Tangents "New Bodies (Temporary Residence)"
Hello, this is Jens Hannemann from such videos as “Complicated Drumming Technique” (Drag City), but basically, I’m the-best-drummer-ever. Besides the oh so many drums that I have (have you seen my mounted bass drums?), i am also by far the best at playing the 9/16 ostinato pattern which turns into a nine-tupleoe That is until I heard Evan Dorrian of Tangents– his cymbal fills on such tracks as “Immersion” or his silent flamadiddleboogiewoogiewookie snare work on “Terracotta”, is not bad, but not very good either. I did actually think he might be even better than me, let alone Maro Minemann but seeing that he only plays a four piece kit and doesn’t wear a tank top-well just so many points off for his lack of style. The Tangents actually sound nothing like Rush (Whattheheck?) or at all like Stewart Coplen’s playing in the Police but the drummer with the tattoos and the beard that I share a practice space with says words like RADIOHEAD and Four TetI? Are those bands? Or some new sticks that I should pick up? Can I get them on Reverb? Regardless’ I’m still the best but I’d recommend you listen to “Swells” anyway, you might learn nothing.
Young Widows "Decayed: Ten Years of Cities, Wounds, Lightness, and Pain (Temporary Residence)"
Wondering how long the band Young Widows has been around? Well, they’ve made researching that fact easy with the name of their new odds and sods collection on Temporary Residence. Decayed: Ten Years of Cities, Wounds, Lightness, and Pain. But unlike a lot of b-sides and one-off collections, not only does Decayed coalesce like a natural album, but it somehow excels as a collection. For a band that has a sound that’s hard to nail down, they’ve done a great job of gathering a grouping of their noisy, heavy, psych-heavy post-punk together. Brutal and beautiful at the same time, these songs are all stand-outs. Half the time it’s like The Jesus Lizard is covering Bonnie “Prince” Billy songs. At other times they are the obvious peers of other modern metal masters like MY DISCO and Coliseum. Check out “Checked In/Out” and marvel how one band’s ephemera could be another band’s stand out tracks.
VenessaMichaels "Flight EP (RTP)"
You like the trap? The hip-hops? The soul r&b grooves? In 3 and half songs, San Diego native and super producer VenessaMichaels has covered all of those bases. Raised on Timberlake, Destiny’s Child, and No Doubt, VenessaMichaels brings the 90’s to the present (sorry fax machines, you’re still in the rearview mirror) with full on slamming production that will sound awesome coming out of the back of your Acura or your $5000 beat headphones (they really gotta bring those prices down). With special guest verses from Effy the Outlaw and $K Venessa are the jams you wanna be pumping and bumping this summer. Check out “Ridin The Waves” and feel the good vibrations-speaking of… if Venessa could only line up Marky Mark and Mike Love as guests on her album.
Laura Jean "Devotion (Chapter Music)"
Oh Australia – when will I ever take the 232 hour flight to taste a real John Dory or hang out with Mel Gibson? Until then, Laura Jean’s Devotion is better then any trip to Outback Steak House. Imagine the XX with the stepchild of Lana Del Rey and Florence (without the machine) and you can start to imagine the downtempo beauty of Laura Jean. If you need a female empowerment jam (sans over the top bravado), check out the winning “Girls On The TV”.