Whoa. Been a while, huh? Did you even notice I haven't posted since July? I'm still alive. I moved to a new state. I got a new job. I moved to an area where I don't really know anyone, so maybe this will mean getting back to regular posting? Ah, who knows.
Anyways, I'm sitting here at work trying to power through this mental block, and I'd have to say my main motivator are these Swedes Gaphals playing their invigorating, electric, unrelenting punk rock into my eardrums. Screw coffee or an energy drink, just put on Gaphals' 2013 LP Regimen and feel the adrenaline rise. Give it a spin below.
What do the Go-Go's, Black Flag, Tenacious D, and Bad Religion all have in common? California power pop band Redd Kross. Honestly, they're a few clicks shy of being the musical equivalent of "The Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon." Ok, maybe not quite, but seriously.
If you want to talk about an under appreciated, underrated band, look no further than Redd Kross. If you've never heard of them, it's a shame, especially seeing as how they've been around since 1980 -- or 1978 if you include an early incarnation of the band called The Tourists. The band released six studio albums before slipping into the unfortunate "indefinite hiatus" zone following a tour behind their 1997 album, Show World.
When your father is Link Wray and your mother is a Frech Ye-Ye girl, you have a lot going for you. Imagine the melodic hypnotism of yé-yé thrown into a vat of scuzzy garage rock, and, after simmering for some time, you'll come up with something along the lines of The Shamefaced Sparrows. With hints of surf rock cool, their sound is filled with enough instrumental and lyrical melodicism to avoid drowning in a sea of fuzz. It plays out like a film noir, with mystery -- or better yet gloom -- hanging around like a dense fog as our main character tries to keep some semblance of himself. Everything that's good and safe seems worth risking for the temptation of what lies beyond that corrupt, ignominious decision. No one said the ride would be easy, but that's why it's worth it all.
The Shamefaced Sparrows are a duo out of London. More on SoundCloud.
Dutch rock band Shocking Blue is probably better remembered in America for their big 1969 hit "Venus," because Americans are often all about one song with great bands. It became particularly big after English pop group Bananarama covered the track, a cover which happened to accompany a Gillette Venus razor commercial (clever). And if you happened to own a Korg keyboard in the early '90s like me, then you probably remember it serving as the demo song that played when you pressed a little yellow button -- granted it was more of a midi file. I'm hoping this isn't the legacy of Shocking Blue in America, because, like most bands with one big song, they actually have other great songs -- songs that are even better than the big hit.
The first time I heard this song, I thought it was some lost MC5 b-side. But the MC5 were never this bluesy, and they never did sound this Southern fried. "Blackout Baby" has that raw, sort of guttural punch that sounds big and hits even harder -- like the MC5 meets Led Zeppelin. It only takes one electric guitar, a drum kit, and a howling set of pipes to stir up this storm of bluesy rock 'n' roll, and that certainly says a lot about the conviction and talent of this Seattle band. My Goodness, rock 'n' roll is alive and doing quite well (sorry, I couldn't resist).
When you've got Jon Spencer manning the boards for your record and you're recording to tape in the studio run by Heavy Trash's Matt Verta Ray, chances are high the end result will be real, invigorating, and loud rock 'n' roll -- the kind that's raw and full of attitude. A perfect example of this formula can be found on Liquid Love, the new album from Belgium's The Experimental Tropic Blues Band.
You probably didn't know it, but I bet you've been looking for some good 'ol rock 'n' roll fun with shots of power pop -- lots of shots. Chicago rockers Archie Powell & The Exports are back with their sophomore album, Great Ideas In Action, out May 1st. No, you won't find sophomore slump here at all, because Archie and the boys took it for a night of rock and drinks and it couldn't keep up. If the two tracks released from the album ("Crazy Pills" and "Metronome") are any indication, Great Ideas In Action improves greatly upon its predecessor, which wasn't all that bad in the first place. If you were hoping to catch what a young Elvis Costello and the Attractions might sound like in 2012 at the top of their game, look no further than "Crazy Pills."
