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Basement Jaxx- Kish Kash
(Astralwerks)
With the fall of electroclash and the slow demise of the giant discos of the 90's,
music made for dancing
looked as if it was becoming an endangered species. The repetitive beats of house and
techno were losing their edge and beginning to sound too sterile and souless in a
world where "rock music is back" (not that it ever really left, but I digress). |
| However, that doesn't mean the kids don't want to dance.
Bands like the Rapture, !!!, and
Radio 4 have been
mixing electronic beats with electric guitars and proving that the dancefloor is no
deserted island. So the time may be right for Basement Jaxx to explode.
Their latest record Kish Kash, slams the techno butts of most of their former contemporaries who haven't yet
found the exit door to the Ministry of Sound. By not relying solely on samples and mixing boards,
the Jaxx (Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) never pigeonholed themselves and thus survived
the late 90's club scene. "Good Luck"
(with vocals by the BellRays' Lisa Kekaula) is a stirring soul-filled anthem complete with
handclaps and a string section. Me'shell Ndegéocello wails on "Right Here's the Spot",
our pick for "Next Big Dance Song". Other guests include hot young rapper
Dizzee Rascal on the fierce first single "Lucky Star", Siouxsie Sioux
on "Cish Cash", and JC Chasez on "Plug it In", a track so Prince-like it sounds as if it was recorded
in the same session as "Alphabet St.". And anyone who can make a former N'Sync star sound
that cool deserves major props.
(S. Appel)
website: BasementJaxx.co.uk |
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Rapture- Echoes
(Universal/ DFA)
Ever since the killer success of their dancefloor anthem "House of Jealous Lovers", fans
have been impatiently awaiting the arrival of The Rapture's new record, whose release dates
have been scheduled and rescheduled a half dozen times over the past year. In the meantime,
the band has been touring their butts off, selling out shows on the
basis of their trademark brand of funked-up-house-disco-music-meets-post-punk-rock. |
|
Now, Echoes is finally here and believe it or not, one of the first things I noticed
is how the structure of the album starts off slow, then peaks, and comes back down, kind of
like an aerobics class, of all things. The warm-up begins with Luke Jenner's
screechingly pain-filled vocals on "Olio" and "Heaven", two tracks that are definitely on the down-tempo tip
but with their soft electronic noise and keyboards, are a sign of things to come later in
the record. The cardio-activity really picks up four songs
in with "I Need Your Love". By the time "House of Jealous Lovers" (a song that
we've heard a million and a half times and still cannot get enough of) hits you, you're more
than ready to work up a sweat. "Jealous Lovers" is followed by the brilliantly
chaotic title track "Echoes". And just when you think you can't keep up the pace, the cool-
down begins with the slow groove of "Sister Savior" and ends in "Infatuation", a dizzying
psychedelic ballad of a song suitable for a post-workout stretch.
Jane Fonda may be the queen of aerobics, but she never did it with this much ingenuity.
(S. Appel)
website: TheRaptureMusic.com |
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IMA Robot- IMA Robot
(Virgin)
With angular guitars, spastic vocals, and crafty lyrics
courtesy of Alex Ebert, the debut LP from IMA Robot initially brings to mind early 80's synth pop and
punk a la Devo and Gary Numan. But then, listen further and there's more than a little
bit of Bowie/Bolan/Suede-style glam thrown in for good measure. |
| Just when you think the
album's completely focused on
anti-capitalism, anti-war, and anti-mainstream ("Song #1", "Here Come the Bombs"), Alex will
get all sentimental and romantic on your ass and sing about love and optimism and the joys
of just waking up everyday ("Alive", "Scream"). In the New Wave gem "Black Jettas", he compares the popular
Volkswagon model with ex-girlfriends ("Some are different, some are older
and their body-style is changed/ But my heart will still jump because to me, they look the same"). But it's this swinging back and forth that
makes the album such a great listen...it never gets boring and you won't be tempted to
skip over a single track. Plus, numbers like "Dynamite" will have you out of your
seat and pogoing with the best of 'em.
(S. Appel)
website: IMARobot.com |
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Junior Senior- D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat
(Crunchy Frog)
Beware: Junior Senior's "D-D-Don't Don't Stop the Beat"
may cause the listener to have an ear-to-ear grin plastered on his or her face for a solid 33 minutes.
