FAWM: February Album Writing Month

Tomorrow will mark the start of the February Album Writing Month (FAWM), a challenge first initiated in 2005, in which participating 'fawmers' must complete 14 songs in 28 days. Songs constitute "Pop songs, instrumentals, “sound art,” whatever. The goal is to be challenged, build community, and have fun… by whatever musical means." There is also a thriving community of fawmers who also post demos and lyrics for their songs, collaborate, and talk music with each other.

Whether you decide to go for it or not, checking out the website and participants' songs (available on fawmpilations) offers much in the way of creative musical inspiration.

Go check out FAWM!

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Jakob Battick - Some Songs in Chronological Order

Jakob Battick, previously of 1800s Sea Monster and Mt. Moon (I reviewed their epic LP A Burial in Seven Births last year) has recently put out the compilation Some Songs in Chronological Order. This includes two of his original tracks from Mt. Moon's LP release ("The Worm To The Robin" and "Massive Moth, My Dreamfield"), both massive (in length and substance) highlights from that album, as well old tracks mingled with new. It is a sort of plodding melancholy mixed with hopefulness that dominates much of Battick's delivery and songwriting (hear "In My Rare Dream" and duet "It's a Grace (Only Bodies Can Impart)" for fine examples of this quality). "Multiple Greens", my favourite song here, sounds fast-moving and purposeful in its 7:25. Battick's take on Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" is more of a reinvention than a cover, every word and passage performed and sung in a poignant, heart-driven way that is quite impressive to behold. "Her Limbs Are Little Bodies of Stars" and "As Before, If Not More", first and last tracks respectively, display alternate sides of Battick's music, the high-spirited, catchy folk of the former, and the oceans of sound washing into meaningful open space in the latter.

I have also gotten a chance to hear his upcoming Early Flowers EP in advance, a release part of the Tea & Oranges family, in advance, which is another testament Jakob Battick continual refinement of his material and sound.

Download and Stream Recent Songs - Jakob Battick on Last.fm ! !

Jakob Battick on MySpace Music | Tea and Oranges on MySpace Music

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Somersault- Single Of The Week

Somersault is a indie pop band based in Tempe, Arizona. I stumbled upon their utterly charming tunes, one night visiting a friend in North Phoenix. At first i assumed they were going to be another bland folk pop band from the Phoenix area. I was greatly mistaken, these folks put the majority of radio friendly tunes to shame with their emotional yet goofy songwriting. So for this weeks single of the week, i have chosen their song "Dreams". It has some nice piano and is pretty darn catchy, and it is here for free download so why not check it out!

Download!

Myspace

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Artist Feature: The Handcuffs

The Handcuffs are an independent rock band from Chicago, Illinois, originally formed by Chloe F. Orwell (lead vocals) and Brad Elvis (drums), with the later additions of Emily Togni (bass) and Ellis Clark (keyboards/guitar). They have had numerous tracks from their 2006 debut Model for a Revolution and new album Electroluv featured on MTV, VH1, and FUSE programming.

With an eclectic range of influences listed on their MySpace Music page, spanning decades of fabulous music, from the vintage cool of Velvet Underground, theatrical glam acts David Bowie, Roxy Music and Sparks, right through 90's rock groups Garbage and the Foo Fighters, to present-day bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Kaiser Chiefs, it is no wonder that the Handcuffs' sound is equally eclectic and diversified.

With 60's-flavored, mod-rockin' "I Just Wanna Be Free Man" mingling with the likes of soft, poppy "Wonderful Life" and "Fake Friends", riot grrl-esque anthem "Gotta' Problem with Me?" the rhythms and hooks here are quite catchy and enjoyable, with the best bit of it all being Orwell's refreshing vocals, taking elements of influences (and comparables) Deborah Harry and PJ Harvey and taking it to a new, modern level and with a style all her own.

Electroluv - The Handcuffs on CDBaby | Electroluv on iTunes

The Handcuffs Official Site | on MySpace | on Facebook | on Last.fm

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Glen Strachan - 8 Love Rivals

The man formerly behind the punk group The Bed (1999-2005) and psych-folk England & The April (2005-2007), Glen Strachan has a new solo "mini-album" out digitally, 8 Love Rivals. "Michael Are You Breathing?" was featured on Tom Robinson's BBC Introducing last year. The track remains the strongest example of Strachan's style of musicianship; there is an element reminding me of Marc Bolan (T. Rex) in his vocals, some of Leonard Cohen's poetic introspection and folksiness in the lyrics, a bit of wry darkness, enough catchy poppiness to be accessible- all is amalgamated into something quite new, as this is clearly an artist who clearly listens to, and processes creatively, an eclectic variety of music.

Each track title on 8 Love Rivals includes a name (Richard Hate, Ira, Michael, Lars, Basti, Jet Tea, Alex Chen, and Simon Rowe), adding to the theme of the songs being about people and events: this is a story-telling album, with interwoven layers of sound (the quaint flute appearing from time to time; particularly note "Alex Chen") and irresistable melodies ("Iva Vs The Tram"). Clocking in at just 20 minutes, it is a powerful indicator of Glen Strachan's talent and holds a lot of promise for his future music.

