Showing posts with label dum dum girls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dum dum girls. Show all posts
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Listener's Digest: November 30th - December 7th


Well, this is the last week of new music for 2012. I have decided to do some special end of the year pieces for the next few weeks. I started with this column over the summer and have been having a total blast doing it. Come back next week to see me grade myself in terms of how well I predicted how good an album would be based on early singles. The following week will be my own list for best tracks featured here in 2012 and I am taking the last week of the year off because no one goes online that week anyway. So, without further ado, here is your last batch of brand new music from me, The Listener, until 2013!

Ducktails - "Letter of Intent:" Ducktails is Real Estate's Matt Mondanile, who has been releasing quiet, masterful, low-fi albums for a few years now. "Letter of Intent" is the first single off his forthcoming January album. The track is a marked departure from his previous releases, a filled out synthpop song featuring Daniel Lopatin and Jessa Farkas. Maintaining Mondanile's easy going but wistful vibe, this song is an excellent first impression.
 

Sapphire Slows/Magic Touch - "When I See You:" 90's era house music was the reference point for a lot of the new music coming out this year, so it is fitting to end the year on "When I See You." A collaboration between Magic Touch and Japanese vocalist, Sapphire Slows, "When I See You" is deeply evocative of a certain time and place. A bouncy piano loop propels the track, mixed with echoing vocals by Sapphire Slows. Be sure to mix this in when you are asked, and by asked I mean rudely force someone to let you do this, to DJ a holiday or New Years party.

Laurel Halo - "Sunlight on the Faded:" I have spent the week listening to Halo's masterful 2012 album, Quarantine," in preparation for my "Best of 2012" post next week. Next week, Halo will be releasing this as a new single on Hyperdub. Like the songs on her album, "Sunlight on the Faded" is a crystalline and disjointed song that surrounds Halo's vocals and harmonies around equally fragmented synth loops. The song cuts out at the middle, seemingly over, only to rebuild itself from scratch. Fantastic track!

Haunted Hearts - "Something That Feels Bad is Something That Feels Good:" This week, Dee Dee (Of Dum Dum Girls fame) and husband Brandon Welchez (of Crocodiles fame) announced their new joint project, Haunted Hearts. "Something That Feels Bad is Something That Feels Good" is their debut track and features soaring, reverb drenched guitars, and both artists singing. A mix between shoegaze and garage rock, be sure to expect lots of hype about this act in a few months.

Beach Fossils - "Careless:" After spending a year on two excellent side projects (Heavenly Beat and DIIV), the members of Beach Fossils have reconvened for a proper follow up to their 2011 EP. After a year where there aesthetic really took hold in a general sense, "Careless" is a welcome reminder that Beach Fossils do this whole wistful jangly pop thing the best right now. Overall, the recording quality is better and the various individual elements are not as washed together as they had been in previous releases. The band benefits from this improvement and the uptempo song is sure to be lodged in your head for at least a few days.


Michael Torsell
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Album Review: Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze EP


Often when a band cleans up its sound they run the risk of becoming boring and losing the edge that results from a young band trying to figure out just what they want to say musically while still leaning heavy on their influences. Thankfully, for Los Angeles’ Dum Dum Girls, the progression from record to record has been one of lyrical growth that has shown us that lead singer/songwriter Dee Dee Penny is capable of great range and any inclinations we might have had to box this band into the category of garage rock and lo-fi have been proved wrong.

On their new EP, End of Daze, the band packs an honest, emotional musical statement into 5 songs and just under 18 minutes. Dee Dee has a maturity in her songwriting that makes the bands more recent work appealing on a much deeper level. While last years LP Only in Dreams dealt with similar themes of loss and love, End of Daze acts as a more transparent look into a songwriter who recently lost her mother to cancer. The track "Trees and Flowers"describes a weary world view in a moody tone that ultimately serves as a powerful unveiling of emotion.

The final two tracks on the EP are where Dee Dee really shows off how far she has come as a songwriter and downright impresses with her performance on "Lord Knows". The hypnotic melody coupled with the familiar chord progression make for an undeniably listenable song, but the vocal performance is what makes this track a downright classic. Instead of clouded by reverb, the singer's voice is allowed to shine and carry the song and for the first time is powerful enough to make the listener pay attention to her every word. The final track "Season in Hell" closes out the record with a hint of optimism. The line "Confession's not a cure, there's always darkness to endure/ On the path to be redeemed" shows an artist not just letting her emotions out through her music, but one actively working through them in an effort to move forward which is ultimately what this EP serves as, a sign of great growth for a band that has remained active and shows no sign of slowing down this progression.

