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: 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
Aphex Twin's "Avril 14th"
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Aphex Twin’s “Avril 14th” MP3
Many factors go into determining what qualifies as the best piece of music of all time and most likely no consensus will ever be achieved on the topic. Call it a matter of aesthetic differences if you will. However, this past week a fairly worthy candidate has been making appearances on my iTunes.
Richard David James aka Aphex Twin, probably the most influential contemporary electronic musician, has been active since the mid-’80s. In over two decades of music-making, he has produced spectacular work ranging from synthy mechanical combinations to raw audio layered with computer-generated acid lines. However one direction that stands out from James’s cacophonous stylistic mix is his focus on prepared piano arrangements.
“Avril 14th,” released on disc one of Drukqs, is arguably the most simplistically beautiful piece of music you will ever hear. Retaining the classic qualities that a piano can offer, “Avril 14th” has an otherworldly feel that too delicate to describe. The only thing you can do is hit replay on your iTunes and immerse yourself in its incomparable serenity.
– Irina Dvalidze, Multimedia Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: electro, Electronica, Gang Gang Dance, M.I.A., Manimal Vinyl, Rainbow Arabia
Rainbow Arabia = M.I.A. + Gang Gang Dance + LSD
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Rainbow Arabia’s “Omar K” MP3
20 Watts’ staff recently spent a good two hours arguing about the top albums of the decade. I was pushing really hard for an M.I.A. entry on the list — a request that everyone, including my managing ed, summarily dismissed. Okay, sure, “Paper Planes” was way overplayed. But the blend of party-ready beats and tribal ululations? The whole East-meets-West-on-a-dance-floor deal? The world needs more of that.
Fortunately the world has Rainbow Arabia, an “ethnotronica” duo so compulsively danceable — and so pleasantly disorienting — that even our picky staff might be won over. Hailing from Echo Park, Cal., Rainbow Arabia force world music through an electro-dance sieve, resulting in a global neon cacophony like few you’ve ever heard. Think M.I.A. meets Gang Gang Dance meets LSD. Intriguing, right?
Rainbow Arabia have released one EP, The Basta, and one “mini-LP,” Kabukimono, on Maninmal Vinyl. They are not currently on tour, although they are playing a string of L.A. shows throughout November.
– Caitlin Dewey, Editor in Chief
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Atlas Sound, Santigold, Santogold, Pharrell, Kid Sister, The Fiery Furnaces, Bradford Cox, YACHT, N.E.R.D., Converse, Julian Casablancas, Gallows, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Care Bears on Fire
In the tradition of rather cool commercials you don’t actually flick off when they pop up on your screen, it is pretty safe to say Converse has developed a good track record of bringing remotely good musicians together for fun mini projects. “My Drive Thru,” dating back about a year, is a funky mash-up between N.E.R.D, Julian Casablancas, and Santigold, marking the brand’s Century celebration.
The song, produced by Pharrell, is accompanied by a music video (above) featuring the three artists in their best “cutouts.” While this video is a fun view, it was only a start of the campaign that included indie favorites such as Kid Sister, YACHT, Bradford Cox, members of Gallows, The Fiery Furnaces, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, and Care Bears on Fire, all endorsing the iconic brand.
– Irina Dvalidze, Multimedia Editor
Spike Jonze and Kanye West collaborate on a short film
WATCH: VIDEO of Kanye West and Spike Jonze’s “We Were Once a Fairytale”
Yo Kanye! I am really happy for you and I’mma let you finish but… seriously? The Spike Jonze-directed short film starring Kanye West, “We Were Once a Fairytale” follows the plastered rapper at a club. Kanye, embarrassingly drunk, mocks his notorious reputation as he obnoxiously shows off his money, distastefully hits on women, and immodestly freaks out when the DJ plays his song.
The 808s & Heartbreak song, “See You in My Nightmares” fades in and out becoming less and less audible as Kanye gets more and more wasted. The flashing lights of the dance floor blur the stumbling rapper creating a dizzying drunk vision.
Upon watching the 11-minute film, most will dismiss it as Kanye just being Kanye. I mean, isn’t this what everyone imagined drunk (or sober) Kanye to be like in real life — crazy eyes, passing out on top of girls, and for the most part, everyone ignoring him?
But really, this is likely just Kanye’s egotistical way of apologizing for his ego. Yanking out the furry Maurice Sendack-like creature and letting it stab itself symbolizes Kanye’s destruction of his ego, or at least his desire to do so. And although this was originally filmed almost a year ago before the VMA stunt, its release this week couldn’t be more timely (and it’s not like that was the public’s first realization, anyway).