Stream 8 Love Rivals on Last.fm ! !

Official website | on MySpace Music | on Last.fm

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Panda steps in chocolate - Creep Of The Crop

If you have been following A Future in Noise since late summer of last year, checked out my Best of 2008 list, or had a look at my Last.fm charts, you are likely to have noticed and possibly listened to Panda steps in chocolate. Whether this is your first time here or your gazillionth, take heed of this now: there is a new PSIC album!

Creep Of The Crop, released on 1/20/09, is the latest chapter of Christian Filardo's (the fellow behind all the music) creative vision. The elements that made his music enjoyable before are still here, the video game-esque, old-school synth effects, the quirkiness, and fun song titles; the difference is, with each release, the concepts are more realized, there are more curious textures. He's an artist that keeps improving- I wish I could say the same for the 'major label' artists that I like that continue to put out new material!

"look at my tie, what a jerk" serves as the overture for Creep Of The Crop, an instrumental containing many of the stylistic elements present in the rest of the songs on the album, with "indiana jones memorial sports car race" later appearing as an underture. Songs like "Good Spiderman vs. Bad Spiderman", with the chorus "This is a song that you can march to (march to) / You and you and you and even you (you, too!)", and what would undoubtedly be this album's singles, "te devo mi vida" and "is this for you guys, uhhh ok", continue on the tradition of Panda's anthemic themes, with greater gusto and catchiness.

"Sign Language" and "Porcupine", previously featured on last year's Paper EP, as well as the new "Board Games and So Are You", here provide a softer, drifting contrast. "Operation" is, for me, the best track of the album (the "COFFEEEEE BREAAAK!" bit makes me smile, inevitably!) and is a fine example what an ideal Panda tune sounds like.

"Glitter is Made of Tiny Little Worlds" reaches the height of the album's theme of creepiness viewed through a filter of cuteness, with lyrics like "I swear to God they're spies..." and "This I'm sure you are the devil...", with a vocal trip-out at around 1:30, and synthesizer-sheen around it all. The darker-vibed "ROBOTS" has, well, robots coming down from the sky, "to eat up our insides", and turning everything "into gold / So they can spend it / On their planet".

The album's final tracks are an epic run of instrumentals, with "indiana jones memorial sports car race", "Weekend Dad Fights the Fire", "MeTOMDREGO TO Lolla", and "Chicken Nugget Nightmares", each of which serve to show Panda's advancement in instrumental composition, in such a short span of time from his last releases, just as well as his lyrics have deepened and his vocals are stronger.

Download Creep Of The Crop - Panda steps in chocolate ! ! !

Panda steps in chocolate on MySpace Music| on Last.fm

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MySpace Music Discoveries: Issue #1

I'm hereby establishing a tradition of highlighting artists and bands on MySpace Music that are worth checking out in one single issue on the fourth Thursday of each month; that one bit was in italics because, being that MySpace Music is so saturated with musicians, it can sometimes be difficult to find interesting and cool music.

The qualifications for an artist/band to be featured this round-up are: 1) I like their music (of course!) and recommend it to others, and 2) not have been featured in one of my posts previously. As always, reader feedback is appreciated, and please do recommend your favourite MySpace Music artists!

Click the artist name to be redirected to their MySpace Music page:
Friend John - Experimental / Electronica / Ambient
I came across the music of Friend John (John Haas) through his own music blog (Hearts in Clouds), which is also the destination for downloading the albums he has released so far. Some of the artists featured on his own blog, such as Air, Ratatat, Royksopp, and Stereolab, give a clue as to the drifting, electro-fied nature of his tunes. His latest release, Her House Was Haunted, is the best yet: "I'll Make Your Remix Someday" and "Soul Reaches" are big-time highlights. Download Her House Was Haunted / Download Version for Maddie / Download Arctica

John Murphy - Rock
I first heard John Murphy's music through his Last.fm music page. This is some heavy, heavy cool stuff; "The Garden Song" in particular from Sifting Thru The Rubble is very much recommended! It will be interestesting to hear how he develops in his music over time.

Shyneboxx - Indie / Rock / Alternative
The debut from Shyneboxx, a band that has been making music for 20+ years together, is a self-titled release [Shyneboxx (now up on Last.fm)] which was released on New Year's Day, 2009. Surf-guitar, classic rock, and 80's alt. elements are present, along with straightforward, honest songwriting; this is a fun album to listen to! Recommended: "Memphis" and "She"

Ryan Smith - Indie / Pop / Rock
Ryan Smith is a sincere, adept songwriter whose style allows for folk, indie, and the pop mainstream to shake hands and get along. He has been interviewed by MTV2 and is a local favourite in Columbus, Ohio. Better still, all of his music is up for free download on his MySpace Music page, with his most recent release being the six-song I Just Want To Feel That Way in 2008. The title track stands out, plodding, melancholy, and sweet, the polar opposite of "This is Not a Tragedy", and both are the most enjoyable cuts on the album. Hearing tunes more along those lines (and of his newer single "Sleep Well") from Ryan Smith in the future, and more of the unexpected, as he grows as an artist is something I look forward to.

