My second cover song post in a row. This one is Mac Demarco lending his particular brand of whimsy to Angel Olsen’s “Lights Out”, from this year’s stellar Burn Your Fire for No Witness. Of particular note is Mac’s hairband and sharpie combo in lieu of an actual capo.
Archives
All posts for the month September, 2014
Wow, this might be the best new thing I’ve heard in a while. It’s off a new 7 inch from Quemada Records. First of, great name for that label that i’ve never heard of before. Read this great review here. Then go buy the record.
An Interstellar Radio Shower appropriate post on Joan. I can’t believe she’s gone. Via metalsucks.net where you can also see an interview with David Lee Roth.
It’s getting to the point where anytime Courtney Barnett releases anything new, I immediately repost it up here. No point in changing now, though, so here she is covering The Breeders for the AV Club.
Apparently Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O has a new album coming out. Love this lo-fi track.
One of my favorite post-…and Girls Club tunes by Austin’s The Strange Boys.
Some twee emo indie rock here. Is that a genre? Genres are just made up anyhow right? Anyhow, I recently discovered Empire! Empire! so seeing them in the new CDs at WRCT seemed apropo. I like them, though I think their new album “You will eventually be forgotten” isn’t their best effort.
The album is basically what you’d expect. Built to spill inspired twee indie rock. Most songs get a bit pop punk at points. That’s why track 4 didn’t appeal to me as much, but if pop punk is your thing, maybe check that one out. Overall, the vocals tend to meander a bit like a Death Cab song. While not their best effort, there are several worthwhile songs if you appreciate the sound. Like some bands that tend to get a bit poppy, the “b-side” material at the end of the cd is a bit less poppy.
They are pretty good song titlers under the worst circumstances. Something from a previous release, just because.
Not much I need to say here, right? Stone cold classic to kick off your abbreviated workweek.
I like Half Japanese so I pre-ordered their new album. It’s their first release since 2001. Jad Fair has been active in other pursuits, but it’s always difficult to predict how a band will sound after re-connecting years later. Many bands have done this with success lately including Polvo, Sebadoh, and Dinosaur Jr.
Half Japanese has always had that knack for pop rhythms mixed in with randomly grating elements. Sometimes the grating takes over, and it can be enjoyable, or less so. Half Japanese also has this ability to tap into positive themes that can sometimes border on the cheesy. But they know how to pull it off and they are often very up-lifting. It’s part of what sets them apart.
This album is full lon Half Japanese and it’s just great. Like they never skipped a beat. Actually, scratch that. This is better than the last Half Japanese album I can remember (though their last couple of albums coincide with my years of recluse so take with grain of salt). Not a bad track on the album if you are a Half Japanese fan. And plenty of good ones with broad appeal if you aren’t. This is the intro track.
You know, it’s Labor Day. This is sort of about working. Which many of us aren’t doing today. Though I will be a bit. What else needs to be said?