Do you like Guided By Voices, Joan as Policewoman, Luna, the Pernice Brothers, Shudder to Think, or Nada Surf? Well, if you do, members of those bands appear on the eponymous debut of Gramercy Arms. But that doesn’t mean you’ll like the music. The record is about as pure as pop can get—some Byrdsy/Gram Parsons guitar accents, sweet Brian Wilson harmonies, an easy tempo, and about forty pounds of sunshine in every song. It’s a 1970s AM radio dream—like the band America, but sans corny lyrics. If you listen close, you’ll hear Joan Wasser (the Policewoman) in the background on “Automatic,” comedian Sarah Silverman on “Looking At the Sun,” and many others, like Lloyd Cole and members of Elk City and a great, too-quickly-gone band, Eve’s Plum.
Unlike other famous indie collective/supergroups (Broken Social Scene; New Pornographers, e.g.), Gramercy Arms isn’t trying to rule the world. Or even change it. Rather than creating an artistic work comparable to the work of their host bands, this collective just got together to make some great pop. Kind of like an indie Travelling Willburys. In my view, it works better when a vast array of talented folks focus on something simple—BSS never really worked for me, because few of the songs gelled. Here, the musicians all work together well, and the remarkable thing is, they’re doing original compositions.
If your curiosity isn’t piqued by the thought of talented folks making happy music (particularly the usually melancholy Joe Pernice), then this definitely is not an album for you. But if you’re looking for a half an hour of joy, check it out.
Looking At The Sun
I Believe
Appropriate Bonus Covers:
Everybody's Talking-Luna
If I Can't Have You-Eve’s Plum
IN CADEO-Self Titled EP
If you’ve never heard of In Cadeo, you’re forgiven. Their self-titled EP was purely a studio baby, borne by the band’s two founding members, Jared Scott (guitar/keyboards) and Pete Sustarsic (drums), before the full band ever assembled. The full group formed this year. But after reading this post, the bell has been rung. You need to know about In Cadeo.
The EP is an all-too-small collection of amazingly well-written, tight compositions. It begins with the midtempo, dirty fuzz of “The Archer,” which has one of the catchiest marching riffs I’ve heard in a long time. After that, we are treated to “This Side The Grave,” a much slower and quieter tune that craws forward on a bed of piano that’s barely audible under the distortion. “Communist Lecture” is like the college intellectual version of “The Archer,” with provocative lyrics (“I think I confused movement with action/I didn’t step forward, but I swear I’m attracted”) and powerful chords.
Overall, this is a drumsNguitars band, but they throw in other instruments to keep it interesting. Lyrically, the songs are great. In Cadeo has tremendous promise. I can’t wait for the full-length.
For fans of: The Pixies, The Diggs, Low, Pavement.
And, best of all, THEY OFFER THE EP FOR FREE ON THEIR SITE! So you have no excuse not to check it out.
This Side the Grave
Bonus Cover!
Maps-Arcade Fire (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)
And don't forget to click the swag box for FREE EPs!!!!
IF YOU DON'T LEARN THE LESSON THE FIRST TIME . . .
Back in '06, two bloggers got two years house arrest and fines for leaking a Ryan Adams album. Now, a blogger faces even more time for leaking Guns N Roses tracks. I don't support leaks, I recognize it as theft, and I think what this guy did was immoral. And, worse, stupid. I don't support posting on major label bands because they are exceptionally litigious and aggressive. I got a C&D back in the old days, when I posted on major label releases, for posting a pre-released song that was sent to me by a publicist, who was well aware of my policy: If you send me something, you must tell me if I can't post it. Far as I know, no independent record company has ever sued a blogger for posting material, leaked or otherwise. Nevertheless, all y'all who are pre-posting Calexico, Of Montreal, MGMT, etc. better watch your backs. Blogging is getting dangerous.
NOT THE BEATLES, A to Z
On my old site, I posted an unbeatles A to Z, so this is kind of an update. But it's got some new stuff, and a zip file of every savefile track. Dig it.
A is for amalgam. A fancy way of saying mash up. Imagine a Walk on the Wild Side-Party Party.
B is for Band On The Run (Paul McCartney & Wings)-Foo Fighters.
B is also for Badge (Cream)-The Subliminal Criminals. This song was actually co-written by George Harrison. Presumably before Clapton wrote "Next Time You See Her," in which he threatened to kill George Harrison if the man was audacious enough to date his own wife. Rock and roll diss records are so cool.
C is for the soulstress Corrine. I'm Losing You (Lennon)-Corinne Bailey Rae. With her vocal range, why is she not at least as big as Rhianna? Oh yeah. It's the fine ass.
D is for Isolation (John Lennon)-Britt Daniel (of Spoon)
E is for Every Night (McCartney)-Mason Jennings
F is for Just Like Starting Over (Lennon)-Flaming Lips
G is for Gimme Some Truth-Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison.
H is for Mind Games (lennon)/W Sucks-Robyn Hitchcock.
I is for Isn't It a Pity? (G. Harrison)-Wanderjahr.
I is also for I'm a Loser (Lennon)-The Eels.