If Steely Dan embraced indie pop, it would sound something like Surgeons In Heat. This Madison/Milwaukee four-piece crafts smooth, sharp indie pop rock that, without pretension, evokes a mod sort of cool. There's an undertone of agitation beneath their calm and collected surface that gives the music just the right amount of bite, recalling the songwriting of Graham Parker and Elvis Costello. If you wanted to straddle the line between a relaxed night in and a night of cruising the streets with the top down, spin the band's self-titled, debut EP.
Check out Surgeons In Heat's self-titled EP below.
No, this isn't a small person tribute band to The Minutemen -- in case you happened to be wondering such a thing. No, this Austin-based band of self-proclaimed "slop-punk" is a six-pack of the good times. The same sort of rough, loud, and honest sounds that gushed out of '90s underground rock bands such as Guided by Voices, Dinosaur Jr., and Sebadoh is present here, like a time capsule of the best memories. The Midgetmen's latest LP, Loud Enough, is stuffed with crunchy, fuzzy, rattling, buzzing guitar riffs, shout-along verses and choruses, and even hits of jubilant horns that make this one enjoyable ride.
You know those moments where you're overwhelmed by something? Maybe it's falling in love or winning lots of money -- or something in between there. It's the type of moment in which you feel a rush of adrenaline swirling around inside of you, at a loss for what could be done to calm yourself down. Maybe you jump around and flail your arms in every direction possible, or maybe you jump off of something like a wall or set of stairs, without concern for where or how you'll be landing. It's the feeling of pleasantly drowning in a sea of elation. Listening to "Fuckin' Up Young" is much like this kick of adrenaline, and produces a similar high.
Rock 'n' roll boogie. If you're going to name your band something a bit eccentric like Henry's Funeral Shoe, you either have to be wacky with your sound or rock hard. For this blues rock brother duo from South Wales, it's most definitely the latter of those two things. It all begins with singer/guitarist Aled Clifford musing over a rolling guitar riff, cooling off in the murky waters of the Mississippi Delta. Drummer Brennig Clifford then joins the mix, shifting things into first gear as they add a blast of punk rock fury. And with the snaking lines of some dirty slide guitar, "Dog Scratched Ear" can be addictive on account of just the energy it puts out. A great cut thanks to attitude, conviction, the bite of distortion, the mood of the blues, and the crunch of rock 'n' roll.
If you're a fan of good 'ol Americana rock 'n' roll, alt country, or alternative folk, then I can't recommend Country Mice's new album, Twister, enough. I've always been a fan of rock 'n' roll with Southern charm and loud, distorted electric guitars, bands like Uncle Tupelo and Drive-By Truckers. Oddly enough, Country Mice are from some place far removed from open roads and the beautiful, golden countryside of the Midwest -- they're from Brooklyn (though three of four members originally hail from the Midwest). The country twang in their sound is matched with moments of delay and reverb-coated guitar riffs that can be just as desolate as they are rousing.
Today was a busy day, and it did not leave an adequate amount of time to draw up a post. I actually just got home from work, but I have to rush right back out the door. I am off to see one of my favorite bands live for the very first time. Here's an old performance they did back in the '90s on some Australian TV program.
Talk about authentic garage rock. This is raw, unforgiving music that punches into your ears and flows through your veins; this is infectious. Blaring, distorted electric guitars and bass, a drum kit that sound like it consists of buckets and trashcan lids, the piercing punch of organ, and snarling, basically unintelligible vocals.
Thee Ludds are a band out of Leicester, UK consisting of Daniel (organ, guitar, vocals), Robin (guitar), Jack (bass), and Emily (drums). The band is a relatively young one, but they sound like they've been around for ages. The spirit of garage rock is what gives them life, but it's the conviction of punk that gives them their true grit and attention-snatching attitude. Check out two tracks after the jump as well as a live performance filmed on 16mm.
"Sugar Water" is a quite telling title for a song that pairs the reverb jangle of surf and the fuzz and grit of garage rock -- all played underwater. Initially all the noise comes across as rather cacophonous, but swimming deeper into the sea of fuzz reveals a sugar-coated pop hook. It's a blast of '60s garage rock glory, searing distortion and all. It makes for a beautiful racket that, through its tornado of noise, captures the frustration of love and lust. At one point, it even sounds as though the whole thing is about to explode out of your speakers -- and that's just raucously awesome. For a band that started as a drunk private joke, Sex Beet are competent garage rock torchbearers.
