Reviewed :: BOAT - Dress Like Your Idols

Seattle's self proclaimed sloppy pop outfit, Boat return with their fourth full length, Dress Your Idols. The album is set to be released on March 22nd on the band's long time label, Portland, OR based Magic Marker Records. Dress Like Your Idols picks up where 2009's Setting The Paces left off. A bit of polish has been applied to D. Crane's catchy as hell pop songs due to Boat recording at (the now defunct) Two Sticks Audio in the bands home town. This marks the first time the band have balanced their tried and true method of recording at home with the benefits of professional studio tools. Well, after this they might have to abandon that sloppy pop tag, because Dress Like Your Idols is filled with perfectly executed and irresistible pop moments, with the bands signature tongue and cheek wit intact.

It's on tracks, Bite My Lips, Forever In Armitron, and the John Roderick (The Long Winters) guested Landlocked that Boat deliver on the promise of their previous recordings, and then some. These are fully realized and instantly addicting pop nuggets that have us reaching for this LP on a nearly daily basis. Elsewhere the band shines on home recordings such as, Water it Down ,which provide charming and albeit brief interludes that assist in the flow and superb sequencing of Dress Like Your Idols.

Not only have Boat achieved the dubious task of following up a high water mark album like Setting The Paces, they've managed to surpass it. Albums about love, girls, and idols aren't supposed to be so consistently rewarding, but Dress Like Your Idols isn't just another indie pop record. Far from it.

BOAT - (I'll Beat My Chest Like) King KongBOAT -

Transmissions :: Boat

As far as we're concerned March 22nd can't come soon enough. That is of course the release date for Dress Like Your Idols, the new long player from Seattle's self proclaimed purveyors of sloppy pop, Boat. Luckily for us the band has offered this video for (I'll Beat My Chest Like) King Kong to hold us over. The band has also issued the track on 7" with two b-sides, including the much ballyhooed, Landlocked featuring John Roderick of The Long Winters. Both releases are being issued by Magic Marker.

Order the (I'll Beat Mt Chest Like) King Kong 7" here.
Pre-order Dress Like Your Idols

Forthcoming :: Obits/Boat/Cloud Nothings

This definitely will not be our last post of the year, we've got few more things planed before we send 2010 packing. However after dedicating the bulk of the last week or so to our year end list (perhaps you've seen it?) we wanted to get to some news that's been sitting in our inbox and spread the word on a few 2011 releases we're plenty excited about.

Granted we don't have a ton of details to report as of yet, but what we do know is that blues-punk titans, Obits will release a new 12 song LP on March 29th on Sub-Pop called Moody, Standard and Poor. The album was recorded in Brooklyn's Saltland Studios with Eli Janey and Geoff Sanoff handling production duties. Per usual Moody, Standard and Poor features fronter Rick Froberg handling most of the vocals with guitarist Sohrab Habibion (Edsel) stepping up to the mic for two tracks. This release sits at the top of our 2011 most expected releases.

Obits - Pine on from 2009's I Blame You

Seattle's guitar popsters, Boat are set to return with the release of Dress Like Your Idols on March 22nd. Dress Like Your Idols, the band 4th proper full length will be once again issued by Portland, OR's Magic Marker Records and features a guest appearance from John Roderick of The Long Winters. Which makes perfect sense to us Boat's D. Crane and Mr. Roderick have the gift of creating wry, wise ass pop records, which is right in our wheelhouse. In advance of the March release of the new album the band is also planning on the releasing a single on white vinyl next month.

Dress Like Your Idols Video Promo


The long awaited full length debut from Dylan Baldi's Cloud Nothings will shortly be upon us. The self titled longplayer will be released by Carpark Records in the U.S. and Wichata Recordings in the U.K. and Europe on January 24 & 25th respectively . The album was recorded last summer in a Baltimore warehouse with Chester Gwazda twisting knobs. Gwazda has reportedly boosted Cloud Nothings fidelity to what we can only guess will be somewhere in the mid-fi neighborhood. Baldi played every instrument on the album as well as supplied his signature orca sized pop hooks throughout. Cloud Nothings will be supporting the release with a U.S. tour, unfortunately no Boston area date has been announced yet, but we're hopefully that will be corrected shortly. Check out the track Should Have from the forthcoming release below.

Cloud Nothings - Should Have