Vol. 5 Issue 31 July 2008
So Coldplay saved the music industry – but then half their record label was fired. In other news, Kanye is mad again – this time it’s not at MTV or the Grammy’s, or Justice, but the hippies behind Bonnaroo and Pearl Jam. Go figure. But really, didn’t Kanye realize that Pearl Jam hasn’t played a “short set” in their entire career. Hell, they are the Grateful Dead of the internet generation – they even got NYC to lift the MSG curfew to accommodate their masturbatory need for 14 encores. But hey, w’ever. I liked “Daughter” well enough. What does this have to do with the BRM you ask? Not much. But we do get a nice sense of schadenfreuda in these affirmations of our very clear “indie superiority.” I mean how can we NOT be stoked when we’re working newest records from Conor Oberst (!), High Places, Ra Ra Riot, David Vandervelde, Apsci and more! BLURBS!
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Current Releases
- Click to see:
- Barsuk
- Thrill Jockey
- Quannum
Barsuk
www.barsuk.com/
Ra Ra Riot
"The Rhumb Line"
Ra Ra Riot is the latest signing to BRM's oldest dearest label-friend, Barsuk Records. And may I just be the first to say: WHAT. A. SIGNING. RRR's Barsuk debut, The Rhumb Line, is absolutely killer. A magnificent pop album that is so incredibly, infectiously accessible I can't see how this thing won't be received as sweet, sweet manna for all our favorite music bloggers. And there's good reason. For one, it's packed with all of that beautiful, liberal arts-invoking, baroque, sweeping string concerto shit that's basically the best thing about Vampire Weekend. Well, Ra Ra Riot break out the old sheet music too. Plus, they even have string players in the band. It's not just "a look." Moreover, the Riot know how to write hi-hat riding dance-pop party jams without sounding derivatively post-punk a la the New York music scene 6 years ago. It's no wonder that they toured with the equally catchy band, The Cribs. And much like The Cribs, Ra Ra Riot just sounds infectiously fun. It's party music people – the next Vampire Weekend, eh? Check out “St. Peter’s Day Festival”.
Lackthereof
"Your Anchor"
Danny Seim is the drummer of Barsuk’s totally awesome experimental pop trio, Menomena. However, before he was playing 5/8 time signatures for that band, he steadily released CD-R’s to his friends and family of luscious multi-layered, brooding indie-pop under the name, Lackthereof. Your Anchor is apparently Lackthereof’s 9th (!) full-length, but it’s the first one to get the official release treatment from Barsuk. If you dug Menomena (and how could you not?) or metronomic after-hours pop in general, you’ll love Lackthereof. Extra points – for the killer cover of The National’s “Fake Empire.” Check out “Ask Permission.”
Thrill Jockey
www.thrilljockey.com/
High Places
"03/07 - 09/07"
Sounding like something of an x-chromosome kid sister to Animal Collective, blog-sensations, the High Places, make ornate and unhinged multi-layered psych pop. However, where Animal Collective goes more for the endless drone thing, the High Places go for trans-global grooves. As 03/07 – 09/07 (a collection of all the Places’ hard to find early singles getting CD release treatment by Thrill Jockey/the group’s Thrill Jockey debut is hitting in September), this guy-girl duo just wants to dance and blow your mind. Polynesian rhythms, and Caribbean flutes and tribal drums are everywhere, as is tons of luscious, spiraling reverb. Somehow these cuts manage sounding like lo-fi field recordings and hi-fi, panoramic shoegaze pop at the same time. It’s a killer winning formula and the Bank Robber can’t wait to see where these two go next. Check out “Jump In”.
Quannum
www.quannum.com/site/
Apsci
"Best Crises Ever"
Look. There’s plenty of stuff I could tell you about Quannum Record’s Apsci – but the reality is, all you need to know is “Crazy Crazy Insane” off the duo’s upcoming album, Best Crisis Ever (Quannum) has whistling. The track is an absolute post-“Young Folks” hit. Riding along on a playful Gnarls Barkley-flavored ghetto-bounce track, an explosive sing-alongable chorus, and a super-infectious whistled hook, “Crazy Crazy...” may be the single most “placeable” song in the entire Bank Robber catalogue. In fact, “Crazy” is so dope, I guarantee you will google “Apsci” after hearing it.
- Click to see:
- Merge
- Secretly Canadian
- Dead Oceans
Merge
www.mergerecords.com/
Conor Oberst
"Conor Oberst"
The “Bob Dylan of the Myspace Generation,” Conor Oberst is back with his most personal record to date. Bright Eyes no more – For his solo “debut” on Merge Records, Conor Oberst is sticking with his own name. Furthermore, as if only to make his point all the more clear, the album is self-titled. Self-titled – literally. All quibbling about names aside, Conor Oberst is flat-out one of our boys’ best. For one, it’s modest and incredibly focused. Oberst reigns in all his manic epic/conceptual schtick to deliver an easy-going and profoundly moving collection of neo dust-bowl folk songs and mid-tempo alt. country. It’s a record tailor made for “the road,” and much like the best of road trips – it ends too soon but stays with you long after the journey’s over. Maybe he’s more the “Townes Van Zandt of the Facebook Generation”? Check out “Souled Out!!!”.
The Music Tapes
"Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes"
Holy old-timey novelty music! I suppose the famed Elephant 6 collective always had that nostalgic, organ-grinder, elephant man-obsessed, “ye olde”-aspect to them – and now I see that it was all thanks to The Music Tapes. What is The Music Tapes, you ask? In short, it’s the pseudo-experimental/Musique Concrete side project of Neutral Milk Hotel member, Julian Koster. Merge is putting out The Music Tapes new record, Music Tapes For Clouds and Tornadoes, and as you might imagine banjos are predominant as are singing saws, accordions, trombone, and as you might not imagine – the clapping hands, static the television, and the 7-foot tall metronome. It’s no wonder album-standout, “The Minister of Longitude” sounds like a lost Neutral Milk Hotel song played by a possessed marching band. Far out. Check out “The Minister Of Longitude”.
Secretly Canadian
www.secretlycanadian.com/home.php
David Vandervelde
"Waiting For The Sun"
Last year, David Vandervelde hit us with what’s now considered an under the radar indie classic, The Moonstation House Band (Secretly Canadian). A cracked out record of psych rock blues that was hard to pin down in the best way possible. The album was a beautiful sweaty mess, which is why the easy breezy follow-up, Waiting For The Sun (Secretly Canadian), comes as such a shocking listen. With song titles like, “California Breezes,” and “Cryin’ Like The Rain,” if I hadn’t read the press materials I wouldn’t of known that Vandervelde recorded these charming golden-strummed tunes in Brooklyn of all places. The man is nothing if not versatile, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish Ryan Adams could make a record half as good these days. A left-field alt. country classic. Check out “I Will Be Fine”.
Dead Oceans
www.deadoceans.com/home.php
The Donkeys
"Living On The Other Side"
The fold out insert of The Donkey’s Dead Oceans debut, Living On The Other Side, tells me more about the band than any blurb really ever could – it’s a poster of just tons of polka dots making different psychedelic shapes. It’s far out, man. And the type of thing my college freshman self would stare and marvel at for hours. Stoned. I might even hang it up on my dorm room wall, next to some of my Mad magazine fold-over end page picture’n’picture things….All the while I’d be listening to The Donkeys. Hailing from the Westcoast (of course), these guys play sublime, Cali-fried surfer-folk-pop. I’m pretty sure most of the dudes in this band exclusively wear shorts. But damn, those harmonies sound so smooth, bro. File Under: Crosby, Stills, Hash, and Young. Check out “Gone Gone Gone”.