You do one Irish band, you have to do another. This comes from the suggestion box, courtesy of David from Dublin, pointing out to 3hive what he calls “the most interesting new band here in Dublin.” Be sure to also check out Director’s new single “Reconnect” at their myspace page.
The Wombats
This Liverpudlian marsupial is a distant cousin to the sorely missed Los Angeles marsupial, Possum Dixon. Note the similar lyrical delivery, a kind of snotty, melodic talking. The two species also share a certain jerky jangle in their guitars. The resemblance is most notable on “Derail and Crash.” The Wombats are known to travel as a trio and were first spotted in the wild, open myspace. Everyone here at 3hive looks forward to this fine specimen arriving to this continent for a prolonged stay.
Butterfly Explosion
Irish and Swedish bands. I’m a sucker for them. Irish caused I lived there for two years (even saw Bono’s house/castle/mansion on a road nicknamed, what else, Millionaire’s Row). Swedish cause they have some unexplained disposition to creating great pop music. Is it nature or nurture? Personally, I blame ABBA.
Butterfly Explosion are Irish, are unsigned, and recently played at SXSW. One reviewer names Duran Duran, Sigur Ros, Smashing Pumpkins, and My Bloody Valentine as comparisions. While I reject the MBV link (for reasons we won’t go into here), I would add Lush as a strong starting point. “Sophia” will be on a soon-to-be released EP.
Conner
Where’s that deliciously pouty, funky sound coming from? South London? NYC? Try Lawrence, Kansas. (Hey, they’re entitled to deliciously pouty, funky music, too, you know.) These tracks are from Conner’s forthcoming album Hello Graphic Missile which is due out June 6. June 6?? But I want it NOW…
Woody Whatever
Athens, Ohio’s Erik Schmall has been recording frayed, cuddly lo-fi at a blistering pace. He’s already released over 100 songs since he first started in 2001, at age 17. Like many prolific bedroom songwriters, or any prolific songwriter for that matter, not every track will blow you away. But these ones here do, and I’m sure I’ve overlooked a few. If you’re looking for a good place to get started, hop (Happy Easter!) over to the lovely blog/netlabel Beat the Indie Drum to download Woody Whatever’s Big One Shout Out EP that just came out in March 2006.
Eiffel Tower
Nevermind the snappy drums. Ignore the catchy licks. Pay no attention to fuzzy hooks. Tight harmonies? What tight harmonies? See, Eiffel Tower have got something hidden underneath all that. Songwriting. That unique ability to craft a pop, or rock, song, a talent that mainman Benjamin Wheelocks has been honing and developing since he started writing songs at age 6. Okay, you can now go back to the snappy drums, catchy licks, etc., etc., like you could even ignore them in the first place.
The National
Here’s how out of it I am (and not even because of our new month-old kid) — it took a couple of burned CDs from Katherine delivered in a Ziploc to clue me in to The National. All the while, I thought it was just the CBC’s nightly news program hosted by the stately, handsomely balding Peter Mansbridge. Instead, we’re talking a brooding, dark, intensely rocking band with heavy duty coverage from CMJ, BillBoard, Rolling Stone, The Chicago Tribune, Pitchfork and a bunch of other media sources I never have time to read. For those who are as clueless as me, try “Murder Me Rachael” for starters, though you might have to listen to it twenty times before moving on to the next track. Don’t worry; it stays good. Thanks, Kath!
The End of the World
Fate just won’t cooperate with me. Several weeks ago, I was thilled to discover that Dirty on Purpose and The End of the World were playing at the Young Avenue Deli in Memphis. My joy was shortlived as I realized that I was scheduled to be in France that day. The next twist: my trip was postponed two weeks ago, freeing up March 20th so I could go see the show. But as the day arrived, this lousy sinus infection I’ve got struck me down, and I fell asleep rather early last night and missed the show. So I listened to said bands today to try to make me feel better, yet it only made me wish that I could have heard the live version of “This Little Theater.” Now who can name the movie this was in?
The Duke Spirit
We’ve been on something of a pop kick the last few days, so I thought it’s about time to bring the ear-ringing rock. Speaking of tinnitus, my ears have been going at it 24/7 for like the last month. Too much loud music obviously. There’s been a lot of talk about the link between iPods and hearing loss (duh), but I listen to my iPod in the car primarily. Still, I listen way too loud. It’s like hot sauce or chocolate. Can’t get enough. More, more, more. Gotta have it loud. The Duke Spirit certainly won’t be helping the situation anytime soon. These Brits bring it! They’re loud even at a volume level of two. And when Leila sings “I need those eyes and I need those bones” on Flood-produced “Win Your Love,” well, love hasn’t rung in my ears like this since PJ Harvey told me to look at her child-bearing hips and ruby red ruby lips.
Joseph Arthur
Hello friends. A week ago tonight, my family welcomed 19-inch, 7.4 lb. Peter Joseph into the world, so I’ll be taking a few weeks off working through an SAT prep regimen with the new guy. Respect to admin for giving me some FMLA time (it’s healthy!), and thanks to my pal Tim Ortopan for being 3hive’s first guest deejay.
I am excited to be the first outsider allowed to post on 3hive, and I’m thrilled to be posting Joseph Arthur, who has been one of my favorite artists for the last few years. I received his album Come to Where I’m From for my 18th birthday in a record store grab bag, and it instantly became one of my most prized albums. The fact that no one I knew had heard of Joseph Arthur only added to the illusion that he was singing his songs of sadness and heartbreak just for me. In this context, he has seen me through first dates and break ups without ever asking for anything in return. I think that recommending him to you is the least I can for all the help he has given me. Arthur has had a few ups and downs in his career but the Ohio native has made some of the best music of the last few years. Download the live tracks here as an introduction to his work. I hope you like them; if not the 3hive guys may never invite me back.