Audio Exposure

A few years back, a buddy of mine Adam started a nonprofit organization with a friend of his call Critical Exposure. The aim of Critical Exposure was to provide cameras and photography instruction to underserved kids in the Baltimore public school system - you don't need to watch an entire season of The Wire to get that this system is broken. Not only do these kids learn a valuable trade in photography but they are encouraged to take photos of the decrepit conditions of their schools which in turn increases awareness and mobilizes public support of the great problems these schools encounter on a daily basis.

Now, some other close friends, Jared & Stacey, have created the music site Audio Exposure to benefit Critical Exposure. For every legal mp3 link posted, one dollar is donated to Critical Exposure. Check out the site to add a song or to download a host of songs ranging from indie to 80's metal. And while you are at it, consider donating to a great cause.

The Sea and Cake

The Sea and Cake

When I was first really getting into music in the late 1980's as a teenager I was always fascinated by the concept of a local scene. Initially, it was the scenes in Athens, GA, Minneapolis and Boston, but by the time college and the early 90's had arrived there were scores of scenes in places like Chapel Hill, Amherst, Louisville, Austin and of course, Seattle. All of this was going on while I was living in the most incestuous scene of all, Washington DC. Nowadays, one thinks of Portland, Brooklyn or Omaha although many of the aforementioned scenes still thrive to this day (yes, yes, yes, I realize I neglected to mention Manchester, Montreal and Glasgow, but for the purposes of this post we are talking about American indie rock).

For me, something that takes a scene to the next level is that previously mentioned incest or cross-pollination that exists between bands within a scene. Take Janet Weiss in Portland - most famous as the drumming force behind Sleater-Kinney, she also plays drum with ex-husband, Sam Coomes, in Quasi and is now behind the kit for Steve Malkmus and the Jicks.

As I spent more and more time thinking about the concept of a scene, I forgot probably the most vital scene of the last ten years - Chicago. Given my east coast bias, I often forget the great midwestern mecca where styles collide and new ones develop. Much like DC or Seattle, there are well respected independent labels like Touch and Go, Thrill Jockey and Quarter Stick that document the scene on vinyl (or at least digitally). Chicago may just be my new DC.

Which brings me to the true subject of my post - The Sea and Cake. In many ways, The Sea and Cake are a Chicago indie pop supergroup with members of Tortoise, Gastr del Sol, and The Coctails in the ranks. Singer/guitarist Sam Prekop and guitarist Archer Prewitt are accomplished solo artists in their own right. This summer saw the release of their first album in four years entitled Everybody out on Thrill Jockey. Although I've had the album since release it was only in the last couple of weeks that I have fully digested it. Gorgeous pop songs that while they don't blow you away, don't disappoint either. To sum it up in one word - it is dreamy.

Check out "Coconut" from Everybody
Coconut (mp3)

Best of Boston Tournament

Buffalo Tom

So my buddy Mike referred me to a contest that the Boston Herald is currently conducting. Designed like the NCAA basketball tournament, they have developed brackets of the best 64 songs to come out of Boston over the last 25 years. The list features the usual suspects like the Pixies, Buffalo Tom, Belly, Throwing Muses, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Dinosaur jr., New Kids on the Block and New Edition. Other names on the list are a veritable who's who of bands quickly signed up in the post-Nirvana frenzy of the very early '90's (Juliana Hatfield, Gigolo Aunts, O Positive, Cold Water Flat, The Dambuilders). Some classics from the '80's (The Cars, Del Fuegos, Gang Green, Til Tuesday). And just enough from this century (Dropkick Murphys, Pernice Brothers).

I had a lot of fun setting up my brackets. They set them up so a band like New Edition would go up against New Kids on the Block in the first round (and accordingly, Dropkick Murphys take on Gang Green). There were some interesting match-ups as Tonya Donelly had to take on herself in a Belly vs. Throwing Muses first round bout. Also, I had Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom taking on his brother Paul of Cold Water flat in the third round. In the end in my bracket, I had a final round contest between the Pixies' "Debaser" and Buffalo Tom's "Taillights Fade". This was an unbelievably difficult choice since both songs are in my top 50 of all time. In the end, I went with "Taillights Fade" on gut alone. It really was a pick 'em.

Set up your bracket here and then download some tunes.

Pixies "Gouge Away - live" (mp3)
Pixies "Debaser" (mp3)
Cold Water Flat "Magnetic North Pole" (mp3)

Voxtrot

The last several weeks have seen the release of some of the best albums of the year (Caribou, The Sea and Cake, New Pornographers). But the one album I truly cannot get out of my head is the self titled release by Austin five-piece Voxtrot. Ramesh Srivastava and his mates present 11 distinct compositions rooted in indie rock but are much more adventurous than your typical band of said genre (take for example, The Arctic Monkeys, for whom Voxtrot will be opening this fall).

