New Music From The Danks
Canada's The Danks deliver some Northern pop.
Just off the coast of Canadian province Nova Scotia, you will find Prince Edward Island, home to indie pop four piece The Danks. Their debut album, Are You Afraid Of The Danks?, is a start to finish marathon of hooks and happiness. Either to their dismay or good fortune, The Danks have been dubbed as the Canadian Strokes. A fitting comparison if you're a fan of highly catchy rock tunes that doesn’t demand much thought or scrutiny.
Lead singer Brohan Moore (rhymes with "bro-ham") commands his melodies with equal parts gravel and honey. Taking his wispy cue from Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis and maybe even Kim Carnes ("Bette Davis Eyes"), Moore's voice adds a somber sweetness to The Danks already saccharine tunes. The rhythm section made up of bassist Andrew MacDonald and drummer Phil MacIsaac play with precision and bring about a hypnotic dance vibe a band like The Feelies could appreciate.
"Treaty Connector" can be found on The Danks debut album Are You Afraid Of The Danks? via Collegen Rock Records.
Posted by Joe Roth on Jul 15, 2009 @ 8:00 am
The Pitchfork Mixtape
The first of Chicago's two major festivals is only three days away.
Pitchfork Festival will grace Union Park in Chicago for the fourth year in a row, filling the park with indie rock and sweaty hipsters. As much as the festival fulfills a stereotype, there is no denying the caliber of artists at Pitchfork Festival is impressive and wide range. Fusing together a plethora of genres, the festival offers up three days of under the radar artists, not so under the radar artists and a record and craft fair - all at one of the more affordable festival prices...
Posted by Lisa White on Jul 14, 2009 @ 12:00 am
We've Got You Covered: Jim James and George Harrison
My Morning Jacket’s Jim James (or Yim Yames) takes on George Harrison classics.
Jim James wanted to pay tribute to George Harrison when Harrison passed away in 2001, so James (under the name Yim Yames) recorded an album of Harrison covers called Tribute To. The album was not released until recently (July 11th), and can now be digitally downloaded on James’ (Yames) website, www.yimyames.com.
You can also preorder the CD or the limited edition vinyl. They vinyl will come with the CD and a t-shirt from the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. A portion of each sale will go to the Animal Sanctuary as well.
It’s hard to hate this album for the sole fact that Harrison was a musical genius and James has one of the best voices in music today. It’s a total must listen for any Harrison or My Morning Jacket fan (which I'm sure has quite a bit of overlap). Check out “Behind That Locked Door” below.
Posted by Wes Soltis on Jul 13, 2009 @ 9:00 am
You're Only As Good As Your Latest Song
Another Day On Earth writes and records a new song every day – and HEAVE gets a weekly update on this adventerous project.
Hello. Since January, for reasons I will later tell a therapist, I've been writing and recording a song each and every day. This has caused me to experience moments of great bliss, and also to get to know my neighborhood drug dealer a bit better than I'd like. His name is Al. He likes the video game "Halo." Anyways, I post the tunes on a "blog," http://anotherdayonearth.net...
Posted by Lawrence Bonk on Jul 13, 2009 @ 7:00 am
The Little Hands Of Asphalt Deliver Simple Pop Goodness
Oslo, Norway gives us The Little Hands Of Asphalt, which means Oslo, Norway is okay with us.
I know nothing of the Oslo, Norway music scene, but I do know that they’ve produced a hidden gem in The Little Hands Of Asphalt. The Little Hands Of Asphalt deliver a pristine, almost perfect alt-country sound with sincere power pop lyrics. The critics in Norway agree, calling the band, “The greatest thing to come out of Norway in years.”
They have no plans of coming to the States anytime soon, but there is zero reason for The Little Hands Of Asphalt to remain part the Oslo underground for much longer. The simple, almost naïve pop goodness (and channeling front man Sjur Lyseid’s inner Elliott Smith) is far too catchy to be ignored. Listen to “Blue & Green” below.
Posted by Wes Soltis on Jul 10, 2009 @ 9:00 am