Are you listening?

New Emery single. Looking forward to this release. After the lackluster "I'm Only A Man," and the most recent EP, looks like the boys are moving back to old goodies akin to the great Walls. I still believe "The Weak's End" to be one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. For those that enjoy epic-stylings, "The Secret" is a must-hear. Some of Emery's choice songs (e.g. Fractions) seem to transcribe a hardcore vocal stylings of keyboardist Josh Head into a purely melodic call-and-response between "lead" singers Toby Morell and Matt carter. They are a joy to enjoy.

Therefore,

Enjoy your Wednesday.

From Russia with Love

I am happy to welcome Alexi Murdoch into my life. Surely, you will not deny him from yours.

Oddly, I half-expected Mr. Murdoch's music to be a quasi-communist mix of the sounds of tears and waiting in long lines for bread, but was pleasantly surprised to find a careful mix of Dallas Green and any number of optimistic indie-folksters.  My favorite diddy so far is his appropriately-named, airy tribute to Matt Wertz, "Breathe."

I cannot, in good conscience, claim that I stumbled upon Alexi under my own expert music-discovery skillz (with a "z"). I was fortunate to find this little trailer which features Alexi's "go live life" song - All of my days.  On an aside, the movie, Away We Go, looks fantastic. I'm excited to see John Krasinski in something other than the underwhelming "Leatherheads." And, holy crap, how many amazing cameos can you throw into one film. Excited to say the least.

Speaking of films, Alexi's song "Through the Dark" was featured in Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone. I guess his music just has that movie-magic draw.

So, Mr. Murdoch is not a Ruskie, but rather a London-born Scottsman who somehow brings me back to any number of pubs I found lamenting song-writers in on the West Coast of Ireland. Although I am sure I am offending millions of Scotts-people by comparing them to their Irish neighbors, I'm pretty sure they can't get over here to kick my ars. I mean, come on, there's an ocean between us.

I would highly suggest checking out Mr. Murdoch if you are in the mood for some good study leveled music or while staring into a pint whilst contemplating life.  

Prenatal Arrogance

In my present state of loving March Madness and hating all of those going to SXSW in Austin (this includes you Carina), I offer you a band bringing a similarly confusing dichotomy of artistic and hard rock - Evaline. 

Evaline began in Turlock, California in 2001 under the unoriginal moniker "Holiday". That's right. Their name was just...Holiday.  They must have just poured all of their creative energy into making music. At least that is excuse I am making for them. 

First, before we get to the good music that is Evaline, is anyone else enthralled by the town name "Turlock."  I don't know why, but I imagine some one-eyed giant monster that has the mental capacity of Lenny from Of Mice and Men.  "Turlock ... SMASH."  Evaline, then "Holiday", should have just named themselves Turlock to the delight of myself and marketer/t-shirt makers worldwide.

To date, Evaline has released an 6-song EP - Postpartum Modesty: A Portrait of Skin.  The piano driven alt-rock EP provides a diverse fist-full of songs that are sporadic at times, but a fantastic effort in the aggregate. Produced by the Used's Quinn Allman, you can hear the Warped Tour influences of the experienced rocker - hard choruses surrounded by flowing guitars and hard rhythm sections.  

The EP opens with the vocal stirrings of "La De Da", but never really returns to this ambient stage.  The remainder of the EP is dedicated to more alternative musings reminiscent of Dredg or MuteMath.

Although I am a huge fan of the EP, the new demos released on the band's Myspace leave me wanting.  I am hoping that the sophomore effort provides more than what the demos seem to offer.  

I'll leave this entry on that negative note.  Primarily because I am upset at Evaline as they get to attend SXSW (See above).  Yes folks -  I'm just that shallow.  

Nostalgia

It is amazing how TRUSTCompany reminds me of running in the Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Just a little throwback for ya'll. Just like Joe Dimaggio.

Yep. . . .

Joe Dimmagio.

Dear Website

For some good, ol' fashion rock - check out Dear Future. It is reminiscent of old Flickerstick and Stage (R.I.P.). Just some fun music for sunny days in the NW.

If the Shoe Fits

It is my pleasure to introduce most, if not all of you, to Weaver At the Loom.  