Check out some songs from the new album
Kid Gloves
Firecracker
Brother in Conflict

And some older stuff as well
Trouble from Your Biggest Fan EP
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives from Mothers... EP
The Start of Something from Raised By Wolves EP

Weekend in Baltimore Mix

I got my first chance to check out some music since moving to Charm City in June. Between work and a new kid it has been tough to get and check out the scene. Yesterday, I made my way to 36th Street for Hampden Fest drawn mainly by the prospect of seeing The Oranges Band for the first time live. So here's a couple of songs by Baltimore's finest plus a few other tunes I can't stop playing on this beautiful September weekend.

The Oranges Band

Ride the Nuclear Wave (mp3)
OK Apartment (mp3)

Voxtrot
Firecracker (mp3)

Caribou
Melody Day (mp3)

Band of Horses
Is There a Ghost (mp3)

Les Savy Fav
The Equestrian (mp3)

Broken Social Scene
Stars and Sons (mp3)

Bad Religion

It has been a long time between posts. Between work and a new baby at home, it has been hard to sit down and write. Time to actually listen to music has been rare as well - often limited to my Ipod while walking the dog. Bad Religion's new album New Maps of Hell has been on heavy rotation while on these late night walks.

The sixteen tracks come at you with the subtly of a tank - many clocking in under two minutes. The subject matter is unmistakable, dissecting the war in Iraq from different perspectives. The band doesn't tread far from home base musically but who cares as they improve on what they do best - west coast punk rock for the thinking man. If you don't believe me check out the best 1:26 of recorded music released this year.

Heroes & Martyrs (mp3)

Against Me!

Quick one for Sunday. Gainesville, Florida's socially conscious, folk influenced punk band Against Me! have a brand new album, New Wave, and a gushing review (4 1/2 stars) and interview piece in the new issue of Spin. Similar in style and content to bands like Rise Against (no relation - but you can't tell me that having the word "against" in the title of your band doesn't pigeon hole you) where Against Me! sets themselves apart is in their blatant love of folk music and those who have bridged the punk-folk gap (see Billy Bragg and Ted Leo as examples).

Check out Borne on the FM Waves (mp3) featuring Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara. It is probably the best summer song I've heard all summer.

Ian Svenonius - Talk Show Host?

If I were ever to make a list of the DC artists I 've seen at shows over the years the top spot would be a close race between Ian Svenonius (of Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, and Weird War) and Allison Wolfe (of Bratmobile). Both are impossible to miss, with individual styles all their own. Seeing Ian at shows at the Black Cat or even around DC, I was always struck by three things. 1). He is a misleadingly small man (as is Guy Picciotto, for that matter), 2.) His hair is fucking amazing and 3.) He is the definition of sartorial. In many respects, his offstage persona was in direct opposition to his onstage persona. While onstage he is the white James Brown from PG County, offstage he appeared (to me) to be quiet and almost unapproachable.

Now Ian has his own talkshow called Soft Focus on VBS TV. Filmed live before a studio audience at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, Ian interviews such titans of music as Chan Marshall of Cat Power, Ian Mackaye and Henry Rollins. What comes across is that Svenonius is a hilarious person asking probing questions while keeping it light. In my judgement, any person who can get Ian Mackaye to laugh on camera has got serious talent.

Check out Soft Focus on VBS TV.

Palomar - live in DC

NYC-based indie popsters (and friends of DTT) Palomar returned for a pre-Fourth of July show at the Black Cat in DC. Finishing off a 10 day mini-tour of the east coast and midwest that saw them playing with the likes of The Wrens, Bob Mould and Voxtrox, the band played a set that focused on material from their last two albums. The set opened with my son's favorite "Knitting for Pleasure" featuring Sarah Brockett's prodigious fingerwork on the bass. Other highlights included "The Planeiac", "Our Haunt", "You're Keeping Us Up" and "Albacore". The 12-year-old young man working the soundboard needed a little help in learning how to mix in vocals but despite the difficulty at times hearing Rachel Warren's voice the band sounded great. Check out their new album All Things, Forests (Misra) their best effort to date.

Our Haunt (mp3)

Interpol - new single/video

Just a quick post for Saturday. When Interpol released Turn On The Bright Lights in 2002 it was somewhat of a revelation to me. Sure the Joy Division comparisons were clear and warranted but there was something more to them - was it their style? their attitude? It wasn't entirely clear to me then or now. 2004's Antics was by no means a sophomore slump but it lacked some of the intrigue of their debut.

