Last Friday, March 18th 2011, something extraordinarily epic happened and it didn’t involve Charlie Sheen. VICE, Intel and Dell rolled out their new collaborative NOISEY for all music lovers to experience.
I think Eddy Moretti, Executive Creative Director of VICE described it best, “Every day we celebrate young musicians who wear their passion for their art on their sleeves. Noisey is a celebration of music in its purest form: live. But it’s also about the fans, the young people all over world who live and dream in musical notes. Think of Noisey as an always-evolving, loving-crafted, global music documentary. Because that’s what it is.”
I realize that I’ve been posting like a paranoid schizophrenic, but this morning, Yeasayer announced the official dates for the tour that will support their new album ‘Odd Blood’ which becomes available on February 9th of 2010. And if you’ve spoken to me within the last few weeks, you know that this is my band. These are my boys.
If you don’t know much about them, they describe their music as “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” which of course, leaves room for all types of interpretation, therefore forcing you to check it out and decipher on your own.
YEASAYER came to national attention after their appearance at 2007’s SXSW festival in Austin, TX. An experimental band out of Brooklyn, NY (but originally from Baltimore), the band consists of Anand Wilder, Chris Keating, and Ira Wolf Tuton.
Originally conjured within the hills of Woodstock, NY at the Marotta lair, then taken to the steely sweeps of NYC, Odd Blood took many layers to finalize, but with all things Yeasayer the wait is undoubtedly worth it. Filled with their own take on pop pleasures and experimentation, the band has once again carved its own path through that ice cold glacier that is modern pop/rock.
The new album was actually leaked on December 10th of this year . Acknowledging this, the band posted on their Twitter page, “Presents are always spoiled for those who open them before they are supposed to.” I couldn’t agree more.
YEASAYER TOUR DATES
02.05 Los Angeles, CA – Natural History Museum
02.08 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
02.09 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
04.03 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
04.04 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
04.05 Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
04.06 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
04.07 Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Cafe
04.08 Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
04.09 Houston, TX – House of Blues
04.10 Austin, TX – The Parish
04.11 Austin, TX – The Parish
04.14 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
04.15 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room
04.17 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
04.19 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
04.20 Seattle, WA – Neumos
04.21 Vancouer, BC – Commodore Ballroom
04.23 Salt Lake City, UT – In The Venue
04.24 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theatre
04.25 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
04.26 Saint Louis, MO – Gargoyle Club
04.27 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre
04.28 Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre
04.29 Chicago, IL – Metro
04.30 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
05.01 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
05.02 Montreal, PQ – La Sala Rossa
05.03 Boston, MA – Paradise
05.04 New York, NY – Webster Hall
05.05 Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
One of the many perks that comes with working for a company entirely devoted to promoting and exposing new musical talent is the access to a multitude of magazine subscriptions that I don’t have the money for on my own. I’m constantly tearing out articles and stuffing them into my skinny jeans hoping no one will notice. Last week, while coming out of the john, I grabbed a month-old edition of NME (The New Musical Express) and was pleased to discover their “What’s on the NME Stereo” page. Essentially, two pages of ten new tracks they’re suggesting we simple folk checkout.
There seems to be an evolution of dubstep occuring since it’s beginnings ten years ago. Electronic artists are taking more creative control than ever and Samuel and the Dragon have given us something we have really yet to hear before, a song-step if you will (and I will). If you have ever thought electronics couldn’t be soulfoul, S and the D are here to prove you wrong. In their debut single “Diamonds on a Boat” we have an anguished (also gifted) crooner and some sparse beats interrupted by the occasional synth squiggle.
NME says: “If you thrilled to the XX’s rich dubstep torch songs, you’ll be all over this dreamy, slo-core synth number.”
CMC says: If you’re looking for a pure-voiced hopeless romantic backed up by some eclectic uses of synths and beats, these are your boys.
They have one other single that I’m not nearly as impressed with called “Rising Up” check it out on their myspace here , if that is your desire. Let’s hope they’re in the studio devising their EP as we speak.
Dearest Low Anthem. I never knew you existed. I’m so sorry. You folks are simply divine. From the gritty chops of Ben Knox to the musicianship of Jeff Prystowsky and the harmonies of Jocie Adams, these sounds do a spirit good.
If you folks like the sound of Bon Iver, this is as soft and intimate as “For Emma, Forever Ago” and dare I say maybe more so. It was even recorded in a winter cabin. “Oh My God Charlie Darwin” was self-released in September of 2008 and we are all running late for a date with this band. So I suggest you hurry up and have a listen.
I realize it’s been a while. And I do apologize. I went to New York to visit a friend and there are pictures and events that must be covered but right now I’m in the midst of the fieriest cleaning frenzy this side of the Mississippi. So here’s some music to check out. It simply will have to do.
Golden Silvers:
A band from London signed to independent record label XL. The line-up consists of vocalist and keyboardist Gwilym Gold, Ben Moorhouse on bass guitar, and Robden Alexis Nunez on drums.
By the way, how much do you love the name Gwilym? Yeah, me too.
Anyway, their debut album “True Romance” came out in April of 2009 and it makes me feel warm inside. The best way I can describe their sound (especially in the track Arrows of Eros) is a marriage between the bands of The Clash and Cut Copy. If you don’t agree, then you don’t know those bands. It’s actually very very Clash-esque, which is righteous because they happen to be one of my favorite bands. It works. You can dance to it, it’s not terribly deep, but it could make you happy on a lonesome day. Yay Go Golden Silvers.
I’m a tad tardy (as in late, not retarded) on this one. The third studio album from the Norwegian band Kings of Convenience actually came out in late October, but here you are anyway. : )
If you find yourself driving over 100 miles, baking with friends, staying in on a cold day, or snuggling with the one you love, I would suggest playing this album. It is quiet, boasts some very beautiful harmonies and really just soothes the soul.
Hailing from Portland Oregon, Loch Lomond toured with the Decemberists in late 2008.
I love love.
Blind Pilot. Also from Portland, so much good stuff coming out of this fine city, currently. If this song doesn’t make you want to dance a jig, then your life is pointless.
