Live Reviews
Twin Shadow At Union Hall: Review
Johnny Sanford :: Friday, June 25th, 2010 12:45 pm
There’s been a throwback in Brooklyn. An 80′s New Wave Renaissance. Leading the way are bands like Hooray for Earth, MiniBoone, and new on the horizon is Twin Shadow. With a new album that’s been slated for the fall to be released on Terrible Records, the band’s sound is a potent mix of synth, keyboards, bumping bass and flashy guitar with the spastic guitar rhythms of 80′s greats like Duran Duran. The band came on at midnight this past Thursday in the tiny, cramped space in Union Hall and led the charge for the new-wave revolution. MORE »
Bands, Should I Listen?
Department of Eagles To Release Archive 2003-2006
Amy Rose Spiegel :: Friday, April 23rd, 2010 2:15 pm
Department of Eagles, responsible for one of the best albums of 2008, the lush, swooning In Ear Park, are releasing a collection of “lost tracks” spanning from 2003 to 2006. It chronicles the progression of the band, comprised of Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen and school roommate Fred Nicolaus, from like-minded college students to fully-formed and capable musicians and promises to be an interesting listen. The compilation, Archive 2003-2006, is due out on American Dust on July 20, but you can stream the track “Brightest Minds” on Pitchfork now. It’s interesting to hear a band so frequently praised for their symphonic sound rely on much less production, especially on the scattered, fluttering piano and guitar melodies. If you’re one of those people who likes to obsessively peruse a band’s musical history, it’s definitely worth a listen. But hey, even if you’re not, it’s still a pretty enjoyable song. Check out “Brightest Minds” here.
News
New Neon Indian Song, “Sleep Paralysist,” Produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor
Amy Laviero :: Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 2:20 pm
Green Label, a record label aimed at pushing independent artists has just put out a new track by Neon Indian entitled “Sleep Paralysist.” The label, which also got its hands dirty with indie-rock artists Matt & Kim, Chromeo, Holy Ghost!, Flosstradamus, The Cool Kids, and Solid Gold, to name a few, has posted Neon Indian‘s new single on its website, where you can listen to and download the track for free. MORE »
Bands
Class Actress Remix Chris Taylor’s “Ghosts”
Amy Laviero :: Friday, February 19th, 2010 2:45 pm
Last year, Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear teamed up with Ethan Silverman to form Terrible Records, a record label through which he has released solo-tracks under the name CANT.
Class Actress are also signed to Terrible Records and have been receiving a good amount of praise for their ability to make electro-pop unique; something that few have been able to pull off. Their stuff is definitely reminiscent of vintage Madonna, specifically the track “All the Saints,” though Elizabeth Harpe’s voice is much smoother and easier to listen to than Madge’s. The trio also remix tracks and have successfully reworked CANT’s haunting and stripped down track, “Ghosts,” into a danceable, club-worthy song. Beginning with a throbbing beat under Taylor’s vocals, the track builds layers upon synthesized layers until its climax midway through. I would have liked to hear it incorporate a bit more of of Taylor’s vocals, but the song is fun nonetheless.
You can check out the remix here.
Click through for a full list of Class Actress tour dates. MORE »
Events
Vincent Moon Screens Take-Away Shows in NYC This Weekend
Matt Kiebus :: Friday, February 12th, 2010 4:15 pm
La Blogotheque’s founder Vincent Moon is holding a special screening of his “Take-Away Shows & Other Music Shorts” this Saturday at Union Docs in Williamsburg at 7:30 p.m. The 30-year-old Parisian music director has already put his uniquely innovative stamp on music videos. His La Blogotheque website is a collection of acoustic videos shot guerrilla style throughout Paris. Bands ranging from REM, The National, and Arcade Fire to Phoenix, Grizzly Bear, and Vampire Weekend have all participated in Moon’s Take-Away Shows. Moon’s real talent lays in being able to use the backdrop of beautiful city, like Paris, without aid of special effects, quick cuts, and multiple takes to create a striking finished product. The result gives fans a more intimate relationship to the music. MORE »
Bands
Newest Fad in Band Names: Rainbows
Nick Nicoludis :: Thursday, January 28th, 2010 5:00 pm
It is always interesting when new trends in band names arise. We can all remember the ‘bear’ trend (see: Panda Bear, Grizzly Bear, Bear Hands). There was also the ‘black’ trend with acts like The Black Kids, Black Keys, Black Lips, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Also, how could we forget the ‘zany spelling’ trend that encompasses acts like Wavves, Lovvers and MGMT. Now we are in the dawning of a new era in band name fads but, this time it is something a little different: rainbows. MORE »
News
Stream New Music From Acrylics
Isaac Lekach :: Friday, December 4th, 2009 1:30 pm
Acrylics, the NY band produced and signed by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, have posted new material here. If you’re so inclined (which you should be) you can purchase the EP here. And lastly, for those in the area, check ‘em out at the Mercury Lounge next Monday with Violens and Class Actress.
News
Edward Droste Leaves Twitter, World Dies Just a Little Bit More
Brenna Ehrlich :: Monday, November 23rd, 2009 2:20 pm
That saddest of days has finally come: Edward Droste, of indie darling band Grizzly Bear, has left us all in the dark, reaching out with weak hands toward where the illumination he oft dispensed once streamed. No, he didn’t break up the band-Droste quit Twitter. One cannot even take a trip down memory lane by reading his old Tweets, because he has totally erased his account. Those of you who followed the musician will recall that his bio once read: “I will do this until I inevitably say something I regret and erase the profile.” Which leaves us with the overwhelming question: What was the regret-worthy sentiment that caused E.D. to beat his hasty retreat from the digital realm?
Staff Playlist
Songs That Suck
SXB :: Friday, November 20th, 2009 5:30 pm
In honor of Vampire Day, we’ve put together a playlist of songs that suck. Don’t fault us for subjectivity. Remember songwriters, just because you wrote something you think is great doesn’t mean you actually have to play it in front of people. Check out the horror after the jump.
News
Grizzly Bear Gets in Bus Accident, All of Brooklyn Almost Has Panic Attack
Brenna Ehrlich :: Monday, November 16th, 2009 12:35 pm
Pitchfork reports this morning that Grizz and Co. got in a bus accident on Thursday night in Germany. They’re all copacetic, through, so please stop crying you sensitive children, you. It seems as though it was an honest-to-goodness accident, but, still-I suspect some foul play. There were tons of BK bands in that NY Mag “40 Songs that Define Brooklyn” listicle that would have totally loved to make the cover in lieu of the Bear. Especially when GB’s contribution to the list, “Knife,” came out, what, like two years ago (which is pretty much 100 years on the indie time scale). Heavy hangs the head that wears the crown, boys. Heavy hangs the head.
Links
Today In Music
Brenna Ehrlich :: Friday, October 23rd, 2009 2:00 pm
Electric sheep, young lions, prehistoric beasts, maple leaves and grizzly bears-check out this menagerie of links after the jump.
