Sound Bites

Really? Is That What it's Like?

This item was in Pitchfork's News section today:

Does this seem a little weird to anyone else? Times New Viking-- among the grittiest-sounding groups that fall under the "pop" descriptor-- plan to spend the second half of February tooling around North America with none other than that highest-of-the-hi-fi acts, Super Furry Animals. I mean, I'm all for it-- great bands, both-- but this is a bit like having Tom Waits open for David Bowie, or the Wu for Kanye.

First of all, I know they've relaxed what is called "news" at Pitchfork, but this seems especially bloggy. Secondly, and more importantly... what? How is a band that is barely three years old opening for one of the best bands of the last 15 years anything like Tom Waits opening for David Bowie. If anything it's like Kanye opening for the Wu, not the other way around.

I realize writer Paul Thompson was talking more about slick-versus-grit and I sort of get what he's saying, but he could've chosen a lot better examples for his analogies. And it just comes off as kind of ill-informed. While a lot of their '00s albums have been technologically advanced, the new Super Furry Animals album, Hey Venus!, is pretty stripped down, five-guys-in-a-room sort of affair. And I'm hoping this tour will follow suit. And they can be plenty noisy. Still I was trying to come up with a better analogy for Bowie, but the TWD is the kind of guy who probably would've had Pere Ubu open for him. Maybe he did.

It doesn't seem that weird a match-up to me. Is it any weirder than Holy Fuck opening for them this Friday at Music Hall of Williamsburg? As I'm going to it and the SFA/TNV show at Bowery Ballroom on February 24. I'll be the judge.

Meanwhile, Hey Venus!, which made my Best of 2007 list, is finally out in the US this week and the CD comes with a bonus disc of four additional songs from the recording sessions, plus the "Run Away" video and footage of the band in the studio. The four new tracks aren't throwaways, either. They're all really good, which should be no surprise to anyone who picked up their B-sides comp or listened the excellent Rings Around the World bonus disc. A taster:

MP3: Super Furry Animals - Never More

MP3: Super Furry Animals - Aluminum Illuminati

Buy it, won't you?

Here are all the tour dates for the 'Furries upcoming tour. Beggars Banquet has created a widget that allows you to select a date and make requests for what songs you want to hear from a list of about 40 songs or so. (It did not include the one I wanted to request, "Ysbeidiau Heulog" from the all-Welsh Mwng.) It also automatically plays music, so I've included it after the jump.

Super Furry Animals Announce 2008 U.S. Tour

Oh happy day. Ever since Rings Around the World, Super Furry Animals have opted for bigger venues like Irving Plaza, Hammerstein Ballroom and Webster Hall. But for their forthcoming Hey Venus tour, the NYC area is getting Maxwells, Music Hall of Williamsburg and Bowery Ballroom! I still remember the Guerrilla tour at BB when they brought out a horn section for "Northern Lights" and they were dressed as nuns.

After three albums that found the band getting progressively bigger, more complex and with a greater reliance on technology, Hey Venus is a stripped-down affair and I'm hoping that the tour, which begins January 23 at Maxwells and finishes a month later at Bowery, will be free of laptop backing tracks, illuminated costumes, synched projections, 5.1 surround sound, and other such lily guilding. As much fun as that stuff was, Super Furry Animals don't need it. They're good enough on their own.

MP3: Super Furry Animals - Into the Night (buy it on digital or vinyl)

01/23/07  Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's*
01/25/07  Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
01/26/07  Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom*
01/27/07  Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*%
01/29/07  Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle*%
01/30/07  Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse*%
01/31/07  New Orleans, LA @ The Republic*%
02/01/07  Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre*%
02/02/07  Austin, TX @ Emo's*
02/05/07  Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress*
02/06/07  Solona Beach, CA @ Belly Up*
02/08/07  Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex*
02/09/07  San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall*
02/11/07  Portland, OR @ Doug Fir*
02/12/07  Seattle, WA @ Neumo's*
02/15/07  Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
02/16/07  Chicago, IL @ Metro
02/17/07  Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
02/18/07  Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
02/20/07  Toronto, ONT @ Mod Club
02/21/07  Montreal, QUE @ Cabaret Music Hall
02/22/07  Ithaca, NY @ Cornell University
02/23/07  Boston, NY @ The Paradise
02/25/07  New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

The day before the tour starts will see CD release of Hey Venus. So far it's been digital or vinyl for America. The CD will have previously unreleased bonus stuff. Also, the 'Furries are getting into the holiday spirit and will be giving away a download of their new single, "The Gift that Keeps Giving," on Christmas Day from their website.

2008 will also see the release of the debut from Neon Neon, a collaboration between SFA frontman Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip, that features guest appearances from Spankrock, Yo Magesty, Har Mar Superstar and more. New single "Raquel" can be heard right here:

MP3: Neon Neon - Raquel

Photo of SFA in Barcelona swiped from Alterna2's Flickr photostream.

