Music Snobbery

Random Thoughts on Random Access Memories

Happy National Daft Punk Day to you. Hopefully, you got your vinyl today, put on your favorite lounge outfit, poured yourself a glass of pinot and soaked in the glory of a new album. Or, you're just a cheap ass and listening to it online for free.

Speaking of which, I purposely didn't listen to the advance stream. I was hoping the duo wouldn't stream it and let the whole world experience it the way music should be -- on a sweet sound system without headphones. Call me old fashion, but I still get a kick from getting a new album, on vinyl or CD, and opening the package. I got the vinyl in the mail today because ye olde local record store didn't bother to get copies or only got three. I admit it, it was rather cool taking the wrapper off and placing it on the turntable. It goes with the whole nostalgia quotient Daft Punk is going with this album, relying on instruments and recording it in a studio with veteran musicians.

As for the premature ejaculations over the awesomeness of the album, I agree with everything DJ Pangburn at Vice's Motherboard says about the phenomenon, the internet ruins music. "Everything is about velocity. The internet has virtually zero patience for thoughtful, reasoned critique. It can't wait." Wait until the new season of Arrested Development is released on Sunday.

I fallback to High Fidelity ot my thoughts on RAM, "I haven't really absorbed that one." Daft Punk has created this Stanley Kubrick mystique about them -- taking their time making new material, give little interviews or insight into their thought process. When it does come out, it's exciting times and will undoubtedly polarize people. After that groundbreaking live tour, they entered into superstar/brand name status with the likes of U2, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, where they could fart into a can and people will love it.

Basically, celebrate the new album, and just enjoy it on its own terms. Accept the fact that they are not going to make Homework II or Discovery, Part II.

Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs Look Sharp on "Things We Be"

Here's a band, I've been wanting to mention for a while. UK upstarts Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs are set to release their debut album next week, Clarietta. They fit in nicely with the pseudo psych-rock revival happening right now with Toy and Temples. There's a lot swirling, fuzzed out guitar licks and organ tones battling out with some freaky melodies. Edwyn Collins produced the band's debut effort for the Heavenly Records label.

A lot of quality tracks to choose from to determine if you're in or out with Charlie B. and his mates. Let's starts with "Things We Be":

The band's debut single, I Watch You, leans more heavily on 90s American alt-rock. Since they are voyeurs, they watch people. Get it?

"Be Glamorous" is interested in that, indeed, it sounds like a 70s Glam Rock track with Charlie's vocals.

The Revival Hour Don't Hold Back on Hold Back

Exciting track and video from The Revival Hour (D.M. Stith of Sufjan Stevens touring band and John Mark Lapham of The Earlies). "Hold Back" comes from their debut album, Scorpio Little Devil. The Independent says of it "their music seethes with excitement at both the lush melodrama of Sixties pop icons like Dusty Springfield and Roy Orbison, and the electronic pioneers of the Eighties."

Check out the evidence below, it's a powerful little epic of emotion:

 

Father John Misty / Jessica Pratt @ Maxwell's

"I don't want this to be like VH1 Storytellers," said J. Tillman (a.k.a Father John Misty) before he began his solo acoustic set at Maxwell's on Friday. If felt exactly like that with the warm lighting, stage props and eventually, the crowd surrounding him. After he started with Honey Bear, he asked if anybody wanted to sit on stage. One guy got on stage, which prompted Tillman to say. "Okay, do any girls want to come up on stage?" Yup, that's how a player plays.

The setlist, I think. It's written on a cocktail napkin and has odd notes on it:

• I Love You, Honey Bear
• Only Son of the Ladies' Man
• Josh T. Pearson (I guess it was a cover of his)
• Ideal Husband
• Writing a Novel
• Chateau Lobby
• Astride Me
• Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
• Nothing Ever Good Happens At The Old Thirsty Crow
• Well, You Can Do It Without Me
• Every Man Needs a Companion
• Bored in the USA
• We Met at the Store
• Funtimes in Babylon

Such a great performance from Tillman on Friday. I knew going in that this would not be a full band affair, which was fine by me. You got to concentrate on his weary voice and expert lyrics. I believe he tested out some new material. At times, he seemed to be making it up as he went along and throwing in a funny observance. He could have been covering the fact that he forgotten what he's written.

