popwreckoning

Mutemath has always struck me as overwhelmingly talented for how underwhelmingly popular they are.  They had that awesome backwards music video for “Typical” on MTV quite a few years ago; what happened after that? They seemed to fall off the map completely. Of course that’s according to the average music listener, and I would not consider myself to be the latter. The minute I saw that video I was hooked, and the minute I saw them perform at St. Louis’ Pointfest in September 2007 I was floored. I’ve kept tabs on them ever since and am always speechless after their shows.

Yeah, bands can sound great on their recorded albums, but when a band is better in a live setting… that’s how you know they’re truly talented. And can we talk about drummer Darren King, who quite literally Duct -tapes protective headphones on his ears before he begins a set? And quite literally crowdsurfs on his floor tom? And quite literally destroys his kit at the end of every set the band plays? But I digress. What I’m really trying to say is this: Mutemath is awesome and you should definitely buy this album and a ticket to a show the next time they’re in a city near you.

Mutemath seem to produce music at a slow and steady pace, with Mutemath coming out in 2006, Armistice in 2009, and finally Odd Soul in 2011. There are a couple EPs thrown into the mix, but for the most part the band takes their time. And with good reason, too. There is so much depth to every song they produce. With vocals, guitars, bass and drums, and handfuls of synthy beats and ethereal sounds, the attention to detail is warranted. Odd Soul, in typical Mutemath fashion, starts with heavy distortion, thick bass drum beats and Paul Meany’s screaming, soulful voice. I can imagine The Black Keys being a muse for this album; the bluesy vocals and dark, sexy bass lines are enough to make anyone shake their hips.

“Prytania” is an upbeat rocker repeating the words “loaded gun” and “Blood Pressure” repeats its title to the sounds of slide guitar. Next is “Heads Up.” Are you seeing the pattern here? Mutemath has something to prove with this album and they’re using strong words to do it. “All Or Nothing” showcases a softer side, with the talent of Meany’s haunting falsetto. With less distortion on his voice than usual, this song is a little bit sparse and shows the audience a stripped down, personal side. “Sunray,” an instrumental interlude, breaks the album in two, with the first half being a little more organic and the second more spacey and traditional to the band’s typical sound. “Quarantine” rages on for seven minutes before the album comes to a close at a lengthy fifty minutes with “In No Time.” Just as “Odd Soul” is the perfect opener, “In No Time” is the perfect closer. I’m a firm believer in listening to albums from start to finish, and start to finish only. Odd Soul is an excellent example of why – it fits so brilliantly together. Buy it, listen to it, soak it up, dance around and rock it hard.

http://mutemath.com/ - Be sure to check out the music video for “Blood Pressure.”

August 30, 2011 saw Butch Walker and the Black Widows release their first album with Dangerbird Records – The Spade – and if the opening notes are any indication, this is a partnership destined for greatness. I had a huge smile on my face by the time I was 15 seconds into “Bodegas and Blood.”  I’ll try not to go all fangirl while I’m writing this review, but it’s hard for me to contain how happy this album made me. Walker is known for his pop sensibility and high snark quotient when it comes to his song-writing and this album upholds that reputation. Walker beautifully blends his classic sense of humor with an alt-country edge swirled around in a melting pot of great hooks, great harmonies from the Black Widows and lots of potential singalog oohs and ahhs. Those fans looking for the introspective side of Butch that we saw in last years I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart will have to adjust to the high-energy hooks abounding throughout The Spade.

The first single, “Summer of ’89″ leads the listener down a path of nostalgia for his bygone days with several references to growing up in Georgia that would feel just as at home on his first solo release Left of Self-Centered. Classic observances of the innocence of youth such as “Nobody knew Bryan Adams wasn’t cool/The TV just told me he was” take those of us who had our own summer of ’89 down a path of memories, which are a great accompaniment to the record as a whole. We’ve all made fun of our past at one point or another and Walker does it with his usual flair for storytelling and catchy pop tunes. Walker’s ability to write a hook is still strong with standout tracks such as “Bodegas and Blood,” “Every Single Body Else,” and “Bullet Belt” that are sure to satisfy all of the “rocker” Walker fans that are looking for another “My Way,” while tracks like “Closest Thing To You I’m Gonna Find” and  “Sweethearts” will satisfy the fans looking for the tender side from “Letters.”

The truth is that there’s a little bit of something for every type of Butch Walker fan on this record. The rockers, the popists, the folkies. Walker is blending his mastery of many different styles and doing it very, very well. The Spade is sure to become a summer favorite for many fans, and I’m sure will be blasted at full volume out many a rolled-down window well into fall because of the fun oozing out of this record from Walker and his band. There’s even silly Black Widow banter to prove that this band has just as much fun making this music as we do listening to it. Butch’s band, made up of Chris Unck, Fran Capitanelli and Jake Sinclair, have brought their music to a new level and I’m glad that we get to go along on the ride. The number of oohs and ahhs on this record are sure to drive lots of crowd singalongs during the upcoming tour. And I’ll be singing along at the top of my lungs.

Track Listing:

1. Bodegas and Blodd
2. Every Single Body Else
3. Summer of ’89
4. Sweethearts
5. Day Drunk
6. Synthesizers
7. Dublin Crow
8. Closest Thing To You I’m Gonna Find
9. Bullet Belt
10. Suckerpunch

By Rosie Judd

Koo Koo Kanga Roo is all about dancing, yelling, and bringing the party. Founders Bryan and Neil won’t be satisfied until the entire room has joined in on the fun. Think the Beastie Boys multiplied by Sesame Street plus the driving dance beats of Daft Punk and the live show antics of the Flaming Lips.

Performing in an indie rock band was fun…for a while. Then the constant lugging of gear, half an hour sound checks, and an audience who was only ever half interested in the music they were playing began to take its toll. Bryan and Neil agreed there was more to being in a band than just playing music for their fans. The goal was to create the most fun interactive live show that no one had seen before. The tools to accomplish that goal were; a giant roll of paper (to cover their dorm walls with ideas), a few sharpies, their super weird imaginations, and no rules. A few months later, with those goal accomplished, a dance duo was formed, and that duo was Koo Koo Kanga Roo.

Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s new EP Midnight Slushie will be released on September 13^th and features a guest appearance by Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack. 

Koo Koo Kanga Roo have just launched a “Bestest Friend” cover contest and the winner gets a Koo Koo Kanga Roo show at their house. The band wants you and all of your friends to cover their new song “Bestest Friend” off their new album Midnight Slushie which comes out September 13. Click here for the song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wGcmW5A5CI

 It’s only 3 Easy Steps:

 1. Video Tape a One Take, Single Shot Video of you and all your friends covering “Bestest Friend” live on your instruments and stuff. (No Edits, use your computer camera, etc.)

2. Post on Youtube with the Title (Koo Koo Kanga Roo “Bestest Friend Cover” – Name of your group)

3. Email the link to your video to kookookangarooparty@gmail.com 

Here’s a link to additional info and a message from the band: http://kookookangaroo.com/bestest-friend-bestest-cover-contest.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Rachael Yamagata, will release Chesapeake, her first studio album in three years on October 11, 2011. The album, produced by John Alagia, producer of Yamagata’s Happenstance album as well as albums from Liz Phair, Dave Matthews Band and Jason Mraz, will be self-released on her very own Frankenfish Records. Twelve days following the release of Chesapeake, Yamagata will hit the road on an extensive tour of the United States starting on October 24th in Portland, Maine at the Port City Music Hall and wind down on December 22nd in New York City at City Winery.

For Chesapeake, Yamagata recruited her “dream team” consisting of Victor Indrizzo (Sheryl Crow) on drums, guitarists Mike Viola (Candy Butchers), Michael Chaves (John Mayer), and Kevin Salem, (Dump Truck, Yo La Tengo), cellist Oli Kraus (Sia, Duffy) and Tom Freund on the upright bass. The result is an eclectic collection of songs projecting Yamagata’s new-found optimism and hopefulness, showcasing her sultry and smoky voice, rich, layered harmonies, striking ballads and soulful grooves.

Listeners can get a taste of what’s to come by downloading the song “Starlight” by visiting http://snd.sc/n6ajQf.

Praised by critics for her intimately confessional songwriting and arrangements, Rachael released her last album, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart on Warner Bros. Records in October of 2008.   Entertainment Weekly called her delivery “gorgeous” and Rolling Stone said her “soulful, cigarette-scratched voice and melancholy lyrics recall Fiona Apple and PJ Harvey.” She toured extensively in support of the album playing to crowds throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. The New York Times hailed “With a deep, melancholy, breathy alto and a fondness for slow, sparsely chorded songs, Ms. Yamagata has a lot in common with Fiona Apple, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan. And in her upbeat moments she can sound like a fuller-voiced Liz Phair or a less volatile Chrissie Hynde.” Songs from the album appeared in various television programs and films including Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Brothers and Sisters and more. She also made an appearance in the season finale of 30 Rock in 2009.

Tour Dates:

OCTOBER

24th - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall

25th - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lodge

27th - Ithaca, NY - Deliah’s

28th -  Northampton, MA - Iron Horse

30th - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

31st - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live

NOVEMBER

1st - Washington, DC - Birchmere

2nd - Baltimore, MD - Sound Stage

4th - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory

5th -  Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café

6th - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom (Small Room)

7th - Detroit, MI - St Andrews Hall

8th - Chicago, IL - Logan Square

10th - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom

11th - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line

12th - Davenport, IA - Redstone Room

14th - Kansas City, KS - Record Bar

16th - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

18th - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room

20th - Spokane, WA - A Club

21st - Vancouver, BC - Media Club

22nd - Seattle, WA - Crocodile

23rd - Portland, OR - Doug Fir

25th - San Francisco, CA - Slim’s

27th - San Diego, CA - Casbah

29th - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

30th - Tuscon, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

DECEMBER

2nd - Austin, TX - Parish

3rd - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald’s Upstairs

4th - Dallas, TX - The Loft

5th - Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom – 2nd Stage

7th - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill

8th - Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter

9th - Birmingham, AL - Work Play

10th - Atlanta, GA - Vinyl

12th - Charleston, SC - New Brookland Tavern

13th - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre

15th - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506

16th - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern

17th - Louisville, KY - Headliners

18th - Columbus, OH - The Basement

20th - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell’s

21st - New York, NY - City Winery

22nd - New York, NY - City Winery

www.rachaelyamagata.com

Jack’s Mannequin have released a trailer for their new album, People And Things out October 4, which can be viewed below.

Crystal Antlers will tour this Fall with WU LYF in support of their new release Two-Way Mirror. Prior to that, you can catch Crystal Antlers at one of their Brooklyn, San Diego, or Los Angeles area dates. Here’s a  personal note from Jonny Bell in the band with further details!

Friends,

 A week ago we released our 2nd album, Two-Way Mirror in the US (UK August 1 and EU on September 5). It was born out of a trip of isolation in Mexico following a ton of touring and the news that our old label home, Touch and Go, was downsizing to a more catalog focused operation. We recorded in Long Beach with our good friend Ikey who produced our first EP and Jack Endino mixed it. Raymond Pettibon provided the art.

Since completing the recording we’ve been dealing with a mountain of DIY manufacturing tasks, setting up distribution deals and putting together a small team to help us get the word out. It’s been a tough and costly learning experience releasing it on this scale by ourselves, but for the knowledge we’ve gained, it was well worth it.

TOUR DATES

08-04 Brooklyn, NY – Vans House Parties (w/ Man Man, Glass Candy)

08-06 Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands Gallery (w/ Gary War, Team Robespierre, Balkans)

09-10 San Diego, CA – Bar Pink (w/ White Fence)

10-19 Riverside, CA – The Barn

TOUR W/ WU LYF

11-06 Washington, DC – Rock N Roll Hotel

11-08 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

11-10 Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs

11-11 Montreal, QC – Il Motore

11-12 Toronto, ON – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern

11-14 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle

11-15 Minneapolis, MN – 7^th Street Entry

11-18 Vancouver, BC – Electric Owl

11-19 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Café

11-21 San Francisco, CA – The Independent

11-22 Los Angeles, CA – The Troubadour

www.crystalantlers.com

The Drums announce the release of their second album, Portamento out September 13th through Frenchkiss Records.
In support of their US release, The Drums have also announced fall tour dates including a summer performance at this year’s sold out Lollapalooza. Their shows kick off on September 28th in Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell’s and continue through November 6th in Washington DC at The Black Cat. Exclusive fan pre-sale starts Wednesday, July 27th followed by a public on-sale this weekend.

To accommodate the record’s sonic expansiveness, the band has expanded to a quintet live, adding two auxiliary members including good friend Myles Matheny on guitar and bass. The additional touring musicians lend their live performances a more spontaneous feel, in line with the aesthetic of the new album, getting rid of the need for backing tracks.