Grade: A-


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Top 10 September Album Releases


Here we are, face to face with September and it’s difficult to be upset. In most ways this summer has been incredibly good to us; we should be very grateful. There’ve been a surplus of incredible shows and events to check out in WNY all season long and all of that great momentum just seems to be carrying over into the fall as well. In many ways we perceive Autumn as a season of decline, but it’s also a period of renewal and harvest. While autumn carries a certain nostalgic weight, it is also a chance to start fresh and look ahead to new beginnings. And new music. There's a ton of new music.

10. Rudi Zygadlo - Tragicomedies
Rudi Zygaldo gets the name of his first transfixing single “Melpomene” from the Greek Muse of Singing who later becomes the Muse of Tragedy, often depicted with a mask in one hand and a knife or club in the other. After discovering this, the image itself becomes nicely aligned with said single from his newest release Tragicomedies. The Scotland native’s sound can be attributed to a mix of pop, contemporary electronic, and a touch of dubstep. He has previous released an LP Great Western Laymen from Planet Mu records out of Kent, England. Tragicomedies is due out 9/24. Listen to "Melpomene" below:


9. The xx - Coesist
The xx are a South London quartet who came to prominence in 2009 with their sparse, yet fresh sounding self-titled debut. The xx received raved reviews and their popularity has since skyrocketed, enough to get them the #15 spot on (the predictable) Pitchfork’s People’s List, a recent tally the site undertook to measure their readers’ top 200 albums since the media publication launched in 1996. Yes, you could call them a buzz band, but even if you aren’t blown away by their minimal take on indie-pop, it doesn’t hurt to see what they’re up to 3 years and millions of fans later. I already have a few opinions about the latest single “Angels”, but give it a listen and decide for yourself what you think. Their album Coexist is due out 9/11 via Young Turks.




8. David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant
In May I had the great opportunity of seeing St. Vincent at Town Ballroom as she set out on her Strange Mercy tour and it was easily one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. In between songs during her outstanding performance she chatted with the audience and told a few stories, and that’s when I first heard that she would be releasing an album with none other than David Byrne, who she claims is one of her greatest influences. The former Talking Heads frontman and her started this project back in 2009 when they met at a benefit concert called Dark Was The Night put on by Red Hot. The two hit it off and after being asked to collaborate for a similar event by Housing Works, the two agreed to make music together. What started as a small undertaking of writing a few songs together, the project blossomed and they quickly agreed it would be a good idea to release a full collaborative album, obviously an amazing idea. The songs are unique in that they center around horn instruments instead of their typical respective guitar ensembles, which you can especially pick up on in the latest single from the album Love This Giant called “Weekend in the Dust”. The album is due out 9/11 via 4AD and can be pre-ordered here.

7. Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze EP
Lo-fi surf-rockers Dum Dum Girls recently set out to develop a cleaner sound on their sophomore record, Only In Dreams, released last year, and now they’re checking in with a 5-track EP, End of Daze due out 9/25. The latest track from the short stack, “Lord Knows”, was featured a couple weeks ago on the blog, citing the track’s full and anthemic tone. Listen to the “Lord Knows” below:


6. Efterklang - Piramida
The opening track of orchestral indie-rock outfit Efterklang’s fourth LP Piramida, is rhythmically captivating, beginning with spacey pings layered with choral harmonies fading in and out, and wild snares running ear to ear. Lead singer Casper Clausens belts a gentle intro, “It’s impossible and over mountain Doka / and I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.” Since their 2010 album Magic Chairs, which first got them on board with 4AD, the group has been busy touring, writing, and even released a collaborative film with Vincent Moon called An Island, which is based around music from Magic Chairs. I highly recommend you download the 48 minute film, which you can do on a name-your-price basis here. What makes Piramida the group’s most compelling release to date is their recording process which consisted of the musicians spending 9 days on the Norwegian island of Spitzbergen taking over 1000 different recordings at the industrial settlement of Piramida, now a ghost town 1000 kilometers from the North Pole. Watch the intriguing trailer for the album below:


5. Chris Cohen - Overgrown Path
Chris Cohen has contributed to a lot of different projects in the last decade or so, including: The Curtains, Cryptacize, and Deerhoof. To add to his resume, Cohen has also toured with the likes of Ariel Pink, Cass McCombs and Danielson. Now, the 37-year-old Vermonter is releasing his very first collection under his own name due out 9/25 entitled Overgrown Path. The debut single from the album, “Caller No. 99”, is a catchy psych-rock ditty with phased-out guitar loops and Ringo-esque percussion. You can download it below: 

  

4. Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
Thee Oh Sees’ debut single off their latest (and 14th) album “Flood’s New Light” deals the cascading tie-died riffs and kick/snare rhythms we’ve come to expect from the San Francisco outfit, but with a slightly more polished approach. Which is just fine, because sonically, it might be their most mature release yet. Even better news is that the group will be headlining a show here in  WNY at Town Ballroom on 9/25. It get’s better: Ty Segall will be opening. Pre-order tickets here. 



