popwreckoning

Amy Millan isn’t what you might expect from a Canadian alt-rock, indie siren with two cloistered, heart-rending albums tucked under her seemingly fragile wings. The songs off her sophomore solo album, Masters of the Burial, are hushed and harrowing impressions culled from the absence of what once was, evoking a kind of visceral desire to sing the loss, a feeling that has one easily captured. Despite the delicacy of her sound, on stage at the Mercury Lounge in New York, Millan’s performance was nothing less than an emboldened call to arms for the lone, broken, and estranged…read: a sardined bunch of thirty-somethings on a late Thursday night who actually bought albums by Stars and Broken Social Scene in an actual, like, “record store” way back when, who have been sweating sad indie rock for more than a decade, and didn’t start thinking country was cool when Jenny Lewis came along in high-waisted denim short-shorts.

Commanding the stage with her husky, earthen vox, dug-up folk-inspired live performance, and cache of consummate stage companions, who create rich, old Western- style weavings of sound with banjos, drums, and an upright bass, Millan gave one of the most honest performances I’ve seen in a very long time. This was a show without show if you know what I mean, no pretense, just truthful, honest to song, music torn from the scrapbook of her soul. Millan was humble, down to earth, and gave the vivid impression that the songs were almost seeping from the cracks in her gristly skin. Millan live is like sipping moonshine at dusk, on a good friend’s porch, catching hints of the magnolia tree around the bend…it’s just like being home.

Masters of the Burial, her latest release, is available now on Arts & Crafts records.

Amy Millan: website | myspace | Masters of the Burial review

Katy Perry, the singer known for her bold voice and often shocking lyrics, is about to debut a new song, “Brick by Brick” on Monday, Nov. 16. The song will air at 6 a.m. EST on her ‘MTV Unplugged’ set on MTV.com.

She’s performing her hits such as “I Kissed a Girl,” “Waking Up in Vegas” and “Thinking of You.” She’s also performing a cover song.

The set will also be available as a CD/DVD set. You can pre-order the set from Capitol Records Nov. 17 here.

In honor of the debut, we’re giving away one Katy Perry MTV Unplugged CD/DVD set.

To win, simply tell us the name and original artist of Katy Perry’s cover song for this set by Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. EST. We’ll pick a winner from the correct answers then. You must live in the U.S. to enter and you must enter using a valid email address.

Check out a teaser clip of “MTV Unplugged: Katy Perry”

Katy Perry: website | myspace | blog | interview with

Bristol, UK noisemakers Fuck Buttons are back with Tarot Sport, the follow-up to last year’s Street Horrrsing. Andrew Weatherall has been brought in to produce this time round and his touch is evident in a few places.

Fuck Buttons’ post-rock sound is akin to bands like Mogwai, which makes sense as their first album was produced by Mogwai’s John Cummings. The textures on Street Horrrsing fell on the experimental end of the spectrum, the duo not going in for the ecstatic build-up model, but instead sticking with noise and drone and indecipherably distorted vocals, with organ washes being one of the few concessions to warmth in their sound. Tarot Sport retains some of those elements, while expanding on certain motifs. The distorted vocals have been reduced and the tribal aspect apparent on some of the Street Horrrsing tracks is entirely absent here.

“The Lisbon Maru” is probably the most familiar-sounding track; soft organ overlays the militaristic drums while layers are added on, leading the track to culminate in feedbacky guitar squalls. The sounds on “Surf Solar” seem cleaner, the beat a bit meatier, and it all sounds a bit more digital, with shades of Weatherall’s Sabres of Paradise coming through to my ears. The Sabres touch is also there on “Phantom Limb,” with it’s very processed beats and chopped up synthy sound — not a bad thing at all, especially if you miss that Sabres/old Warp sound. Other tracks trade the more chopped and complex beats for something straighter and more repetitive, giving the tracks what I (probably mistakenly) think of as a Krautrock sound.

Overall, things are a little less rock and a bit more toward the more skewed-yet-warm side of electronic music (meaning it’s pretty undanceable). Think Autechre, Aphex, et al. Having said that there is still liberal use of guitar feedback to be found amongst the autobahn beats and glitchy beeps, and the album is one of those rare birds that works together as one concept and one piece of music. Final track “Flight of the Feathered Serpent” exemplifies that by echoing sounds used throughout the album and synthesising them into an uptempo and positive finale.

Track Listing:
01. Surf Solar
02. Rough Steez
03. The Lisbon Maru
04. Olympians
05. Phantom Limb
06. Space Mountain
07. Flight Of The Feathered Serpent

Fuck Buttons: website | myspace

From the band that made grunge cool, we bring you the entire Nirvana catalog. Relive Dave Grohl behind the drums before Them Crooked Vultures. Ride along the bass lines of Krist Novoselic. Lose yourself in Kurt Cobain‘s vocals and lyrics.
We’re giving away: Nevermind, Unplugged, Greatest Hits, In Utero, Incesticide, From The Muddy Bands of the Wishkah, and Live At Reading

Nirvana Live At Reading was recently issued in a limited edition CD+DVD Deluxe Edition as well as DVD-only, CD-only configurations on November 3, 2009, the 2LP version is available November 17, 2009.

To win the catalog, simply answer the following question correctly and we’ll pick a winner from the correct answers on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. CDT.

Cobain and Novoselic met hanging around what band and their practice space?

And be sure to check out this trailer for the band’s 1992 Live at Reeding performance:

Nirvana: website

It’s very hard to try and put a genre label on One Republic. They utilize almost every type of music, from R&B to alternative rock to even some reggae influences. Most people try and compare them to fellow “piano-rockers” The Fray, but that’s just it: the only similarity linking the two bands is the piano element. So the question remains on how to classify One Republic and if that’s even possible. Their display of a soulful, R&B edge mixed with a melodic rock premise distinguishes them from any other band in the music industry today. They continue to illustrate that distinction even more blatantly on their much-anticipated 2nd full length release Waking Up.

As a follow up to their extremely successful debut album, Dreaming Out Loud, Waking Up is an album carefully comprised of 11 songs that individually have a completely different, unique sound and feel than the one preceding it. The rhythmically-charged album begins with “Made for You,” a haunting melody that transitions into a soulful chorus and starts the album off strongly. It is followed by their first single “All the Right Moves,” which is destined to be an instant hit due to the numerous hooks that are filled with a mix of strings and strong drums. This effectively eerie combination is very reminiscent of Paper Route’s Absence album’s tone and feel. A few songs later listener is hit with “Everybody Loves Me,” a Beck-like album staple that is in a direct contrast to any other One Republic song on either album. It may sound strange to compare One Republic to Beck, but it strangely works.

Waking Up peaks with what has become my personal favorite song on the album, “Good Life.” It is full of rhythmically perfect beats and feel-good harmonies that have a hint of an African tribal flair. It’s the song on the album that will probably not become a single, but will be an instant fan favorite. (It was on repeat on my shuffle for two days straight.) Next up, the U2-esque title track “Waking Up” could almost be considered a 2-part song. Three minutes of the song is a fist-pumping section full of effective chanting and lead singer Ryan Tedder’s Bono-inspired voice. In a stark contrast, the 2nd half of the song moves into a solely instrumental piece with a heart-wrenching melody provided by an immaculate combination of strings and piano, immediately making the listener stop and take notice. One Republic hasn’t entirely dismissed their catchy, melodic Dreaming Out Loud roots, as is displayed with Tedder’s enchanting piano playing on tracks “Fear” and “All This Time.” The album is wrapped up with a song entitled “Lullaby.” It is an appropriate mellow counterpart and conclusion to an otherwise energetic album. It is slowed down to a relaxed pace and enters an almost trance-like state with soft guitars, Tedder’s pure voice, and gospel-like harmonies.

