Tag: music

Their Planes Will Block Out The Sun

Their Planes Will Block Out The Sun…

Sounds like a cool name for a book or movie, right? Well they’re actually a band from New Jersey, and they have a new single that I would like to share with you.

From the press release: The band have been hard at work on a combination of new and recrafted material, for their second album “Brasil,” their most polished to date. Each musician brings his own inspiration and life experiences to the new album, which collaboratively gives wake to a new sound. The band hopes their music will awake feelings of rediscovery and joy in their audience—and, in turn, give way to personal narratives like in the single “The Hunter”, a song about holding on to your happy moments while struggling with adversity, yet at the same time, finding hope in it.

So there you have it… If you like what you hear and want to catch them live, you have a great opportunity coming up that will also contribute to a good cause. They’re playing Public Assembly in Brooklyn on November 18th as part of Whatever Blog’s benefit for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Kids of 88 – New Video + Upcoming Album

I did of review of Kids of 88 awhile back when I heard their first album. Also got lucky enough to see them during CMJ one year (the same year I saw Jukebox the Ghost something like 3 times in the same week. That year was awesome!)

Anyway, the Kids are back, with an album expected out summer 2012. I’ll definitely have a review once it gets closer, but for now enjoy this little sample to hold you over.

The Shivering Brigade

It has come to my attention that I have never mentioned the band The Shivering Brigade on here, so let me fix that.

This is the little band that could. Full discretion, I’m friends with 3/5th of them. Normally that would make me hesitant to do a review on here, but I feel confident enough that they’re actually good at what they do to let them occupy space on the site and ask for a little favor…

See there’s this Battle of the Bands going on now. They’re holding their own but could certainly use all the help they can get. So I’m sharing a video with you to judge for yourself and asking that if you like what you hear then please give them your support. Go vote, then tell all your friends to do the same. You can vote once per day, so keep going back and reminding people about it. Bands succeed largely through the power of their friends and fans, and through internet promotion. They’re good people doing something they love because they can and want to, not because they think they’ll become famous – which is exactly why I think they deserve to be.

Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials

When I first heard Lungs, Florence + the Machine’s debut album, I was blown away. Here was this powerful voice rushing at me on a wave of drums and technically outstanding rhythms. This, I said, was someone who would be going places. Or so I hoped…

Now we are getting the second album, Ceremonials. Same strong voice. More new, interesting rhythms. Songs so catchy you’ll want to hear them again and again. At times the music can even be a soulful experience, like with the track “Lover to Lover”. I myself have had some very pure moments listening to previous work while out for a walk, feet in time with the drums. Can’t wait for the first really nice day that I get to walk with “All This & Heaven Two” playing in my earbuds. It sounds like a good one to be listening to while surrounded by nature.

Lungs got its fair share of play when I finally took that first listen. I am certain Ceremonials will follow suit. The second track, “Shake It Out,” was also the second single, and became an earworm almost immediately after I first heard it. I posted the video when it was first released, as a preview for the pending album. I also posted the first single, “What the Water Gave Me,” back in August. Clearly the anticipation for this album has been high. In my opinion, it did not disappoint.

Interview w/ Bandana Splits

Recently I reviewed the Bandana Splits debut album here on the blog. I was lucky enough to get a chance to interview this lovely ladies as well. Here’s what they had to say…

1) What inspired you to focus on the old-school 50s sound your music primarily showcases?

A couple years ago, the band Balthrop, Alabama (occupied by an imaginary town and fronted by Lauren and her bro, Pascal) invited Dawn to sing a song for one of their fab Christmas shows. Annie was also a member of the band, and Dawn pinched Lauren and Annie to come sing oohs and ahhs along with her. She wrote this really cool song about falling in love with a Salvation Army guy, in the style of an old doo-wop tune. We had so much fun singing together in that style that we just didn’t stop! Every time we hung out afterward, a melody would erupt from out of nowhere and the next thing ya know we’re just riffin’ on a new idea. Kinda like Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in Ishtar, only real and more critically acclaimed…

That said the 1950s style doesn’t necessarily define our sound. We all play with a lot of different musicians and listen to everything from Mary Ford to Missy Elliot.

2) What were some of your favorite artists growing up?

Picasso, Rothko, and Monet… but musically speaking, we all grew up with a love for the great girl groups. Some faves are The Caravelles,The Andrews Sisters and The Ronettes.

3) What was the process like making this first record?

Fun! We recorded at Dawn and Steve Salett’s studio, Saltlands, in DUMBO. The three of us sang around one mic to capture the classic girl group sound. With producer Sam Cohen of the band Yellowbirds at the helm, we experimented with lots of sounds and ideas were flowing pretty quickly.

It was great working with Sam. He acted as our one-man backing band, and even let us put lipstick on him one day when moods were low. He’s a pretty amazing musician and we’re psyched he was able to produce this record.

4) Now that the debut album is out, what do you think is your next step?

Next year Carnegie Hall!

5) What is one random/fun/interesting fact you would like your fans to know about yourselves?

Nous aimons à parler le français ensemble!*

*We like to speak French together

Jim Jones Revue – Burning Your House Down

The recent album by Jim Jones Revue, Burning Your House Down, is a flashback to what old time rock ‘n’ roll used to be. If you like the classic rock bands from the 70’s, you will enjoy this band. They have the raw energy and style of other bands of this era, such as Led Zeppelin. I defy you to listen to these songs and not want to groove with the music.  The band has upcoming tour dates in September, including Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Maxwell’s in Hoboken. Complete list can be found after the jump.

 

9/1/2011 – Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret

9/3/2011 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge

9/4/2011 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Festival

9/7/2011 – San Francisco, CA – Independent

9/8/2011 – Los Angeles, CA – Echo

9/10/2011 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

9/11/2011 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

9/12/2011 – Montreal, QC – Casa del Popolo

9/13/2011 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern

9/14/2011 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern

9/16/2011 – Philadelphia, PA – The Blockley Pourhouse

9/17/2011 – Washington D.C. – Black Cat

9/18/2011 – Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s

Save the Music

RXP posted a letter on their site in regards to a tax that would force them to make cutbacks in their music selection and staff. I know times are tough, but this is not the solution to any of our problems. This station has been giving me a reason to listen to the radio for the past year now. Please follow the title link and help keep the music alive.

VMA: Vote Muse, America

While everyone else may be talking about Kanye’s comments or Beyonce’s performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, I want to take a moment to put the spotlight on Muse. Their performance during the show was the highlight of the night for me. The awards itself didn’t interest me much (except the much deserved win by Green Day for their 21 Guns video). The only time I really got excited was when I heard Matthew Bellamy’s enchanting voice sing its first notes on American television. Yes, this was Muse’s first appearance on American TV. This band from the UK has always been more popular overseas than here. They are currently on tour as support for U2 and have sold out two dates at Giants Stadium later this month, but that was more because of who they are touring with than their own popularity here. My hope is that they are finally starting to breakout in the US and that we will consequently get to see more of them here.

Spotlight: TM Promotions

“TM Promotions is a NY/NJ based booking and promotions firm.” This is how they describe themselves through their MySpace page. There is more to it than that, however. TM Promotions is music brought to you by people who really love their music. They are not just a “firm” — that sounds too technical and emotionless — they are people. Officially they are actually one person, TJ Olsen, but there are plenty of others who work closely to help out whenever possible. For instance if you check out the photography on the MySpace, that is brought to you by your humble blogger and a friend of ours. I will periodically be posting upcoming events and such in a segment that will be called: Brought to You by TM Promotions. Hope you will come check us out if you are in the area.