An On-Line Resource For New Releases, Music News, Reviews & Opinion.
Est. 2006
Friday, June 4, 2010
Review::The Futureheads : The Chaos
In 2004 I was completely bowled over by the debut record from Sunderland, England's The Futureheads. That sparkling debut, a record I still listen to on a regular basis, is filled with a near perfect batch of new wave post-punk anthems. The bands subsequent albums have been met with an unfair reception from fans and critics alike that seem to be waiting for the band to duplicate or repeat what they accomplished on their self titled debut or maybe their waiting for another Kate Bush cover, it's not gonna happen. As far as I can tell the band has yet to release a sub par record. Instead of going back to familiar ground the band chose to widen their sonic palate and push their sound forward on album number two, News and Tributes and again on 2008's This Is Not The World. With their just released fourth album, The Chaos on Dovecote Records in the U.S. and on the bands own Nul imprint in their native UK, The Futureheads have delivered their most sonically adventurous recording as well as their finest since releasing the much lauded debut.
Unlike the bands previous work, The Chaos took a little bit longer to reveal it's many charms. However after my 3rd listen I was completely sold and ready for another go. The album perfectly marries the bands four part harmonies, swarming guitars, and their odd and immediate pop hooks. From the opening chords of the title track, to the should be smash hit Heartbeat Song, to the a Capella heavy Jupiter The Chaos is relentless and unwavering.The album's filled with menacing pop songs and it's never more obvious than on Sun Goes Down, an infectious romp that serves as the albums most accessible and addictive tracks.
The Futureheads have released a stunning and exhilarating rock record comprised of charging and concise pop thrills. Just don't call it a return to form, The Chaos is the LP TheFutureheads have been hinting at over the past two records. While the masses waited for them revisit the sounds of their debut the band has upped the anti and ripped us all a new one with The Chaos.
On June 14th UK based Home Assembly Music will issue Official World Cup Theme 2010, from The Declining Winter. The band fronted by Richard Adams (Hood) recorded the track with producer Choque Hosein. The release will also feature a new version of The Declining Winter tune Red Kite, a song that first appeared on the Music and Migration Comp. earlier this year. The limited edition CD will include an instrumental version of the theme as well as other exclusive tracks and will be packaged with a numbered postcard. As for the track itself, it's a melancholy pop gem. Check out the video below for the proof.
One of our live highlights of the last year was when we witnessed Seattle,WA's Boat bring the rock at a criminally under attended show at PA's Lounge. The band were out for a short tour in support of the bands then just released third album Setting The Paces, which landed at #6 on our #25 favorite records of 2009. So I was understandably excited to hear that the band were headed back to the east coast, unfortunately the shows were limited to 3 dates all of which took place in New York. Well D. Crane and Co. have given us non-New Yorkers the next best thing to attending last weekends shows with a free download of the bands set at WNYU.
Set List Period, Backslash, Colon (do the) Magic Centipede Topps (Big Apple Version) Lately... (do the) Magic Centipede Tractor Rape Chain (GBV cover) You're Muscular! (tiny version) Le Grande Opening (new song)
At weeks end we thought we would highlight and share MP3's from some highly anticipated releases. Based on the past several days this late spring and summer should prove to be more than a little aurally pleasing.
Any week you get to hear a new song from Versus is well, in a word awesome. On August 3rd Versus will break their 10 year silence when the band releases On The Ones and Threes on Merge. The album will also mark the return of founding member Edward Baluyut. The Band have signed on to play shows in Brooklyn and Washington D.C. as part of Teen Beat's 26th Anniversary Tour on July 9th alongside the tour headliners, Unrest. The tour stops at TT The Bears on July 8th. Grab tickets while they last at Ticketweb.
DanySeim,Justin Harris,and Brent Knopf, collectively know as Menomena will release thier third LP on July 27th. Mines was recorded over the past 3 1/2 years between touring for the bands last record, Fried or Foe and various side projects. Danny Siem recently gave a description of the album in a press release with a less than serious quote: "Mines will blow off your limbs like an Italian VS-50!". The band has offered the album track Five Little Rooms for download at the price of your e-mail address.
Jose Gonzalez new trio Junip will kick off their U.S. tour right here in Boston with a show on June 8th at Great Scott. The bands new Rope and Summit EP will be released on May 25th, but if you register for the bands mailing list you will receive a free digital copy. The bands full length, Fields is slated for a September 14th release via Mute/City Slang.
New York City's post-punkers, The Drums are set to drop their full length self titled debut for Universal/Island on June 7th. The band is offering It Will All End In Tears off their soon to be released new album in exchange for your e-mail address. Check the widget embed below to grab the song. It would seem that we've gone a little widget crazy, we're just happy for the free MP3's in advance of the release of these albums, enjoy.
