Check out the premiere of the video “Laredo,” the first official single from Band of Horses’ third album Infinite Arms. I’m not sure what all the blogger backlash is about, their third album isn’t bad compared to Cease To Begin. Sure Ben Bridwell’s vocals come off a little pretentious with the 70′s gold sounding doubled vocals, just a little different than what we’re use to.
Writing about these guys sure brings back memories of seeing them play in the studio.
Vice’s Motherboard has a cool video of synth pop legend Vince Clarke. His digital and analogue synthesizer studio in the woods of Maine will make you go ‘whoa’. Who knew the founder of Depeche Mode, Yazoo and Erasure ended up in America.
In other news if you are wondering; his musical partner Andy Bell from Erasure will release his second solo album, Non Stop, on May 25 via Mute Records.
Washington, D.C. area indie rock act, Unrest, were a band I first heard about in my teenage years from the inevitable source that most teens in my situation discovered interesting music, MTV’s 120 minutes. Today, that station holds about as much worth as the steamy pile of warm shit I pick up off the sidewalk every morning after my dog generously leaves it there for me. But, back then, it played a significant part in what I listened to, kinda like how everyone gets a big veiny hard-on every time a Pitchfork staffer graces a record with a number greater than eight. I’m not sure if it was during Matt Pinfield’s or Lewis Largent’s reign on 120 Minutes in the early 90s when I first saw the video for Unrest’s catchy pop song “Make Out Club” (I’m assuming it’s the latter).
Like most of my favorites from that time, I caught onto the group while they were on their way out, but perhaps at their best. Although “Make Out Club” was a minor MTV hit in 1993, I didn’t pick up their Simon Le Bon (don’t even say it Theo) produced album Perfect Teeth until some years down the road. Started by Teenbeat main man Mark Robinson and drummer Phil Krauth, Unrest began in 1985 as a noisy-punk improv band while they were still in high-school in Arlington, Virginia. During recording and practice the group had agreed to never play the same thing twice. Always experimentalists, Unrest’s released a slew of avant-garde (sometimes barely listenable) albums from 1985-90 including 1990’s Kustom Karnal Blaxploitation (say that fast three times), which was highlighted by their interpretation of the anthemic “Teenage Suicide” from the 80s favorite flick Heathers.
A few of Kustom’s soft and shimmering tracks hinted at the direction the band would take on its next two records, Imperial f.f.r.r. and Perfect Teeth, which also marked the arrival of bassist Bridget Cross (Velocity Girl). Imperial, the trio’s debut LP with Cross as a permanent member, mixed Unrest’s pop and experimental sensibilities into an infectious indie pop gem. Perfect Teeth, released in 1993 with its lushly crafted pop songs, light dosage of experimental tinkering, Cross’ bright and throbbing Peter Hook-inspired bass, and beautiful packaging brought the band’s sound and Robinson’s regard for British imprint Factory Records full circle.
Unrest split in 1994, but re-formed in 2005 for a one off performance at Washington, D.C.’s Black Cat for Teenbeat’s 20th Anniversary Showcase. Bridget Cross, now living in Alaska has a self-titled record out on Teenbeat under the moniker Maybe It’s Reno. Both Krauth and Robinson make appearances on the release, as well as significant other George Kuhar.
Grab “Light Command” and check out the video of “Make Out Club” (both from Perfect Teeth) below.
Video for Tickley Feather‘s scratchy bedroom track “Fancy Walking” features Philly favorite Annie Sachs tapping her toes around the occasional appearance of a tabby cat. Tickley Feather plays the POPPED! Music Festival in Philadelphia on June 22nd with Daniel Johnston and FRICTION at NYC’s Cake Shop on June 29th with Crystal Stilts, Rings, and PWRFL Power.
Skate season is in full swing and the parks are open and events are happening all over the City. I kicked things off with a new setup. My Girl deck was inspired by the groundbreaking video from Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Jackass), Fully Flared. The intro above is just a taste of the style and beauty of this work.
The video was four years in the making, and is not suprising, considering the amount of footage and dangerous work. The intro ends with a “Switch Napalm Flip”, followed by a staircase being blown up with napalm. The soundtrack is equally impressive, complimenting the different skaters’ personalities. Here’s the list by skater/feature:
Intro: M83 “Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun”
Mike Mo Capaldi: Arcade Fire “No Cars Go”
Anthony Pappalardo: Bad Brains “Don’t Bother Me”
Jesus Fernandez: Calexico “Alone Again Or”
The Royal Family: The Charlatans “The Only One I Know”
The French Connection #1: David Bowie “I Wish You Would”
The French Connection #2: Mannie Fresh “Real Big”
Cairo Foster: The Flaming Lips “The W.A.N.D.”
Jeff Lenoce, Scott Johnston, Rob Welsh: The D.O.C. “Lend Me An Ear”
Alex Olson stress: Hot Butter “Popcorn”
Alex Olson: King Diamond “One Down Two To Go”
Rick Howard: Echo & The Bunnymen “The Cutter”
Mike Carroll #1: Judas Priest “Riding On The Wind”
Mike Carroll #2: Three 6 Mafia “Triple Six Club House”
Brandon Biebel: Young Jeezy “I Love It”
Eric Koston #1: Public Enemy “Night Of The Living Baseheads”
Eric Koston #2: Public Enemy “Harder Than You Think”
