Crappy Indie Music -- The Blog!

The Technicolors- "Listener" Album and Show Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:39:00 +0000

Can I just state right off that I question the wisdom of building the Doug Fir as a music venue? I've been trying to figure out what exactly it is that bugs me- the space is cool, but acoustically... it's a concrete bunker.

Regardless, I had a good time the other night seeing The Technicolors.

Opening band was a weird trio called Banned Books. At first I was thinking they were going to be winking hipster nonsense, but they were actually pretty endearing. Banned Books trod the weird-yet-exacting path of intense psych rock that Zappa started- and while they certainly had a few self-indulgent messes- it's forgivable. Everyone goes there. So long as you don't turn into Primus, you're fine. Check out Banned Books here.

Following up on that was Fictionist, and I have to say- they almost scuttled the evening. There is a single cardinal sin for being an opening band- don't be boring. You can be bad- people expect it, and will forget it. You can play too long- also par for the course. You can even upstage the headliner. Just... don't be boring. Fictionist is an odd example of the whole being worse than the sum of its parts- each member certainly seemed more than competent at their instruments, but what came from all that was pretty much a terrible combination of Toad The Wet Sprocket and Audioslave. With even more vapid lyrics. I was bored to tears by this band, and by the time they left the stage, I was almost ready to call it a night.

Luckily, The Technicolors did not disappoint. When they were first brought to my attention, they were described as a spin on desert rock, and I was expecting some greasy stoner noise (which I love). I was pleasantly surprised to find The Technicolors much slicker and poppier. The obvious comparison is to Oasis, and they certainly seem to take some of the best parts of the Gallagher boys' famous project and mate it with a QOTSA or Clutch type stoner blues, and just a smidge of mod attitude.

Listener is one of the most well-balanced albums I've heard in a long time, and has a certain British charm that makes it hard for me to believe the lads are from Arizona. Their live sound was certainly beefed up, tight thick grooves that managed to overcome the harsh angles of the Doug Fir, but still showcasing the cool variety of their songs. Listener also closes with... wait for it... a low rock cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game". And you know I love me some Chris Isaak.

Ultimate verdict- Listener is a must buy, and you should definitely catch The Technicolors when they come back around. Hopefully they leave snoozefest Fictionist at home next time.

Image courtesy The Technicolors' instagram.

The Technicolors play Doug Fir 5/15

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:12:00 +0000

Here's a good show to check out- The Technicolors have a nice blend between takes-itself-seriously-britpop and desert stoner rock. I know, right?

Anyway, I'll be there tomorrow night. If you see a guy who is too old to make it onto the PDXPop compilation album, come say hi! The Technicolors are supported by Fictionist, and there will be an album and show review to follow.

WE DESERVE BETTER, Part 2- Justice

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:25:00 +0000

Sonic experimentation means never having to say "Sorry, my music sounds like shit."

Unlike a lot of other music bloggers, I am not constantly on the prowl for the latest and greatest. I don't have internet alerts set up to constantly be feeding me new releases. So that means that a lot of times I miss out on big releases, because I spend most of my attention on indie and small label submissions. What that also means is that one of you bums forgot to tell me that Justice released a new album over a fucking year ago.

Yeah, I know that's not really your fault. And actually, I'm glad nobody told me. If I'd been aware of the album before it's release, I would have been all psyched about it, and then really really disappointed. Crushed, even.

As it stands, feeling slightly sheepish about coming so late to the party, I am only mostly really disappointed.

Justice's debut (cross) was one of the best albums I've ever heard. Point blank. It was inventive, intense, and made me proud to be an Ableton Live user. More than just a dance record, or a pop record, or an exercise in DJ skills, it was bricolage at its best, and completely slammin'. As Rob Beschizza argues in his important xenocritical essay "Mixtape of the Lost Decade," Justice seems to occupy an important niche in a musical and aesthetic otherwhen between the 70s and 80s, taking the best from both.

It seems likely then that any followup to such a great album would be a disappointment- sophomore slump or no. With Audio, Video, Disco, though Justice seems to have just completely gone off the rails. The music itself isn't so bad, and represents a sort of intentional excursion into their prog side. I found myself fondly reminded of Goblin. But that's not the problem. The problem is the production values. They aren't there.

Mind you, (cross) wasn't Gaucho, by any means. It was full of multilayered slap bass samples, tortured synths, and the most egregiously pumping sidechain compression I've ever heard... but it sounds great. There are portions of it that are intentionally harsh- but artistically so. It may be cliche to say so, but even the best recordings I could find of Disco sounded like they were mastered on the mythical Fisher-Price. It's hard to listen to- and it's especially hard to want to listen to again. Part of me wonders if the whole thing isn't a joke. It's not Axe Hero, though, just washed out and feeble.

I still hold out hope, though. Some really excellent covers of songs from Audio, Video, Disco are out there, and that leads me to believe that judging by the music, Justice haven't completely lost their minds, just perhaps indulged their love of audio experimentation a bit too much. Everyone- ahem- cross their fingers that it's just sophomore slump, and please... if you hear about a new Justice album- let me know.