The Henry Clay People are set to release Somewhere on The Golden Coast via their new label TBD Records, on June 8th. Somewhere On The Golden Coast is comprised of 11 cracking and varied tracks over a not nearly long enough 34 minutes. Recorded by Earlimart head honcho Aaron Espinoza at Ship Studios in Eagle Rock ,CA, Espinoza urged the band to lose the headphones, drink more beer, and record the albums tracks live to tape. It might be the newness of the record, or it really is as good as I think it is. Let me listen to it ten more times before I commit my review to these pages.
The band has offered up the album track Slow Burn at their official site for the price of your e-mail address, or you can listen below.
The Henry Clay People play The House of Blues on June 27th as part of WFNX's Clambake along with Matt & Kim, Metric, and Nada Surf. Grab tickets here.
Live Dates: (all shows with Silversun Pickups and Against Me!) June 8th - Spaceland - Los Angeles, CA (CD RELEASE SHOW) June 15th - Hard Rock Cafe - Orlando, Fl - June 16th - Sunset Cove Amplitheater - Boca Raton, FL - June 18th - Ritz - Tampa, FL - June 19th - The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA - June 20th - Sunset Theatre At Disco Rodeo - Raleigh, NC - June 21st - The National - Richmond, VA - June 23rd - DAR Constitution Hal - Washington DC - June 24th - Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ - June 25th - Williamsburg Waterfront - Brooklyn, NY - June 27th - Landsdowne Street - Boston, MA - June 28th - Great Plaza at Penns Landing - Philly, PA - June 29th - The Sound Academy Toronto, ON - July 2nd - The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI - July 3rd - Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL - July 4th - Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI - July 16th - The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas, NV - July 17th - Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ July 19th - Stubb's - Austin, TX - July 20th - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX - July 21st - Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX - July 26th - The Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO - July 27th - The Rail - Salt Lake City, UT - July 29th - Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR - July 31st - The Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA - Aug 7th - Soma - San Diego, CA - Oct 9th - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX -
Friday, May 14, 2010
Win Tickets To See The Buzzcocks
This Monday night seminal British punk band The Buzzcocks will play The Paradise as part of the bands Another...Bites Tour. The DIY pioneers will be playing their first two albums in their entirety, 1978's Another Music In A Different Kitchen and Love Bites, and 1979's A Different Kind of Tension respectively. As luck should have it, we have a pair of tickets to give away.
To enter just send an e-mail to ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com with Another...Bites Tour in the subject line. We will accept entries until 4PM on Sunday. Ready, set, go.
To assure you don't miss out on this special evening with The Buzzcocks grab tickets at The Paradise Box Office or here.
Update: Congratulations to William from Sommerville for winning a pair of tickets to see The Buzzcocks tonight at The Paradise. Thank you to everyone who entered and stay tuned for more ticket giveaways happening here in the not too distant future.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Steve Mason Readies Boys Outside
After a handful albums credited to a few different aliases, most notably King Biscuit Time, one time Beta Band kingpin Steve Mason is set to return with his first release credited to his own name, Boys Outside on June 22nd via Double Six/Domino. On Boys Outside the Scottish born Mason addresses his personal demons, including a life long bought with depression, suicide, and the implosion of one Britain's most critically acclaimed bands.
According to Mason, it was the treatment and antidepressants that brought out the songs found on Boys Outside, the results are Steve Mason's finest song cycle since The Beta Band released The 3 EP's. The weight of this material combined with a hypnotizing blend of pure pop, electronic soul, and experimentalism is sure to make for one of the most memorable listens of the year.
Visit stevemasontheartist for a full album stream of Boys Outside as well as a free MP3 of All Come Down.
[MP3] Steve Mason- All Come Down
Friday, May 7, 2010
This Weeks Short Bursts
On June 15th the Pernice Brothers will release Goodbye, Killer the first album Joe Pernice has released under the Pernice Brothers name since 1996's Live A Little. Team Pernice kicked promotions for the forthcoming opus off last week by offering the rockin' Jacquelin Susann for free download. As if that wasn't enough, just yesterday they added three more of the albums tracks, available for your streaming pleasure to the Pernice Brothers site.
If you pre-order the album by June 1st you'll receive an autographed copy of Pernice to Me the new book by Joe Pernice and Joyce Linehan which chronicles the twitterings between the two over the past two years.
This week was a pretty damn good one release wise, among several other high profile releases we the saw the release of album number 28 from Mark E. Smith and his latest incarnation of The Fall. Your Future Our Clutter, the bands first record for new label Domino finds Smith as cantankerous as ever , albeit a bit more rejuvenated thanks in part to a top notch band he's assembled for the 2nd straight record. Check the bands new video below wich features extreme close ups of Mark E. Smith, so you may not want to watch this alone.
