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gemini club // by surprise

When there is music in the air life just seems more bearable.

Gemini Club is Dan Brunelle, Tom Gavin and Gordon Bramli, an  indie-electronica trio based in Chicago, Illinois. If you like to dance to, or just chill, to kaleidoscopic beats and chilled-on-ice vocals then crank this one. The song, “By Surprise” is the first singe from the bands forthcoming Here We Sit EP, scheduled to drop March 14th 2012. But, you can get the Free Download now! And if you Pre-Order the new Here We Sit EP you get immediate access to stream it. Now, that is some goods new that’ll put a smile on your pus. Peace. Continue reading “gemini club // by surprise”

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The Raindoggs // Don’t Wanna Be Good

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.  — Oscar Wilde

I think Oscar Wilde was onto something, and I’ve stopped fighting the feeling of this sultry track. In the end, there is nothing quite as habit-forming as good music.  The song “Don’t Wanna Be Good” by The Raindoggs is akin to something sultry laid out before your ears just begging a listener to indulge unto you get your fill.  The Austin, TX-based, The Raindoggs have perfected a bluesy rock that just makes you want to do all sorts of unmentionable things you’ve only dreamed about but never had the courage to put into motion. And the vocals of Larisa Montanaro are all bedroom eyes and bright red lipstick on your collar. Their latest release is as come-hither as a song can get and still remain dignified in the morning. All this good music is leading up to a righteous 2012 for The Raindoggs. Peace. Continue reading “The Raindoggs // Don’t Wanna Be Good”

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Tree // Universal (Ft. Ariel Thiermann)

If you were to catch a shooting star and tap into its little black-box, and were able to decode all the energy inside. Well, the energy may sound something like the new “Universal” track by none other than San Francisco, California-based musician/producer Tree, bka Oliver Nickell. I am feeling the positive vibes, which are now flowing freely from my speakers, and into my cerebellum cortex. My brain is now so electrically happy it’s chanting Ohm into the labyrinth of gray coils which comprise my think organ. And before I fail to mention: Ariel Thiermann, your star-bright voice can be the call to Tree’s musical response any ole’ time. Peace. Continue reading “Tree // Universal (Ft. Ariel Thiermann)”

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the darlingtons | bats

 

the darlingtons | bats

 
‘The Darlingtons are what happens when the collective energies of four young men are harnessed (barely), hammered out and pressed onto vinyl. What you hear in the raging notes and lonely lyrics of their music, is the full gamut of human emotions. The channeling of the hope, desire, and emotional baggage (with all its ups and downs) multiplied by a factor of four. The rage is evident. Yet, it is retrained, introspective and always passionate within the width and length of each song. Still, it isn’t enough to simply say something kind about The Darlingtons and leave well enough alone. I admire and applaud their efforts mainly because, like so many of their countrymen, a connection is being forged.

I cheer for them, not because I am being paid to do so, I most assuredly am not. I write what I write because when I put this band’s music on the player and I hear what comes forth, it feels like small doses of adrenaline are being dumped into my veins, and I feel enlivened.

With the forthcoming release of “Bats”, the new single from The Darlingtons’ upcoming debut LP Decades Dance. This song is awash in an enlivened tempo, and it is only natural to gravitate towards something which inspires one’s soul to soar a bit. The Darlingtons, without a doubt, I play them really loud, and often. Peace. Continue reading “the darlingtons | bats”

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Oh No Oh My // Walking Into You (Video)

By some accounts the band Oh No Oh My came into being way back in ’04 and have been a steady an ongoing and growing (musically successful) project ever since. However, contrary to their almost decade long existence, their top-notch second full-length release People Problems dropped with a splash in 2011. I don’t know what happened in the in-between years, but I suspect it was just the way things worked out. Do me a favor, when you listen to People Problems, do so in the quiet of solitude and let these amazing songs come to you on their own terms. And I wouldn’t say this if it wasn’t true, this is another one of those ‘must have’ albums you’ll want in your growing vinyl collection. The album leads off with “Walking Int Me” and this, for me, set up nicely a great first impression of a band I only came to know of through some totally nefarious and clandestine turn of events. More on those events, like NEVER! But I digress…

ONOM is full of surprises, and this album is filled with song after song of melodic, rich and deep sound craft. With their multiple-instrumentation, spot-on guitar work and the odds and ends of electronic shenanigans, all this whirling around Greg Barkley’s color of sunshine voice. No matter how one describes this Austin, Texas-based outfit it only comes down to three things. Good. Gooder. Goodest. Check out Oh No Oh My‘s People Problems via bandcamp after the jump, and watch the (I want problems like this) video for, “Walking Into You.” Peace. Continue reading “Oh No Oh My // Walking Into You (Video)”

