Future of the Left and Wooden Shjips Meet The Mighty Rockometer

Future of the Left Curses Beggars US/Too Pure 2007 Two years after Adrew Falkous and Johnathon Chapple broke up Mclusky, their loss is only beginning to be felt. More praise is bestowed on that band, and especially their 2002 release, Mclusky Do Dallas, now that they're not a band, then at any time while they were still a band. It's a shame really, since this would have been about the time that Mclusky would break it big. However, if you're at all familiar with Cardiff's Mclusky, you couldn't have been too surprised. After all, Falko was quick to skewer any and every man in Cardiff that crossed his path. If Chapple didn't have a hand in breaking up the band, then I'm sure that Gareth Brown 1, Seamus 2, or Stereophonics 3 would have gladly broken up the band for them. Fortunately, Falkous has a new band, Future of the Left, with former Mclusky drummer, Jack Egglestone, and Jacrew's Kelson Mathias on bass, and they sound a lot like the old band. Falkous still has a sharp, piercing guitar, and the tongue to match, and Mathias, can rumble on the bass just as well that old chap from Mclusky. Sonically speaking, "The Lord Hates a Coward," "Fingers Become Thumbs," and "adeadenemysmellsgood" all feature inventive and incisive riffs, and hit as hard as anything Mclusky released. Yet, to say that Future of the Left, is nothing more than the fourth disc from Mclusky would be misleading. Falko and company have learned some new tricks. "Manchasm" features a great lyrical twist with "Colin is a pussy/a very pretty pussy" referring not to some unfortunate soul in Cardiff, but a very pretty pussy cat, and even more surprising, in place of shrieking six-strings, is a rabid synthesizer. "Suddenly A Folk Song" isn't a folk song, but this is another synth heavy number, and along with "She Will Only Bring You Happiness," from The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm Not on Fire, is one of the poppiest numbers Falko has written to date. Perhaps, the biggest surprise of them all, is the piano ballad, yes I said piano ballad, "The Contrarian." That last one may be shocking for some of you, but rest assured, it's only one song, and it's immediately followed by the aggressive shrieks and hollers in "I Need To Know How To Kill a Cat." Future of the Left - adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood [download] Curses by Future of The Left: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer 1. See "Garteh Brown Says" on McLusky Do Dallas 2. See "You Should be Ashamed Seamus" on The Difference Between Me and You Is That I'm not on Fire 3. See band from Aberdare from "Collagen Rock" on McLusky Do Dallas Wooden Shjips Wooden Shjips Holy Mountain 2007 My last trip to Holy Mountain didn't go quite so well. The second half of Blues Control's self-titled album, and its dirty, psychedelic paranoia was the sound of the devil's hell spawn rising from the ground to take their place among the living, and needless to say, it scared the bejesus out of me. To this day, I have a hard time listening to it in the dark, and the mere thought of playing Blues Control backwards, frightens me even more. My second trip to the psychedelic shrine at Holy Mountain has fared much better. Although Wood Shjips debut is a decidedly dark, creepy, and crawly album, I've had no satanic scares, and no cold sweat nightmares. After one song, “We Ask You to Ride,” where Wooden Shjips play it like a song, i.e. somewhat decipherable lyrics with verses, they settle down into one smooth oozy, gooey, groove. The foundation is set by the steady, minimal work of drummer Omar Ahsanuddin and bassist Dusty Jermier. Nash Whalen, whose organ hovers in and around, but never very far from haunting, tops the groove, then, they more or less stay out of the way over the last four songs and 30 minutes, and let guitarist Erik “Ripley” Johnson jam his wonderfully fragile and freakish solos. Wooden Shjips - We Ask You to Ride [download] Wooden Shjips by Wooden Shjips: 6 out of 10 on The Rockometer

The New Radiohead Album Is Just Days Away

All those funny faces on Radiohead's webiste, Dead Air Space, did mean something after all. Starting tonight you can pre-order the new Radiohead's album, In Rainbows, exclusively through Radiohead's website in two formats: digital and in a special disc box that contains 2 12" LPS, 2 cds, the digital download, bonus tracks and artwork. The digital download will be active on October 10th, and the cost is up to you. The order form allows you to donate as much or as little as you want. The expanded disc box, however, will run you about $80. In Rainbows Digital Tracklist: 15 STEP BODYSNATCHERS NUDE WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI ALL I NEED FAUST ARP RECKONER HOUSE OF CARDS JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE VIDEOTAPE In Rainbows Expanded Tracklist: CD 1 and LP 1 15 STEP BODYSNATCHERS NUDE WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI ALL I NEED FAUST ARP RECKONER HOUSE OF CARDS JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE VIDEOTAPE CD2 and LP 2 MK 1 DOWN IS THE NEW UP GO SLOWLY MK 2 LAST FLOWERS UP ON THE LADDER BANGERS AND MASH 4 MINUTE WARNING

