I know what you're thinking: TWO Songs of the moment, in one day, Kate? That's crazy!!! I hear ya. And yet: there is so much awesome out there, why not celebrate it? Philly quintet East Hundred have for years now delighted fans with smoky pop tunes full of sparkling synths and magnetic vocals, and this song (from the recently-released The Spells) is no different. Head over to AV Club Philly for a complete breakdown, then catch the band live Saturday (tomorrow!) at JB's.
Jeffrey Lewis is an NYC-based writer, comic book artist, and anti-folk hero, whose biting wit and DIY ethic have turned manyanawesomehead. He's also a prolific songwriter, whose massive discography yields quite a few gems, including new tune "Cult Boyfriend," from the forthcoming A Turn in the Dream Songs
Looking good there J
I've always been a sucker for literate lyrics + snark (see also: Sonny & the Sunsets) and Lewis pretty much IS these two things so...
To quote Lewis himself: "This song probably won't go too much further than an open mic...it's guaranteed though that one or two people are going to really like it."
My love for vintage pop group Dum Dum Girls is certainly well-documented on this blog, with their 2010 record I Will Be scoring a top spot on my end-of-year countdown. But there's always the fear with breakout bands that they'll quickly fall off the radar (does anyone care about Japandroids anymore?), and the world will forever be amiss. Luckily, this fate does NOT befall DDG, whose sophomore record Only in Dreams is a shimmering collection of rollicking, pop stunners that show the band maturing, but still remaining relevant. Check out my full review at Phrequency.com -- then don't be surprised if they make another appearance in this year's Top Record countdown. What can I say, I have a soft spot for punk rock girls!
Scottish popsters Veronica Fallscraft playful, occasionally sweet, occasionally morbid, C-86-style noise pop that Pitchfork describes as "stagy revivalism with the slightest hint of mutiny." "Bad Feeling" appears on their self-titled debut, and hints at darker undercurrents hidden behind those sunny boy-girl harmonies.
Like this tune? Listen in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 to catch another track from Veronica Falls.
Skepticism might have been running high when this year's Popped Fest was moved from FDR Park to Temple's Liacouras Center due to rain. But doubts quickly evaporated as soon as the bands took the stage, and transformed the sports arena into a brilliant celebration of tunes. I checked out the festival Saturday night; here are some photos of the action.
Sun Airway. (Click any photo to enlarge) All photos (c) Kate Bracaglia; do not use without permission
With a band name that positively REEKS of disaffected juvenescence -- and a backstory fueled by harrowing anxiety -- Idaho's Trevor Powers is the new voice of a generation of bedroom dreamers, whose bloopy electronic concoctions reveal and relieve buried worries and fears. On debut LP The Year of Hibernation, Powers accesses these deep-seated feelings, resulting in a powerful record that never tries too hard. Head over to Phrequency.com to read my full review, and fawn over the stunning vid for single "Montana."
It's a dense, teeming morsel of dreamy ear candy, that recently made its MTV debut. Head over to AV Club Philly to delve into "Wild Palms"' mysterious layers, and explore the inspiration behind the tune.
A still from the gorgeous video, directed by Ricardo Rivera
Darkbloom, the dreamy split EP from electro-masters Grimes and d'Eon dropped back in May, and has been winning regular play in my iTunes as of late: the wispy vocals and echo-y layers a perfect compliment to the fall's first chilly winds. "Vanessa" is one of Grimes's seductive offerings, and is accompanied by this strangely atmospheric vid:
Like this tune?Listen in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 to catch more trippy autumn sounds.
It was a song that changed how America listened to music; it was a song that made America dance. My dad (who was 9 when it was first released) remembers its impact, recalling:
"I remember I was in cub scouts when [said tune] became popular and me and my friends -- there were probably 5 or 6 of us -- all we wanted to do was dance."
Getting down
What was this famed 1960 song? Head over to AV Club Philly to find out.
It was a big day for the world of rap...and for one rapper in particular. I had the opportunity to interview her back in college while interning at Philly Style, and she blew me away with her style and grace. Who is she? Head over to AV Club Philly to find out.
It is just me, or has this week been an AMAZING time for new releases? Over at Phrequency.com, I break down the 6 albums that should be on any back-to-school playlist this fall, and hook you up with sweet video candy for each. YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING? Surf on over to Phrequency.com, and prepare for enchantment.
In the meantime, here's a hipster-y pic of me spinning tunes Monday night at XPN2:
Portland-by-way-of-Wasilla, Alaska (yes the same strange, mystical place that bred Sarah Palin) rock group Portugal. The Man infuse everything they do with a sense of grand exuberance, and this tune (from the recently-released In the Mountain in the Cloud) is no exception.
The bluster-y, winter landscape might feel a bit foreign during these last, fading days of summer -- but the sun-drenched grooves more than make up for it. Wanna hear more P.TM? (I don't understand the random period in the middle, but whatevs). Tune in to my radio show tonight from 6 to 8 for more than 20 sweet new tunes, from all your favorite rock stars.
They say that punk is all about confidence and attitude -- and Brooklyn's Vivian Girls have both in droves. How else could the Brooklyn trio -- often criticized for not being able to sing OR play their instruments -- have gone on to become one of the most prolific and renowned punk acts this side of Ellis Island? (Besides writing excellent albums and being freakin' hot, that is.) Last night at Johnny Brenda's, they proved exactly how -- as they kicked off their East Coast tour with energy and tight riffs.
Viv Girls at JBs -- moving almost too fast to capture! (click on any photo to enlarge)
Dual frontwomen Cassie Ramone and Katy Goodman proved a perfect study in contrasts -- where the former was frantic, angst-y and rowdy -- throwing her head and body into the music and snarling into the mic -- the latter was relaxed, poised and graceful, gliding across the stage like a dancer and crooning sweetly like a Disney princess. Behind them, drummer Fiona Campbell proved a more than competent replacement for Ali Koehler, contributing harmonies and steady beats throughout.
Tunes like the Grease-inspired "Take it as it Comes" were set highlights -- while old track "Wild Eyes" felt refreshingly raucous. And while the entire set clocked in at just 45 minutes -- the band still managed to rocket through more than a dozen tracks, with harmonies sounding tighter than ever. They left the stage to thunderous applause, and the crowd audibly groaned as the lights came up -- even though everyone knows that playing encores is SO not punk rock.
All photos (c) Kate Bracaglia. Do not use without credit.
Like this post? Read more about the Vivian Girls here.
