Music Snobbery

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists @ Siren Festival

2010-07-30T00:51:32-04:00

Another loving post about Teddy Rockstar. I don't think it's possible to write anything bad about him.

I do want to start with a gallery my friend showed me. In honor of the Nobel Prize-winning TV show, Jersey Shore's second season debut tonight, E! Online listed the 9 Best Ever People from New Jersey. Only nine?

Mr. Leo was not on list so it is invalid. Neither am I. Granted, both of us are not Jersey-born, him- Indiana, me- Brooklyn. The people were Jack Nicholson, Queen Latifah, Sinatra, Meryl Streep, Jon Stewart, Bon Jovi, Bruce, Buzz Aldrin and Chelsea Handler. Sorry, President Grover Cleveland, Paul Rudd and Martha Stewart, you're not the BEST EVAH! according to E! Online.

Ted and Holy Fuck were the two acts I wanted to stay for the whole set. Is there much more to stay than Ted Leo is the man. I could spend two years doing nothing but learning guitar from Luther Dickinson and I could still not be as cool or skilled as Teddy Leo. Nicest guy in indie rock, hero to other musicians and cranks out hits after hits.

For his return to Siren, he brought fellow Jerseyian Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females for a rendition of Ted's Woke Up Near Chelsea. Hands down, the highlight of the day.

You should check out his website for his thoughts on his "retirement" that was blown out of proportions. As long as he plays locally, he can do whatever he wants the other days of the year. Speaking of which, he'll play Brooklyn Bowl, inside or outside, this Sunday for free. Somebody pass around the tip jar for the hardest working man in indie rock.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Siren Festival

2010-07-30T00:12:43-04:00

Creeping their way back into our hearts and minds are local cats The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. I've had a dysfunctional relationship with their music and the band. It's my typical music snobbery attitude. I caught onto them early on like most local NYC bloggers, back in 2008. CMJ that year gave them a huge shot. Their music was a loving recreation of late 80s shoegaze and early 90s indie pop.

Then, everybody starting getting into them, and it didn't seem so cool anymore to name drop them. Next thing you know, they are selling out Webster Hall. I got tired of hearing how awesome they were ... or how over-rated they were. So, I had written them off. Chalk it up for over-exposure. I gotta read less music sites.

You know what, seeing them at Siren, they are back on my good side. It reminded that these people actually rock. They're not a bunch of pussies singing about broken hearts, but they grind out some heavy guitar riffs and catchy tunes. I have a feeling that their new material will build on that hard edge. The Pain, you welcome back on my music rotation. I am sorry for dismissing you just because you became popular.

WHYYYYYYYYYY???????

Harlem @ Siren Festival

2010-07-29T23:52:26-04:00

That's just an awkward angel right there.

Harlem -- you can add them to the long list of bands named after places there are not actually from ... Tokyo Police Club, Barcelona, Tokio Hotel, Bombay Bicycle Club, Philadelphia Grand Jury, I'm From Barcelona, Vietnam, Beirut, Phoenix, Texas, Boards of Canada, Of Montreal, Brazilian Girls, Vietnam, The Bronx, French Kicks, Harlem Shakes, Beirut, Architecture in Helsinki, ¡Forward, Russia!

In any event, the Matador signees are alright in my book. They are very much in the Black Lips veins, low-tech, old school garage rock with a slight bounce and some hard driving tunes. They were the chattiest band of the day with their stage banter.

Currently, the Austin trio is opening up for The Dead Weather on their summer tour, stopping at Prospect Park on August 3.

Who loves a good ironic t-shirt?

Nothing like a handful of man ass on a summer's day

The Black Keys / Morning Benders @ Central Park SummerStage

2010-07-29T00:43:11-04:00

So who was the person who had to tell Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney that they are playing a double hitter tonight? My feeling is that they put on a brave front and say, "Yeah, that would be cool," but inside they are like, "why don't you just kill us?" Not only did they play a 90-minute set starting at 8pm, as I type this they are doing it again at Terminal 5. Don't forget, that's two soundchecks, as well. More power to them. If you went to both gigs tonight, let us know if there was a decline in performance with the second show.