Where to Rock It: The Welcome to Rocktober Edition

Friday, September 28th to Thursday, October 4th I just opened up my calendar for Rocktober and realized that I could conceivably check out a show nearly every night. I say conceivably, since I would need a big cash infusion in my discretionary funds, a month off from work, and a lifetime supply of sparks. Still, should all those things fall into place, it's entirely possible. The big show this weekend comes on day before the first of Rocktober, when the Camel sponsored Flaming Lips tour makes a stop at the Cleveland Agora. I have to warn you, the early reports on this tour are that the cigarette marketing at these shows is massive. If you didn't smoke before this show, you may find yourself hooked by night's end...So, let's say you have a problem with a tobacco company shelling out $$$ to steal your soul, or, you couldn't get tickets, or you couldn't find a Camel rep for free tickets, then there's another show going on Sunday night that won't be quite so smokey: Two Gallants and Blitzen Trapper at the Grog Shop. --- I like new. You like new. We all like new. However, there's a few veteran rockers coming through town this week, that are worth checking out. First, on Saturday night at Pat's in the Flats, the Mekons stop by on their 30th anniversary tour with Danbert Nobacon (of Chumbawamba) and Coffinberry, and at Peabody's The Melvins and Big Business are playing. Tuesday at the Grog Shop, the infamous David Yow of the The Jesus Lizard, will be in town fronting Qui. Then, on Wednesday at the Beachland Tavern, USSA, featuring Paul Barker of Ministry and Duane Denison, also of Jesus Lizard. It's almost like a two day Jesus Lizard reunion, except there's no Jesus Lizard, and I would much rather see Denison and Yow on the same stage at the same time, then on different stages on different days. Big Business - Another Fourth of July Ruined [download] Qui - Freeze [download] USSA - Dead Voices [youtube] The Jesus Lizard - Then Comes Dudley/Gladiator (live at CBGB) [youtube] The Jesus Lizard - Seasick (live at CBGB) [youtube] --- Now, this is where the discretionary funds and the fridge full of Sparks will come in handy: Monday night is Regina Spektor at the Agora, Tuesday also has Magik Markers headlining a big night of psych, freak, and drone at the Beachland Tavern, Wednesday is John Vanderslice and Bishop Allen, and on Thursday, Earlimart, Office, and The Pianos are at the Grog. Sorry, Jeff. Our plans with the hot tub and The Pipettes aren't going to work out. Their show scheduled for the Tavern on Thursday has been canceled postponed.

Black Lips. Beachland Ballroom. 09.26.2007

It was during a break in "Hippy, Hippy, Hurrah," a slow mystical number, conspicuously inserted between number after number of rambunctious flower punk and unhinged garage rock, that Black Lips guitarist Cole Alexander raised his hands over the crowd, wiggled his fingers, and unleashed a loud booming, "WHOOSH" through his microphone. It was as if he was casting a spell on the crowd. "WHOOSH." There it was, another spell. The trick didn't get old. "WHOOOOOSH." "Oh, man, we're in trouble now," I thought to myself. I expected to look around the crowd and see everyone sporting a bushy, black moustache and a backwards ball cap. I looked to my left, and to my right, and there weren't any new moustaches, so my next thought was, "So, the spell didn't make us all look like Black Lips, maybe it was something more innocent, like, a spell to help us let loose and have a good time." I'm pretty sure, that was it. Even without the added hoodoo voodoo, it's hard not to have a good time at a Black Lips show. One on side of the stage, you have Ian St Pe flashing goofy faces at the crowd, and on the other side, there's Alexander, spitting into the air, trying to catch it back in his mouth. Then there was Jared Swilley, front and center, sporting a striped tee, and a handle-bar moustache, bouncing the whole night like he had Mexican jumping beans stuffed in his shorts, and drummer Joe Bradley, bopping his head back and forth, and swaying his shoulders to his own beat. And let's not forget the music. "Boomerang," "Bad Kids," "Not a Problem," and "Cold Hands," all had that same rowdy spirit, clanging and banging with plenty of reverb, and wonderfully out of tune, as the front of the crowd became a mass of heads bopping, toes tapping, and kids getting down. A minor stage diving accident during "Cold Hands" sapped some of the energy, but after a moment of concern from the Lips, they got right back to their rag tag, ramshackle Rock 'n' Roll with "Fairy Stories." In all, the set lasted 17 songs and also included a cover of King Khan & BBQ Shows, "Too Much In Love," and ended with a cover of Chuch Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business," a fitting theme song for this band of bad kids if I ever heard one.

