Friday, February 4, 2011 at 3:03PM 
San Francisco's Young Prisms have a sound that takes a jangly, beachy vibe (Real Estate, Best Coast) and drowns it in a thick swirling psych haze. A little garage rock, a little shoegaze and there you go.
"Sugar", which you can grab below, is one of my favorites off their recent debut "Friends For Now". Check out Young Prisms at The Middle East Downstairs this Friday 2/4 with The Radio Dept.
Friday, February 4, 2011 at 9:16AM 
I guess I lost track of Modern Skirts somewhere along the line. Catalogue of Generous Men was one of my favorite albums back in 2004, but I never really got into 2008's All Of Us In Our Night and then at some point the band dropped off my radar. Following an EP last year that I totally missed, they are back with a full-length LP Gramahawk.
The first thing you'll notice is how much their sound has evolved; much of the bouncy jangle has been replaced by electronic blips, art-rock twists and a variety of experimental sounds. Not what I expected, but nevertheless great. Check out "Bumper Car", which features a deep groove, dark lyrics and a seductively ominous sound...
Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 7:29AM ;)
Chikita Violenta recently signed to Broken Social Scene's Arts & Crafts label, and teamed up with former-BSS producer Dave Newfeld to record their third album TRE3S. So, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the band's sound is heavily influenced by those classic early Broken Social Scene records.
Big juicy pop hooks, perfect melodies, delirium-inducing prettiness. It's pretty much all there and even though the band is actually from Mexico City you wouldn't know they're not from the great white north. Check out "Roni", seriously good stuff...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 9:20AM ;)
There are labels that you come to trust. You know that everything they put their time and marketing dollars towards is going to be great, without having to hear a note. Partisan is quickly earning that reputation.
Bobby, the Brooklyn-based label's newest signing, continues that trend...at least from the little I've heard so far. Dewey, pretty, off-kilter folk from the woods of rural Western Mass. "Sore Spores" is a hypnotic folk head trip featuring the angelic voice of Mountain Man's Molly Sarle - enjoy...
Bobby will be opening for The Low Anthem on the east coast leg of its Smart Flesh tour, dates here:
Feb 24: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue- Washington, DC*
Feb 25: First Unitarian Church Sanctuary- Philadelphia, PA*
Feb 26: Brillobox- Pittsburgh, PA*
Feb 28: Lincoln Hall- Chicago, IL*
Mar 4: Old South Church- Boston, MA*
Mar 5: Iron Horse Music Hall- North Hampton, MA%
Mar 7: Space Gallery- Portland, ME*
Mar 8: The Bowery Ballroom- New York, NY*
* supporting The Low Anthem
% supporting DOM
(The Low Anthem and DOM on back-to-back nights...how's that for versatility?!)
Post a Comment | 4 References | Share Article | tagged Bobby, Mountain Man, Partisan Records in New Music
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 8:28AM 
I'm not usually so much a fan of instrumental post-rock stuff. I've blissed-out to some Explosions In The Sky on occasion, but overall it's not really my thing. That said, who can't appreciate massive crescendos that build and build then crash like ocean waves on rocky coastlines, right? I've been digging Codes In The Clouds and while it might fall outside my normal comfort zone, it comes highly recommended. Also feels like good music for this crazy Day After Tomorrow-esque weather.
Monday, January 31, 2011 at 8:57AM 
You could say David Wax Museum had a good 2010. They toured with The Old 97s, played one of the most memorable sets at Newport Folk 2010, garnered lavish praise from NPR's music guru Bob Boilen and took home a Boston Music Award - but with a recent NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Daytrotter session and steadily-building buzz, it's starting to look like 2011 might be even better.
The question is, does their new album Everything Is Saved live up to the growing expectations? Simply put, the answer is a resounding "yes" - this is the sound of artists maturing, expanding and refining their sound and delivering a lovingly-crafted masterpiece of an album.
It's a well-known fact that David Wax spent a year in Mexico studying traditional son jarocho - and that influence is sprinkled throughout the album - but a variety of other influences as diverse as Klezmer, traditional folk and indie rock are seamlessly blended into a textured and cohesive whole. Opener "Born With A Broken Heart" begins with handclaps and a simply-strummed jarana, but gradually builds to a rousing crescendo as accordion, ramshackle percussion and finally latin horns appear. From there the album takes a number of unexpected twists and turns - "That's Not True" is a haunting, percussion-driven standout that features an Eastern European accordian and horn interlude that wouldn't sound out of place on a Beirut record. "Night Was A Car" is a blue-eyed soul tune that I could picture Rick Danko belting out in the basement of Big Pink. "Chuchumbe", a hybrid Mexican-folk-pop should-be hit that you won't be able to get out of your head. The album draws to a close with two simple folk ballads "The Least I Can Do", a poignant reflection on the past, and "Wait For Me", a solemn vow of solidarity and love.
These varied influences are expertly combined to create a sound that is refreshingly original and tuned to suit the mood of each song. With such a rich palette of sounds at their disposal, the restraint shown is impressive - never are the arrangements heavy-handed or excessive. In fact, some of the most affecting moments on the album are when the songs are stripped bare - "Lavender Street" features solo piano, simple electric guitar, leaving nothing to distract from the vocals. Similarly, subtle instrumentation is used to accompany Wax's acoustic guitar in the haunting ballad "Look What You've Done To Me". Sam Kassirer's production cannot be overlooked in helping tie the album together and give it a cohesive, live sound - it feels as if you're in the room with the band.
The success of Everything Is Saved is clearly an extension of the people who made it, and the care, love and hard work that they invested. The album -- and I mean that in the broadest sense, from the songs/arrangements, to the DIY funding, to the beautiful packaging -- fully reflects the dedication, belief and sweat equity that the David Wax Museum have poured into their craft. Everything Is Saved is a triumph for a band that has done things on their own terms. I continue to be amazed as I see this band ascend to ever greater heights, but it's not surprising in the least.
David Wax Museum - Born With A Broken Heart
Everything Is Saved is out February 8, order it here. The band's Boston CD release extravaganza is sold out, but the band has a busy tour schedule lined up, including other New England dates in Biddeford ME, Fall River MA and Greenfield MA. Full tour schedule:
Post a Comment | 5 References | Share Article | tagged David Wax Museum in Free music, New Music, Review
Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 2:40PM 
Folk-punk quintet O'Death will release their third album Outside on April 19th. On April 16 they'll bring their frenetic, jaw-dropping live show to Great Scott (along with Brown Bird, no less -- a must-see show). Thankfully, you don't need to wait until then to get a preview of the album as the band has released lead single "Bugs"
Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 8:58AM
Had to share this video for Erland & The Carnival's "Map Of An Englishman" from their upcoming album Nightingale. I rarely take the time to watch videos, I generally tend to listen to music while doing other things, but this one caught my attention and I couldn't look away. Watch the video below and while you're at it, stream/download "Trouble In Mind" from the 2010 EP of the same name...
