popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com without music, life would be a mistake. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:10:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Popwreckoninghttp://feedburner.google.com SXSW 2010: Miike Snow @ The Galaxy Room Backyard for the KCRW Showcase http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/DthzsYFEgmo/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-miike-snow-the-galaxy-room-backyard-for-the-kcrw-showcase/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:10:46 +0000 Reni Papananias http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22761 More extensive coverage on Miike Snow’s performance at SXSW is coming later, but for now enjoy some photographs detailing the fantastic dance party of a set: Related PostsMarch 18, 2010 -- Big Star’s Alex Chilton dies days before SXSW showcase (3)March 17, 2010 -- SXSW Music Kickoff at PureVolume House W/ Jakob Dylan and The Three [...] More extensive coverage on Miike Snow’s performance at is coming later, but for now enjoy some photographs detailing the fantastic dance party of a set:

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-miike-snow-the-galaxy-room-backyard-for-the-kcrw-showcase/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-miike-snow-the-galaxy-room-backyard-for-the-kcrw-showcase/ Portugal. The Man – American Ghetto http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/54BCctbc5RA/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/portugal-the-man-american-ghetto/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:01:56 +0000 Adam Leroy http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22756 Portugal. The Man have explored their distinct post-rock vision across (now) six full length albums; and that vision is full of promise. This new album, American Ghetto, is experimental, but “experimental” in the safest sense of the word. Fans of previous offerings will find much to celebrate and new listeners will have a great [...] Portugal. The Man have explored their distinct post-rock vision across (now) six full length albums; and that vision is full of promise. This , American Ghetto, is experimental, but “experimental” in the safest sense of the word. Fans of previous offerings will find much to celebrate and listeners will have a great starting point.

Whereas The Satanic Satanist had a more dominant guitar sound, the name of the game for American Ghetto is layers. “60 Years” is propelled by a distant acoustic guitar hook that is enshrined with lead guitar, synths and drums—with varying degrees of percussion interspersed. “Fantastic Pace” centers mostly on a head-nodding piano part before bringing in familiar layers. These textures bear resemblance to Remain In Light: a core is established and instruments drift over the soundscape.

While the hip-shaking appeal of previous albums remains, hips will be shaking to -wave- dirges. Many of the songs float with an airy creepiness, often aided by Zoe Manville’s haunting backing vocals and emblazoned through lyrics that focus on shallowness and washed up idols. Case in point: “Dead Dog” kicks the off with a halting break-beat and a cautionary tale—

I gotta warn you/these people/ they didn’t try

And they lie/the lie/they lie

The level of production brought by Anthony Saffrey and Adam Taylor creates the notion of a more mature sounding band. American Ghetto is thick. The producers (who also handled mixing with the assistance of Paul Kadrie) bear mentioning if only due to the amount of time it must have taken to give each instrument its own voice within the mix. There is a sense of cohesion, perhaps aided by the appearance of a familiar character on the cover.

Each Portugal. The Man release captures the band at a different point while retaining similar elements. American Ghetto is a welcome addition—a release that purrs with layers of vocals, synthesizers, and guitars. No lie.

Track Listing:
1. The Dead Dog
2. Break
3. 60 Years
4. All My People
5. 1000 Years
6. Fantastic Pace
7. The Pushers Party
8. Do What We Do
9. Just A Fool
11. When The War Ends

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/portugal-the-man-american-ghetto/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/portugal-the-man-american-ghetto/ SXSW 2010: Zoe Keating @ Central Presbyterian Church http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/Jm-c63XxEoY/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-zoe-keating-central-presbyterian-church/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:39:52 +0000 Joshua Hammond http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22746 The advantage that Zoe Keating has over your band, be it present, fictional or future, is just that: Zoe Keating. Independent in a way few others are talented enough to even attempt, this one-woman musician brings a completely new definition to the words self reliant. Packing of a cello and a handful of loop pedals, Keating [...] The advantage that Zoe Keating has over your band, be it present, fictional or future, is just that: Zoe Keating.

