Nobunny - Love Visions
Artist: Nobunny
Album: Love Visions
Label: Bubbledump
I’ve been holding on this one, waiting to get my hands on the album, but I have as yet been able to find a copy. Sad face. From what I’ve heard so far, this is definitely worth the trouble of tracking down, so that will be my goal this week. Nobunny is a crazy dude who wears a bunny mask and makes songs that should have been played at every party I’ve ever hosted.
Nobunny – I Am a Girlfriend
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First of all, this is a damn catchy song. Second, he quotes Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. There.
Nobunny – Boneyard
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This sounds a little like The La’s, you know, if they were crazy fey punks from the West Coast.
Love it! And you should, too. Check out Nobunny’s myspace and do your best to find a place to buy this album.
Technorati Tags: The La’s, Nobunny, Silence of the Lambs
Filed under cute, from the archive, new album, party | Comments (3)Richard Swift - Ground Trouble Jaw
Artist: Richard Swift
Album: Ground Trouble Jaw
Label: Secretly Canadian
At first I thought these songs were comic; the falsetto singing, lo-fi production (including some real nutso synth sounds), and pastiche of older pop sounds all reminded me of novelty music, something along the lines of Billy Q. Effinger. After hanging with these songs for a while, though, I can say that the correct word isn’t really comic, but playful. Swift is at play, and it’s awesome. He has a crazy history of releases under a barrage of other names and side projects, and I think this album is trying, as best as it can, to incorporate his diverging impulses into an album that is unpredictable and yet coherent in its open play.
Richard Swift – “Would You?”
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This sounds like it should be on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack or behind an episode of The Wonder Years. The song is packed with sound: a pulsing piano beat, lightly glancing drums, soft backing vocals, Swift’s high voice, synth harp tones, and in the back humming and strumming and all sorts of pops, cracks, and slaps. Quite nice, and perfect for a romantic dinner with a goofy date.
Richard Swift – “The Bully”
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Uncut describes this song as “a schizophrenic face-off between his street-tough Onasis character and this new, falsetto Valli boy persona,” which I think is pretty convincing: the tough, shit-talking greaser quickly morphs into the falsetto-voiced Swift we hear in “Would You?” Silly perhaps, and definitely simple, this song nonetheless makes me smile and is slowly climbing my computer’s top-25-most-played list.
For more general info on Richard Swift, check our his official site or his myspace. Oh, and check out the label site for info on how to download the EP for free.
Technorati Tags: Richard Swift, Billy Q. Effinger, pastiche, falsetto, Dirty Dancing, The Wonder Years
Filed under cute, jangly, new album | Comment (0)California Oranges - Imperial Hearts
Artist: California Oranges
Album: Imperial Hearts
Label: Darla
California Oranges has that smooth pop sensibility that would have made them a hit in the years of Marshall Crenshaw and The La’s. Unfortunately, their polished guitar melodies and light vocals may work against them in the current music scene, in which a certain roughness—a memorable voice, a strange instrument, a rough production, or an exaggerated tweeness—is often a selling point. During the first few listens, I found the album divided between these very strong powerpop songs, which I have included below, and softer tracks more in line with The Innocence Mission and (maybe even) Sixpence None the Richer. With each listen, though, the album grows on me and becomes more coherent. Definitely worth a listen if you remember those early-90s pop bands fondly or love bands like Nada Surf and The New Pornographers.
California Oranges – “Brand New Spine”
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(Warning: there is a strange interference buzz at 1:40. It came that way. Don’t be scared.)
Sharp percussion, simple and strong guitar chords, and upbeat vocals make this a really good summer song.
California Oranges – “Travel Writer”
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I’m trying to put my finger on something, but I can’t find the band or song. Something about this song (the chorus specifically) reminds me of 2005 while I was DJing in Athens. Help, anyone? It makes me happy, whatever is triggering my déjà vu.
Right now the album is only available through download, but there will be a limited CD pressing through the band’s label in mid August. Check out the band’s myspace page for more songs. Oh, and buy the album.
Filed under cute, easy pop, new album, summer | Comment (1)Los Campesinos - Hold on Now, Youngster
Artist: Los Campesinos
Album: Hold on Now, Youngster
Label: Arts & Crafts
I know, I’m kind of late on this one, too. I have a reason, though: this album took a while to grow on me. I know I know, that’s usually album-review talk for “it sucks,” but I’m serious. When I first listened to the two major singles from this album, “You! Me! Dancing!” and “My Year in Lists,” there were only a few clips I really jammed with. Then, as I listened, those enjoyable moments began to grow. Now I basically like everything. True, the vocals are a little too much, but the energy is uplifting, and the melodies themselves are quite good.
Los Campesinos - “This Is How You Spell “Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics”
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I’m usually dubious of lengthy, silly titles, but the melody is quite catchy. You can just feel the guitar chords are about to shift in a great direction, but they are held long enough to create satisfying anticipation. Again, the vocals are a bit cutesy, but I get lost in all the instruments, which seem to work well with one another.
I’m not going to include a second song on this post. Instead, go check out the videos for “Me! You! Dancing!” and “My Year in Lists.” Also, check out the band’s cute site and buy the album.
Filed under cute, new album, party | Comment (0)