"Motor" by Signing Choir (Joey King From the M's)

Let's take a trip in the wayback machine for a moment, to Love and Rockets' loud, rapturous ode to chrome, "Motorcycle." [youtube] I don't ride myself, but there's no doubting its absolute power -- the confidence and cockiness of sitting atop a polished, well-oiled machine, dark sunglasses on, wind in the hair, the open road ahead. It's like a recipe for instant bad*ss, where you just add headphones. Now, contrast that with Signing Choir's, "Motor." Its endearing, lo-fi production, and filtered, rickety guitar riff doesn't exactly inspire confidence, much less cockiness. It's as if the bike was found in the front yard of a decrepit house on an old country road with a sign that read "Please Take Me." You and your best bud have been rebuilding it for months in his garage, and neither of you have ever worked on a motorcycle before. Still, the draw of the highway is too great. You finally have the bike ready for your first ride when you notice a little angel on one shoulder. He politely taps, and reminds you, "You're going to kill yourself if you take that thing on the road," while the devil on the other shoulder unleashes a rebel yell, "MOTORCYCLE!!!" You kickstart the engine and scream "MOTORCYCLE!!!" on your way down the drive. Signing Choir - Motor [download] Signing Choir Myspace Brilliante

Double Shot of Rock From Mannequin Men and The Blakes

"You're a grapefruit?" What in the name of Merriam-Webster does it mean when the Mannequin Men's Kevin Richard refers to the object of his desire as a grapefruit? Is she sour? A tart? Merriam-Webster doesn't have the answers, and the Urban Dictionary doesn't fare much better (someone with big balls, a big chested woman, or big tasty buds). Seeing as though there are no references to illicit drug use in "Grapefruit" and the transgendered angle, seems a bit far fetched as well, the best I have is that a "grapefruit" is a top heavy tart. The thing is, the way Richard leers and sneers over his bandmates primitive, simmering proto punk, he could have said, "You're the meaning of my life, you're my inspiration," and it would have still sounded sleazy. Mannequin Men - Grapefruit [download] Mannequin Men - Fresh Rot [full album stream] Fresh Rot by The Mannequin Men is out now on Flameshovel, and believe me, you should be rocking this disc now. Mannequin Men Mannequin Men Myspace Flameshovel Do you know what was great about the teaser EP Light in the Attic put out by The Blakes? It was five songs, 13 minutes, one top rocker after another, of sweat, swagger, and Rock 'N' Roll music. Do you know what sucked about that EP? It was over in 13 minutes. Man, did I curse Odin when that disc ended too soon. Thankfully, I've managed to get my hands on the full length, and lead track, "Two Times," picks up right where the EP left off, with more rabid guitar riffs and spit soaked microphones. The Blakes - Two Times [download] Perhaps, what has surprised me the most about The Blakes full length, isn't that they have a greatest hits disc worth of potential singles, as the EP hinted that these Seattle rockers had plenty more in store, rather, it was that they also had a kinder, gentler, poppier side. Just check out those bright shiny keys on "Lintwalk," and how they provide a stark contrast to the gutter rock permeating through most of their debut. The Blakes - Linktwalk (via Discover KEXP) The Blakes self titled release will be out on Light in the Attic October 16th. This is a re-release of their self released disc of 06 that includes a couple new numbers. The iTunes version is available now and includes two additional bonus cuts. The Blakes Light in the Attic photo by Amy Elyse