But it is nearly impossible to not
smile because the Danish duo have single-handedly made the best
and most fun party album since Beck's "Midnite Vultures". |
| With tunes that range from B-52's-style freakouts like "White Trash"
to the 70's bubblegum-disco stylings of "Move Your Feet", it's hard to not feel the urge
to find the nearest dancefloor and break out some of your best moves. "Chicks and Dicks"
is a tongue-in-cheek take on the surf-guitar sound. In the super-infectious "Rhythm Bandits", Jesper and
Jeppe claim to "have a beat that will beat your beat" (which is pretty much true in this
case). If ever there was a musical equivalent of Pop Rocks, this is it: sugary-sweet goodness
but with a big caffeinated bite and extremely addictive. So we don't recommend you drinking
a Coke upon your first listen (because we all know what happened to Mikey, right?).
(S. Appel)
website: JuniorSenior.com |
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Kings of Leon- Youth and Young Manhood
(RCA)
The three brothers and one cousin that make up Kings of Leon may all be between the ages of 16 and 23, but it's
quite apparent that the lads have done their classic rock homework. Steeped in the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd
and Creedence Clearwater Revival, many music publications have been crediting them with bringing a taste of Southern
rock back to mainstream radio. |
| But hey, we've already got the New Rolling Stones (Jet), the New Led Zeppelin
(the Datsuns), and the New Buzzcocks (D4), we guess it only makes sense to have the New Allman Brothers to add to the playlist.
Not that there is anything wrong with that, of course. After all, I am a 70's rock-a-holic and a big fan of the Datsuns (plus Jet and the D4
have some good catchy tracks). With that said, Youth and Young Manhood should be taken for what it is and not
for what other so-called "music people" want it to be. And what it is a rockin' good record with some great twangy guitar jams
and sexy Southern-drawl vocals from young Caleb Followill that are way beyond his years. "Red Morning Light"
and "Molly's Chambers" will have your cowboy-booted toe tapping while "Happy Alone" will probably make most Tom Petty fans
smile knowingly. There even is a little bit of Lovin' Spoonful in there. Yeah, it's a fun record alright, so just imagine
what these kids will be like once they are all of legal drinking age.
(S. Appel)
website: KingsOfLeon.com |
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The Fever- Pink on Pink
(Kemado)
If you're going to go 80's revival, you might as well go all out. From the
black/white/pink color scheme to the faceless mannequin cover art to the
electroliciousness of their first single, "Ladyfingers", the Fever go
balls-to-the-wall, sweaty danceclub style on their five-song EP, Pink on
Pink. |
| But the band isn't a one-trick, legwarmer-clad pony: they can rock out
with the 70's punk and post-punk ("Ponyboy" and "Pink Paganz"); pay homage
to pop stars of the past and actually improve on them ("Glamourous Life");
and get you singing along about Jersey girls ("Bridge and Tunnel"), even if
you can't hope to match the excellent vocal stylings of lead singer Geremy
Jasper. Get the album, get some fishnets, and get on the dance floor.
(Megan Gerrity)
website: TheFeverOnline.com |
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Mando Diao Bring 'em In
(Mute)
One of our favorite new discoveries this year is Mando Diao. Just one look at
foxy Swedish quintet with good hair and leather jackets will make you want to learn more. But the good part here is that they aren't just another stylish lot of garage
rockers fresh off the assembly line. They know how to deliver the goods. |
With a combination of 60's soul, 70's punk, and 90's
Brit pop, Mando Diao are almost a cross between the Beatles, the Stooges, and Blur. "Motown Blood"
could have been a lost track from the Nuggets boxset while "The Band" has all of the best
bits of 90's indie rock. The first single "Sheepdog" will have you stomping your
foot while chanting along with the band "Yeah yeah yeah!" And those are only three of the
tracks. We'd love to tell you about them all, and we could go on, but we have limited
space here. So just check out the samples we have at
Listen to the Music and then go out and get the CD.
(S. Appel)
website: Mando-Diao.com
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Stellastarr*- Stellastarr*
(RCA)
After teasing all of us with their 3-song EP earlier this year, Stellastarr's buzz and
fanbase have grown so much that RCA signed them up to play in the major leagues.
I for one admit that I've really been looking forward to hearing their debut LP; the EP (ok,
with only 3 songs, I consider it an extended single) really had me wanting more.
|
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And now that
the full-length album is out, it's official. I'm hooked.
Though they've only been playing together a couple short years,
Stellastarr* are as tight as many seasoned vets.
Bassist Amanda Tannen's girlish back-ups are the perfect foil to Shawn Christensen's
(singer/ guitarist) moody words and spastic vocals. Lyrics like "Blue eyes, blue hair, not gonna leave here without you"
("Somewhere Across Forever") give a hint to the band's art-school background.
The swift guitar playing on "Jenny", "No Weather", and "Pulp Song" will have you doing that 80's dance (you know what I'm
talking about, kids). The pace stays up throughout the entire album, only letting up to take a
breather or two, and then jumping right back into the frenzy. This is the one
CD that I have to force myself to *not* listen to, if only to keep it from wearing out.
(S. Appel)
website: Stellastarr.com
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Erasure- Loveboat
(Mute)
In the 80's and 90's, Erasure's fun brand of synth-pop made them favorites amongst
the New Wave clubland kids. And throughout the years, they haven't really changed
their sound or their formula very much (if it ain't broke, yadda yadda...). So who whudda
thunk that their first release
in 6 years would be better suited for making out than dancing? |
| With the exception of a couple of tracks (including the bouncy classic-Erasure-sounding
"Freedom"), this record is almost completely full of ballads. But Andy Bell's trademark
sweet vocals and Vince Clarke's trademark everything else are still there. So it's hard to
say whether
longtime fans will like this or be disappointed by the lack of get-off-your-butt-and-dance
numbers. But after listening the Loveboat, one may think those "Erasure"-branded condoms they sell at their shows may come
in handy after-all. (S. Appel)
website: Erasure.org |
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Postal Service- Give Up
(Sub Pop)
Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and Dntel’s Jimmy Tamborello came together to make an
album of great synth pop with a modern electronic edge. The album gives an overall
vocal feel of previous DCFC albums, but is much more danceable. Give Up will make
you want to bounce around in your room. |
| It draws similar comparisons to when The Trembling
Blue Stars added more electronic beats to their last album Alive To Every Smile.
The first single "Such Great Heights" included contributions from members of Iron and Wine
and The Shins.
(Lio,
Oil Productions)
website: SubPop.com/bands/postalservice
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Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre- Love Love Love
(Troubleman Unlimited)
What can be said about Glass Candy and The Shattered Theater? Just ask any of the kids
crowding into Sound and Fury Record Store (sadly closed, the legendary independent record
store was located in the Lower East Side) how much they love Ida No’s yelping vocals and
Johnny Jewel’s androgynous look. |
| Peter, once owner, couldn’t stock enough of their
singles to feed the demand. The three-piece, from Portland, Oregon, describe their
music as Death Disko. This glam/punk/no wave influenced outfit seem to dream of old glam
NY days when Andy Warhol’s Factory was in full bloom. Ida No’s vocal style bridges Lydia
Lunch and Nina Hagen with a more modern punk rock flavor. Also check out the single “Johnny,
Are You Queer?”. (Lio,
Oil Productions)
website: GlassCandyLand.com
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The (International) Noise Conspiracy- Bigger Cages, Longer Chains
(Epitaph/ Burning Heart)
The title is brilliant. The graphics are brilliant. The propaganda is
brilliant. The N.E.R.D. cover is brilliant. The EP itself is. just pretty
good. This is the usual (I)NC, a little less soulful and a little more rock,
but still urging you to shake your ass for social revolution. |
|
The standout tracks are "A
Textbook Example," a melodic Hives-style shout along already
getting alt-radio play, and "Baby Doll" which puts a more plaintive spin on
N.E.R.D.'s seductive jam. The five songs here don't break new ground, but
they're a fun soundtrack for your next anti-war rally or anti-capitalist
dance party. (Megan Gerrity)
website:
alt.digitalfarmers.com/tinc
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Dopo Yume- True Romance
(self released)
The Dopo Yume version of true romance on their first full-length CD is less
first date roses and hours-long conversations and more hopeful two a.m.
hookup in a smoky new wave club.
