Rose Melberg has been in a quite a few bands. Tiger Trap and Go Sailor were reved up C-86 fueled rock records. After that things mellowed out and have stayed that way. The Softies were gentle and sugary and here last few solo records kept the minimal sweet and soft songs coming. After going solo for the last few records, she's got a band together again that goes by Brave Irene . They released an eight song self-titled album on Slumberland earlier this year that brings back some [...]
I came across the video below from Tunabunny over on Fensepost and frankly I'm not sure if I absolutely love it or absolutely hate it. I've listened to it a few times now and it pretty much leaves me speechless everytime. It's sloppy, shouty, raucous and catchy garage/art rock... The video captures the band playing live and it's all a bit scratchy, strobe fuelled and (I think) great. [...]
![Tunabunny: I Miss You (You Miss Me Yes) [Video]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2960249_lg.jpg)
They call it transcendental dance pop, which sounds pretty good to me. I'd add in hints of punk and plenty of noise to that description, though. Tunabunny is the latest great thing to come out of Athens, Georgia, a place that needs no introduction when it comes to great independent music. And their new self-titled LP is on Happy Happy Birthday To Me, a label that should also need no introduction. Tunabunny is a little different for the HHBTM folks, but I can easily see what drew their attention. [...]
![Sweater Girls: EP [7" Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2625800_lg.jpg)
Sweater Girls are a new Los Angeles-based group and, according to Mike over at Happy Happy Birthday To Me , their debut 73 single sold out solely based on word-of-mouth. Listening to the three songs tucked within, it's easy to hear why - Sweater Girls produce outstanding indie pop music perfect for the HHBTM label, and perfect for everyone's favorite musical consumption format... vinyl. Sweater Girls isn't an all-girl group, as the name might suggest (Joseph Teran is on lead guitar, backed by Allan Kingdom on bass), [...]
Defunct Athens-based We Versus the Shark closed out the first night of 2008's PopFest with a quick 25-minute set. Their material seems to have become heavier (or just more frantic) since last year. Maybe this evolution has accelerated with the departure of Samantha Paulsen, but I haven't seen WVTS often enough to properly judge. After listening to the popfest sets from both last year and this year, I'd say the trio is just as enjoyable as the four-piece! We Vs. The Shark 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest Little Kings Shuffle Club, [...]
The Selmanaires 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16 Taped by: Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com) Setlist: 1. Night Beat > Selmanaire Rock 2. Princess Illusionist Frankenstein 3. A Small Room > GMAFB (Link to a zip of the full set .)
![Sourpatch [Feature]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2362527_lg.jpg)
Bouncy, 90s-influenced, female-fronted pop band Sourpatch recently released a new album, Crushin' on Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records . It's your standard HHBTM release, filled with pop music created by bands that have affections toward a similar, 90s era punk-pop (when punk-pop was actually good ). These songs hint of a time when sloppy playing was a virtue - technical ability wasn't needed in your parents garage, and it merely enhanced the sometimes cheesy songs about [...]
![Bunnygrunt: Matt Harnish & Other Delights [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/2261032_lg.jpg)
There is documentation of creative longevity and then there's Bunnygrunt , whose sixteen plus years as a band (give or take a few) has gained them notoriety in the areas of lo-fi rock, indie pop and 90s pop-punk. This band's latest effort is Matt Harnish & Other Delights , a record that takes its name from so-called main Grunter man Matt Harnish, the other half being that of Karen Ried (possibly the 'other delights?). Other Delights features an array of pop influence, [...]
David and Holly from The Lovely Eggs have recorded a halloween single about (as they say) "the singularly most frightening and shit scarey thing in the world ever- TWIN PEAKS!". The song is called 'Haunt Me Out' and it's released on Cherryade Records on October 26th. The cd single is only available in 100 copies, and it is handpacked with a special collectible gift: A Laura Palmer half heart necklace… The release will also be available on iTunes, but if you want this special cd, you can order it from Cherryade [...]
![Eux Autres: Cold City [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1823255_lg.jpg)
Cold City finds the Larimer siblings that make up Eux Autres maturing as musicians and songwriters. Where Hell Is Eux Autres included many viable tracks, the recordings were stiff. Still, despite the slightly lower production value, many of those older songs remain true favorites; and Cold City packs in several new favorites as well. Included in this mix are "Molly" and "When I'm Up". The first has catchy hooks in the chorus and includes a heavy reverb in vocals. The latter sees [...]
