Filed under: Interviews, Issue 19, Issue 19 Q&A | Tags: Atlas Sound, Bears in America, Caution Children, central new york, Dandy Little Lions, Devon Stewart, Erica Scarano, indie music, ithaca, Jenny Lewis, Keys N Krates, lo-fi, Minus the Bear, Modest Mouse, Mouth's Cradle, Neko Case, Neon Indian, Royal Bangs, Syracuse, Syracuse University, Taylor Swift, Thao Nguyen, The Avett Brothers, The BQE, The Flaming Lips, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Temper Trap, The xx, Tundra Toes, White Picket Fence, Xylos
Filed under: Features | Tags: Closer, Daydream Nation, Devo, Echo & The Bunnymen, entertainment!, Essential Logic, faith, fanfare in the garden, Gang of Four, Grotesque (After the Gramme), is this real?, Joy Division, marquee moon, metal box, More Songs about Buildings and food, murmur, pink flag, porcupine, post-punk, Psychocandy, Public Image Ltd., Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, R.E.M., second edition, Sonic Youth, speaking in tongues, Talking Heads, The Fall, the ideal copy, THe Jesus and Mary Chain, the kitchen tapes, The Raincoats, The Ramones, The Velvet Underground, The Wipers, White Light/White Heat, Wire
In the late-’70s and early-’80s, following hot on the trails of punk rock, a new musical movement developed on both coasts of the Atlantic. The artists and bands associated with it shunned punk’s noise for a more layered, introverted songwriting and instrumentality. The movement brought with it synthesizers, Krautrock influences, as well as a more complex and experimental approach to music-making. In doing so, they set the wheels in motion for the eventual surge in ’80s and ’90s alternative rock. History has labeled this movement post-punk.
So what’s the very best of post-punk? 20 Watts’ CHRIS PARKER has the answer in our seventh 20 installment. Watch for new 20s each Thursday, only on 20 Watts, and check out our previous 20s below!
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Bear vs. Shark, Marc Paffi, post-hardcore, Terrorhawk
Bear vs. Shark's Terrorhawk is one of the most overlooked, yet essential records of the decade
PREVIEW: VISIT Bear vs. Shark’s MySpace
One of the definitive post-hardcore acts of the 2000s, it’s a shame that Bear vs. Shark had to disappear so quickly. In just four years of existence, the band managed to put out two successful albums, including one of my nominations to be included among the best of the decade, 2005’s Terrorhawk.
From the fuel-injected opener “Catamaran,” to lead singer Marc Paffi’s apparent madness on “Heard Iron Bug, ‘They’re Coming to Town’,” to the spiraling, brash closer, “Rich People Say Fuck Yeah Hey Hey,” the record exudes a confidence few have been able to match.
The group shreds through every track, music thrashing about wildly, as they leave utter chaos around them. But amidst all the noise, it’s still a set of engaging and technically sound tracks, all of which, even the 28-second “Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey,” deserve your utmost attention.
For those who aren’t acquainted yet, you’re truly missing out on one of the most beautifully hectic efforts of the decade.
– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Issue 19 | Tags: Caution Children, Jabberwocky Cafe, Mouth’s Cradle, The Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band
Slideshow from 20 Watts’ spectacular launch show, Thursday Oct 29th at Jabberwocky Cafe. Including performances by Caution Children, The Northbound Traveling Minstrel Jug Band and Mouth’s Cradle. Just incase you missed the most amazing evening of the semester, we bring you a small bit of musical goodness.
– Slideshow by Irina Dvalidze
– Photos by Isabel Alcantara
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: fighting trees, People Are Soft, Rick Sieber, Scott French, Steve and Krista Yutzy-Burkey, the swimmers
20 Watts Reviews The Swimmers’ People Are Soft
PREVIEW: VISIT The Swimmers MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 15/20
The contemporary music scene is full of one-album phenomena; countless bands produce spectacular debut albums but fail to follow up with a credible sophomore creation that could cement them as solid and active musicians. Fortunately for us, The Swimmers are far too dedicated to fall under that category.
After the success of 2008 debut Fighting Trees, the Philadelphia quartet has been way off the radar. Finally though, they have re-emerged with People Are Soft. However The Swimmers are not making a “comeback” in just any old way. Rather, it’s in their very own home studio, which band members Steve and Krista Yutzy-Burkey, Scott French and Rick Sieber built from scratch. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Amanda Lear, Bon Jovi, CFCF, Continent, disco, Donna Summer, John Travolta, Miko Mission, Poison, Sylvester, The Bee Gees
CFCF tries to make a disco album, but doesn't remember what made disco great in the first place.
PREVIEW: VISIT CFCF’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 13/20
Disco gets a bad rap. And with John Travolta in that horrible white suit, the incessant playing of the Bee Gees “Staying Alive” and those terrible, terrible dance moves, it’s easy to see why. But hey, if Bon Jovi and Poison were the first things that came to mind when people thought of rock music, people would consign rock and roll to the same level of musical hell they now attribute to disco.
