Re-Up: Letting the once glorious shine again
Rilo Kiley
"Take Offs And Landings"
Jenny Lewis is now a mega-star, hob-nobbing with music business royalty like Elvis Costello. However, before her transformation to a country-crooning swan, she used to be a nervy art girl, fronting a vaguely emo pop band that managed to marry stinging social commentary with pure California mid-tempo jangle. It’s no surprise Rilo Kiley’s debut Take-off And Landing’s came out on Death Cab For Cutie’s home, Barsuk Records. A yin to DCFC’s yang, Take-Off’s features everything you’ve grown to love about Jenny’s solo stuff today. Hell, the plaintive country kiss-off “Go Ahead” coulda been a single off Rabbit Fur Coat. Enjoy!!
The Rosebuds
"Night Of The Furies"
When The Rosebud’s released Night of The Furies (Merge), it took a lot of their fans by surprise. Here was this amazing vaguely alt-pop rock band who seemed to be getting better and better with every album, ditching guitars completely for – gasp! - synthesizers. But look, let’s say Night was an actual Depeche Mode album, it would’ve been that bands masterpeice. It may not be what anyone expected from The Rosebuds, or even wanted, but this husband and wife team delivered. Night Of...is a hit-filled tour-de-force of anthemic disco-inflected dance pop. Even the songtitles were inspirational - “Get Up Get Out”, “I Better Run”. With fresh ears and zero expectations, it’s clear now that Night will go down as one of The Rosebuds career-defining albums. Ain’t no mis-step here folks. Check out "Get Up Get Out".
Julie Ocean
"Long Gone And Nearly There"
Long Gone And Nearly There is a treasured album at BRM HQ. It’s a rare record, and it will go down as one of a kind now that Julie Ocean’s entire career trajectory lasted no longer the entirety of ‘08. So sad. I guess it’s hard to keep a band together when all the members of said band have day jobs – some selling insurance, some as correspondents for CNN. Gotta send those kids to school somehow I guess. But look Julie Ocean proved that just because you used to be in seminal bands like Velocity Girl – growing older doesn’t necessarily have to mean you grow staler to boot. In nary 30 minutes, Long Gone... blasts by in pure hyper garage-pop perfection. Hook after hook – from the handclap-friendly, “Bright Idea,” to scathing and highly sing-a-longable, “My Revenge”, Julie Ocean proved that “youthfulness” is in your spirit and in your music more than anything else. It’s a heart-warming album that may not have been on all the blogs or getting a NY Times headline story – though, it should have. We love it, and you will too. Check out "My Revenge".
Okkervil RIver
"The Stage Names"
Okkervil River's The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar) has become somewhat of a defining moment for Austin's conceptual gloomy bar-rockers. A triumph, where Will Sheff and Co. made good on all their indie-promise and delivered one hell of an epic classic. Brimming with visceral storytelling, and raw orchestral production, The Stage Names, is definitely one of the most expressive and cinematic albums in the Bank Robber vaults – it's a shock to us that you all didn't greet it with a triumphant rapturous response. "Unless It's Kicks" was an explosive bar-rocker that could've gone head to head with any Hold Steady track out there, and we definitely thought "Our Life Is Not A Movie or Maybe" with it's timpani percussion, and rollicking, explosive chorus' would've had all you Arcade Fire lovers from note one ("Movie" really is absolutely perfect for all of those failed Arcade Fire requests, btw). And my personal favorite, "Savannah Smiles", sounded like Wilco doing their best take on a breezy Velvets style ballad. As Okkervil gears up to release a marvelous companion piece to The Stage Names, there is no more perfect time to re-inspect this under the radar classic.
Silver Jews
"Tanglewood Numbers"
Back in 2005 when David Berman hit the world with this little baby, Tanglewood Numbers (Drag City) - it was a big deal to the indie world at large. Tanglewood was the first new Silver Jews album in a long 4 year span where Berman was apparently heavy into drug addiction, suicide attempts, and myth-making benders with fellow gifted eccentric, Harmony Korine (Kids, Mister Lonely). Any new music from the Jews would've been greeted kindly - an unexpected gift - however, as it turns out, Tanglewood was absolutely awesome, and not only topped many a best-of list for '05, but also is widely considered to be one of The Jews' best efforts. There's nary an un-ironic or boring moment, and the record is brimming with hits. Even the titles were winners: "Punks In The Beerlight," "How Can I Love You If You Won't Lie Down," "Sometimes A Pony Gets Depressed"..."K Hole." In light of the Jews' brand new follow-up Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City), we at BRM thought we'd remind you about one of our favorite older jams you may have missed the first time through.
