Youth

So I guess I have a choice of either going to Red Rocks or to Chicago to see them. Sucks they are not going to be any closer to PDX for the time being. The cover makes a bit more sense when you see them touring with Sonic Youth.

Color Wall

Tonight their are yet more shoegaze songs in the air! I discovered this band from a myspace friend request today and they have me extremely excited to get my hands on their album already just from the streaming audio clips I heard tonight. The band hails from Los Angeles, but don't let that fool you. These guys could very well be London ex-pats from their sound. And what a sound it is! Its like listening to a cocktail of the Stone Roses, Chapterhouse, Swervedriver with a dash of punk thrown in to shake everything up. I wish they had something other than streams to listen to but, it is well worth your time to click here and here. Their myspace has four complete songs up and would be the best start for any courageous readers to begin, though if you decide to skip the CD Baby link you'll miss hearing their cover of the Cars, You're Just What I Needed. You had me at hello boys... you didn't have to bring out the big guns! One aside, why is it no one covers You're All I've Got Tonight or Best Friend's Girl? Hint hint, something for the live show when you guys make it up here next to the Land of Eternal Rain, Portland, OR.

Their debut album is available from CDBaby and I highly suggest picking one up (or three, friends are so lame at times), It is so choice!

The American Dollar

This post is a few days late, I had finals this week so sue me. Anyways, The American Dollar are one of my favorite Myspace discoveries this year. This band has delighted me with their first album already and the word is they have re-entered the studio to record a follow to their self-titled debut. I am anxiously looking forward to picking up these Queens, NY lads's sophomore album as I think it can only get better from here on out I think. For those who've not heard them, they have a very upbeat post-rock sound, probably closer to Explosions in the Sky than Godspeed but mighty is this sound! I cannot rave enough about this album though. They have a song off their first album for download on myspace and they have a streaming preview on their site. I only wish I could buy it for all of you out there, its just that good.

MP3: Everyone Gets Shot

The Shy Magnolias

Since this is my first post I wanted to start out with one of my favorite songs I've heard all year (and 2006 has had a bumper crop of great tunes already, of which I will no doubt share shortly on this site). This is from a UK band called the Shy Magnolias whose only output I have been able to find so far comes from their myspace page. The sound of "Whisper Hallelujah" would probably best be described as Teenage Fanclub and the Beach Boys being reimagined by Kevin Shields. Their myspace namedrops the usual musical influences for a band involved in making one of the best shoegaze songs I've heard this year, MBV, Olivia Tremor Control, JAMCo, Mogwai, Elephant 6 bands, the Kinks, the Beach Boys. If that's not reason enough to download this, then you'll probably not like any of the songs you find posted to Snow Globe Universe, as shoegaze is hands down my favorite music style. I am rather fanboyishly awaiting an ep or (dare I hope) perhaps a full-length attraction from these fellows in the coming year. How about it Magnolias, when's the earliest we could expect a proper release, or at least some additional myspace lovage? Without further ado, the reason you're here in the first place:

MP3: The Shy Magnolias - Whisper Hallelujah