– Carly Wolkoff, Front-of-Book Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: 33 1/3, Big Black, Black Flag, Cheap Trick, Colin Meloy, Dinosaur Jr., green day, Husker Du, Kurt Cobain, Let It Be, Nirvana, Pixies, Sonic Youth, The Decemberists, The Minutemen, The Replacements
Bands like The Replacements (above), Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and The Minutemen are featured in Our Band Could Be Your Life
Will there ever be another era in independent music like the ’80s and early ’90s? I think not, and Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 hopes to explain why. This book, published a decade later in 2001, attempts to explain and elaborate on the underground indie music scenes that defined the bands that today enjoy mainstream popularity.
Our Band Could Be Your Life focuses on thirteen disproportionately influential bands. None of them enjoyed any sort of mainstream success, but through constant touring, prolific recording, fanzine exposure and other methods of getting noticed, they all sired the bands that we today consider music gods (indie or mainstream).
Without Hüsker Dü, there could be no Pixies. Without Big Black, industrial rock wouldn’t be around. Without Black Flag, Green Day would probably have been a Cheap Trick cover band. Without The Replacements, The Decemberists literally wouldn’t exist. Without Sonic Youth and every other band mentioned in the book, Nirvana wouldn’t have changed the way we listen to music.
In The Replacements’ Let It Be’s 33 1/3, Colin Meloy mentions listening to Let It Be incessantly to get over the self-consciousness over his extended sternum. Books like this one and the 33 1/3 series are both interesting and informative. Speaking from experience, having a working knowledge of a musical genre’s history adds a lot to any critique. We salute you, Mike Azerrad.
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Managing Editor
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Semisonic, Feeling Strangely Fine, Dan Wilson, "Closing Time"
Good old '90s alt rock
If you remember 1998 then I’m sure you remember the song “Closing Time.” This classic ’90s alt rock jam by Semisonic was the band’s only major hit in the states. Some would consider them a one-hit wonder, but if you go back and listen to 1998’s Feeling Strangely Fine you’ll find that there are a lot of hidden gems still left to find.
“Never You Mind” is an up-tempo song that mixes a poppy piano loop, catchy guitar riffs, lead singer Dan Wilson’s impressive vocal range and cleverly written lyrics. “Secret Smile,” which was released as the third single off Feeling Strangely Fine has a darker tone than most of the other tracks. It’s a love song, but one that has a pretty dark tone, which makes it really interesting. From start to finish this is a really solid pop album.
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Kate Nash, Nick Drake, Bjork, Samamidon, Sam Amidon, Valgeir Sigurðsson, ben frost, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Amidon’s renditions of traditional folk songs make is the quintessential soundtrack for autumn.
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Samamidon’s “Wedding Dress” MP3
Sam Amidon (Samamidon) sounds like Michael Cera if Michael Cera were a folk singer and not an actor. It’s that gentle timidity that likens Amidon to singer-songwriter, Nick Drake. Amidon’s neo-traditional folk music has a quaint, 18th century New England foliage-filled town feel. Considering Amidon spawned from two Vermont song/dance/storytelling extraordinaries, I guess that makes sense.
His last album, All is Well (2008), which was produced by Icelandic engineer, Valgeir Sigurðsson (Kate Nash, Ben Frost, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Björk), is comprised of ten renditions of Americana blues/folk songs. The traditional lyrics are told in simple story-telling form, but like your grandfather’s best stories, underpin a deeper moral.
Amidon’s banjo plucking and unassuming vocals are often accompanied by viola, horn and trombone — orchestrations which make the album a little less hillbilly, and far more elegant. Download Sam Amidon, but don’t blame me for your sudden urge to flee to Appalachia on horse and buggy.
– Carly Wolkoff, Managing Editor
Foreign Born's "Winter Games" provides some surprising, and slightly-tropical indie rock
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Foreign Born’s “Winter Games” MP3
Admittedly I heard about Foreign Born because of a tweet by Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste back in February. Ever since, I’ve been hooked on their cogent sense of melody and spacious, tropical sound.
The band’s most recent effort, Person to Person, came out earlier this year, and, unsurprisingly, it is just as energetic and free-flowing as their debut, On the Wing Now. Rolling along at a steady pace throughout, the album expertly trades off between reserved surf and arena indie rock, for a combination which is neither groundbreaking nor startling, yet still interesting, to say the least.
Of all of its steadily-floating songs, however, none sticks out more than “Winter Games.” Not so much bouncy, as it is just buzzing with excitement, the song centers around its summer atmosphere and banging-on-a-trash-can percussion section.
Scenic, and at times, mesmerizing, Person to Person struck me immediately as one of the easiest listens of the year back in June, and still does now in October. Sadly, it’s nearly-certain to end up being among this year’s most overlooked. Except by Ed Droste and me.
– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor
