Play It As It Lays #231
Spring Brings The Drips
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?
Cold War Kids on Fire
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.
Young and Sexy
Aside from the obvious ploy to boost our search engine traffic, I offer up Young and Sexy to add to Sean’s early nominations for Pop Album of the Year. This Vancouver outfit’s thoughtful, epic take on pop makes them a perfect foil for the Figurines’ scruffy charm or Field Music’s fleeting sugar rushes. Me, I’ve got all three in heavy rotation. Who says there can only be one Pop Album of the Year? Well, the oddsmakers, I suppose. Best believe there’d be rioting in Vegas if we ended up with a three-way tie…
Field Music
Field Music is somewhat of an all-star band in their hometown of Sunderland up there in the northeast corner of England. They’ve shared members with Futureheads and loaned out the drummer from Maximo Park for some album duties. Their debut album hit back in August of last year in the UK drawing comparisons to “Wire arranged by the Beach Boys,” and The Beatles. And when the band lists influences ranging from My Bloody Valentine to Stravinsky to Big Star to Duke Ellington you get your hopes up. Field Music fails to disappoint. It’ll be out next month in the States and I’m calling it the pop album to beat this year. I know for a fact they’ll be going mano a mano with Figurines for my attention. One last note, when you buy the album listen for them lifting Lloyd Cole & The Commotions’ “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken” verbatim for the bridge in “Pieces.”
Subcity Dwellers
Being around my old college friends a few weekends back brought back a craving for cheap Mexican food and ska-punk, which I’ve had a hard time satiating for some reason. So I was stoked when Grant Lawrence included this scorching new (to me, at least) track from Vancouver, B.C.’s Subcity Dwellers on the latest Radio 3 podcast. Now Grant, where’s my bean and cheese burrito?