6 Must Have Albums for 2010

Posted on March 15, 2010 by the OCMD

Artist: Broken Bells
Album: Broken Bells
Featured Track: “The High Road”

Danger Mouse strikes again. This time with The Shins’ James Mercer in the self-titled debut, Broken Bells. Do I really need to say any more? Okay, the two met at a Danish music festival way back in 2004 and began secretly working on the album late 2008. The pair released “The High Road”as the debut single late December to promote the album that’s due out March 9. But the full album leaked that same month anyway. Are these things really accidental? Hmmm, I wonder. Regardless, it’s fantastic and I love it. Experimental and melodic, chalk it up to another Danger Mouse masterpiece. He truly is the man with the Midas touch.

Artist: Charlotte Gainsbourg
Album: IRM
Featured Track: “IRM”

The minimalist album title, IRM, (French for MRI) was inspired by Gainsbourg’s frequent MRI’s she endured after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a water-skiing accident in 2007. ”I had to do so many [MRIs] and every time I was in that tube I was thinking it would make great music,” she’s quoted as saying. And great music it did make. Her lyrics on the album’s single, “IRM”, offer a detailed, psychedelic journey into her experience and sets the tone for the album. Which, you can hear, is amazing.

Artist: Local Natives
Album: Gorilla Manor
Featured Track: Sun Hands

Take the locomotive tempo and percussion of The Dodos and add the layered harmonies of The Fleet Foxes with some rapturous chorus outbursts a la Arcade Fire and you pretty much have the sound of Local Natives, an LA-based group whose debut album is an absolute gem from start to finish. Get to know this band.

Artist: Pavement
Album: Quarantine The Past- The Best of Pavement
Featured Track: “Stereo”

Should I even have to explain this one? No, I shouldn’t. You should understand, however, that this is it for me – the foundation of my lo-fi love, the source. All roads lead to Pavement. And they are finally reuniting this year. So get this remastered best of collection. Learn it, love it, live it.

Artist: Phantogram
Album: Eyelid Movies
Featured Track: “When I’m Small”

Let me just say that I’ve been drowning myself in this album since it was released. Drowning, rolling, wallowing, surrendering myself to all of it. I just love it. The first LP from the Saratoga Springs, NY-based duo, it’s the perfect combination of electronic beeps and boops, hazy guitars and spacey synths. Give me more, please. Take a listen yourself and you’ll be begging for it.

Artist: Twin Tigers
Album: Gray Waves
Featured Track: Everyday

There are times when you hear a new band and just know they are going to be huge. Athens-based, Twin Tigers is one of them. Their debut LP, Gray Waves, is an epic assault of psychedelic, shoegaze rock. Jaw dropping good. The kinda stuff that’ll make you swoon. The kinda band that “could dismantle The Silversun Pickups from their perch.” The kinda sound that will keep you coming back for more. Get into this band is all I have left to say.

Album of the Week: Cymbals Eat Guitars

Posted on May 21, 2009 by the OCMD

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Artist: Cymbals Eat Guitars
Album: Why There Are Mountains
File Under: Indie Rock
Recommended if You Like: Pavement, Built to Spill meets The Polyphonic Spree
Featured Tracks:

“And the Hazy Sea”

One of the drawbacks of travel when you’re a music snob is losing control of your musical destiny. Such was the case the other day as we were sailing around the Aegean Sea being force fed hefty doses of Cheap Trick. (By the way, if that’s the worst form of suffering I have to endure on this trip, I’ll take it.) After the third listen, I couldn’t help help but kindly suggest that maybe the captain might like this new band called Cymbals Eat Guitars? The band name is certainly kick ass enough for his classic rock sensibilities anyway. And their sound kind of has that Cheap Trick meets Polyphonic Spree meets Built to Spill vibe.

I don’t know if he’ll follow up on that suggestion but he should. Cymbals Eat Guitars’ debut release Why There Are Mountains is likely one of the best ‘Indie’ releases this year. And I say Indie in the true sense of the word because the album was actually independently released. I’ve been listening to it repeatedly on this trip and it’s really grown on me. A real grower, not a shower as they say. This is indie rock at it’s finest, folks. Their songs are ambitious and epic (most tracks clocking in at more than 5 minutes each), with waves of smashing guitars and distortion that ebb and flow as effortlessly as the Agean Sea we’re sailing on. Brilliant.

Let’s Wrestle

Posted on April 27, 2009 by the OCMD

Let’s Wrestle,“I Won’t Lie To You”:

It’s Brit Rock day at the OCMD! I’m feeling a little feisty today and this London-based three piece I saw recently at SXSW is just what I need. With influences ranging from Pavement to Black Flag, Buddy Holly and ELO, they like to keep it raw and spunky. So come on already – let’s fucking wrestle!

Album of the Week: Iran – Dissolver

Posted on April 6, 2009 by the OCMD

dissolver

Artist: Iran
Album: Dissolver
File Under: Lo-Fi Indie Rock
Recommended if You Like: Pavement, Elliott Smith, Brian Wilson, Sebadoh, TVOTR
Featured Tracks: “I Can See the Future”, “Buddy“

“I Can See The Future”:

“Buddy“:

“Somehow they all got it wrong/ and they all seem to like it that way/ I let it go on too long/ and I forgot what I really meant to say/ and it feels like I’m lying/ and I don’t even know the truth….”

No doubt about it, the Buddy EP hooked me on Iran. The combination of Kyp Malone’s (of TV on the Radio) masterful guitar work and the pathos laden lyrics of frontman Aaron Aites works for me – utterly and completely. I wouldn’t call Iran a side project however, this band is actually a pre-cursor to TVOTR. Dissolver is their third release and is fairly classic in it’s construction – catchy, melodramatic pop-tinged lyrics dragged through lots of rock swagger. Very reminiscent of Pavement, which is perhaps why I like it so much. They’re not breaking any barriers with their sound here, but the familiarity feels really, really good.

“Buddy” is certainly a stand out track for me. To say I’m obsessed with it is an understatement. “Airport ’79”, (reportedly an epilogue of sorts to John Lennon’s “Airport ’77”) is another excellent song that’s been stuck in my head all week with it’s distorted, fuzzy guitar and catchy refrain ‘you won’t know who I am/ ’cause you don’t know who I am’. Much of the album has that ballad-like quality which showcases Aaron Aites true lyrical talent. It’s lovely.

Pavement to Reunite…If the Price is Right

Posted on January 15, 2009 by the OCMD

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There’s been lots of speculation of a Pavement reunion tour of late, but this article from The Guardian UK yesterday seems to imply a reunion is imminent for 2009 and centered around both the band and their label, Matador Records, 20th anniversary this year. Makes a lot of sense. Apparently Coachella’s booking agent is all over it, but as of now, the festival has yet to promise a big enough guarantee.

Read the entire article here.

Listen to Pavement covering Echo and The Bunnymen’s ‘Killing Moon‘ :

Blitzen Trapper – Furr

Posted on December 2, 2008 by the OCMD

Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr
File Under: Americana
Recommended if You Like: Dr. Dog, Pavement, Band of Horses, Bob Dylan
Featured Track: Furr

Portland’s Blitzen Trapper has been stirring up quite the buzz for the past year. Their last album, Wild Mountain Nation, made my ‘Best of’ list last year and was a darling in the indie music blogosphere. While some people didn’t take to that album’s lack of focus, I adored their schizophrenic romp through musical genres. It was very reminiscent of Pavement to me – weird and whimsical, which is a good thing.

The sound from their fourth album, Furr, is much more refined, honed in and mature. They seem to have grown up and figured out what works for them. And it works very well. Furr is like Bob Dylan meets Dr. Dog. They’ve taken the folk/Americana genre and played it out beautifully. No longer does the group sound like a bunch of teenagers trying every passing trend on for size. This album is cohesive and exudes a kind of confidence and talent that comes with maturity. It’s the real deal.

Blitzen Trapper plays tonight at The Independent in San Francisco.

Get this album free via eMusic’s 50 Free MP3 Promo

buy it at insound!

Sam Champion – Heavenly Bender

Posted on September 8, 2008 by the OCMD

Artist: Sam Champion
Album: Heavenly Bender
File Under: Classic Indie Rock
Recommended if You Like: Pavement, Stephen Malkmus, Built to Spill
Featured Tracks: Jealous Shakes, Be Mine Everyone, Dead Moon

Are you a Pavement fan? If not, stop reading this RIGHT NOW. I’m sorry to say we can no longer continue this relationship. If you are, you’re gonna like the latest release, Heavenly Bender, from the Brooklyn-based quartet, Sam Champion. Steeped in lo-fi, garage-rock jams, their sound may be a little too Wowee Zowee for the non-Pavement aficionado, but for me it’s the perfect combination as bands like Pavement /Stephen Malkmus represent everything I like in Indie Rock music – crunchy guitar jams sandwiched between sweet harmonies. My indie rock PB&J. That and I like the band’s sense of humor. Check out their promo video below.

Listen to ‘Dead Moon’: