The Break Up Mixtape Part Two
Heartache always deserves a sequel.
I greatly appreciated the outpouring of song selections for getting dumped by you fine readers. I added a little of The Smiths in there, and you were right. It did help my sad tear stained self. Music and lyrics emulate life, so as you can guess I have recently been hurt by a former significant person, and having readers share some of their cathartic songs made the beast of burden a lot easier to bear...
Posted by Lisa White on Aug 21, 2008 @ 7:00 am
New Music From Micachu and The Shapes
Michachu tries to compose the future of pop.
Aside from having a name that rhymes with a seemingly heavily medicated Japanese cartoon character, East London based songwriter Micachu has a sound that might come off just as medicated. Micachu (Mica Levi) was born into a classical upbringing, playing violin and viola beginning at the age of four. Her training and unorthodox approach earned her a chance this past April to compose music for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Micachu and her backing band, The Shapes, formed in 2007 and have already made waves at this year’s V Festival and Glastonbury in the UK. The group's live experience is said to be a stripped down with drums, keyboards, homemade instruments and Micachu's vast library of minidisk acquired noises. The "everything but the kitchen sink" approach carries the frenzied beats of Aphex Twin and Autechre, while her vocal melodies take on an almost child-like wonderment of the scatterbrained world she's created.
Unconventional but never boring; Micachu's latest single "Golden Phone" gives us hints to a future of truly self-made mania. Expect the debut album in October of this year, and be sure to head over to her Myspace page for a free mix-tape download.
Posted by Joe Roth on Aug 20, 2008 @ 7:00 am
The Anticipation Station
Is it more of the same or a new direction for The Walkmen?
New York based indie group The Walkmen formed in 2000 when members of The Recoys and Jonathan Fire Eater decided they weren’t happy with their current projects and came to the conclusion that they should form a new band. The result of that decision is The Walkmen. Their distinct sound comes from their penchant for vintage instruments such as the upright piano.
The Walkmen’s debut album Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone was released in 2002 on StarTime International and was greeted by positive reviews...
Posted by Cory Roop on Aug 18, 2008 @ 7:00 am
The Roundtable
What is your worst music purchase ever?
Sesame Street taught us that we all make mistakes. Some of them are large ones that make your family hate you, while others are small quips or purchases that you will laugh about later in life. Today we posed the question: What is your worst musical purchase?
Mark Steffen - There are few things worse than witnessing your former ideals get washed down the same drainpipes that have caressed the bile and remains of N Sync and Milli Vanilli...
Posted by Wes Soltis on Aug 15, 2008 @ 7:00 am
New Music From Keane
Keane delivers yet another rock ballad.
Oh Keane, so many obstacles you've overcome in your short career. It's been difficult trying to play down those Coldplay comparisons with your debut Hopes And Fears. It's been hard to truly shine on your own. It was equally difficult dealing with your singer's drinking and drug problem, canceled tours and the darker more thoughtful follow-up Under The Iron Sea failing to grab any new fans here in the States.
I may sound flippant in my description of the life and times of Keane, but in actuality, Tom Chaplin and Co. are great songwriters and kings of the modern rock ballad. Air Supply, Harry Nilsson and even Jeff Buckley all had the ability to elevate the listener above the music with their voices. So, the Coldplay comparisons could never apply in the rock ballad realm, because Chris Martin's vocals can in no way touch Chaplin's.
"Spiralling" is the first single from Keane's latest album Perfect Symmetry. The track gives us an infectious late-80's synth lead with some bouncy "Let's Dance" era drum and bass. Big and boomy, especially for a group known for taking the smoother route at times. The added "woos" may come off as pure cheese, but after the first minute you'll be mouthing along with them. "Spiralling" is a highly infectious song and a nice big return from a little three-piece piano band.
Posted by Joe Roth on Aug 13, 2008 @ 7:32 am