Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tuesday Listening - Yuck "Glow & Behold"


When I first heard Yuck in 2011, they were the perfect mix of retro distorted sounds, melancholic slow jams, and harder driving beats. Then lead singer Daniel Blumberg announced he was leaving the band, leaving me to believe that one album was all we'd be getting from Yuck.

After Blumberg's departure, however, the remaining band members forged ahead, making music and now releasing a new album ("Glow and Behold"out 9/30).

A shakeup in band members can signify a shakeup in direction for a band, and this seems to be the case with the 'new' Yuck. "Glow & Behold" is decidedly less distorted, certainly more even keeled, and definitely more produced (not hard given that their debut album was recorded in a bedroom). There is much more variation on this album, with everything from horns to acoustic guitar to a 50's pop vibe straight out of "That Thing You Do"(on "Nothing New"). While there are hints of the heavy guitar distortions we all loved so much off their debut album (especially on "Middle Sea"), they seem to take more of a backseat on this sophomore effort. There's still a nostalgic undercurrent throughout, but it's not so focused on one era, one sound, or even one genre.

With less of the distinctive, crunchy, raw distortions that they showcased on their debut album, Yuck is ensuring with "Glow & Behold" that they aren't pigeonholed. It's an album with a much more mature, developed sound that at first listen had me wanting more of that distortion and rawness, yet I've found myself listening to it over and over with the same affinity I had for their debut album. Check out tracks like "Lose My Breath,""Memorial Fields,""Middle Sea," "Rebirth," and "Glow Behold."

The New York Times is streaming "Glow & Behold" now on their website (who knew The New York Times streamed albums? Me either). Check it out below. "Glow & Behold" is out September 30th on Fat Possum.

Listen to "Glow & Behold" here.







Friday, September 6, 2013

NO Live at The Troubadour



To the discerning music fan, the live music experience can walk a very fine line. There are very few other experiences for the music consumer that can have such catastrophic or such profound listening consequences. Sometimes, we pay the money, shlep to the show and watch a band or artist whose music we enjoy only to realize that their sound is mostly thanks to studio tricks. And sometimes, we do all of the above and enter into the venue with simple expectations only to be so blown away by the talent and the emotional connection with the audience that we become converted.

Sometimes, a band just nails the live experience.



Los Angeles-based band NO has been on my radar for awhile, after hearing their Daytrotter performance and recognizing in them bands like The National and The Airborne Toxic Event. A high energy sound with catchy hooks (check out "What's Your Name") and a purist rock sound that sometimes throws back to a punk or new wave sound (see: "Theres A Glow"), they are a band ripe for the live experience.


Recently NO performed at a RedBull Sound Select Show at the world-famous Troubadour in a high energy set that placed NO firmly into the mind-blowing category for live performances. A five piece band, they seamlessly recreated their songs on stage with the same intensity present on recordings, creating a big sound that overwhelmed the intimate space of the Troubadour. Performing songs off their 2011 EP "Don't Worry You'll Be Here Forever," NO frontman Bradley Hanan Carter played to the crowd on each song as though they were on a much bigger stage in a much bigger venue. With their stellar live performance talents, NO is poised to do just that.

Check out more from NO on their website.

NO's EP Don't Worry, You'll Be Here Forever is out now.
NO Tour Dates:
DateVenueLocationTickets
September 6Cafe du NordSanFrancisco, CATickets
September 8Launch FestivalSacramento, USTickets
Semptember 11Mississippi StudiosPortland, USTickets
September 12BarbozaSeattle, USTickets
September 13Rifflandia FestivalVictoria, BCTickets
September 14Electric OwlVancouver, CANTickets
September 25House of Blues w/The Naked and FamousSanDiego, USTickets
September 27Wiltern Theater w/The Naked and FamousLosAngeles, USTickets
October 25Fox Theater w/The Naked and FamousOakland, USTickets
October26The Fox Theater w/The Naked and FamousPomona, USTickets
September 6Cafe du NordSanFrancisco, CATickets
September 8Launch FestivalSacramento, USTickets
Semptember 11Mississippi StudiosPortland, USTickets
September 12BarbozaSeattle, USTickets
September 13Rifflandia FestivalVictoria, BCTickets
September 14Electric OwlVancouver, CANTickets
September 25House of Blues w/The Naked and FamousSanDiego, USTickets
September 27Wiltern Theater w/The Naked and FamousLosAngeles, USTickets
October 25Fox Theater w/The Naked and FamousOakland, USTickets
October26The Fox Theater w/The Naked and FamousPomona, US










Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Tuesday Listening - Volcano Choir, Repave



As if 2013's new music releases haven't been fantastic enough, Volcano Choir is out today with their sophomore album "Repave" (after 2009's Unmap). Despite fall being just around the corner, "Repave" opens up on "Tiderays" with lofty vibes typical of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, but in a way that evokes spring and awakenings. This opening starts a journey into a world of incredibly cohesive yet diverse sounds and tones that mark each song throughout the album. We hear a different side of Justin Vernon through his deeper vocals (check out "Acetate") that offer a commanding alternative to his Bon Iver- falsetto, although the falsetto makes appearances throughout, in a way that's complementing to Vernon's regular register (as on "Comrade").

It's a skyscraper of an album, full of high reaching, anthemic songs - sometimes airy and sometimes tall and towering. The apex of this is on "Byegone," with its soaring tones that will make the hair on your arms stand up. "Alaskans" brings in a deeper side by simplifying the instrumentation with mostly keys and guitar, but by pairing it with the echoed vocals of Vernon, in a gentle tune that surrounds your ears with its quiet simplicity.

Its a side we see occasionally throughout the album, but it's also not a side that dominates "Repave." There are also electronic influences, auto tuning, and other atypical indie rock styles that show up throughout the album that in any other arena would seem out of place, but given Vernon's wide history of collaborations, it all works. An album full of varying sounds like this one just shows us once and for all that Justin Vernon can basically do no wrong in his collaborations, but it's this particular grouping of band members that seems to make this album one of his best projects to date.

"Repave" is out today.