REVIEW: Nurses-Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down

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Nurses are just plain cool, ya know? Bands these days try so hard to look cool, to seem "deep," to set and follow trends. What they fail to realize however, is you cannot force or fake being awesome. You are just born with it. Nurses "get" this and take full advantage of their amazing ability to be rad. From the brilliantly unforgettable layout and artwork of Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down all the way to the tiny plastic magnifying glass included to read the tiny lyrics. This band oozes magnificence.

And the music? Well, despite all the accolades we've heaped upon the band already, the music is still by far the most impressive piece of the puzzle. The California gents (Via Ohio) are one of the most eclectic art rock cogs you will ever discover. They can screech and croon with the best of The Blood Brothers just as easily as they can ape Freddie Mercury of Queen fame. They can pull off the sing-spoke angular rock just like mewithoutyou or Mellowdrone or even These Arms Are Snakes. Heck, we might as well throw in Q And Not U, Portugal the Man, and Vaux cause they all fit. If tracks such as "Wait for a Sign" or "And Now The Curse Of Marjorie" don't instantly stick in your brain, (in the best kinda way,) music may not be your strong suit.

Being awesome never sounded so cool.

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Beirut Announce New Album. World Rejoices!!

One of the largest surprise hits of 2006 was Beirut's Gulag Orkestar, which received widespread acclaim for its innovative combination of Balkan and pop melodies. Even more surprising was that it was the work of one 19-year-old kid, Zach Condon, and done almost completely in his bedroom. Now, two years later, Condon has just completed six months of work on his follow up record, which evokes the forgotten charms of older approaches to pop music.

The new record (yet to be titled) will be released on October 9th on Ba Da Bing!, and features a notable shift in sound from Gulag. With song titles like "Nantes" and "Cherbourg," the record is more a love letter to French culture. Featuring thirteen tracks in all, this new album continues on the trajectory that began with the Lon Gisland EP, where the entire eight member band plays along on the recordings. Besides the eight member orkestar and guests, Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy adds lush string arrangements to the songs, as well as guest vocals on a track entitled "Cliquot."

Beirut will be playing a limited number of North American shows this fall in theatrical venues. Colleen, whose new album Les Ondes Silencieuse is out this month on The Leaf Label, will open.

Tour dates:

September 23rd - Princeton, NJ - Terrace F Club

September 24th – New York, NY - Worldess Music Series @ Society for Ethical Culture

September 26th - New York, NY - Delacorte Theater

September 30th – Montreal, QU – La Salla Rosa

October 2nd - Toronto, ONT - Danforth Music Hall

October 4th – Chicago, IL Portage Theater

October 8th – San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater

October 9th – San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theater

October 10th – Los Angeles, CA - Avalon

Tracklisting:

0. A Call To Arms

1. Nantes

2. A Sunday Smile

3. Guyamas Sonora

4. La Banlieu

5. Cliquot

6. The Penalty

7. Forks and Knives(La Fête)

8. In The Mausoleum

9. Un Dernier Verre (Pour la Route)

10. Cherbourg

11. St. Apollonia

12. The Flying Club Cup

REVIEW: Bowerbirds-Hymns For A Dark Horse

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Bowerbirds are Phil Moore and Beth Tacular, two folky, artsy types who hail from North Carolina, just a hop, skip, and a jump from where I reside. It's quite refreshing to know that your neck of the woods is quite capable of producing beautiful, original, and still very humble music, instead of it always coming from some far off land you will never see.

The Bowerbirds are more than just beautiful, though. They have managed to create a soundscape that you can instantly picture in your mind's eye. It's the soundtrack to that seaside journey or rural country trip you always want to go on. It's the musical equivalent to a gorgeous place you long to go to or never want to forget. It's a very slow-paced and chill album, so don't expect to get your socks rocked, but that doesn't mean it won't blow you away. They weave the wannabe foreign-ness of Beirut with the winter strum-ability of The Mountain Goats. Hints of Swan Lake, Ticonderoga (which makes sense seeing how Mark Paulson produced the album,) and The Rosebuds are also present over the course of Hymns For A Dark Horses' leafy mixture of guitars, accordions, and violins. After hearing this album for the first time, you could have knocked me over with a feather. You might feel the same.