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The Black Keys // Gold On The Ceiling (Video)

You don’t need me to tell you anything you don’t already know about the Black Keys. You already know Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach are the rocking-est two-piece in a long time, if eve (Sorry White Stripes and Japandroids). Now, we have some more scruffy visual proof to back up the shit-talking our ears have been spouting off about, no matter how justified they are. Watch the guys from Akron, Ohio rock-n-roll and bring the house down with their video for “Gold On The Ceiling.” Crank it LOUD! Peace. Continue reading “The Black Keys // Gold On The Ceiling (Video)”

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The Raindoggs // Was It Necessary (Ft. Larisa Montonaro)

After the sun has gone way down. Long after the gallon of Jack Daniels lies gasping and hollow on some nameless hotel room floor. Long after the stale scent of spent cigarettes and the animal odor of wrung out bodies wafts into naked memory. After the scathing accusations, the scorn and cursing. After the bar fights and public displays of disaffection, and long after the distant echo of sirens fades out of earshot along the neglected edges of town.  After she’s slapped your face. After you’ve pulled her hair. After the lover with the least amount of interest in the relationship wields their power for the very last time, and leaves a body glistening and panting, but undeniably sated and sad. So recklessly alone now, and staring into the vapory hole through which they’ve exited your life. This song will play on. And yes, with shaky fingers attempting, but failing horribly, to light that last much needed cigarette. This song will play on and endlessly on. If ever there was ever a song to ride off into the uncaring sunset to, the latest “Was It Necessary” by Austin-based The Raindoggs is it. Peace.

“Was It Necessary” Featuring Larisa Montonaro

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De La Soul aka First Serve // Must B The Music

Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Pasemaster Mase have put  time-in, as legendary rhyme-heavyweights De La Soul from wayyyyyy back in the day. Let’s put it this way, De La Soul are to Hip Hop what escargot, truffles and caviar are to discerning foodies. The trio representin’ Long Island, New York are back at, and sounding fresh and as vibrant as ever. Well, at least two previous members have taken to the reinvention chamber and step out to greet us anew as Deen Whitter (aka Plug 2 / Dave) and Jacob ‘Pop Life’ Barrow (aka Plug 1/ Pos. The recent incarnation is known as First Serve and it comprises a big picture concept of band, soundtrack, a storyline to a yet to be film and  perhaps a few other unmentionables. Rest assured guided by French production duo 2 & 4 (aka Chokolate & Khalid) it will something to which you measure what you did and when. Although the First Serve LP Must B The Music, is slotted for a March 26th release check out the Dazed Digital exclusive premiere of their latest video, Must B The Music. Enjoy! Peace. Continue reading “De La Soul aka First Serve // Must B The Music”

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Simian Ghost // Wolf Girl (Video)

I am going to approach this review of Swedish dream-Pop auteurs Simian Ghost as if you’re just hearing about them for the very first time (and that may very well be the case). Whether or not you know who Sebastian Arnström is or isn’t is irrelevant, to a point. I suppose if you only want to impress friends and acquaintances with vocabulary enough to name drop and feign hipness, then I suppose you are now sufficiently well-armed to do such a thing. But, such information is far removed, and serves little (if any) purpose in how the music will ultimately enter through the conduit of your ears and sough softly through your brain cells like a pastel colored watercourse winding its way into the deeper waters of tranquility. I bid you only this, cast ulterior motives  aside and just enjoy a thing for the sake of enjoyment. The songs created by Sebastian Arnström come armed only with an ego-less beauty and a mischievous need, not for vanity, but to bruise the soft tissue of your heart with the imprint of sweet and plaintive adoration. The forthcoming album, titled Youth, will be released on March 5th via  Heist Or Hit Records. Peace. Continue reading “Simian Ghost // Wolf Girl (Video)”

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The Shins // September (Simple Song B-Side) Video

Hot off the press! Check out the “Simple Song” 7″ B-Side “September” by The Shins. It is a beautifully somber affair, and it only further whets our collective appetite for the March 20th Port Of Morrow LP release.

You can get The Shins Simple Song 7″ release next week (Valentine’s Day) at your participating Record Store Day dealer. Peace. Continue reading “The Shins // September (Simple Song B-Side) Video”