Independent in a way few others are talented enough to even attempt, this one-woman musician brings a completely definition to the words self reliant. Packing of a cello and a handful of loop pedals, Keating manages to create a rhythm section, bridges, verses and choruses, bass and lead riffs, and a whole life of music.

I first experienced Keating a few years back as the opening act for at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas. The memory of her set then prompted me to make sure to catch her in . When I found out she was playing one time, at the Central Presbyterian , I shunned Dawes and several other listed bands to make my way to her stage. That intimate setting is simply nonexchangeable.

Keating herself is pretty nonrefundable as well. Classically trained from the age of eight, she is no hack. She’s found herself on the charts of both the classical and electronica sections of itunes, while managing to sell in upward of 30,000 albums. In addition to Heap, she’s worked with the likes of Amanda Palmer and traveled with the group Rasputina, whom she was a member of from 2002-2006. Just because you haven’t heard of her, doesn’t mean she’s not a road tested genius. She’s not that simple.

Her music is also actually quite complex. Each loop adds a layer, which build a chorus. As time passes, the movements build into full orchestrations that filled the steeples of the in a way that those passing by might assume 50 people were playing.

But no, it was one girl. One extremely talented girl named Zoe whom you should check out.

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-zoe-keating-central-presbyterian-church/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/sxsw-2010-zoe-keating-central-presbyterian-church/ Jack White, Jay Z collaborate http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/XlB2Fbn_OcI/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/jack-white-jay-z-collaborate/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:08:44 +0000 Bethany Smith http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22750 Alternative rocker Jack White is not one to sit idle, nor is Hip hop music mogul Jay Z. The two constantly have new solo and group projects in the works and for the first time their musical giant paths have converged. In a recent interview with GQ, Jack White revealed that he just recorded a [...] Alternative rocker is not one to sit idle, nor is Hip hop music mogul Jay Z. The two constantly have new solo and group projects in the works and for the first time their musical giant paths have converged.

In a recent interview with GQ, revealed that he just recorded a new song with Jay Z:

“We did a song together a few weeks ago. It was incredible. I played him something that I’ve been kicking around for a while and he immediately came out with words for it. It’s unbelievable sounding.”

Both are set to appear at this year’s Bonnaroo music festival. Could a special live performance of the tune be in the works as well? We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

No word on the song’s release yet, but we’ll definitely keep you posted as it is sure to be epic.

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/jack-white-jay-z-collaborate/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/jack-white-jay-z-collaborate/ Big Star’s Alex Chilton dies days before SXSW showcase http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/pPdg8I-ILSE/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/big-stars-alex-chilton-dies-days-before-sxsw-showcase/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:13:23 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22739 With great sadness we report that Big Star’s Alex Chilton has died from what appeared to be a heart attack Wednesday night. He was in preparation for his SXSW showcase.  From the Associated Press: NEW ORLEANS – Singer and guitarist Alex Chilton, who topped the charts as a teen and later became a cult hero with [...] With great sadness we report that ’s has died from what appeared to be a heart attack Wednesday night. He was in preparation for his SXSW showcase. 

From the Associated Press:

NEW ORLEANS – Singer and guitarist , who topped the charts as a teen and later became a cult hero with , died Wednesday. He was 59.

Chilton died at a hospital in New Orleans after experiencing what appeared to be heart problems, said his longtime friend John Fry. Fry said Chilton’s wife, Laura, was very distressed by the unexpected death.

“Alex was an amazingly talented person, not just as a musician and vocalist and a songwriter, but he was intelligent and well read and interested in a wide number of music genres,” said Fry, the owner of Memphis-based Ardent Studios.

As the teenage singer for the pop-soul outfit the Box Tops, Chilton topped the charts with the band’s song “The Letter” in 1967. Their other hits were “Soul Deep” and “Cry Like a Baby.” Chilton grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and formed the band with friends from school.