Tran Qual - Experimental / Lounge / Tropical
Tran Qual was one of the first artists I came across after getting my own MySpace Music page; a unique take on the cinematic, with touches of trip-hop and danceable elements at times. The group of featured songs on his Last.fm page are amongst his best, with And Sometimes being a top track as well.

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Why Major Record Labels Must Die

Despite racking up an impressive three Top 10 albums and nine Top 40 singles and penning "Valerie," a massive UK hit for Amy Winehouse, English band the Zutons were dropped by their record label Deltasonic, an imprint of Sony/BMG, over the Christmas holiday. Why? Their last single failed to chart. Remember, when you buy major label music, that sort of nonsense is what you're supporting. Be sure to always check the RIAA Radar before you go music shopping. And if you like the band's music, be sure to swing by the band's Myspace and leave a message of support for them.

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Sonic Youth Are Preparing a New Record

I'm pretty stoked for this. Their last three proper albums (Murray Street, Sonic Nurse, Rather Ripped) have been ace. Thurston Moore told the NME to expect "a record replete with juicy, supersonic songs!" Right then. The Eternal is tentatively scheduled for issue in June on the band's new record label, Matador (home of Pavement). For those of you who aren't huge SY fanatics, here's a brief guide to catch you up:

THE EARLY YEARS (1982-1985): The Sonic Youth EP, Confusion is Sex/Kill Yr Idols and Bad Moon Rising are not for the faint of heart. "Death Valley 69" aside, this material is quite different from anything approaching traditional pop music. Indeed, some songs, such as "Early American" and "Halloween" seem more in tune with the sensibilities of Asian music and 20th-century classical than the band's early-80s contemporaries in indie-rock. I love this phase, but it's not for everyone. Recommendation: Bad Moon Rising.

THE CLASSIC ERA (1986-1989): Starting with 1986's EVOL, Sonic Youth began their ascent to being a world-class rock band. The three albums from this period, EVOL, Sister, and Daydream Nation progressively lean towards more traditional pop structure. My advice: get the lot of them.

DALLIANCE WITH THE BIG-TIME (1990-1994): On their first three major-label albums, Goo, Dirty and Experimental Jet-Set, Trash & No-Star, Sonic Youth were something like an experimental grunge band. Imagine Nirvana and Fugazi's more outre guitar explorations with less tuneful vocals and you're near it. Not surprisingly, this era produced the closest thing to a set of hit singles they ever managed ("Kool Thing," "Sugar Kane" and "Bull in the Heather"). Out of the three, Dirty is my personal favourite, due to a strong showing from Kim, but all three are recommended.

RETRENCHING (1995-2001): Here, Sonic Youth decided to de-emphasise their pop leanings and go more avant-garde, with mixed results. Washing Machine, with its sublime closing track "The Diamond Sea," is a must-own, A Thousand Leaves is OK but inessential and NYC Ghosts and Flowers is a waste of money.

THE ELDER STATESMEN (2002-present): Sonic Youth have had something of a late career renaissance. Starting with 2002's Murray Street and going on through 2006's Rather Ripped, the band began to become more accessible without losing the qualities that made them unique in the first place. Sonic Nurse is my favourite, but this era of SY is perhaps the most rewarding since the late 80's triad.

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The 44th President's Taste in Music

As you know, Barack Hussein Obama was officially sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America earlier today. Regardless of whether or not you voted for him, what's undeniable is that his taste in music is, Ludacris aside, pretty much unimpeachable. Here are some Barack-and-Ian approved videos:

Bob Dylan - "Like a Rolling Stone"



Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"



Bruce Springsteen - "Born in the U.S.A." (don't you hate it when the major labels won't let you embed?)

Jay-Z - "Dirt Off Your Shoulder"

Sheryl Crow - "Soak Up The Sun"

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'Merriweather Post Pavilion' Released Today!

Animal Collective's delightful eight record, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is officially released on CD today. Though you've probably already heard the leak, please support the band by dropping by Amazon and ordering the CD or double-LP. (UK readers can order the CD here) Granted, we're not even a month into the year, but I really think this record will be one of 2009's best.

Here's Marilyn's original review of the record.

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Auditorium - New Audio/Visual On-line Game

Auditorium is a newly developed, music-based on-line puzzle game, and the first game release of Cipher Prime. From its debut in December, it has already surpassed a million plays and has been quite popular on Digg and StumbleUpon. Still in demo form, to be released in full with community features sometime soon, it is one of the most impressive demos I have played to date.

In the wake of the success of games like Guitar Hero and RockBand, and a personal favourite of mine, Audiosurf, it is no surprise that there has been an explosion of music-themed games everywhere. The difference with Auditorium is that it sounds, looks, and feels new.