I finally got around to listening to Brothers, and hot damn it might be their best yet. Attack & Release was damn fine, but they manage to make a more complete album. If Attack & Release had a draw back, it was that it had great hits, but a few stragglers in there. Front to back, Brothers is a funky, sexy, nasty and soulful album. Auerbach saved some of his best guitar riffs for this album. With each album, the duo have expanded their sound, not just relying on their drums and guitar formula. They add a few bass parts, harmonica and the occasional keyboard parts.

With tonight's show, they started off with the two of them, then added a few backing musicians for the new tunes. The new stuff lit a match for the night because when it's just the two of them in a venue of thousands of people, you tend to want something with a little more energy and activity.

I didn't plan on going to either gig tonight, but extra tickets were given to me. Ding dong, I'll take them. I was late getting there and arrived when Morning Benders announced their standard, "We have two songs left." Thus, I was stuck in the back. Let me tell you, I've been spoiled with my small shows, photo passes and being upfront, because standing in the back sucks. Especially at SummerStage because Rumsey Playfield slopes down to allow for drainage. DRAAAAAAAAAINAGE, ELI!

The whole show I was staring at the back of people's heads. When you're in the back, the people around you don't pay attention and use the show as background for their social gathering. It's like seeing a rock concert in a mall food court. People are constantly walking around you and you have to step aside, breaking your concentration on the show. I'm saying, "So this is what it's like in the back of the show. People walking around."

The two things it's good for is people watching and having a tad bit of personal space. I had this inner conversation in my head, "I've never seen so many Ray-Ban sunglasses in my life. Do they give those away? ... That lady is carrying 12 beers ... Hmmmmm, ice cream. I could go for some ice cream. Nah, the line is 30 people long."

So, I would probably have enjoyed the show better and given you a proper post if I could have actually seen and hear the show. Patrick is 6'6" tall and I still couldn't see him and I never saw Dan do his thing. I think SummerStage needs to hit up their sponsors to pony up some LCD monitors on both sides of the stage.

As a side note, I saw a random t-shirt that read, Honk If You Like Wolves. I really hope somebody uses that as a band name.

Earl Greyhound @ Siren Festival

2010-07-29T00:02:22-04:00

These cats were loud. Loud + Fierce = Hardcore. Early Greyhound made some ears ring with their set -- a grinding, southern soul style straight from the 70s. Its the kind of sound would expect to hear on the sidewalk of some small Mississippi town. Just look at guitarist Matt Whyte. I was looking for a time machine because he must have stepped out from the Dazed & Confused era. "You got any weed, man? It would be cool if you did."

With his chiseled bare chest, vintage jeans and long, sweaty hair, he should never look any different. He should go to sleep looking like that. In fact, when I saw them in passing the next day at the end of XPoNential, everyone was dressed the same. Also, I could hear their set from the Camden Waterfront parking lot.

Since sometimes I'm dummy, I realized when I saw them at Siren that their name is a riff on the tea, earl gray. Ohhhhhh.

Dr. Dog @ XPoNential Festival

2010-07-28T00:58:36-04:00

Saving the best for last with my XPoNential Festival coverage.

As I said before with my first point, Dr. Dog isn't just the best band that Philly has to offer, they are one of the best bands working in the U.S. today. When other countries question what rock music the U.S. has to offer, we can say proudly put forward My Morning Jacket, Wilco, The Boss, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Dr. Dog. Well, that's the first bands that come to my mind.

Dr. Dog's high flyin' set was the perfect groove to watch the sunset behind the band. Yes, there was magic all up in that bitch. Dr. Dog, how does it work?