Architects + Heroes "Sampler, Volume 2"

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:56:00 +0000

You know I would never steer you wrong. DJ Stephen R- friend of the blog- just had a baby, so let's celebrate by listening to his new epic comp:

Architects + Heroes Sampler Vol. 2 (A+H013) by Various Artists

Guest post- "David Bowie: Should He Have Bothered?"

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:51:00 +0000

Hey everyone, enjoy this post from guest blogger Brynn Alexander:

When I heard that living music legend David Bowie was coming out of retirement (or whatever it was) to release his first studio album in a decade, I have to admit, my first question was not "when?" but "why?" Yes, I know, he was the bomb back in the day, and talent like that never goes stale and blah blah blah, but... there are lots of iconic musicians that keep plodding on past their prime, doing nothing but making fans wish they'd quit while they were ahead. There's nothing like watching someone who once was great, releasing horrible album after horrible album, trying to make us like them again. It's just so desperate. And when the preview video came out for the single "Where Are We Now?", I wasn't nearly as impressed as all the hardcore fans were in the YouTube comments. Sure, it was a skillfully crafted song, but in the end it was basically just a slightly sad, nostalgic ballad. Yawn. I wasn't looking forward to hearing the rest of the songs. So imagine my delighted surprise when the album, The Next Day, was finally released, and I discovered that for some reason, the worst song in the collection was chosen to be the lead single. The rest of the album is miles better than "Where Are We Now?", and from the first beats of the opening title track, I knew that yes, there was some point to Bowie going back into the studio to make this album. This is more than just the ramblings of an aging glam popper; it's a set of songs worthy of sitting on the same shelf alongside Bowie's best vintage works. He's vibrant, he's energetic, but best of all, he's proven that he's still relevant. This is an album that's not just for the older crowd; I can totally see how a new generation of music lovers (though perhaps not the Bieber-adoring tweens) could easily get drawn into Bowie's spell. In fact, a young friend of mine mentioned The Next Day to me recently, asking if I'd heard it yet. I had no idea she even liked Bowie, and it turns out she didn't - he only ended up on her radar because of this latest release. Bowie has a strong promotional team, and so far they've made all the right moves - keeping the album secret until very late in the game, releasing the first single on YouTube, and so forth. With a bit of creative social media promo, this could turn into the surprise hit of the year. The songs are definitely there, and if you dismissed New Bowie after "Where Are We Now?", I urge you to give him a second chance and try out some of the other songs on the album. You won't be disappointed.

HAXAN live film score at Hollywood Theater 4/14

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Holy shit. You have no idea how psyched I am about this. The Hollywood is always having awesome events like these- films with live scores, etc. This show is firmly in the mold of what Glass/Kronos did for Dracula: an original music score for an old movie that didn't have one originally. The film in question is HÄXAN, a 1922 Swedish picture based in part on the infamous Malleus Maleficarum. In case you're not up on your 15th century texts, the double-M is a book about witches and how to murder them. Not as titillating as you might think- there's a lot of dry theological musing, but it remains an important snapshot of late-Medieval/Renaissance folk beliefs. And contrary to its reputation among neo-Pagans, the Malleus did not send bajillions of innocent womyn to their deaths- it was denounced by the church as heresy, and even the Inquisition warned against it. Which is kind of like having the Ku Klux Klan tell you you're too racist.

So it sounds like this is going to be an awesome event- with not one but two steampunk-ish bands playing a live score. I'll be there with fellow blogger Lee- expect a review in the near future.

Details from the press release:

On April 14th, the recently revived Organ Grinders series welcomes Boston bands Jaggery and Walter Sickert & The Army Of Broken Toys.

Jaggery’s sound moves from haunting lullabies to intricately-woven, mixed-meter rants to catharsis-inducing, barn-burning mini-epics ~ oftentimes within the same song. The Boston-based five piece establish themselves in a league of their own with a genre-defying style ~ blending elements of darkwave, jazz, classical, ethereal avant-rock, and chamber art-pop. http://www.jaggery.net

Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys are the spinners of a charming, demented fairy tale that gathers new characters all the time. The results have been described as a “Dada-esque circus carnival run amuck,” by Boston Survival Guide. Whether live or in album form, Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys will transport you to a realm where imagination rules, and sound is alive. You may not sleep tight, but your dreams will be like none you've ever experienced. http://www.armyoftoys.com

In a special one-time performance, the Hollywood Theatre is transformed back to its vaudeville days of bowler bedecked musicians and big screen spectacles. This show also marks the final spring show of The Organ Grinders series.

Organ Grinders: HÄXAN

April 14th - 8pm Hollywood Theatre - $12 Tickets available at www.hollywoodtheatre.org and the Hollywood Theatre box office

Trailer:

Outer Space Heaters ROCK Slabtown, April 9th.

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:28:00 +0000

I've buzzed about the Outer Space Heaters here before, but I definitely wanted to share this gig with you kids. One of the reasons is that if you go the OSH Facebook page, like 'em, and share the gig, they will send you a free copy of their debut EP and a fresh new bonus track.

Get on it! I'll keep this update short and sweet, but I'm telling you... get yourself to Slabtown on Tuesday night. Outer Space Heaters are playing with King Ghidora and Queen Chief.