The premise of the game is to guide a continuous stream of light, "the Flow", to Audio Containers, which cause the light particles to react in the form of sound. To manipulate the Flow, which will automatically be streaming in a specific direction, Controls provided within the stage for the player to manipulate; Directional Controls will shift the flow up, down, left, or right, while the Attract Control will gather the light particles to its center, for example. The Controls can be adjusted in size; the bigger they are, the more powerful they shift the Flow. It is up to you to figure out how to manipulate the Flow to reach all of the Audio Containers within the stage. Acts (songs) are comprised of individual stages; you will hear the song develop over the stages as light flows into the containers and you complete the puzzles, with the Auditorium increasing in difficulty in subsequent Acts.

I was hooked from the first Act, the song "Hajimemashite", which serves as a training ground for Auditorium. Stage 1 is deceptively simple, the white light streaming down and easily dragged into the Container with a directional Control, the piano melody increasing all the while. The following stages become more dynamic, with additional instruments invoked and the placement of the Flow and Controls making the situation more complex, and in later Acts involving alternate colors and obstacles. The songs featured are beautiful instrumental compositions, and the delicate interplay of light and the challenge of completing the puzzles make Auditorium a rewarding game experience, and one that can only be improved through community-based play and an ever-increasing song/puzzle library.

Go Play Auditorium!

Cipher Prime Blog

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Bollywood Songs: Part 1

I've recently developed a Bollywood obsession, and begun rediscovering the classic Indian cinema I grew up with. I speak Punjabi, but like most non-Hindi speaking desis, I still watch the films and get the gist of what's happening anyway. For those of you not in the know, a typical Bollywood film is like a Western musical, with spontaneous interjections of song and dance. For whatever reason, Indian filmgoers will generally not go see a non-musical film or one that's less than two hours long. Anyway, the songs, usually light pop with romantic lyrics, are voiced by playback singers, who are as Cornershop's Tjinder Singh so memorably put it, "The ones who aren't attractive enough to make it as film stars." (or something to that effect) The actors and actresses then lip-synch the lyrics.

Filmi music, as I mentioned in my earlier Blur post, was the sound of my childhood. So I thought, "Through the power of YouTube, I shall introduce my readers to the magical world of filmi music." This will be a semi-regular (read: whenever I get round to it) feature in which I highlight some of my favourite filmi songs. Most will be from Bollywood (the Hindi cinema), but I'll also include a few prominent Kollywood (Tamil cinema) tracks for a measure of North-South balance, even though I've got no idea what they're saying.

• Asha Bhosle, "Dil Cheez Kya Hai": No discussion of Bollywood, or indeed, 20th century Indian culture can go without discussing Asha-ji. While she comes from a family with a musical background (her dad was a classical singer; her big sister, Lata Mangeshkar, is equally accomplished in filmi music), her achievements are her own. She's recorded upwards of 10 thousand songs in her half-century career, single-handedly introduced the Subcontinent to rock n' roll, psychedelia and disco, worked with Michael Stipe and inspired Cornershop's sole hit single, all while being a single mother. Beyonce, this is a real diva. Anyway, this standout from 1981's lovely, if slightly sentimental, Umrao Jaan is probably her most well-known song for good reason. It merges classical Indian music into a vague pop structure and uses her pure-as-rain voice to stitch it together.
  
• Kishore Kumar, "Pal Bhar Ke Liye": Westerners might recognise this one from the Simpsons episode 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore,' but it's originally from a sprawling film called Johny Mera Naam. The singer, Kishore Kumar, is my favourite male playback singer and this song demonstrates why. It has a slight Latin feel, and Kishore uses his powerful voice with commendable subtlety (unlike the bloke at about 4:42, whose idea of singing seems to be "scream every word as loud as humanly possible," but I digress).


• Ilaiyaraaja, "Kattu Kuyilu": Better known as M.I.A.'s "Bamboo Banga." Tamil film music is known for having a heavier bass sound than the music from the north, due to the timbre of the area's drums. This, of course, is what made Kala's melding of electronic programming and southern Indian percussion such a natural fit. I couldn't find any videos of "Kattu Kuyilu" on YouTube, so visit this post at Palms Out Sounds to download the track, along with other songs M.I.A. has sampled.

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E.K. Wimmer - What Was Once Veduta Is Now Found

E.K. Wimmer is an electronic/soundtrack musician from Denver, Colorado. His work in film scores and in album releases, under the name Veduta, continued from 1999 to 2007; see Wimmer's discography for a full listing of his projects. What Was Once Veduta is Now Found (the first LP to be released under his own name) was recorded over three years and released in October, 2008, all instrumentation, songwriting, and production done by Wimmer himself.

Apart from music, it is also important to note that E.K. Wimmer is a multimedia artist. His Black & White Abstractions paintings in particular grabbed my attention: shown at right is Trenchfoot. Pieces such as this are evocative of his style of musicianship; a subtle meshing of elements, a scene frozen and distilled.

