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| Cansei
de Ser Sexy |
The
Thermals The Body, The Blood, The Machine |
Human
Television Look At Who You're Talking To |
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| Ya
know who the new Sub Pop is? Sub Pop
is the new Sub Pop! The guys who epitomized indie record
success and taste-maker influence from their northwest perspective continue
to find the next and the new, the quirky and the important bands while
the majors have churned out dreck and cried about file sharing. So from
the people who brought you Nirvana, The Postal Service, and The Shins,
comes a brilliantly funny and danceable record from the Brazilian band
Cansei de Ser Sexy, but you can just call them CSS.
The entire record takes the inferno out of the disco and replaces it with
a combination of sarcastic digs and goofy girlie fun. My favorite is “This
Month, Day 10” with its bitchy-on-purpose lyrics “if someday
we get to meet again, in a car crash, plane wreck, or terrorist attack,
or maybe next thursday night, don’t bother saying ‘hi’,
I’ll be rude, I’ll be rude, I’l be rude, (whoo-hoo)
I’ll be rude, I’ll be rude, I’l be rude, sooooo rude.”
The entire disc is full of synth driven stabs at self important artists
and social climbers and even Paris Hilton. Great music, great fun. csshurts.com subpop.com |
Another
Sub Pop treasure is latest from the Portland, Oregon band The
Thermals. Don’t let their potentially grunge related
name fool you, The Body, The Blood, The Machine
is powerful, catchy, political, funny, and dare I say punk sounding
record. I was immediately hooked by “Pillar of Salt”, which
on the surface is a happy punk ditty that has a guitar lead that is
permanently stuck in my brain. “Pillar of Salt” also has
one of the best videos I’ve seen in years because of its simplicity
and pure entertainment value. I could get into the concept of this record,
but I’ll just leave you with: Buy it, it rocks! |
The
band that released the jangly and infectious “Saw You Walking
By” in 2004, has returned with a full LP finally. I still hear
The Feelies in songs like “Mars Red Rust” and at times “Galaxy
500” and on the opening “I’m Moving On.” They
sound more 80’s college rock than their EPs, but they have their
own spin on those sounds. “I Laughed” and “Tonight’s
The Night” being the finest examples of the ghost of early REM.
This is a brilliant band that’s made those sounds their own on
a hauntingly familiar, yet compelling recording. Outstanding. |
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Dirty
On Purpose Hallelujah Sirens |
Silver
Sun Pickups Carnavas |
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“If
everything you ever wished, came true today, are you prepared to handle
that, when the sun comes out to stay?” is the opening line in
“Your Summer Dress”, a profound and sobering question, and
one that wasn’t lost on me. I almost went off the road trying
to rewind my iPod while driving on the Garden State Parkway as soon
as I heard those words. Hallelujah Sirens
is a moody, rambling epic. The lilting accompanying vocals of |
After
their 2005 EP Pikul, I was expecting another
solid Pixies-esque release. To my surprise, they’ve evolved to
a more melodic sound, albeit still dark and more Smashing Pumpkins,
as it moves effortlessly from a dreamlike quality to blasts of pure
rock bliss. This record continues to grow on me, with “Lazy Eye”
my current favorite. |
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