"Atom" by British Sea Power

Some may consider the British Sea Power's Yan, your typical bullshit artist. I prefer the term genius. On the title of his bands latest EP, he had this to say, "The title of the EP is Krankenhaus?, which is German for hospital. This could equally allude to the healing and/or life-saving qualities of indie rock music, or perhaps the vast quantities of pharmaceuticals associated with both of these. The green cross adorning the front could be the one used to locate a chemist's, or maybe a symbol of a new ecological religion. The answer is up to you." Even more confusing was the release for the announcement of BSP's upcoming tour, "As leading creatives in London, Milan and Riga turn their minds to key Autumn style decisions, British Sea Power can exclusively reveal what will be turning heads and sticking out of your must-have Gore Vidal casual clutch. Get ready for Middle Eastern moves, a US twist on Beast Of Bodmin chic and another portion of the ever popular piratical hip. Achtung zeit-types! Attention ur-gurus! Heads up Eddy Slimane and all-new meta-muse Bonnie Raitt!" He's obviously on some other level (or some other drugs, if you're in the bullshit camp) than you and I. So, what does all this mean in relation to "Atom," the first song to emerge from Krankenhaus? Let's just say, this one is epic. This one is massive. It's massively epic. Load "Atom" onto your personal soundsystem, and prepare for your lame ass to be rocked. British Sea Power - Atom [download] Krankenhaus will be out digitally October 8th in the UK on Rough Trade and the following day in North America on Rough Trade/World's Fair. The physical release won't be available until November 20th. British Sea Power British Sea Power Myspace World's Fair

My His Name Is Alive Sunday Is Your His Name Is Alive Monday

His Name Is Alive's Warn Defever doesn't consider himself a perfectionist. In the press accompanying the release of XMMER, Defever described his studio time as an exploration, rather than perfectionism, "I don't really know what I'm doing, plus I can't make up my mind. Some people call it 'experimental', but I think the only experiment is to see what happens when I'm left alone in the studio for six months." Call it what you want, the songs on XMMER display depth, vitality, and intrigue. The guitar work may remind you of Queens of the Stone Age ("Sangaree"), Zeppelin ("Oh Miss Flower"), or Queen ("Go To Hell Mountain") at times, but after Defever's done tweaking, they sound as if they were plugged into a pocket amplifier, rendering them hardly a threat to overpower the light, airy vocals of Andy FA (Andrea Francesca Morici), and muting any shouts of rock revivalism. While his new found love for the kalimba, gives numbers like "The Wolf Put His Mouth on Me" and "How Dark Is Your Darkside" an exotic feel. Whether His Name Is Alive is working with the familiar or the foreign, one constant in these numbers is their undeniable sense of balance: the most spacious productions show an amazing degree of depth, and the boldest ones still leave enough room for each sound to be heard. A good part of my weekend was spent getting lost in the sounds of XMMER, now its your town. His Name Is Alive - Come to Me (Silver Makeup Version) [download] His Name Is Alive - Go To Hell Mountain [download] His Name Is Alive - How Dark Is Your Dark Side [download] His Name Is Alive - Come to Me (Album Version) XMMER by His Name Is Alive is out now on Silver Mountain. Also, the Silver Makeup EP, is still available as a free download from HNIA's website. His Name Is Alive His Name Is Alive Myspace Silver Mountain

Beaten Awake Unleash a Wealth of Demos and Live Tracks on the Unsuspecting Denizens of Virb

Beaten Awake have uploaded two discs of demos and one live show on Virb. The demos include early versions of four songs that would end up on their 2006 debut, "It's a Bubble Bath of Sharks," "Endless Boo," "Broken Fang", and "A & E," as well a number of songs that have been largely unheard before now. The live show was taken from an August date at The Hideout in Chicago, and it features two new jams, "Half Pink Human" and "Raise Up." Nearly all these tracks are available for download, with the only exceptions being two of the four tracks sampled from their studio release, and the two new songs from the live set. Beaten Awake - Bass Song (demo) [download] Beaten Awake on Virb Beaten Awake on Myspace

Where to Rock It: Friday, September 21st to Thursday, September 27th

The Grog Shop is celebrating its 15th Anniversary Weekend Turbonegro and Nick Oliveri and the Mondo Generator on Friday, Hank Williams III on Saturday (sold out), and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Stereo Workers Union, and Coffinberry on Sunday. Against my better judgment, I'm including a live clip of Turbonegro performing "I Got Erection." If you don't like cock rockers singing about boners, and dudes with firecrackers sticking out of their asses, this video may not be for you. --- Also going on this weekend, Music Saves is sponsoring a low dough show at the Beachland Tavern with Trouble Books, Brian Straw, and Muttering Retreats on Friday night, The Afternoon Naps are hosting an afternoon release party at the Tavern on Saturday at 1, and Sunday night, Joe Jack Talcum, guitarist for the legendary Dead Milkmen, will be at Tower 2012 with his band, The Low Budgets. The Low Budgets - Wipe My Ass With The World --- Iron and Wine will be releasing their latest cd on Tuesday, they're playing at the Beachland Ballroom Monday night with Arthur and Yu, and Sin Ropas. Can you say extra special cd release party? --- Wednesday features two shows that I would be checking out if they weren't on the same night on different sides of town. Dragons of Zynth at Tower 2012 with Shock Cinema, and The Black Lips, Selmanaries, and The Pages at The Beachland Ballroom. I have a feeling eclectic, up and comers, Dragons of Zynth, would put on a mean show, but The Black Lips, are more or less notorious, for their stage antics. I've heard the stories about intra band make out sessions, boozing, and pissings, too. I've only been privy to the Black Lips' shenanigans on minor scale, nothing legendary. And that's part of their draw. Sure, I dig the tunes, but there's always that chance that you'll see a performance worthy of urban legend.

