Sweden's reclusive kings of electro-shoegaze (it's an esoteric kingdom) the Radio Dept. released the an EP of new material called David-EP in anticipation of Clinging to a Scheme which will be out on the 21st of this month. It listens like a lot of their more recent works, polished and relaxing, but has a bit more feel to it.
"David" kicks off the EP in true Radio Dept. form, with subtle and smooth synthetic strings and melody that you can enjoy, but doesn't stay with you for the entire month, followed by "Messy Enough" another typical Radio Dept. track, but now with an infectious beat. As with any indie EP, there is the required remix. The Rice Twins do a beat heavy, minimalist cover of "David," that isn't half bad, but hey, it's a remix. "The Idle Urban Contemporaries" finishes off the the under 15 minute EP. An instrumental track, "Contemporaries" could make for a great radio bed.
I enjoyed this contribution to the Radio Dept. catalogue, more-so than I have with their previous works. I'm not sure if it has to do with the content, it's all pretty standard for this band, or if it's the length. While their songs are great, interesting and layered, their whole alums have a tendency to get exhausting or boring. Maybe they need to stick to the EP format. Or maybe they could just not record anything for a while and finally tour in the states.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Another week where I don't want to do a full review.
So instead I'm going to do a list!
5 Albums I'll never get sick of.
Desaparecidos- Read Music Speak Spanish
I've loved this album since I was a freshman in highschool, so it's a pretty safe bet for the list. Even in spite of my Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes hatred I still can dig it. The guitars fuzz and the lyrics helped me see things the way I do now. My kind of album.
Saul Williams- Saul Williams
Ever hear something and it demands you? That's this album for me. It's thoughtful and driven, and it makes me furious at myself for being the man. Also, Hives cover =Awesome.
Gang of Four- Entertainment!
Awesome funk punk album. It's so unfortunate that all those little "punk kids" are jamming on the Ramones and Sex Pistols when Gang of Four did it better than they could have ever dreamed of (with a little Talking Heads swagger).
Minus the Bear- Menos El Oso
Silly, silly math rock. Some of the wildest, precise jams. Worth of a listen if you're in the frame of mind.
My Morning Jacket- Z
The most recent addition to the list, still amazing. For so long I shied away from this band (Because a "morning jacket" is a bathrobe), but it finally got to me. Great driving/biking music.
5 Albums I'll never get sick of.
Desaparecidos- Read Music Speak Spanish
I've loved this album since I was a freshman in highschool, so it's a pretty safe bet for the list. Even in spite of my Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes hatred I still can dig it. The guitars fuzz and the lyrics helped me see things the way I do now. My kind of album.
Saul Williams- Saul Williams
Ever hear something and it demands you? That's this album for me. It's thoughtful and driven, and it makes me furious at myself for being the man. Also, Hives cover =Awesome.
Gang of Four- Entertainment!
Awesome funk punk album. It's so unfortunate that all those little "punk kids" are jamming on the Ramones and Sex Pistols when Gang of Four did it better than they could have ever dreamed of (with a little Talking Heads swagger).
Minus the Bear- Menos El Oso
Silly, silly math rock. Some of the wildest, precise jams. Worth of a listen if you're in the frame of mind.
My Morning Jacket- Z
The most recent addition to the list, still amazing. For so long I shied away from this band (Because a "morning jacket" is a bathrobe), but it finally got to me. Great driving/biking music.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Harvey Danger- Little by Little. Release Date- September 13, 2005 (Phonographic)
K-K-K-Kick it! Back to 2005.
Harvey Danger are unfortunately best known for a clever, but now dated song called "Flagpole Sitta." The fact of the matter is that while most people only know this band for one song, they have a distinct catalogue, the best of which is their last album, Little by Little.
Most of their previous works had been polished guitar rock tracks, but Little by Little displays Jeff Lin's emotional piano work. "Wine, Women and Song" and "War Buddies" play with the contrast between a serious tone and playful lyrics and vice versa. "Cream and Bastards Rise" seems to be the only track that sounds like Harvey Danger of the past, which fades into "Moral Centralia," a great example of their more recent piano pop sound. "Little Round Mirrors" is audibly Neil Diamond inspired (in a good way), and with "Happiness Writes White" Sean Nelson is able to show off his witty lyrics and astonishing vocals. Starting out the back half of the album "Incommunicado" and "Cool James" give a breath of much needed silliness. "What You Live By" reshapes an old cliche and forms it to be more thoughtful than it was before. The album finishes on "Demising Returns," which has a bit of unfinished feel to it, much like the end of Harvey Danger that came last year.
I've never been much of a lyrics listener, but Sean Nelson's voice demands your attention, and his words always deliver. Too many people have never heard this album, and I hope more do, so that they can fall in love with it the way I did.
Harvey Danger are unfortunately best known for a clever, but now dated song called "Flagpole Sitta." The fact of the matter is that while most people only know this band for one song, they have a distinct catalogue, the best of which is their last album, Little by Little.
Most of their previous works had been polished guitar rock tracks, but Little by Little displays Jeff Lin's emotional piano work. "Wine, Women and Song" and "War Buddies" play with the contrast between a serious tone and playful lyrics and vice versa. "Cream and Bastards Rise" seems to be the only track that sounds like Harvey Danger of the past, which fades into "Moral Centralia," a great example of their more recent piano pop sound. "Little Round Mirrors" is audibly Neil Diamond inspired (in a good way), and with "Happiness Writes White" Sean Nelson is able to show off his witty lyrics and astonishing vocals. Starting out the back half of the album "Incommunicado" and "Cool James" give a breath of much needed silliness. "What You Live By" reshapes an old cliche and forms it to be more thoughtful than it was before. The album finishes on "Demising Returns," which has a bit of unfinished feel to it, much like the end of Harvey Danger that came last year.
I've never been much of a lyrics listener, but Sean Nelson's voice demands your attention, and his words always deliver. Too many people have never heard this album, and I hope more do, so that they can fall in love with it the way I did.
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