If you're in the mood for a no-frills power pop project in the Ramones tradition, then look no further than the latest, self-titled effort from Dirtnap Records signee Radioactivity. Being a Jeff Burke project, Radioactivity is expectedly filled to the brim with infectious riffs and hooks and is performed with both a Portland and Texas flare. Happy listening!
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Parquet Courts- "Borrowed Time" (LOVED)
New Tracks1 CommentTexas multi-instrumentalist and frontman Andrew Savage has a history of getting involved with musical projects that showcase both energy and snark. The now defunct Teenage Cool Kids had their share of satirical jabs, and the still active Fergus & Geronimo easily had some of the sharpest lyrics of 2011 when it came to topics like the music business, growing old, and rock 'n' roll.
Despite the album release last year, Savage isn't spending 2012 relaxing. In fact, he's doubling his output with two new albums. One coming from Fergus & Geronimo, and another from his latest project, Parquet Courts.
Parquet released a cassette tape that was criminally overlooked by numerous blogs--including mine--but this forthcoming and properly recorded album just screams for attention. The mix of influences is impressive. Savage pulls from some of the most personality driven bands in DIY. The Evaporators, the Modern Lovers, and the Dead Milkmen are a few of the most obvious. All these strange vibes and post-punk grooves are executed with a Guided By Voices-esque brevity that keeps the tracks here feeling fast and catchy.
The track "Borrowed Time" is one of the most exuberant on the album, and opens up with a set of celebratory guitar leads that are worth at least some really enthusiastic head bobs. Savage's deep-voiced vocals seem more animated than ever, and the dime-stopping refrains that interrupt the song are a fun little addition that make me laugh every time.
Yeah, there's a lotta quirk attached to this track, but don't interpret what's going on here as being too lighthearted and silly. Because there's more than enough guts displayed between the 15 tracks on this forthcoming album.
Speaking of that, the title of this album the above track comes from is Light Up Gold. Look for it via Dull Tools on August 18th.
Fergus & Geronimo- "The Weird One Speaks" / "Roman Tick"
New TracksCommentTexas garage rock eccentrics Fergus & Geronimo have a new track out, and it doesn't disappoint. Not at all. Nope.
Well, maybe it's a bit short, but the duo makes up for it with an extremely catchy hook and personality. The track opens up with a miss "Heather Strange" making some kind of audio personal ad. And, really, she's looking for a man whose cerebral capabilities haven't been fried by LCD screens yet. Could that be you?
Maybe the man sung about in the song following Heather's personal is her perfect match. He doesn't wanna take her to the movies or the mall. Hell, he doesn't even want to buy her flowers or take her call. Of course, it's all before he's a romantic, or, uh, a "Roman Tick." Yes, being a blood sucking parasite from Roman times would keep one from doing all those things specified in the lyrics from happening.
From what I understand, the track comes from Fergus & Geronimo's forthcoming LP on Hardly Art, FWTSOA. Look for it on August 7th.
The Strange Boys- Live Music
Reviews2 CommentsOn their latest album, the Strange Boys leave most of their garage rock elements behind in favor of a style that's got more in common with blues rock and alternative country. Surprisingly, it's a smooth transition.
WATCH THE REVIEW
Teenage Cool Kids- "Landlocked State"
New Tracks14 CommentsHailing from Denton, Texas, Teenage Cool Kids are a band that have a lot of fun things going for them: rough presentation, catchy melodies, slacker attitude, amusing lyrics.
Of course, this is no surprise since one of the band's members is Fergus & Geronimo member Andrew Savage. Their debut album with his duo Fergus & Geronimo was reviewed and loved by me earlier this year.
The song "Kachina Doll" features a great burst at the opening as Savage's nearly deadpan vocal gets pretty hypnotic despite its understated nature. I'm not sure whether I should start headbanging or lay down for a nap. Uh, I mean that as a good thing!
Teenage Cool Kids' third album, Denton After Sunset, is streaming in full on Bandcamp. You can grab a digital copy for $6.66 or pre-order the vinyl release that should be dropping in December.
Bill Baird- "We'll Meet Again Someday, or We Won't"
New TracksCommentJust when I thought my summer would blow by without falling in love with a singer-songwriter record, Bill Baird gets ready to drop a new LP.
This guy is a Texan with numerous projects under his belt. The most widely acknowledged stuff he's put out has got to be the psychedelic pop he's put out under the name Sunset.
But as good as his sweet and colorful arrangements can get, there's always been something even more haunting about hearing this dude keep a simple focus on vocals and 'coustic guitar. Just lookie here.
Yeah, a Beck comparison could be easily made, but I think that shadow is starting to shrink on this new track, "We'll Meet Again Someday, or We Won't." The earnest finger-picking and warm vocals make for a pleasant listen, but I stick around for the guy's melody, wordplay, and imagery. With talk of "bleeding for yourself" and "dancing phantoms," everything is equally surreal and fun.
The hook is spectacular as well, but only because of what it doesn't do. Instead of escalating into a schmaltzy diatribe about meeting again one day, the lyrics consider the possibility of never meeting again at all. Well, at least the track is reasonable.
The album this track comes from is being self-released by Bill, and its 50 copies will feature hand-made packaging, too. The 12" will see a release in August, but will be available digitally as well via Bandcamp.
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