Archive for January 13th, 2010

5 Musicians We Can’t Help But Find Adorable

January 13, 2010

I’m from Barcelona
Albums: Let Me Introduce My Friends, Who Killed Harry Houdini? , 27 Songs From Barcelona

EPs: Sing!! , Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams Buddy! Mingus

A twenty plus man (and woman) band from from Sweden, I’m from Barcelona covers the tough stuff in life- oversleeping, wetting the bed, and having to wear glasses, as well as things we love- tree houses, stamp collections, and the Eiffel Tower. Making music that makes us smile since 2005, the band will soon be releasing their upcoming 27 Songs from Barcelona, which is inspired by Kiss’ simultaneous release of four solo albums back in 1978. 27 Songs from Barcelona features one solo song from every member of I’m From Barcelona, and will be released as a triple vinyl, as well as for free online. Starting January 27th, one song per day will be available for download at imfrombarcelona.com

Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer
Albums: Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, Jalopy Go Far, Schematics
EPs: The Popsicle EP, Unicorns Demos B-Sides and Rainbows, Due All Night Long (Split with Reel Big Fish)

Philly native powerpop musicians Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer, or simply Zolof to their friends, win us over with their catchy rhythms and simple lyrics. Bright and boppy, the “spunk rock” band features the seemingly ever present Anthony Green, “Plays Pretty for Baby”, let’s us know “Crazy=Cute” and will apologize for acting like a “Mean Old Coot”.

Tilly and The Wall
Albums: Wild Like Children, Bottoms of Barrels, O
EPs: Woo! , Tilly and the Wall, Reckless, Bad Education, Falling without Knowing

Nebraska really doesn’t seem like the place to birth something precious, but none the less Tilly and the Wall come to us from Omaha, offering indie pop with the twist of a tap dancing percussionist. We love them for their sweet and simple vocals, their story book band name, and the fact that at one point their leading ladies were elementary school teachers.

Kate Nash
Albums: Made of Bricks

Singer-songwriter Kate Nash went platinum in her native UK with her album Made of Bricks, recently joined a new band called The Receeders, and is planning for a 2010 release of her second solo album. From the theatrical “Mariella” to the lovey-dovey “Birds”, Kate Nash offers a sound that is full of whip smart yet simple lyrics, great piano tracks, and an influx of music style.

The Boy Least Likely To
Albums: The Best Party Ever, The Laws of the Playground

A band that describes itself as “Country Disco” and what would happen “if all your childhood stuffed animals got together and started a band” has no choice but to ooze with delightfulness. This UK Indie-Pop duo has been churning out the cute since 2002, making their U.S. debut in 2006 with The Best Party Ever. With tinny tones and somewhat nonsensical lyrics, The Boy Least Likely To has us wanting some “Warm Panda Cola” and feeling glad we hitched our apple wagon to their star.

Architecture in Helsinki
Albums: Fingers Cross, In Case We Die, Places Like This
EPs: Like it or Not, Do the Whirlwind,

We love these Aussies for their endless range of instruments, including (though certainly not limited to) the glockenspiel, synthesizers, and hand claps, along with more traditional concert band woodwinds and brass, and of course your basic guitar, bass, drums trio. A charming group of true Avant-garde, if you haven’t checked them out yet, we don’t know what you’ve been doing with yourself.

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La Dispute

January 13, 2010

Grand Rapids natives La Dispute have finished up the tail end of a recent tour, with plans to keep busy in 2010. Having been playing in this incarnation for just three years, that band has already released two EP’s, and recently unveiled a full-length. The five-piece band’s album Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair, is their first LP release, and was brought to us by No Sleep Records. With a title pulled from an Asianfolktale, the album looks to initiate discussion about the aspects of people that prevent our own happiness, pulling from the band’s own experiences, and those around them. With great care spent in exploring various structure and dynamic in their song writing, this full length is a significant expansion on the early beginning’s of La Dispute, found in their previous two EP’s.

The band has also released a series of songs, the project titled Here, Hear, which are written and performed by individual members of the band, and accompanied by spoken word recitation of some outside work (i.e. Bukowski, Tom Robbins, Wind in the Willows etc.) With the notion to give a broader perspective to the music created by La Dispute, give a direct representation of each member’s style, musical personality, and influences, and to challenge themselves creatively, Here, Hear is a project that stands out.
Even more so, as of December 24th, with the release of Here, Hear Volume 3 (the most recent installment in the series) the band is taking the proceeds of sales and donating 100% of them to non-profit organization Well House Community in Grand Rapids, which provides emergency shelter and permanent housing for displaced and homeless families. Available for download on a “give what you can” basis, the charitable work, as well as the album itself, is truly commendable.
Check out La Dispute’s blog for more information
All downloads include artwork, lyrics, and liner notes.
Download Here, Hear
Download Here, Hear. II
Download Here, Hear. III
Download Winter Tour Holiday CD-R
Download Untitled 7″

La Dispute’s Brad Vander Lugt talked to Reviewsic from the road of their recent tour, about musical influences and the making of their full-length.

Telegram Sam: Elaborate on the creation of your LP Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair.

Brad of La Dispute: Well, it was very tiresome, haha. We worked for about a year on that record. We tried to create something that helps the listener feel something, ask questions, and think about the themes present. We also wanted to challenge ourselves musically and really make something we could be proud of.

T.S: If we were to hack into your iTunes today, what are some of the names that would be on your “Top 25 most played”?

Brad:That will be very different for everyone in this band, but, some common interests include, but not limited to: Tom Waits, Converge, The Mountain Goats, Frank Turner, Radiohead, and Counting Crows.

T.S: What are your plans as a band for 2010?

Brad: Well, we plan a doing 1 or 2 splits with some great friends, a new full length, and massive amounts of touring. It should be a fun and very busy year. SXSW, Europe in June. We’re very excited for this year!

T.S: What is the most memorable show you have ever played? Attended?

Brad: Wow, that’s tricky. Probably any of the dates of our tour with Thursday were amazing. We all love those guys so much and had such a wonderful time with them.
-The best show I’ve ever been to was a Ben Folds Five reunion show. Wow. Well worth the 14-hour drive!

T.S: If you could have one guest musician play a show with you, dead or alive, who would it be?

Brad: Again, this is my opinion only, but any of the Beatles. Really cliché, I know, haha. Maybe Tom Waits.

T.S: Who are your top three musical influences?

Brad: My influences are a lot of jazz and blues, but that is certainly not the case for everyone in this band. We all love so many different things, I’m honestly not sure.

T.S: How did the last tour go?

Brad: This last tour was perhaps one of the best. Lots of friends, new and old, came and sang along with us. It’s amazing we get to do what we do. Thank you so much everyone, you are so much a blessing.


Visit La Dispute online:
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No Sleep Records

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