For Those About to Rock Kick: The Young Sportsmen

Excuse me while I contradict myself. Earlier in the week, I made a statement like, it was refreshing to hear someone pushing the boundaries of popular music, as I was nearly convinced that all the new ideas were gone. Well, today I'm going to tell you that three minutes listening to the power pop of The Young Sportsmen may be the best three minutes of your day. You shouldn't be too surprised. After all, I'm the same dude who spent somewhere between $50 and $60 on out of print power pop compilations, and the same dude whose only mp3 mixtape to date was 70 minutes of power pop. Seattle's Young Sportsmen are well versed with some of the genre's heavyweight's of the past decade, including Sloan, Superdrag, and the Figgs. Check out that guitar work on "Her Independent Feature," and how it squeals like the Figgs' "Favorite Shirt." Or, if you prefer you're power pop to be of the Seventies variety, "Unnecessary" sounds like it could have been a long lost outtake of Cheap Trick's Budokan. Like all the great power pop bands, the Young Sportsmen have "it," the uncanny ability to make verse, chorus, verse, and guitar solo sound invigorating, even as you know you've heard it before. Screw your recommendations, best new music, and innovations, this is music that puts my fist in the air, and (much to the dismay of my downstairs neighbors) propels me to rock kick in the living room. If there's a better power pop band in 2007 (not named Sloan, of course), I haven't heard them. The Young Sportsmen - Her Independent Feature [download] The Young Sportsmen - Unnecessary [download] The Young Sportsmen - Under the Rocks and Stars [download] The Young Sportsmen - Try [download] Death to Palaces is out now and is available in both physical and digital formats through the Young Sportsmen's Myspace. The Young Sportsmen

"My Hit Song" by The Artificial Sweeteners

I've always rooted for the lovable loser. It seemed during the nineties, all my heroes were either slackers, f*ck ups, doubters, or loathers. Perhaps no one played this role as well as Evan Dando of the Lemonheads, a man who made a career out of intertwining his own shortcomings with quaint melodies on songs like "The Outdoor Type." He may not have been able to mountain bike, start a fire, pitch a tent, or go rock climbing, but he sure could write songs. Of course, the irony of Dando's situation is if he wasn't so busy doubting himself, and engaging in self-destructive behavior, his career could have been much more successful than it was. The Artificial Sweeteners play a similar game with "My Hit Song." Over a pleasantly simple guitar melody, Dave Molnar doubts his ability to write a hit song, "I'll never write a hit that breaks the band/Gets us into the bus out of the van." Neither will the band hit soundcan, be big in Japan, or have pages of myspace friends proclaiming, "I'm your biggest fan." His doubt reaches beyond the ability to write a hit song, to the point where he wonders whether he could convince anyone to put his records out, or if he even knows how to write any songs, "Is it still quiet loud quiet loud/Or has the formula changed somehow/Cause I've traded in most of my pedals by now." Sure, no one has hit songs these days, especially unknown bands from Cleveland, and I would be inclined to agree with him, except for one small point: "My Hit Song" really is a great pop song. Artificial Sweeteners - My Hit Song [download] Artificial Sweeteners