Looking back over the past 45 minutes makes one realize that an album that has combined elements of Paper Route, Beck and U2 (and doesn’t turn out to be a disaster) can rightfully be considered successfully unique. Dreaming Out Loud was full of effective, but safe melodies and textbook undertones, but they definitely take the edginess of their band to a whole new level on Waking Up. With an album dominated by intense drums, clean harmonies, and daring beats, the band has stepped out of their comfort zone and has further created a genre of their own. They could have written a radio-friendly, similar sounding album to Dreaming Out Loud, but they chose to try out a new sound that allowed them to grow and evolve into a new, fearless bad that is taking all the right chances.

Waking Up is a brave album that will earn the band respect from old and new fans alike.

It is streaming on MySpace now and is physically available Nov. 17.

Track Listing:
01. Made For You
02. All The Right Moves
03. Secrets
04. Everybody Loves Me
05. Missing Persons 1 & 2
06. Good Life
07. All This Time
08. Fear
09. Waking Up
10. Marchin On
11. Lullaby

One Republic: website | myspace

Written by: Sarah Hassan

After becoming a praised sensation in her home country of England, V.V. Brown hopes to make her U.S. debut just as shining with The Attic EP, which is digitally available now.

Though the EP just became available in the states, her music has already made an impression on shows like the CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” and ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”

The Attic EP, features four tracks: “Game Over,” “Quick Fix,” along with “Crying Blood (Andrew Weatherall Remix),” and an acoustic performance of “Shark in the Water.” Look for a hard copy stateside Nov. 17. The EP gives a taste of her full album Travelling like the Light, which is set for U.S. release on February 9, 2010.

Check out her music video for “Crying Blood” below:

Crying Blood

VV Brown | MySpace Video

V.V. Brown: website | myspace

When you are an indie rock band from Omaha that got started living in an infamous house known as “Hotel Frank” you’re destined for one of two things: greatness or begging for free booze outside of the bar Brothers across the street from Hotel Frank. I’m really hoping the guys in Capgun Coup are destined for the former.

They’re sophomore album Maudlin just came out on Team Love and I can’t stop spinning the smart and quirky record.

Check out their sound now by listening to second single: .“Sitting on the Sidewalk” (right click to save)

Or catch them live on tour with fellow Nebraskan group Cursive. Tour dates are here. And of course, you’re more than welcome and highly recommended to do both.

Capgun Coup: website | myspace

Here at PopWreckoning, we’ve officially hit a level of mail that makes it impossible for us to give full reviews to every band. However, this does not mean we believe that these bands shouldn’t be granted some for of press. It simply means we have to scale it down a bit. Therefore, we have opted to create a feature called Bite Sized Reviews, which shall appear several times a week. This feature will contain 5 reviews each under 100 words and links to the albums website, MySpace page or label. We believe this is the best use of our mail and hope you too enjoy the reviews. They are as follows:

Jeff and the Brotherhood – Heavy Days

Jeff And The Brotherhood’s LP, Heavy Days, is filled with psychedelic rock tunes that have a grunge, punk twist; similar to Moving Units if Units’ songs were faster, and the lead singer screamed more. Although the album is split (Side A, B), neither side has a distinguishing sound.

Jake Orrall (vocals, guitar) and Jamin Orrall’s (drums) songs are filled with gritty bass lines and wah guitars. Many of the album’s songs ride the line between dance track and trip out. Perhaps they’ve created a new genre: tripdance.

myspace

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The Birds Of Avalon – Uncanny Valley

It’s hard to tell where Birds of Avalon’s album, Uncanny Valley, is coming from, or where it’s going. Appropriate, considering the goal of the album was to explore the concept of confusion.

The first half of Valley is very distorted and fuzzy. Around the seventh track, “Student Teaching,” the songs calm down significantly. “Spirit Lawyer” sounds like a classic rock band’s jam session, while “Last Rights (Funky Slide)” has a soothing vibe; the melody is watery, and comes and goes with the track’s heavy beat.

website | myspace

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Anders Parker – Skyscraper Crow

Anders Parker’s Skyscraper Crow is a concept album. Crow is filled with slow and windy acoustic songs. Skyscraper contains “laptop pop.”

Many of the songs on Crow have a melancholy feel and feature Parker singing and playing an acoustic guitar; few tracks have light percussion. The album sounds very pure.

