The single “Black Sand” off of Jenny Lewis’ 2008 release, Acid Tongue, finally has a video. This was always one of my favorite tracks, while others tell me that they initially disliked it. I’ve heard it described as one of those songs that has to grow on you.
I will be seeing Jenny Lewis tonight at Warehouse Live in Houston. As a great prelude to the evening, the Hearless Bastards will be playing first.
I was visiting the Low vs. Diamond website, as I occasionally do, and I found this amazing widget. This is all you need today. I don’t have to say anything more.
The Temper Trap is a rock band from Melbourne, described in their twitter bio as “4 aussie kids just rockin’ it.” They are currently on tour in support of their first full-length album, Conditions. “Sweet Disposition” was chosen for the soundtrack to the upcoming film, 500 Days of Summer. I will be seeing a free screening on Tuesday and, in light of the opportunity, I thought I would post this song’s awesome music video.
Picture courtesy of www.todayfm.com/
Back with Hombre Lobo is Mark Oliver Everett, the one consistent member of The EELS. The album contains 12 new songs and was released on June 2, 2009.
mp3 courtesy of The KEXP Blog
Winter Passing is an indie drama film directed by Adam Rapp. Rent star, Anthony Rapp, provides a cameo in his brother’s directorial debut. I struggled internally with the option to include or not include the former piece of information because I am aware of my small obsession with the rock opera, Rent. I don’t know how many times this blog has mentioned said production. I just know there have been several occasions. Therefore, I apologize for my lack of resistance in mentioning the association this movie has to Rent.
Winter Passing stars Zooey Deschanel, better known to me as the other half of the folk duo She and Him, in the principal role of Reese Holden. Reese has been approached by a publisher and offered money contingent on her decision to hand over her deceased mother’s love letters to her father. The daughter of two work alcoholic scholars, Reese has become an actress, reflecting her want for attention. However, she is still displeased with life. She pays a visit to her father in Michigan on the assignment to collect the letters in order to receive her payment. Predictably, the awkward and angry confrontations between her and her father transition to rekindling apologies and all is well in the end.
As a proud original Michigander I have to include the following Wikipedia trivia fact. Winter Passing is the only film to date known to speak of Traverse City, Michigan and was included in the 2006 Traverse City Film Festival for this reason.
A band called Azure Ray contributed a song to the soundtrack titled “Rise.” I made a mental note to Google the song while watching the movie. I loved its’ dreamy and reposed sound, similar to that of another band I enjoy named Beach House. This song comes from the self-titled debut from 2001. Two other albums followed but they have not released anything since 2003.
[audio:Rise.mp3]
“Rise” by Azure Ray
I went to the Tasting Room here in Houston on Saturday night. The classy venue welcomed Albuquerque native singer/songwriter, Matt Jones, who records in Austin. He played only a few songs, including a cover of Criag David’s “Fill Me In,” before an unfortunate incident of sound equipment failure. Given the friend and family discount, I left with a copy of his latest full-length album, Passerby.
The lyrically gripping opening track called “Parked Car” presents a motivating phrase, which serves as the facilitating factor to the gradual offsetting of a dark situation. Dig deep and you might find the strength to turn things around for the better. Believe in the possibility of recovery because “life get’s hard/ but standing still won’t get you far/ it’s hard to steer a parked car.” In addition to its lyrics, the harmonizing vocals and piano dynamics make this song one of my favorites.
The last song is a brief and sweet, finger-picking acoustic. Following a string of lovely hammer on’s are the pleading words for a clean break-up. After coming to the conclusion that it is time to end a relationship, all he wants is a “good goodbye.”
[audio:Parked Car.mp3]
“Parked Car” by The Real Matt Jones
[audio:Good Goodbye.mp3]
“Good Goodbye” by The Real Matt Jones
This is the free song from Walmart this week. It is the first single on the self-titled 4th solo album from the Old 97’s lead singer, Rhett Miller. Click here to read a few words from PASTE magazine and to hear another album track titled “Caroline.”
[audio:I need to know where i stand.mp3]
“I Need to Know Where I Stand” by Rhett Miller
Still Night, Still Light is the third album by electronic indie pop trio Au Revoir Simone. It was released on Tuesday May 19th 2009.
[audio:The Last One.mp3]
“The Last One” by Au Revoir Simone
Andrew Belle is a singer-songwriter who stirred up quite a buzz in his home town of Chicago, IL before recently taking his talent to Nashville, TN. All Those Pretty Lights EP is available on iTunes. You can also find it on CD Baby in disk and mp3 formats, along with a few words of review. Have a listen to the title track here.
[audio:Andrew Belle-All Those Pretty Lights.mp3]
“All Those Pretty Lights” by Andrew Belle
Mere seconds of a distorted fade-in precede the drum heavy punk energy that could bring The Vines back into buzz headlines. The Australian rockers debuted an album called Highly Evolved, which began to attract attention in late 2001 as garage-rock re-emerged. Devoted enthusiasts aside, a mediocre reception was paid to the band’s second and third albums. The fourth studio album, Melodia, offers the same uncomplicated sounds and influential reflections present in The Vines’ former releases. Therefore, if you’re looking for something new, something that makes you say, “Whoa! Where did that come from?” you won’t find it here. There are no surprises.
Lyrically, “Get Out” offers a confrontational expression of resentment and blame while “Braindead” employs the familiar shouting of a typical hardcore vocal. The heated rough and edgy manner ensues with the fanatical “Scream,” the unstructured “Jamola,” and the apathetic “Manger.” Other tracks transition back and fourth between a loud fast pace and a slower softer tempo. For instance, “Merrygoround” sways in an Oasis-paved direction during verses before lashing into another fuming chorus.
“A.S. III,” complete with its electric guitar ballad, is the first of the interspersed overall tender moments. Others include the harmonious “A Girl I Knew” and the experimental “She Is Gone.” A dutiful Beatles fan, Craig Nicholls always manages to throw in a little 1960’s pop-rock which he does again with “Orange Amber” and the acoustic “Kara Jayne.”
The album is short, as each track is under three minutes, with the exception of “True as the Night” exercising string arrangements that carry it just over six minutes. In true cliché fashion, in addition to being the longest song on the album, this song also proves to be the brooding breakup cry of the project. The lyrics illustrate his realization that his love was true but now that it’s gone he must leave it behind him.
The Vines have welded a style that incorporates grunge-rock and have, therefore, had a taste of the difficulty in making that alternative form successful again. A hard task it is, as many bands have dissolved after making similar attempts. We do not know yet whether this new raw deranged assortment is electrifying enough to bring The Vines out of their rough patch. However, the ceasing of their previous on-stage antics and Nicholls’ willing effort to manage his Asperger’s syndrome seem to be steps in the right direction.