Now, July 10 signifies the release date of their new album and major label debut Our Love To Admire. The debut single, "The Heinrich Maneuver", has been getting a ton of play on our local indie station (WTMD 89.7 FM) and I have to say it is catchy as all hell. Also check out the video.

The Heinrich Maneuver (mp3)

The Heinrich Maneuver (video)

Trixie DVD - tons of new clips

I mentioned the great Brendan Canty/Christoph Green DVD series Burn To Shine here in the past (see posts). In addition to upcoming BTS installments in Seattle and Louisville, the production company that Canty and Green started, TrixieDVD, has ventured into new territories. Out now is a live Jeff Tweedy disc and in the coming months, Trixie plans on releasing live DVDs from Bob Mould (featuring Canty on drums), Wilco, and Glen Kotche. The boys also filmed The Decemberists at the 9:30 Club in DC although no word on whether that material will be released.

Trixie has now posted clips from each of its releases. I, for one, am most eagerly awaiting the Bob Mould live at the 9:30 club DVD which was filmed in October of 2005 and set for release this fall. I saw Bob and his band just a few days prior to filming at the Paradise in Boston and it was amazing to see him back in peak form. If you are in a rush and can only check out one clip then pick the Burn To Shine 1 in DC. This clip features Ian Svenonius (Make Up, Nation of Ulysses) and his new band Weird War singing the brilliant yet absurd "AK-47" - you also get a little taste of Ted Leo performing a solo rendition of "Bleeding Powers" months before the release of Shake The Sheets.

From Burn To Shine 1 in DC - clips of Weird War and Ted Leo
From Burn To Shine 2 in Chicago - clips of Shellac and Tight Phantomz
From Burn To Shine 3 in Portland - clips of The Shins and The Gossip
From Bob Mould - Circle of Friends - Live at the 9:30 - A Good Idea
From Wilco - Shake It Off - Shake It Off
From Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasures - clips
From Glenn Kotche Electronic Press Kit - Monkey Chant
From The Decemberists - Live At the 9:30 Club

The National live in DC

Fresh off the release of one of the best albums of the first half of 2007, Boxer, The National arrived in our Nation's Capital for a show at the 9:30 Club. Drawing heavily from both the new album and its predecessor, Alligator, the band was able to make the space in the club seem larger or smaller depending on the song (or even portions of a song). "Fake Empire" and "Mistaken For Strangers" went from intimate to fierce in the matter of a few bars and an encore of "Abel" was out of control. And I can't help but think that the band has listened to their far share of Leonard Cohen, The Replacements and Guided By Voices.

All of this was recorded live for the good folks at NPR's All Songs Considered. Check out their site here replete with a podcast of the concert, an interview with the band and a slideshow from the 9:30 Club. Enjoy

Velocity Girl

As I wrapping up my time in Providence, getting ready to move to Baltimore next week, I think I have become a little nostalgic. Concurrently, I've been checking out the schedule at all of the local Baltimore and DC clubs to see who's coming to town this summer. When I made my way over to the Black Cat site I noticed the lovely Sarah Shannon is performing in a few weeks. Back in the early 90's Sarah fronted the indie-pop outfit Velocity Girl who along with Unrest provided the yin of the DC scene to yang of Fugazi, Jawbox, Hoover and the like. Their early work was heavily influenced by the British shoegazer scene of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain and Ride while their later work was much more poppy (enough to make it on to a Volkswagon ad). Check out my favorite song released as single on Slumberland records in January of 1992.

My Forgotten Favorite (mp3)

The Clientele

London's dream-pop trio, The Clientele, first came to my attention with Strange Geometry, their highly regarded 2005 album. But it wasn't until 2006 that I paid the album any attention. I had read plenty about the band in the music press and their affiliation with Merge Records certainly helped. No, it took Spoon's Britt Daniels to name it his 2005 album of the year for me to listen in earnest (i love the lists).

The month marks the release of their second effort for Merge entitled God Save The Clientele and it is replete with many of the same simple yet beautiful dreamy pop songs that made Strange Geometry so easy to listen to. Check out

Bookshop Cassanova (mp3)
Somebody Changed (mp3)

Ted Leo/Pharmacists Live in Toronto

My first experience seeing Ted and the boys on foreign soil proved to be fruitful. Last night's show at Toronto's Mod Club was energetic as usual. James Canty of French Toast (and a few other bands you may have heard of) bolstered the sound with a second guitar and is as active on stage as the perpetually frenetic Leo. Dave Lerner and Chris Wilson meanwhile have continued to improve as a rhythm section par excellence. The show weighed heavily on the recently released Living With The Living, which in my opinion is Ted's most complete work to date. Ted was up to his usual between song banter referencing the might of the New Jersey Nets (currently ensconced in a playoff battle with the Toronto Raptors) which led to some anti-Jersey heckling. Overall, an excellent show. I forgot to bring paper and a writing instrument but this is my best memory of the set list order (hey, I'm not Fluxblog man).

Mod Club, Toronto, ON 5/2/07
My Vien Ilin (intro)/Sons of Cain/Dial Up/Me & Mia/Army Bound/Colleen/Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone/Counting Down the Hours/The High Party/Annunciation Day.../Bomb Repeat Bomb/Old Souls Know/A Bottle of Buckie/Little Dawn/The Unwanted Things/The Lost Brigade /Biomusicology

Encore
Dirty Old Town/Timorous Me/Walking to Do/Rappaport's Testament: I Never Gave Up

Luna - Tell Me Do You Miss Me

Well, it's another in a series of music related movie reviews. Whenever the wife heads out of town for work, I load up the Netflix queue and this one arrived last week. Tell Me Do You Miss Me documents the NYC-based indie-pop band on the final tour of Japan, Europe and the States finalizing with a four night stand at the Bowery Ballroom in February of 2005.

When Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon moved to western Massachusetts earlier this decade, Luna took over the reins from Sonic Youth as the connsumate downtown NYC band. So much of the story revolves around the relationship of singer/guitarist/Galaxie 500 alum Dean Wareham and guitarist Sean Eden. Wareham is the face of the band - handsome and reserved. Eden is the goofball of the group appearing suspended in a state of adolescence as he tries so hard at finding love on the road (Wareham, of course, is with the devastatingly beautiful bassist of the band, Britta Phillips). Outside of the live performances, the sometimes comic, sometimes bittersweet interactions between Wareham and Eden make a viewing worthwhile.

While you are waiting for the film to arrive check out this song from Wareham and Phillips' post-Luna project, Dean and Britta.
Dean and Britta "Singer Sing" (mp3)

The Ponys

I first became aware of this Chicago-based psych/garage rock band upon viewing Brendan Canty's second Burn to Shine DVD (the one filmed in Chicago, duh). Lots of reverb, simple rhythms that sound like they're coming straight from 1964. Having recently signed to Matador, their most recent release Turn the Lights Out came out last month and features the songs linked below. Short post today, what are you gonna do?

Double Vision (mp3)
Poser Psychotic (mp3)

Love Of Diagrams

In preparation of seeing Ted Leo/Pharmacists later this spring I wanted to check out his support act, Love Of Diagrams. The Melbourne trio play danceable postpunk in the tradition of Pretty Girls Make Graves and Dig Me Out-era Sleater-Kinney. They recently signed to Matador and their stateside debut Mosaic comes out on August, 10. Also check out Ted and the boys show at the 9:30 Club in DC recorded for NPR.

"Pace Or The Patience" (mp3) from Mosaic
"No Way Out" (mp3) previously released

The National

I will keep it short.... I was very late to the online music world. I can honestly say I've never downloaded a single track from Napster despite knowing friends with entire hard drives full of mp3s. In my pre-blog life, I used Epitonic to find a lot of new stuff. Without exception, The National was my greatest find on Epitonic and now a few years later everyone and their brother knows about (or should) this amazing five-piece from Brooklyn. Their 2005 release Alligator made a lot of Best Of lists so it is no surprise that new album, The Boxer, due out May 22 on Beggar's Banquet will be eagerly anticipated.

Check out the single Fake Empire (mp3)

Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird first gained notice back in the mid-90's for his violin playing in the Squirrel Nut Zippers, that group of indie rockers turned 20's revivalists that coincided with that unfortunate Swing revival (thanks a lot, Jon Favreau). He went to form Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire and has for the last several years recorded as solo artist. I have to admit I didn't take notice until 2005's & The Mysterious Production of Eggs and his incredible single "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left". Not unlike John Darnielle and the Mountain Goats, his music can be difficult to categorize - folk?, indie??? The best solution is just to listen. His brand new album Armchair Apocrypha is due out on March 20th on Fat Possum records, which is no longer just putting out Delta Blues music as exhibited by both Andrew Bird and the new Dinosaur jr. album due out in May. Check out these songs.

Heretics (mp3) from Armchair Apocrypha
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left (mp3) from & The Mysterious Production of Eggs