I Think Lodger Rules (Stepdad's a Fool)

This post should really be written in all lower-case, as The Lodger really seem like the kind of band '90s zine chickfactor would've featured prominently if it were still around. (Well, it is, in website form, but it's not quite the same thing.) The rush of jangly guitars, uber-pop melodies, mandatory 7"-only releases... that "indiepop" sound that got it's start with Dan Treacy and Edwyn Collins and has been carried on by The Wedding Present, Heavenly, Velocity Girl, Small Factory, Tender Trap, and Spearmint, to name but a few. The Lodger have it pastel-coloured spades.

Originally a trio from Leeds, UK, the Lodger have a few lineup changes since forming three years ago. They're now a quartet and I'm pretty sure only one of the three people in this picture is still in the band. (That would be singer Ben Siddal, middle, who sounds a lot to me like Sice of The Boo Radleys.) And I'm not sure if the new lineup played on their debut album, Grown-Ups, which was released early this summer on longtime US indie label, Slumberland. It is a 14-song example of superior, quintessential indiepop.

MP3: The Lodger - Getting Special (Buy Grown-Ups)

Most excitingly, The Lodger have hopped the pond for an East Coast tour that starts tonight with a free show at Sound Fix Records in Williamsburg, with two more dates in NY (including an alluring show Monday at Union Hall with Holly Golightly) and continuing down South to Athens, GA. Do check them out if they're playing near you. Anoraks are optional. Here's the full list of dates:

Thursday Oct 25 - Sound Fix Records, Brooklyn w/L'il Hospital and The Besties (8:00pm)

Friday Oct 26 - Cake Shop, NYC w/Pants Yell!, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, In Interview (+ party afterwards...)

Saturday Oct 27 - Khyber Pass, Philadelphia w/Public Record, Brown Recluse Sings & Small Sins

Sunday Oct 28 - Velvet Lounge, Washington, DC w/Lorelei & Public Record

Monday Oct 29 - Union Hall, Brooklyn NY w/Holly Golightly & The Griefs (tix)

Tuesday Oct 30 - Mojo 13, Wilmington DE w/Deaf Not Dead, The Defog

Thursday Nov 1 - The Camel, Richmond, VA w/Cinemasophia & Now Sleepyhead

Friday Nov 2 - Duke University Coffeehouse, Durham, NC w/ Dom Casual, The Future Kings of Nowhere and Gray Young (part of the Troika Music Festival)

Saturday Nov 3 - Flicker Theater and Bar, Athens, GA w/Spring Tigers

If you want to hear more, longtime fan Untouched by Work or Duty also has an MP3, and there are a few on the Slumberland website. 

Young Knives on Solid Ground

While on Ollie Evans' page on the Partizan Pictures website, I saw that they had just posted the video for the new Young Knives single, "Terra Firma."

I was expecting the first new single from the Hartnol brothers to be "Fit for You," which they've been playing at live shows for some time. Maybe they're saving it for when the album is closer to release, as they don't even have a title yet. (I don't even think they've finished recording with producer Tony Doogan [Belle & Sebastian, Delgados, SFA]).

Nonetheless, "Terra Firma" is more friendly than almost anything the Young Knives have released before, yet there's no question whose song it is.

MP3: Young Knives - Terra Firma

Sorry you didn't win the Mercury, guys. Oh, here's the video:

Calvin Harris Makes Merry at Mercury Lounge Sept. 12

There are a lot of potential nominees for Party Record of the Year (LCD Soundsystem, Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, New Young Pony Club) but Calvin Harris' I Created Disco is certainly up there. Brash, funny, and funky (and ultimately disposable), it's about as good a going out album are you're likely to be listening to right now. All the more impressive when you learn it was made in Harris' spare time on an old Amiga computer. (So the legend goes, at least.)

It sounds it too, minimal with rarely more than a beat, a bassline and the 23-year-old's voice. And maybe a little synthesizer. The sound owes a whole lot to the year of his birth -- from the single "Acceptable in the '80s," to the Visage-cribbing "Colours," to his, at times, uncanny vocal resemblance to Phil Oakey. Released earlier this summer in the UK, I Created Disco gets its stateside debut September 4. A week later, Calvin makes his way here for his first US shows, including a stop at Mercury Lounge on September 12. Tickets are on sale now. He also plays The Echo in Los Angeles on the 14th. I kinda wish the NYC show was happening at Studio B, which seems more appropriate, but what are you gonna do.

Here's the new UK single, "Merry Making at My Place," the second-best track ever to feature the repeated phrase "My house, my house."

