Fun Stuff > BAND
The M/F Thread 2009: The Quickening
Scarychips:
Fabulous Muscles - Xiu Xiu
--- Quote from: AMG ---Xiu Xiu continue to push the envelope with their third album in two years, Fabulous Muscles. While their mix of low-res electronics, flamboyant synth pop, and experimental rock sounds slightly more accessible than it has before, that just makes it easier for Jamie Stewart's confrontational vocals and lyrics to sink in that much deeper. As always, Xiu Xiu juxtapose their heroic doses of misery with lovely, if rough-edged, music: the drooping synth lines and chunky beats on "Crank Heart" and "Brian Vampire" sound like the music from some unspeakably sad video game, while "Little Panda McElroy"'s acoustic guitars have a hesitant prettiness that makes lyrics like "I can stop hating my own heart/I can do it because of you" even more intimate. Stewart either whispers obsessively or shout-sings, as if he's trying to drown out his own thoughts, and does both on the brilliantly morose "I Luv the Valley OH!," on which he vows, "It's a heart that you made/And I won't rest until I break it." More so than with many other bands, Xiu Xiu's music immerses the listener in the band's world view and the songs' characters: "Bunny Gamer" is an extraordinary portrait of yearning and self-loathing that begins as an internal monologue of an unrequited lover and then becomes a painful dialogue between him and the object of his affection, who is much more careless and carefree. The song's dead-calm desperation borders on the creepy and pathetic, but this is the uncomfortable territory that Xiu Xiu claim as their own. Much like the musical equivalent of Todd Solondz or Harmony Korine, Xiu Xiu set out to disturb their audience in pursuit of higher artistic goals. More often than not (and arguably more often than Solondz and Korine), the group succeeds. "Support Our Troops OH!," which graphically depicts a U.S. troop killing a young girl, could have been played for shock value, but the palpable anger that runs through the track is more implosive than strident. Similarly, "Nieces Pieces (Boat Knife Version)" explores a dysfunctional family with quiet contempt and dark humor rather than outright rage. It all culminates on "Fabulous Muscles (Mama Black Widow Version)" — its effeminately macho title is yet another one of Xiu Xiu's dualities — a mix of sex, violence, and sadness that features the lyrics "Cremate me after you come on my lips, honey boy/Keep my ashes in a vase beneath your workout bench" and manages to be horrific, romantic, and funny at the same time. Fabulous Muscles might be the best expression of Xiu Xiu's unrepentantly original music; even if the world that the band creates isn't necessarily one you'd want to visit all the time, it remains fascinating.
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About A Girl - Winter Gloves
--- Quote from: The Gateway ---Winter Gloves are so new on the Canadian music scene that these Quebecers don’t even have a Wikipedia entry yet (the gold standard these days of determining a band’s freshness). The group originally began as leader Charles F’s solo project but was soon fleshed out with three additional members (Vincent Chalifour, Pat Sayers, and Louis Fernandez) to form a quartet.
Recorded with a single microphone and tinged with ambient noise, their synth-laden debut About a Girl features hand claps, a strong focus on melody, and a Wurlitzer that Charles F certainly charms some pretty sounds out of.
A glockenspiel tings sweetly in the background of “Party People,” “I Can’t Tell You,” and “The Way to Celebrate” to name a few, leading the band to jokingly refer to themselves as “glock-rock.” Undulating waves of synth and an electronic horn section blare in “Factories,” one of the album’s more danceable tracks, while “Glass Paperweight” is a more stripped down, more guitar driven tune. They save the best for last with “Piano 4 Hands,” which has a sweet, hummable, and most importantly, memorable melody.
Winter Gloves’ lyrics are steeped in urbanity; these suburb kids are open about their love of the city. Charles’ vocals are not unlike sushi in that they’re a bit of an acquired taste, but that statement could really be made about the band’s eclectic sound in general. That being said, even though Winter Gloves are fresh faces on the scene, there’s always a first time for sushi.
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Note: The tracks are in .m4a. If you would like an mp3 upload, just ask.
Le Volume Du Vent - Karkwa
I can't find any review in English.
