Various: Sleepingfish 8

Alisa and I read differently. She reads for plot. I for sentences. Sleepingfish publishes writers whose first concern is the sound of their sentences. Music without notes. Just tone and rhythm. Rhythm and mood. Consider this sentence from this issue:

She is unaware of the little bits of fabric he would sew into her palms: in private she squelches her poise and it is awful to hear silence exist in such a perfect American accent. [Julie Doxsee excerpt]

Sleepingfish not-so-regularly publishes such work from some my favorite writers: Peter Markus, Dawn Raffel, Diane Williams, and Terese Svoboda. Of note: the latest issue of Sleepingfish features an online supplement, a setlist of contributors past and present. We'll feature a few here, but more tracks, along with ordering info for the issue, can be found at Sleepingfish.

Venus Bogardus w/ David Ohle - G-Boys [MP3]
Poem Rocket - Appeal to the Imagination [MP3]
d. biddle - Laughter [MP3]

The Plimsouls

I don't remember where I'd been camping. I was thirteen years old, a boy scout. One of my best friends at the time, Greg Angel, was having a birthday party and because of a scout trip I wouldn't be there. There was a Plimsouls show at Perkins Palace in Pasadena, California. The party bus captained by Greg's mother would be leaving before I returned. A blowout between me and my parents probably erupted at some point, but my father, ever the peacekeeper, ever the politician, negotiated an early pick-up from the campground and offered to drive me out to the show. I don't remember many of the details, but I do recall: the pure stoke I felt towards my father as he drove our orange, '73 Ford Pinto up some L.A. freeway, headlights illuminating the road ahead of us, the seemingly cavernous venue, the sweet stink of marijuana smoke clouding the room, the raw energy of live drums, guitar, and the bass setting the pace of my heart, Peter Case in the flesh, cocked pigeon-toed at the mic belting out the songs I'd sung to myself hundreds of times before, the epiphany of rock and roll. And now these resurrected feelings of youth, stirred to life by this live album from that same tour, ordain my middle-age. Now what? Do it all again, this time with my own kids in tow.

Zero Hour (Live) [MP3, 3.7MB, 192kbps]

www.alivenergy.com
www.petercase.com

David Bazan

I don't listen to David Bazan as much as I should. The reason why is pathetic. And definitely one a musician never wants to hear—that you love one album, or maybe just one song, so much that anything else from that artist pales in comparison, according to that person's narrow, small-minded, myopic point of view. Guilty. My two favorite song's from Bazan come from his Pedro the Lion album It's Hard to Find a Friend: "Big Trucks" and "When They Really Get to Know You They Will Run." I'm enamored by the way those songs sound like snippets from short stories, more narratives than lyrics. And their tempos, their simplicity, and Bazan's young, quiet earnestness on that first record. I realize this is no excuse and I need to dig deeper into his catalog—especially if I plan on attending one of his upcoming West Coast living room shows (Tickets go on sale today. Only 30 are available for each show). I don't want to be that chump in the corner only singing along to or requesting older material. I hate those people.

From Curse Your Branches (2009):
Bless This Mess [MP3]

From Fewer Moving Parts (2007):
Cold Beer and Cigarettes [MP3]

www.barsuk.com
www.davidbazan.com

The Cinematics

Imagine the Smiths on Ritalin. The Cinematics play peppy angst-filled post-punk pop—especially on "New Mexico." They slow it down and gloom it out on "Love & Terror," building the track around the guitar riff of "Personal Jesus." The Glasgow band seem happy to reside sonically in that peculiar time period between the '80s and '90s. This fits my theory that many sounds of popular music tend to rotate on a twenty year cycle. It matters less when the music emerges; the quality of sound and song reign supreme and regardless of their influences, The Cinematics seem to be settling into their own space on this sophomore release.