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This is morning-after hedonism, where what
you regret is equal to what you'd do again, and a song like "What Kills Me"
gives you a wistfully dead-on lyric like "We all love what we can't have"
plus a swinging beat to move your hips to.
The sound combines new wave (think early Smiths, rather than Joy Division)
and post-punk influences with a pop sensibility and strong lyrics. Clever
metaphors (the double entendres in "Softcore") and detailed descriptions of
callous lovers and cold hearts combine with an upbeat, driving rhythm
section that's bent on seduction.
Lead singer Jordan Gallard's sexy
entreaties don't promise perfect happiness or bliss as much as a brief
respite from the daily tedium. The band straddles the line between sincerity
and irony like the rock stars they are, and whether you take their pleas for
love seriously depends on how young/heartbroken/jaded you are. But whether
you're rocking out with a smirk or starstruck gaze, you'll still be rocking
out. (Megan Gerrity)
website:
DopoYume.com
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Ikara Colt- Chat and Business
(Epitaph)
These art punk rockers straight out of college have crafted a debut album that is making
noise everywhere that they play. They even got kicked out of The Reading Festival for
inciting their fans to join them on stage,
therefore causing panic among the festival
security (to many fans disappointment they were told that they would not be allowed to
play the following day at Leeds due to fear of more chaos occurring). |
| But does their music
actual incite that much chaos? Well they hope so. Ikara Colt refuse to let their sound be
anywhere near pleasant, instead they have crafted a raw, loud and angular punk album.
website: IkaraColt.com
~Lio,
Oil Productions
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The Datsuns- The Datsuns
(V2 Records)
With record companies scrambling for the *next big thing* from down-under, the spotlight has
gone from Australia's Vines to
the Datsuns from neighboring New Zealand. Playing together for six years in their homeland,
a recent bidding war ended when the pretty long-haired boys ended up on V2.
But forget about the "garage rock" hype, this foursome cranks out tunes of the
heavy stadium rock variety. |
| For the band (whom have Ramones-style names
Dolf de Datsun, Matt Datsun, Christian Datsun, and Phil, uh, Datsun) comparisons to Led
Zeppelin and Deep Purple are natural since that's what the grew up on. Songs like "MF From Hell"
and "Harmonic Generator" will have even the most jaded listener
head-banging on the dancefloor. And with Dolf's
sexy wailing lead vocals and Christian's dizzying guitar, the Datsuns definitely
have everything they need to possibly be the "next saviors of rock".
website: TheDatsuns.com
~S. Appel |
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The D4- 6Twenty
(Flying Nun/ Infectious Records)
Here we have another of New Zealand's hard-partying rock bands that are making their way
across the globe (is it in the water
down there or what?). But unlike the heavy sound of their fellow
countrymen the Datsuns, the D4 favor more late-70's Buzzcock-style punk (the bouncy first single off
the album "Get Loose"
could easily be a big hit on these shores).
|
| Live, they're energetic and
raw, working hard for their audience and dripping of sweat by the end of their set so try to
make it out to see them on their current tour.
website: TheD4.co.nz
~S. Appel
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The Raveonettes- Whip it On
(Chunky Frog)
This new Danish rock twosome stormed onto the NY scene during CMJ and made a large impact.
Their lyrics tell a tale of the dark smokey nightlife that seems to pour out of the
underbellies of NYC. The music swifts back and forth between heavy guitars and soft fuzzed
out rock. These cats have definitely been studying old Creation favorites, The Jesus and
Mary Chain. |
|
But JMC never had such an attractive female in the band.
The Ravenonettes portray themselves as a mysterious, elegant, yet deadly duo. Sune
Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo perform live as a four piece that truly rocks on a My
Bloody Valentine volume level mixed with the deep and dark aspects of today’s
modern rock n’ roll.
website: TheRaveonettes.com
~Lio,
Oil Productions |
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The Sights-
(Fall of Rome)
Garage band no longer, this is what I like to see. The Sights started out what seemed to be just another
rock band from Detroit, but grew into something much more. Their sophomore LP takes you
back to the time period of great 60’s influenced pop, the kind that you would hear from The
Beach Boys, The Yardbirds, The Byrds, The Beatles, etc. Pop melodies are blended well with solid
guitar riffs that still remind you that the boys can rock. |
website: ThatSightsBand.com
~Lio,
Oil Productions |
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