Music Snobbery

MaxsKansasCity.com: Eddie and the Hot Rods

2013-05-18T15:56:36-04:00

In the last post for Max's Kansas City's website, I drifted to the U.K. for Eddie and the Hot Rods. They were one of the most popular 70s power pop acts along with Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, the Knack and The Romantics.

Franz Ferdinand Finalize Fourth Album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

2013-05-17T09:26:14-04:00

You'll need to get your smart outfits ready for August 27th as Franz Ferdinand will release their first album in four years. Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action was recorded in Scotland, London, Stockholm and Oslo. "The Intellect vs. The Soul, played out by some dumb band," Alex Kapranos says of the new album. He also hints at guest vocals and what nots.

This is the tracklisting:

1. Right Action
2. Evil Eye
3. Love Illumination
4. Stand On The Horizon
5. Fresh Strawberries
6. Bullet
7. Treason! Animals.
8. The Universe Expanded
9. Brief Encounters
10. Goodbye Lovers & Friends

They have a little snippet of the new album in their advert for RT, RW, RA. Beware of the brown note, BWAAHHHHHHHH

MaxsKansasCity.com: Teenage Jesus and the Jerks

2013-05-17T09:15:30-04:00

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about short-lived, but highly-influencual art-rock band Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. If you don't know them, educate yourself.

Eaux Is All About I

2013-05-16T00:53:36-04:00

I probably should have put together a Bands to Watch List for the Great Escape, which is happening this weekend in Brighton. I usually do one for the Camden Crawl, but that was relocated to Dublin and supposedly still happening in Camden in October.

In any event, if you come across London-trio Eaux, do give them your attention. The electro-pop outfit is creating stunning soundscapes that have an other worldly quality. Depending on your mood, they can enchant you or creepily get under your skin. For me, they chill me out with their little bleeps and bloops and the cosmic vocals from Sian Ahern.

They have many fine tracks to choose from, including Hold On which can scene over at Vogue.co.uk, but I like this 8-minute bundle of wonder "I", as in the letter i. I love the piercing guitars and the smoothed out organ parts.

MaxsKansasCity.com: Neon Leon

2013-05-15T23:55:21-04:00

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about New York scenester and punk rock legend Neon Leon. Besides being one of the founders of the punk rock scene in 70s NYC, he hung with the Stones, New York Dolls and, infamously, Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen.

Temples Bring Colours To Life

2013-05-15T00:01:24-04:00

Time to follow-up on UK upstarts Temples, who are now the darlings of the UK music scene. The Gallagher Brothers both have hooked onto the pysch rock band, seperately obviously. Noel was seen at a London gig last month. He told the NME, "It's not really music that should be played in a pub. It's cosmic space music – it should be played in an empty Death Star. Even an empty arena during soundcheck would be better. Imagine what they'd sound like with all the echo."

Since Liam can't be left out, he'll bring the band out as an opening act when Beady Eye tours Spain in July.

This is band's latest single, it's called "Colours To Life"

Tribes Ready Second Album, Wish To Scream

2013-05-14T23:48:34-04:00

Camden lads Tribes have put the finishing touches on their follow-up 2012 debut, Baby. Wish To Scream is the band's second album, which will see the light of day in the UK next Monday. The album was recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles with producer Kevin Augunas (Ivan & Alyosha). “This feels like our first record as the band we wanted to be. There’s a lot of clarity on it, real songwriting, With our ability to write songs now we feel pretty strong. We’ve started writing the third record already, we’ve got sketches here and there and it’s all sounding good,” says guitarist Dan White.

This is the tracklisting:

1. Dancehall
2. Get Some Healing
3. How the Other Half Live
4. Wrapped Up In A Carpet
5. Never Heard of Graceland
6. It Never Ends
7. Looking for Shangri-La
8. Sons and Daughters
9. One Eye Shut
10. Englishman on Sunset Boulevard
11. Street Dancin'

Here's the first track from the album, it's called "Dancehall"

Previously:

Tribes @ Mercury Lounge

MaxsKansasCity.com: The Feelies

2013-05-14T23:24:48-04:00

Continuing my contribution to Max's Kansas City website this week, today I wrote about NJ's The Feelies. They shared a bill with Devo during the heyday of the New York art/punk rock scene.

Editors Get Weighty on "Ton of Love" -- New Album Called The Weight of Your Love

2013-05-14T00:00:00-04:00

As reported before in January, Editors were working on their fourth album in Nashville with producers Flood and Jacquire King (Dawes latest album). This was their first effort without guitarist, Chris Urbanowicz. As you can see in the first video from the new album, they've grown to five. Added to outfit is Justin Lockey (formerly of Yourcodenameis:milo) and Elliott Williams (formerly of Airship).

"Ton of Love" comes from the band's new album, The Weight of Your Love. The album drops July 1st. Tom says the news has "love songs...that don't adhere to the traditional love song type." Yup, that's him alright.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. The Weight
2. Sugar
3. A Ton of Love
4. What Is This Thing Called Love
5. Honesty
6. Nothing
7. Formaldehyde
8. Hyena
9. Two Hearted Spider
10. The Phone Book
11. Bird of Prey

Watch the new video below:

New Frankie & The Heartstrings, "Nothing Our Way"

2013-05-13T23:23:49-04:00

This is the latest video from UK pop stars Frankie & The Heartstrings. "Nothing Our Way" comes from their Bernard Butler-produced second album, The Days Run Away. That comes out here on June 4th on Pop Sex Ltd./Wichita Recordings.

