Indie Music Chatter

Anyone who has at least a semblance of good taste in music will most probably be listening to Radiohead’s newest album right now. In Rainbows was released a few days ago on their official website — and yes, you cheap mofo, the electronic version can be had for free if you want.

Radiohead is testing the limits of indie style distribution and publicity with In Rainbows. First of all, marketing the album is very unconventional in that the existence of the album was only announced a couple of weeks before its actual release. Then there is the fact that the band has left it up to its fans to decide how much they want to pay for the album. Yup, you can get it for free if you’re cheap (a physical boxed set of the album will be made available this December though). This simple decision alone has left the recording industry reeling from the ramifications of Radiohead’s move. Even though the band is not the first one to really explore the avenues of self distribution (Prince and Ani DiFranco have done it before), their decision has, nonetheless, bode ill tidings for the well established (and creatively stifling) corporate setup. If Radiohead succeeds in this endeavor it could signal the death of the music industry as we know it. Radiohead would have sent a clear signal that the middleman could now be cut off and the artist can now directly communicate and distribute his music to his fans.

I hope this is an experiment that Radiohead succeeds in.

Radiohead, In Rainbows

I recently acquired a couple of albums from the band Devastations, and I have fallen in love with their dark sound. Devastations is like The Tindersticks trading in their suave undertones with something more sinister — something Like Nick Cave and his barroom experimentations. There is a certain slinky sexiness to their sound that can also turn foreboding and dangerous in some songs. The band only plays within the boundaries of these aforementioned grooves/textures — a formula that they have established for the band. I have to say I like their sound. Devastations is the kind of band whose album you will play on a dark, chilly afternoon.

Devastations, Nick Cave, The Tindersticks

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Now playing: The Devastations - An Avalanche Of Stars
via FoxyTunes

My friends and I have been talking about the new Rilo Kiley album Under the Blacklight. This is the second album of new material for the band, which is fronted by one of my indie girl fantasies — Jenny Lewis.

I still haven’t fully absorbed the album but I do love what I am hearing. the songs here are very strong, and are quite adventurous. The band is still tightening their sound here and there but in general, all of the songs are very good and the characteristics of the Rilo Kiley sound is still pretty evident, and you can hear a level of maturity that shows the band is not afraid to play around with their formula.

Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Under the Blacklight

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Now playing: Jens Lekman - Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo
via FoxyTunes

Man, I am so stoked!

I just recently discovered the music of Jens Lekman and I am mightily impressed. I got hold of a copy of his forthcoming second album Night Falls Over Kortedala and I have been playing it non-stop the whole day. You rarely hear an artist that is so confident, so self assured in his music. This is music that is made as much for his listeners as for himself. It’s personal without being morose or too obscure. A crowd pleaser without being too formulaic.

Lekman’s music sounds like a blenderized version of chamber pop, sixties music, electronic folk, with a hint of 70’s balladry. It may sound like a weird combination but Lekman manages to assimilate all the best qualities of those genres to produce a sound that is familiar enough to make you feel at home when you hear it and yet still wonderfully unique that it’ll pique your interest once you’re engulfed in Lekman’s inventive arrangement and tongue-in-cheek use of diverse instruments and found sounds. Lekman flits from song to song with an almost childlike enthusiasm, one moment he sings a song that is just carried by the strong melody because of the sparse arrangement, but then the next song is filled to brimming with sonic layers that you feel that you’re twirling in an aural kaleidoscope. All through this though you hear Lekman’s tender voice (which sounds like a weird cross between Stephin Merritt and Terry Callier), which serves as the focal point and the thread that connects all of these songs together.

Night Falls Over Kortedala is that rare work that sounds less like an album but a wonderful sonic journey that uplifts you and leaves you wanting more.

Jens Lekman, Night Falls Over Kortedala

One of the most embarassing things to happen to an avowed music fan is to actually miss an important piece of information with regards to music. And what makes it doubly embarrassing is that the information involves a band of which you are a big fan.

That’s just what happened to me today. I am a HUGE Buffalo Tom fan. I think that all of their albums are great examples of American rock — brash, atmospheric and earnest. I have all of their albums in my collection and, in fact, always mention Let Me Come Over as one of the finest albums ever made. So it came as quite a shock to me to find out that they released a new album last month. Three Easy Pieces was released last July 10 and I completely missed it.