The setlist:

Shadow People
Stranger
I Only Wear Blue
The Beach
The Breeze
Someday
Hang On
Mirror, Mirror
Station
The Old Days
The Way The Lazy Do
Shame, Shame
The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer
ENCORE: Jackie Wants A Black Eye

What makes Dr. Dog the best? They've grown through the years from a little hippie-folkie jam bandish band to an all-out classic rock/70s AM radio sound. The songs have more depth with different elements and grooves. The songs off Shame, Shame just floored me at first listening. They have that bounce that Dr. Dog are known for. Now, the harmonies are sweeter and the songs' construction are loose without being lazy. This the kind of album you listen to twice in a row, and return to every year for the rest of your life. You got those Skynyrd guitar riffs on Mirror, Mirror and The Band-like togetherness on Stranger.

When you see the band move around on stage like their doing a choreographed dance, you can tell the music is coming together. Their set at XPoNential was the best I've ever seen them, probably because the new material (their first for the Anti label) is just made to played loud and in front of a mass of people. The ended with the sing-a-long styled "Jackie Wants A Black Eye", which was a perfect conclusion for the weekend for me.

Even the kids love the Dog.

Night Marchers @ Siren Festival

2010-07-28T00:21:43-04:00

I swear I'll finished with these Siren posts this week ... maybe.

Good call in getting Night Marchers on the Siren bill. When I think of Coney Island, I think of a) The Warriors and b) classic punk rock a la Ramones and garage rockers. The line-up usually throws in something in that genre (New York Dolls, Black Lips).

As you probably know, Night Marchers is fronted by former Rocket from the Crypt lead singer John Reid. Thus, he was the elder statesman of the line-up. Teddy Rockstar is not quite into elder statesman status. In any event, Marchers shredded through their set with grinding guitars and a lot snarls. If they could, they could have worn some bad ass leather jackets. I think when they came on, I hit the wall with the high 90 temperatures. I can't imagine what the acts were going through.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros @ XPoNential Festival

2010-07-27T01:13:19-04:00

"So I was told that we're going to be on the radio, and we can't curse. I don't want to be on the radio, man."

Yeah, those big letters WXPN and the numbers 88.5 behind you might have been an indication that you'll be on the radio. In any event, being broadcasted live didn't deter the man from dropping a few f-bombs. I don't even think he knew where he was.

If you follow music, I'm sure you know the story of L.A. scenester Alex Ebert. He is the lead singer of post-punk, New Wave outfit Ima Robot. If you saw Hoobastank or The Sounds, you might have seen them open. Alex fell on hard time with the narcotics. During his recovery, he created an alter-ego -- the hippie, indie Jesus looking Edward Sharpe, which in no-way resembles Devendra Banhart what-so-ever. He got his girlfriend and friends to form the Magnetic Zeroes. The results is a more mainstream-friendly sound.

Okay, this isn't the first time or last time a musician changes his sound and look. Sometimes it works for the best (Sub Sub became Doves), and others it's painfully obvious they are trying to catch a trend (Justin Newfield, white rapper to goth rocker). I just don't buy this freak folk thing that Ebert is doing. Then again, I don't like Ima Robot either. It's like they took a book called Freak Folk for Dummies, and followed it to a T. They've got the folky banjo, messianic vocals, broken piano, plodding rhythms, tambourine and lyrics about peace and love. Obviously, he has that whole hippie chic thing down. For a band that has about 10 members, they sound like they are four of them playing. They should sound like Polyphonic Spree, but I'm scratching my head that Up From Below is so damn dull.

Their live show is a mish mash of "up with people" anthems like "Janglin'" and "Home" and dopey songs that barely register above a yawn like "Simplest Love". Ebert comes out and dances like old west prospector for a few seconds. Then the rest of the show he walks around like he's strolling in the park. It seemed like a chore to him to put the microphone up his mouth. He's so charismatic, he stood over the crowd and heeled them all just by raising his hand. The crowd ate it up. Call me cynical, but it's all a ruse to me. Some one's trying to cash in on a trend or appeal to a particular demographic.

I will say that the female singer of the band, Jade Castrinos, has a great voice. Also, I saw Ebert holding court by the port-a-johns and cooling stations, taking pictures with fans and signing autographs. So he does appreciate his fan base ... or he's asking where to score some weed. You see, making fun of hippies is fun!