If "Sugar Water" is a bit too rough for you (or you need more Sex Beet in your life), you can download the band's "I'm In Love With You (So Shut The Fuck Up)"/"Cocaine Dan" single below. Much like "Sugar Water," these songs are fun, honest, and rambunctious.
Sometimes, it's hard to deny the simple charms of a good 'ol country-tinged rock 'n' roll song. It's gritty, smooth, and rustic, sounding like it was born and raised in the deep south -- not in the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. A simple, timeless melody sits high atop an open chord progression, galloping around in the dry dirt of some endless Texas backyard where the horizon smiles wide under a bright blue sky. It's the descendent of bands such as Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. Romany Rye mastermind Luke MacMaster sings and writes as though he has a soulful connection with America's heartland despite the fact that he lives in Los Angeles; it's not unlike how Neil Young is synonymous with America and deep country pride despite actually being Canadian.
Simple? Yes. Memorable? Yes. I saw The Romany Rye perform a number of months ago when they were touring with Delta Spirit. It was Fourth of July eve and, between both bands, it felt like a celebration of America (as exhibited by a tweet from that evening). Every song was like something dug out of a time capsule, each a memory of what makes this country great -- this despite whether or not the songs actually had any relevance to the notion at hand. I remember this song from all those months ago, and it's great to finally hear it recorded.
Today, Baltimore rock 'n' roll band J Roddy Walston & The Business will be on the syndicated WXPN radio show "World Cafe with David Dye." They'll be sitting down for an interview with Mr. Dye and will also be rocking the airwaves with an in-studio performance. I'm not sure radio can handle this. Tune in at 2pm/EST time to listen.
LISTEN: Head here to tune in (online) and get more information about the show. For you local folks, "World Cafe" is broadcast from 2 - 4pm/EST on 89.7 WTMD-FM.
EDIT: Podcast of the show is up now. You can listen to the band's interview/performance from the show right here at your convenience.
See the band's upcoming tour dates after the jump.
Ah, hell yeah, rock 'n' roll! The Lions Rampant is a pure rock 'n' roll band with a bit of boogie that's based out of Kentucky. Mixtape Muse is lucky enough to help premiere the video for the band's latest single "Crazy or Liar." In the video, the band blows out the windows of some old house as exotically sexy women make their way through the forest, towards where the band is jamming. The dudes better be careful though. Find out why below.
Yeah, it turns out those beautiful girls are cannibals. Huh. Metaphor?
BUY: The Lions Rampant's latest release, It's Fun To Do Bad Things, is out now. Pick it up here on Amazon MP3 or on iTunes.
Kyle Gass, a man of international intrigue. Most know him as a member of the (comedy) rock duo Tenacious D where, along with Jack Black, he has simultaneously induced headbanging and laughter for well over a decade. What many may not know is that Gass actually has another band called Trainwreck that features Jason Reed, John Konesky, and John Spiker, all of whom also play with Tenacious D. The band has been around for a number of years, but just released their debut album, The Wreckoning, last year. Where Tenacious D is centered around Black and Gass, Trainwreck is truly a band with a backstory.
I spoke with Gass recently via telephone as he and Trainwreck prepared to hit the road for a nationwide tour. We talked about Trainwreck, music vs. acting, Spinal Tap, Tenacious D, and more.
"Enough About Me" is one of those songs that just jumps right in and doesn't mess around -- just a straightforward rocker. It's the kind of song that you throw on and instantly has you energized. With vocals that recall They Might Be Giants, Archie Powell weaves fun, witty lyrics over excited guitar riffs, distorted bass, and drums that call for a pair of air drumsticks. It's a delicious slice of garage rock-meets-powerpop that sounds like The Replacements, Elvis Costello, and They Might Be Giants decided to form a band.
It's hard to deny infectious rock 'n' roll with enough pop sensibility and wit to keep you returning for more. Meet your new weekend soundtrack. Go from Friday to early Monday morning with a band that'll be with you every step of the way, through the good and the bad times.
"Enough About Me" is rather indicative of Archie Powell & The Exports' overall sound. So, if you're digging this track, you're bound to enjoy the rest of the band's music. The song comes from the band's new album, Skip Work, whichis out October 5th. You can preorder the album right here.
on Amazon MP3 or on iTunes.