THE BEST ALBUMS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD: Freemasonry "Sparrin' With The Varmint"

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 02:00:00 +0000

I'm hoping to avoid too much of a nostalgia trap by not picking albums for this series that are important to the same time of my life. Or something. There will be some overlap, of course, but I want to make an effort not to dump my long-ago tastes on you.

I think when most people are asked to name a band from Georgia, they would immediately pick REM, and that would be fine. We all know that there is more to a state- or city or country, even- than just the most tallest poppy. Apparently there was a quite a thriving post-hardcore scene in Atlanta in the early-mid 90s, stretching into BFE and onward by way of North Carolina and thereabouts. I can't help but feel that perhaps this was an outgrowth of the DC stuff of just a couple years earlier- but I am not an expert on that by any means.

What I am an expert on is an album by the most successful band of that scene- Freemasonry. It was the third CD I ever bought, the summer after I graduated high school. (Negatron and Katy Lied were first and second, if you must know) I was browsing a record shop on Hawthorne- name I can't recall- and stumbled on a CD that caught my eye.

Now, I am a sucker for that Cherenkov radiation color scheme, and when I was 17 I thought it was THE BOMB. Looking back, I think the cover is okay but definitely dated. The fonts and the visual pun- it makes it seem less of a real band's album art than something from a CD duplicator's sales brochure. With song titles like "Templar Fighting Monk"(another instant appeal to me) and an engraving of Simon de Montfort in the liner notes, I would guess that the Freemasonry boys might have had a certain old-school aesthetic in mind, but their label probably boned them on that.

Taking it home, of course I was in fact blown away. This is the post-hardcore that with a few more years, a touch of autism, and marginally less weed would become math-rock. I listened to the hell out of that CD that summer, and in fact listened to it so much that in a couple years it had been rendered unplayable. I despaired of finding it again- this was 1997 or so, and there wasn't much in the way of Amazon or eBay... at least for me. I don't think I even had a computer yet. But then I had a stroke of luck in a Mexican 99 cent store.. yes, a brand spankin' new copy of Sparrin' With The Varmint. This second copy became an integral part of my writing soundtrack at the time. It ended up languishing in a CD wallet for a bit, getting taken out every so often when I needed awesome driving music.

For the past year or so I thought I had lost it, and when I did find it recently found it was, yes, scratched all to hell and gone and unplayable. It's easy enough to find on eBay now, despite rumors of the label having destroyed all remaining copies. My guess is that "destroy" is a euphemism for them being sold off to a liquidator, if my 99-cent find is any indication. Luckily for us... the internet exists, and you can freely download the album from a number of sources. Actually, I think you should do that.

What to expect? I've never really been able to describe Freemasonry to people, and more often than not just dig out my CD and play it. I've found some blog posts by afficionados of that Atlanta post-hardcore scene, and a lot of their opinions seem to be somewhat negative- not of the band, but of this specific album. Most claims are that it is too sterile, vocals aren't strong enough, and mixed funny.

I agree with the substance of these opinions but not the conclusion. I had just joined my first real band when this album was released, and we were on the raw sound bandwagon, which I think kept us from really shining. I see a degree of similarity between us and Freemasonry. A number of the fans of the scene maintain that the raw live sound of Freemasonry was the best way to experience them, and that Sparrin' is too long of a time to spend with the band's fury. I do somewhat agree with that- it's hard to maintain your focus on the second half of the album, for whatever reason. But we are in the age of the Feuilleton, and there's a little thing called "shuffle" that takes care of that problem nicely. The mixing I can forgive. I like a lot of separation anyway, and as far as the lead singer's vocals- their placement seems just right. This is definitely a stoner's album, and to have the lyrics just on the verge of ambient is just right.

Where does that leave us with this album that you've never heard? It's totally rockin'. A great driving album. Conversation piece. Slice of regional music history. Download it and see for yourself- you won't regret it.

Oh- and one more thing. I'm sure that in my ignorance of the GA scene and the post-hardcore of the 90s, I'm sure I have missed crucial details or misrepresented something. If you know about these things and stumble on this article- feel free to chime in. I'd love to corrected!

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE ARE OBJECTIVELY BAD

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:45:00 +0000

Somehow I totally forgot to plug this, and I can't even believe it. My friend and editor Garrett Cook recently took the helm of a UK literary journal, Imperial Youth Review. I was tapped to face off with co-editor Chris Kelso in a "good reviewer/evil reviewer" series of columns. You can guess by history here at CIMTB which side of the equation I was on.

You can buy the print edition of issue 1 here, and it features my first column "Florence and The Machine Are Objectively Bad." There's lots of other great content too. Here's a sample:

What’s the verdict, then? I am a proponent of liking what you like, and not being ashamed of it. Discovering that I was able to enjoy things without irony, without them being a guilty pleasure, is one of the formative experiences in my life as both artist and critic. So how can that jibe with the vitriol I’ve been slinging so far? Well, hey... you can listen to Florence and the Machine if you like them.

You’ll just be dead fucking wrong.