We've been totally sucked in and bowled over by Cracked Love & Other Drugs, the second full length from Seattle's Unnatural Helpers. Font man and lone consistent member Dean Whitmore leads UH through 15 songs in just over 25 minutes with not a second of the album wasted. Looking for a no frills noisy pop record filled with one great moment after another? Mr. you just found it.
The album was recorded over the span of a week with The Fastbacks' Kurt Bloch handling production duties for the band and was released earlier this week by Hardly Art.
Buy Cracked Love & Other Drugs via the bands label, Hardly Art
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
(New) Tobin Sprout - Pretty [MP3/Video]
Later this month Tobin Sprout will return after a nearly 7 year absence with his first release from his new Moonflower imprint. I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was jumping up in down in my cubicle when I read this news and ignored my day job for a good for at least an hour as I played the sublime pop that is found on the album first shared song. The 10 tracks on The Bluebirds of Happiness Tried To Land On My Shoulder were recorded by By Tobin in his home studio in Leland, MI with assistance from the brother Vermillion, Gary and Steve respectively. The album was slated for a may 2nd release but due to a manufacturing issue the release has been pushed back to the middle of month.
The first track being made available is a demo of the album track Pretty, exclusively at Magnet.
As we're still trying to collect our selves after last weekends stunning performance at The Paradise. We thought we would share a session Los Campesinos! recorded just last week for The Tripwire.
The band performed stripped down versions of Straight In at 101 and The Sea is A Good Place To Think of The Future off their latest album Romance is Boring.
I've contributed a review of the LC! Paradise show for the fine folks at Melophobe, if you're so inclined you can access that here.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Miles Kurosky - The Desert of Shallow Effects
From 1996 to 2004 Beulah released some of the finest pop albums of that period, including the staggering opus When Your Heartstrings Break. When the band packed in and performed their final show in August of 2004 I was understandably distraught. So when it was announced last year that the bands chief architect, Miles Kurosky was set to return after a six year absence I was as giddy as a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert.
The Desert of Shallow Effects was issued by Majordomo last month and finds Miles Kurosky picking up where his former band left off. However, the record is hardly a solo affair, the album was recorded in San Francisco with over 30 contributors including many of Kurosky's former band mates.
With the quiet guitar strums of Notes From The Polish Underground Kuroskyhits the ground running, unveiling a classic pop record that only gets better with each subsequent listen. It's fairly obvious that Miles labored over every single note on the record, however the album never feels calculated or over produced, quite the opposite actually. The everything but the kitchen sinks instrumentation is executed with great effect on almost every track. The only misstep is the sleepy, Housewives and Their Knives a track that feels like it could have been a b-side for Beulah's swan song Yoko. If that's the only issue I have with this close flawless collection, I think Kurosky has shown he hasn't lost a step in crafting some of the most undeniably catchy impressive songs of his career. With songs like I Can't Swim and the epic closer West Memphis Skyline, The Desert of Shallow Effects succeeds as grandiose pop statement and a welcome return for a genuine popsmith.
Today's Short Bursts In this the inagural editon of Short Bursts we feature The Lodger, The Figgs, and The Underground Summit II.
On April 27th the fine folks at Slumberland Records will release Flashback, the third long player from the UK pureveyors of intelligent pop,The Lodger. The album was recorded in Leeds with analog enthusiast Richard Formbly (Spacemen 3/Wild Beasts)and features some familiar reference points, The Jam, Aztec Camera, and Orange Juice and covers some new ground as well. With the track The Back Of My Mind the band took a new approach by layering the track over guitar drones and feedback while still maintaining their pristine pop and propelling their sound forward.
Local favorites The Figgs are back in town supporting Graham Parker this weekend. The Figgs will serve as Parkers backing band as well as his opener. The band is set to release their 10th record with,The Man Who Fights Himself on May 11th. The 10 track album will be available at the bands site and the vinyl version will be available later this year at Gern Blandsten.
Graham Parker and The Figgs play Johnny D's on Saturday April 24th. Buy tickets here.
Some of our city's finest albeit lesser known bands will gather tonight in JP for The Underground Summit II, presented by Bodies of Water Arts And Crafts. The Underground summit is a round robin event featuring 10 or so bands setting up all at once and taking turns playing songs one after another and that continues til I assume the bands run out of songs. This should be a great event and features a great line up including Allston's lo-fi pop kids Young Adults as well as the self described art sex death sounds of Viva Viva. The show starts at 7PM and tickets are a meager $10 bucks.
Location: The Temple 670 Centre Street Jamaica Plain Orange line to Green St.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
It's my hope on this, the third annual Record Store Day that you'll go out and support your favorite local record store. God knows there's plenty of reasons and excuses to drop your hard earned money.