What Was Once Veduta... is cohesive throughout, with songs ranging from the radio single-ready and sentimental ("The Closer We Get", "These Days", and "Intercession") to the more ambient ("Red Facade") and mellow ("The Smallest Page" and "Simply Call My Name"). There is a melancholy, and at times gothic-tinged, undercurrent present throughout, and most apparent on "Distortion Song" and my personal favourite "If It Was", with its haunting melody and Depeche Mode-evocative structure. The layering of sound is combined beautifully ("Things Have Been Strange" and "Someday") with Wimmer's bittersweet vocals, and the closer "Your Eyes" ties the album up with a speedier tempo, crashing to an end. An album for introspection, a soundtrack to your morning drive...or future film! Highly recommended.

E.K. Wimmer is at work on a follow-up to What Was Once Veduta... and plans to release the debut album from his post-punk/glamg roup, with his wife Maria Rose, Maps & Mapping.

Listen to What Was Once Veduta Is Now Found on Last.fm!
Planet Wimmer, Official Website | On MySpace Music | His Blog: How to Impress a Hipster

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Coconut Records-Davy

So do you know how it is, when you just seem to notice something being promoted beyond belief, almost to the point were it seems like subliminal messaging? Well that is how it was for me when Coconut Records started to push their new album or shall I say when Jason Schwartzman started to push his new solo album, “Davy”. If you don’t know Schwartzman, he is already famous from his drumming in Phantom Planet a California based pop group, and also famous for being the star of many films most notable are the ones directed by Wes Anderson.

Now I am sure you are thinking Schwartzman’s tunes must be over produced and over hyped because of his prior fame, wrong. I didn’t know that he was the face behind Coconut Records for a while, although I had been hearing the name tossed around in my local scene and on the net. However I just so recently decided to grab up his new and old album from means that aren’t important at this time.

Let’s just say I am a big fan of pop music, and Schwartzman really does a good job of taking his lo-fi singer songwriter feel and transcending it into pop genius. All the usual pop hooks are included, songs of heartbreak with a catchy chorus and nice piano melodies, the regular jazz. There is really more to Schwartzman then meets the eye though, even though at times he seems goofy, he music seems to pluck at the heart strings and is awful easy to relate to.

“Davy” opens up with the stereotypical single for the album called Microphone, I am not particularly fond of this track but every other track is awesome. Really though don’t take my use of awesome lightly, it’s pop at it’s finest. You will find yourself humming these tracks under your breathe. My favorites are Any Fun, Wandering Around, and The Summer. I am pretty positive Schwartzman does all the vocals on this as well chants, harmonies, leads all that good stuff. Really though give “Davy”, a chance even if it is over hyped. It may not surpass his first release but the man has aged since 2007 and has produced a totally different album. Coconut Records Davy is a nice highlight early in 2009.

Check it Out
http://www.youngbabyrecords.com/
and
http://www.myspace.com/coconutrecords

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Shoegaze - From the Beginning and Beyond

Shoegaze, the term coined because of associated band members' tendencies to, well, gaze down at their effects pedals on the floor, is the sort of music where dream-pop meets noise-rock. (Pictured at left is one of the the most beloved shoegaze albums, My Bloody Valentine's 1991 Loveless)

Let's go back for a moment...

Influences on Shoegaze:

• Wall-of-Sound: Phil Spector's famed production technique, also put to use by the Beach Boys, and later various punk groups in the 70's, was incredibly influential in the recording techniques of early shoegazers, namely the multi-layered instrumentation and buried vocals.
  
• The Velvet Underground: Their proto-punk sensibility, their cool, their...sunglasses.
  
• Brian Eno: Pioneer in ambient and experimental art rock music, 1974 album Here Come the Warm Jets is awash with a warm, fuzzy sound, the most astounding pre-shoegaze examples being "Needle in the Camel's Eye" and "Blank Frank".
• Suicide: The entirety of Suicide's debut album in 1977 is not only a testament to their influence on shoegaze (namely Spacemen 3 / Spiritualized) but a precursor to the synth-pop that would dominate the 80's.
  
• Post-Punk: The list is long, but a couple of prime examples are The Chameleons (Script of the Bridge (1983) and What Does Anything Mean? Basically (1985) are key recordings) and The Cure (much of their 80's output, and especially Disintegration, 1989), though it is the dark, minimalistic, and edgy vibe so often present in a variety of other post-punk groups that lent itself so well to this genre.
  
• Noise Rock: Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. Feedback, distortion...need I say more?
  
• Early Dream-Pop: Cocteau Twins (1984 release Treasure, and 1990's Heaven or Las Vegas), Kitchens of Distinction, and Strawberry Switchblade are my favourite picks for the lovely, atmospheric dream-pop sound; early dream pop is specified here, because many later artists of the shoegaze genre have also been linked with this sound.

