Sunday, November 22, 2009

Having cooked a pre-Thanksgiving turkey on Friday, I can assure you that this Thanksgiving will be as filling as last. And regardless of whether or not you subscribe to the myth that turkey makes you tired, I can also assure you that consuming 8 pounds of poultry in 20 minutes will have you pinned to the couch for a least a few hours. Thus it seems prudent that we cover some new music to cue up while your GI tract is working overtime this Thursday.

Frantic Clam

In my first post of 2009, I wrote about Frantic Clam’s Anatomica, so I suppose it seems only natural to bookend the year with another Frantic Clam update.  This post being my last of the regular season, let’s do that now.  If you follow the local scene, you know Frantic Clam.  They exploded into the limelight last year with a few quick EP releases.  You also know that the band was originally formed by two guys on tour in Iraq.  Hopefully you also know they’ve been putting out great music ever since.

This new track, Sasha Grey, is off their upcoming debut album, Lolita, due in Spring 2010.  Frantic Clam have been refining their sound ever since that first EP hit, and this song is no exception: it’s a little less of what the band did wrong, and a lot more of what the band does right.  Now, I’ve never quoted a press release before, but the one that came with this song made me laugh out loud alone in my apartment, let’s have a look:

"With fuzzed out guitars, obnoxious vocals, and a dash of perversity added for good measure, Sasha Grey is neither a rebuke nor a lauding of the actress's impressive list of accomplishments.  Frantic Clam celebrates all women who muster the courage to dream the impossible dreams, to accomplish the impossible feats, and capture the imagination of an entire generation held captive by their computer screens."

Couldn’t have said it more sarcastically/sincerely than that. And certainly not with the Man of la Mancha reference.  Look for the album in the Spring.  Here’s Sasha Grey.

:Frantic Clam - Sasha Grey:


Sunset

John included a new Sunset track in his podcast last week, but I can’t let news from Sunset go uncommented-on. The band are prepping a new release on Autobus Recs called Gold Dissolves to Grey, which is going to be limited to 500 copies, which means, you’re gonna want to buy in early and watch that value soar (remember, supply’s gotta meet demand).  Whether or not Bill Baird is single-handedly creating the next asset pricing bubble, I can’t say, but he does make great videos.  This one was shot on 8mm film somewhere in North Carolina.  Let’s have a look (note the Sandy reference, avid fans):

Bankrupt and Borrowers

Following news of the tragic death of member John Pettis, Bankrupt and Borrowers announced that their Fun Fun Fun Fest performance would be their last.  You can find kind words and condolences all over the local scene, but I think the crowds at the FFF performance say it all.  Austin Sound’s Marc Perlman shot some great footage of the performance, which I hope he doesn’t mind me posting here (if you want to read the original post, you can do so here).

Since this will be my last regular post of the year, I won’t be able to remind you of the benefit show the band has coming up on December 6th at Hole in the Wall.  I strongly encourage you to check it out.

Well, that’s all from me.  Happy Thanksgiving.
 

- John Michael Cassetta -

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