3. Cat Power - Sun
Cat Power, otherwise known as Chan Marshall, is releasing new material for the first time in six years with her latest LP Sun, due out 9/4 on Matador. The album is available to stream over at The Guardian, and I’m sure you’ll find it on a few ‘best of 2012’ lists come December. The first single off the new record “Ruin” is an upbeat track (maybe her most cheery to date) with accelerating keys and drums that cross-stitch into a catchy rhythmic motif. Listen below:




2. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
The New York-via-Baltimore experimental quartet released one of the best records of the past decade in 2009 with Merriweather Post Pavilion, and now 3 years later we are just itching to see how they will follow it up. Their answer: Centipede Hz. If you thought the Collective couldn’t get any freakier, think again. The album has been available to stream for a couple weeks now, and while it might not live up to the impression of its predessessor, it does not dissappoint in the slightest. The albums due out 9/4. Stream the ten song album complete with psychadelic videos here.
1. Grizzly Bear - Shields 
The latest track from Grizzly Bear “Yet Again” off their newest record Shields might be their most gorgeous single to date. Ed Droste takes the reigns on vocals as the listener is drenched with expansive guitar strokes and trademark harmonies, and it seems Grizzly Bear has only gotten better at expanding their sonic bag-of-tricks. And this isn’t very surprising. Since 2009’s Veckatimest, which is easily the Brooklynites’ best record to date, the group has spent sometime touring and working on solo projects with Daniel Rossen releasing his EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile in March of this year and Chris Taylor releasing his record Dreams Come True under his CANT moniker last September. These creative endevors have only pushed this group’s creative potential even further, which is why Shields will be one of the best records of the year. Shields is due out 9/18 on Warp. Pre-order it here.

Tom Dennis
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Listener's Digest: July 27 - August 2



Grizzly Bear and Unicorn Kid have done me a huge favor. I am, of course, assuming that they know of my column and timed the release of their latest songs in order to be included in this week’s edition of Listener’s Digest. That is the most logical explanation for this fortuitously timed new song, right? Of course I am right; in fact I am right 85% of the time. The other 15%? We never speak of that, ever. Do you hear me? We never speak of what happened that night. If anyone asks, I had nothing to do with the nuclear meltdown in Japan. Nothing! Anyway, another week means another selection of great new music.

Grizzly Bear – “Yet Again:” It is instantly obvious that this is a shift towards something more accessible for Grizzly Bear. A straight forward rock song is new territory for the band, currently finishing up their fourth album. However, "Yet Again"retains the melancholic minor-chord mood the band has been cultivating over the years. While "Yet Again," is new territory, Grizzly Bear appears confident and the song is excellent. Brooding and haunting, the guitars swirl and crash around Ed Droste's vocals until finally coming apart at the end, the stormy crash reminding you that this is still a Grizzly Bear song. 


Dum Dum Girls – “Lord Knows:” A slow, sultry track off of their forthcoming EP, Dum Dum Girls continue to establish their  growth as a band. Band leader Kristin Gundred's evocative vocals carry the song, which is backed by a subtle guitar line and plodding drums. A bridge featuring only Gundred's vocals demonstrates her strength as a writer of moody and atmospheric rock songs. 



JJ Doom – “Guv’nor”: A new collaboration between the enigmatic MF Doom and Jneiro Jarel, "Guv'nor" features Doom rapping over a very brief sample looped to a  twitchy and percussive effect. The beat is consistently on the brink of being terribly annoying, but never quite reaches that point, somehow, in turn, making it a very captivating. An array of brief vocal samples and screams end the track on a weird note. 



Unicorn Kid – “Need U:” In a certain way, the over the top maximalist sound of Unicorn Kid makes a lot of sense, coming across as the logical coming together of a certain style and sensibility. This new single, released only a few hours ago is jubilant, with a breathless quality running throughout. At times, "Need U" seems like it can barely keep up with itself as blaring synths and samples seem to pile on top of each other with little moment for air. 





The Sea and Cake – “Harps:” This new song from the Chicago veterans is considerably different from the Unicorn Kid track and may be a good breather. The Sea and Cake have been consistently putting out great music since the mid-90's. A breezy and smooth song, "Harps" is standard material for The Sea and Cake. However, in their case, consistency is not a bad thing. Actually, the prominent synth line is a new addition to their sound, one that works well. 