To end, I want to relay a sarcastic, dicky e-mail I got on June 9 from the band's manager, Bryan Ling of New Community Management. This is in response to my brief mention of me saying Edward Sharpe is insufferable:

	from	Bryan Ling
to		chris@musicsnobbery.com
date		Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 8:54 PM
subject		Thanks Chris!

With my days usually filled with positive comments and emails, It's actually refreshing to hear that there are people who write negative things about edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros. I can't say I wish there were more like you, but I do enjoy the break in monotony. Perhaps after suffering through their set that sunday night, you will write a two or three sentence review of the show that will undoubtedly be riveting. Keep up the good work mate! Best of luck with your blog.

Wow. I'm flattered that he took the time to write a little blogger from New Jersey. It's music, guy. Not everybody's going to love your clients. Live with it.

Ponytail @ Siren Festival

2010-07-27T00:08:37-04:00

Ponytail is the worst band I've seen since I've been blogging. BOLD. Underline.

After seeing them at CMJ two years ago (looks like Molly hasn't gotten a new shirt since), I knew I wasn't going to stick around for this train wreck. I dared myself to stay one song. Although, I don't think they actually have songs, so that's a gray area. Their music is just stream-of-consciousness noise that wants to think that playing nonsense is an art upon itself. It's not, it's just bullshit made for kids to push around each other.

Yes, there is that bulge. You see, lead singer Molly Siegel is gay, so she wears boy boxer briefs and stuff it. Isn't that funny? It's like a gay guy who tucks their junk between their legs. So daring! Totally outrageous! If she wanted to make a statement, trying writing a song with lyrics, style and meaning.

Jim Jones Revue / Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers @ Maxwell's

2010-07-26T00:21:04-04:00

Maxwell's needs to have a painting party because Jim Jones Revue came in Friday night and peeled several layers of paint off the joint. They brought the pain and fury to the late show, and I think my nervous system has fianally recovered since then.

Their super-charged music recalls all the great-pioneers of rock, mostly Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Jim Jones and his crew only know one way to play guitar, hard. VERY hard ... like they're not satisfied unless their fingers are bleeding and people's brain fluid isn't seeping out of their ears. After one song I was like, "Great gosh of mighty!"

Take their roller coaster ride of a song called, "Rock N Roll Psychosis". It's a 2 1/2 minute kick to the nuts tune that comes as you hard, but you can manage to pick out elements. That's because the play intense but focused. You can hear the sweet piano part when all the guitars drop out, or that deep bass section that gives the song drive and weight.

Thinking back on Friday's show, what stays with me is Jim Jones' snarl and raspy voice. First off, he's British, so between songs he saying, "Halo, Halo, chaps. Good morrow to you, sir" and using the Queen's English. Then he busts into songs like the devil just entered him. The man's voice must take a beating night after night. This man ain't got he blues, he's got Satan running through his veins

It was a small crowd on Friday, which I kind of wish more people were there. At least, the WFMU and Yo La Tengo crew came in for support. JJR didn't take the stage until 12:30ish and the weather was balls nasty with 100% humidity. It makes it seem more crazy that Jim Jones played his damn guts out. A venue might go up in flames if played to a full house.

Gotta give some props to local gal and Jersey native Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers. They might just be the hardest working unsigned band in the area because they are constantly playing gigs. Either she's you go to gal to fill a spot or they are worthy of being part of your bill. I'm thinking a little but a both because Shilpa plays with attitude and her voice is memorable. It soars high and low and goes everywhere in-between. Plus, she's only musician on the scene who play the harmonium like a punk rocker. She reminds me of PJ Harvey during her 4-track demo days.

Surfer Blood @ Siren Festival

2010-07-25T23:43:26-04:00

I've had enough with Surfer Blood. They're just a big, heaping pile of FAIL in my book. They play their songs lethargically, their lead singer tries to hard to be a rock star, the band can't play together, their music has no pulse and they phoned in their performance during Siren. They are the reason why I hate indie rock in the modern area sometimes, a whole bunch of hype before they've even proven themselves and then when they have "arrived", they show that their band and music is bullshit.