Citay
"Little Kingdom"
So there are some albums in the proverbial BRM canon, I can understand people not picking up on right away. Citay's Little Kingdom (Dead Oceans) is one of those albums. Citay is a kinda enigmatic name for starters - is it a band?, a side-project?, a trans-gendered singer-songwriter? - what is Citay!? Well, turns out it's a duo sort-of sideproject thing whose bio I once went into in more detail in previous BRM scribblings. However, now, digging this baby out of the vaults, I want to talk about the music. And how freaking rad Little Kingdom was. First of all, it sounded like a greatest hits of all the awesomest electric guitar solos from your favorite 12-minute long Headbanger's Ball power ballads. Picture an album full of ebo-tweaked electric guitar solos heavily influenced by Metallica, "November Rain," Brian Eno, and well Trad, Gras, Stenar too and you've pretty much nailed the Citay aesthetic. It's a weird and brilliant and trippy listen, and it surely deserves to be dusted off for some more lovage.
Elk City
"New Believers"
With Elk City, Indie Rock has it’s own Pretenders. Elk City leading lady, Renee Lobue, comes on like a more debonair Patti Smith/Chrissie Hynde mash-up – and it’s her astoundingly great vocals that made New Believers (Friendly Fire) such a critical favorite. The songs also were quite fantastic - especially, the very moody KT Tunstal-esq, “Los Cruzados,” and the “quirky” cabaret-pop buddy-song, “You Got Me.” For all those “I Can Tell That We Are Gonna Be Friends” replacements, for all those “I’m Sticking With You” requests – supervisors, “You Got Me” by Elk City is your song. You’ve been lead to the water…drink please.
Angela Desveaux
"Wandering Eyes"
Angela Desveaux’s Wandering Eyes (Thrill Jockey) came out almost 2 years ago, but it’s still the BRM’s “go-to” record for lush and beautiful female sung alt. country. With the world going nuts for females like Feist, and that Isreali chick in all those Macbook ads, we feel Desveaux’s moment is now. With production from the man who helmed all those killer Son Volt records, Brian Paulson, (not too mention Sea and Cake, and Superchunk as well), Eyes is a very pretty and weighty affair full of sparkling guitars, and slightly crackling pedal steels. Holy Lucinda Williams! Check out the title track, “Wandering Eyes.”
The Ladybug Transistor
"Can't Wait Another Day"
Brooklyn’s Ladybug Transistor were perennial indie popsters. If you don’t have any of their late-90’s baroque pop gems, hit us up and we’ll get you some must-hear music. Last year’s quiet comeback, Can’t Wait Another Day (Merge), saw Ladybug getting all dark and noir-y on us. The Technicolor sunshine pop of previous release, became muted with shades of grey, and merlot reds. In other words, Ladybug grew up. “Always On The Telephone,” “This Old Chase,” and the melancholy “So Blind” all were standouts on a gorgeous unexpectedly different release, that may have perplexed fans a bit. It also didn’t help that their San Fadyl passed away just weeks before Day dropped. Let’s give this baby a new…er…life.
Michio Kurihara
"Sunset Notes"
Michio Kurihara is a legend to music dorks/snobs etc…As allmusic.com dutifully notes, he basically “invented the Japanese Underground Psychedlic movement.” No surprise then that he went on to become a guiding member of the worshiped Japanese psych-rock collective, Ghost. In the last year, Kurihara has been very busy (not only recording with Damon and Naomi on the record I just gave props to in this very Re-Up), but dude also released one stunningly expansive instrumental solo album called, Sunset Notes (20/20/20), and a killer collaboration with beloved ambient, drone, metal rockers, Boris titled, Rainbow. For all of you looking for Explosions In The Sky level drama, Ennio Morricone-vibe’d western soundscapes, or even trippingly melodic Parisian guitar ditties, Kurihara does them all. A living legend.
Damon & Naomi
"Within These Walls"
We can give you all a pass at not jumping at the chance to listen to a group’s 7th (!) album. But Damon and Naomi are exceptional; exceptional, and exceptions to indie rock, and worldly phenomena. They’ve not only managed to stay together as musicians for 7 albums as a duo and a handful more as the “seminal” dream pop band, Galaxy 500, but they’ve also managed to stay together as a couple from their highschool days! Within These Walls (20/20/20) is only further proof of D&N’s staying power. The press called it one of the duo’s best – and it’s surely their most expansive what with mariachi horns, and “Moon River” – like string arrangements to compliment the trademark hushed vocal harmonies and sleepy guitars. Check out the title track – it’s a heartbreaker.
John Vanderslice
"Emerald City"
Admittedly John Vanderslice’s last record, Emerald City (Barsuk) didn’t have the most inviting PR campaign begging you to listen to it’s indie pop awesomeness. The release was greeted with some story about how it was so very lyric based a la The Decemberists (and we know how much you love those guys…irony!). To make matters worse, Emerald was a “concept” record based around some post 9/11 immigration politics. Exciting stuff right? It’s too bad, this baby got bogged down in so much context, because jams like “White Dove,” and “The Parade” showcase Vanderslice at his most melodic and accessible yet.
