The Silversun Pickups have a 7” singles box set scheduled
for release on the 25th of February. There is a new song and an
unreleased B-side in the box as well. The new song is called Cannibal and can
be downloaded now from your favorite download store now.
My Chemical Romance have also got a greatest hits album coming
out on the 25th of February. It will feature some unreleased demos,
a DVD and an unreleased track from the last album. It is a bit spendy to get
though. You can get it at the MCR store.
Broken Bells have a new album set for release on February 4th,
just a few weeks away.
The Gaslight Anthem have a collection of B-sides to be
released on the 28th of January.
Third Man Records have released the second set of SunRecords 45s. This time there are three singles, one each from Jerry Lee Lewis,
Roy Orbison and D.A. Hunt.
One of Beck’s two new albums for the year is scheduled for
release on the 25th of February. This one is called Morning Phase
and is said to be related to Sea Change in style and sound. Many of the same
musicians from the Sea Change sessions have come back for this new record too,
helping to keep the same sound as Sea Change. Preorders are up at beck.com and
iTunes.
If your interested in the group Flowers, you can get their
Early Demos and More Demos at a pay what you want price at their bandcamp page.
I am going to go to the Graveface Road Show when they come
through town. I am disappointed that Dott will not be with the road show when
they hit my town though. I will get to see The Stargazer Lilies though.
I have finally gotten a copy of the standard issue of
Weekends’ Red EP. I am very happy about that.
I am still waiting to get my copies of the Withered Hand
First full length album that I ordered back in November. I ordered directly
from Absolutely Kosher Records.
Here we to with the first episode of the year (it's a singles post)...
This is a single created for the musical Chess. It was one
of my favorite singles in the mid 80s. I had no idea what it was about it just
had a cool sound. It reminded me of The Clash song Rock The Casbah. I really
liked that song too. I can’t really put my finger on what made me link the two
songs together, especially since they were released years apart.
I got the extended version of the song, One Night In Bangkok. The first time I
listened to this version I got lost as there is a sort of solo part that was
not on the radio version. There is what comes off as random singing in this
solo part. It is like a radio was tuned into a classical station and recorded
over the music for this song but it works. I kind of like the new parts of the
song that I haven’t heard before getting this version though. It is something
new and different that I had not heard before getting this version.
The B-side track is called Merano and is performed by The
London Symphony Orchestra & The Ambrosian Singers with Murray Head adding
some of the vocals on the song. The song comes off as classical music at first
but then becomes synth-pop later when Murray Head comes in to sing his part. It
is a good fusion of styles and keeps my interest all the way through the track.
It is a good nostalgic track if your into that kind of
thing.
This song was released in November of 1957. The song was
repressed as a part of the second series of the Sun Records/Third Man Records series.
I have a hard time not collecting special releases and since I started with the
first three why not continue collecting these special releases. I don’t have
any thing from any of these artists either so this is probably a good way to
get into them. I may not get anything else from them but having something that
was popular from each of them is nice.
The A side is Great Balls of Fire. This song is a classic
rock & roll track that is so famous it is hard to mistake for any other
song. The song was featured in a performance by Jerry Lee Lewis and his band in
the 1957 Warner Brothers rock and roll film Jamboree, which also featured Carl Perkins, Fats Domino, Buddy
Knox, and Dick Clark.
The B-side track is called You Win Again. This is a slower
blues track that is reminiscent of classic country styles. It is a song that
talks about wanting to leave but not being able to because the singer loves his
significant other so much that he will let her win just to stay with her. It is
a sweet idea that I could get behind easily.
This is a single released in 1956 and was repressed as part
of the Sun Records/Third Man Records second set of represses. The A-side track
was not played as much as the B-side was. Although both tracks have a really great
rock & roll beat.
You’re My Baby is a great rocker that talks about his girl
friend. The saxophone solo in the middle of the song is just killer. I really
like the guitar work on the track too. The song just goes and goes and when it
is over you just want more. It works very well.
Rockhouse is another great song about dancing at the
rockhouse. This one has the same -type of rock beat that the A-side has but the
solo is on the guitar rather then the saxophone. I think this gives it a more
rock & roll feel.
This is probably one of the best singles that I own because
both sides are kickin’.
This single was originally released in 1953 and repressed as
part of the Sun Records/Third Man Records second set of represses. First pressing
is mislabeled. A side is labeled as Greyhound Blues, but it is actually
Lonesome Old Jail. And side B is labeled as Lonesome Old Jail, but it is
actually Greyhound Blues. I have a first pressing I found as I listened to them
after my recording of the tracks.
Both tracks are slow and drenched in the blues style. I am
not a big fan of the blues but the songs are still enjoyable.
This was a split release through Tough Love Records and
Slumberland Records. It is a double A-side split. There were only 600 pressings
of this 7” record.
I Lose is a fast paced rocker that reminds me of the 60s
sound with Joy Division styled vocals. It is an interesting combination that
keeps my attention. The chorus break down catches me by surprise every time. It
is unexpected but works so well.