So, to defend a reviled genre, but not to bring leisure suits back, let it now be said that disco could, at times, be pretty awesome. Seriously, listen to some Amanda Lear, Miko Mission, Donna Summer or Sylvester if you’re still questioning it. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Broken Social Scene, Ennio Morricone, Lymbyc Systym, New York City, Ratatat, Shutter Release
Sibling duo, Lymbyc Systym
PREVIEW: VISIT Lymbyc Systym’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 19/20 Watts
Instrumental, innovative and intrepid, sibling duo Lymbyc Systym returns to the airwaves this fall with their latest album, Shutter Release. The Tempe, Arizona, pair introduce fresh concepts that expand far beyond the constraints of genres or comparisons to similar acts. While not exactly electronic, yet not a traditional instrumental band, Jared and Mike Bell seek unadulterated originality on Shutter Release. Connections to bands like Ratatat and Broken Social Scene quickly break down as Lymbyc Systym set their own pace and present their own sound. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Jacknife Lee, Lil Wayne, Nick Wheeler, Rainn Wilson, Rivers Cuomo, The All-American Rejects, The Office, Tyson Ritter, Weezer
Weezer's Raditude is scheduled to drop on November 3rd.
PREVIEW: VISIT Weezer’s MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 14/20 Watts
When Billboard announced in November 2008 that alt-rock legends Weezer would be entering the studio to record their seventh studio release, the band’s fan base was immediately abuzz with anticipation, and with good reason. Frontman Rivers Cuomo was bringing back old friend Jacknife Lee, who had produced the Red Album’s Billboard topping single “Pork and Beans”. The album had beginnings as another notable addition to Weezer’s already impressive catalogue. Now, almost a year later, we can finally see the results.
Raditude, which derives its name from a suggestion to Rivers by close friend Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight from the Office), is a classic Weezer party album in every sense of the term. All too obvious is the fact that Rivers decided to take this album much more in the direction of contemporary pop, which will be the aspect that will make or break the album for most listeners. Most of the tracks lack the depth and inspiration of some of Weezer’s earlier albums (see The Blue Album and Pinkerton), and will undoubtedly hail some criticism from fans of those albums. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Julian Casablancas, The Lonely Island, The Strokes
The Strokes' Julian Casablancas' solo debut is an energetic success
PREVIEW: VISIT Julian Casablancas’ MySpace
WE GIVE IT: 16/20 Watts
After all of the hinting at pop dreams, the collaborations and that ridiculous track on The Lonely Island’s album (see “Boombox”), listeners finally get to see a finished product from The Strokes‘ Julian Casablancas.
Phrazes for the Young, the Strokes’ fronman’s first solo album, comes off as a whirlwind of pent up energy. It’s as if these tracks have been locked up for years, waiting for the right moment to burst out. For as much as Casablancas’ main project has succeeded in pop, they’ve never done it like this. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Chunk of Change EP, Gossip Girl, Jack Beats, Manners, Passion Pit, remix
Jack Beats try their hand at remixing Passion Pit's "Little Secrets"
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Jack Beats’ Remix of Passion Pit’s “Little Secrets” MP3
When I first heard “Sleepyhead,” I became an instant Passion Pit addict. Considering Chunk of Change is just an EP, you can imagine my excitement when Manners dropped this past May. I so enjoyed introducing all of my friends to this amazing new group and relished in the fact that they were my own little treasure.
Sadly, the rest of the world soon discovered Passion Pit. “The Reeling” can be heard at almost every party. Remixes of almost every song on Manners are all over the great and powerful World Wide Web. “Moth’s Wings” was even featured on an episode of Gossip Girl. Needless to say, I was a sad, sad girl for at least a month.
The one thing that finally brought me out of my Passion Pit-turning-mainstream slum was a remix I recently discovered. After sifting through about 5 remix attempts of “Little Secrets,” I finally found one by Jack Beats that is quite possibly one of the best remixes I have ever heard. The once happy-go-lucky number is smothered with a dark, mysterious sound. These boys completely transform the track into something entirely different altogether and the end product is absolutely astounding.
– Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front of Book Editor
Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Artists | Tags: Good News for People Who Love Bad News, Johnny Marr, Modest Mouse, No One's First and You're Next, The Moon & Antarctica, The Smiths, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Modest Mouse is a featured artist in our latest issue
Known for their loaded lyrics and lengthy album titles, Modest Mouse have been at the forefront of the indie-rock movement since their 1996 debut, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. Since then, the band has gradually progressed from tastefully engineered lo-fi to a more expensive, involved sound without losing their uniquely chaotic vocals, symphonic instrumentation and violently beautiful stage presence. Following the August 4 release of their latest EP, No One’s First and You’re Next, 20 Watts decided to take a look back at Modest Mouse’s impressive discography. (more…)