Also, check out the Imperial Youth Review blog. In a moment of inspired insanity Garrett has allowed me to embark on a strange musico-literary project, a dark thing that perhaps should not have been, a little thing I like to call "Every Steely Dan Song Ever." I'm going through every Steely Dan song in order and writing microfiction inspired by the tunes. It's fucking weird, if I do say so myself.

Check it out, everybody... you'll love it!

New Video from The Knife!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks again to Mute PR for sending all this great stuff our way.

BAT COUNTRY!!!!!!! Twinkle twinkle Killer Kane edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:20:00 +0000

Sorry again for the radio silence. To be honest, I was having a bit of a crisis in wondering whether to keep the blog running. I suppose that is natural- I am a busy boy, after all. But after talking with a couple of new friends I realize that Portland itself seems to be going through a weird musical slump. So thanks to all you enthusiastic music submitters- I'm sorry I can't get to you all! What really changed my mind was being asked to record a gear demo for Malekko Heavy Industry, who you may remember from the first Gear Review podcast. I spent a fun afternoon touring their plant, meeting the staff, and playing in a guitar pedal wonderland. We're lucky to have such a cool boutique pedal manufacturer here in Portland- but more on that later. Now, SOME VIDEOS!!!!

It was a really beautiful day here in PDX, so I think this video is what we needed.

The song is a little busy, but I like it.

Why are the good band names taken? If you're going to work it, work it.

There are always fads in female vocals...
And I'm glad to hear someone who doesn't follow that, and just sounds good and themselves.

Goldie, this one's for you.
I'm all for ironic metal covers, but Andrew WK? Isn't it a little early for that?

Sweden.. FUCK YEAH
This one tricked me. I was expecting some Joy Divisiony stuff at first, but I think you indie kids will like it.

Wait... why is awesome doom metal band Ghost now called Ghost BC? (Video NSFW)
Changes like that never bode well. Think of what happened to Green Jello.

Man, it's awesome band name day, isn't it?
Hmm, tricked. The beginning had me hoping for some sort of awesome black metal, but nope...

Light Parades?
More like... um, damn. I had something for this. Nevermind.

Dammit, James Franco! Your shitty band has now ruined Kenneth Anger! Stick with acting!
And I thought youtube still censored the breasticles...

Okay, now I'm pissed
.
Let's watch Stacy Keach finally have enough and beat the shit out of Richard Lynch.

Public Recognition

noreply@blogger.com (NeverEndingWonder) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:45:00 +0000

Public recognition. It doesn't happen much to writers, unless you're Stephen King, but it
happened to me recently, and it was because of this blog.

I was trudging home with some groceries when I heard a voice behind me calling my name. I
turned and beheld an attractive young woman approaching me. "Are you Lee Widener?" she asked.
Resisting the urge to reply "Who wants to know?" I instead opted for the simple, tentative,
"Uh, yes..."

"I'm Jennifer," she said, offering her hand. I shook it. "I'm your neighbor. I recognised your
picture from the Crappy Indie Music Blog."

This was surprising to me. I'd only written two articles for the blog, and only because
blogmaster Jess Gulbranson wouldn't take no for an answer. It was unfathomable to me that
anyone would have read those articles, and that they would then connect a photo online with
their next door neighbor.

"Do you still write for the blog?"

I didn't really know if I did or not, so I offered a non-committal "I wrote a couple articles
for them."

"I'm in this band, Denim Wedding," Jennifer continued. "We just finished this CD. I'd like to
give it to you." She handed me a CDR.

Still dumbfounded by this chance encounter, I promised to give the CD a listen and write
something if I liked it.

Not knowing what to expect, I slipped the CD into my laptop and sat back to listen. What I
heard transported me back thirty-five years ago, when I lived in the college town of Eugene,
Oregon. One of my first girlfriends, Marj, played percussion in a number of small folkish
bands that performed in coffee shops and organic restaurants. The music was always based
around acoustic guitar and full of lyrics about hope and dreams.

Denim Wedding makes that kind of music. Their name is spot on- this is the music you'd expect to hear at a wedding where everyone wears denim. It's languid, heartfelt, sincere music about love. dreaming, adventure. Sometimes Jennifer sings. Sometimes Brian sings. Sometimes they both sing, and they're tastefully accompanied by just the right compliment of side musicians. It's never too showy, and it's never too spare. They've honed their sound into a perfect balance.

The CD I was given, titled Fancy Diving, is well produced. The sound is clear and rich, the lyrics are front and center, because above all, that's what Denim Wedding is about. It's a good CD for a lazy afternoon when it's too rainy to go out, or a cool night on the beach, or anytime you feel like spending a few minutes with good tunes from good friends.

You can check out Denim Wedding at:

Denim Wedding Website

Fancy Diving is only $5.

Valentine's Day Playlist!

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:45:00 +0000

This was totally not my idea, especially since my wife and I just found out there's a significant risk of our unborn babe having Down Syndrome, and for a romantic Valentine date, I get to take her in for amniocentesis. If you're not familiar with that particular festive occurrence, they stick a honkin' big needle into the poor expectant mom's uterus and try not to poke the baby in the leg. Eek!