MaxsKansasCity.com: I Am Posting There This Week

2013-05-13T13:31:11-04:00

To promote the website, book and their general legacy, I'll posting over at MaxsKansasCity.com for the week. MKC was the legendary New York rock venue, restaurant and gathering spot located at 213 Park Avenue South. It hosted a who's who of the New York rock and art scene. You name them, they've played there -- from The Boss to the Beastie Boys.

It's no longer there (it's a generic deli now), but MaxsKansasCity.com is keeping the legacy alive with posts of vintage photographs, flyers and videos. This week, I'll highlight some of the bands that have played there. Today it's Devo.

Night Engine Tap Into Their Inner Bowie on "Young and Carefree"

2013-05-13T00:00:00-04:00

London art-pop band Night Engine have a smashing new single that calls upon the power of 80s Bowie, With those deep, seductive vocals and eurodisco synths, "Young and Carefree" bristles with new wave charm. This is the second single from the up-and-coming London outfit. Their debut single, "Seventeen", was a Franz Ferdinand-ish rave up that got them attention. It led to opening slots for the Kaiser Chiefs and Joy Formidable on their UK tours.

Next up for the band is to trip to Brighton to play the Great Escape festival next weekend. Consider them one of the bands to watch.

Take a listen to Young and Carefree

Listen to The Child of Lov and Damon Albarn Song, One Day

2013-05-10T00:13:28-04:00

Best artist promo shot ever! Raiders cap. Wild print pants. Raw beef in exotic locals.

As mentioned before, The Child Of Lov (aka Cole Williams) is one of the buzziest new artists of the year. If you can get Damon Albarn to guest on a track, then you must be doing something right. Their collaboration, "One Day," appears on Lov's (Light, Oxygen and Voltage) self-titled debut album for Domino Records. The tracks is weird, warped but totally chill.

New Music from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, "Retreat" -- New Album Out August 6

2013-05-09T23:50:07-04:00

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings have more reason to dance, they have a new album dropping August 6. Give The People What They Want, exactly. I want S.J. to play at my house. That's what I want.

Tracklisting below, album art to the right:

1. Retreat!
2. Stranger to My Happiness
3. We Get Along
4. You'll Be Lonely
5. Now I See
6. Making Up and Breaking Up
7. Get Up and Get Out
8. Long Time, Wrong Time
9. People Don't Get What They Deserve
10. Slow Down Love

They are kicking off their U.S. tour next weekend at the Googa Mooga Festival. I cannot get far away enough from that claptrap. If you want to wait 45 minutes for a $14 foie gras donut on a Saturday afternoon while a band plays in the distance, be my friggin guest.

May 19: Brooklyn - The Great Googa Mooga Festival
May 26: Aptos, CA - Santa Cruz Blues Festival
May 27: Council Bluffs, IA - River's Edge Park
June 6: Long Beach, CA - Ink 'N' Iron Festival
June 15/16: Croton on Hudson, NY - Clearwater Festival
June 25: Highland Park, IL - Ravinia Festival
June 27: Toronto - TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival
June 28/29: Rochester, NY - Rochester International Jazz Festival
June 30: Cleveland - Cain Park
July 3: Montreal - Festival International de Jazz de Montreal
July 4: Quebec City, QC - D'Youville Square
July 6: Newport, RI - Newport Yachting Centre
July 7: Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Brach Casino Ballroom
July 12: Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
July 13: Minneapolis, MN - Basilica Block Party

Palma Violets @ Brighton Music Hall

2013-05-09T00:00:00-04:00

And we're back. Well, I'm back, being the proverbial we. Anyway.

Back from Boston and other assorted New England towns. Boston moves on from the chaos of weeks ago. Let me tell you, I walked along Boylston Street on my way to Fenway and you would never have known such massive destruction happen there. There are plenty of Boston Strong stickers around and vendors selling t-shirts, which I'm sure are going towards some victim's fund.

In any event, heading over Brighton Music Hall was a spur of the moment idea. It's hard attending a baseball game when you have no rooting interest in the outcome, but Fenway is a solid monument to baseball. Plus, I'm happy to report that BoSox fans are just insufferable as Yankees and Phillies fans.

Brighton Music Hall is in the Allston section of town, in the same general area as Boston University -- a straight shot on the Green Line. The area is filled with bars and cheap eat restaurants popular with college students. After the show I headed to Deep Ellum, I highly endorse it.

The space itself is basically one large room with a small section in back behind the stage for pool tables and Big Buck Hunter in case you want to shoot virtual deer between sets. Sightlines are fantastic since their are no columns anywhere. This being Boston, a top notch drinking town, plenty of beers to choose from. What I like the most is you can stand to the side of the stage to enjoy the fun or hang in the back for some breathing room. Even better, if you're a cheap ass, you can just watch through the glass windows in the back from the street.

As Palma Violets, fun as always, even if the the 450ish capacity room was only about 150 filled. The same 10 dudes were jumping and bro-ing it out the whole time. Monday night is the worst night for rock concerts, so I didn't expect a riot.

In any event, the band is sounding better each time I see them. You can see for yourself when they are in town tonight at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and Friday at Bowery Ballroom.

Young Knives Return with Reproduction; Launch KickStarter for New Album

2013-05-08T23:02:38-04:00

The UK trio and Mercury Prize nominees are ready for album No. 4, Sick Octave. They only need our help to complete it. Thus, they turned to KickStarter for funding their completely indie effort and new sonic direction. Henry Dartnell explains, "These tracks are completely and genuinely DIY and as such we hope that they are spontaneous and exciting. We wanted to make something dark and nasty, something industrial, synthetic, crass but with a sprinkling of pretty shit". For 5K, they will also play your wedding.

As a taste of the new direction, they have "Reproduction" for you to watch and download if you so choose.

Previously:

The Young Knives @ Mercury Lounge