Articles posted in February 2011

Fucking around in the dark

February 25, 2011

Hey Rosetta! has a taste for drama. Musical drama, that is. On a personal level, the band members seem like pretty normal, nice people. I interviewed singer Tim Baker for Exclaim!, and the article is published in this month’s paper. Go here to read my previous interview with Tim, which was published last summer, and here to read my review of the new album, Seeds.

Here’s the band’s latest single, “Yer Spring.” Its a quintessential Hey Rosetta! track, beginning as a sombre ballad before gradually building up to a cinametic crescendo. There’s also a galloping, string-laden Afropop breakdown that kind of reminds me of, uh, Dave Matthews Band. I’m getting a few high school flashbacks.

MP3: “Yer Spring”

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Don’t let your thoughts catch up

February 24, 2011

How awesome was the Dodos‘ 2008 album Visiter? And how kind-of-okay was their 2009 album Time to Die? Well, it looks like the San Francisco duo (yes, a duo again) is heading back down the path to awesomeness. Here’s the frantic “Don’t Stop,” which contains possibly the busiest guitar work frontman Meric Long has ever laid down.

Go to Exclaim! to read my writeup on the song, and go here to read my article about the upcoming album, No Color (and here for the tour announcement). I also interviewed Meric for BeatRoute a long time ago and wrote a piece for The Tyee, also a long time ago.

MP3: “Don’t Stop”

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Sitting in a schoolyard on a summer night

February 23, 2011

Last night Destroyer was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It was awesome and weird to see a dude from the local scene on network television, especially since Bejar’s band included some more local folks.

This included Kellarissa, who is playing keys and singing backup in Destroyer. As well as supporting Dan, she is currently promoting her own record, Moon of Neptune, which comes out on March 9 through Mint. Download the dreamy “Undock” below, which brings together droning ambiance with tinkling synths and lyrics that are simultaneously cosmic and introspective.

Go to Exclaim! to read my interview with Dan. There’s also a web exclusive article right here. I interviewed Kellarissa last year, although the link isn’t working right now; you can read the whole thing over at MySpace.

Incidentally, I just got Destroyer’s Kaputt on vinyl, and discovered that it includes one entire side that wasn’t on the digital version. It’s mostly instrument and ambient, and it’s completely great.

MP3: “Undock”

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All I wanted was someone to hold me

February 22, 2011

Hey everyone, I think Peter Elkas is trying to start a dog band. By my count, the album cover of his brand new Repeat Offender has nine dogs and seven guitars. (The other two dogs are probably the drummer and keyboardist.) Go to Exclaim! to read about the album.

Here’s the horn-laden (I’m trying not to say “horny”) single “Cool Thing to Do,” which is a soul pop song that draws on vintage doo-wop and Elvis Costello with just a hint a bar blues. As far as I know, there aren’t any dogs playing on this song, but I can’t be sure.

MP3: “Cool Thing to Do”

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Don’t be so cruel to me

February 21, 2011

Photo credit to Caitlin Livingston, Jaba credit to George Lucas

According to my iTunes, my most played song since I got my new computer in early October is “No Fun,” the first track off of Brave Irene’s self-titled EP. I don’t think I can give any higher praise than that. I just want to listen to this song all the damn time.

It’s a melancholic pop tune that’s as upbeat as it is poignant, with noisy guitars waging a beautiful war against lovesick lyrics, bubbling organs and haunting vocal harmonies. Singer Rose Melberg (who I’ve written about here and here) sings about a relationship turned sour, declaring, “This kind of love is no fun.”

Go to Exclaim! to read my interview with Rose and keyboardist Caitlin Gilroy. Brave Irene will be out on March 15 via Slumberland.

MP3: “No Fun”

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Love and lust, how come that is such a must?

February 17, 2011

Smith Westerns‘ new album is pretty fucking wicked. I mean, their first album was cool and all, but the production on Dye It Blonde is massive, and it suits their paisley pop songs way better than the fuzz and grit of old.

The band played in Vancouver last night; go to Exclaim! to read my review of the show (and here to read my review of their first album). I also interviewed singer Cullen Omori for the Georgia Straight last week.

Here’s an old version of the Dye It Blonde track “Imagine, Pt. 3″ which appeared on a previous 7″ (and was originally listed with a comma in the title). It’s not as lush as the album cut, but you can still appreciate the intricate, Lennon-esque songwriting. I yoinked it from Pitchfork.

MP3: “Imagine, Pt. 3″

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I’m glad that you’re not mine

February 16, 2011

I’m a little confused about what is going on with Terror Bird right now. For as long as I’ve known, the band has been a two-piece from Vancouver. But MySpace now says that Terror Bird is a three-piece from Los Angeles. And before you say anything, I’m definitely at the right MySpace page.

What I’m not confused about is that Terror Bird has a new album out, Human Culture. Here’s “We Were Monsters,” a synth-spiked pop rocker that’s a lot more sprightly than what I’ve heard from the band in the past. There’s still a wash of haunting reverb and some bleak, lovelorn lyrics, but this isn’t really goth pop (which is what I’ve always called the group before).

MP3: “We Were Monsters”

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Ten digits scrawled upon your skin

February 15, 2011

Last fall, I wrote a cover story for BeatRoute about Toronto pop dude Diamond Rings (née John O’Regan). He was one of the most thoughtful, self-aware artists I’ve ever talked with, and his album Special Affections was one of my favourites of 2010.

Now, he’s teamed up with another one of my favourite artists from 2010, PS I Love You. The two acts are getting set to put out a collaborative single called “Leftovers.” Go to Exclaim! to read my article about the song (as well as this one about the upcoming joint tour), which pairs the crooning vocals of Diamond Rings with the speaker-fried fuzz of PS I Love You. Collaborations don’t come any more perfect that this.

PS I Love You gets top billing on this single (which is why I used a picture of the duo to the left) but the fact that O’Regan sings lead means that most people will probably think of this as a Diamond Rings song.

MP3: “Leftovers”

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When we melt together

February 14, 2011

I’ve already posted one cut from Puro Instinct’s upcoming Headbangers in Ecstasy. Here’s another. It’s called “Silky Eyes” and it comes courtesy of Gorilla vs. Bear.

Just like the title would suggest, it’s a silky, sultry tune that’s filled with jangling guitars, cooing vocals and pillowy keyboard pads, and sounds like this aural equivalent of the amazing album cover. These are some seriously smooth tones, paired with the laziest vocal delivery you’ll ever hear. Your Valentine’s Day jam has arrived.

MP3: “Silky Eyes”

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