MP3: Calvin Harris - Merry Making at My Place (pre-order I Created Disco)

And the video:

Figurines | New Album, Fall Tour

Figurines' eagerly-anticipated third album, When the Deer Wore Blue, hits U.S. stores September 11 and is a bit of a change for the band previously known for their jangly guitars. All that time in America last year touring for Skeleton had an affect on these Danes, as the new album is a bit moodier and more harmony-laden with a nods to the Beach Boys and even some guitar licks I'd call Southern-fried. But it still features the stop-start rhythms we've come to know and love. Here's one of When the Deer Wore Blue's more Figurines-ish sounding songs:

MP3: Figurines - Childhood Verse

The band are heading our way, too, this fall for a fairly extensive North American tour that hits at least some of the Midwest before ending in a two-night stint at NYC's Mercury Lounge -- surprisingly not during CMJ.

10-11 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe *
10-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
10-13 Portland, OR - Berbati's *
10-15 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
10-16 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland *
10-17 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress *
10-19 Austin, TX - Emo's *
10-20 Dallas, TX - Cavern Club *
10-23 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
10-24 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
10-26 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo
10-27 Montreal, Quebec - Club Lambi *
10-28 Boston, MA - Middle East
10-29 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
10-31 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
11-01 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge

* with Dappled Cities

Maps Snag Mercury Prize Nom, Tour the States

When I first heard Maps' debut, We Can Create, I knew it would make the shortlist for the Mercury Prize. And it did. The gorgeous washes of synthesizer, layer upon layer of sound, but with pop underpinnings, it's the kind of album that gets nominated but never wins. "It's just an honor to be nominated," Maps-maker James Chapman will say when Bat for Lashes wins. (That's right, I'm declaring it right now.)

A record that's flown mostly under the radar so far this year, the dense electronic miasma that is We Can Create should appeal to fans of Ulrich Schnauss, the MORR label, My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse... basically anything that is shoegazy (and a bit gothy) but has loads of keyboards. Chatman's press photos are a little silly, but there's no faulting the music.

MP3: Maps - You Don't Know Her Name (buy it)

I'm sure there's some (bad) joke to be made about Maps and touring, but I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night so if you've got a good one, write it in the comments, won't you? The point is Maps are coming to America for a short tour in September, including two NYC dates. As the album was made in Chapman's bedroom on a 16-track, I'm not sure how it's going to translate to a live show. But I'm willing to find out.

Maps on tour:
9.22     Seattle, WA KEXP Benefit – Crocodile Cafe
9.24     San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill (tickets)
9.26     Los Angeles, CA Spaceland (tickets)
9.28     New York, NY Mercury Lounge
9.29     Brooklyn, NY Luna Lounge (tickets)

It's Krief Week in NYC

When not busy making orgasm faces while playing awesome guitar in Montreal's The Dears, Patrick Krief makes his own kind of music. Not that different than the anthemic sounds of his day job, just a bit dreamier and a bit less bombastic. His debut, Take it or Leave, is quite lovely, just the sort of thing you want to listen to while making breakfast. Here are a couple MP3s...

MP3: Krief - Black Empty Hearts

MP3: Krief - What We Wanted

Patrick is in town all this week with his solo band (including fill-loving Dears drummer George Donosso) promoting Take it or Leave, and touring with fellow Canadians Uncut. (Fans of Swervedriver and the JAMC will want to check them out too. Stream the album here.) Have a free evening between Tuesday and Saturday? There's a Patrick Krief / Uncut show for you.

Patrick Krief w/ Uncut NYC Tour Dates
7.17        The Mercury Lounge
7.18        Maxwell's
7.19        Club Midway
7.20        Union Hall
7.21        Soundfix (8PM Free Show)

Richard Hawley Takes to the 'Streets'

My most anticipated album of the Fall has to be Richard Hawley's Lady's Bridge. (His last, Cole's Corner, was one of my favorites of 2005.) Until then, we're going to have to do with the album's first single, the downright peppy (for him) "Tonight the Streets Are Ours."

Despite the seemingly romantic title, the song is actually inspired by Britain's controversial Anit-Social Behaviour Order.*  Hawley explains:

"I saw this programme on TV about ASBOs and by the end of it I almost shoe'd the telly in. For me it's quite angry so I wanted to turn that into a positive 'cause I don't agree with destroying things – well sometimes it's a good idea. I was sort of imagining the choir in Angels With Dirty Faces, the James Cagney film. There's a fairground quality to it too. I changed this track quite a bit. It's huge now. I just think that old people and women and kids should be able to go out on the streets and not be worried about being battered. It's partly that and the middle section of the song is about how much people need each other, we can't exist on our own we have to co-exist with each other. But mainly it's about the brutal ignorance and insensitive way this fucking pile of shit government has decided to deal with anti social behaviour. The future of any country is in its kids and if a shitload of them are basically taught to just be consumers is it a surprise that when they can't consume because they're poor that they just go, 'Well, we'll take it anyway'? An ASBO doesn't do anything, it's just a piece of paper that says 'Go away'."