Tour dates:

August 6th             Chicago, IL                         Lollapalooza
Sept. 28th             Hoboken, NJ                         Maxwell’s
Sept. 29th             Boston, MA                         Brighton Music Hall
Sept. 30th             Montreal, QC                         Evenko
Oct. 1st                 Toronto, ON                         The Mod Club
Oct. 3rd               Cleveland Heights, OH             Grog Shop
Oct. 4th               Chicago, IL                         Subterranean
Oct. 5th               Minneapolis, MN             7th Street Entry
Oct. 6th            Des Moines, IA                         Vaudville Mews
Oct. 10th             Portland, OR                        Doug Fir Lounge
Oct. 11th             Vancouver, BC                         Venue
Oct. 12th             Seattle, WA                        Crocodile Café
Oct. 14th             San Francisco, CA             The Independent – Treasure Island Night Show
Oct. 15th             San Diego, CA                         The Casbah
Oct. 18th             Los Angeles, CA             Echoplex
Oct. 20th             Tempe, AZ                        Sail Inn
Oct. 22nd             Dallas, TX                         The Loft
Oct. 23rd             Austin, TX                         The Parish
Oct. 24th             Houston, TX                         Fitzgerald’s
Oct. 26th             Tallahassee, FL             Club Downunder
Oct. 27th             Orlando, FL                         The Social
Oct. 28th             Miami, FL                         Grand Central
Oct. 31st             Atlanta, GA                         The Drunken Unicorn
Nov. 3rd             Brooklyn, NY                         Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov. 5th             Philadelphia, PA             Making Time at Voyeur Night Club
Nov. 6th             Washington, DC             The Black Cat

To purchase tickets: http://thedrums.com/shows

Lenses Alien, the result of collaborative explorations for Cymbals Eat Guitars, is a stunning example of a band growing into itself – learning to collaborate, becoming more confident. Why There Are Mountains was a record that Joseph D’Agostino made largely on his own, with help from Matt Miller and some other friends and acquaintances that came and went. Lenses Alien is a record that Joseph D’Agostino, Brian Hamilton, Matt Miller, and Matthew Whipple made together, as a band.

At its core, Lenses Alien is a marriage of classic pop forms and ambient haze that makes for a stark, dusky psychedelia. D’Agostino’s vocals, now with support from Hamilton and Whipple, sit daringly at the forefront, and his lyrics are dark, strange, and affecting as ever. Miller and Whipple move the songs as a singular, powerful unit while ornate guitars and Hamilton’s celestial organ and chiming pianos whirl across the sonic landscape. A complex listen, Lenses Alien strikes a balance between the archaic and the inviting and is as much a document of doubts and contradictions as of irreverent joy. It’s a varied collection of songs and it’s precisely the album Cymbals Eat Guitars was built to make.

Track list

1. Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)
2. Shore Points
3. Keep Me Waiting
4. Plainclothes
5. Definite Darkness
6. Another Tunguska
7. The Current
8. Wavelengths
9. Secret Family
10. Gary Condit

Visit www.cymbalseatguitars.com for more information.

Connecticut-based modern pop duo Mates of State have finished recording their newest album, Mountaintops, to be released September 13 via Barsuk Records. Mountaintops is the band’s first since 2008′s acclaimed Re-Arrange Us. The new album was self-produced, written and recorded over the last year and a half in 6 different studios with multiple engineers, and tied together by mixer Chris Coady (Beach House, Gang Gang Dance, Smith Westerns). For track listing, see below.

1.  Palomino
2.  Maracas
3.  Sway
4.  Unless I’m Led
5.  Total Serendipity
6.  Basement Money
7.  At Least I Have You
8.  Desire
9.  Change
10. Mistakes

For more information and a handful of show dates, visit www.matesofstate.com

San-Francisco based indie-pop duo Pomplamoose have released a new song and accompanying music video entitled “River Shiver.” The song is the band’s first original new song in over 5 months, following their recent video covers of the Angry Birds theme song and The Super Mario Bros. theme song, which you can watch at the band’s Youtube page.

In the video, Jack Conte uses drums and synthesized keyboards sounds alongside singer Nataly Dawn’s twee vocal melodies and to create another instantly catchy and insanely fun Pomplamoose classic, featuring their singular spliced-up video style. Check out the video below: