Inflight At Night

I wasn’t even planning on checking out the Klaxons‘ new album, Myths Of The Near Future due to the sheer over saturation of this band, but after reading some glowing reviews of their set at the EchoPlex last week, I went ahead and picked up a copy of the album to see what all the fuss was about.

First I’d like to get the the “new rave” or “nu rave” tag out of the way. It’s stupid. A completely unfounded label that either a PR person came up with or is something NME coined (idiots). The only track on the album that could in anyway be tagged with “rave” is the single “Atlantis To Interzone” because of it’s air raid siren and vocal sample of a woman going “uhn uhn uhn, uhn uhn uhn”, but even that sounds more like a dance song that you might find on one of the early NOW That’s What I Call Music complilations from the ’90’s.

The rest of the album is unmistakenly very “now” British sounding. You follow me? Just think of all the young British semi-dance rock bands that have come out in the past year or so. And don’t get me wrong I like the album for a what it is; a nice shiny piece of catchy no substance let’s do a line and bounce around like a fifteen year old girl dance rock.

So I am not really bummed that I missed their show at the EchoPlex last week as the overly douchy hipster crowd would have probably induced vomiting on my part. And if you missed them as well , I’m sure they will be back this Fall (they are playing Coachella this weekend however) playing much larger venues just as the Arctic Monkeys did last year.

Download said “new rave” song, Atlantis To Interzone (mp3)

Myths Of The Near Future is OUT NOW: buy it at insound! | download it from iTunes | download it from emusic

Really I don’t know what it is about Black Rebel Motorcycle Club that instills so much hate towards them. Is that they came of age in so called “New Rock Revolution” amid the ranks of The Strokes and Kings of Leon, or maybe it’s that 2/3rds of this band so desperately wish they were British (drummer Nick Jago actually is), or maybe it’s their utter disregard stick to one genre-label-style of music. Or maybe it’s just that their name is so god damn cool it just puts people off, I mean, don’t you wish your band had a cool name like that instead of something with a “The” in front of it. And if you didn’t know, their name is taken from Marlon Brando’s motorcycle gang in The Wild One, which actually might be another contributing factor, due to the light that Brando is held in.

So BRMC’s new album, Baby 81, hits store shelves in a couple weeks and unless you’ve already downloaded a leaked copy, your notions of the new album have been limited to the streaming samples of the album’s single, “Weapon of Choice”, and “666 Conducer” on the band’s website. That is until now. RCA have posted a medley of 30sec clips of each track, and even though this isn’t as good as giving away a couple of tracks, it does give you a pretty good idea of what Baby 81 sounds like.

Baby 81 album preview (mp3) and track listing.

With Baby 81, the hand claps and foot stomps that filled 2005’s Howl, a mostly acoustic release, are gone. What’s left is the prior album’s roots rock aesthetic combined with BRMC’s initial shoegaze offerings from their first two albums, Take Them On, On Your Own and their self-titled debut. Also on hand on their new release are some soaring “Brit rock” epics that lend themselves to The Charlatans, The Verve, and Oasis.

Also, I want to note that out of all their recordings, on Baby 81, this is the best that the bass and drums have ever sounded.

BRMC play Los Angeles at The Wiltern on May 8th with that annoying iTunes commerical band, The Fratellis and the hit then rest of the country with the even more annoying-cringe inducing-Hot Topic whoring-stole your sister’s make up-band, The Horrors.

Baby 81 in stores May 1st: buy it at insound! | download it from iTunes | download it from emusic

Wow, can you believe Coachella is already here? I won’t be heading out to the desert this year since I will be able to satisfy my The Jesus and Mary Chain reunion cravings at their show at The Glasshouse on Thursday. Not going to Coachella has also left me open to seeing my favorite garage go-go band from Phoenix, AZ, The Love Me Nots, play in town this weekend. Also Let’s Get Independent returns this week, and since I have yet to make it out to one of Joe’s nights, I will definitely be checking this one out, though that will mean I will probably have to miss Parts and Labour at Safari Sams. Download Parts & Labour’s “Fractured Skys” (mp3) from the their upcoming Jagjaguwar release, Mapmaker, due in stores on May 22nd.

If you are going to JAMC on Thursday, hit me up, we can get a drink at the weird blues bar across the street with the old Russian lady bartenders.

Sunday, April 22nd: Celebration @ The Glasshouse
Currently on tour opening for The Blood Brothers, Baltimore’s Celebration play loose spastic rock, kind of like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but less catchy. Also at The El Rey on Tuesday April 24th.

