The Short, Yet Dynamic Career of The Lines
The British band The Lines were only in existence for a few years (’78-’82) and didn’t really get much notice. But their new anthology, Memory Span, is definitely worth a listen.
The raw power-pop of songs like 1979’s “Not Through Windows,” could be compared to the early sound of The Feelies and R.E.M. However, their later music leaned more toward punk-funk, as heard on the 1982 pre-Rapture epic “House of Cracks.” Despite their short career, they did manage to make some cool songs that still feel fresh today.
Memory Span is available from Acute Records.
The Lines – Not Through Windows
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Andrew WK Sez: Wolf Eyes Rules
Back in 2000, Andrew WK produced a 4-song EP by fellow hard-party dudes, Wolf Eyes.
One song on it is by Andrew WK, entitled “Wolf Eyes Rules”. The song has a heavy metal rap vibe like Limp Bizkit or some bullshit (which is funny here since the whole thing is a joke). Andrew WK grunts his praise for the noise mongers with his signature “tough guy” charisma.
Wolf Eyes is playing here in Philly at Johnny Brenda’s Monday, April 7th. I’ve seen them three different times and each time is a mind shattering, sonic experience. And I intend to futher shatter my mind come the 7th. Wolf Eyes Rules.
Check out their classic, “Stabbed In The Face” for an example of their harsh realm.
Thanks to Run Out Groove for the info about the early EP.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The Poetic Prophet Raps About Web Development
Our Friends over at the Giraffe have opened my eyes to The Poetic Prophet (AKA The SEO Rapper). He runs an entertainment Company in Houston, TX: Mo Serious.
The video below apparently went from “900 to 10,000 views overnight” and “10,000 views to 20,000” this afternoon thanks to twitter (What’s Twitter?).
Being a big fan of hip-hop, and also being a Web Developer, myself, I definitely feeling his Nerd Raps.
Check out “Design Coding” below.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/v/a0qMe7Z3EYg[/yt]
Peep his Youtube Page for more of these kinds of videos. You can also check his Myspace Page, as he also makes track of the religious nature, if you are into that sort of thing.
He is all over the social networking scene, as well, and you can find all those links at his blog, on the right hand side.
Awesome Video Alert! Mt. St. Helens, Vietnam Band "Homeostasis"
“Homeostasis,” the PSA-on-crack promo video from Seattle’s Mt. St. Helens, Vietnam Band features very little of the band’s music (except at the very end), just some important words about embracing the future, very stylish drum moves, super-cool transitions, and a few flying cheeseburgers! Have a look:
Yes, wtf, indeed. So, what do they really sound like?? Are they the next Black Sabbath? The new Devo? Well, there is no audio to be found on their MySpace Page, but the band is currently recording with Scott Colburn, the engineer behind Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible and Animal Collective’s Strawberry Jam. We will find out soon enough! Stay tuned!
The Now Sound: An Exclusive Interview with John From HEALTH
I’ll admit, when I first heard the L.A. noise band HEALTH, I wasn’t that into them. I was a bigger fan of the remixes that artists like Crystal Castles and CFCF had done for them. Over time their album began to grow on me like a fungus. It really doesn’t sound like anything else at the moment. So, when HEALTH came to perform in Philly I made it a must to attend the show and catch a few words, er a lot of insightful words with the band’s multi-instrumentalist John…
Psyched On The Psych Of West Philly’s Soft People
As a former four-year West Philly resident, I am quite psyched to tell you about Soft People, a friendly and fabulous foursome of West Philly musicians.
Psyched is definitely the correct word to describe their fluid psych-pop with a garage-twinge. They remind me of what my favorite local garage bands in high school would have sounded like if they had all gotten their acts together and did it right. Listenable, blastable, and somewhat danceable, Soft People have staying power.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
VISUAL NOTES: Castanets and The Resurrection of The Cassette
Hallelujah! The cassette tape is not dead! This wonderful news was revealed to me courtesy of uhu, an independent live recording project in Portland, OR.
The cassette I received in the mail held a seriously trippy, seriously awesome cover insert. The image was created from a hand-printed concentric circle design on silver card stock overlaid with a curvy doodle motif on transparency paper. The tape itself housed documentation of new and old tracks from Castanets West Coast Tour from this past January and February. This was my dream come true: Total aesthetic reinvigoration of an object that is seen as “dated” through musical content and compelling physical craft!
Castanets – One Arm Around The Sinner (Viking Moses Cover) Live
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Castanets – One Arm Around The Sinner (Viking Moses Cover)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Would You Listen To a Band Called The Last Rapes of Mr. Teach?
Well, I would, and I have. Despite the lengthy, semi-offensive sounding name, France’s The Last Rapes of Mr. Teach write songs that definitely won’t offend your eardrums. “Help Me” is a super-accessible, rockabilly head-rush with pogo-stick rhythms and a sound similar to that of the The Black Lips. Nothing that sounds this good could possibly offend me.
LRMT are currently without a label or an album, but you can stream more songs on their MySpace Page.
The Last Rapes of Mr. Teach – Help Me
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Allegories of Life
If humans could remember what it was like being born. and more specifically could remember what it sounded like, the first 30 seconds of Allegories‘ “Grass Toboggan” might be that sound. As it progresses from an enveloping of noise into a series of dazzling and sometimes overwhelming twists and turns, in an odd way, it resembles a microcosm of life. Whether or not you think all of that is bullshit, listen anyway, it’s a beautiful song.
You can stream Allegories’ upcoming full-length, Surreal Auteur, here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jay Reatard’s Brilliant Post-Punk Blitzkrieg
Jay Reatard’s post-punk, post-thrash tunes are like little flashes of genius that shock your nerves and jab at your brain. Trust me though, these are good things. The songs on 2006’s Blood Visions and especially the non-album singles that followed, like “Let It All Go” and “I Know A Place,” are baby speed-balls that will have you instantly addicted. “Tiny Little Home” a song that Jay recently released exclusively on his blog, is more frenzied and has even more bite.
Pick up Jay’s records via In The Red and Goner, and watch out for See Saw, his new 7″ which will be released on April 8th via Matador.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Jay Reatard – Tiny Little Home (Unreleased)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Does the Truth About The Kill Krinkle Club Lie Within the "White Trees?"
Who is Krinkle and why does this half Swedish, half Irish club known as The Kill Krinkle Club want to kill him? Is he the old, cranky next-door neighbor with teeth that resemble shriveled baked-beans? A past disciplinary who made their lives a living hell? An internal metaphor? Maybe within the sedated electro sound and tubular bells of the “White Trees” we shall find the answer…
Considering the title of their self-released EP, The Bloody Murder Of Krinkle, available on iTunes, it sounds like he is already dead. But why????
The Kill Krinkle Club – White Trees
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
New Black Kids Video: "I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You"
The video for the androgynous “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” by the buzz-worthy Black Kids (we spotted them last October) features 18th Century garb, cheerleaders and colorful graphics. The re-recording of the song has much more personality than the demo, though not as spacey, and I like the video’s overall playfulness. Keep it up, kids!
“I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” will be available as a single on pink vinyl April 7th from this UK vendor. Their awesome demo EP The Wizard of Ahhh’s is still available here for free.
 | A MEMBER OF THE QUAKER CITY MERCANTILE FAMILY |