Skyscraper is filled with subtle harmonies, whining synths and electronic clicks. Echoing drum beats give many of the songs a hollow, cold sound. Two albums. Different sounds. Both beautiful and distinct.

website | myspace

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Alan Singley & Pants Machine – Feelin’ Citrus

Alan Singley & Pants Machine’s Feelin’ Citrus is comprised of chill tunes and quirky lyrics. The album has some solid pop grooves, such as “Le Rain” and “Medley Of Revival.” Other songs, such as “We’ll Become Sand” and “Rice Pudding” sound like smooth lounge ballads. You can almost imagine the band performing in a smokey piano bar. Feelin’ Citrus is a solid and diverse album from end to finish. Sit back, chill and have a martini.

website | myspace

After a wildly successful 17th anniversary summer, complete with a fan “favorites” live broadcast performance, the punk-pop gurus of Bremerton, WA are back at it again. Now, MxPx are set to release Left Coast Punk, their latest EP (the band’s first in five years), through their very own label, Rock City Recording Company.

MxPx has always been the harder-and-faster variety of punk playing bands, the band coined the phrase “Left Coast Punk” as a simple way to describe their sound, and those similar, residing from the Left Coast. It is that particular sound that is evident within the new tracks and MxPx vocalist and bassist, Mike Herrera felt the name just seemed to fit, “It just made sense to use the term, it’s been around awhile, something I believe we coined, but it perfectly describes the clash of pop sensibility with the fast and hard playing that we are known for.”

That clash of sounds is what hardcore MxPx fans will get; however the band did add in a melodic soft touch on a couple of tracks including the first single, “End,” a tribute to some great punk and rock shows of the past. Using a style of play not performed by the band very often, melodic and fast, mid tempo and powerful, but fans will notice the signature MxPx sound. Other tracks, like “Broken,” carry a more serious, personal tone, a rhythm that drives the lyrics – peering deep into feelings of being, well, broken inside. And then there’s “Desperate to Understand” featuring classic MxPx style lyrics about lifting each other up and by sound alone, “One Step Further” kick starts the EP with its fast tempo, while the lyrics delve into becoming a better person.

Left Coast Punk is the band’s fifth EP, but the first to be released through the band’s own label, Rock City Recording Company. The band admits there is more work at hand, but Herrera puts it all into perspective, “It was about time we took this leap into the darkness, after all, we’re musicians, there’s no retirement in punk rock.” With that new leap of faith, the band will be releasing the standard 6-song EP through major online digital retailers. As a bonus the band will be releasing a limited edition physical version of the EP as a 10-track CD, which includes an additional 3 instrumental tracks (a first for the band) and “On a String,” a previously unreleased demo track. With only 500 in the limited edition run, each copy will come with an autographed poster, and will only be available on the band’s website: www.mxpx.com.

First single, “End” will debut on Friday, November 13 on the band’s MySpace page: www.myspace.com/mxpx at 9 am PST.

MxPx is Mike Herrera (bass/vocals), Tom Wisniewski (guitars) and Yuri Ruley (drums). In the span of 17 years, the band has sold over 2.5 million records world-wide and is ready to continue that success as they release this EP as well as their special Christmas album, set to be released this holiday season.

Track List:
MXPX-LEFT COAST PUNK EP (Digital)
01. One Step Further
02. Desperate to Understand
03. Broken
04. Shanghaied in Shanghai
05. Hopeless Case
06. End
MXPX-LEFT COAST PUNK ENHANCED EP (Physical)
**Includes all the tracks listed above, plus the below**
07. One Step Further (instrumental version)
08. End (instrumental version)
09. Broken (instrumental version)
10. On a String (previously unreleased demo from LCP sessions)

MxPx: website | myspace

Hurricane Bells‘ just released debut album, Tonight Is The Ghost, digitally  on Vagrant. The band is Steve Schiltz from Longwave’s solo project and he’s already gathering attention from getting a b-side on the “it” soundtrack of the year: New Moon.

Check out his video for “This Year” here:

Then download it here by right clicking here: .“This Year”

Hurricane Bells: myspace