Instead of listing every single release, I'd like to point you in the direction of MBV's list of exclusive 2010 RSD releases, found here.
Over the past couple of months we've been teasing you with news of RSD releases, including The Thermals/The Cribs split and Superchunk's rare Misfits and Mistakes single, being issued on picture disc.
The fact that Blur will issue their first single since 2003 is worth celebrating, let alone the countless vinyl re-issues and limited 7" from some the most important artist from yesterday and tomorrow is well worth your trip to your local retailer.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Lightning Bolt To Play Noise Day + Summer Dates
The pummeling force of Brian Gibson and Brian Chippendale, collectively known as Providence's Lightning Bolt have announced a slew of upcoming live dates including a headlining gig at this years Noise Day on the campus of Clark University on April 24th in Worcester. Presented by Radio of Clark University, the one day long event will celebrate the areas finest in noise rock and will feature art installations by area artisans and musicians, not to mention free BBQ! The event is inspired by the poem Noise Day by Shel Silverstein.
Noise Day Line Up: 2:30: Dark and Stormy (Boston, MA) 3:15: Britney's Spear (Worcester, MA) 4:00: The Awesome Something (Worcester, MA) 4:45: Gila Monster (R.I.) 5:45: Golden Girls (Worcester, MA) 6:30: ISA Christ / Kyle Clyde (Brooklyn, NY) 7:15: Tinsel Teeth (Providence, RI) 8:15: LIGHTNING BOLT (Providence, RI)
Lightning Bolt will head out on the road on June 30 to smash the shit out of the rest of U.S. The duo are touring in support Earthly Delights, released last year on Load.
LB Summer Dates: 06/20 Washington D.C. - DC9 07/01 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone 07/02 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 07/03 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light 07/04 Atlanta, GA - Eyedrum 07/05 Orlando, FL - Will's Pub 07/06 Miami, FL - Churchill's Pub 07/07 Tallahassee, FL - Farside Collective 07/08 New Orleans, LA - Zeitgeist Multi Disciplinary Arts 07/09 Houston, TX - Kohn's 07/10 Austin, TX - The Mohawk 07/11 Dallas, TX - Trees 07/12 Little Rock, AR - Arkansas Community Arts 07/13 Lawrence, KS - The Jackpot Saloon 07/14 Iowa City, IA - The Picador 07/15 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club 07/18 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival 07/19 Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art! 07/20 Bloomington, IN - Rhinos Youth Center 07/22 Newport, KY - Southgate House 07/22 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop 07/23 Pittsburgh, PA - Belvedere's
Titus Andronicus, Hallelujah The Hills,+ Babies Ticket Giveaway
Ever since first hearing The Monitor, I've been chomping at the bit to hear the new opus from Titus Andronicus in a live setting. Well ,my wait is nearly over because New Jersey's finest are set to play Great Scott on Monday night with our homeysHallelujah The Hills and NYC'sThe Babies, featuring members of Woods and Vivian Girls. I'm pleased to announce I have a pair of tickets to give away to one of our loyal readers, or whoever wants in.
Just send an e-mail to ashgrayprolamation@yahoo.com with Titus Andronicus in the subject line and you'll be entered to win. I will notify the winner by Sunday afternoon. Godspeed and good luck.
If you would like to assure your attendance to what is sure to be one of this springs must see shows, grab tickets here.
Update Sunday 3:07PM: Congratulations to Andrew from Brighton for winning the tickets to tomorrow nights show. Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned because we'll be doing it again... very soon.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Travelers of Space and Time
Elephant 6 vets, The Apples in Stereo will release their seventh LP, Travelers of Space and Time via Elephant 6,Yep Roc and Elijah Wood's Simian label on April 20th. The follow up to 2007 New Magnetic Wonder will feature new Apples drummer John Dufilho of Dallas Tx'sThe Deathray Davies and frequent collaborator Bill Doss(Olivia Tremor Control). Robert Scheiderdescribes his bands new record as "retro futuristic super pop" and the bands most hi-fi and hook laden offering. Just check out the MP3 of Dance Floor below for further explanation. The Apples in Stereo will play the Middle East on April 23rd.
Live Dates: FR 04.16.10 - Lexington, KY SA 04.17.10 - Morgantown, WV SU 04.18.10 - Washington , DC TU 04.20.10 - Philadelphia, PA WE 04.21.10 - New York, NY FR 04.23.10 - Cambridge, MA SA 04.24.10 - Ithaca, NY SU 04.25.10 - Rochester, NY TU 04.27.10 - Cleveland, OH WE 04.28.10 - Pontiac, MI FR 04.30.10 - Chicago, IL SA 05.01.10 - St. Paul, MN MO 05.03.10 - Milwaukee, WI TU 05.04.10 - St. Louis, MO
While The Thermals finish mixing thier fifth long player with Chris Walla, they've posted a new track to thier myspace page. Seperate is The Thermals contribution to their Record Store Day split single with The Cribs. The bands next record, tenatively titled Personal Lives is due on on September 7th.