Here are some quotes from a previous post during last year's CMJ:

I'm not anointing them with Best New Band status, nor do they get relegated to the trash heap with the Wavves of the world. I'm reminded of another Florida band that came out of nowhere to play CMJ that has so much hype that they could never live up to it -- Black Kids. When was the last time you wanted to hear a Black Kids song? So I'm holding off judgment until I hear the final album and they work out their live show ... I'm just not sure they are ready to make an impression, but let's give them a year to see they can resonate with me and peoples of music snobbery land.

Well, I've given them a chance ... and they stink. Their debut album is a half-hearted attempt to be the Pavement of surf rock. If you're going to rip off Pavement, at least listen to all-their albums beyond Brighten the Corners. You might learn that Pavement did things differently and were never linear.

Surfer Blood is just a bunch of kids who want to be indie rock heroes. If their Siren set is any indication of the best they got, then we are all doomed. Their songs are played slower live and hardly together. The bass player is laughing at the guitarist because they are way off. Meanwhile, the lead singer is prancing around like a dink. Seriously, you jump on the drum set with your crappy music. You better earn that kind of showmanship.

I'm going to end with something I've been saying since I've been blogging -- are you going to listen to this band five years from now? The answer is no, so time to move on.

Wye Oak @ Siren Festival

2010-07-25T23:19:59-04:00

Good job, Wye Oak. I saw them two years ago during CMJ and thought they were rather dull. This was before they recorded and released The Knot. Last weekend's set was a thousand times better. Maybe, I should give band second chances. NAAHHHHHH.

I kid. The Baltimore duo have fine tuned their alt-county folk pop vibes and given their sound some life. The songs seem fuller and better constructed. Although, I think Wye Oak is a better band on record then they are live. The two person set-up does inhibit them from reproducing some of those larger elements from their albums like the forceful sections of "For Prayer" or "Tattoo". There's only so much you can do with guitar loops, drums and occasional keyboards. The new material they trotted had a little more of a harder, faster edge. Henceforth, I shall keep on eye on them.

Their next visit will be at Mercury Lounge on Sept. 1 and Sept. 4 at Maxwell's -- both will be opening sets for Lou Barlow.

Could Daft Punk Be Nominated for an Oscar for TRON?

2010-07-23T15:18:30-04:00

Just think about the possibility. As you know, Daft Punk wrote the score for the new TRON revamp that doesn't come until Dec. 19. A new trailer debuted at Comic-Con (motto: Making You Leave Your Parents Basement Since 1970), complete with new musical cues.

So come February when the Oscar nominations are announced, they could be nominated for Best Original Score. The whole nerd and hipster communities would explode in an orgasm of delight. Here are some questions if they do get nominated:

Would they walk the red carpet in their helmets?
Would they wear the helmets in the audience?
Would they perform during the telecast?
How will they accept the award if they won?
Will they walk onstage in the helmets?

The outcome boggles the mind. Here's the new trailer:

Screaming Females @ Siren Festival

2010-07-23T00:54:20-04:00

If I could record my voice and play it for you right now, I would have a sound clip of my reaction to Screaming Females. I would throw some metal up on both hands, cross my arms and do some sort of opera/Justin Hawkins voice that would be "THAT ROOOOOOCCCKKK". I've known of the band's existence but never bothered to pay attention. Gimme a break, you should see my inbox and stack of promo CDs.

Their home base is New Brunswick, NJ (motto: crushing your academic dreams since 1766). I went to college there and we NEVER had any bands form while I was there. So I missed Thursday, The Gaslight Anthem, Tim Fite and My Chemical Romance emergence from the central NJ rock scene. With MCR, maybe that was a good thing that I missed that. In any event, Screaming Females have been playing house parties, basements and backyards for a past few years. More recently, they've been doing that DIY Brooklyn thing and opening up for Dead Weather.