You Win is another fast paced track that features light and
airy female vocals. The song comes of as very twee because of this. I have
never been interested in Brilliant Colors but could get into them very easily
if this is the standard for their music. It is a lot of fun and easy to bop
along to.
This is a 12” EP released in 2010. Some people just call it
a self titled EP because it is not labeled as Don’t Let Me In on the cover.
Either way it still has great music and a funny looking cover.
It is a four track EP with the title track, Don't Let Me In, being the first
track on the record. As is the style of the vocalist, he has that
characteristic Joy Division vocals making the music come off darker than it
actually is. The music is fast paced with long soaring guitar parts that cover
the quick paced rhythm guitar. It is an interesting juxtaposition.
The second track, Warm Hands, Cold Heart, is just as quick
but doesn’t have the soaring lead part on this track. The chorus brings on a
distorted sound in the guitar that makes me feel so good in side, warm and
fuzzy almost. The bass matches that part to give it a slight boost making it
sound even better in my opinion. It is another great indie track that will
never get noticed except for those that are looking for it.
I Guess is the first track on the B side. It has a slightly
depressed sound to it. I like the music but it kind of makes me feel funny. I
guess slightly uncomfortable it the best way to describe it. It is a good song
but, wow, does it make me feel odd.
The last track on the EP is called Graveyard. This is more
of a electric folk track. This is interesting for the group since they are a
rock group for the most part. I kind of dig the song because it really comes
from left field from the group.
This is an interesting EP from the group that shows
different sides that they don’t usually show. Great stuff from them and I hope
they follow some of this stuff in the future.
I found out about this group from Kip Berman, from The Pains
of Being Pure At Heart, and from Odd Box Records. I really like the vocals from
the lead singer. She reminds me of a light version of Zooey Deschanel. This is
a special release from Bleeding Gold Records.
Bleeding Gold said this about the original record, “This
hand-made 6.7" plexi-glass 33rpm lathe-cut features an x-ray disc in a
band-made cover, limited to 30 copies. A lathe-cut is a real-time groove
cutting machine...basically...Google it. Sound quality is not what this is
about - it is an art piece, lovingly created by the band and a lathe-cutting
friend from Washington. Features exclusive B-side "I Don't Mind", not
featured on the download. Every piece is unique. Sorry about the pricey
shipping fees - shit's expensive. All sales are final.” It is a really cool
idea and I am sad that I missed out on it.
The tracks are all moderate rockers with beautiful vocals
and music. The songs were home recorded and sound slightly different from each
other, like they were mastered separately from each other. They are all good
music though. There are only three tracks on this single, which is one more
than usual but one of them is only about a minute and a half. The songs are:Cut & Run, Meet Me, and All Over Again.
This is a four track 7” EP released on Cloudberry Records
last February (2013). The record is still available at the Cloudberry web site
if you’re interested. There is a music scene in the UK that they are calling
DIY Music. It is just as DIY as anything else but the music is put out on super
small record labels and being created by bands that are not as popular as the
majors but are making really great music. Flowers and Gum, I have talked about in
the past, are just a couple of those bands that are a part of this new music
style.
The first track on the record is the title track, When YouLie. It starts off with a fast guitar and a steady drum beat. The vocals are a
bit lower tone than she usually sings but sounds just as good as anything else.
I really like the early stop in the song. Everything goes silent for a good
measure or two then it all picks up again like nothing happened.
The second track, Watch and Wonder, starts off with the
singers beautiful floaty vocals along with the rest of the band. Half way
through the song the band cuts out and it is just her singing. She has a very
beautiful voice and it is nice to hear a vocal solo in music. This doesn’t
happen very often it seems. The band comes back in after a few measures and
finish off the song together.
The third song is called You Held My Hand. This is a faster
paced song and the vocals are double tracked in the chorus. It is very pretty
and adds so much more the song. It gives it more depth than any of the other
songs that I have heard from the group. I can’t say that they should do this
for every song but this one does stand out because of it.
The last song on the EP is called Boat Song. It is a sweet
song that features the lead singers’ vocals with only an acoustic guitar. It is
a fast paced song but is so simple it makes it easy to like the song.
This is a three track 7” single from Fortuna Pop! It was
originally released in June of 2013 in limited quantities on grey vinyl as part
of the record companies Jukebox 45s Single Club. Quantities were limited but I
have not seen a number for that quantity.
The first track is the title track again, Until You’re Dead.
This is more of a noise/shoe gaze track with the vocals almost getting lost in
the music. The lead guitar is distorted and just a little bit louder than the
vocals. The key change in the chorus gets me every time. It is a perfect change
in the song.
The second track is called Clover. This song s a bit simpler
with a clear tone guitar at the start,
it keeps the distortion undertone though. It keeps the pretty airy vocals just barley
under the surface of the music again. This is kind of an evolution for the band
as the vocals were above the band on the previous EP.
The last song is called Stuck. It is a slower track with
just the vocals and the bass playing. The bass guitar is very simple and
supports the vocals perfectly. This is similar to the last track on When You
Lie where there was only vocals and acoustic guitar. Sometimes simplicity is
the best way to go.
That is it for the first episode...
