Jeremy Enigk
Label: Lewis HollowGenre: Pop, Rock
Jeremy Enigk’s solo debut, Return of the Frog Queen, is more than a decade old now, but it still sounds as groundbreaking as the day it came out. Enigk gave a visceral new dimension to orchestral pop by bucking accepted wisdom: Where most took the opportunity to turn rock into chamber music, Enigk converted chamber music into breathtaking anthems full of sound, soul, and fury. Shortly after, Sunny Day Real Estate released How It Feels to be Something On, one of the best rock albums of the ‘90s, if not ever. Enigk’s cryptically searching vocals seemed to sing duets with sprawling guitar wails, making it sound much larger than anyone had come to expect from an indie rock outfit. The “rumor” (in college, anything with religious undertones automatically became uncorroborated and vaguely suspect) was that Enigk was in crisis but had been born again, and this was his grand purge. Whatever the motivation, How It Feels… sounded like the album I’d always wanted to hear and I still listen to it at least once a month. Which brings us to the aptly titled World Waits, Enigk’s second solo album and two bands removed from his debut. The cheesy thing to say would be that it’s been worth the wait, but the truth is that it has. “Been Here Before” is a perfect sample of where Enigk has found himself. His two lives – the orch-pop wunderkind with the most distinct cracked tenor in music meets the indie-rock frontman of intense introspection – intersect beautifully. Enigk’s secret is that he is capable of grasping for something beyond himself. Yet, like the more emotionally dramatic moments of Pink Floyd (Wish You Were Here) and the universally reflective side of U2, Enigk doesn’t need to know what it is he’s grasping for. He’s happy just knowing that there's something out there to grasp.
Been Here Before [MP3, 5.8MB, 192kbps]
www.lewishollow.com
myspace.com/jeremyenigk
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The Blood Thirsty Lovers
Label: French KissGenre: Rock
With that fancy new banner we got here at 3hive, prominently listing Memphis first, it's about time we got around to something Memphis, ain't it? Who can be more Memphis (besides Elvis, smarty-pants) than Dave Shouse, in this carnation with friends as the Blood Thirsty Lovers? Shouse is well known round these parts for Think As Incas, the Grifters, and Those Bastard Souls, among others, and his lifelong devotion to guitars and noise. And speaking of Elvis, did I ever mention that my mom taught his cousin 7th grade math?
1,000 Light Years [MP3, 4.9MB, 160kbps]
The Conversation [MP3, 5.3MB, 160kbps]
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Fury of the Headteachers
Label: GraceGenre: Rock
Just imagine it: a bunch of headteachers from Yorkshire, seeking an outlet from the stress of education and teenage students, gathering late at night in a corner of a school cafeteria, plugging in their instruments and unleashing a torrent of sound rooted in the Animals, the Buzzcocks, and early Sonic Youth. Although in this case, it's actually a group of six lads from Sheffield flailing away. Fury of the Headteachers, indeed.
Farewell Comrade [MP3, 3.3MB, 160kbps]
www.gracerecords.co.uk
www.myspace.com/furyoftheheadteachers
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Diminished Men
Label: NoneGenre: Other, Rock
The day's just too damn nice to be sitting in front of a computer. I'm going to the beach. Come with me. If not physically, then in spirit with the sounds of Diminished Men!
Accidental Patient [MP3, 4.1MB, 160kbps]
March of Eyes [MP3, 3.6MB, 160kbps]
Concussion [MP3, 3.4MB, 160kbps]
Organ Lottery [MP3, 2.3MB, 160kbps]
Names of the Dead [MP3, 4.2MB, 160kbps]
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Mason Proper
Label: DovecoteGenre: Pop, Rock
Greg and Tom Z. both pitched suggestions for Mason Proper, so it seemed, um, appropriate to check the band out. (Sorry.) In that Nick Hornby sort of way, they had me at the album title — "There is a Moth in Your Chest." From Ypsilanti, MI via Up North, Mason Proper sounds unlike any of the other megabytes tripping lately through my almost-dead iPod. (It keeps cycling through the songs without actually playing most of them. Occasionally I'll get half a song or so.) Crazy pop? Art rock slapstick? Just categorizing these tunes seemed like a waste of time. Expect obscure lyrics, sweeping melodies, noise, dream-pop buzz, and the kitchen sink, too. After hearing My Brightest Diamond and Mason Proper, I'm wondering what else Ypsi has to offer.
The World is Smaller Than You Think [MP3, 4.4MB, 160kbps]
A Chance Encounter [MP3, 5MB, 160kbps]
Mr. Charm [MP3, 2.9MB, 160kbps]
Chemical Dress Eliza [MP3, 5.3MB, 160kbps]
www.dovecoterecords.com
www.masonproper.com
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The Bishops
Label: I Am SoundGenre: Pop, Rock
Yes, yes, I admit it. I'm a sucker for mod and mod-ish bands, bands who take that great foundation built by the Who and the Kinks and many others, and then add their own modern interpretation. Bands like the Bishops, who are from of all places (wait for it) London. The Bishops have tight harmonies and sharp licks, no doubt due to the twin brothers Matt and Pete who are responsible for said harmonies and licks. And since the poor drummer probably feels overshadowed by the twins, who probably hog the spotlight and the front of the stage, I'd just like to add that the drummer is Chris McConville, everyone's new favorite Scottish drummer.
The Only Place I Can Look Is Down [MP3, 2.6MB, 160kbps]
www.myspace.com/iamsoundrecords
www.thebishopsband.com
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Finest Dearest
Label: NoneGenre: Pop, Rock
A year or so finds San Francisco's Finest Dearest a little more raw and angry, muscially at least. (Carly's new e-mail was very much as pleasant as the last one, though. Thanks.) Both new tracks off their upcoming 7" are tense, energetic, argumentative, confrontational and really good listening material. I can't wait to hear their next message in our inbox.
We're Making a Sound 1 [MP3, 5.1MB, 160kbps]
March into Flames [MP3, 4.3MB, 160kbps]
Original post: 09/15/05
Carly from Finest Dearest left a nice e-mail in our Suggestion Box recently (nice because she acknowledged that we receive a lot of suggestions) and so here is San Francisco's Finest Dearest. Yes, Carly, I do like these two songs, particularly "Idaho," which reminds me of being in high school again for some reason, in a good way. Your classic indie-rock sound is like comfort food, you know? Mashed potatoes or p.b. & j. or whatever it is for each of us. Oh, and good luck with the debut of your EP Pacemaker in a few weeks. If you ever hit the big time and make it to Detroit...
Sleep Until the Weekend [MP3, 5.4MB, 160kbps]
Idaho [MP3, 6.2MB, 160kbps]
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Cola Wars
Label: NoneGenre: Rock
First, let me welcome any visitors who got the 3hive tip from the recent Michigan Alumnus magazine. (I'm happy with the photo they ran of me in the 'UM alum bloggers' article, as it hides my double chin fairly well.) And although today's post reflects a band affiliated with my other alma mater, the University of Chicago, I encourage any suggestions of good Ann Arbor bands to share. Anyway, Cola Wars. Complex rock orchestration and whiny geek vocals. Social Thought or Math majors? Either way, totally interesting and fresh.
V as in Victory [MP3, 3.7MB, 192kbps]
Apartment M [MP3, 3.8MB, 192kbps]
The Ghosts of What We Know [MP3, 6MB, 192kbps]
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