Anyway, I don't mean to bring anybody down, just saying that neither of us are really in the romantic mood at the moment. Our love is not flashy, it's quiet and solid and fierce, and I love her. Soooo.... in the spirit of sharing that, I'm compiling a Valentine's Day playlist including some fresh new indie music from around the world. Get ready!

Sweet memes are made of these.

J.P. Rose- "Princess" and "If You Ask Me"

If you can get past the slightly creepy stalker vibe of his picture (just messing with you, J.P... your other pictures are fine!) what we find here are some very sweet straight-up electropop songs. I'll be looking into J.P.'s stuff a little closer for the next BAT COUNTRY.

Don't look behind you.

Shannon Whitworth- "You Are In Love"

Yes you are! I'm sort of getting a Suzi Quatro vibe from this. Or have the pills started to take effect? Anyway, I like it. Hope you do.

Now that's what I call odalisque!

Suzi Quatro- "If You Can't Give Me Love"

Shit, why not?

Aww, they really do love each other.

Glowing Screens- "Alien Lover"

I'm a sucker for husband-wife musical teams! You know I am! They don't even have to be all sweet and gushy, either. To me, a married couple who can make weird jokes about alien sex are just as romantic and beautiful as anything.

Guess who.

Charlotte & Magon- "The Mining"

Speaking of creator couples! Charlotte & Magon's newest, Life Factory, is out. I'll be doing a more thorough review coming soon, as well a Q&A with Magon. And of course, I always recommend stuff off their last album, which was possible the sexiest and most romantic album I've ever heard.

That little censor bar over Delia Derbyshire's face can't fool the massive boner I have for her.

Harshist- "Threads"

Remember, not everyone's sweety likes sweet things. Some sweeties like noise rock. So consider this track from Harshist's latest, featuring longtime friend of the blog and my hero, Travis Wiggins, something of a... palate cleanser before we move on to more of the romantical stuff.

"Look busy."

Fou De Toi- "Pick Up Your Phone"

If you and your special person like Tom Petty and/or sappy guitar rock, then it's a Swedish love-fest right now!

Quick, sneak past while he is asleep!

The Police- "J'aurais Toujours Faim De Toil"

Gratuitous French hath summoned the dread specter of Sting! You knew he would show up eventually!!!

Photo credit: Heather Palecek, wherever you are!

Boxed Wine- "Cheap, Fun"

I think a wise man once said "If your daddy's rich, take her out for a meal. If your daddy's poor, just do what you feel." So true- V-Day doesn't have to be about diamonds and shit, it can be about getting drunk and dancing to indie rock. Or getting a medical procedure.

That's it for a little Valentine's day fun- thanks to all our readers. You're beautiful. Also, my wife, who is even more beautiful. I love you, Kayla!

WE DESERVE BETTER, Part 1: No Doubt

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:14:00 +0000

EDITOR'S NOTE: This first installment of WE DESERVE BETTER, a series about recent releases that haven't knocked our socks off, is courtesy of guest blogger Emily Popek. Thanks, E!

I’m going to be totally honest here - I kind of like No Doubt. I was in denial about it for a long time, pretending like I actually hated them. Their breakout single, “Just a Girl,” was pretty damned annoying, and don’t even get me started on “Spiderwebs.”

But somewhere along the line, they wormed their way into my consciousness. I grudgingly enjoyed Gwen Stifani’s vocals on the Dr. Dre-produced Eve single “Let Me Blow Your Mind.” And when 2001’s Rock Steady came out, I just plain liked it. With its playful, dancehall-inspired beats, it was fun, catchy and just different enough from the rest of the pop landscape that it actually seemed creative.

For 2012’s Push and Shove, the one-time ska band is sticking with the formulas that have brought it such success up until now: dancehall- and ska-tinged pop tunes; harder-driving “rock” songs tinged with electro; and the occasional ballad that allows Stefani to swan around in a music video looking like a starlet.

But there’s a problem...

...and its name is Santigold. In the intervening 10 years between Rock Steady and Push and Shove, she moved in and started doing what No Doubt does, only better and fresher and newer.

Push and Shove opens with the track “Settle Down,” which is so Santigold-like at the outset that the casual listener could be forgiven for thinking it is her - right up until Gwen Stefani says she’s “hella positive” about something or other, and breaks into a whiny chorus reminding us that, as Madonna and Paula Abdul proved, you don’t need range to be a pop star.

“Looking Hot” is like a repackage of Rock Steady’s “Hella Good,” without the catchy hook. And it’s downhill from there.

In a way, it’s not really fair. No Doubt were technically there first, signing to Interscope when Santigold was still 10 years away from starting her music career. But when her eponymous album came out in 2008, Santi managed to make blending ska, 80s pop and dance music sound totally original, as though No Doubt had never existed.

If there is a standout track here, it’s “Settle Down,” and that’s only because it sounds so different from the rest of the bland pop offerings dished up on Push and Shove. Overall, this is an album without a reason to exist - and one that fails to stand up, not only to the competition, but to the band’s own back catalogue.

BAT COUNTRY!!!! Tweed Jacket Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:14:00 +0000

Daddy Lion is a friend of the blog. They make nice music.

Check out their newest album!