I’m not going to make excuses for what happened but to put it in perspective, this album of new material is a follow up to Smitten, an album that they released waaay back in 1998. for the next four or five years, I would periodically check if they have released any new CDs. But except for a Greatest Hits package (which I always consider as a sign of an impending breakup) no new material came out from the Bill Janowitz and company. I guess, subconsciously, I thought that Smitten would be their last album.

Sometimes, it’s good to be wrong. Oh, and welcome back Buffalo Tom. Pleased to make your acquaintance once again.

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Now playing: Buffalo Tom - three easy pieces
via FoxyTunes

Buffalo Tom, Smitten, Three Easy Pieces

I am quite stoked about Control, the new film and directorial debut of Anton Corbijn. Control is the biopic of the enigmatic Ian Curtis, the frontman of seminal band Joy Division who committed suicide on the eve of their US tour. Curtis has, over the years, become a rock icon and legend and the influence of Joy Division is being felt in the present crop of bands (Interpol, Editors, Killers, The Bravery, The Rakes) that are, for better or worse, channeling Joy Division’s unique post punk vision.

Corbijn, a lifelong Joy Division fan, is a wonderful choice to make the biopic. I have always respected his unique vision and I am quite confident that he will deliver solidly on this film.

Ian Curtis, Joy Division, Anton Corbijn

Here is the new video from two of the ladies I admire most int the indie world, Tegan & Sara. I just love every single release that they have come out with and I am so stoked about listening to their new album, Con. The video above is for their new single Back In Your Head, which, of course, is from Con. Enjoy!

Tegan & Sara, Con, Back in your head

I’ve been hearing a smattering of news and views about the San Francisco based band Film School. Unfortunately, I never got around to hearing any of their works. The band has been around since 1998 but even though they are being touted as artists “on the brink of stardom” because of the attention that they have been getting from music fans I never got to hear any of their work.

A few days ago though I got a chance to get an advance copy of Film School’s third album Hideout. I was quite eager to hear what all the buzz was about so I decided to bump this album up my scheduled playlist for the week and started listening to it. First impressions? I was blown away by how tight Film School’s sound is.

The band has mastered a dark pop sensibility that reminds of you of all the best qualities of shoegaze, new wave and indie pop. the darker texture of the songs actually help distinguish it from the day-glo happiness that some bands seem to revel in. I am particularly reminded of 80’s band Darkside who have also mastered the swirling guitars and dreamy production values that Film School so adeptly use. I particularly love the instrumental flourishes that the band try to incorporate into every song, most notably in Two Kinds. The cello-like synth backdrop paints a more melancholic atmosphere but at the same time gives it an ethereal beauty. Special mention goes to Compare, the part where the guitars first come in gives me goosebumps every time and this very jaded music fan seldom experiences that. So props to them.

You can now count me as a big Film School fan.

Film School, Hideout, Darkside

I am currently going crazy over the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP entitled The Is Is. Their blistering brand of garage punk just keeps getting better and better. the funny thing about this EP though is that the songs were made in 2004 when the band was touring in support of their first full length Fever To Tell. The songs here are so much stronger than the songs in their sophomore effort Show Your Bones. Not to disparage the second album,which is another strong effort for the band, The Is Is possesses a rawer sound that suits the YYY’s brand of music better. The five-song format also allowed the band to come out with a very focused set of songs. No fillers here, thank you.

Oh, and Karen O still gets my gonads boiling everytime.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Is Is, Fever to Tell, Show your Bones

I am having a lot of fun listening to The Rumble Strips. The band’s sound evokes nostalgia because they sound like Dexy’s Midnight Runners with a very unmistakeable 2 Tone influence. It’s fun to hear a band that sounds like they are just having fun and not taking themselves too seriously (hear that Interpol? But I still love you guys).