My only intimate knowledge of Minnesota or, for that matter, the Twin Cities, is that I sadly and nerdily know the state bird (ironically, "The Loon.").  Maybe an inspiration for the band's name? I bet "Weaver at the large bird" did not have the same ring, but I'm no artist.  So, although Minnesota is not known as an incubator for a burgeoning music scene, I found myself attracted to the non-LA/NY/Austin/Chicago rockers.  

WATL's new EP, "I Was Searching and I Found," offers a haunting and beautiful 5-song soundtrack for those wandering aimlessly in a downtown coffee shop or simply trying to fall asleep after taking one of those 5 hour energy drinks (edit: they really, really, really do work. And, FYI, nothing is fun at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. NOTHING.)

Maybe the non-sensical nature of WATL's songwriting brings me to a place where I think I have some sort of sophisticated ear for these type of things. It is reminiscent of something uniquely Lydia. In fact, there are times where the lyrics (e.g., identifying "toxins" as a villain in the EP), travel from song to song. After listening to the EP a couple of times, the thematic nature of the album not only musically, but lyrically, makes you respect WATL all that much more.

There are times where you pine for a chorus (where is my A/B/A/B rhyming scheme?!), only to be brought into some ambient-piano driven breakdown where, in the EP's opener, the upbeat and optimistically titled "Buck Up, They're Coming", the listener is reminded ". . . I'm afraid/And longing to be brave..."  My courageousness, as it were, is not misguided. The next four tracks are truly a little choose your own adventure, where these four musicians - and they are truly students of music - lead the listener through their own take on emotional, ambient rock - reaching it's climax in a 6 minute instrumental-driven "But You Can Enjoy Life Before and After." 

Although the 5 tracks seem to be, pardon the usage, woven together in a perfect fashion, I am excited to see what a full length has to hold for these boys.  I hope they are able to push through this EP and into the 4th quarter with such veracity as they had at the outset of the game. Truthfully, I can imagine it being extremely difficult to piece 11 or so songs together to flow as well as the EP does. Good luck gents.  

A favorite track, "Without Fear of Their Return," ends the EP on a positive tone and comporting with the theme set out by the EP's opener, an unknown female vocalist provides backing to bookend the EP by crooning "Oh I've got what I wanted/and I'll be afraid no more."  If anything, my only critique is that the songs all have a similar undertone. Some variety may be on it's way in the full-length, but hopefully no synthesizers (See last entry).  

Bottom line: For lovers of Lydia and Alive in Wild Paint, this is a welcome treat. I would advise not listening to it on a rainy day. Find something more... poppy. I hear Lady Ga-Ga has a new single out.  I say you go for that. 

By the way, if you get the reference in the title to this little blog - you win a gold star. 

Break out the glow sticks

I don't know what it is, but every time I turn on the radio - oh who am I kidding, I fire up my internet machine - I hear some band adding a 5th member, who was previously known as "manager Steve," bringing in the Korg they bought from a garage sale last Saturday off Van Nuys, and dubbing themselves electronica rockers. 

Although I consider myself a person with very limited knowledge in the world of electronica, I did dabble in an a cappella techno group in college. We couldn't handle our quick rise to success. It was like No Doubt - our "soloist", Dave, was on the cover of every magazine and the remaining members of the group all got jealous. In late 2003, after only being on the scene for a year, the magazine "A Cappella Techno Weekly" put out a raving (yes, pun, check) article about Dave selling out.  He is a sell out. WE DON'T NEED CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE SEQUENCES DAVE! 

Eventually we broke up, but we remain friends...right. 

Well, notwithstanding my nonsensical rants, I have noticed a good amount of programming-based rock entering the scene.  Tooth and Nail's most recent signing are just that - enter And Then There Were None. ("ATTWN").  I'll have to admit I am not behind throwing a bunch of prepositions in a band name, they are decent enough to check out.  While listening to them, I find myself more and more interested in finding a big industrial storage unit and throwing a little partay to 6 hours of loud beats with the sounds of whales mating playing over it.  

After a couple signings that were simply sticking with the same old standard, I think ATTWN will be a welcome change.  First, because nothing says rock like 5 white kids from New Hampshire.  Second, its just something different. Like I have heard multiple times, "this world needs a new 'Power Pop.'" Maybe this electro-techno-raveish rock is just that. 

For fans of Ghostland Observatory,  Seattle's own Sleepy Eyes of Death, and Settings - ATTWN is just for your ears.  I, personally, can't wait to see them live.  Now...just need to work on my ol' glow stick skillz (with a z).