His short run with brought less mainstream success but made him a cult hero to other rock musicians, as evidenced by the title of the 1987 Replacements song, “.” ’s three 1970s albums all earned spots on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest.

Chilton said in a 1987 interview with The Associated Press that he didn’t mind flying under the radar with and later as a solo artist.

“What would be ideal would be to make a ton of money and have nobody know about you,” he said. “Fame has a lot of baggage to carry around. I wouldn’t want to be like Bruce Springsteen. I don’t need that much money and wouldn’t want to have 20 bodyguards following me.”

“If I did become really popular, the critics probably wouldn’t like me all that much,” he said. “They like to root for the underdog.”

Chilton had been scheduled to perform with on Saturday at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

“ always messed with your head, charming and amazing you while doing so. His gift for melody was second to none, yet he frequently seemed in disdain of that gift,” the festival’s creative director, Brent Gulke, said in an e-mail.

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/big-stars-alex-chilton-dies-days-before-sxsw-showcase/feed/ 3 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/18/big-stars-alex-chilton-dies-days-before-sxsw-showcase/ SXSW Music Kickoff at PureVolume House W/ Jakob Dylan and The Three Legs http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/n_pDkaBfavU/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-music-kickoff-at-purevolume-house-w-jakob-dylan-and-the-three-legs/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:38:44 +0000 Joshua Hammond http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22722 Looking back, I learned a few things from my time in Austin, Texas as a rookie journalist at South by Southwest in 2009. After standing in line for roughly four hours last year, I arrived in Austin early, hoping to get all the paperwork and non-specifics out of the way. Dodging the Wednesday crowd really [...] Looking back, I learned a few things from my time in Austin, Texas as a rookie journalist at South by Southwest in 2009. After standing in line for roughly four hours last year, I arrived in Austin early, hoping to get all the paperwork and non-specifics out of the way. Dodging the Wednesday crowd really seemed to help, as I got my band and photo creds in ten minutes, leaving time to make my way over to pick up my entrance pass to the Purevolume House to catch a few bands.

By the time I got into the venue, Joshua James was finishing up his set. I shuffled through the drink line for a water before making my way to the front to set up for Johnny Flynn’s 10:00 p.m. time slot.

Flynn and company had literally just stepped off the runway of Austin’s International airport and onto the stage of the venue for this set. It honestly doesn’t get more rough than that. Hailing from London, their bodies were left shaking off the feeling of jet lag equaling a 4 a.m. start time. Regardless of fatigue, the guys stayed the course, presenting me with a quality jumping off point for my 2010 SXSW.

Somewhere between Ryan Adams and The Swell Season, Flynn’s set showed his diversity as he wielded multiple duties between acoustic guitar, mandolin, trumpet, vocals and charm. With sweet alt. country songs and lyrics written with talent and depth, I expect big things from Flynn. I walked away from the stage a fan. I honestly plan on catching them again before I leave Austin, this time with all of their energy intact.

Following Flynn, Jakob Dylan of both Wallflowers and solo fame was set to take stage. Ironically, Dylan happened to also be the first band I caught at Austin City Limits in 2009. However, this time around his cast would be a little different. His band, Three Legs which features Neko Case, would be playing for the first time in front of a crowd. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that.

However, it does lead a person to wonder how anyone managed to get Neko Case to stand in the shadows of a project. With a presence on stage that borders on being bold and commands attention I think there are a number of musical personalities who would shy away from sharing the stage with Case. They might worry about the spotlight shifting slightly to stage left. However, in this situation, the combination would work flawlessly. Dylan shows his humility playing with a star that might honestly be a bigger name than he, while Case stands calmly by his side, performing her role as one of the legs of the band instead of trying to be the spine.

That spine is Dylan. Of all his projects, this one is the strongest. His voice is mature and wise, reminding me at times of the protest singer style that his father dawned. However at times a little Johnny Cash can be found in him as well. Beautiful slide guitar riffs fill the stage as he sings about sadness.