Michael Torsell
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Listen to a new track from Dum Dum Girls: "Lord Knows"


Later this fall, Dum Dum Girls will put out their latest EP, End of Daze via Subpop, and today they've released the first cut off that upcoming collection: "Lord Knows". The track is nothing but stunning, entering with distant, anchored drums and an even-tempoed chord progression as lead singer Dee Dee's harrowing coo sneaks it's way between the two as she sings, "I want to live a pure life / I'd say that it's about time." Coming off of their commendable sophomore full-length released last fall, Only In Dreams, Dum Dum Girls had built up a reputation as DIY lo-fi hall of famers when they suddenly decided a shift to a more polished approach was in order. As a result, Dum Dum Girls have taken to a fuller, more matured sound and style of songwriting that is slowly pushing them up in the ranks of rock-goddess-hood. You can stream and download the song below in exchange for your e-mail address. You can also see a track listing and pre-order a copy of the EP, due out September 25, here.



Tom Dennis
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Best of 2011 Staff Picks: Jon




Favorite Album of 2011

Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High EP:  This was an easy one. More than anything else this year, the He Gets Me High EP never left my car stereo (yes, in addition to vinyl, I ALSO still buy cds). The Dum Dum Girls play the kind of music I want to hear. Melancholic indie rock with pop sensibilities and just the right shade of cool. All four tracks on the EP are stunners from the glass sheen brilliance of the title track to their epic cover of the Smiths "There is a Light that Never Goes Out". The Dum Dum Girls ventured further from the tracks with this release as they headed towards a more hi-fi approach, compared to their previous album, I Will Be. Very few bands can make that leap, keep their credibility intact and still deliver the goods. Almost ten monthes after its release I'm still listening to it on the weekly.




Honorable Mention

Handsome Jack - Supermoon:  I was reluctant to include a local on here. I didn't want people to think I was playing favoritism, and another writer on here already listed a local as their honorable mention (shout out Steve! That Found record is really, REALLY good too!). Fuck it. Handsome Jack's new album, Supermoon, is great and if you've heard it you wouldn't disagree with me. "Turn to Dust" is worth the price of admission alone. When I listen to that track, I'm transported and that's the sign of really good music. It's reflective, on point, and along with the rest of the album, so perfectly produced. In fact, it's one of the most natural records I've heard this year. HJ's sound has certainly matured over the last few years, but I think it's a welcome change and I hope the guys keep putting out quality records like this.




Favorite Song of 2011

"Country Line" by Cass Mccombs:  Confession time. 2011 was a pretty rough year for me. A lot of personal changes, re-examining of views, and reflection. Anyone who has ever went through a breakup or lost a loved one finds that song that speaks directly to them and the lyrics take on an almost human form. "County Line" was there for me when I needed it the most. From the soft, subtle keyboards to the almost whispered vocals, "County Line" has a sense of longing and urgency that's impossible to fake. Cass Mccombs gets my vote for songwriter of our generation with this one.




Honorable Mention

"Life in Paper" by Fucked Up:  David Comes to Life is arguably one of the best releases of the year. This track in particular hit me like a ton of bricks. I love how the song swells and swells and then explodes with an almost patriotic fervor. The lyrics are poignant and honest. Every time I hear the opening line "Who can I trust, all I see is an empty sky, who can I trust, what goods a God who can't hear my cries?", I can't help but be moved.




Favorite Concert of 2011

Jessica Lea Mayfield, Johnny Corndawg at Mohawk Place (8/11/11):  I had zero expectations for this show. I'd never heard Johnny Corndawg and listened to Jessica only casually. I was incredibly blown away by both acts. Johnny Corndawg had a raw, old school country vibe that pulled me right in. He was eccentric and charming and wrote damn catchy songs. Likewise, my eyes never veered far from the Jessica or her band. The sound was pitch perfect. Fresh vinyl at its best. After the show, I bought both groups entire discography.


Jessica Lea Mayfield: Kiss Me Again by -gaga


Honorable Mention

TSOL at Mohawk Place (6/08/11):  TSOL are legends for anybody who follows punk rock, and they're one of my favorite bands. I had seen them twice almost ten years prior and they killed back then. But they were older now, in their forties, and we all know that retro acts tend to blow chunks live. All I can say is that the spark is still there. They played all the old stuff (as expected) as high velocity as a group of teenage kids (not expected). If you weren't there, you'll never know.


Tsol - beneath the shadows - 06 - glass streets by darcy wonder



jon krol
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