What’s in a name? Well, first of all, it’s the most important step in forming a band. There’s making lists and researching and polling and arguing; it’s more intense than naming your child. Our cat is actually named what was the #2 (hence, losing) name on the list for the last band I was in. Second, it’s gotta be something that’s gonna catch your target audience. You know, ska bands incorporate the word “ska” into their names, metal bands use words linked with death, and whatnot. So the name is going to be descriptive. The Arrogants, however, really don’t follow that. Based on the name, the casual reader would think they were a British glam band, when in actual fact, The Arrogants play delightful pop, some bouncy, some happy, some folksy. Although perhaps that’s their secret; it’s takes a little cockiness, some arrogance, to make pop this good. Their new album You’ve Always Known When Best To Say Goodbye features 23 songs, and their previous two albums are available for free download from their site.
Podcast #10 & iTunes are Live
Cold War Kids
I stumbled across Cold War Kids while at the office yesterday. Once the music kicked in one of my fellow desk jockeys exclaimed, “Turbo Indie!” Indeed. With their minimal jangles of guitar, sparse percussion and fluttering Buckley-esque vocals, Cold War Kids are about as “indie”-sounding as you can get. The other offerings on their myspace page recall the “freak” folk-ishness of Devendra Banhart and friends. Either way, Cold War Kids come close to reaching that primal place where music originates in all of us.
John P. Strohm
Yet another Internet moment — Juliana Hatfield has a new album out, Made in China, and while I was checking out the buzz about it on her website, I remembered and looked for the Blake Babies, and their website said John P. Strohm is releasing a new album soon. His website had these MP3s, full of nice psychedelic pop with a touch of country, from his two late-’90s albums, Vestavia and Caledonia. And if you like what you hear, more info about his new album (including demos and other downloads) can be found at musicalfamilytree.com, a site dedicated to Indiana musicians. Viva fiberoptics!
iLounge Holiday Buyer’s Guide for 2005-2006
New Soft Music Added
Cat Power
Cat Power’s been napping. By the time her new album, The Greatest (not a greatest hits record — boy I’m sure her label friends will tire quickly of repeating that mantra), hits stores in January three years will have passed since her last album. Not bad really. The space between her last albums lasted about four years. I should cut her some slack. The wait is always worth it. This time around she taps the Memphis soul scene for her backing musicians, with, among others, Al Green’s boys, Teenie Hodges (who co-wrote “Take Me to the River” with Green) on guitar, and Leroy “Flick” Hodges on bass. Judging from the small sample offered, Chan Marshall may be on her way to creating a timeless work of art.
The Tah-Dahs
So you’re making a mix CD for your latest stalking victim…er, love interest and you need to add that perfect dose of humor and hooks to make it clear you’re not taking yourself too seriously. You’ve already run through your Weezer and Jonathan Richman collection. Where do you turn? Tah dah! Meet The Tah-Dahs.
Would You Sign This Band?
Jupiter One
I’ll admit to occasionally hatin’ on NYC bands, usually of the gratuitously post-punk variety, what with their fashionable arrogance and snarls of prissy posturing. But, these days, it appears that “fun” is the new black. Case in point, Jupiter One, whose bounce-on-the-balls-of-your-feet numbers can stand tall alongside new wave forefathers like The Cars with nary a double-take. Lead singer K’s low tenor is as crisp as a starched white shirt and he can dodge canned guitar riffs (that’s a compliment), B-movie synth sounds, and even an electrified violin much the way Dave Derby did in the Dambuilders. All of it makes for great music to drink coffee to — or possibly a coffee substitute. Either way, things are looking up in downtown NYC.