With Castlemania, Thee Oh Sees take the lead. While other lo-fi, garage-y type bands continue soft-pedaling just-above-average releases that seem poised simply to keep their collective heads above water, Thee Oh Sees have made a record that stands to devour hordes of unsuspecting listeners whole.
Perhaps that’s misleading. I mean, followers of John Dwyer and his troupe are surely not going to be surprised that the man has, yet again, exceeded expectations. They’ll probably read this with the response: Duh, didn’t you even listen to Help? Dog Poison? Truth is, Thee Oh Sees have long been front-runners among purveyors of outsider pop with a gritty, classic rock flair.
And to go ahead and answer, yes, I have been following Thee Oh Sees, and did listen to those previous albums. But there is something about Castlemania that’s got me bristling with summer-faced joy and jilted blues. It’s got me bobbing and weaving. More so than before with Thee Oh Sees.
Maybe it’s the weather.
But it certainly is commanding me like Dancer Equired, Napa Asylum, Dye It Blonde and other like-minded albums haven’t been able to.
So take that for what it’s worth. I’ll just pronounce it: I love this album.
Vivian Girls Everything Goes Wrong
(09.2009 In The Red)
If you like this, check out: Tiger Trap, Go Sailor, Talulah Gosh, Black Tambourine, Henry's Dress, The Aislers Set, The Flatmates, The Shop Assistants, Cub, Dolly Mixture, Sarah Records, Slumberland Records, Early K Records
While I felt Vivian Girls debut last year was a bit overrated I’ve really got nothing against the band. In fact I think they are pretty darn cool. With their new LP, the girls find themselves writing better songs and more of them. I do however have a bit of beef with the majority of folks who write about them. I keep hearing all this talk about upbeat jangly guitar chords with 60’s girl group influence, followed by a list of other unnecessary descriptions. Cuz guess what? You can describe this band in one word. Twee. Put on a Tiger Trap or listen to a more upbeat Talulah Gosh song, then listen to Vivian Girls. It’s the same thing. Fast, simple, just got dumped, wearing a cardigan while riding a cute bike twee. You might as well take a nap with a kitten in the park while you’re at it. Now that I got my griping out of the way, I must admit, despite my initial lack of interest with the band when they blew up on the scene, they are really growing on me. Vivian Girls have found a place somewhere between The Shop Assistants and Black Tambourine in my twee loving heart. One of my favorites of the year. (Honestly, I haven't been listening to much from this year, hence the lack of reviews) But ya, still way good.
Reviews I've been meaning to get to for a while now...
The Strange Boys and Girls Club (03.2009, In The Red Records) RIYL: Summer, All the lo-fi buzz, simple pop drumming, throwbacks
The Strange Boys are twin Texans plus two playing ultra catchy fuzzed out psychedelic rock pop. This quad will get a tune stuck in your head as quick as any teen oriented radio station after one listen. Guitar that is somehow blues and surf at the same time flush out the melody as the sometimes Dylan inspired vocals are more or less shouted over the top. I wouldn't call it beautiful or charming, but I would call it fun for the whole family. You can get some serious dance parties on to this album, or get your lazy chill on, or employ it to accompany you around the house as you do chores, as it is very versatile and good for a variety of uses. Overall it is a enjoyable album. Nothing to pee your pants over, but definitely a good summer jammer.
HanneHuckleberg Blood From A Stone (05.2009, Nettwerk) Verdict: Regina Spektor from Norway backed by a drunken Radiohead cover band playing on Mars
Weirdo HanneHukkelberg got a whole lot less weird this year with her release of Blood From A Stone. All the quirky noisemakers have been more or less boiled out from production leaving behind rather enjoyable but straightforward pop songs. I was disappointed on first listen, but have since gained more appreciation for what this album offers, which is reserved and playful melodies orchestrated beautifully over which Hanne's delightful voice shines brighter than ever before. Slight hints of electronica are still present as is the wintry cold seriousness. Hanne kisses everything with a hint of her Scandanavianess and leaves everything pristine organic and sweetly arranged. Blood from a Stone is less dynamic than the earlier Hanne that I once fell in love with and it slightly broke my heart, but we're still seeing each other.
Ganglians Monster Head Room (2009, Woodsist/Revolver) RIYL: Sunshine
Saving the best for last in true socialite style, current super under the radar but busting out with a vengeance Indie scene heartthrobs Ganglians are currently rocking my world. These little crooners know how to chamber pop the summer sun into oblivion. Harmonies galore and sun worshipping scorchers are nonstop on this album. Every song is irresistibly foot tappingly good. It's laid back simple acid surf at it's absolute finest. I can't get enough of the Ganglians. I totally have a crush on Monster Head Room and you should too!
The Hunches Exit Dreams (01.2009, In the Red) Verdict = First great surprise of 2009
I have a knack for catching great bands on their deathbed. Apparently, The Hunches have been around for awhile despite their sparse back catalog; however, Exit Dreams is indeed the bands final effort. I’d never heard of them so that didn’t mean anything to me until I gave Exit Dreams a good few spins. Sure every band must die, but it is pretty bittersweet when you’ve just been introduced; just getting those first giddy butterflies and then – boom – they’re supposedly gone. Well, in any case, they couldn’t have gone out on a better note because Exit Dreams is super dreamy. At first I just figured it was a continuation of the lo-fi mainstream kick started last year but that was a sore understatement for the dimension of this record. The Hunches are equal parts punk fervor and pop genius harkening back to the early nineties when lo-fi wasn’t necessarily intentional but still harnessed into a glorious musical weapon. The Hunches also have this little nineties alt-rock undercurrent that pits them shoulder to shoulder with Pavement, The Pixies and early Weezer as quickly as it does with like minded contemporaries like Women, Iran and The Hospitals. I don’t know why I always get stuck comparing bands (ok, I do, I’m just not very good at describing music), but The Hunches are strong enough to be their own reference. The bottom line is that Exit Dreams has no weak tracks, just robust punk informed indie rock jams with a little extra umph in the form of grainy riffs, lockjaw drums and tuneless vocals. It’s all pretty sweet and definitely a must listen, even this early in the year. It is too bad that it is their swan song, but by the sounds of it, Exit Dreams was destined to by listened to with an air of sentimental yearning for the golden years of indie rock.