I don’t know what it is about the Brits but they do make ska sound so much more enjoyable and fun when compared to their American counterparts. I remember the time when No Doubt first became popular and they were being called ska band. I’m sorry, but No Doubt are dreadful. The Rumble Strips, on the other hand, has taken the ska formula and really ran away with it. The songs in their album Girls and Weather may have very strong Ska influences but they have managed to inject their own personalities into their songs, which actually made their sound develop into something that is distinctly unique. The album may not be that strong but anyone who listens to Girls and Weather will definitely hear a group that is having a lot of fun doing what they love.

I highly recommend this album.

The Rumble Strips, Girls and Weather, Interpol, No Doubt

In what could probably be one of the more inspired marketing gimmicks in recent years, The White Stripes are offering Jack and Meg thumb drives at their online store.

The 512 megabyte thumb drives, that has a funky graphic depicting either Meg or Jack, contain an electronic copy of the band’s new album Icky Thump in Apple Lossless format. This merchandise is very limited with only 3,333 of each drive variant available for sale.

I’m thinking of getting one myself.

The White Stripes, Icky Thump, Apple Lossless Format

I recently blogged about my love for Girl Talk. I think he is one trippy DJ. Today though I have another reason to anticipate anothe Girl Talk release because of the announcement that he will be remixing Of Montreal’s song Gronlandic Edit, a cut from their new album Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

The best thing about it though is that it will be free download. The guys at Pitchforkmedia scored this exclusive. There are no definite dates on when it will be released at the site so just check back on the site from time to time.

Girl Talk, Pitchforkmedia, Of Montreal

Matt Sharp’s post-Weezer band The Rentals was one of those bands who really made moog synthesizers cool enough for the more mainstream listeners (in other words, those who barely know Stereolab or Yo La Tengo). Their last album, Seven More Minutes, was released way back in 1999 and since then nary a peep has been heard from the group.

Well, eight years after their last album The Rentals are back with a new EP entitled Last Little Life. The trademark Rentals sound is still there — the electronic flourishes that punctuate the songs, the groovy moogs have even returned although they don’t sound as cool now what with bands like Ladytron coopting the intrinsic soul of electronic moog-based music.

The new Rentals EP is supposed to be a warmup for a full length album that the band will release next year. A number of shows are already confirmed as they will either headline or support other bands. This is a good thing because they really need to go on the road to reacquaint themselves with a new generation of music listeners who may have forgotten about them already.

The Rentals, Seven More Minutes, Ladytron, Yo La Tengo, Stereolab

Luscious Jackson fans are surely a happy bunch this year. Last February, their greatest hits compilation was released. Then a couple of months after, it was Jill Cunniff releasing her solo album City Beach. Now it’s Gabby Glaser’s turn as she releases her own solo album Gimme Splash this month (tomorrow to be exact).

I’ve always loved Luscious Jackson. I think they’re one of the coolest all female bands ever. I have loved Jill’s solo from the very first time I listened to it — in fact, it’s safe to say that it will be included in my “Best Albums of 2007″ list. I am currently listening to some of the songs on Gabby’s forthcoming album at her MySpace page and from what I have been hearing this is also going to be one solid album. I can’t wait to hear the whole album!

Gabby Glaser, Jill Cunniff, Luscious Jackson, City Beach, Gimme Splash

The Editors are one of those bands who I immediately fell in love with just by listening to one single. I think Munich was the first single I heard from the band and I was impressed by how mature and fully realized their sound is. Okay, the band kind of rips off on Joy Division right down to the vocal delivery of Tom Smith (who, judging by the way he sings, grew up with posters of Ian Curtis in his bedroom).

These are minor complaints though especially if you hear The Back Room, The Editors’ debut album. As I’ve said, the maturity level is quite astonishing and they were able to distill the best parts of early 80’s new wave and made it quite current. They are like Interpol, only more dramatic and orchestral.

I was quite excited to hear that their sophomore effort, An End Has A Start, will be released this month. I was even more excited when I had the privilege to listen to an advance copy of the album. I am still trying to form an opinion about the album. First impressions though is that this is a more dramatic album. It’s also bleaker. Good thing though is that they have built on the sound of Back Room and injected a few more elements to make this album feel like there is a progression in their sound. A few more listens and I’ll be able to form an opinion if this album is as good as or better than Back Room.

Editors, Back Room, An End Has A Start