"The Deception" by iLIKETRAINS

With a style that combines the grand, processional arrangements of Sigur Ros, with the conflicted darkness of Nick Cave, you don't need a masters in history, or a wikipedic knowledge of the past in order to appreciate the music of Leeds based, iLIKETRAINS. However, if you take the time to research the tragic events unfurling in their morose tales, their music becomes all the more captivating. Their discography includes songs based on the Great Fire of England, the Salem witch hunts, troubled chess champion, Bobby Fischer, Captain Scott, a tragic captain of an Antarctic exploration team, and Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated. "The Deception" details the ill-conceived and ill-fated entry of English yachtsman, Donald Crowhurst, into the 1968 Golden Globe Race, a solo, round-the-world, sailing competition sponsored by The Sunday Times. Woefully under prepared, Crowhurst, falsified his sailing logs, giving race officials the impression that he was a favorite to win the race. As the end of the race neared, Crowhurst succumbed to madness, ending his own life in an apparent suicide. His boat was found abandoned with volumous logs, detailing his deception. iLIKETRAINS elegantly depicts Crowhurst's descension, first as he revels in his achievements, "They said it couldn't be done/I proved them all wrong/A sleight of hand/And I have become the chosen one," and again later, as he is battling isolation and insanity, fast approaching his final resting place, "Hear I sit with my head in my hands/Lost in a sea of deception/And the ship won't let me sleep/And the wind won't talk me down." Words like powerful, and moving, cannot even begin to describe to the weight of "The Deception." iLIKETRAINS - The Deception [download] iLIKETRAINS - The Deception [youtube] Elegies To Lessons Learnt will be out in the states on October 23rd on Beggars. iLIKETRAINS iLIKETRAINS Myspace Beggars US Photograph by Joe Dilworth

"Get Off" by Dragons of Zynth

Just as I'm about to write off The Aughts as an underwhelming, decade devoid of its own ideas, and just as I've gotten used to the fact that lo-fi may be as good as it gets these days, someone comes along and reminds that there are still limitless possibilities in popular music. Although Dragons of Zynth are bound to receive comparisons to another African-American fronted band from "The City" who play an amalgamation of rock, punk, soul, jazz and junk, a comparison reinforced by the production work of TV on The Radio's Dave Sitek on their debut, Coronation Thieves, they are entirely their own rock monster. There is so much going on in this tune, "Get Off," that it demands your attention. It was recorded with Massive Attack An earlier version of this track was recorded at the Bristol studio of Massive Attack, and you can definitely hear the influence of the UK's trip hop pioneers in the scratchy, static shuffle of the opening beat, and the accompanying, loopy, repetitive bass line. You'll also encounter backwards tape loops, and some soulful sounding sax in the opening groove that'll undoubtedly take you back to those wasted days spent with This Is Mushroom Jazz Vol 1 and big spliffs. Yet, as pleasant as that groove is, it isn't meant to last. A riotous blast of guitars abruptly eliminates any thoughts of an acid jazz revival. Dragons of Zynth - Get Off [download] Coronation Thieves by Dragons of Zynth will be out on Gigantic on September 25th and they will be playing in Cleveland at Tower 2012 on the following day. There's a Cleveland connection here, too: the frontmen of DOZ, Aku and Akweety O.T. were both raised in good old Clevo. Dragons of Zynth Gigantic

"Careen" by The Diggs

I was stoked to see a new track by The Diggs pop up in my inbox last night, and that was before I even took a listen. Their 2005 album, Commute, was an invigorating collection of space rock, shoegaze, and 90's alt rock with big, buzzing guitars and a sound larger than one would expect from a guitar, bass, and drums trio. I distinctly remember a live performance of theirs on KEXP where you'd swear they had an extra guitarist or two hiding in the rear of the studio. "Careen" continues exactly where the band left off on Commute, with the tight interplay between guitarist Timothy Lannen and bassist Robert Haussmann dueling for your attention, until some good old fashioned bursts of fuzzy squeals hit the speakers, effectively ending the guitar vs bass debate. The Diggs - Careen [download] ctrl+alt+del by The Diggs will be out early in 2008 on Sugarspun Records. The Diggs The Diggs Myspace Sugarspun Records photo by Brain M Berger