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The Good, The Bad, And The Cuddly - The Bicycles
--- Quote from: AMG ---The Bicycles are a five-piece group from Toronto and The Good the Bad and the Cuddly is their brilliant debut album. Taking the best of pop (with a capital P) music from the last 40 years, like chamber/baroque pop horns and strings, bubblegum melodies, indie pop charm, Brill Building-worthy songcraft, the energy of garage rock, and new wave do-it-yourself attitude, the band's sound is a glorious testament to the beauty and wonder of pop music large or small. Using the classic pop lineup of guitars, vocal harmonies, various keys, and small doses of horns, the Bicycles and their friends from similar bands like the Hidden Cameras, the Golden Dogs, and the Meligrove Band have created something very cool here. The Good the Bad and the Cuddly is made up of hard-charging rockers ("B-B-Bicycles," "Please Don't Go"), ramshackle rockers ("Gotta Get Out," "Luck of Love"), rollicking Kinksy pop ("Paris Be Mine," "Sure Was Great"), good old breezy indie pop ("Homework," "Longjohns and Toques") and surprisingly poignant ballads ("I Will Appear for You," "Australia," "Ghost Town"), each song arranged simply and deftly, and sung with innocent fervor or heart-stopping sweetness as the occasion dictates. The only thing that slows down the record a bit is the cover of the Harry Nilsson-penned Monkees song "Cuddly Toy"; it somehow breaks the spell that has been cast over the previous ten songs. Maybe it's because it makes specific reference to the group's influences; maybe it's due to the band's original being so strong. Either way the album would have been better off omitting it. Still, we're talking magic here, a record that knocks the competition out with ease. For example, fans of the Apples in Stereo or the Elephant 6 scene and alumni who thought they had the market cornered on this kind of stuff will be floored by this little band that wears matching shorts emblazoned with the letter B. Maybe the only other band to recently work such a magical blend of influences, hooks, and inspired playing is Bikeride on their criminally ignored 2002 masterpiece Morning Macumba. Like that album, The Good the Bad and the Cuddly is a tiny moment of genius destined to be overlooked by all except for an very lucky few.
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michaelicious:
I saw Winter Gloves a couple months ago. They were pretty awesome live. Also, have you heard the newer Bicycles album?
Clapyourhandssaywhhaatt:
OH MAN. I have been loving pop/ twee pop lately. I don't know, it just suckers you in with all it's charm and wonder.
This forum is starting to get good again, for a while there I was rather disappointed; disappointment no more!
Somewhere in here I posted 3 albums by Lullaby for the Working Class, if you like indie folk rock PLEASE do not miss out on them!
Anyway here is another one by them.
I Never Even Asked For Light-
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Business time. Page France anyone?
..andthefamilytelephone
--- Code: ---http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mjmnd2o32wl
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come, i'm a lion
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pear
--- Code: ---http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nnk22zyzgam
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sister pinecone
--- Code: ---http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nvnmyw2joyd
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well that's all he's got, except for tomato morning EP and i can't nor really want to find it, i didn't hear good things. ENJOY!
Also while I was looking at it, here is Two Tongues. They are a collaboration of Say Anything's Max Bemis and Saves the Day's Chris Conley. I've only listened to one song so far and I'm not much of a Saves the Day fan buttttt I do enjoy say anything soooo
Two Tongues-s/t
--- Code: ---http://www.mediaf!re.com/download.php?by3b2xatjyg
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Algernon Cadwallader-Live on WKDU @ Temple University
--- Code: ---http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?wsem2fe2j5g
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I don't know if I should have even posted this they are too good.
MrSteevo:
--- Quote from: Scarychips on 23 Jan 2009, 21:32 ---About A Girl - Winter Gloves
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This is a good album, I bought it awhile ago and listen to it regularly.
I have the Library Voices EP and Rah Rah's Debut album if you want some more good, new Canadian Indie.
Clemsin:
Hi again, I didn't expect the paranoia. I guess it's is somehow justified. I wonder if just one person downloaded the album. When I did this is the track-listing I got.
Chasing A Bee 56:25
Syringe Mouth 33:22
Coney Island Cyclone 20:25
Blue And Black 47:15
Sweet Odysee Of A Cancer Cell T' Th' Center Of Yer Heart 1:00:22
Frittering 1:06:59
Continuous Trucks And Thunder Under A Mother's Smile 5:11
Very Sleepy Rivers 1:31:57
This is Mercury Rev rocking these songs out, way out. No effects just their instruments. No loops as far as I can tell. They are 36kbs. I haven't turned them up loud yet. But they sound good listening while at my desk. This is one of those unexpected gifts. If anyone clicks this and knows more, let me know. I'm curious. Trust me this is worth it. Not my link but all is good as far as I can tell.
Clem
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