But those are always the best songs anyway right?

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-music-kickoff-at-purevolume-house-w-jakob-dylan-and-the-three-legs/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/sxsw-music-kickoff-at-purevolume-house-w-jakob-dylan-and-the-three-legs/ Lightspeed Champion – Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/_-3Q71ZalBY/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/lightspeed-champion-life-is-sweet-nice-to-meet-you/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:15:15 +0000 Abby Williamson http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22723 Completely departing from his first LP, Dev Hynes, a.k.a. Lightspeed Champion has put out the beautifully composed Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, consisting of light and lovely folk and strong driving indie rock. I’ll have to admit that I wasn’t crazy about Hynes’ debut 2008’s Falling Off The Lavender Bridge, but here he’s loaded [...]

Completely departing from his first LP, Dev Hynes, a.k.a. Lightspeed Champion has put out the beautifully composed Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, consisting of light and lovely folk and strong driving indie rock.

I’ll have to admit that I wasn’t crazy about Hynes’ debut 2008’s Falling Off The Lavender Bridge, but here he’s loaded his songs with more instrumentals and deeper harmonies. The album as a whole fits together very well, and there aren’t any songs that stick out. Every song feels like it needs to be there to make the album work as well as it does, interludes and all. You’d never think that Hynes had throat surgery that delayed this release, because it sounds delightfully smooth and lilting; and just as good, if not better, than on Falling Off The Lavender Bridge.

Starting with the melancholy “Dead Head Blues,” and into the hook-heavy “Marlene,” Hynes brings in the dance hall guitar riffs with the classical strings, and they don’t clash at all. In fact, Hynes breaks into a full-on Etude on track 13 with “Goodnight Michalek,” a less-than two minute ditty that sounds like it was meant for a Wes Anderson film soundtrack.

One of my favorites on the album, “The Big Guns of Highsmith,” also employs the classical piano, but a charming question-answer chorus of “it hurts to be the one who’s always feeling sad / oh just stop complaining!” It’s lyrics like that that keeps Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You interesting and makes you want to come back for another listen. Another of my favorites is the 50s swing-inspired pop song “Madame Van Damme,” that proclaims several times throughout the song “kill me baby, won’t you kill me?” A terribly desperate question, but sung in such a matter-of-fact and cheery way demands like I listen to it over and over again. It takes a few to get over the irony of such an upbeat song, but it’s catchy, so that’s just fine with me to listen a dozen or so times.

At the halfway mark, Hynes slows it down with “Romart,” an earnest ballad that’s so big that you almost feel like it belongs in a renaissance fairytale, but a contemporary one. The other ballad on the album, “Smooth Day  (At the Library),” is jazzy and almost gloomy, but still romantic enough not to be depressing.

It was nice to have more than ten songs on this album, as it’s been the number of tracks I’ve seen lately on most new albums. Having fifteen tracks also added to the operatic feel of Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You, slightly reminiscent of The Decemberists, with the folk storytelling with instrumental intermissions throughout the album.

The quirky lyrics and vast arrangements make Life is Sweet! Nice to Meet You a great release from Lightspeed Chamption – surely the best effort from him yet. And added to his already eccentric stage persona, I’m thinking that it will make for an interesting live show.

Track List:
1. Dead Head Blues
2. Marlene
3. There’s Nothing Underwater
4. Intermission
5. Faculty of Fears
6. The Big Guns of Highsmith
7. Romart
8. I Don’t Want to Wake Up Alone
9. Madame Van Damme
10. Smooth Day (at the Library)
11. Intermission 2
12. Sweetheart
13. Etude Op.3 ‘Goodnight Michalek’
14.            Middle of the Dark
15.            A Bridge and a Goodbye

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/lightspeed-champion-life-is-sweet-nice-to-meet-you/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/lightspeed-champion-life-is-sweet-nice-to-meet-you/ Pretty Lights Offers Free EP http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/K8n-uiEB-1g/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/pretty-lights-offers-free-ep/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:30:10 +0000 Bethany Smith http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22719 Nothing says it’s a holiday like a free gift; so today, treat yourself to a download of Pretty Lights‘ Making Up a Changing Mind EP. Trust us, these beats are sweeter than a shamrock shake. The electronica / hip hop act has a lot of other goodies and free downloads, so if you like what [...] Nothing says it’s a holiday like a free gift; so today, treat yourself to a download of ‘ Making Up a Changing Mind . Trust us, these beats are sweeter than a shamrock shake.

