DOWNLOAD: The Smith Westerns - Girl In Love
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So, this is where we're headed then: lo-fi, having exhausted the vast trove of arcane Eighties fuzz and heart, has retreated back to the chest hair and sequins of the early Seventies. The stiletto stomp of The Smith Westerns is mighty authentic - you imagine this was recorded drunk and at home, so playing "Girl In Love" feels like dusting off on of those ever-so-slightly warped 7"s your parents keep in the loft. I guess that makes you bisexual and us... The Old Grey Whistle Test?
Sounds Like: T-Rex, Black Lips, The Dead Boys
The Smith Westerns - Girl In Love
Previously:
The Smith Westerns - Irukandji
EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: Grand Mal - Uptight! + You Should Be So Lucky
Grand Mal's Bill Whitten has been releasing records for over a decade, full of bitingly clever lyrics and garnering musical comparisons to everyone from the Stones to Randy Newman. Not one to remain beholden to the rules of the record biz, when Whitten has new tunes, he gets em out. Recently "Uptight!" was offered up on his blog as part of a self-recorded EP and "You Should Be So Lucky" comes from a batch of songs recorded at Headgear Studios, produced by Alex Lipsen of the Jealous Girlfriends. Throughout Grand Mal's musical career, a few things have remained: clever lyrics, consistently solid dirty glammy gritty songs and ass-whopping live shows. If you're NYC-inclined, check them out at Cakeshop on Feb 13th and grab these two tunes to get to know Grand Mal.
Sounds Like: Iran, Jealous Girlfriends, the Rolling Stones, Primal Scream
EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD: Vampire Hands - No Fun
I gotta tip off my old buddy Christen that I oughta look into the band called Vampire Hands, so I did. But before I did I said in my head, "Aw hell, how many minutes until I read about Vampire Bear and Panda Hands on pitchforkmedia.com." But that's just a little aside to let you know that you and I are more or less on the same level.
The music of Vampire Hands is kind of like the music of Can. Sparse power kraut with spazzo drums all over the place (approaching Animal Collective) that manages to be totally mental by being totally mellow. Paranoid. On top of the Can are high-pitched glammy vocals, well nervous, that are like... you know that main bad guy in The Warriors? Kinda sounds like that guy only not annoying.
They're trying hard to be German but Vampire Hands are from Minnesota (incidentally, a town loaded with Germans). And not that we're about to judge a book by its cover, but they look like some solid hesh bros. Good old boys. Probably super nice people. Look for them in Austin next weekend and buy them a bratwurst. Thanks for telling me about Vampire Hands, Christen. And now, Vampire Hands:
DOWNLOAD: Vampire Hands - Queen Juno
DOWNLOAD: Vampire Hands - No Fun
LIVE: Apes & Androids at Hiro Ballroom, NYC 2.28.08
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Last night we braved the subzero New York weather to go check out one of our favorite new bands, Apes & Androids, play a live set at the Hiro Ballroom, and we weren’t disappointed. Their soon-to-be-legendary performances incorporate glitter, glow sticks, full costumes, and a conga player. Amazing, we know. It’s as if glam rock never died, only it exploded all over 2045 thanks to David Bowie’s time machine.
Our new photographer friend Alyona Mindlin was there snapping pics, so check those out after the jump. Make sure to check back for more A&A news, as we’ve collectively decided that 2008 will most definitely be this band’s year. All hail!
Download: Apes & Androids - Creepy Girls
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