A Six Pack for The Rockometer

Due to the logjam of new releases piling up at IRCWHQ during the past few weeks, this edition of the Rockometer is for those of you hip to the whole brevity thing. The first anonymous commenter that says these aren't reviews, these are blurbs with numbers will win a prize. A comment by yours truly saying, "You're correct." Oakley Hall I'll Follow You Merge 2007 Oakley Hall's I'll Follow You is a little bit country, and a little more rock. Sure, there's fiddle, lap steel, and just about everything else you'll need for your next urban hoedown. However, there's also your fair share of blazing guitar solos, and vocalists Patrick Sullivan and Rachel Cox have this wonderful John Doe and Exene Cervenka thing going on, where the sum of their voices creates a far greater presence than the times when one of them is singing alone. I'll Follow You has your fair share of rompers, stompers, rockers, and rollers, but my favorite tune on this one is the album closer, "Take My Hands, We're Free." Whenever I listen to this one, I can't help but think of cold nights in the country by campfire, with grandma's ghost stories adding to that nip in the wind. Oakley Hall - No Dreams [download] I'll Follow You by Oakley Hall: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer. Liars Liars Mute 2007 We are Liars and we do whatever the f*ck we want. We never make the same album twice, and we never make a bad album. We may be Liars, but we have standards. Sometimes we want to wallow around in the sludge and rip monster riffs. Other times we want to get out the old drum machine and get all bleepy and glitchy. When we got bored with monster riffs, scratches, and glitches, we headed to the Darklands, and kicked up the reverb, for some JAMC style jams. After a while, we got bored with that, too. So, we took that sound into a darker, more twisted direction. People say this is our most accessible album. That's cool. We just did whatever the f*ck we wanted. We are Liars. Liars - Plaster Casts of Everything [youtube] Liars self titled album is an 9 out of 10 on The Rockometer. No Age Weirdo Rippers Fat Cat 2007 Don't get me wrong. While I'm a big fan of this re-emergence of lo-fi, noise and punk, it also presents itself as the proverbial double edged sword. Sure, I love the fact that I have all these bands from places like LA and Columbus obscuring their melodies with a production aesthetic that favors buzz, fuzz, crackles, and hisses. However, as more bands like LA's No Age, and Columbus' Times New Viking, find there way onto my stereo, I have a harder time complaining about the old guard of indie bands making their music too nice and pretty. Who's got time for twee, when there's all of these wonderful weirdos ripping? No Age - Everybody's Down [download] No Age - My Life's Alright Without You [download] Weirdo Rippers by No Age: 8 out of 10 on The Rockometer. Shout Out Louds Our Ill Wills Merge 2007 Did the Shout Out Louds sound so much like The Cure and New Order on their last album? Hmm...I'm going back to two of their singles from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff ("Very Loud" and "The Comeback"), and the answer is maybe, not really, sorta kinda sounded like The Cure? Now take one listen to, "Tonight I Have to Leave It," the first single from Our Ill Wills and you'll hear why many are calling vocalist Adam Olenius "The Swedish Robert Smith." It's not just the vocals either, the string melody could have come from any number of Cure songs. I find it reminiscent of "In Between Days," you may hear a different tune. Second single, "Impossible" would be the New Order style tune, and it's followed by "Normandie," a number that seems to fall somewhere between "Love Cats" and "Close to Me." Did I mention there's also a track called "Meat Is Murder?" There's nothing wrong with The Cure, New Order, or The Smiths, as those are three of the first "cool" bands I got hooked on as a youth. I just didn't expect these influences to come from this merry band of Swedes. Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have to Leave It [download] Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have to Leave It [youtube] Shout Out Louds - Impossible [youtube] Our Ill Wills by Shout Out Louds: 6 out of 10 on The Rockometer. Health Health Lovepump United 2007 Form over function. Style over substance. Loud, pounding drums above all else. By placing the drums so prominently in the mix, Health create a primal, violent atmosphere that forces the listener to confront feelings of fear, tension, isolation, and madness. The liner notes suggest playing this album loud, and if you take their advice, that will make the pulses, scratches and shrieks clawing their way from beneath the drums, even more unsettling. Needless to say, this isn't one for romancing the ladies, winding down after a stressful day at work, or for enjoying a quiet night at home with a good book. You'll find some songs, and maybe you'll make out a few words here and there, but mainly, this is an audio experiment hell bent on rattling the foundations of noise rock. Health - Triceratops [download] Health - Perfect Skin [download] Health's self titled release: 7 out of 10 on The Rockometer. Dirty Projectors Rise Above Dead Oceans 2007 Six words. Try it before you buy it. Despite its overwhelmingly positive reviews in the press, Rise Above by Dirty Projectors is not something that everyone is going to want to hear. I'll go further than that. Some people are going to find this album unpleasant, unmanageable and unlistenable. It's high concept music made by intelligent, incredibly talented musicians for the intelligent listener who prefers high concept music. Ask yourself, do you expect a music critic to talk poorly of an album of abstract African rhythms and spontaneous vocal passages that is based on loose recollections of Black Flag's seminal album Damaged? Of course, not. I cannot doubt the skill of Dave Longstreth and his band, The Dirty Projectors. Nor, can I deny that this concept is intriguing. I merely feel this is an album likely to fuel fierce reactions, both positive and negative, and thus far, the voices championing this work have been much louder. Dirty Projectors - Full Album Stream [virb] Rise Above by Dirty Projects: 5 out of 10 on The Rockometer One more note on the Rockometer. From now own, I'm only dealing in whole numbers. It'll probably result in a lot more 6's and 7's, the I Rock Cleveland equivalent of the Rolling Stone three star review.

