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April 26, 2012

Neighbors John in Babeland

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Full disclosure. I hate indie garage lo-fi pop stuff.

I’ve been writing for this website for almost three years and the only music styling I’ve taken more cheap-shots at than the aforementioned genre is of the “I’m a male Seattle singer/songwriter who happens to have a beard” folk variety.

Nobody likes an over-saturated market, regardless of the product. Yes, I just described your “artistic achievements” as a commercial enterprise. If that makes you feel dirty then maybe it’s time for a hot shower complete with tooth and nail introspection. Yes, you’re allowed to include a shower beer in that experience but only after 4pm PST.

Before you do that, let me tell you about Neighbors‘ John in Babeland (Released on Lost Sound Tapes)

This is an album by all accounts I’m supposed to be vehemently against. I’m supposed to tell you that their songs sound like every other jangly indie pop song. I’m supposed to tell you that I look forward to the day when Stephen Malkmus lawyers hand Neighbors “cease and desist” order, telling band members to stop trying to hijacking his life. I’m supposed to tell you that Brooklyn probably already has enough of these kind of bands (Neighbors doesn’t do the fake Afro-rhythm Paul Simon thing though) and there’s no need for another one.

But I won’t, because I can’t.

This is the most interesting “garage pop” album I’ve heard in quite some time. From the slow waltz and down on bended knee feel of “If I Were Good” to the disjointed horns and festive atmosphere of “Fireworks,” to the quirky and appropriate “La la la’s” of “Black Angel.” That’s not even mentioning “All United Grocery,”  which is akin to a spontaneous Pete and Pete dance-fest after you have tired of building a giant fort using blankets, chairs and boxes you found hiding in a dusty storage room. This is so good that I’m reconsidering my absolute hatred for music released in tape form. “Reconsidering” being the operative word.

If you can appreciate the music of Pavement, North of America (Think the attitude, not the songwriting. NoA is too mathy.) Sebadoh and The Pharmacy, I think you can get into this.

Neighbors play their CD album tape release show this Saturday at the Josephine with Make-up Monsters, Knife Hits and Punishment. The show starts at 8pm.

February 29, 2012

The Curious Mystery Tour Kicks Off at the Josephine

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The Curious Mystery are having their tour kickoff show this Saturday night at the Josephine.

If you haven’t heard of the Curious Mystery, I suggest you click on their name. You already take short-cuts in other aspects of your life, why not take “the easy way out” when you’re munching on a croissant and reading your favorite music blog. If you don’t mind (and of course, you don’t) let me suggest that you listen to the track “Nicaragua” when you have a few moments. I’ve never been to Nicaragua, and since I only have enough gas money to get me to Tukwila, anything that inspires landscapes unseen from the prison cell that is my bedroom is more than welcome. “Night Ride Reeling” also has some unsettling, unexpected chord changes that might perturb you delight me with each passing listen. If you go to the show on Saturday, you’ll have the chance to pickup two new Curious Mystery seven inches courtesy of K Records. With the purchase of each record comes the glowing feeling that you’re supporting a band who is about to go on tour. Isn’t that fantastic?

Know what else is fantastic?

Heatwarmer. There’s nobody in this town like them, literally. They are a kaleidoscope of jazz and classical music. I use that phrasing for the following reasons:

1) I get tired of telling you gentle readers how vastly underrated this band is. I’m hoping by refusing to use the aforementioned term, I will successfully bait your appreciation into making them the next big thing. Then we can talk about them being overrated (this is impossible).

2) Listen to Heatwarmer and close your eyes. I don’t know about you but all I’m seeing is vivid, imaginative colors. The only thing I’ve put in my body today is over-priced coffee and a muffin. I’m not making this up. This is what happens when classical music and jazz are mandated by certain legislative bodies to legally marry.

I haven’t heard many songs by the Diminished Men. As I listen to selected tracks from Shadow Instrumentals in the corner of the public library, I can’t help but think that this band of renegades create surf music for people who are about to die. If real life had a Final Destination feel to our final moments on Earth, Diminished Men would be involved in roughly 19% of all the last breaths taken. That’s a relatively high number considering how many bands exist on this planet and how many people die each and every day. Veritable grim reaper status, can it get any better? Gibraltar are “the new kids on the block.” Literally. I can’t even find music by them (So I went to page two of Google, sue me.). If they were like NKOTB, I’d be cool with that…

The show starts at 9pm. Which I guess is the “Rock n’ Roll” time equivalent of 8:30.

October 15, 2011

Weekend Mailbag

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::: Monogamy Party photo courtesy of Good to Die Records

Well, I think it’s about time I finally do something with this thing.

