Sam and I are duking it out behind the scenes over Ben Cooper’s musical incarnations. See, Sam beat me to the post on Electric President but was snoozing on the new release from his alter-ego, Radical Face. The rule at 3hive follows: whoever drops the links into our back-end Movable Type site first gets to review that artist. So as a place holder, I wrote: “Sure, Sam snagged electric pres, but i got radical face.” I came back today to finish the post and I find this message waiting for me: “sean is a jerk.” I don’t want to take Sam’s forthcoming humiliation public, so I’ll drop it. And that’s easy to do while listening to Radical Face. You just can’t be mad at anyone listening to these simple, yet lush arrangements. His songs are cheerful without being sappy, well-textured without being muddy. Cooper mixes his acoustic and electronic instruments well, and during the recording of “Chewing Bottles” he did so under extenuating, yet amusing, circumstances.
Richard Hawley
Mark Kozelek from Red House Painters. Josh Hayden from Spain. John Prine (without the country). Mazzy Star (but not a girl). Nick Drake. Bob Dylan. Richard Hawley. Classic sad singer-songwriter material, quiet and mellow soul-searching, like the best ’60s slow-pop. These tracks are for the long drive, the deep, dark night, the El trip home from the bar alone. “Darlin” and “The Nights are Cold” are my favorites, or let’s make it favourites, from this forlorn Brit. Cheers.
The Bird and the Bee
I love me some soundtrack music. I’ll admit it–there have been countless films that have plucked my heartstrings with a song and sent me off searching the internet for a song that may or may not exist based on a snippet of a lyric that I think I can remember. I usually never manage to find the songs I’m looking for, but some time ago I managed to find an Inara George song I’d heard on a film or tv show somewhere and I was thrilled. I was even more thrilled when I heard about The Bird and The Bee, who boldly embrace explicit sentiment and then make a milkshake out of it with today’s electro-pop goodness. Wikipedia calls B&B “a jazz influenced electro pop project.” I call it “yum.”
The Blow
It’s been a little bleak here on Wednesdays, and I’ve been MIA for a couple of weeks — but hopefully you will all enjoy today’s musical selection and forgive the midweek blackout of late. The Blow, consisting of Khaela Maricich & Jona Bechtolt from Portland, OR, have been carrying me through a busy time. The music is rife with slick modern beats, but there is a super pop, super earnest candy center. Throughout the album there are many, many references to how hard it is for girls and boys to come together and I admit (with a blush and an eyeroll) that when Khaela sings “really you just injured my pride” I had a moment where I was like “um, did I write this song???” As usual, file under: better late than never.
Pile of Gold [MP3, 2.9MB, 160kbps]
Sam’s original post: 01/10/05
I was going to wait for Valentine’s Day to post this, but couldn’t because I’ve been waiting long enough as it is. The Blow is one unassuming Khaela Maricich whose catalog of come-ons is sultry, clever, and disarming enough to lure even the most reluctant players to bed. When I say players, I don’t mean Fabolous or Jermaine Dupri. I mean the mysterious outsiders, the John Cusacks of the world. To some such player, Khaela sings, “I’d love to make you nervous/I’d love to make you sweat/I’d love to make you breakfast the morning after…” How you gonna say no to that? And if you do, would you be pal and pass her number along?
Walker Kong
I dreamt I had already posted Walker Kong. I searched our archives assuming I’d find this Minneapolis band somewhere among the many pop gems from the past. You’ve heard what happens when one assumes. In order to avoid any name-calling, here we go with Walker Kong: happy-go-lucky tunes with a touch of Grateful Dead, especially the vocals and the vocal melodies on “Andy Warhol.” The comparison’s a stretch, but I’m running with it. Listen for them to name-drop this site on that same song. Another stretch. Work with me here. The next two tracks are examples from previous albums. Fleeting moments of Lloyd Cole and Beulah provide further terms of endearment. Which reminds me: over the weekend I read a great article by the playwright Lisa Loomer, who was particularly depressed over this quotation: “97% of what people perceive is what they already believe.” Apply that to music and I’m guilty as charged. If one band sounds like another that I know and love I’m drawn much quicker to that new band. And this world is in desperate need of smart, literate, pop bands. Walter Kong…perceive and believe!
The Arcade Fire
I’m not sure if you guys have heard this band yet, the Arcade Fire? They’re Canadian, and kind of popular. They’ve got this new album, Neon Bible, and more media coverage than Anna Nicole Smith (well, maybe not), and Sam forced me to go see them live a few years ago and they were really, really good. It was a small venue, and we all sang the words to the songs even though we maybe had never heard them before. Anyway, here’s the opening track off that new record. Hope you like it… I like the second song better.
Black Mirror [MP3, 3.8MB, 128kbps]
Sam’s original post: 08/02/04
Apologies for the atrocious bitrates, young audiophiles, but this was enough to sell me, so I thought I’d share… Actually, what first sold me on The Arcade Fire was the B-side off their new 7-inch, which is in fact a 1940s recording of the lead singer’s grandfather (pedal steel legend Alvino Rey) and his orchestra. These downloads, however, are genuine Arcade Fire material, combining The Flaming Lips’ theatric pop, Joy Division’s driving rhythms, Bjork’s blissful euphoria, and a million other influences into something at once exuberant and wistful. So pump up the preamp and enjoy.
Gruff Rhys
The singer for Super Furry Animals has a knack for writing Super Catchy Songs all on his own. Well, he did take his recordings down to England to add some strings, courtesy of Sean and Marcus of the High Llamas, then down to Brazil for Mario Caldato Jr.’s percussive touch. So songs that began as meditations for acoustic guitar and voice ended up sounding greater than the sum of their parts.
Martin Sexton
School of Rock was on cable over the weekend, right about the time I started listening to Martin Sexton’s new album Seeds, and I couldn’t help but make a comparison. Powerful, funky soul-pop instead of face-melting rock, a band of adults (presumably) instead of Dewey’s / Ned’s 10 year olds — well, maybe that which draws Martin Sexton and Jack Black together in my mind is simply a similar physical appearance. Oh yeah, and total sincerity in expressing the joy of music. The five tracks below, from five different albums, are awesomely and gloriously full of Sexton’s soul, and you can take that line any way you want.
Ford & Fitzroy
Here I was, sitting down at the computer, relatively late at night, at least for me, wondering what on earth I was going to do about 3hive, when into the suggestion box came an email suggesting Ford & Fitzroy. One quick listen and my problem was solved! So enjoy the crisp, psych pop with the pleasantly unsteady vocals. Not to be confused with this guy.
The Fatels
Sure, the UK’s The Fatels are starting to get some buzz, as they say in the biz, but boy I am a sucker for their distinctly London-eque, pounding punk/post-punk pop. Especially refreshing is knowing that only three people made all this racket! More downloads available on their sites below.