Callow are working on something very interesting here.

We should keep an eye on them.

WHAT THE JESUS IS GOING ON
"You cannot be serious!"

Stay in school, kids.
And don't do drugs.

The National Rifle combine two things that I love: creepy critters,

The National Rifle - Coke Beat (Official Video) from The National RIfle on Vimeo.

and more creepy critters.

We're pretty psychedelic today.

Thanks, Fonda!

THE KNIFE and Junip, News from Mute

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:27:00 +0000

A couple things from the fine folks at Mute. I think you're going to like this.

First off... Jose Gonzalez. Everybody likes Jose Gonzalez. Some have described him as a "buttercup of joy." Others (myself, if you must know) have declared that "he could crap in my hat and still get a good review". This is strong praise from cynical, jaded me. His most recent project is a little group called Junip, and their debut album Fields was a sublime masterpiece. I've always felt that Gonzalez's work with Zero 7 was some of their (and his) finest work. Junip seems to be, if not a direct extension of that, then certainly a spiritual successor. Big deal, right? Well, Junip has announced a new album coming soon, and have released their first single, "Line of Fire". Listen to it here.

What else can I tempt you with?

How about a new The Knife album.

Yeah, you heard me. It's been a long time coming, but the Gothenburg duo have finally announced their new release, Shaking The Habitual. Sure, they've been busy in the meantime, but I think the world was ready. To celebrate this, they've released their first single "Full of Fire" along with a short film (what we in the biz used to call a 'music video') by filmmaker Marit Ostberg. Ostberg had this to say:

“The film ‘Full Of Fire’ started to grow as an embryo in the song´s lines ‘Who looks after my story’. Who takes care of our stories when the big history, written by straight rich white men, erase the complexity of human´s lives, desires and conditions? The film ‘Full Of Fire’ consists of a network of fates, fears, cravings, longings, losses, and promises. Fates that at first sight seem isolated from each other, but if we pay attention, we can see that everything essentially moves into each other. Our lives are intertwined and our eyes on each other, our sounds and smells, mean something. Our actions create reality, we create each other. We are never faceless, not even in the most grey anonymous streets of the city. We will never stop being responsible, being extensions, of one another. We will never stop longing for each other, and for something else.”

Well, yeah! The ol' net of dharma is pretty hardcore. Shaking The Habitual comes out April 9th, but you can preorder now from itunes or the Rabid Records store. That's a ways off, but I'll remind you. Anyway, enough of my rambling. Check out the new video, which if I say so has a very Swedish style, and would I be remiss in my criticism if I didn't notice a hint of homage to Kenneth Anger's Scorpio Rising? See for yourself:

Full Of Fire from The Knife on Vimeo.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm an idiot. For some reason I kept referring to Jose Gonzalez as Jose Rodriguez. This is what I get for having too many tabs open. Thanks WG!

AIDS Awareness Benefit February 1st w/ Fatha Green and Alexis Whitney

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:39:00 +0000

This just came in under the transom, and it's a small world here in Portland, because like a week ago I was bugging Fatha Green personally to do some musical collaboration. Anyway, here at CIMTB we support benefits for good causes, and this is a great one!

From the press release:

A^6 (African American AIDS Awareness Action Alliance), Is putting together a community awareness benefit Friday, February 1, 2013 form 6-9pm @ Maranatha Church in NE Portland off 12th and Skidmore.

This is a free, open to the public, community event.

(FACEBOOK LINK)...https://www.facebook.com/events/125235537645029/?ref=ts&fref=ts...

Friday, February 1, 2013

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Maranatha Church Fellowship Hall

4222 NE 12th Ave

Portland Oregon

Free HIV Testing

Free Food

Games and Activities for the whole family

Entertainment including:

Fatha Green... http://fathagreen.com

Alexis Whitney

Event supported by the African American AIDS Awareness Action Alliance (A6) and the Portland Chapter of the LINKS, Inc

And check out Fatha Green for a taste of the music that will be at this event:

Crappy Indie Contest: Remix David Bowie's New Album Cover

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 02:27:00 +0000

Let's get this straight- I fucking love David Bowie. I have always loved David Bowie. Not always actively, at first, but yes. I remember being like 7 years old and watching a laser light show set to Space Oddity with my ultra cool dad (who turned me on to some of the best music I've ever listened to). I didn't start actively listening to Bowie until high school, and only really got into him when Outside came out. That dark cyberpunk masterpiece was the soundtrack to me striking out with amazing college girls, and those events would later be novelized. Outside is pretty edgy and not on a lot of Bowie fan's lists, but it is seriously underrated. Later I'd get into Ziggy-era bowie, then shitty 80s Bowie, and Berlin-era Bowie... you get the picture. Hell, it was just earlier this year that I actually really listened to The Man Who Sold The World, and was completely blown away. It may be my favorite album now, and I was kind of pissed that nobody had told me Bowie was Black Sabbath for a brief period of time. It's a tribute to the strength of the corpus that a person can continually be amazed and surprised by new offerings from an established artist's back catalogue, even in this day and age of "download whole discography in 10 minutes."

