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Born: April 27, 1965
Location: Cleveland, USA
Last Sign in: July 2, 2008
Member Since: April 12, 2005
URL: http://www.mystrands.com/BILLinBCN
Watch the BILLinBCN Channel on MyStrands.TV
Seems pretty ballsy for an Indie group to covering a song that seems so trite these days. But they do a better job than the original -- give it more edge, and less bubblegum.
I guess Scandinavian bands like to stick together. Check out the video.
The Southern Comfort by Emil Bulls
This band has great talent -- and not just musically. These videos are awesome.
Hi-Fi High Lights Down Low by Lodger
This animatted video was made by the band's Bass player, on his laptop computer! It's fantastic. Apparently it was voted best Music Video in parts of Europe.
This is essence of Web 2.0. Great content being made by ordinary (but very talented) people, and put to share on the Web.
Doorsteps on Hi-Fi High Lights Down Low by Lodger
Come on...confess! What's the music you hate to love? Is it some artifact from the '70s or a pre-fab power-pop ballad from the '90s? We've all got them.
Here's one that I'm particularly ashamed of -- as if the original Carpenters song was not sappy enough -- Cracker had to make a cover! Playing this is like touching a sore tooth with your tongue -- once you hear it, it's irresistable.
Rainy Days And Mondays by Cracker
Want more confessions, or to post your own, click here.
Responding to davide's post....
Personally, I'm always amazed that after 30 years, The Beatles still show up religiously on the Top 10 Tracks list. Granted, they are the best Rock group in history, but c'mon. There have been a lot of other bands in those 3 decades!
I for one think Todd Rundgren needs to be in the list occasionally. As proof I offer the album: A Wizard, A True Star
Coldplay, it can be agreed, will be forgotten after 3 years... let alone 3 decades.
:-)
This week's Indy Music Friday comes from Northampton Massachusetts... circa 1965. The band is Magic Shop and their self proclaimed retro style will probably find familiar.
Several songs are availble under CC license: including "It's Not Enough" and "Seventeen." These are there two best, i think.
For those of us old enough to remember Herman's Hermits, you will recognize the influence right away. For those younger than 30 years, maybe you find this similar to The Kinks. If you're younger than 20, chances are this song will remind you an Austin Powers movie. For me, this track is a five minute trip down Memory Lane.
The first few guitar cords immediately reminds me of Jean Genie, back when David Bowie was just "Bowie." About ten seconds later, I'm reminiscing about the Monkeys (anybody else ever cut cardboard 45's from cereal boxes?). Then a minute goes by, and for some reason Matthew Sweet comes to mind, and some other retro sounding rock bands, like Split Enz or early Oasis. It skips along in that style for a couple of minutes, and then takes a quick detour with a 70s-style hair band guitar solo.
Sometimes retro is fun, and sometimes (if it's done well and not hackneyed) retro is fresh and stylish. Sometimes retro is just about being fun. And this song is fun, and you can sense that the band is having fun while recording this.
After all, everything old really is new again.
find them at GarageBand.
I have to say, this Scissors Sisters video is hilarious. I found it from another member on this site, and wanted to pass it on. The song is not new, but I had never seen it..
Scissor Sisters
This from the "Pop Does Not Mean Popular" department. Acoustically-driven and melodically-charged, this track is pure Pop... it should be playing behind the obligatory romantic montage in The O.C..
Here'a great sample track from their website: Losing My Fear of Heights. They have a previous album, which is equally great. I recommend buying both.
The melodies are catchy, guitar and bass form a strong harmony. I especially like the instrumental section that appears about 2 minutes into the song. It begins with a nice acoustic guitar and then builds with piano, bass and into the full compliment. The effect is polished -- this song has as much to thank from excellent production as it does to skilled musicianship.
The band is widely known on college campuses across the US. Its sound begs comparisons to groups such as Coldplay, Switchfoot, Life House, Matchbox 20, etc. These guys are tight and professional, and clearly talented musicans. But comparisons to such popular groups is both a blessing and a curse. Although their performance is as strong as GooGoo Dolls, this band is in a crowded and homogenous market. Can they distinguish themselves; or even make a name for themselves?
Well, I'll do my part... introducing Sittser. The song is "Constellation." The website is www.sittsermusic.com
This is the first time since starting this blog that I found an artist that I loved so much that I searched for other songs by the same group. Each song got better, so I followed the links to their website, where I sampled and bought their latest CD. I've recommended them to my friends. They are a Los Angeles band: The Jane Does.
The song I heard that peaked my interest was "High." The song was interesting -- the front man's voice has a haunting quality that I could not get out of my head. Tight well-constructed harmonies, calm and lazy, but still tight and well constructed. It's moody and sexy, like an illegitimate love-child of Sade and Jeff Buckley. But what what really blew me away was the other songs on their website, (some, but not all, shareable under CC license).
The website describes the title track, "You Bring The Devil", as "a psychedelic swirl of R&B and funk." Well, it's got rhythm, it's bluesy, it's definitely funky... but I would not characterize it in any of those genres. The song has a unique sound -- chill and sexy, like Moby on quaaludes. It was this song that pushed me over the edge, and urged me to take out my wallet.
I recommend not only the song, but the band, and the CD. Available at www.janedoes.com.
This week's selection comes from a hot brass-heavy combo from San Francisco. The song is "Morenita" (Download it and others FREE here.) from the band Sinister Dexter.
When I first heard this song I thought: "nice Latin combo with some traditional Caribbean horns." That lasted about ten seconds, until the vocals kicked in and I wondered "How did David Byrne get recruited into a Cuban salsa band?" The lead singer has Byrne's same vocal quality -- at times it's hard to tell if he might be drugged. Since this recording, the band has recruited a new female lead, and I'm waiting to hear how she will impact the band's sound.
But vocals aside, this song punches it's way through every brass instrument ever conceived (except maybe a piccolo). The horns are incredibly tight and well managed. There's even an unexpected Big-Band jazz-style piano solo that comes in about halfway. Morenita is an interesting fusion of styles... latin, rock, jazz -- all layered on a strong pop structure.
I can picture this band in a tiny Caribbean open-air club, where the grand trumpet and sax section are squeezed onto a tiny stage (colorful shirts and white jackets), swaying to the beat of the music while a skinny English guy croons into a microphone up front. It's the kind of club where you leave at the end of the night slightly drunk on tequila and cool music.
Check them out at www.sinisterdexter.net.
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