First Wave:

• The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy (1985) is the album most frequently credited with responsibility for shoegaze as a movement. Single "Just Like Honey" certainly sounds ahead of its time, and other highlights include the feedback-ridden "Taste the Floor", "Never Understand", and "It's So Hard". (pictured, right)
  
• Spacemen 3: Often categorized as trippy space-rock and psychedelia, and very influenced by the Velvet Underground and Suicide; recordings favored by fans include The Perfect Prescription (1987) and Playing With Fire (1989). Members Pete Kember (Sonic Boom) and Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman) went onto record music independently, with J. Spaceman's group Spiritualized in particular (Lazer Guided Melodies, 1992) becoming connected with shoegaze and dream-pop.
  
• Galaxie 500: Often underrated and less noise-oriented, the three albums they released in their existence are worth picking up if dreamy slowcore is your thing: Today (1988), On Fire (1989), and This is Our Music (1990)
  

Shoegaze in High Gear: (see also Shoegaze Top Albums Chart at Rate Your Music for more)

• My Bloody Valentine: This is the shoegaze group. Isn't Anything (1988) is just as worthwhile as Loveless, even if the general consensus is that itis not as epic or realized a project, and contains more punky, noise-rock elements than its successor: highlights are "Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside)", "Lose My Breath", and "When You Wake (You're Still in a Dream)". Loveless itself verges on musical perfection from start to finish, seemingly revealing something new with each listen.
  
• Ride: Known, with disappointing frequency, as the "other" shoegaze group, with the "2nd-best" shoegaze album, Nowhere (1990, pictured at left), Ride hold their own with perhaps the most clear, alt. pop-oriented expression of the shoegaze vision.
  
• Lush: My introduction to shoegaze was Ciao! 1989-1996, a compilation of Lush's output from that time period; "Sweetness and Light" provides a brilliant capture of their pretty, jangly sound.
  
• Slowdive: 1993's Souvlaki has the dreamiest, most drifting atmosphere of the 1990's shoegaze releases. Brian Eno contributes to two tracks, "Sing" and "Here She Comes", and the bonus version includes some tracks not to be missed, including a cover of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood's "Some Velvet Morning".
  

"Nu-"gaze?
Though not exactly the most commercial style in the first place, it was not long before early 90's britpop and grunge came along carted shoegaze off into relative oblivion...until a new-found revival in the 2000's. Some notable bands associated with this new-shoegaze (an excellent article about this is over at the guardian) genre include: Asobi Seksu, Crystal Stilts, Deerhunter, M83, No Age, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, A Place to Bury Strangers, and The Raveonettes.

Who are your shoegaze favourites? Comments are much-appreciated!

"Sweetness and Light" - Lush

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New Last.fm Tag Station for 'a future in noise'

For you Last.fm users, Marilyn has created a new tag station called ‘a future in noise,’ where you can stream the music of artists we’ve covered here on the blog. I’ve gone in and added a few as well, and Cristiano may do so well. As a rule of thumb, most artists we’ve discussed at length (or plan to) are included. Enjoy!

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The Spinto Band, Small Town Heroes

Upon strolling into a state like Delaware the last thing on ones mind is probably the thought of how cool the local indie pop bands are. However in the case of Wilmington, Delaware that is the only thought that should be residing in your head. Local pop sensations “The Spinto Band” have been creating mesmerizing radio friendly songs since 1996 and have done nothing short of entertain.

I first heard about these guys when my brother’s old band “Asleep in the Sea” did a coast-to-coast tour and they just so happened to play with the Spinto boys. Being the young music jockey I was, I quickly searched around for any Spinto tracks I could get my hands on. Of course it wasn’t to long until I got my hands on a copy of their first LP “Nice and Nicely Done.” Which is jammed full of catchy tunes from movie soundtrack worthy Brown Boxes to a love song fit for a wedding in Oh Mandy. Naturally this album was and is still being spun wildly over and over and is truly an inspiration to any aspiring pop artist or indie rock head out there.

These days though Spinto have moved onto their sophomore release in “Moonwink”, and lets just say it’s not catchy right off the bat. On the other hand this album grows on you, with every listen you like it more and more and more and maybe even a tad bit more. The highlights of the album would have to be Vivian, Don’t, Summer Grof, Needlepoint, and Pumkin’s And Paisley.

Other highlights in Spinto’s career thus far are they played youtube live, some festivals, and have received quite a bit of success in the UK. I would strongly suggest checking them out and seriously grabbing a copy of one of their albums.

check them out here

http://www.spintoband.com
http://www.myspace.com/thespintoband

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Tonight: Franz Ferdinand...in Review!

This one had to leak. While I will be purchasing a gratuitously furnished deluxe version soon, I couldn't help but listen. Their sophomore album You Could Have it So Much Better, which received mixed reviews and fan reception, was released back in October 2005. What Franz Ferdinand fan hasn't been eagerly awaiting album number 3?

Speaking of mixed reception, "Ulysses" kicks off Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. I personally liked this from the instant the song slipped into my ears. It has the Franz feel about it, the arty swagger, the suitability for dance...but, what's this, heavy electronics?! The synth is significantly more noticeable here than in their previous works, and proves an integral component in an album with a 'nightlife' concept.

