Even though Chuck was a little under the weather that afternoon, Wussy gave us another great performance in the Lounge. With their 2nd album “Left For Dead” on the way, they gave us our first listen to some of the new material. There are three brand new cuts off that record in this set.
They also begin the performance with 2 WOXY faves from their 2005 debut record “Funeral Dress” and close out the Lounge Act with a brand new cut that didn’t materialize until after they were finished recording the new record.
If this is any indication of the material that is still to come from this Cincinnati band, we’re already looking forward to album #3.
The Go! Team’s debut, 2004’s Thunder, Lightning, Strike was one of those records that came out of left field and caught everyone by pleasant surprise. However, the very nature of the band’s foundation – a cheerleading squad fronting a cut-and-paste “band” - begged questions about their sustainability. Favorably received live dates quieted some critics, but how ‘bout that difficult next record? How long can the same format remain interesting, short of repeating the debut?
Well, I’m here to report that the band has cleared the sophomore slump hurdle, albeit not as gracefully as an artist progressing in full stride. Yes – it’s not too far removed from the funky cheers of their debut but it does appear that the Double Dutch Divas are called on a bit more to, you know, actually sing. That in and of itself sets Proof Of Youth apart from Thunder, Lightning, Strike. There’s nothing here to convert those not already tuned into the band and it should satisfy existing fans, I feel secure in the belief that Proof Of Youth will have far less staying power and impact than their debut basically because it’s not going to sneak up on anyone this time around. There’s probably a good 6 tracks that got my toe tapping and had enough new wrinkles for me to give the disc a mild recommendation.
A surprise on the disc that did sneak up on me, though, was the appearance of Chuck D on “Flashlight Fight”. Nearly buried as the 10th track on the disc, the Public Enemy MC seamlessly falls into place fronting the band. It really works well. My advice, though, is not to skip to the track when listening to the CD. Let it sneak up on you, a surprise highlight so deep into the CD.
The best thing about my job is the discovery aspect. We get a lot of new music at the station every week. There are some releases that come in and they are from established artists or it’s something that I have at least heard about in advance and know I want to check out. Sometimes, you just get gobsmacked by a band that you know nothing about and those often turn up to be some of my favorite releases. In the case of Pash, a comparison to Velocity Girl caught my eye and made me investigate the album a bit further. A lot of times, the comparisons brought on by promoters and bands are way off base. This one was accurate enough to keep me listening.
This is a cut from The Best Gun, the upcoming album from the Virginia-based band. They worked with Jason Caddell from The Dismemberment Plan on the disc which is in stores August 28th.
Count me in for a nice gimmick every now and then. At least I thought this was just a gimmick. Of course I am referring to the fact that the brother and sister duo known as Tiny Masters Of Today are only 11 and 13 years old respectively. So, what makes this nothing more than the biggest kid rockers since Smoosh? Well, for one, Russell Simins of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion thinks so much of these kids that he not only produced their upcoming album, but also plays drums behind them.
Also of note is that the band are new signees to Mute Records overseas and have their debut slated to be released next month here in the states. As for this song, Hey Mr. DJ, it is a simple tune, that well, it really rocks. I am not only impressed with the percussion skills of Simmins, but also of the guitar skills of one of the Tiny Masters. Check out this video of some live footage of the song. And head on over to their myspace page for another tune they do with Karen-O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Normally a 12-piece orchestral pop ensemble from NYC, The Sharp Things condensed themselves down to just 8 members for this performance in the Lounge.
The band came to town to perform at the 4th Annual Lite Brite Indie Pop And Film Test and were supporting their 3rd album A Moveable Feast.
In this session, they play a couple tracks from the new album, dig back a few years for a cut from their Foxes & Hounds disc, and also premiere an unreleased cut before the set wraps up.
If you have not already done so, check out this week’s City Beat for some press on WOXY.com! Here is the photo from the article, which is available both right here and also in print around the Cincinnati area.
Here are a few quotes from the article (and my own commentary) if clicking a link is way too much work for you……
Three years ago I wrote about then-Oxford-based WOXY (97.7 FM, aka 97X) for another publication. Soon after that story pressed, the station’s ownership sold their terrestrial signal but wanted to continue broadcasting on the Internet.
Don’t jinx us Zach! :)
“Woxy.com can also now be heard terrestrially on HD radio thanks to a new partnership with local NPR outlet WVXU. They have reinstated the local music program, Local Lixx, and have remained loyal sponsors of several local concerts and festivals”
Oops, not yet City Beat. Of course both of these things are coming very soon though……
“But the station’s wider reach via the Net means it can also sponsor concerts and fests all over the country.”
Notably in Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, and soon in Colorado at Monolith….
“We’re like school teachers,” Long says about his modest salary at the station. “(But) we probably enjoy work more than teachers.”
Maybe I can re-quote myself here, I think we are like “indie rock” schoolteachers. You guys are great students too by the way… (wink)
“As young people continue to move from Cincinnati for “cooler” cities, the station continues to lose its listener base. Taylor references CityBeat articles chronicling the evacuation of Cincinnati by young professionals and creative types.”
While this is true, isn’t it great that even when people leave Cincinnati, WOXY.com does not lose them as listeners anymore thanks to the internet, it’s everywhere!
Our thanks to Zach and City Beat for doing this story….
New music focuses in on the new album from Architechture In Helsinki today, which is in stores next Tuesday.
