My next-desk neighbor tipped me off to The Herms this afternoon. We’re both back in the office after a healthy holiday break. His New Year’s Eve was much more celebratory than mine. He: Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco for the Rogue Wave, Kelley Stoltz, and Herms show; Me: road-tripping back home down I-15, determined to miss the Las Vegas to L.A. parking lot over the weekend. It’d have been nice to have iPodded these tracks for the ride. “Record Machine” could be a demo recording from Bauhaus, and the remaining tracks, while wandering off on a sort of Jonathan Fire*Eater tangent, fail to disappoint. I’m baiting Clay with the former comparison. Watch for his impending, spirited comments.
mclusky
Given all the nominating going on, I offer mclusky’s The Difference Between Me and You Is That I’m Not on Fire as Album Title of the Year. The album’s music ain’t bad either. Producer Steve Albini’s influence continues to rub off on these talented lads in the form of increasingly noisy, sometimes sneering, and always witty rock to the roll. “Without MSG…” is but one flavor — the surprisingly thoughtful “She Will Only Bring You Happiness” being quite another — so check the album for the full menu.
Gran Ronde
If you count yourself among the many fans of the current faux-British invasion, then get ready to surrender to another crusader. Today’s 3hive pick brought to you by the number 3 (what else?) and by a hot tip from regular (in his use of 3hive) Todd Simmons. Thanks, Todd!
Perry Weismann 3
Let’s get the new year off to a good start! You may remember that last year 3hive brought you two projects of members of the Apples in Stereo, those being The High Water Marks and Ulysses. The Perry Weismann 3 features another member of the Apples, this time my fellow Tennessean Eric Allen (discovered when he saw my Tennessee license plate while getting into my car many years ago in Utah), along with ex-Neutral Milk Hotel and others. The PW3 drift from fuzzed out instrumentals to free style jazz and back again, two styles that don’t usually go together. Kind of like the title of this song from their last release. “Alaskan Jihad,” anyone?
Stars
This year, I became a father for the first time. On the way home from the hospital, we listened to Stars’ brilliant album, Heart, and barely held it together. The first few weeks were touch and go, sleepless and filled with more emotion than I’d ever known existed. Heart was the soundtrack. This new track off the forthcoming Set Yourself on Fire sounds more raw and still as beautiful. You can’t help but love a band who will tell you at the height of the holidays to go listen to Prefab Sprout’s first full-length, Swoon, because it’s a reminder of Paddy McAloon’s failed youth. Yes, I’m out and proud about my Prefab Sprout love. I’m also out and proud about Stars.
The Walkmen
Yeah, yeah, I know, they’re all over the place nowadays: The OC, Conan, Letterman (tonight, in fact). And we’ve already had a discussion about this topic (see Jetscreamer). But it’s still the Christmas season, ain’t it? How could we pass up these Yuletide gems from The Walkmen? The first two are from their unreleased Christmas single, the third is from last Christmas, and the fourth, well, it’s just a great song from their early days. If you missed The Walkmen’s appearance on The OC and were wondering if Summer fell for Seth’s attempt to trick her into coming to the Walkmen show with him, you can hear MP3s from the show on the Walkmen’s website.
The Green and Yellow TV
Thanks to 3hive regular Kieran for dropping this suggestion in the box. His email sent me rummaging through some old MP3s on my backup drive, because I was sure I’d heard of these guys before. Lo, there they were: three tracks which I’d apparently downloaded off the pre-Vivendi MP3.com back in March 2001. Those three tracks aren’t available on the band’s site, but these four are — which sufficiently illustrate The Green and Yellow TV’s euphoric, timeless pop with a keen ear for hooks, lines, and melodies. I dare you to not air drum/strum/sing along.
Hinkley
I love this time of year, and not just because I can lounge around all day in my jammies eating leftovers and candy. I love it because this is when I start cherry picking the best-of-the-year lists for artists I somehow missed or slept on. Today’s find comes from Mystery & Misery’s Best of 2004. They caught my eye because my grandmother’s maiden name is Hinckley, which turns out to be a happy coincidence. Their ragged, folksy pop would make them at home in the Elephant 6 stable but for now they’re unsigned and living in Rochester, NY. Thanks, Jason!
Worm Is Green
We’re officially five days into winter so I thought it apropos to turn our attention to Iceland. I know it’s not winter there year round, but it should be! Worm Is Green’s debut album is almost a year old here in the States, but proper respect has yet to be paid. The band does a brilliant cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” and the rest of the album will put you in a cool chill with its warm synth tones and atmospheric vocals. These tracks are all demo versions and outtakes from Automagic. You’ll have to put down some cash for the final product.
Fonda
What’s the only song better than Wham’s “Last Christmas” on Christmas Day? Fonda’s cover of Wham’s “Last Christmas” on Christmas Day. Like their name suggests, Fonda are a hybrid. (As in Ford + Honda = Fonda; Hord just doesn’t work.) Part British, part American, residing in L.A., Fonda create their own pop: a dash of West Coast dreamy pop, a pinch of British shoegaze, a touch of American indie pop, a morsel of late ’80s British alternapop. And yes, they did the Spy Kids theme.