The electronica / hip hop act has a lot of other goodies and free downloads, so if you like what you hear on this , be sure to check out more.

Download the at www.prettylightsmusic.com.

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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/pretty-lights-offers-free-ep/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/17/pretty-lights-offers-free-ep/ Abandon Kansas’ ‘Close Your Eyes’ Video http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/H3Uzfm2xQYA/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/16/abandon-kansas-close-your-eyes-video/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:15:42 +0000 Bethany Smith http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22714 Abandon Kansas‘ new video for “Close Your Eyes” is up for voting with mtvU’s The Freshmen from March 15 – March 19. Cast your votes here. “As far as long term goals, none of us have any desire to be rich and famous. If we can keep connecting with people through music then we’ll be content. [...]

Abandon Kansas‘ for “Close Your Eyes” is up for voting with ’s The Freshmen from March 15 – March 19. Cast your votes here.

“As far as long term goals, none of us have any desire to be rich and famous. If we can keep connecting with people through music then we’ll be content. There are way too many bands out there already so we’re trying to make what
we do a little bigger than music.” – states , vocalist for Abandon Kansas.


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]]> http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/16/abandon-kansas-close-your-eyes-video/feed/ 0 http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/16/abandon-kansas-close-your-eyes-video/ Get Hyped with Innerpartysystem’s 2010 teaser track http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Popwreckoning/~3/-n8Xadfzsc8/ http://popwreckoning.com/2010/03/16/get-hyped-with-innerpartysystem%e2%80%99s-2010-teaser-track/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:30:48 +0000 popwreckoning http://popwreckoning.com/?p=22710 After taking the nation by storm during Warped Tour last year, old and new fans alike have been waiting for an announcement of the next installment of Innerpartysystem’s unique brand of musical sound. After a ground-breaking EP (The Download EP) and a full length self-titled album, fans are more than ready for new material after [...] After taking the nation by storm during Warped Tour last year, old and fans alike have been waiting for an announcement of the next installment of Innerpartysystem’s unique brand of musical sound. After a ground-breaking EP (The Download EP) and a full length self-titled album, fans are more than ready for material after an 18 month hiatus from the Industrial Rock/Electronica trio.

Between leaving their label, Island Records, in June 2009 and the recent loss of Jesse Cronan (backup vocals, synthesizer, lighting design), those last 18 months have been nothing but boring, according to the band’s blog. They have posted remixes of both Cobra Starship’s “Hot Mess” and ’s “Don’t Trust Me” on their MySpace, as well as remixes of old material of their own, such as “Last Night in Brooklyn” and “Obsession.” While these mixes kept fans satiated long enough for the band to get their bearings and start recording the album, the 2010 was born.

Posted on February 22, the teaser, shows the band’s monetary-esque logo and the simple words “Get Hype,” along with a simple download button. Sparse, almost utilitarian, but plain and simple, and exactly what the fans want- a taste of the sound.

Along with the mix track that is making everyone’s skin crawl with anticipation, comes a video of Patrick and fellow band mates working on the album, recording mixes, playing around with sounds for their live stage sets, tracking vocals, and… well… breaking things.

Although it is not a finite date for the release of their newest chapter, it will at least keep us on the edge of our seats until that information is revealed. For both old fans and , will hold something , exciting, different, and most of importantly, dance worthy. Check it out on the band’s YouTube page or on their blog, and well- Get Hyped. I know I sure did.

Written by Annastasia Gallaher

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