Berkeley Place

THE PACK A.D.-“Tinytype” and “Funeral Music Mixtape”

The Pack A.D. are a blues duo with a sound much like The White Stripes, only both of them are chicks. Maya Miller plays the drums, and does a good job at bang-and-boom, but the real star here is Becky Black's vocals. Her voice is tougher than Melissa Etheridge was (back when Melissa made good music), whether it’s her you-hurt-me-and-I-hate-you snarl or her you-hurt-me-and-I-want-you-back moan. The guitar work is straightforward blues, accented with great grind and grit, and her lyrics are as tough as anything Jack White ever wrote.

Their debut album, Tinytype, actually came out in 2007, but they’re on a label now and the record got an official release last January. All of the album’s 17 songs are short kicks in the ribs.

I got Tinytype when I was at my favorite used CD store last weekend, and they were playing the more recent, August release, "Funeral Mixtape.” I wanted to pick up FM, but they only had the one copy and they weren’t parting with it. And I’m glad they didn’t. From what I heard, the second album is a little moodier and less raw (as is true of most sophomore releases). It’s good—don’t get me wrong—but Tinytype is great.

For fans of: Grace Slick, Linda Perry, The White Stripes, The Black Keys.

Snow

Bonus Blues!

Goin' Down South (RL Burnside Cover)-The Black Keys

Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash cover)-The White Stripes

I'm Afraid of Americans-Sonic Youth with David Bowie

EDDIE VEDDER LIVE!

A few from his recent show here in D.C. To all of you who were there: I'm fucking jealous. Wish I could see him on tour.

All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

Blackbird (Beatles)

Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

WAX FANG-"La La Land"

It’s hard to describe the sound of Louisville, Kentucky’s Wax Fang. There are traces of classic rock of the arena-sound style, with drama and lots of shouting and chanting. But there’s also a decidedly indie, darkly offbeat side to the band. Much like My Morning Jacket, whose lead singer digs the band, but without the echoey, haunting vocals. In Wax Fang, lead singer Scott Carney has a more “regular” voice for indie rock (recalling The Walkmen, for example). Couple the music, the voice, and wild styles, and the vast differences between songs, and you’ve got a great album that never sits still. The stand-out track is “Can You See The Light?”, an anthem that ends as abruptly as it begins, and “Oh, Recklessness,” a brief acoustic number that recalls Cat Stevens.

And the album cover is startling.

The band’s second album is on their artist-run label, Don’t Panic Records. D.I.Y. As indie as you can be.

For fans of: Lou Reed, My Morning Jacket.

Can You See the Light?

BONUS WAX FANG COVERS:

100% (Sonic youth cover)

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)

The Wizard (Black Sabbath)