To say that his set was intimate would be an understatement. Of course, I took a seat on stage by his feet, which is hard to do when you are wear stiff jeans and Docs. He's become more popular with each visit, so this was a rare chance to see him up close. At first, it felt weird and awkward, like he was some Jesus figure and we were his flock listening to his every word. I could have easily grabbed his leg and screamed, "Dude, you are so awesome!"

It's fascinating being super close to a performer. You can see how he plays the guitar and the little ticks and nuances to his performance. He would make cracks between songs. "Someone tuned my guitar wrong so I had to sing off key. That was awesome:"

The singer gives off a cool, relaxed, easy style. With his shaggy beard and wild hair, he kind of looks like early 70s Kris Kristofferson. He does recall those late 60s/early 70s L.A. singer-songwriters. The music on Fear Fun does recall the freewheeling/troubadour vibe of that scene with songs about crazy love and wild nights. 

Papa John is returning to the area on July 24th at Terminal 5. Booooooo. And skipping Philadelphia as well. Double booooooooo. Thus, I'm going to keep the perfection of Friday night in my mind.

I love what he wrote on his website about touring....

BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS DYING, DUE TO THE WIDE-SPREAD POPULARITY (ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS/COMMUNICATION MAJORS) OF "STREAMING SERVICES" SUCH AS SPOTERZAM, AMAZIFY, AND BLUMBERSCRIMP.  THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN THUS RELIES ON REVENUE ACCRUED BY GETTING WITHIN SCREAMING DISTANCE OF HIS OR HER AUDIENCE AND BEGGING THEM, WITH SONGS, TO BUY THEIR "ALBUM", WHICH IS A MYSTERIOUS MEDIUM WHEREIN THE ARTIST HAS RECORDED, WHAT HE PERCEIVES TO BE "IDEAL" OR "DEFINITIVE" VERSIONS OF HIS TUNES.  IT IS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ARTIST TO SHILL CANNED HAM.

San Francisco-based singer-Jessica Pratt tagged along on this tour. Lovely voice, solid songs. A win.

 

MaxsKansasCity.com: Eddie and the Hot Rods

In the last post for Max's Kansas City's website, I drifted to the U.K. for Eddie and the Hot Rods. They were one of the most popular 70s power pop acts along with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, the Knack and The Romantics.

Franz Ferdinand Finalize Fourth Album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

You'll need to get your smart outfits ready for August 27th as Franz Ferdinand will release their first album in four years. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action was recorded in Scotland, London, Stockholm and Oslo. "The Intellect vs. The Soul, played out by some dumb band," Alex Kapranos says of the new album. He also hints at guest vocals and what nots.

This is the tracklisting:

1. Right Action
2. Evil Eye
3. Love Illumination
4. Stand On The Horizon
5. Fresh Strawberries
6. Bullet
7. Treason! Animals.
8. The Universe Expanded
9. Brief Encounters
10. Goodbye Lovers & Friends

They have a little snippet of the new album in their advert for RT, RW, RA. Beware of the brown note, BWAAHHHHHHHH

MaxsKansasCity.com: Teenage Jesus and the Jerks

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about short-lived, but highly-influencual art-rock band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. If you don't know them, educate yourself.

Eaux Is All About I

I probably should have put together a Bands to Watch List for the Great Escape, which is happening this weekend in Brighton. I usually do one for the Camden Crawl, but that was relocated to Dublin and supposedly still happening in Camden in October.

In any event, if you come across London-trio Eaux, do give them your attention. The electro-pop outfit is creating stunning soundscapes that have an other worldly quality. Depending on your mood, they can enchant you or creepily get under your skin. For me, they chill me out with their little bleeps and bloops and the cosmic vocals from Sian Ahern.

They have many fine tracks to choose from, including Hold On which can scene over at Vogue.co.uk, but I like this 8-minute bundle of wonder "I", as in the letter i. I love the piercing guitars and the smoothed out organ parts.

MaxsKansasCity.com: Neon Leon

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about New York scenester and punk rock legend Neon Leon. Besides being one of the founders of the punk rock scene in 70s NYC, he hung with the Stones, New York Dolls and, infamously, Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen.

