Northside Festival 2010

I was lucky enough to be invited again to play the Northside Fest,and this year was a great one! Northside is a festival for the blogs, so to speak. Baiscally any and all blogs who want to book a show during June 23rd and June 27th can be a part of this Festival. It's put on by L Magazine, and features hundreds of bands throughout Brooklyn. The majority of the shows are indie bands, but they also end with bigger acts like Liars, Titus Andronicus, Fucked Up, Les Savy Fav and others.

This year we decided to take advantage of our free passes (which get you into any Northside show for free!) and check out a show on Friday. Lucky for us our good friends Dinosaur Feathers were playing! So we ran out of work at 4:00 on the dot, and booked it to NY. After hitting some nice Friday traffic we made it to the badge pickup/Heineken Lounge to get our passes. Last year we walked away with free Roo's sneakers! This year was a bag of goodies, and a free Heineken.

After grabbing a bite at an all vegan bistro we hit up Public Assembly to check out the second of three Pop Tarts Suck Toasted showcases. The first band we caught was Shark?, and I'm very happy I finally saw them. I've been hearing way too much about them, but they were great!

We met the Dino guys, and their manager Mikey (who was lending us his couch so we can party in Brooklyn properly), and bought our first round of PBRs. Ahh, so nice to be back in BK! ha! We then went back and forth between the front and back room to catch The Sundelles, MiniBoone, and Les Vinyl.

We also finally got to see The Grates. Very nice peeps! I got to catch up with Ty, the guitarist, whom I hadn't seen in probably a decade! Dinosaur Feathers were great as always. They had some problems with the drum machine, which is weird, because they played Public Assembly the night before. Maybe it was a different sound guy. Luckily the played through it, and after the first song the levels evened out. I am really liking their new stuff! We got to talk to them after the show about their trip out west and their gig at Sasquatch.

On Saturday we drove to Glasslands where our band EULA was playing an early show put on again by Pop Tarts. It was a hot day in the city, and Glasslands bakes you like an oven!

We had a decent turn out, but just like last year we had something bigger and 'better' going on at the exact same time. This year: the World Cup! The US was getting kicked out right as we were going on. Regardless, we had a good time and played a kick ass set. I literally almost threw up as I was playing, because it was so hot!

Hopefully we will be asked again next year. Best of luck to Pat from Pop Tarts, as his blog has been pulled.

(Thanks to Edwina for the great pics! Check out her sites www.thisisnotaphotograph.com, www.flickr.com/photos/eatsdirt)

REVIEW

"This is Happening" LCD Soundsystem

Alot has already been written about James Murphy's 'last record'. And I admit I am way behind the mark on getting the album, but that's what happens when you still live in the burbs and literally none of the record stores stock anything that's not on the top 40 radio. So finally, here it is...

Awesome!
I know that it's not the most descriptive word, but it's the best overall word that I can think of to describe it. The other would be solid. From start to finish it's a record that is easy to listen to, and even easier to dance to.

Murphy and company are masters at not only playing great dance music, but have taken great notes from the past in how to properly record it. Murphy is a great producer. Probably even more so than he is an original artist (since most of what he records can be found in the late 70's and early 80's post disco era). You get the feeling of live instruments being put to tape, and the master Bob Weston does a fine job of mastering.

Now to the songs themselves. Track 1, 'Dance Yrself Clean' has a slower intro, then goes right into the groove at 3:00. The intro reminds me of a local CT band MT Bearington (actually the whole album does as well, to some extent). Lots of hand claps, and random percussion hits with group singing.

Next is 'Drunk Girls', which was the first single off the album. If you could bottle up a party, shake it up, and spray it all around a NY night club, it would sound like this! The title says it all. Drunk Girls are fun!

'One Touch', and 'All I Want' keep the party moving in the right direction. 'I Can Change' is one of the best on the album, although it sounds extremely familiar. Then again, LCD's whole repertoire has been lifted to some degree from the post-disco era anyways, so I've heard all these in one form or another. Again the production is top notch. Clear, crisp, but never sounding synthetic, even when using synthesizers. "I can change/if that helps you fall in love". Some sad lyrics for such an upbeat song. Great line!

'You Wanted a Hit' is my least favorite only because I pay attention to the lyrics, and these are Murphy's usual silly beat poetry style. The track itself is good though. 'Pow Pow' has already been reviewed here, but again it is the best track on the record. At 8:23 it keeps grooving through his seemingly non-sensical lyrics.