And it's not just me. I won't speak about Bowie's appeal to the rest of the world, because in many ways that's like saying "in many portions of the world people get wet when it's raining". However, I will speak about my daughter Amelia. Facebook friends and longtime readers of CIMTB may remember her as the coolest fucking person to have ever walked the face of the earth. She just turned 4. She loves David Bowie. Yes, it started with his performance in Labyrinth, but she has gone on to appreciate his music for its own sake. Bowie was also her gateway to Iggy Pop- his collaboration with Death In Vegas being one of her favorite videos. And now she's loving some Alice Cooper... I guess it's all about showmanship for her. But then again, what are we talking about? Highly jaded music critics and their wonderful small children can both appreciate the same artist... the wonderful David Bowie.

Of course, sometimes it seems like David Bowie can do anything, but as we all just found out one thing he can't do is stay retired. His new single was just released, including a terrifying video about which the less said the better. Not just a single, though- be still my beating heart- a new album, The Next Day, due out for release March 13th.

But there's a problem.

An album has to have a cover, right? And Bowie's have been some of the most iconic. Sure, he's had some stinkers- what the fuck is up with Lodger?- but overall there's evidence of a strong visual aesthetic. So for this first album in a decade, what does an elder Bowie do?

...the fuck?

So let me get this straight. He took the awesome cover of Heroes, and had some motherfucker MS Paint a white box and the title of the album over it? Wha? Art designer Jonathan Barnbrook, please fucking explain yourself:

"The “Heroes” cover obscured by the white square is about the spirit of great pop or rock music which is ‘of the moment’, forgetting or obliterating the past."

Okay, sure. We didn't ask you to time travel to 1973 and snort whatever that white powder was on James Osterberg's leg, we just wanted you to actually make an album cover, not some sort of half-assed philosophical statement. You can read the whole interview by clicking the link in the quote, not that I would recommend it.

Look, I'm as much on minimalism and iconoclasm as the next guy. Maybe more. Actually, a lot more. But this just reeks of a joke. I don't even want to think about the possibility that it's serious.

Anyway, down to the meat of things. I think that you- dear faithful reader- could create a better album cover for The Next Day than Mr. Fancy Pants Art Designer up there, and that's exactly what I want you to do. Here, I'll start.

There, see, isn't that better? Well, not better exactly, but it's certainly not any worse, and that's the point. Here's your assignment- take the cover image from Heroes, use your crudest tools, and make a better cover. Now, I wouldn't expect you guys to do this for free- send 'em in, I'll feature the best ones on a future post, and the winner of my choosing will receive a CD and shirt from new friend of the blog, SKULK THE HULKING. Get to work! Send entries to crappyindiemusic@gmail.com !

Manhattan Murder Mystery tonight and tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:58:00 +0000

So it's part of being a blog editor- and a grownup- that you have to realize that your personal tastes are not for everyone. Take LA band Manhattan Murder Mystery- I really hate their music. It's not that they're that bad, I just don't like their music. But....their keyboardist, who reached out to CIMTB, was very earnest and polite, and as you know that goes a long way. Also, I just felt like a lot of people out there would like their music.

So... 3M (hello trademark infringement!) is playing 9 PM tonight at Slabtown, with Shitty Weekend, Juicy Karcuss, and Mythological Horses. They're also playing tomorrow night at the Kenton Club, lineup to be announced.

Sorry for the short notice, but I was knocked out of commission by that norovirus that all the kids are getting. Look, I know you guys want to be cool like your friends and indie music blog editors, but- DON'T CATCH IT.

Anyway, go see Manhattan Murder Mystery and enjoy your weekend!

Clyde Curley "RAGGEDY MAN" reading 1/10

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:01:00 +0000

Clyde Curley is not only my former English teacher- he's now a first-time novelist. This is pretty exciting stuff, and not just because I have a connection with him. Raggedy Man is set in Portland, and without any of that foofoo Grimm shenanigans. You know I love it when novels are set in Portland- two of mine sure are!

Clyde is also a veteran Portland musician. If you've had any exposure to the ceili/contradance/Irish folk music scene in Portland over the past few decades, then you've probably seen Clyde's beatifically bearded mug reelin' out with his bad self on mandolin, guitar, violin, or otherwise.

I hope to be doing an interview with him on Friday for the podcast- I'll be asking about the book, his music, and all of that. Thursday, though, you should swing by O'Connor's Vault (next to Annie Bloom's Books) in Multnomah Village. There will be readings from the book, music, and I hear tell they serve some good food and drink.

Raggedy Man reading with Clyde Curley

7 p.m., Thursday, January 10, 2013
at
O’Connor’s Vault
7850 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon 97219
Located in Portland’s Multnomah Village, next to Annie Bloom’s Books

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:11:00 +0000

To all our friends- readers, artists, contributors- Crappy Indie Music would like to wish you a happy new year! Things are already looking up- and there is such an awesome article in the pipe from a new source that you literally would not believe me if I told you. So enjoy your hangovers and get back to the great music!

TURN MY HEADPHONES UP, XMAS EDITION

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:00:00 +0000

I totally swear that none of these entries will really have anything to do Christmas. HAVEN'T I GIVEN YOU ENOUGH ALREADY!?!??!?