"Hallie" by Mobius Band

At its heart "Hallie" is a pop song that longs for a spot on a John Hughes soundtrack along side The Psychedelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, or OMD. That's not the same as saying, "Hallie" sounds like it came from 1985. Their collection of modified keyboards salvaged from garage sales and second hand stores produce unique whooshes and waves that make this one sound familiar and futuristic at the same time. Mobius Band - Hallie [download] Heaven by Mobius Band will be out October 2nd on Misra. The band will be playing loads of dates in support of its release through the month of October and early November, including an October 27th date at the Grog Shop with Matthew Dear. Mobius Band Mobius Band Myspace Misra Records

Mystery of Two and Dreadful Yawns. Parish Hall. 09.14.07

Friday night's show with Mystery of Two, The Dreadful Yawns, and JJ Magazine, marked the final performance at Parish Hall. During the past two years it had hosted numerous rock shows, art openings, and visual performances, and it was also the home of Exit Stencil Records and the Exit Stencil Studio. The closing of Parish Hall wasn't your typical story of a failed venue. It wasn't linked to the ailing music industry, and it wasn't the victim of gentrification. If anything, it seemed like Parish Hall had just started to carve its own niche in the live music scene by bringing in touring acts that couldn't get The Beachland or Grog Shop, staging unique events like an Americana festival and a World Music festival, and by giving the Exit Stencil bands a home venue. Instead, it became a victim of its own success as the rigors of running a venue started to take its toll on the all volunteer staff. When you consider Parish Hall's Ryan Weitzel and Brandon Stevens are both heavily involved with the label, with Weitzel also playing guitar and singing for the night's headliner, Mystery of Two, you can begin to see how time might start to become an issue. Sure, I'm going to miss the hall. I'll miss the sign at the bar that said the suggested donation for a Pabst is $2. I'll miss hanging out in the fenced in lot, in front of the hall during spring and summer time, where it seemed less like a venue and more like a house party. One thing I don't have to lament, is the loss of music, for as Mystery of Two and The Dreadful Yawns showed, with or without the hall, Cleveland music is in a very good place. Lost in all the press of Friday being the last show at Parish Hall, was the fact that this was also a celebration: Mystery of Two had just released their debut cd, Arrows Are All You Know, on Exit Stencil. On disc, and in a live setting, they are defined by the nimble work of Weitzel on guitar and Lonn Schubert on bass. While Weitzel's guitar moves from jingle-jangle and rabble-rabble, to static and destroy, Schubert is agilely working every inch of his bass. Not to discount the work of Nick Riley on drums, who's integral in holding the band together in the midst of guitar acrobatics, but Schubert may just be the best Rock 'n' Roll bassist in town. The group's skill was most evident on "In My Home" where they transformed the end of the song, from a gentle decrescendo, to a manic sequence of stop, start, stop and rock. Another highlight was "Quick," a song where they channel their avant spirit, into a decidedly more melodic and poppy direction. Of course, poppy is a relative term here. No one's going to mistake Weitzel's ominous scowl and howl on the mic for the soothing sounds of James Taylor any time soon. My only disappointment with Mystery of Two was that they didn't end their set with a proper send off to the hall in the time honored tradition of the all star jam. They could have invited members of The Dreadful Yawns on stage for a rousing rendition of "We Built This City," or if you're not a fan of Starship (and who is), something a little less embarrassing, like Neil Young's "Hey Hey, My My," or The Pretenders' "My City Was Gone." It's a minor complaint, since they closed the set by blazing their way through album closer "Desolate" with Weitzel's guitar set to permanent aural damage. The Dreadful Yawns preceded Mystery of Two, and like Beaten Awake last week, their performances keep getting better and better. Aside from the band name, and principal guitarist/vocalist, Ben Gmetro, little is left of what was once the Dreadful Yawns. There was maybe one song in their set that would fit in with the Yawns show I saw two years ago, and most the set consisted of material that they've been working on since the release of Rest, earlier in the year. Gone too, is the sound of the old Dreadful Yawns, the one that earned the band comparisons to the Byrds, or labels like psych-folk, or alt country. Now, al