Today's
Quick Mention: As was the case yesterday, I have a
couple of things to mention. First up is a bit of news
about local act the Calm Blue Sea, who will be putting on a
killer
show at the Alamo Drafthouse later this
month. I will be there. You should too.
Secondly, SOTO has pretty much officially started SXSW.
Today Noah put up a few films he thinks you should catch at
the festival, I'll start tweeting (follow
me if you aren't already!) tonight from, hopefully, I
Love You, Man and Ong Bak 2 and there will only
be a couple of recommendation-filled posts until the
music-centric portions of SXSW take over next Tuesday.
Film updates, podcasts and the like are all on hold for a
nice while. Time to get exhausted.
Here's one last normal EP.
Enjoy.
:Crystal
Stilts - Love Is A Wave:
I still haven't gotten around to fully checking out this
band's debut full length, Alight Of Night, but that
doesn't mean I'm not excited for their upcoming 7", which
features a couple of new songs. Although, I will say
that the buzz on my end for the release is generated
entirely from this wonderful piece of fuzzed-out retro pop.
Poke around Slumberland Records for more details. Or,
if you want, repeatedly visit your local record store until
they give you a copy.
:The
Dodos - Biggest Light Of All (Kath Bloom Cover):
In no way can I claim to know a single thing about Kath
Bloom, so I won't be bothering with comparisons between this
version and the original. Instead, all that will be
mentioned is that this is an incredibly beautiful song and
so is the rest of the tribute album (other artists included:
the Concretes, Devendra Banhart, Bill Callahan). You
have to seek out Tribute To The Songs Of Kath Bloom
on Chapter Music in April.
:Viva
Voce - Devotion:
While the last song I shared from this Portland-based act
may have been called We Do Not Fuck Around, it wasn't
exactly a big, thundering piece of indie rock. So,
initially it was a little surprising when I clicked play and
a stream of driving guitars, pounding drums and smooth
vocals poured out all over the damn place. Did their
last effort have stuff like this? I need to know so
that I can seek it out before Rose City is released
by Barsuk on May 26.
:Alligators
- Where Does It Hide?:
Hailing from a slew of bands like Time To Fly, Map Of June
and Arper (I know none of these, but there were apparently
well liked in the greater Bremerton area. Or
something), this quintet make good pop music. And by
good, I don't necessarily mean unique or the kind that you
run frantically next door to tell your neighbor about.
No, I'm talking well crated, tightly wound, good ol' tunes
that you just can't help but like. Piggy And Cups
is out on Applehouse Records now.
:Silversun
Pickups - Panic Switch:
I knew there was a new track from Brian Aubert and Co.
floating around, but it wasn't until my new friends over at
We
All Want Someone To Shout For posted it up
that I actually took the time to listen to it.
Personally, I'm not sure it doesn't sound like it would have
been very comfortable on their last record of mid-90s grunge
rock tunes, but I like it. Their drummer is awesome.
Swoon is due out on Dangerbird Records in
April.
- John Laird -
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