GHOST THROWER

ALL WORK EP

Ghost Thrower has the coolest fucking name ever. It's like a combination of Bolt Thrower and a Patrick Swayze movie. You know I love band names/album titles that have the word "ghost" in them! What to expect? Not what I expected when I saw the band described as punk/emo. Ghost Thrower harken back to that beautiful 90s period when everything was great in the world. Quoth singer Travis Alexander: "I wouldn't want to have a pissing contest over depression with people." There's a snappy epitaph if I ever heard one! Official comparison: Weezer and Jawbreaker. To my ears, a combo of Jesus Lizard and Freemasonry. Worth a listen!

LEGACY

MAGICAL VIDEO

So, I suppose I should have saved this for the next installment of Bat Country, but there's something special about Legacy. This may be a first- he loves our blog so much that he has CIMTB as his internet home page. I think that says something about the good work Kid Tyger has done educating the youth about the state of Portland hiphop. What's the music like? Maybe this will date me, and maybe it's too obscure, but I was reminded of Me Phi Me. Very positive. And the video... the video kicks ass. See for yourself, but I'm going to find out more about this mystery rapper and report back.

ELIZABETH MITCHELL

BLUE CLOUDS

You may recall how pissed I was when I found out that musician Elizabeth Mitchell was not actress Elizabeth Mitchell, who punched a nuclear bomb with a rock in LOST and totally did it with Angelina Jolie in Gia. Maybe I'm a jerk for posting a NSFW link in a review of a kids' record, but... hey, wait a minute! Since when did youtube allow boobage to be shown?

I digress. The august institution Smithsonian Folkways sent me a copy of Blue Clouds, which maybe they wouldn't have done if they read my novel which features some pretty crazy shenanigans in the Natural History museum. Regardless, they did, and I am glad. This album is very chill. Mitchell is that special kind of children's music artist who knows that you don't have to be all wacky and silly to make fun music for kids. She has also taken an interesting path- her daughter and husband are part of her band on the recording this album. I think that's great. I've always believed in letting your kids record crazy shit, and this blog has witnessed a few of my daughter Amelia's weird music. She recently turned 4, and offered to play glockenspiel in our doom metal band. Long story. Blue Clouds is a solid album, in equal measures peppy and tranquil, and Mitchell also covers one of my all time favorite kids' songs- "Kooks" by David Bowie. Other artists covered are Hendrix and The Allman Brothers.

I've also just heard that she has been nominated for a Grammy for her other recent release, Little Seed. That's awesome! Let's wish Elizabeth Mitchell luck!

So what have we learned today? Don't get in a pissing contest about depression, stay positive, and play music with your family. I don't think it gets any better than that!

TALKING SHIT ABOUT BEN GIBBARD AND ZOE DESCHANEL

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:25:00 +0000

UPDATED, SEE BELOW! Win tickets to Beats Antique 12/27!

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:08:00 +0000

Yes! Beats Antique is on tour right now, and they're coming to Portland! I saw some of the members of Beats Antique with the Yard Dogs Road Show a few years back. In fact, I have a Beats Antique sticker on my laptop. I will confess that I cut the sticker up and rearranged the letters to say "BE SATAN." But that is not a slam on Beats Antique, who are awesome. I'm just irreverent.

So yeah- let's get to the meat of it. Beats Antique are going to be at the Crystal Ballroom 12/27, with opening act LYNX. You can buy tickets the normal way, or you can be cool and enter the giveaway! We've got a pair of tickets for the lucky winner. How do I win, you ask? All you have to do is send your name and phone number in an email to contests@theconfluencegroup.com with "Crappy Indie and BEATS ANTIQUE" in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by 2pm on 12/24/12. Yes!

Get those entries in! If you're still not convinced, I'll leave you this audio-visual reminder of how cool they are. Thanks to Confluence Group PR for the contest, and Brian Hockensmith for the amazing photo of the band. And make sure to check out their new album Contraption, Vol. 2.

UPDATE: So, there are two shows at the Crystal, 12/27 and 12/28. LYNX will only be at the 12/28 show, and the contest tix are for the 27th. The contest has been extended and will run through tomorrow, 12/27 until 1pm. If you haven't entered, do it now!

Merry Christmas from Huw Costin

noreply@blogger.com (Jess Gulbranson) — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 01:28:00 +0000

Sorry for the radio silence. Sometimes being the editor of this blog is a lonely job. And when you have to focus on more literary pursuits for a few weeks, it becomes a quiet job. Well, except for my daughter singing "Dance, Magic Dance", but that is another story.

I've got plenty of things on tap, but for now, UK artist Huw Costin would like to give you a Christmas present... a holiday single called "Full Moon at Christmastime," backed with another topical track, "December.

He's officially compared to Buckley, Smith, et al, but I'll be damned if don't also hear some "Three Shadows Part 2" vibe in there as well. We all know how I like a little darkness with my beauty. Okay, a lot of darkness. Costin's release is pretty cool. You can stream at the Soundcloud above, or buy it on vinyl here. That would make a nice late Christmas gift for the indie rocker in your life!

Look for Costin's next solo album soon!