Due to a hectic schedule as of late, I haven't had the chance to write half as much as I'd like. So I've decided to take full advantage of this opportunity and to get caught up on the slew of activity in indiedom as well as the normal ranting for the first installment of While Were Out.
On April 20th Chicago's garage punks, The Pony's will release their their first batch of new songs since releasing 2007's Turn Out The Lights. Matador will issue Deathbed + 4 (EP)digitally and on 12" vinyl. The band has made the track Check The Door available over at the Matablog. The track is a departure from the previous output with Jared Gummere leading the band through a slow down, Ian Curtisesque tune, that The Pony's have been headed for since adding guitarist Brian Case.
Live Dates: Apr 27 The Tractor Tavern w/ Disappears Seattle, Washington Apr 28 Doug Fir Lounge w/ Disappears & Meth Teeth Portland, Oregon Apr 30 Bottom of the HIll w/ Disappears & Spencey Dude & the Doodles San Francisco May 1 Spaceland w/ Disappears & Static Static Los Angeles, California May 2 2010 Casbah w/ Disappears & Christmas Island San Diego, California May 24 Pritzker Pavilion, in MIllennium Park w/ Besnard Lakes Chicago, Illinois May 28 Chaos in Tejas Austin, Texas Jun 18 Mercury Lounge W/ Disappears, Woven Bones New York, New York Jun 19 Union Pool w/ Disappears, Woven Bones Brooklyn, New York
The announcement came down this week that The Libertines would reunite and play this years Reading Festival as well as handful of other UK shows with original members Pete Doherty, Carl Barat,Gary Powell, and John Hassel in tow. The band took over Boogaloo Pub in North London yesterday to hold a press conference and play a short acoustic set. The evidence of the event can be seen via the 2 youtube video below. Let the spectacle begin!
Set List: Georgia On My Mind The Good Old Days Music When the Lights Go Out France Death on the Stairs Sally Brown Can’t Stand Me Now Time For Heroes
I'm especially excited about the Boston area debut of England's Lets Wrestle. With the release of their debut album, In The Court of The Wrestling Lets on Merge they're a front runner for our favorite new act. Ever since the first track was posted to the Merge site a few months ago I've been hooked. The London trio will be in town later this month to support Quasi at The Middle East on April 20th.
Live Dates: Apr 15 Turf Club w/ Quasi St. Paul, Minnesota Apr 16 Annex w/ Quasi Madison, Wisconsin Apr 17 Magic Stick w/ Quasi Detroit, Michigan Apr 18 Horseshoe Tavern w/ Quasi Toronto, Ontario Apr 19 Il Motore w/ Quasi Montreal, Quebec Apr 20 Middle East Downstairs w/ Quasi Apr 22 Bowery Ballroom w/ Quasi New York Apr 23 JohnnyBrenda’s w/ Quasi Philadelphia Apr 24 Back Cat w/ Quasi Washington DC Apr 26 Cat’s Cradle w/ Quasi Carrboro, North Carolina Apr 27 529 w/ Quasi Atlanta, Georgia Apr 28 The Bottletree w/ Quasi Birmingham, Alabama Apr 29 Mercy Lounge w/ Quasi Nashville, Tennessee Apr 30 The Southgate House w/ Quasi Newport, Kentucky May 1 Lincoln Hall w/ Quasi Chicago, Illinois
It's weekends like the one that were about to embark on, that makes you sit up and give thanks for living in or near a major city like Boston. To be fair we are benefiting from some post SXSW tours, the return of one of Boston's favorite acts, and just sheer dumb luck.
This weekend you will have several choices from to which to plunk down your hard earned cash, so choose wisely.
Allston's synth poppers Freezepop get things kicked off with a 4PM on Saturday with a performance at Cafe 939. It's a fairly small room so grab tickets in advance here plus the PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) is in town this weekend so you can check that out before or after the show.
Later in the evening Spoon will take over The House of Blues for a sold out show with Deerhunter and The Strange Boys. Spoon are currently touring in support of their new offering Written in Reverse while any local appearance from Bradford Cox & co. is worth our collective attention and Austin's The Strange Boys have just issued an impressive debut album, Be Brave on Rough Trade, so get there early for this impressive triple bill.
This weekend also marks the return of former Beulah front man Miles Kurosky to the Boston area when Miles and his touring band play Great Scott in Allston on Saturday with San Francisco's Pancho-San. Kurosky is on tour for the first time since he disbanded Beualah and is supporting his superb solo debut, The Dessert of Shallow Effects issued earlier this month on Majordomo/Shout!.
Sunday Iceland's Seabear hit TT The Bears to deliver their unique brand of orchestra pop. The band are in the U.S. supporting thier excellent 2nd LP, We Build A Fire released this month by Morr Music. As a last minute surprise I've been given a pair of tickets to giveaway. To enter to win just shoot us an e-mail with Seabear in the subject line to ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com. I will announce the winner tomorrow at 5PM, good luck. Fellow Icelanders and label mates Soley will support. I can't think of a better way to wind down your Sunday.
Sunderland, Englands' The Futureheads will release their fifth album, The Chaos on April 27th via the bands own Nul Records in the UK and June 1st via their U.S. label Dovecoat. We are particularly stoked about this news, The Futureheads have been a favorite of ours at the AGP since we first caught wind of the lads on their 2004 self titled debut. The new album was recorded with Youth and David Brewis in the bands home studio and The Chaos takes aim at corrupt politicians and greedy bankers. The perfect fodder for album # 4 from The Futureheads.
Check out two tracks/one video from the forthcoming album, The Chaos below.
The Ash Gray Proclamation Presents: An Interview with Howard W. Hamilton of Red Pens
I remember where I was and what I was doing when I first heard some of my favorite albums. For example, I was going through new releases at my college radio station when I first heard GBV's Bee Thousand, I remember walking into Stinkweeds in Tempe, AZ when I was treated to Bedhead's parting shot, Transaction de Novo, and more recently last fall I recall updating our concert listings while listening to some just received digital albums from various sources when I happily stumbled onto Reasons, the smashing debut album from Red Pens.
Reasons is a captivating record of noisy and fractured pop delivered by the Minneapolis duo of Howard W. Hamilton III and Laura F. Bennett. With comparisons to Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine it's safe to say Red Pens are in my wheel house. However it was the strength of the songs and the execution of those influences that keep things exciting and had me reaching for this record all winter.
So, when I was given the opportunity to interview Howard W. Hamilton III via email I was thrilled to do it. As per the norm, I sent over the questions and Howard fired them back to me. Thanks to Lea Miller at The Muse Box for setting this up and to Howard and Laura from Red Pens for entertaining our questions and constant begging for Red Pens show in Boston sometime soon.
The Ash Gray Proclamation: Can you tell us how the collaboration between the two of you came about and how Red Pens were born?
Howard W. Hamilton III:An old friend of mine was looking at the abstract bird houses I was making at the time and asked me "have you ever seen Laura Bennett paintings"? I went home and got right on it online and I could see these similarities right away. I contacted her and told her how much I loved her art and asked her if we could collaborate and she said yes. We started getting together and trying to make art and our mediums weren't working well together her paint was resisting my backgrounds. We talked about music a ton and she went on and on about how she just wanted to be in a cool velvet underground-ish two piece. We started just hanging out and working on our separate art but at the same time. One day it wasn't working for either one of us so we went into my tiny studio and jammed, me on an electric sitar, and her on an electronic hand drum pad device and it just clicked, we dragged her drums over to my house and Red Pens were born.
The AGP:What was the recording process for Reasons? Howard: I had a sound I wanted in my head and I knew I was going to lose the apartment I lived in and we practiced in so a few days after I knew I was moving in a few months we decided to record the songs in this tiny room the band formed in. It was like we recorded live almost like a glorified rehearsal tape, but with better mics and pre-amps. I got great drum tracks and a nice guitar foundation which I added tons of guitar tracks to and then over the next couple days just did vocals until it all ended up sounding exactly like I envisioned it.
The AGP:I noticed that you have some home town shows coming up, are there any plans for a full fledged tour in support of Reasons?
Howard:We are for sure planning to tour our brains out as soon as we can get our hands on a better vehicle for the road. We did do a string of out of town dates recently and played in NYC and a bunch of other places in mid February.
The AGP: Was it a conscience decision to move away from the music you recorded as Busy Signals to the bombastic guitar pop of Red Pens?
Howard: I was pretty much done making music until Laura came along, I never thought I could get back into it the way I have. I had been making music with loops and programmed drums and after getting that feeling of playing with a drummer who I was truly in sync with I was so inspired that things just started to flow out of me.
The AGP: How did you the signing to Grain Belt Records come about?
Howard: Mike (Boeser) came to one of our better shows and was blown away. He approached us and said all the right things and gave off an instantly trustworthy vibe so we jumped at the chance to be the first band on his new label.
The AGP: A belated congratulations on winning the Pick to Click award in the Minneapolis' City Pages last year, how has that helped the two of you? Howard: It has made a few more show offers come about and people take us a little more seriously I guess. I was worried that it would be a fake instant response where all of the sudden our shows would be packed and then it would fall off a cliff a few months later but thankfully that didn't happen. We have earned our local fans one or two at a time from show to show, we play really often and a few new faces pop up each time its been nice.
The AGP: I hear you've been playing some new material at some recent shows, have any of those been recorded for your next album? Howard: We are still working the bugs out of the new songs and nothing serious has been recorded yet. I think we are going to do an ep this summer and get used to a new way of working half in a studio and half at home. Instead of all home recording we are going to do basics at a studio and then do vocals and overdubs at home but we want to try some studio situations out before we take the leap towards the next LP.
The AGP: How do you feel with comparisons to such indie rock giants, Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, and Sonic Youth?
Howard: Well we are heavily influenced by all of those bands and we are definitely flattered. Laura and I are huge fans of all of those bands especially guided by voices the stuff is ingrained into us and we take a little from each influence but make sure we never come across as a "sound-a-like" or rip off band. It's like without those bands and others like My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain we might not exist or sound anything like we do, we love and worship all of it.
The AGP: What's happening in the Minneapolis scene? Are there any upcoming acts that you would recommend?
Howard: We are in love with a couple of mpls bands for sure this band Gospel Gossip is amazing with so much raw intense new energy and this other band of teenagers, Total Babe who will end up doing big things. We like this band Teenage Strangler a bunch too and another one is Zoo Animal who are just totally ready to become a national act at any moment. The scene is pretty crazy with piles of new bands and a million older bands that keep on trucking, there are a few clubs that have local music/bands for free most nights of the week(Hexagon Bar, 331 and 501 clubs) which is pretty intense. I think we are influencing a bunch of duo's to start up here.
The AGP:How was your relationship influenced your music?
Howard: We are trying to make a living off of artwork and music so being in a relationship makes us obviously really stick together and work as a team more than your average band. All of the songs on "reasons" are about us and things that happened to us. For the first year of the band we weren't a couple yet so after we got together things got a little easier to deal with less picking up and dropping off and way deeper all around. We really feed off of each other musically especially live I feel like we are connected in so many ways and it makes for an insane feeling that I have never experienced in the zillion bands and musical projects I have tried to be in.
Brattleboro, VT's Happy Birthday will release their self titled Sub-Pop debut this Tuesday. The band consists of Kyle Thomas(King Tuff), Chris Weisman, and Ruth Garbus. Kyle put the band together in 2008 for an outlet to perform some freshly penned pop songs for a one off show at the now defunct Tinderbox in Brattleboro. The performance went so well the the trio decided to keep doing it. I'm a sucker for skewed pop songs and Happy Birthday specialize in fuzzy power-pop of the timeless variety. Kyle Thomas and Ruth Grabus play in Feathers and Kyle is also in Witch with J. Mascis.
Happy Birthday head to Austin, TX next week for 8 shows in 5 days at SXSW, before heading back east at the end of the month.
In advance of the release on March 16th Sub-Pop has offered up the track Girls FM for free download.
Update: you can hear the full album before tomorrows official release courtesy of sub-pop over at their Soundcloud page.Once you've been sufficiently hooked, be sure to purchase this fine recording.
A Release Day Review: Frightened Rabbit - The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Over the past couple of weeks I've taken full advantage of the album stream of The Winter of Mixed Drinks,, the forthcoming album from Frightened Rabbit. The album was made available as a free stream in it's entirety over at the bands myspace page and at NPR until the album's release on march 9th, that's today folks.
I can't say enough good things about this record. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, after all this is the same band that knocked me on my ass with their sophomore album The Midnight Organ Fight. So I guess I should have seen this coming.
The Winter of Mixed Drinks consists of 11 stadium sized anthems and inevitably the band will be compared to the likes of Snow Patrol and Coldplay in the mainstream press. That's unfair, both because Frightened Rabbit our twice if not three times the band than either of those other bands and for the fact that the band have been quietly making their brand of majestic emotion Scottish rock over their three albums with little fanfare. They remain true to the formula, but somehow The Winter of Mixed Drinks sounds bigger than both of their early albums, like it's destined for the wide open spaces of arenas.
Scott Hutchinson has penned some of his most fully realized and accomplished songs for his bands new album and the solidified line up strengthens Hutchinson compositions with an effective and varied blend of instrumentation throughout. The songs themselves are powerful and impassioned. Take the albums centerpiece Not Miserable with it's church organ and building guitars, while Hutchinson declares "I am free from disease"or the goose bump inducing Swim Until You Can't See Land. These tracks only hint at the strength and beauty of this record. Admittedly it's a bit of grower at least compared to The Midnight Organ Fight, but after a few listens your endless fawning over these Scott's is imminent. Frightened Rabbit have released the first great record of 2010.