This is the third studio release from the band, but their first for Polyvinyl Records.
The Aussie indie-poppers are now a 6 member band, and had previously been an 8 piece.
Here are some reviewers quotes about the new album….
“Just know that Architecture in Helsinki have enough energy to continue cranking out these adrenaline and saccharine cocktails until you do.” - Tiny Mix Tapes
“Architecture’s indulgent heart is the band’s strongest suit–and tracks like the vibrant ‘Heart It Races’ wouldn’t be half as good if Bird and company weren’t willing to risk sounding a bit too sickly sweet sometimes.” - Filter
“Most of Places Like This doesn’t live up to its potential. Breathless, innovative changes and endless instrumentation are what the band do best, and for the most part, it’s not here.” - Popmatters
It’s been a bittersweet year for Syracuse’s Ra Ra Riot. While on the edge of great success for their music, the band also experienced great tragedy this Spring with the death of their drummer John Pike.
With the encouragement of John’s family, the band have decided to keep pursuing their passion for music. While it has been a very emotional few months for this young band, everything else is eclipsed by their talent.
In this special session, we get several new tunes (including one that has yet to be titled) and the band pay tribute to John by performing “St. Peter’s Day Festival” which is the last song he wrote.
Track Listing:
Each Year
untitled (new/unreleased)
Too Too Fast (new/unreleased)
- interview -
Ghost Under Rocks
- interview -
St. Peter’s Day Festival (new/unreleased)
* Please note that the band also performed a cover of Kate Bush’s “Suspended In Gaffa” during this session but we cannot include it in the podcast for legal reasons.
You’ve heard us yapping about the inaugural MONOLITH FESTIVAL for the past few months… now here’s your chance to go for FREE!
That’s right, WOXY.com is flying one lucky winner and their guest out to Red Rocks Amphitheater for the Monolith Festival on September 14 and 15. Not only that, we’ll also hook you up with VIP passes to the fest and 2 nights lodging at The Brook Forest Inn. Airfare graciously provided by Southwest Airlines.
New music today is featuring the new album from Stars, due out Septemeber 25th from Arts & Crafts Records.
After the album leaked, Arts & Crafts tried to head off the downloaders by making the album availble in digital format right away. The physical album is not available until September 25th however.
This is the 4th full length album from the band that boasts many members of Broken Social Scene.
Here are some reviewers quotes about the new album.
“ In Our Bedroom is Rent as written by the Smiths, earnest and theatrical, full of characters desperate for love and some sense in the world.” - Village Voice
“The presentation is great– clean production, fine instrumentation, and careful arrangements– but its undercurrent is pure self-doubt and longing.” - Pitchfork
“In Our Bedroom After The War is Stars’ most consistent, nuanced album, and says good things for the future.” - Stylus
If there’s one song that has perhaps made a band’s career to this point in 2007, it might be “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John. A super catchy tune, but the rest of their Writer’s Block disc seems fairly pedestrian to these ears. Along the way, the band’s Bjorn Ytlling found time to produce the second disc for fellow countrymen Shout Out Louds, Our Ill Wills, and I dare say that this the better record of the two. In fact, it kind of seems like they’ve taken the same template as P B and J’s disc and have merely done them one better.
Full of sunny pop tunes yet still very much within the realm of indie rock, the Shout Out Louds, a quintet from Stockholm, have the ability to tug slightly at your heartstrings with precious tales of yearning on “Your Parents Living Room” and “Suit Yourself”, which features a very “Young Folks”-like interplay between band members Adam Olenius and Bebban Stenborg. This is actually a very deep record that represents a huge leap forward from their debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff, which was not much more than a collection of previously released EP’s spanning a few years time.
My pick here is the 7 minute plus “Hard Rain” which, as the closing track, stands apart from the rest of the record due to it’s more expansive guitar work, allowing the band to break out of a more traditional song structure that fills up the rest of the disc. Hitting the shelves domestically on September 11th via Merge Records, Our Ill Wills is highly recommended for Peter Bjorn and John fans and lovers of indie pop everywhere.
It’s been 5 years since we last heard from Imperial Teen. The band have all been keeping busy with their own lives and the title of their new album kind of catches us up on what they’ve been doing. With “The Hair The TV The Baby and The Band” we learn that Jone has been working as a hair dresser, Roddy has been doing music supervision for television, Lynn has been having babies (she just had her 2nd), and Will has been focused on his other band, Hey Willpower! After a triumphant return at this year’s SXSW festival, Imperial Teen are ready to bring us their 4th album in a few weeks on Merge Records and rock out through these last dog days of summer.
This is a band that can take even the silliest words and craft them into the catchiest damn song you’ve ever heard. They did it on 1999’s “Yoo Hoo” and they’ve done it again with their new single “Shim Sham”, which has been on constant repeat for me over the last two weeks. Whether you’ve been waiting for them to return or this is your introduction to the band, this song will not disappoint.
Joe Long - - Maritime, “Guns Of Navarone” from the CD Heresy And The Hotel Choir.
Every now and then, a simple pop song does the trick for me. I was always a casual fan of Maritime and their previous albums, but this new song is really making me look forward to the new one from these guys, which is due out in October. This song, Guns of Navarone is simple, as I stated before, and really seems to have a positive pick me up feel to it.
Despite how cheesy that may sound, it is a tune you should check out and tell me it doesn’t brighten your day a bit.