New Mexico [MP3, 5.5MB, 192kbps]
Love & Terror [MP3, 6.2MB, 192kbps]

www.theorchard.com
www.thecinematics.com

The Depreciation Guild

Favorite new song alert! As soon as I heard their new single, "Dream About Me," I rushed to alert my friend Chet who's a big fan of Ocean Blue and Prefab Sprout and while he hasn't reported back yet, I expect to hear that The Depreciation Guild is right up his alley. The band's sound transports me back to the early nineties, the years Chet and I were in radio together. The band takes the lush, dreamy pop sounds of early 4ad bands and distresses them a bit with fuzzy electronics and gentle reverb. Lots of other folks are taking note as well—they've sold out of their new single and Kanine records just reissued their 2007 album. Speaking of friends who'd like this band, I'm surprised our own Clay Calloway didn't beat me to the punch on this one, especially considering two-thirds of the band also play in The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, one of Clay's recent crushes he's gushed about on this site. The moonlighters will be extra busy as both bands head over to play the UK later this month. The band has some Midwest and East Coast dates before then, so if you like what you hear do some homework and catch them live, geography permitting.

Sky Ghosts [MP3, 8.0MB, VBR]
Dark Looming [MP3, 8.5MB, VBR]
Butterfly Kisses [MP3, 4.5MB, VBR]

www.kaninerecords.com
www.thedepreciationguild.com

The Sky Drops

Sean and I were just trading jabs this week on Facebook regarding MBV comparisons on these pages. So it's ironic that I'm gonna keep it going.

You gotta love it when a band fulfills its promises. How many times have you heard, "The new album will be out by the end of the year," only to have it come out two years later or (in the case of MBV, a frequent reference when talking about the Sky Drops) not at all. The Sky Drops promised that despite a medical problem, their full album would be out in 2009, and they did it. Out now, the Sky Drops debut full length Bourgeois Beat, self-released on Fridabear Records, has them further fleshing out their wall of guitars with some mighty catchy hooks, moving from shoegazer fuzz-pop to fuzz-rock. I long ago gave up hope of another MBV album; with Bourgrois Beat filling that space, who needs it now?

From October 13, 2008:
Why didn't someone tell me? Seriously, I feel like an idiot. My Bloody Valentine played somewhere where I actually live, and I MISSED it! Sure, I saw they were going to play some dates, but did I pay close attention? No. This review almost had me breaking my hand punching my desk. Next time, will someone please email me?

So in my misery, I turned to the Sky Drops for some comfort. These two songs are from last year and show them moving away from their MBV-infuenced shoegaze into their own territory, but the wall of guitar is still the focus. Their debut album, expected earlier this year, has been delayed due to Rob being unable to play the guitar, but they promise us it'll be out in 2009.

From original post May 24, 2006:
Sean has baited me in the past making this comparison. I swore I would never do it, cause seriously, how can anyone ever approach the genius of Kevin Shields? Then I met the Sky Drops, Rob Montejo and Monika Bullette of Wilmington, Delaware. So when I make a My Bloody Valentine comparison here, I mean it. "Now Would Be" could be the last song on MBV's Isn't Anything, and "Green to Red" could have appeared on MBV's Loveless right in between "When You Sleep" and "I Only Said." Now, kind reader, a word. Please don't assume I'm accusing the Sky Drops of plagiarism; au contraire, I'm paying them one of the highest compliments I can. And just think, they make all this racket with a guitar and drums!

From Bourgeois Beat:
Truth Is [MP3, 7.9MB, 320kbps]

From a double A-side single:
Million [MP3, 5.3MB, 256kbps]
Sentimental [MP3, 5.5MB, 256kbps]

From Out of Clouds EP:
Now Would Be [MP3, 6.1 MB, 128kbps]
Green to Red [MP3, 6.1 MB, 128kbps]

www.theskydrops.com
www.svcrecords.co.uk

Jimmy Ohio

Who says you can't judge a book by its cover? Basic Black is not only the title of Jimmy Ohio's first EP, but a fitting description of the raw, bluesy, and timeless rock 'n' roll found therein. Last year, the Brooklynite flew back to his one-time home of Detroit and holed up in a former Baptist church for four days with some old pals, Dan Kroha (The Gories, Demolition Doll Rods), Trevor Naud (Zoos of Berlin, PAS/CAL), and Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu). The four songs that emerged each paint heartbreak with a slightly different brush, and offer tastes of what might have come of a longer recording session. From the bristling energy of "Hello and Goodbye" to the delicate reflection of "Quiet Sound" — each track leaves you wanting more. So...when's the long-player, Jimmy?

from Basic Black EP (2009):
Hello and Goodbye [MP3, 2.2MB, VBR]

jimmyohio.com
myspace.com/jimmyohio