"Turn It On" sounds like the handsomer, better-dressed brother of "The Dark of the Matinee", while "No You Girls" and "What She Came For" are wonderful displays of how their tight instrumental punches and sing-along choruses are part of what makes them such a fun, essentially likable group...with the bonuses of Alex Kapranos sounding sexier than ever and the band being in top form.

"Twilight Omens" has themes of a dilemma over a crush, and the trademark Franz round-about wordplay with: "I typed your number / Into my calculator where it spelled a dirty word / When you turned it upside down / You can turn my dirty word the right way round". Aside from the electro-vibes that abound on Tonight, another influence cited has been Jamaican dub (see Daily Record), which can be heard particularly well in the island-flavoured "Send Him Away". "Live Alone" could share the dancefloor with the likes of Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem, it is that glossy and peppered with blips-and-blops.

"Bite Hard" sounds like an unreleased cut left off of You Could Have It So Much Better, in that it jabs at you with full force...then, it's gone! Things get to sounding very, very retro-chic with "Can't Stop Feeling", complete with sudden fade-in, vocal echoes, incessant bass line, and drums that demand new form of line dance to compliment them. The album version of "Lucid Dreams" is a very different beast from the single version I first remember hearing, nearly 8 minutes long and serving as the gem of the album, multi-layered and darkly cool, exploding into synthetic fuzz around its second half; incredibly different from what one might expect from Franz Ferdinand.

As much as I've enjoyed the material on this album, there is a sudden unevenness about it when "Dream Again" appears. While it might have been better tucked in earlier on, as it is the first slow song on the album (though the 2nd-to-last track!), it is still a lovely, haunting little melody. "Katherine Kiss Me" is entirely acoustic, with guitar, piano, and vocals alone, and a suitably restful closer to such a glittering, exciting album as Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.

Franz Ferdinand - Official Website | Franz Ferdinand on MySpace Music

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Burnt Fur - Unfurl

Music that sounds like a collision of the best of new wave, post-punk, and electronica, with a dash of modern sensibility- there you have Burnt Fur, a four-piece band from Boston, Massachusetts, comprised of members Scott Harrison (vocals/guitar/bass/drum pads/synth), Patrik Tirda (synth/samples/drum pads), and Ian St. Germain and Jean Kennedy on drum pads/bass.

Unfurl is the debut album they released in February of 2008. The title track, also a single, features introspective lines like "Moving beyond shape, removal with velocity / I unfurl like I'm living ahead of time" and "They say we don't change / We become more of who we really are" set to gliding, upbeat electronics. "Redux" and "Initials in the Tree" rev up the danceability factor and reveal the darker side of the band, while "Warm All Day" and "D.S.T." venture into shoegaze territory. "Vitriol" and "Radiate" were released as singles prior to the release of Unfurl, and serve as fine examples of how radio playability and catchiness don't require compromising style. "Pixelated Black" is my personal pick for this album's highlight, with incessant drum-beats, perfect splashes of synth, and robotic vocal flanging. The album ends with "Homage", taking back in the soft, bittersweet aura of the first track, and bringing the album, everything full-circle, to a close.

What sets Burnt Fur apart from many of the so-called "new wave revival" or "electronic revival" acts of today is that this is not a carbon copy of the dark dance-hall music of the past; it is respectful of it and offers an expansion and new interpretation of such a sound. This is also one of few albums I have gotten in recent times that actually includes lyrics in the insert, proving Burnt Fur not just to be something to dance to, but also a band for thoughtful consideration. They are currently working on their follow-up album, which I very much look forward to hearing.

Listen to Unfurl on Last.fm | Burnt Fur on MySpace Music | Official Website | Store

Note: I'd like to add that Burnt Fur also covered one of my favourite New Order songs, "Ultraviolence" on their "Vitriol" single: listen here!

BURNT FUR - Pixelated Black - Live @ UMASS, 09.13.08

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Daniel Ouellette - Kaiju Carnival EP

Daniel Ouellette is an electronic solo artist from Massachusetts. He released 2003-2008 compilation Monsterland- The Revenge of Daniel last spring via his own label Meanie Jeannie, and the Kaiju Carnival EP (pictured at left) in October on the New Shiner label, co-produced by Scott Harrison (Burnt Fur).

The colorful and quirky cover of the crane reaching for the dinosaur toy prize seems oddly representative of the music inside, which is experimental, fun, and a little bit mysterious. From track to track, the genres blend and shift; from the electroclash-ified opener about non-conformity "She Went to a Moustache Party" through the grinding industrial end in "Euoplocephalus", would you believe you would also meet drifting new age psychedelia along the way? "LUST" guides the listener along with synth strings and Ouellette's deep-toned lyrics of desire, ending with a confession of "But I just don't love you" and a sputtering of sound. Bringing back the dancability present on track #1, "Stigmata and Cookies" reflects on the thirst for material possessions, "I want a television with a giant screen / And a plate of cookies...". "A Cup of Tea for the Dalai Lama" has a worldly, even spiritual charm, chugging away with Ouellette's echoed vocals and crimes whisping in, and providing a counterpoint to the angular electronics found elsewhere on Kaiju Carnival EP.

