LA / LBC / OC
Long Beach’s Magic Lantern have finally gone and released a new sonic document after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Eagerly anticipated by those who have been biding their time waiting for the band to get on with their uber limited cassette only and CD-R releases (their Self-Titled CD-R was limited to 30), “High Beams”, the band’s latest opus [...]
News Bytes Twitter
When it comes to the Two Lone Swordsmen’s kind of music, which for lack of a better word I will risk sounding like an old man and call “electronic”, I am admittedly far from being any kind of authority. I do however, know what I like; imagery. If lyrics are absent or minimal, then the music has to take over and tell the story, paint the picture. Two Lone Swordsmen, also known as Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood, are able to do just that. Wrong Meeting, the duo’s latest full-length release in what has been a slue of EP’s, singles, remixes and LP’s, is actually their first record to have consistent vocals throughout (supplied mostly by Weatherall). Even with the addition of vocals though, the imagery is there - the vast musical landscape is still there. The vocal style isn’t even impressive, in fact it is fairly monotone, but it’s a good thing in this instance; the singing doesn’t compete with the music, it just adds yet another layer. Read more »
Nestled somewhere in between the sound of Cursive and The Pretenders lies the NY/Philly quartet, The Flesh, who kick off a 3 night stand here in Los Angeles tonight at Spaceland, followed by Safari Sam’s on Tuesday and Boardner’s on Wednesday.
The Flesh just saw the release of their second full length album, Firetower, an alluring set of artrock anthems that leave me feeling the same as I do about another young NY act, Nakatomi Plaza; not completely sold, but damn if I’m not intrigued. And I must admit, both band’s songs get stuck in my head, see The Flesh’s title track, “Firetower” (below), and Nakatomi Plaza’s “Not Hopeless” (mp3).
Download “Firetower” (mp3)
[audio:http://www.putontheflesh.com/firetower.mp3]
and “Truant” (mp3) from their new album Firetower out now on Gern Blandsten.
[audio:http://www.gernblandsten.com/mp3/The_Flesh-The_Truant.mp3]
Stream “Firetower” in it’s entirety here.
Sunday, May 20th: Glass Candy @ The Echo
Part Time Punks continue to book awsome bands, I know it’s hard to get out on Sundays, but Glass Candy are more than worth it. Though if you can’t make it out tonight, they will be back in June I believe with Chromatics.
[audio:gc_missbroadway.mp3]
Glass Candy - Miss Broadway (mp3)
Monday, Bodies of Water @ The Echo
This would the night I would choose to check out Bodies Of Water, as The Parson Red Heads are on the bill. Bodies of Water sound like they should be from another country, I’m not sure if that makes sense, but I just don’t picture this band calling LA their home.
[audio:http://www.bodiesofwater.net/songs/BodiesofWater-TheseAretheEyes.mp3]
Bodies Of Water - These Are The Eyes (mp3)
Tuesday, May 22nd: Entrance @ 6th Street Warehouse
The New Ship guys bring you the psyched out “freak folk” 60’s rock of Teepee Record’s, Entrance. I will be definitely making it out for this one, I got to see how he gets some of the sounds he does the new album, Prayer of Death.
[audio:entrance_grb.mp3]
Entrance - Grim Reaper Blues (mp3)
Wednesday, May 23rd: Great Northern @ Bordello
I know I just recommended Great Northern last week, but their set was so good and I know a lot people missed it, I am recommending them again this week for those who either skipped their record release show last week or couldn’t get in.
[audio:http://www.eeniemeenie.com/TheMiddle.mp3]
Great Northern - The Middle (mp3)
Thursday, May 24th: Beach House @ The Knitting Factory
Beach House were all the hot shit last time they came through town as they were at the height of all their blogger love. There is much less talk of the band right now, but the songs are still good and have held up since all the hype.
[audio:http://www.carparkrecords.com/beachhouse.mp3]
Beach House - Master Of None (mp3)
Friday, May 25th: Look Daggers @ Troubadour
2Mex and Ikey Owens new band, Look Daggers, they have a new EP out and are just starting to play around. Read more about them in my prior post.
[audio:http://www.compoundstudio.com/mp3/LD-Spazz.mp3]
Look Daggers - New Wave Spazz Out (mp3)
Saturday, May 26th: Fifty On Their Heels @ The Clinic
San Diego’s Fifty On Their Heels come highy recommended by Cat Dirt (though he may be a little bias), and the New Motherfuckers kill it.
[audio:foth_iamtheriot.mp3]
Fifty On Their Heels - I Am The Riot (mp3)
I think Goon Moon’s new album Licker’s Last Leg might have passed under a lot of people’s radar when it was released last week, which is quite a shame since the album would be an interest to anyone who is a fan (hardcore or casual) of it’s member’s former and current projects as well as the album’s various contributors.
Goon Moon is Jeordie White (aka Twiggy Ramirez from his day in Marilyn Manson), Chris Goss (Masters of Reality and QOTSA/Kyuss producer), and Zach Hill (Hella). Licker’s Last Leg is the band’s first full length (released on Ipecac), though most of the tracks came from the session for 2005’s ep I Got A Brand New Egg Laying Machine. Contributing to LLL are Josh Freese (The Vandals/A Perfect Circle/NIN), Josh Homme (QOTSA), Dave Catching (EODM/Mondo Generator), Whitey Kirst (Iggy Pop), and Peter Perdichizzi (The Flys), which really gives it a Desert Sessions feel, as the album jumps around a bit in style from song to song.
The band doesn’t have any immediate touring plans as White is pretty busy in NIN and Goss is holed up in the studio with The Duke Spirit, and Hill has his hands full with Hella. But there is always hope for a one off, which White expressed when he spoke to Billboard earlier this year, “The Nine Inch Nails touring schedule is not too thick, so I think there are going to be some holes where we’re going to be doing some shows this year.”
Download “Feel Like This” (mp3) from Licker’s Last Leg, via Southern
[audio:gm-Feel_Like_This.mp3]
and download “Rock Weird (Weird Rock)” (mp3) from their 2005 ep, I Got A Brand New Egg Laying Machine, via Suicide Squeeze.
[audio:http://www.suicidesqueeze.net/mp3/goon_rock_weird.mp3]
Licker’s Last Leg is OUT NOW: Insound | Amazon
I meant get something more up on Melt Banana earlier in the week, but just couldn’t muster the energy to get on here to do so. So this is little late, but all is not lost, as the band plays in Pomona tonight.
I keep coming back to Melt Banana’s new album Bambi’s Dilemma whenever I want to listen to something that is just more out there than some of my usual fare, think something like a cross between The Blood Brothers, Tomahawk, and Hi-Standard.
They have been together for 15 years, released 8 full lengths and 23 EPs and seemed to have found more success in the US and in Europe. They usually tour the states every one or two years, so try to make it a point to get out to the Glasshouse tonight. Don’t forget your earplugs (you’re really going to need them) and get their early for Free Moral Agents.
Download “Cat Brain Land” (mp3) from Bambi’s Dilemma
[audio:mb_catbrainland.mp3]
and download “Blank Page of the Blind” (mp3) from Rock Sound’s Sound Check #97.
[audio:mb_blankpageoftheblind.mp3]
Bambi’s Dilemma is OUT NOW: Insound | Amazon