I am truly sorry to half to write this piece. Mark Linkous and the fragile and beautiful music he recorded and subsequently released under the Sparklehorse moniker impacted, affected, and inspired us here at The Ash Gray Proclamation. So here we are again just 3 short months after losing Vic Chesnutt,we again must deal with the suicide of one of music's most inspiring and important musicians.
Marl Linkous took his own life yesterday afternoon by a self inflicted gunshot wound.
I remember the first time I heard Sparklehorse, I had just started working at WFNX here in Boston and I was in the middle of one of my first air shifts and along comes Someday I Will Treat You Good at 3 AM and I was hooked. This horrible news comes just days after the announcement that his collaboration with Danger Mouse, A Dark Night of Soul will finally be released and the next Sparklehorse album was nearing completion.
May the peace that escaped him in life, embrace him in death.
From the Linkous Family: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There’s a heaven and there’s a star for you." - March 6, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Robert Pollard's Ever Increasing Release Calendar
With the release of We All Got Out Of The Army last week, Robert Pollard's kicked off what can only be described as another uber-prolific year. Releases a plenty continue On March 23rd when Jackpot Records releases Camera Found A Ray Gun, an EP from Pollard's Boston Spaceships. The EP consists of four tracks and will be available both on 7" vinyl(limited to 500 copies) and as a CD EP.
Camera Found A Ray Gun track listing: 1) The Way Out 2) Rival GT 3) Pluto Is Polluted 4) Aquarian Hovercraft
Next up is Mother Skinny, the eighth record from Pollard's Circus Devils. For the uninitiated Circus Devils are a mean prog rock and freak pop outfit. Accompanied by brothers Tim and Todd Tobias (GBV/Clouds Forming Crowns) Robert Pollard has been recording and releasing Circus Devils albums since 2001. With Mother Skinny Circus Devils have recorded an album that is described as the polar opposite to last years largely acoustic Gringo. So I'll expect to have my face melted.
Circus Devils have just posted three songs from the forthcoming Mother Skinny. All three are big slabs of sinister prog- pop.
[MP3/Stream] Circus Devils - Bam Bam Bam Mother Skinny track listing: 1 SUB RAT 1:45 2 LURKING 1:23 3 WOLFMAN CHORDS 1:48 4 HARD ART (HARD ALL DAY) 2:01 5 GET ON IT 1:57 6 HIS TROOPS ARE LOYAL 1:48 7 KINGDOMS OF KOREA 2:06 8 BAM BAM BAM 2:02 9 GERM CIRCUS 1:47 10 8 LEGS TO LOVE YOU 1:48 11 17 DAYS ON THE POLE 2:04 12 FREEZER BURN 1:19 13 WE DON’T NEED TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE 0:55 14 A LIVING NECKLACE OF WARTS 2:15 15 THE NEW NOSTALGIA 1:05 16 THE CAVE OF DISAPPEARING MEN 0:40 17 MOTHER SKINNY 2:56 18 ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE GONE 3:16 19 PLEDGE 2:52 20 SHUT UP 1:08
Mother Skinny will be released on March 30th via Guided By Voices, Inc. and can be pre-ordered here
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Ticket Giveaway: The Hush Now CD Release Show
The Hush Now will celebrate the release of their excellent new album Constellations at Great Scott this Saturday night with help from Arletta and Dear Leader. Thanks to the good kids at The Muse Box I have a pair of tickets to giveaway to one of our lucky readers. Just send an e-mail to ashgrayproclamation@yahoo.com with The Hush Now in the subject line. The winner will be notified on Friday.
Don't feel like waiting til Friday? Assure that you will be at Great Scott for this memorable night of Boston rock by purchasing tickets for the show at TicketWeb.
Update: Congratulations to Greg from South Boston on being randomly selected as the winner of The Hush Now's CD Release show.
In 2004 I was completely bowled over by the debut record from Sunderland, England's The Futureheads. That sparkling debut, a record I still listen to on a regular basis, is filled with a near perfect batch of new wave post-punk anthems. The bands subsequent albums have been met with an unfair reception from fans and critics alike that seem to be waiting for the band to duplicate or repeat what they accomplished on their self titled debut or maybe their waiting for another Kate Bush cover, it's not gonna happen. As far as I can tell the band has yet to release a sub par record. Instead of going back to familiar ground the band chose to widen their sonic palate and push their sound forward on album number two, News and Tributes and again on 2008's This Is Not The World. With their just released fourth album, The Chaos on Dovecote Records in the U.S. and on the bands own Nul imprint in their native UK, The Futureheads have delivered their most sonically adventurous recording as well as their finest since releasing the much lauded debut.
