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?
Figuring Out Figurines
Antennas
Whaddya know, these audioblog things are just plain spiffy—a fantastic way to hear new music. Really! Sniffing around today I see that Blair over at Music For Robots is getting some great mail from Antennas. So head over there and grab “Adapt” from MFR before it goes offline. Then treat yourself here to “Always On My Mind.” What I’m really digging on from Antennas is their density. And I don’t mean their McFlybian destiny. There is so much going on in this song, so many layers: strings, horns, whirring electronics, handclaps, and vibraphone. Of course it’s probably all MIDI, but what do I care. It works. It holds together without being overwhelming. Throw in the vocal drama of Jeff Buckley and we’ve really got something here. Great find Blair! (Note: The two Novak tracks included are from the band’s original 2003 demo when they were called Novak).
Victor Scott
By all accounts Victor Scott shouldn’t be aspiring to what he aspires to — rhythmless porn-funk on “Gotta Go,” hybrid-power balladeering on “Mareel,” couch-surfer-rock on “Golf,” lounge-hop on “Airstream” — but he does. And it works very well. Fans of the eminent Honky King Calvin Johnson will see in Scott the same irresistibly affectless soul. Fans of Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch soundtracks will see in Scott a torch singer who croons charming oddities as if they were ageless standards. Victor’s a different chap, that’s for sure, but once you catch on to his wavelength, you’ll want to ride his current all the way to the shore.
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.
The Amazing Pilots
The Amazing Pilots are actually two amazing brothers, Phil and Paul Wilkinson, of Coleraine, Northern Ireland (Come on you Bannsiders!), although they have relocated to Dublin. They play this amazing (sorry) pop that soars like the wonderous landscape of the North Antrim coast, providing relief from the cramped housing estates of Coleraine. This same pop is remniscent of the sounds of Moose, the lilting acoustic guitar, the wandering slide guitar, and a pop sensibility that can get those toes a-tapping. They’re one of what, 1,200 bands, playing SXSW, so for anyone attending who needs some help filtering through all the choices, remember, the Amazing Pilots.
What’s That Swound?
Katie the Pest
Lo-fi bitrates for this wonderful, lo-fi shoegazey duo that takes me back to L.A.’s Paisley Underground days—a gritty version of The Bangles or Opal. The stand out track here is “Sober.” It’s, as they sing in the song, “unstoppable.” You’ll end up listening to it twenty times in a row. It’s maddeningly addicting. Thanks to Whitney B for reminding me about Katie The Pest. She can’t stop listening either and is mad at us for making her spend so much money on records. We’re not sorry.