*Removes Sound on the Sound mailbag that is the size of a baby walrus from the corner of my room. When I open it up, the bag is teeming with cobwebs and an array of spooky looking arachnids crawl out from the opening. Perhaps it’s time to invest in a house-cleaning team or….I can stop being lazy*

The peanut gallery has questions. I have answers that are not related to the questions that you ask. Have you ever gone to a palm reading expecting to get your prostrate examined? Now is your chance. Let’s get it on:

Dear Phil(ip),

I recently got this new job that keeps me at the office for 70-80 hours a week. As a dedicated Sound on the Sound reader I am quite aware of your occupational struggles. A work week that is roughly twice the amount of toil that a normal, puritan ethic related work week entails is something you know nothing about. With that being said, this job (not it’s hefty pay, mind you) is driving a deep wedge between me and my wife of eight years. I always thought kids would send our marriage into a tailspin of boredom, but this job is doing the bidding of my six-year-old twin girls. What can I do (besides answering sketchy swinger party ads on Craigslist) to spice up my love life? My parents have been married for almost thirty years, my marriage must outlast theirs!

Sincerely, Running on Empty in Edmonds

Dear Running,

Nobody is suggesting that you pass your wife around like a Christmas ham (or that you be broken like a turkey wishbone). What you need is a harsh reminder of why you and your wife fell in love in the first place. A spiritual retreat? What and take time off of work!?!?! No way. I’d suggest Tulalip Casino (it’s the number one place for fun) but you don’t strike me as a gambler (ie. your reluctance to answer sketchy Craigslist ads). What you need is a Monogamy Party.

Not quite heavy but fucking weird kinky enough to ignite fervent passions that will only escalate behind bedroom doors. Just make sure your twin girls are asleep before you turn on Pus City (Official release date – November 15th on Good to Die Records). You could choose the track “Fucking Out Your Brains” but might I remind you, she’s your wife! Show the lady a little respect. Lull her into your arms with the title track, I promise those thumping bass lines were put there for a reason.

Read the rest of Phil’s Weekend Mailbag and Watch a New Video from Ume (more…)

January 27, 2011

Dare to Enter the Fungal Abyss — Lesbian at the Josephine

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Lesbian T-Shirt ::: from the band’s Facebook

What does this headline mean and does it scare you? It probably does. Mushrooms get a bad wrap from people in some social circles. “What? Why would you eat fungus? I don’t eat Blue Cheese, that’s mold.” Yeah, but it’s delicious and it won’t kill you. That’s why you should eat it. Don’t tell me the “texture is creepy” or that it is “beneath me to ingest something so befouled.”  You look human to me. As a human being it is your duty, to do as many things as “humanly” possible in this life.  Call me life coach.

We’ve already established that you’re Mycophobic (fear of mushrooms, amateur). I’m willing to bet money that you have an irrational fear of those who troll social networking sites and befriend anyone that has the term “Lesbian” on their page. Add me, Lesbians. *wink* So why venture to the Josephine to check out ear-splintering “metal” on a Friday night? Were you in the studio when the Beatles wrote Sgt. Peppers? Were you at Lesbian’s practice space when they wrote Fungal Abyss?  It’s kind of the same thing, right? Not really. There’s something I must tell you:

The Fungal Abyss has never been performed for the living. Only spirits that break on through to the other side haunt the practice spaces of metal bands have heard this masterpiece.  This may never be performed again. If this does not create a sense of urgency, Lesbian is also selling limited edition t-shirts and posters. Gentleman, way to use your marketing genius. Lesbian has been on tour recently, meaning that this might be your first chance in quite a while to see them live. Many of you have been longing for this day to come for ages.  If you’ve never been to the Josephine, you are in for a treat. The sound that Lesbian creates is going to create havoc (and I mean that in the most lovely way) on the walls of the Josephine. The Richter scale may get some usage during their set.

I’m going to be upfront, Midday Veil remind me a bit of Heaven’s Gate. Yes, I am talking about the suicide cult. I’m not against suicide cults, but obviously due to my current status as “living tax payer,” I am not pro-suicide cult either. My point of view has more to do with the video for Asymptote II that is on their website than it does their sound. As far as their sound is concerned, it varies greatly. Jonestown arsenic in the kool-aid fuzz on one track. Atmospheric and minimal on the next. Acoustic and beautiful on the track after that.  I like a band that has many faces. Who wants to listen to a band play the same song over and over again? Not me, unless that’s one good fucking song. I’m not into schoolyard crushes like I used to be. I don’t want to get my feelings hurt. I’m going to admire this band from afar and see if I should chase after them in the upcoming months. Maybe a romantic evening in the future? We’ll see. This is good stuff.

I’m trying to get into This Blinding Light but I think I’m too sober. They aren’t bad, I just can’t get a good feel for them via the internet. They do have a song which reminds of Fu Manchu only much simpler and slower. The other stuff, atmospheric and fuzzed out. Two central themes in this evening bill, “atmospheric” and “fuzz.”

The show starts at 8:30pm on Friday night at the Josephine. Seriously, the show starts at 8:30pm.

March 23, 2009

A Mad Rad Poster

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Just saw this poster and thought it was one of the better ones I’ve seen lately. Not sure how to interpret the scene, but makes me want to go to the show.