Nada Surf
"Re-Record"
"Popular" You know it. You love it. The best song ever featuring real lyrics from an old dating manual. I loved this song when I was an awkward teen, I love this song now that I’m an awkward adult. Only now, I get this awesome, super great sounding re-record. You guys might’ve missed this one – cuz it’s not on any of Nada’s albums, but it’s well worth reliving again.
Lisa Gerrard
"The Silver Tree"
Look. I’m not gonna sell Lisa Gerrard to you movie people. You know her. The spooky, super-talented, ex-Dead Can Dance chick that’s scored some really low-budget movies like Gladiator that you probably haven’t heard of. Well, she released a beautifully atmospheric solo album last year titled, The Silver Tree, from which “Abwoon” comes. Love that title: “Abwoon.” Don’t miss this one again.
Viva Voce
"Get Yr Blood Sucked Out"
They look like the White Stripes, they opened for The Shins, and they’re lablemates with Nada Surf. How are you people not up on this guy and girl with guitars and drums!? “Drown Them Out” is a Benadryl-woozy mindbending acoustic-pop ballad, that wouldn’t be out of place in a Sophia Coppola flick, a Tonya Donnely record, or my ipod. It’s off of Viva Voce’s sorely overlooked Barsuk debut, Get Yr Blood Sucked Out.
Softlightes
"Say No! To Being Cool Say Yes! To Being Happy"
I thought you people were supposed to like Death Cab. I'm so disappointed. When this Soflightes jam Say No! To Being Cool Say Yes! To Being Happy originally came out on Modular earlier this year all the cats we share office space with thought I got my mitts on the new Postal Service record early...Come on - "Girl Kills Bear" = total Postal Service. And plus with highlights like "The Ballad of Theo and June" and "Heart Made of Sound," I'm utterly shocked you people aren't losing your minds! Start going nuts now.
The Wrens
"The Meadowlands"
Now I don’t know if you people just aren’t listening or what!? But when The Wrens released The Meadowlands on Absolutely Kosher in 2003, it was just about instantly hailed as a seminal east coast Indie Rock classic. And in less than 5 years since – I could already see reason for re-releasing this baby in an “expanded edition.” How has nobody licensed from this thing yet? If Lyle and I agree on anything, it’s that this record is one of, if not, the BEST in the entire BRM catalogue. “This Boy Is Exausted” is all but one small reason why…Rocky Votolato
"Makers"
Can you say “ghost of Elliott Smith three times fast”? Super pretty harmonies, all hushed over quiet acoustic guitars, “White Daisy Passing,” (off of Votolato’s Barsuk debut, Makers) shoulda been a smash with the sad guy music set. Here’s a second chance!
What Made Milwaukee Famous
"Trying To Never Catch Up"
And you all apparently love The Shins! What Made Milwaukee Famous “Selling Yourself Short” is an exuberant blast of psychedlic jangle pop a la Zach Braff’s favorite band off of the band’s Barsuk debut, Trying To Never Catch Up.
The Twilight Sad
"Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters"
Glistening, distortion-soaked indie rock from Glasgow’s version of The Walkmen! Off of the much under-loved Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters (Fat Cat), “That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy” is a brooding anthem classic.Portastatic
"Bright Ideas"
A knock out off of ‘05’s Bright Ideas, “I Wanna Know Girls” is a total juke box guitar ANTHEM about an average guy who just really, really wants to know girls, duh. Infectious, and fun, and it has “dimension” – there’s definitely a scene for this baby somewhere.
The Sea And Cake
"Everybody"
I don’t know how you folks missed this the first time around, but “Crossing Line" is one of the best things Chicago’s seminal, The Sea and Cake, have ever done. A total stand-out on this years, Everybody, (Thrill Jockey) (which incidentally is locked for my Top 5 Albums of 2007). Can you say “fuzz bass” three times fast?
Corrina Repp
"The Absent And The Distant"
Absolutely gorgeous female balladry off of Mark Kozelek’s label, Caldo Verde! Repp’s exquisite album, The Absent and The Distant was filled with super-hushed spellbinding piano and vocal jams – “All” should take your breath away.
The Long Winters
"Putting The Days To Bed"
C’mon people, these guys are WAY underrated. And to think sometimes, they sound super accessible…like Counting Crows accessible. Furthermore, I’m convinced LW-frontman is one of the sharpest songwriters my generation has, and this track off the band’s last album, Putting The Days To Bed (Barsuk), has a soaring chorus with the lyrics “the sky is open.” You music sups should be drunk with joy right now.