J is twice for Jet (Wings)-Jellyfish and Jet (Paul McCartney and the Wings)-The Features.
K is for Chris Kringle. Happy Christmas (War is Over)-Low (Lennon).
L is for Lenin And McCarthy-Parkas. A tongue-in-cheek tribute tune.
In case that's cheating, L can also be for Let Me Roll It (Wings)-Drive By Truckers.
M is for My Love (Wings)-The Bordellos
N is for Mother (Lennon)-Neutral Milk Hotel.
P is for Grow Old With Me (John Lennon cover)-Postal Service.
R is for Monkberry Moon Delight (Paul McCartney)-Robbers on High Street
S is for Jealous Guy (John Lennon)-Elliot Smith
T is for another Tribute! John Lennon-Citizen Cope
U is for unable to find any Ringo covers. Thank You Ringo Starr-Johnny Vegas. So I'm settling for a Ringo tribute tune.
V is for Vince! Watching the Wheels (Lennon)-Vince Welnick (of The Tubes and The Grateful Dead)
W is for Working Class Hero (Lennon)-Screaming Trees.
X is first for the X in SeX. A twofer!
Give Me Peace (George Harrison)-Ron Sexsmith
Listen To What The Man Said (Wings cover)-Ron Sexsmith
XYZ is for eXamine Your Zipfile!
A is for amalgam. A fancy way of saying mash up. Imagine a Walk on the Wild Side-Party Party.
B is for Band On The Run (Paul McCartney & Wings)-Foo Fighters.
B is also for Badge (Cream)-The Subliminal Criminals. This song was actually co-written by George Harrison. Presumably before Clapton wrote "Next Time You See Her," in which he threatened to kill George Harrison if the man was audacious enough to date his own wife. Rock and roll diss records are so cool.
C is for the soulstress Corrine. I'm Losing You (Lennon)-Corinne Bailey Rae. With her vocal range, why is she not at least as big as Rhianna? Oh yeah. It's the fine ass.
D is for Isolation (John Lennon)-Britt Daniel (of Spoon)
E is for Every Night (McCartney)-Mason Jennings
F is for Just Like Starting Over (Lennon)-Flaming Lips
G is for Gimme Some Truth-Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison.
H is for Mind Games (lennon)/W Sucks-Robyn Hitchcock.
I is for Isn't It a Pity? (G. Harrison)-Wanderjahr.
I is also for I'm a Loser (Lennon)-The Eels.
J is twice for Jet (Wings)-Jellyfish and Jet (Paul McCartney and the Wings)-The Features.
K is for Chris Kringle. Happy Christmas (War is Over)-Low (Lennon).
L is for Lenin And McCarthy-Parkas. A tongue-in-cheek tribute tune.
In case that's cheating, L can also be for Let Me Roll It (Wings)-Drive By Truckers.
M is for My Love (Wings)-The Bordellos
N is for Mother (Lennon)-Neutral Milk Hotel.
P is for Grow Old With Me (John Lennon cover)-Postal Service.
R is for Monkberry Moon Delight (Paul McCartney)-Robbers on High Street
S is for Jealous Guy (John Lennon)-Elliot Smith
T is for another Tribute! John Lennon-Citizen Cope
U is for unable to find any Ringo covers. Thank You Ringo Starr-Johnny Vegas. So I'm settling for a Ringo tribute tune.
V is for Vince! Watching the Wheels (Lennon)-Vince Welnick (of The Tubes and The Grateful Dead)
W is for Working Class Hero (Lennon)-Screaming Trees.
X is first for the X in SeX. A twofer!
Give Me Peace (George Harrison)-Ron Sexsmith
Listen To What The Man Said (Wings cover)-Ron Sexsmith
XYZ is for eXamine Your Zipfile!
Excuse me while I rant . . .
Recently, a commenter accused me of being a music snob and not liking Bloc Party just because it wasn't independent. Although he was not polite in his comment, comparing me to a bodily odor in fact, I feel the need to respond: My primary reason for posting independent artists exclusively is that the major labels don't play nice in the internet playground. They have made it clear that they do not want the help of bloggers unless the bloggers do exactly what the labels say. My second reason is that the vast, vast majority of bands on major labels sound the same. There have been a few exceptions this year, most notably Nas and My Morning Jacket, but those exceptions only prove the rule (especially given the problems Nas had releasing his "untitled" album with a title consistent with his artistic vision). My third reason is that independent artists generally have more drive--less money--and need the help.
As for me being a music snob, of course I am. Who the hell else would spend so many hours a week listening to and writing about music? Are folks who listen to music from a major label and review it for major newspapers any less snobs? I don't think so.
I know I shouldn't dignify internet tough guys with a response, and usually I don't, but sometimes they are so . . . Irritating.
As for me being a music snob, of course I am. Who the hell else would spend so many hours a week listening to and writing about music? Are folks who listen to music from a major label and review it for major newspapers any less snobs? I don't think so.
I know I shouldn't dignify internet tough guys with a response, and usually I don't, but sometimes they are so . . . Irritating.
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