Celebration - War (mp3)

Monday, April 23rd: Wires on Fire @ Silverlake Lounge
Wires On Fire had to cancel last week, don’t miss their show this week, with what is one of Los Angeles’ strongest rock n roll line up’s that includes Qui featuring David Yow and Black Fur opening. Show is free, but I would easily pay $10.

Wires On Fire - Death To Jeff Lynn (mp3)

Tuesday, April 24th: Let’s Independent @ Boardners
Joe at Radio Free Silverlake continues his monthly night at Boardners with another strong local line up that features, Eagle and Talon, Radars To The Sky, and The Prix.

Radars To The Sky - Long Walk Home (mp3)

Wednesday, April 25th: Blonde Redhead @ The Glasshouse
Blonde Redhead play a special pre Coachella show, their new album, 23, is really good.

Blonde Redhead - 23 (mp3)

Thursday, April 26th: The Jesus and Mary Chain @ The Glasshouse
The not-so-secret secret The Jesus and Mary Chain show at the Glasshouse. Supposedly Scarlett Johansson will be providing back up vocals on Sometimes Always. Giant Drag and The Icarus Line open.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Drop (mp3)

Friday, April 27: The Love Me Nots @ Alex’s Bar
Anyone who has been reading here for a while knows how much I love this band. Insanely tight energetic garage go-go spy fuzz act from Phoenix, AZ. Also at Safari Sams on Saturday April 28th.

The Love Me Nots - Move In Tight (mp3)

Saturday, April 28th: Apostle of Hustle @ Spaceland
Apostle of Hustle have made one of my favorite albums so far this year with National Anthem of Nowhere.

Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere (mp3)

The North Carolina-DC-NYC band, Black Taj, who I’m not sure if they have ever played in California before, includes former Polvo members, Steve Popson and Dave Brylawski. On tour with Trans Am and Zombi, Black Taj come to the Troubadour tonight in what promises to be an interesting well rounded show.

Black Taj play a sort of psychedelic meandering brand of rock that walks a fine line between feeling “classic” and “modern”, which might have something to do with various members living is different parts of the country soaking up different influences.

Make sure to get to the Trouabdour early tonight to catch Black Taj’s set, they probably hit the stage around 8:30pm.

Download “Colver” (mp3)

and “Woke Up Tired” (mp3) from the band’s Amish Records self-titled release, Black Taj.

Black Taj is OUT NOW: buy it at insound! | download it with iTunes | download it from emusic

It always a little odd when a band releases their 3rd or 4th album as a “Self Titled” album, which is just what Limbeck have done with their new album and 3rd full length release. If I can draw one conclusion from the phenomenon which has been witnessed in the past, is that when a band does this, it is the band making statement that this album best represents what they have all along intended their band to sound like.

With Limbeck, Limbeck had a lot more time to experiment with sounds and instrumentation than past recording sessions, with the result being a more mature as well complex effort. So much so that the band had to add a fifth member to their line up so that they could pull off the new songs live.

Hopefully this new album will find the band a wider audience as I think they are often written off as by the phrase, “yeah, I used like them when I was in high school”, which may or may not be a circumstance resulting from their geographic location (Orange County) and their record label (Doghouse Records), but is certainly not a reason for dismissing the band or their songs.

Limbeck kick off their US tour with Hot Rod Circuit and The Forecast tonight at Chain Reaction (hey hey, high school, if you got it flaunt it) in Anaheim and then play the Troubadour tomorrow night (April 19th).

Download “Big Drag” (mp3) from their new album Limbeck.

Limbeck is OUT NOW: buy it at insound! | download it from iTunes | download it from emusic

Rewritable Content covered The Sky Drops last week, but I just wanted to throw a little reinforcement their way as they are making their way through Southern California this week. I realize this quite a busy week for shows here in Los Angeles, but if the bands playing the “Now Blog This” showcase at The Scene just aren’t you thing, then I suggest going to The Echo on Thursday (April 19th) night to see The Sky Drops open for Spindrift and The Stevenson Ranch Davidians (both of whom come highly recommended and have been featured here before). The Sky Drops will also be playing at Club Violaine @ Roberto’s Club on Saturday (April 21st), apparently this is LA’s shoegaze club, though I’ve never heard of it.

Falling somewhere between the sound of early 90’s era Subpop bands and My Bloody Valentine, this two piece from Wilmington, Delaware will kick off their diy cross country trek tomorrow night in San Diego with Spindrift at Club Pussy Galore at the SDSC.

Download “Green To Red” (mp3)

and “Now Would Be” (mp3) from their 2006 ep, Clouds of People.

Additional songs are available on the band’s website.

OUT NOW: download it from iTunes