RCRD LBL

You know that swimmy tantrumy dance that Ian Brown does in the video for the Stone Roses' "Fools Gold"?  Yeah.  That's exactly what plays in my head when I listen to Blonde Acid Cult's "Calypso."  There's a reason why Oasis and the Strokes will always dominate the play count on my iPod and that's the same reason I am loving this tune from Blonde Acid Cult.  The sexy, dancey ennui and the too-cool to take off my sunglasses groove of Brit Pop along with the edge of rock bands from NYC combine in an unstoppable force on this (and pretty much all) of Blonde Acid Cult's tunes.  I give the NME about a month before they trip over their boner for this band and if reports from Blonde Acid Cult's recent Mercury Lounge show are to be believed, if you live in NYC and miss their show at the Studio at Webster Hall on Dec. 20, you're going to have a totally bummer holiday.

Sounds Like: The Strokes, Oasis, the Stone Roses, Kasabian

Listing 29 members on their MySpace page, including King Khan and Mark Sultan, Red Mass "is a collective and gathering of minds," creating a cacophony of psychedelic garage rock lead by the Red Mass chief, Roy (of rebel rousers and fire enthusiasts CPC Gangbangs).  Featuring pretty much everyone you'd want to party with in Montreal, Red Mass has put together a live show featuring a menacing standing drummer, a varied horn section, some ferocious guitar players, a girl who stands front and center looking bad ass and housing a voice to shake floors and golden, under-wear clad "male model" who plays cowbell - all conducted through the enthusiastic snarl of Choyce (Roy).  The 2 tunes on RCRD LBL today are a proper intro to the sound-effect-laced dark pop hooks and controlled chaos of Red Mass.

Sounds Like: CPC Gangbangs, Demon's Claws, Duchess Says, King Khan, Mark Sultan

While Cale Parks was working on his second solo effort Sparklace, out earlier this month on Polyvinyl, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, he recorded a special song just for RCRD LBL.  "Graveyard Barrier," features the minimally delicate and dreamy instrumentation and sexily relaxed vocals that come to play on Sparklace, but this song has an intriguing Tim Burton string-infused darkness skating over the surface.  Taking time away from drumming with Aloha and White Williams, Cale Parks has created a set of songs that demand some serious headphone time, songs that tumble around your head and make your brain feel fuzzy.

Sounds Like: El Guincho, Panda Bear, Lemonade, The Knife, Silver Apples

Cale Parks - Graveyard Barrier

Cale Parks - Every Week Ends

Cale Parks' RCRD LBL page

So recently, most tributes to animals has us thinking of that SNL clip of 'Mark Walberg' talking to a donkey. But while this song by the LA-based psychedelic folk rock group Gangi is dedicated to animals, it's probably more in the 'I saw a three-headed caterpillar while tripping in the woods' sort of sense. We are just guessing because the whole album "A" has an isolated, airy vibe (after all it was recorded in Matt Gangi's Brooklyn apartment), while tribalistic drumming and shimmery electronic experimentations provide a psychedelic trippy feel. Speaking of trippy, you've got to appreciate the band's visual sensibilities as well, with a collage of color on the CD case and a habit of performing next to bright colored mobile sculptural installations.

SOUNDS LIKE: The Ruby Suns, The Octopus Project

DOWNLOAD: Gangi - Animals

Gangi @ RCRD LBL

In the hoopla of happiness surrounding this historic week, a sad passing should be noted.  On November 1, Detroit soul legend Nathaniel Mayer died after suffering multiple strokes after completing his first European tour after a career revival with help from the Black Keys.  Nathaniel Mayer had his first Top 40 record in 1962 and on his final record for Alive, Why Don't You Give It To Me?, Mayer hollers, howls and seduces with help from Dan Auerbach as well as the Detroiters who followed in his footsteps including members of The Dirtbombs, SSM, The Sights and Outrageous Cherry.  "Lonely Man" is from that album and features the fuzzy guitars, garage rhythms and stoned groove that was his later-day trademark.  Until the end, Nathaniel Mayer was the real deal - just check the video of the live performance of "I Found Out," as he dedicates each and every song to all the beautiful ladies in the house and promises, "I'll take all ya'll home with me tonight!"  So here's to Nathaniel Mayer and best wishes to him with all the beautiful ladies in the sky.

Sounds Like: James Brown, Ray Charles, the Black Keys, the Dirtbombs, the Detroit Cobras

Download: Nathaniel Mayer - Lonely Man

Nathaniel Mayer's RCRD LBL page