This is a great record to hear banging out of some good PA speakers at a loft party, or in your best pair of headphones. I hope to hear it this weekend at every party I'm at. I will be the first one on the floor!

If this is LCD's final record, it's a shame. Even though they borrow and steal their general style from those past, it's a great past to take from. Good dance music never goes out of style.

First Listen...

Most times it is a mistake to judge an album or anything for that matter based on your first listen, but sometimes your first impression is right on the money. I just listened to the new (much hyped) Sleigh Bells album 'Treats' on my way to work, and we'll have to see if my initial opinions hold up after repeated listens.

Right off the bat I realized that this album has to be listen to at high volume. Not just for the club effect they try to play off of, but because the production was intentionally blown out. The whole record is blown out, the drums, the guitar, synth sounds, which give the songs a distorted 'crunk-pop' feel. It's a pretty cool style actually.

While the drums and guitar meld into a throbbing rap beat, Alexis Krauss (former school teacher) lays pretty little nursery rhyme melodies on top, giving a sort of twisted cheerleader, 'ra-ra' vibe to the songs. Maybe that's why the album cover has a cheer leading troop with faces scratched off. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Probably the biggest surprise to me was that the mastermind creating the beats and razor sharp guitar lines was Derek Miller from Poison the Well. Poison the Well was a hardcore band (and pretty nasty one at that) that couldn't be further from the pop melodies, and crunk rap beats we hear with Sleigh Bells.

'Treats' is being released on M.I.A.'s label N.E.E.T. Not too shabby! And the album is only $6.99 on iTunes, which is a great bargain since I went to 3 record store last night, and no had even heard of it. Nice! When am I moving to NY??

First Listen Review: 7/10

REVIEW

"Fantasy Memorial" Dinosaur Feathers

Playing in a band you get alot of free CD's from other bands, most of which end up unlistened to, collecting dust or even thrown out. It's cruel, but true. To play a nice set of songs live is one thing, but to capture them well on record is not an easy task. Believe me. Well, unless you're in the band Dinosaur Feathers. Somehow they have the ability to go from an awesome live show, with tons of energy, to a 10 song LP that brims with everything you loved when you saw them live, and more.

'I Ni Sogoma' starts the album off with the quiet sounds of summer. Walking through the city park, listening to the morning birds, and hearing some children off in the distance, and then suddenly...a swoop of voices give way to the first guitar chords of the album. Light but percussive strums that signal you to put down what you're doing now, because you are about to be on your feet for the next 10 songs! The dance is a little bit different from what we may be used to. It's not Passion Pit, or LCD Soundsystem. It's not club music, or even a post-disco style. This is pure summer time, tropicalia meets african grooves, late night bar-b-que, fun in the sun jams!

Right from the first song you understand what is special about this band, their voices. There are only three members playing keys, guitar, bass, and a drum machine, no drummer. Not many musicians have as smooth and strong a voice as Greg Sullo, but he is equally lucky to have two other members just as talented to help weave the harmonies that take over the record. The harmonies aren't quite Beach Boys, not really Animal Collective, but sit somewhere in the middle. It actually reminds me of The Beatles during their 'Rubber Soul' and 'Revolver' albums.

The stand out track is 'Venedla Vida'. Named after the writer, the track has probably the most familiar sound I've ever heard put on record, the chimes of a grandfather clock. That sound at the beginning of the song brings me right back to weekends spent at, well, my grandfathers! Once the music begins you can feel that this is a 'single'. This is a strong song, with strong melodies, and well constructed arrangements. My Favorite! I first heard this song from another blog(thanks Pop Tarts!!), and knew this album would be 10 times better than my current favorite CD in rotation, Dino Feathers' first EP 'Early Morning Risers', and it is!

The album proceeds with one of the best named songs in a while, 'Teenage Whore'. Not to worry, there is no stop to the dancing. They keep that going through 'Family Waves', until we slow down with the lush 'Sleeping In'. You'll notice that morning and sleeping are a constant theme with the Feathers. 'History Lessons' pick right back up, and the party continues througout the rest of the album, finally ending with the title track, and the familiar sound of children playing.

I have had the great privelage of not only seeing Dinosaur Feathers play multiple times, but actually playing a mini tour with them, and really getting the chance to talk and discuss music, and life. Truely the nicest three guys I've met. It's always a pleasure, and you can completely see how the tropical, care free vibe runs through their set, because that's just how they are.

Dinosaur Feathers are poised to do big things this year. They just had a show at Piano's with ArpLine, play Sasquatch at the end of the month, and open for The Antlers in July! Keep your eyes on these guys!