Which brings me to Saturday's set, Marissa Paternoster is a guitar god in the making. She's this Cobain and Prince hybrid shoved into a 5-foot frame. She plays guitar like it was a wild boar that's attacking her. She spins and jerks around as if she's trying to tame her instruments. The screeches and distortions give it a raw energy. On the top of that, she screams her head off. Thus, a perfectly named band.

Their music is very much in the DIY, lo-fi indie punk vein -- your basic, guitar-bass-drum trio. Their advantage is Paternoster's chops. There a few songs where she'll just do her things while the others hang back and enjoy the chaos. It's something I've got to see again to witness that ball of energy slam around on a small stage. Thus, they play Maxwell's on August 13 and Death By Audio on August 14. And a head's up to my British readers, Luminaire on Oct. 28 -- get your arse there!

Cowboy Junkies @ XPoNential Festival

2010-07-23T00:12:07-04:00

You folks remember Cowboy Junkies? They had their heyday back with the mid-90s adult contemporary explosion. Better Than Ezra! Counting Crows! Gin Blossoms! Toad the Wet Sprocket! Third Eye Blind! All of the bands that make you laugh at the mention of them. Cowboy Junkies were that other band that wasn't Mazzy Star. With their extreme minimalist alt-country musings, they made Mazzy Star look like Metallica. The Junkies one hit wasn't even there's -- that was a cover of "Sweet Jane". I remember I bought the CD, The Trinity Session, because I liked that song, then discovering the rest of the album was boring. This when back in the day where you would buy a whole $15.99 CD at Sam Goody just for one song. Ah, memories.

So yes, they are still around, touring and recording, having released their 14th album. Their live set made me sleepy. I'm nodding off typing this post. I think some of the band members took a snooze during their set, most of them sat down the whole time. Outdoors on a hot day wasn't the right setting for a band that barely plays above a low murmur. Then, lead singer Margo Timmins was doing this weird dance with her in-ear monitor.

It was the perfect opportunity to get fried grub --even the veggie stuff was fried. Summer concerts and fried food -- a great combination.

Apache Beat @ Siren Festival

2010-07-22T00:31:00-04:00

Apache! Jump on it! Jump on it!

Okay, maybe not the Sugar Hill Gang, but Apache Beat gave Siren some sex appeal with their early set on the Stillwell Stage. The local gals and guys have been kicking around the NYC for three years. I nearly forgot that I saw them when they were just starting out. Today, I believe they are ready for a larger spotlight. Their set was smooth, stylish and groovy. You can credit that to lead singer Ilirjana Alusha. As you can tell, 95 degree temperatures didn't derail her from bringing out a tight purple sequin night dress. When I saw her walking around a few hours after her set, she didn't change. That's hardcore.

The group has an appropriate name, since they rely on tribal beats along with nightime synth grooves to give the music a huge boost of energy. I don't write down notes when I see shows, but I made a mental note on how every song had a different vibe. I definitely took note that didn't slow down for anything, keeping things lively and punchy.

Their debut album, Last Chants, comes out Rocktober 8.

These United States @ XPoNential Music Festival

2010-07-22T00:29:13-04:00

There was no shortage of alt-country Americana folk bands at XPoNential this year, with Dawes, Dr. Dog and Grace Potter all getting billing last weekend. These United States brings more of that sweet, mellow 70s AM Gold to the proceedings.

The band lists Washington, D.C. and Lexington, KY as their home bases, but if you never heard of them before, you could have guested Kansas or Austin, TX. There's a strong feeling that the music comes from late night dive bars in some rundown part of town. Lead singer Jesse Elliott grits his teeth as he sings his songs about evil men and evil deeds. Make no mistake, they are not some crummy, run of the mill bar band full of drunken dead beats. These guys are smooth players with the twangy guitars and sometimes driving rhythms.

Their latest album came out Tuesday, it's called What Lasts. They come to NYC on August 28th at Mercury Lounge.

