John Peel died of a heart attack Monday at age 65. As Simon put it, it’s like a library burning. In memory, I’m posting a Peel Session track performed by one of Mr. Peel’s favorite songwriters, David Gedge, formerly of The Wedding Present and currently Cinerama. I don’t know how many incredible artists I discovered by way of the legendary Peel Sessions, but Gedge is definitely one of them. Man, there’s gonna be some good radio in heaven…
The Marlboro Chorus
Imagine Ween and Pavement each running for president. But, unlike next week’s real choices, you actually liked both candidates. Who would you vote for? Undecided? Enter a third party: The Marlboro Chorus.
Kleptones
These “original” tracks feature some swell breaks ‘n’ beats ‘n’ what-not but, to be honest, the Kleptones aren’t nearly as interesting when abiding by copyright laws… This post is merely an excuse to plug their new mash-up-and-more theme album, A Night at the Hip Hopera. After giving the Flaming Lips a b-boy makeover with Yoshimi Battles the Hip Hop Robots, the audio kleptomaniacs are back at it with a similar tribute to Queen. To have a listen, head over to Waxy.org, where you’ll find the complete album for download as well as a collaborative dissection of the countless samples used therein.
Louis XIV
When bands name a song after themselves, one of two things happen. It sucks or it doesn’t. There’s no room for middle ground. They’ve got the mojo to pull it off, or they don’t. Louis XIV pull it off. Louis XIV don’t suck. This is no news to the good people of San Diego where Louis XIV’s cup o’ mojo hath runneth over for years. Their smart, swaggering lyrics over garage riffs demand immediate attention. Word has it they just inked a deal with some big, fancy label so these tracks may not be available for long. Ignore at your own risk. (Thanks to Alec for the reminder on this one!)
Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura, like most good Scottish bands and football (a.k.a. soccer) clubs, hail from Glasgow. This seven-piece outfit makes classic pop. Sure, comparisons to Belle & Sebastian and even Nick Drake may abound, but Camera Obscura add a soul to their pop that makes them unique. Merge Records has been releasing their original Elefant Records releases in the U.S..
The Je Ne Sais Quoi
Every so often a band’s name alone grabs your attention, and even less often it actually makes good on its promise. One of those rare cases is The Je Ne Sais Quoi who, as it turns out, have that certain je ne sais quoi. If you were listening from another room, you might write them off as another vapid electro-clash happening. However, in more intimate settings, their tense, funky sound digs its fingernails into you and won’t let go. That said, “We Make Beginnings” wouldn’t be my first — or second, or third — choice for the single from their strong full-length debut. But no one asked me… (And if they had it would have been in Swedish, so I wouldn’t have understood anyway.)
Dealership
I found these guys through their video. A friend of mine directed it. Clever and catchy, reminiscent of The Rentals, Dealership have a hopeful, Friday night action vibe working for them. A poppy and wonderful antidote to the approaching winter.
Emperor X
Sure, we all had Casio keyboards as teens in the ’80s. The only groove I could ever manage came from holding down the “fill” button on the disco beat. But the 7″ EP by Sea Saw that I bought in 1995 showed me what a Casio keyboard can do in the hands of a genius. I expanded my love of Casio keyboards to include its cousins, the Farfisa, the Rhodes, etc, and I ran the gamut from hollAnd (the re-named Sea Saw) to the Rentals to Quintron. With hollAnd going spacey, I now have Emperor X to provide me with my fix.
Oxford Collapse
Time warp! These Oxford Collapse songs borrow heavily from some key songs from my youth. It’s uncanny I tell you… Respectively: Adam and the Ants’ “Beat My Guest”, Altered Images’ “Real Toys” (man, did I have a crush on Claire Grogan; I must have watched Gregory’s Girl fifty times), and, finally, a more recent favorite, Butterfly Train’s “What’s Falling About”. Sure the tempos are off a bit, but it’s the mood. It’s the rush of traveling backwards in time…
Fog
I’ve just about reached presidential campaign 2004 overload. Everyone’s got their two cents and now, more than ever, they’re eager to spout ’em off. I can’t listen to, or read, any contemporary works without having the subtext lunge at me. Regardless of the message lurking below the surface, this taste of Fog’s forthcoming album flip-flops with clicks and clacks while the beat is firm in its resolve.