MP3: Richard Hawley - Tonight the Streets are Ours (96kbs, from MySpace)

The video, directed by Tom Geens, has a Ken Loach or Mike Leigh feel, with the story derived from the lyrics. I asked about it on Hawley's message board and within a couple hours he wrote back:

"It was directed by Tom Geens, who's made many brilliant short films, my fave is one called "Wrong." [totally nsf, btw] I came up with the story and was helped greatly by Tom and Libby Dirby of Warp Films. I will always make my videos with them as they totally get what i want to do which is not make dickhead pop star videos -- I want to poke fun at myself and the whole bullshit of promo films. I like making them, but only if they entertain or are thought provoking. Ego-driven videos they are awful. The song inspired the idea really, kids trapped in their houses with shit parents and only bollocks daytime telly for company. In the story she only has her mates and grandad in her life that are any good. And, of course, the streets."

While offering a social message, the "Tonight the Streets are Ours" clip is also pretty funny, with Hawley turning up on "bollocks daytime telly" in the guise of a gameshow host and shopping channel pitchman. Have a look:

Hawley's very active on his board, and will let you know what's what in no uncertain terms, and quickly. Lady's Bridge is out August 20 in the UK but America must wait until October 2. Here's the tracklisting:

1. Valentine
2. Roll River Roll
3. Serious
4. Tonight The Streets Are Ours
5. Lady Solitude
6. Dark Road
7. The Sea Calls
8. Lady’s Bridge
9. I’m Looking For Someone To Find Me
10. Our Darkness

The album will be available in a regular and deluxe format, the latter will include a DVD with the "Streets" video as well as a 30-minute short created by Warp Films. He's also planning to tour the US this Fall, which is good news as his show last Spring at Sin-e was one of my favorites of 2006. If you've never heard Richard Hawley, you owe it to yourself to pick up his other albums, all of which are great.

*A little more info on ASBOs. I don't know that much about it, and am sure I'm getting some facts wrong but here's what I could glean. Citizens can be given ASBOs, civil sanctions for "conduct which caused or was likely to cause alarm, harassment, or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as him or herself and where it's seen as necessary to protect relevant persons from further anti-social acts by the Defendant." Sometimes this works like a restraining order but, in some cases, teens have been given ASBOs forbidding them to wear hoodies. Violating as ASBO can result in jail time or the defendent being forced to wear an electronic ankle bracelet -- as we see in the "Tonight the Streets are Ours" video.

Verve Reform for the Last Time?

I was talking with a coworker about the news this week that original lineup of The Verve were reforming and which turned to the the whole "Bittersweet Symphony" lawsuit. If you don't know the story, the song uses a sample of the Andrew Oldham Orchestra's version of the Rolling Stone's "The Last Time." ABKCO Records honcho Allan Klein, who owns the rights to all the Stones songs pre-1971, sued the band saying they violated the licensing agreement by using "too much of the song." Klein won, giving sole songwriting credit of the song to Jagger/Richards -- despite Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft's claims that they only sampled "four little bars" of the song.

Klein is known for being a real douche, so I'd always sided with the Verve. But in talking with my friend, I realized I'd never actually heard the Oldham Orchestra version. At the time of the lawsuit, the album, The Rolling Stones Songbook, was one of those rarities you could only find at at collector's shops, or maybe at a thriftstore if you were lucky. But it was reissued in 2004, so I went out and bought a copy.

What a cool album. This is the Stones as late '60s bachelor pad music, and some of the arrangements are just brilliant. Especially "The Last Time," which is one of my favorite Stones songs ever. But hearing it, it's apparent that Klein had reason to sue. The Verve may have brought in their own orchestra, but it's all based around Andrew Loog Oldham's arrangement. "Four little bars" my ass.

MP3: The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

MP3: The Andrew Oldham Orchestra - The Last Time

Still a brilliant song, though. And Klein is still a douche.

I must say, that as good as "Bittersweet Symphony" is, I'm one of those people that think The Verve peaked with A Storm in Heaven (best album of 1993 I thought). I still remember seeing them on their first U.S. tour at Washington DC's 9:30 Club where they played to about 40 people. Ashcroft was known as "Mad Richard" then, and was an absolute wild man onstage with a scary Thousand Yard Stare. But I mainly watched in awe of guitarist Nick McCabe and drummer Peter Salisbury. As a friend said, "They became a different band after that."

If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and pick up A Storm in Heaven today. Their early singles -- "She's a Superstar," "Gravity Grave" and "All in the Mind" -- are great too.