Blog: the earlyfish

Finally, something from Built to Spill! In support of their new album, You in Reverse, due out in April, Doug Martsch and friends plan on hitting every nook and cranny in the US. Guaranteed to be amazing. Check out their site for up to date details. 03-15 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa (Warner Bros. SXSW showcase)* 04-11 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 04-12 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 04-13 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theatre 04-14 Chicago, IL - Metro 04-15 Chicago, IL - Metro 04-16 St. Louis, MO - [...]

The first mention of Tapes 'n Tapes I heard of was in a conversation that there is no real music anymore. Someone mentioned Tapes 'n Tapes in response to this but I never had the chance to look into them till they crossed my path today. A quick description of Tapes 'n Tapes that I read compared them to the likes of Pixies, which to me, automatically translates into more investigation required. There are definately moments in which the guitar work sounds like Frank Black-ish type acoustic wrist action and Frank Black-ish type vocals but Tapes 'n Tapes [...]

If you are a fan of independent music and you don't know about woxy.com , you have really been missing out. Since 1983 woxy has been broadcasting the newest, most cutting edge and best music the independent scene has to offer. In 2004, woxy (Oxford, Ohio's 97.7 FM) switched off its terrestrial broadcast only to emerge a few months later as an internet only station. Cincinnati's terrestrial radio listeners loss', was the rest of the world's gain, as woxy.com is now broadcast to tens of thousands of independent music fans around the world. There are a few [...]

South Dakota's The Weather Machines play simple, well focused, indie power pop. Gaining influence from the classic power pop of MC5 and Elvis Costello, along with current indie bands like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Spoon, The Weather Machines' debut The Sound of Pseudoscience will likely appeal to those who like the rock and those who like the pop. http://theweathermachines.com/ lastStop.mp3|the weather machines|last stop

Swedish super-poppers, Love is All, recently announced a tour of North America including Toronto and Montreal. The Pitchfork SXSW show in Austin guarantees to be a complete rock-on with guests Art Brut, Jose Gonzalez and more. Check out Earlyfish's review of Love is All here . 03-17 Austin, TX - Emo's Annex (Pitchfork/Windish Agency SXSW party) * 03-19 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle # 03-20 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop # 03-21 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace # 03-22 Montreal, Quebec - La Salla Rosa # 03-23 Philadelphia, PA - [...]

The Earlyfish recently had the opportunity and plearsure to ask Voxtrot singer Ramesh Srivastava a few questions. Voxtrot are set to release Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP a followup to their terrific debut Raised by Wolves EP and embark on their largest North American tour. Earlyfish: Let me start first by saying thanks for taking the time to do this interview with the Earlyfish, I’m sure you guys are busy getting ready for your upcoming North American tour. Speaking of touring, it seems like your music would translate well live, [...]

If ever there were a perfect marriage between band and record label, the one between Seatle's Math and Physics Club and Santa Barbara's Matinee Recordings , would have to come close. Matinee have been releasing smart, catchy and beautifuly constructed indie pop albums from great bands like the Lucksmiths, Harper Lee and Pipas for nearly ten years now. When Math and Physics Club decided to send out copies of their demo to record labels, Matinee were likely at the top of their wishlist. On the strength of their basement recorded demo, Math [...]

My roommate attended one of the two soldout Brocken Social Scene shows at Toronto's Kool Haus over the past weekend and this is the letter he wrote the next day. Open letter to Kevin Drew: Dear Mr. Drew, I would first off like to thank you for your efforts in the Toronto music scene over the past decade. Undoubtedly you and "your friends" have put out some of the most inspiring music heard this side of Quebec. I am huge fan of You Forgot It In People. I have listened to [...]

In a meeting of two of indie pop's great minds, Carl Newman's New Pornographers will be opening for Stuart Murdoch and Belle and Sebastian on a North American tour. Belle and Sebastian will be touring in support of their soon to be released (February 7) 7th studio album (thats if we have to count 2002's Storytelling ) titled The Life Pursuit . For some odd reason, the only show on the tour the New Pornographers wont be handling opening duties is in their hometown of Vancouver. [...]

Nice and Nicely Done , the debut album from from Wilmington, Delaware's, Spinto Band runs the gamut of guitar pop styles. From twitchy, quirky, Pavementesque rockers, to Talking Headsish (like most indie bands these days, one of the Spinto's two singers has the David Byrne warble downpat) moaners, and even the odd XTC style new wave romp. It must be the bands youthfulness (they're all in their very early twenties and look even younger) that won't allow them to concentrate on one sound for more then a few songs. For a lot of bands, such [...]

