Pedro Remix at Melodic
Trembling Blue Stars
I’ve got a prized piece of vinyl entitled Wire Play Pop. It’s a seven-song assortment pulled from Wire’s first three albums. Ever since I bought it that title has bugged me, because I wouldn’t necessarily equate Wire with pop (although the world would be a better place if that was the definition of pop). But anyway, if that title would ever be appropriate, it would be as Trembling Blue Stars Play Pop. TBS sing about love and love lost like only popsters can. They’ve got a new single out now, but this song is from last year’s The Seven Autumn Flowers.
Hezekiah
Apart from coming live with a multi-instrumental audiophile’s ethic that would make The Roots proud and a fist-pumping vocal delivery that would earn him a spot at the back of a Wu-Tang Clan tour bus, Hezekiah can also lay claim to being one of the only MCs who can throw his hands in the air and wave ’em like he’s from Delaware — because he is! Okay, so it’s really just suburban Illadelph, but it’s still good to see the land of DuPont chemicals and not much else get some play — and that Hezekiah can hold his own against any hip-hop crew from Anywhereville makes it that much cooler to root for the D-state.
60s Brazil Meets 80s Britain (and Jello)
The Dudley Corporation U.S. Tour Dates
Kate Maki
You can just tell Kate Maki is smart. Her nostalgic country lyrics hit all the favorite targets, from loneliness to love to obsession, and the easy-going gait to her songs always manages to sound a step ahead of old fashioned. Check out how the restrained brushed snare and pedal steel guitar match so nicely with her quiet, clear voice on “First Impression.” Then, listen to the playfulness of all of those same instruments on “Sweet Time.” It’s no wonder — Kate Maki used to be a teacher. On her first two albums, she’s put together a fine country music primer.
Empress
Empress was the alter ego of that mad Leeds outfit Boyracer, with several members having stints in Hood. But while Boyracer has been fast, frentic, and fun, Empress was haunting and mesmerizing, with the stillness of Low and the sensuousness of Movietone. And if you haven’t heard Empress already, well, now it’s time.
The Dudley Corporation
The Dudley Corporation. The name alone sounds like something out of “The Office” (the original British series, which I just spent all weekend watching for the first time ever…eerily genius). Their website gives off a similarly ironic corporate vibe. Musically, these Irish lads have a wonderful pop-hazard sensibility, recalling at times The Smiths without being redundant. Watch for East Coast dates with Pinback in May. Album’s in stores today.