Vinyl Hiss Rating: 10/10!!!!

REVIEW

"Born Free" M.I.A.

I am very excited to hear the new album from M.I.A. So excited that I bought her new single "Born Free" off iTunes(yes, I still use iTunes) for the inflated price of $1.69! It was worth it. While I'm not amazed by the song, and it's not a giant step into some new musical genre, it's a good, kick ass tune.

The only negative thing I will say is that it is completely reminiscent, if not a complete rip off of the sound the band Sleigh Bells has created. Coincidence continues with Sleigh Bells being signed to M.I.A.'s new label, and having production credits on M.I.A.'s upcoming album. This 'sound' is that of a completely blown out guitar riff, which works great for the punk feel of the song.

M.I.A. has done a great job of creating a very danceable song out of over-fuzzed guitars, and garbled lyrics, which isn't easy to do. The video is a little un-nerving, showing troops locating and beating random people, but the song itself is a keeper.

The album, which is now titled '/\/\/\Y/\'(MAYA), has been pushed back to July 13th. Check out her newest single 'XXXO' as well.

Vinyl Hiss Rating: 8/10

The HYPE MACHINE rolls on...

The Hype Machine is an actual site(hypem.com) that posts all the latest and greatest in hype-able music, but for this post(which I hope to update regularly) we will think of the 'hype machine' as that friend that won't shut up about a new band, or the countless magazines, and blogs that fixate on only 1 album for a whole month.

Now generally you'll find that over-hyping something diminishes the effect that thing has once you experience it. Sometimes though, it turns out that all the hype was right...

Today's Hype Machine is brought to you by The Dum Dum Girls. That name alone should have your skin crawling, and the fact that they are lumped in with the 'new' lo-fi sound that is sweeping the indie world was enough for me to keep my distance for a while, but even I have to peek at what everyone else is pointing at. It's like a car crash, I guess.

I downloaded the song 'Bhang, Bhang, I'm A Burnout' from their new album, and come to find out...it's great! Now it's not something to change rock n' roll, in fact it's a blatant rip off of almost all girl groups of the early 50's, but it's a damn catchy song. The 'lo-fi-ness' isn't so fuzzed out that you can't make anything out(like most of the new genre), and the melody is simple and sweet. Just what a pop song needs.

The band is fairly new, but is now made of some very familiar players. Kristen Gundred still leads the show, but now has the help(the major label help) of ex-Vivian Girls Frankie Rose, and producer Richard Gotteher(co-writer of the classic girl group anthem "My Boyfriends Back"). These 3 counter each other well, at least on this song.

I'm not rushing out to buy the whole album, because I have a feeling I can get the basic gist from this one song, but I will keep an eye and ear out for the rest of the Dum Dum Girls catalog.

Vinyl Hiss Rating: 7/10

Pow Pow

Record Store Day 2010 was a great time. Really, anytime you can get rare, reissued, and free records is a good day!

I walked away with a good amount of what I wanted to get when I walked in to my local store(Replay Records, CT), and to my surprise, most of it was really good!

My favorite grab was a 12" single(and I mean single, only 1 side had music, the other was flat vinyl) from hipster extraordinaire James Murphy, aka LCD Soundsystem. The song 'Pow Pow' is from his new album, which is out today. Go grab it!!!

The song is typical LCD, which is to say it's typical post-disco. Having recently gotten into DJing myself, I am now fully immersed in this sub-sub genre. Basically it's a small niche of music created between punk and disco, and has the best attributes of both(think Liquid Liquid, Delta 5, Loose Joints). Murphy understands this, and obviously has a fond appreciation for it.

The song starts with a typical drum beat, but within that beat are maracas, congas, and other light percussion that automatically get your ass shakin'. The simple beauty of this song is that beat, and the fact that it never stops. Murphy then lays his usual non-sensible lyrics over the groove. Whether you listen, understand, or completely ignore his words doesn't really matter, because you've already been dancing a good minute before he even starts speaking.

The song is long, and that's a good thing. This is the type of record DJ's put on when they have to use the bathroom, or go to the bar to get another beer. The groove doesn't really ever stop or waver, and that is also a good thing(in my opinion).

I'm sure I will be buying the new album this, and whether it 'bumps' or disappoints, I'm sure I'll be writing about it here. The amount of press this record has already received is rather disgusting, but it's really up to us(the consumer) to determine if that praise is warranted.

Till next time, keep spinning!