I'm not sure how The National's third album titled Alligator passed through my fingers. If I would've caught it, there's no doubt it would be on my top ten list for 2005. The Brooklyn based quintet manages to work in their own time. At every turn of this album you expect it to break out into a rock anthem with multiple vocal and guitar tracks. It never does and somehow is better for it. The almost monotone voice of lead singer Matt Berninger pulls you in and allows you to absorb both lyrics and music equally. [...]

Nothing will get you through those last few hours of the work day like a bunch of music videos. Do Copenhagen has compiled a pretty good list of what they consider the top 50 music videos of 2005. Among my favorite are videos for Wolf Parade's Shine a light, Interpol's Evil, Stephen Malkmus' Baby C'mon and Jose Gonzalez's Stay In The Shade. Just dont blame us if your boss gets on your case for slacking off.

Listening to Voxtrot 's debut EP Raised by Wolves , it's hard to believe that this is a band that has only been around a couple of years and that this is their first stab at the recording process. The songs on Raised by Wolves are tight, contagiously catchy, pop nuggets performed in a manner that suggests a far more vetran band. Voxtrot frontman and chief songwriter Ramesh Srivastava must have been fed a healthy diet of Scottish twee while perusing an English lit degree in Scotland, it's also clear he has [...]

The Acid House Kings are just one of the many great pop bands from Sweden to gain attention during the past few years. What seperates the Acid House Kings from other great new Swedish acts like the Shout Out Louds or the Sounds, is the fact they have been doing their thing for well over a decade now. They have released four albums over this period, but it is their latest Sing Along With Acid House Kings that has helped them finaly gain some much deserved praise and press in the U.K. and [...]

We hate top ten lists as much as you do but we, being a music site, are obligated to tell you what we thought was good this year regardless if you like it or not. In an attempt to save you from the burden of reading our impressions on 20 or even 50 albums (*ahem* NME and Pitchfork), we will keep our list to a modest 10. Summing up 2005 in 10 albums was a feat as 2005 was one of the best music years in recent history ringing in the new era of post, post-punk. New bands popped up [...]

Police stopped ex-Libertines, current Babyshambles front man at 8 am this morning in London on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink and drugs. The singer was taken to a west London police station and later released on bail. He will have to report back in January. Pete was also stopped and arrested for driving under the same conditions a little over 2 weeks ago. Come on Pete, its not funny anymore. Speaking of Pete, this weekend The Earlyfish got it's hands on the documentary entitled Stalking Peter Doherty which aired on British television in [...]

In support of his new solo endeavor From a Compound Eye which hits stores January 24th, Robert Pollard hits the road once again. Being used to line up changes, Pollard has recruited by singer/songwriter Tommy Keene on guitar and keyboards, Dave Phillips on guitar, Verbow's Jason Narducy on bass, and Jon Wurster of Superchunk and the Scharpling and Wurster comedy duo on drums. Pollard recently explained to Billboard.com: "Fans should prepare to expect...the expected. I don't think it will be much different than a Guided by Voices show. I don't know how else to do it. [...]

Brooklyn-based The Diggs have been getting a lot of press around New York for whats to be an amazing live show. Throwing trends aside, the trio takes influence from early the early nineties with a hint of emo and brit pop thrown in. You can check out a few mp3s from their site. Trouble Everyday is a superbly crafted track layering guitars and vocals into a frenzy, an atmospheric, dreamy pop-rock ballad that leaves you stunned. Stagg is an anthemesque track that is one of the best tunes Ive heard in a [...]

The NME reported today that a biopoic on former Joy Division front man Ian Curtis is set to begin production named 'Control' based on the book Touching From A Distance , written by Curtis's widow Deborah. The maker of the movie asked the three surviving members of Joy Division aka New Order if they would be interested in contributing to the soundtrack and they have agreed but only under the name of Joy Division. It goes on to report that New Order has been playing Joy Division songs in their sets since the beginning of the [...]

One thing I've always had an issue with was bands borrowing, stealing (however you'd like to word it) the Pavement sound. The first time I heard Modest Mouse I wrote it off as unoriginal feeling they ripped off my beloved Pavement. How fucking dare they!? As time continues it's inevitable for these original sounds to remain unevolved and be lost forever with the death of the band originating it. 7 years ago, I would've been swearing upside down and sideways at Minnesota-based Hockey Night however, today, their new album entitled, Keep Guessin' has this music man [...]