![Fishboy: Nom [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1805894_lg.jpg)
In retrospect, Fishboy 's Albatross should have garnered my #1 album slot for 2007. Seriously: the album remains one of the most-listened-to albums even today. The oft dubbed Twee Rock Opera was a truly brilliant concoction. And, as front-man Eric Michener quietly hints at a follow-up, he releases Nom , a nine-song EP consisting of rejects from the original concept album. If you find Albatross to be an interesting concept, Nom will follow suit. Fishboy sent the songs to [...]
![Forever: Forever [EP Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1781899_lg.jpg)
Quick, furious, and externally tempting are the best available adjectives to describe Forever and their self-titled debut EP. Their songs seem to focus on the triumph and/or tyranny of love. Vocalist Shenna Corbridge spends an electrically-fused 15 minutes screaming truths she makes you believe are self-evident. This is a group that says what they want, when they want. And in 50 words or less at times. As Forever most likely hope for, a Dead Milkmen impression is obviously notable on tracks like "Who's Haunting Me?" and "Psychic [...]
![Casper And The Cookies: Modern Silence [Album Review]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/1779367_lg.jpg)
Casper And The Cookies ( MySpace ) are an interesting bunch. Modern Silence demonstrates their agility in creating bizarre pop songs in the vein of early Of Montreal and Apples In Stereo, the Elephant 6 entourage, and underground glam pop. While front-man Jason NeSmith had a brief stint in Of Montreal, it should be noted that Casper And The Cookies were already in existence, and had been, for nearly half a decade. So the sound mixes that highly infectious and awkward lo-fi, key heavy sound of e6 pop; [...]
( Editor's note: Saturday is supposed to be lazy; it's been in the title of the Saturday posts for like two months. Brian is supposed to be able to kick back, shut off the critical and regulatory functions of his brain and lob some cool live tracks into the internet. No marathon album listening, no hunting for synonyms for "good," no attempts to impress with unique reasoning or inflated vocabulary, just one day a week where it's live tracks, some bullshit and not much else. It gives Brian a chance to spend time with his wife, mow the lawn and [...]
(Photo by Shane Byrd .) The Lolligags 8.15.2008 Athens Popfest 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Lunatec V3 > Firewire > WAV > Adobe Audition > CDWave > Flac16 Taped by: Lance Stack Setlist: 1. Merry Go Round 2. Wired Up 3. Sister Lover 4. Staircase Mystery 5. Kitten, [...]
(Photo by Marc Espowood) To keep the flow of PopFest material going, you'll probably see less commentary of the sets. Here's another from Wednesday night, Athens' own Spring Tigers ! Spring Tigers 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16 Taped by: Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com) Setlist: 1. intro 2. New Improved [...]
Atlanta duo Judi Chicago was another act unknown to me before PopFest. Ben and Travis played a variety of instruments over a set of sampled dance beats, tossing in a healthy dose of irony in the form of both banter and lyrics. I was in the back during this set and didn't have a good view of the stage, but Rich has come nice close-up over on the C&T photostream . Judi Chicago 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's [...]
Continuing in the vein of all-female punk, local Atlanta favorites The Coathangers followed immediately on the heels of Hotpants Romance. The Coathangers 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16 Taped by: Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com) Setlist: 1. Never Wanted You 2. Toomerhead 3. Tonya Harding [...]
(Photo courtesy of Cable and Tweed .) Finally getting back into gear on the PopFest material... We'll continue chronologically from where we left off, with the UK's Hotpants Romance . I gotta say, this change in musical style (after just coming down from a somewhat relaxed Nana Grizol set out on the patio) was quite a shock to the system! :) Hotpants Romance 8.13.2008 Athens Popfest, Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA Source: Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > [...]
the finest kiss
The Sound of the Overground
Fensepost
Flat Response
Eardrums Music
Citizen Dick
James Blake – Live Album
Circo Voador anuncia shows de The Kooks, Foster The People, Friendly Fires, Gogol Bordello e mais
The Kills on Letterman (Video)
Download: James Blake Live Album (Unofficial)