Dawes @ XPoNential Music Festvial

2010-07-21T09:44:42-04:00

Americana country-folk outfit Dawes was the first act I caught at XPoNential. The California band always seem to be around these parts, opening for bands like Deer Tick, Phosphorescent and Cory Chisel.

As you can tell by these photos, lead singer Taylor Goldsmith doesn't hold back his emotions on stage. He has a Springsteen-like attack on their CSN&Y harmonies. Even with some of his more laid back tunes like "Love Is All I Am", his voices rises above all the music as he if shouting it from the rooftops. The harmonies are where it's at, backed with that sweet organ sound that I'm a sucker for. To get that sound, they set up shop at Laurel Canyon to get the laid, back easy 70s feeling.

There's Edward Sharpe piano player Tay Strathairn overlooking Dawes like a watchful Buddha. The two bands team up tomorrow for a sold out gig at Webster Hall. Dawes also plays the early show at Maxwell's this Friday.

DOM @ Siren Festival

2010-07-21T00:39:03-04:00

Let's blaze a trail through these Siren and XPoNential pictures.

Kicking off Siren festival was Massachusetts man or band, DOM, who's lead singer goes by the name DOM. They were better than last year's starter, Tiny Masters of Today. That was like, "That's cute kids. Now get off the stage and drink your milk." The starting band usually plays to an empty parking lot with a few early stragglers. On the bright side, they got to chill the rest of the day

The man DOM, who looks like Andrew VanWyngarden long-lost little brother, plays in that psychedelic dark pop genre that seems to be popular these days. I've heard that term chillwave so many times, I refuse to acknowledge it because nobody can explain it. In any event, they had good things going for, a lot of full songs, always active in their fuzzy guitars and swirling synths. I like Living in America, which recalls the early 80s dance pop mood, but didn't tread to heavily in the retroness. Rude As Jude had a good poppy pulse.

Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, the XX and Villagers Up for the 2010 Mercury Prize

2010-07-20T23:56:45-04:00

Great news this morning with the announcement of the 2010 Mercury Prize nominees. Excuse me, the Barclaycard Mercury Prize. Can I get a free Barclaycard for mentioning that? My buddy Marcus Mumford will have to compete with his partner Laura Marling for top honors, which I predicted on twitter. I was too lazy to type up a post.

Back in the U.K., you either get a lot of opinions on the prize or none. Competition among artists is a rather silly concept. I've always felt if it helps these lesser known acts like Villagers and I Am Kloot receive some attention, then I'm all for it. Then again, the win last year for Speech Debelle ended up not being a boost. She never made it to the U.S. and eventually left her label based on failure to promote the album.

This year's list had mostly known acts. The group tends to throw in a jazz or classical name into the lot, and this year they took in the jazz outfit Kit Downes Trio.

My only surprise for not being included on the list is a dance outfit like Two Door Cinema Club, Massive Attack or Delphic. They tend to put in a trendy, electric, club dance group in the band like last year's Friendly Fires. This year, the repeat nomination for Dizzee Rascal is as close and you'll get.

Here's the list:

Biffy Clyro, Only Revolutions
Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea
Dizzee Rascal, Tongue N' Cheek
Foals, Total Life Forever
I Am Kloot, Sky At Night
Kit Downes Trio, Golden
Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can
Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More
Paul Weller, Wake Up the Nation
The xx , xx
Villagers, Becoming a Jackal
Wild Beasts, Two Dancers

I think the win can go two ways. The XX will take it because they have such a unique fresh sound that every critic and their mum adored. Or, they'll give it to Paul Weller as sort of a Lifetime Achievement Award. The announcement comes on Sept. 7, broadcasted live on BBC2.

Previously:

Marcus joined Laura at her Johnny Brenda's gig
Mumford & Sons threw down at The TLA the next day
My chat with the man Mumford
The XX played to a packed house at Mercury Lounge during CMJ
Foals came through in 2008 at Maxwell's
Villagers played Joe's Pub last month
Wild Beasts also played Joe's
I don't like Biffy Clyro