It is not surprising that Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Laurie Anderson are amongst his influences, all artists affiliated with the experimental and avant-garde, though there are few such enterprising new artists in the 2000s, making it an interesting prospect to see what new territory Ouellette explores in his curious brand of music in the future.

Listen to Kaiju Carnival EP on Last.fm | Daniel Ouellette on MySpace Music | On CD Baby | Official Website

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Happy Birthday, David Bowie! / Elvis Presley!

Today is the 62nd birthday of David Bowie (b. 1/8/1947). Bowie has proved massively influential through his music (his epic 70's 'Berlin Trilogy', albums Low, Heroes, and, my most beloved Bowie album: Lodger, pictured at left), through his work producing albums by other artists including Lou Reed, Iggy and the Stooges, and Mott the Hoople, and, of course, his ever-changing fashion! His most recent work has been appearing on Scarlett Johansson's album of Tom Waits covers Anywhere I Lay My Head and iSelect, a career-spaning compilation of Bowie's music featuring favourite tracks he personally selected, both released in 2008.

Watch "DJ" - David Bowie:


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January 8th marks the birthday of another hugely revolutionary artist: Elvis Presley (b. 1/8/1935 - d. 8/16/1977), who would have been 74 if he were alive today. One of the most iconic musicians, the very "King of Rock n' Roll" himself, released pioneering recordings in early rock music and became an inspiration to countless rock stars, like The Beatles and Bob Dylan, to the groups of the late 70's rockabilly revival like The Cramps and The Stray Cats, and onward. Though there is not much I can say about this man that hasn't been said, Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits and 2nd to None are excellent places to begin. His debut Elvis Presley LP from 1956 is surprisingly well-known to people in my age group...often because of The Clash's appropriation of the font and style for London Calling in 1979!

Watch "That's Alright Mama" - Elvis Presley

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Youth and Music Journalism

A new article I wrote about an important topic, Youth and Music Journalism, was recently published at Dorq, a collaborative project featuring "Digital Opinions, Reviews and Questions" from their contributors, now including...yours truly! They have articles from various authors on a variety of subjects, and this is quality material:

Read Marilyn Roxie's Youth and Music Journalism article at Dorq!

This is a subject that is dear to my heart, as it allows for a love of music and writing to be combined! I'd like to add that it was primarily through reading some great music blogs and exploring the journals and posts at websites like Last.fm and MOG that gave me the push I needed to give this A Future in Noise music blog a go. I am always happy for the comments and feedback I receive, as well as some very talented musicians and fellow bloggers I have connected up with through all this. Thank you! :)

A couple of related links...
Allmusic: Huge repository of professional music reviews and information on virtually everything album-related, making it an excellent destination for research. Also, the Allmusic Blog is a worthwhile read.
Rock's Backpages: "13,000 articles, interviews and reviews from the world's best music writers and critics, from the late 1950s to the present day."

A couple of related reads...
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - Robert Dimery: Well-written, info-packed reviews on each of these specially selected "must-hear" albums. I've heard 56% of them, and I plan to get 'em all heard eventually!
NME Originals: Special-edition issues bringing together articles and photos from the archives and new material, focusing on artists (like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Nirvana) or music movements (Madchester, Goth, Glam, Mod, Britpop, etc.), and are put together incredibly well and absolutely do justice to the subjects they feature.

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In 2009: Happenings and Predictions

*Wishing a Very Happy New Year to all the readers of A Future in Noise!*
In 2009...

• Look forward to new releases from a bevy of known artists (a few on my wish-list: Hush - Asobi Seksu, Davy - Coconut Records, The Fountain - Echo & the Bunnymen, Tonight... - Franz Ferdinand [see video for "Ulysses" below the text], Changing Horses - Ben Kweller, Years of Refusal - Morrissey, No Line on the Horizon - U2, Family Cooking - YMCK), and, of course, there's the unlimited potential of material from obscure and entirely new artists. 2008 brought enjoyable LPs from plenty of newcomers, from thenewno2 to Crystal Castles, and from more 'underground', though established, acts The Fall and The Legendary Pink Dots. Lets hope 2009 brings more great music, eh?
  
• Websites like Last.fm and MySpace Music will continue to soar in popularity. Expect an increased comradery between independent musicians working to promote their music and, in turn, the music of their peers.
  
• Blur's reunion !!!
  
• The RIAA *might* come to some sort of logical conclusion about how to deal with music uploaders. Just maybe.
• Music becomes DRM-free univerally in all on-line stores. Might be a slim chance, but one can dream...
• The fate of slotMusic will be decided. They are currently much more of a novelty than an definitive new medium to purchase music. However, it is the very fun of the card and its multi-platform capabilities that could very well cause slotMusic to gain ground; they just need more big names and exclusive content.
  
• The release of long-vaulted Beatles track Carnival of Light.
  
• A Future in Noise will continue to bring you the most fantasmic music-related news, lists, and special features. Naturally! :)
  

Watch "Ulysses" - Franz Ferdinand, officially released as a single on 1/26:

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