New Music from Vetiver
Noise Folk is an odd term, but Vetiver are quite good.
I’m usually not one for paying attention to the labels that are put on a band, but it’s hard to ignore the ultimate contradiction of “noise folk.” Also known as “freak folk,” noise folk is a label given to such acts as Joanna Newsom, Sufjan Stevens and Devendra Banhart. Banhart didn’t much care for the term, so he decided that “naturalismo” would be a better word for it. “Naturalismo” is also what Vetiver goes by, which makes sense since their name comes from the type of grass (which, I guess you could say grass is quite natural). They also go by the term because (and probably for a bigger reason) Banhart is often a member the band.
Vetiver released their debut album in 2004, and are fronted by songwriter Andy Cabic. Their fourth album, Tight Knit, will be out February 17 on Sub Pop Records. Until then, take a listen to “Everyday.” It will probably make your day a tad bit brighter.
Posted by Wes Soltis on Jan 22, 2009 @ 7:01 am
Meaningful Albums Mixtape
Picking one song off your favorite albums is pretty hard.
As a writer and all around music nerd, people tend to ask the question, "What is your favorite album?" Of course there is no answer, because as all music nerds know, you like different albums for different reasons, and you really can't compare favorites from the 90's to favorites of the 60's and it's just masochistic to make a music fan decide on one album as their favorite...
Posted by Lisa White on Jan 22, 2009 @ 7:00 am
Yeah Yeah Yeahs say Yeah to New Record
Trio to Release Third Album This Spring
Since 2003's Fever to Tell made waves and showed us which Maps to follow if we're searching for the center of both our hearts and definitive new wave trash punk, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - led by specifically Karen O's chutzpah - has been one of the high water marks of post post post rock.
Earlier today, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs publicist and official website both confirmed that the newest record, their third release, will be available this spring. Thus far titled, "It's Blitz" and accompanied only by a picture of a bloody raccoon and baby chicks in a bowl of popcorn, the quirky poignancy and sheer tenacity of the band seems to be in full force. Look out for this release, a subsequent tour, and maybe even another playable track on Rock Band in the near future.
Posted by Mark Steffen on Jan 21, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Get to Know: Brighten Up
When times are tough, all you need is Brighten Up.
Brighten Up didn’t start their band in the most traditional sense. Justin Bean moved to Chicago from Orlando, Florida to pursue a career, but still desired to make music. Dan Smith also moved from the south suburbs of Chicago around the same time. How would these two star-crossed musicians meet? Craigslist. Smith replied to Bean’s posting on the website and the two hit it off right away. The two started jamming and soon ideas began to form...
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Jan 21, 2009 @ 7:00 am
Black Dice Back At It
Repo promises to pound our faces in.
There's no real substitute for getting punched in the face by a member of a psychedelic noise-thrash band. In fact, when we're not busy sating our appetites for Clint Eastwood-like neighborhood shoot-outs, our next favorite risky behavior is getting beaten up by rock stars. Lucky for us, The Black Dice (kings of the "punch your audience" trend) have heard Dirty Harry wants his life back and are blessing us with a new album and a North American tour this spring.
On April 7th, Paw Tracks will put out The Black Dice's newest effort, Repo, to the delight of blippy-bloop synth-noise lovers everywhere. Judging from the cover art, there's no way we'll be able to sleep through the sonic latex they'll be hurling at our ears. With all the success surrounding the newest Animal Collective album, it's our self-destruction-induced recommendation that you check out this newest release from the original Brooklyn-bad-boys of atonal post-punk.
Posted by Mark Steffen on Jan 20, 2009 @ 10:30 pm