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Woven Post New Tracks

LA's Woven, has posted 2 new tracks from their (long-overdue) sophomore album, Time Out Of Place. There is still no status as to when the album might see a release or what label will be putting it out. We only hope it's very soon.

If you have yet to listen to Woven, they are an amazing blend of Radiohead, Massive Attack, Lake Trout, and Codeseven. Their last album, 2003's 8-Bit Monk( Interscope), it worth investigating.

The Bronze Episode Post New Tracks

One of my favorite "under the radar" bands, The Bronze Episode have just posted 2 new tracks from their forthcoming, still untitled, EP. The band hopes the 5 track effort will see a release in late July or early August. You can hear the tracks at their Myspace page.

This band is quite amazing, and comparable to Paulson with violins. They are planning to begin recording another EP at the end of this month to complete a series and then hopefully release their first full length by the end of the year. Lord willing.

If you haven't yet, absolutely lend this band your ears.

REVIEW: The National-Boxer

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The National are a 5 piece, originally hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio. Now, transplanted to New York, the Americana/Gothic troupe have put together one of the years most accomplished albums in Boxer. Groomed efficiently on a healthy diet of Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Bruce Springsteen and The Smiths for good measure, there is a little something for every music lover, and especially those tired of the norm, on this effort. The opening track, "Fake Empire", is utterly gripping, with it's somber piano tones, and the album rarely let's up after that. If you are looking for something real, and all-encompassing, you really need to look no further.



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Page France is a Must Hear.

If you are jonesin' for some great indie-folk in the mold of Neutral Milk Hotel, Okkervil River, or The Mountain Goats, we highly recommend Maryland's Page France, they are signed to Suicide Squeeze Records. Their new album, The Family Telephone, is light hearted, catchy, and utterly endearing.

We think you might like them!

The 5 Stranded On A Desert Island Albums

Dredg-Leitmotif: Does this one really need an explanation? It's a giant, landscape of art-rock that seems like this generations answer to Pink Floyd. I still hold El Cielo very close to my heart, but as far as indispensable albums go, this is it.







Clann Zu-Black Coats and Bandages: A lot of fans of the Clann favor Rua, but as much as I love it, it doesn't hold a candle to Black Coats. Between De Clann's voice, subtle violins and pianos, and the perfect Irish flavor, there may not ever be 5 albums that top this one to me.







Tool-Aenima: Chalk this one up to my youth, but as a 16 year old, this album seemed like a total eye opener (no pun intended.) Now, 11 years later, the pretension and pompousness can be over the top, but nostalgia wins out and the album feels flawless, from start to finish.






Failure- Fantastic Planet: This is Ken Andrew's brilliance at it's finest. Overlooked in 1996 when it was released, it has found a cult like status in the 11 years since. Ken was a wizard behind the controls, and this album mixes perfectly sonic mastery with catchy, spacey vocals. Nothing he has done since has matched the prowess of this album, and I hope every day they will reunite.






Placebo-Without You I'm Nothing: I don't have much to say except I know every single word on this album. I can listen to it every other day and it still gives me chill bumps. No matter what, this album will always be essential to me. Nearly every album they've recorded has been great, and usually criminally underrated. However, this one stands alone at the top.

Prepare Yourself For the New A Whisper In The Noise Album

A Whisper In the Noise have completed their 3rd full length album, titled Dry Land. Currently they are unsigned in the US, but will have distribution with Southern. Southern will be releasing and distributing the album in Europe. The tracklist is as follows:

1. As We Were
2. Awaken To Winter
3. A New Dawn
4. This Time It's
5. In Will
6. Sons
7. Armament
8. You The Orphan
9. Beauty's Grace
10. Go Now
11. True Love

It's pretty darn amazing. Look for it to be released in the US in late October.

Time For A New Beginning

Happily, this won't be the end of me. Look for much more from all of us in the coming weeks, and I'm just getting a start here. Today I will cheer you up with a few nice recommendations.


Dust And Blood
Quite an amazing 5-piece from Arizona, they feature the former frontman of The Drama, one of my very favorite bands that never got the chance to succeed. Dust and Blood are comparable to Placebo and Stabbing Westward. I really expect great things from these guys in the coming years.






















Eksperimentoj are a fabolous trio from Japan, in the shogazing, experimental, dreampop vein. Think Blonde Redhead, Placebo, and Dredg. This band should really catch on in the US.


Thats all for now, enjoy.