Temples Bring Colours To Life

Time to follow-up on UK upstarts Temples, who are now the darlings of the UK music scene. The Gallagher Brothers both have hooked onto the pysch rock band, seperately obviously. Noel was seen at a London gig last month. He told the NME, "It's not really music that should be played in a pub. It's cosmic space music – it should be played in an empty Death Star. Even an empty arena during soundcheck would be better. Imagine what they'd sound like with all the echo."

Since Liam can't be left out, he'll bring the band out as an opening act when Beady Eye tours Spain in July.

This is band's latest single, it's called "Colours To Life"

Tribes Ready Second Album, Wish To Scream

Camden lads Tribes have put the finishing touches on their follow-up 2012 debut, Baby. Wish To Scream is the band's second album, which will see the light of day in the UK next Monday. The album was recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles with producer Kevin Augunas (Ivan & Alyosha). “This feels like our first record as the band we wanted to be. There’s a lot of clarity on it, real songwriting, With our ability to write songs now we feel pretty strong. We’ve started writing the third record already, we’ve got sketches here and there and it’s all sounding good,” says guitarist Dan White.

This is the tracklisting:

1. Dancehall
2. Get Some Healing
3. How the Other Half Live
4. Wrapped Up In A Carpet
5. Never Heard of Graceland
6. It Never Ends
7. Looking for Shangri-La
8. Sons and Daughters
9. One Eye Shut
10. Englishman on Sunset Boulevard
11. Street Dancin'

Here's the first track from the album, it's called "Dancehall"

Previously:

• Tribes @ Mercury Lounge

MaxsKansasCity.com: The Feelies

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about NJ's The Feelies. They shared a bill with Devo during the heyday of the New York art/punk rock scene.

Editors Get Weighty on "Ton of Love" -- New Album Called The Weight of Your Love

As reported before in January, Editors were working on their fourth album in Nashville with producers Flood and Jacquire King (Dawes latest album). This was their first effort without guitarist, Chris Urbanowicz. As you can see in the first video from the new album, they've grown to five. Added to outfit is Justin Lockey (formerly of Yourcodenameis:milo) and Elliott Williams (formerly of Airship).

"Ton of Love" comes from the band's new album, The Weight of Your Love. The album drops July 1st. Tom says the news has "‘love songs...that don'’t adhere to the traditional love song type’." Yup, that's him alright.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. The Weight
2. Sugar  
3. A Ton of Love 
4. What Is This Thing Called Love
5. Honesty  
6. Nothing 
7. Formaldehyde 
8. Hyena  
9. Two Hearted Spider 
10. The Phone Book 
11. Bird of Prey

Watch the new video below:

New Frankie & The Heartstrings, "Nothing Our Way"

This is the latest video from UK pop stars Frankie & The Heartstrings. "Nothing Our Way" comes from their Bernard Butler-produced second album, The Days Run Away. That comes out here on June 4th on Pop Sex Ltd./Wichita Recordings.

MaxsKansasCity.com: I Am Posting There This Week

To promote the website, book and their general legacy, I'll posting over at MaxsKansasCity.com for the week. MKC was the legendary New York rock venue, restaurant and gathering spot located at 213 Park Avenue South. It hosted a who's who of the New York rock and art scene. You name them, they've played there -- from The Boss to the Beastie Boys.

It's no longer there (it's a generic deli now), but MaxsKansasCity.com is keeping the legacy alive with posts of vintage photographs, flyers and videos. This week, I'll highlight some of the bands that have played there. Today it's Devo.

Night Engine Tap Into Their Inner Bowie on "Young and Carefree"

London art-pop band Night Engine have a smashing new single that calls upon the power of 80s Bowie, With those deep, seductive vocals and eurodisco synths, "Young and Carefree" bristles with new wave charm. This is the second single from the up-and-coming London outfit. Their debut single, "Seventeen", was a Franz Ferdinand-ish rave up that got them attention. It led to opening slots for the Kaiser Chiefs and Joy Formidable on their UK tours.

Next up for the band is to trip to Brighton to play the Great Escape festival next weekend. Consider them one of the bands to watch.

Take a listen to Young and Carefree