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DOWNLOAD: Softboiled Eggies - She Fell Through the Trees (Live at the Echo)
Oh, serendipity. We’re still coasting on an indie pop high from seeing the Vaselines in all their glory last night, when who should post a track by post-C86 band Softboiled Eggies but the Spaceland RCRD LBL blog. Softboiled Eggies can be often found at the Echo, at the venue's Saturday night indie party Part Time Punks (named after the Television Personalities single, natch), and much like the Vaselines, they’re a girl/boy duo with a whole bunch of tongue-in-cheek ire and wit. “She Fell Through the Trees” makes us really want to check this band out live, nothing is better than homegrown local bands that can really bust out the post-punk melodies.
Sounds like: Television Personalities, The Wake, Lydia Lunch, Chairlift
Download: Softboiled Eggies - She Fell Through the Trees (Live at the Echo)
VIDEO THRWBCK: Talulah Gosh - Talulah Gosh (1987)
And now, the twee-est of the twee. Warning: Talulah Gosh, the mis-matched band of bowl cut-adorned indie popsters who barely survived 1987 aren't for the weak at heart. We're talking serious butterflies and blueberry scones here. But somehow "Talulah Gosh" remains fun and catchy, and is only slightly grating because, well, that's the whole point. Once again, BOWL CUTS.
STREAM: Pete and The Pirates - Bear
While relishing the plentiful (if rare) sunshine in London last week, I enjoyed this Reading-hailing band's brand of indie pop at London's 02 Wireless Festival. Pete and The Pirates sing about being too sad to get out of bed - over an upbeat pop tune - the irony of which is rather endearing instead of perplexing. They remind me of the witty indie-pop-but-anti-hard-rock ivy American league bands, Bishop Allen and Vampire Weekend, that are unafraid of playing light, charming, zealous pop while sporting carigan button-downs and glasses. i.e. they are the kind of rock bands that are ok to take home to mom.
Sounds Like: Bishop Allen, Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot
VIDEO THRWBCK: Shop Assistants - Saftey Net (1986)
We're gearing up for the Vaselines show on Thursday by going through our amazing indie pop collection and getting into some hidden gems--notably this AMAZING song by Shop Assistants, "Safety Net". Unfortunately this video cuts off the song's awesome bass solo intro, but rest assured, the rest is just as spectacular. I mean, can we talk about that girl's ponytail? And the Club MTV, Downtown Julie Brown camera angles? Can this band reunite, please?
VIDEO THRWBCK: The Feelies - Away
We're still riding a high from the Feelies/Sonic Youth show we saw on Independence Day. When the Feelies took the stage, the energy was so palpable, people barely noticed it had started to drizzle... everything about the set was perfect, and their blend of Beat Happening/Felt college rock made us remember just how awesome indie music used to be. Above, check out their awesome video for their 1988 single "Away" (side note: someone really needs to bring back 120 Minutes, for real).
DOWNLOAD: Crayonsmith Lost in the Forest + All the Elders
Crayonsmith hail from Dublin, Ireland, and make upbeat indie pop with a touch of electro—a little strangely, as their sound is quite similar to American bands such as Of Montreal and the Spinto Band. It makes for a great guitar-and-keyboard-driven smorgasbord of war ‘n’ fuzzy pop hooks. They band’s first LP, Stay Loose, made us fall in love with them, thus their status as a brand new RCRD LBL signing. This week, Crayonsmith are wrapping up a US tour with Islands, then going back to Ireland to work on their upcoming sophomore album. We’ll be following them closely, as we’re sure you will after sampling “Lost in the Forest” and “All the Elders” from Stay Loose.
Sounds like: The Spinto Band, Of Montreal
DOWNLOAD: Grand Pocket Orchestra - Chongo Pop + 3 Others
Dublin’s Grand Pocket Orchestra make break beat, hyperactive indie pop songs that only young British kids seem to be able to muster: the guitar lines are catchy and the keyboards bleeps and bloops follow the crazy vocals note-for-note. It all makes for a sort of schizophonic happy mess that recalls a slightly unhinged version of Múm on uppers and Prozac. The four songs we have for download today (“Chongo Pop," “Get Go,” "Little Messy," and “Odd Socks”) are the epitome of that sound, if you will. GPO have some big things lined up for 2008, notably finishing up their debut album for Irish indie label Fifa, with Mario Thaler (who has worked with the Notwist and Lali Puna) on the decks.
Sounds like: CSS, Pavement, Best Fwends
Download: Grand Pocket Orchestra - Chongo Pop
Download: Grand Pocket Orchestra - Get Go
VIDEO THRWBCK: The Wedding Present - Kennedy (1989)
So. We just came back from seeing The Pains of Being Pure at Heart play the L Magazine "New Music" party at the Music Hall of Williamsburg... and it was amazing. Twee all the way, very reminiscent of the Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine of course, but a lot of their new songs sounded much like C86 all-stars The Wedding Present. We hadn't listened to TWP in a good while, but we just put in their debut album George Best and it is KICKIN'. Enjoy "Kennedy" above!
FEATURED: Dirty on Purpose play rooftop party for Soundfix
The cool thing about NYC in the summer is that anything and everything becomes an ex use to see an awesome live band outdoors while sipping on a brew. Tomorrow, the guys in Dirty on Purpose are playing the opening night of Rooftops Films, a series of events sponsored by Brooklyn record store Sound Fix. Here’s the info:
Sound Fix Presents: Rooftop Films Opening Party
@ The Open Road Rooftop Project at New Design
350 Grand Street between Essex and Ludlow New York, New York
All Ages... Doors at 8pm, Music at 8:45, Films at 9:30 Cost: $8
Movies, 90-degree weather and DoP—what more could you ask for? See you there!
Download DoP's exclusive RCRD LBL EP, Dead Volcanoes:
Download: Dirty on Purpose - Leaving
Download: Dirty on Purpose - Hard To Tell You
Download: Dirty on Purpose - The Thing About Getaways
Download: Dirty on Purpose - Canned Fumes
And stream two tracks from their new EP Like Bees:
VIDEO THRWBCK: Felt - Primitive Painters (1985)
According to the authorized Bell & Sebastian biography Just A Modern Rock Song (which we totally own, shut up) Felt were Stuart Murdoch's favorite band and the reason he started B&S in the first place. In which case, not only do we have Felt to thank for their own indie pop masterpieces, we can rest assured that without them there would be no If You're Feeling Sinister, and the world would be a decidedly less awesome place. This track, "Primitive Painters", is a collaboration with Elizabeth Frasier of the Cocteau Twins who brings her spooky-ass vocal hijinks to compliment Felt frontman Lawrence's baritone. The song is on Ignite the Seven Cannons which was produced (wa-hey!) by the Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie. This video is on some budget, but the song remains moody '80s indie at its best.
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