Major Bands, Minor Labels 01.11.12: Bring A Kleenex
Posted by Nick Krenn on 01.11.2012
This week's MBML has news on an At The Drive-In reunion and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon starting a record label. Also, I've got new downloads and music videos featuring La Sera, Of Montreal, Youth Lagoon, and Howler. Plus, a new artist to keep your eyes on and music recommendations worth your time. All this and MORE!
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This week's MBML has news on At The Drive-In and Justin Vernon. Also, new downloads from La Sera and Of Montreal; music videos for Youth Lagoon and Howler; and a new artist to keep your eyes on. And of course, music recommendations worth your time.
Let's get started...
At The Drive-In Reunite
In one of the more unusual reunions, post-hardcore act At The Drive-In have announced that they will working together once again. A post on their website reads:
ATTENTION ! To whom it may concern: AT THE DRIVE-IN will be breaking their 11 year silence. THIS STATION IS .... NOW ....OPERATIONAL.
There is no word on what the band plans to do; however, they are tweeting. Find them on Twitter @AtTheDriveIn_, and be sure to check daily as this may be the best source for finding out new information on the band. There's also no word on how this will affect the At The Drive-In spinoff group, The Mars Volta, who have said that they have a new album coming out this year.
Justin Vernon Forms His Own Record Label
Bon Iver front-man Justin Vernon has turned record label mogul. Vernon has started his own label, Chigliak Records, an imprint of Jagjaguwar Records. And although the label will feature some new music, Vernon's passion seems focused on collecting overlooked gems and releasing them through Chigliak.
A lot of the inspiration for Chigliak seems based on Vernon's love for the seemingly unknown band Amateur Love. Vernon said the following in a 2010 Pitchfork interview.
There's this band called Amateur Love from Eau Claire. They put out a record and it probably sold like 500 copies-- it was like this electro-pop thing with a Neil Young or Paul Westerberg-quality songwriter, I shit you not. I'm actually starting an imprint at Jagjaguwar called Chigliak, and Amateur Love is going to be the first record I put out. It's like a 'lost records' thing and I'm encouraging other people to send in records of their local heroes-- totally unsigned shit that never went anywhere but is incredible.
Amateur Love members Brad and Phil Cook would move on and join the more successful Megafaun. Check out a live performance from the band below.
I think it's pretty clear that Justin Vernon is all about music from his various side projects, guest spots, and now creating his own label to give unknown bands their just do. It will be interesting to see if fans will get behind these bands as they're given a second chance through Vernon's label.
Todd Terje
Anytime I'm watching Risky Business or Near Dark, often in succession, I'm always drawn closer to the actions of Tom Cruise porking Rebecca De Mornay on a subway or Bill Paxton slitting a bar patron's throat with spurs by the music of Tangerine Dream. Synth-based instrumental music doesn't get much better than that. Capturing that same spirit is Oslo's Todd Terje. His EP It's The Arps will release on January 17th and has the same dreamy cool to hook you in for repeated listens.
The new EP will release through Terje's newly formed label, Olsen. The new EP was created using only the ARP 2600 synthesizer (geeks, tell me why it's special). It's The Arps follows Terje's 2011 EP Ragysh with quirky, dance music just dying for a light show. Check out the track "Swing Star (pt 1)".
1. Inspector Norse
2. Myggsommer
3. Swing Star Pt. 1
4. Swing Star Pt. 2
In the download exchange, I will give you some cool downloads to check out (all legal, of course!), and all that I ask for in exchange is that if you enjoy the music, then support the artists by picking up their album, buying some songs, or checking them out on tour.
La Sera - "Please Be My Third Eye"
Katy Goodman has announced a new La Sera album, Sees The Light, will be dropping on March 27th via Hardly Art. The new album is the follow-up to last year's self-titled debut, and the first track suggests that this is a completely different La Sera.
Based on the first single, "Please Be My Third Eye", Goodman seems to be dropping the '60s girl group pop that influenced much of her previous album as well as her work with Vivian Girls. "Please Be My Third Eye" brims with '80s inspired pop music, and Goodman's vocals are energetic in comparison to her sleepy delivery on La Sera's debut.
Of Montreal – "Dour Percentage"
Of Montreal released the first single off their new album, Paralytic Stalks. The new song is called "Dour Percentage" and retains all of the weird quirkiness that you've come to expect from the band. My first impression: heavy on Bee Gees. Paralytic Stalks is out February 7th.
Indie Vids features the latest videos created by some of the independent artists that I'm watching or already love.
Youth Lagoon – "July"
22-year-old Trevor Powers, aka Youth Lagoon, has released a video for The Year of Hibernation stand out track, "July". The video was directed by Tyler T Williams, who also directed the Youth Lagoon music video for "Montana." The new video may have you reaching for Kleenex, not because it's sad. AND NOT BECAUSE IT'S SEXY, you perverts! No, you may be checking your nose to be sure it's not bleeding. Just watch the video below to see what I'm talking about.
Howler is a new indie band consisting of 19-year-old frontman Jordan Gatesmith, Ian Nygaard (guitar), France Camp (bass), Max Petrek (keyboards) and Brent Mayes (drums). On January 17th, they will release their debut album America Give Up through Rough Trade. Check out the first video for "Back of Your Neck" off the new album below.
Music Recommendations
My music recommendations features the latest stuff that me and the writers at Earbuddy have checked out recently.
Gem Club - Breakers
Christopher Barnes and Kristen Drymala are a duo that take a minimalist approach to their music. Chiefly sticking to only piano and cello arrangements, their music is emotionally wrought, heavy on the melancholy and light on an idea of hope or perseverance. Breakers' songs play like the soundtrack to a cancer diagnosis. The emotional drain of the music doesn't allow itself for repeated listens, unless pessimism clouds your every thought. However, Breakers is undeniably well constructed. Read the Gem Club - Breakers Review.
The Jezabels - Prisoner
John Downey says: "Prisoner, the debut album from the four-piece rock band the Jezabels, is already a hit in Australia, and I still don't know if that's a point in favor of the Jezabels or not. On the one hand, the band already has a large fanbase and has the numbers to prove it, prompting this international release to begin with. On the other hand, Australians like cheese and pickle sandwiches. I mean no disrespect towards any of our Australian readers (both of you), but most of the world prefer to put different things on their sandwiches, like peanut butter, or jelly, or Miracle Whip, or not pickles." Read the The Jezabels - Prisoner Review.
A Classic Education - Call It Blazing
Gabe McBride says: "Formed in Italy, A Classic Education is a true multinational effort (well, I guess ‘multi' can mean two) fronted by Canadian John Clancy, along with several Italian mates, whom he'd met while colleging on the continent. After a few singles, an EP and a mini-album, the band has released their debut long player, Call it Blazing. While that title may seem to imply some badassery in the offing, the album is really a thoughtful affair of relatively tasteful indie pop that sometimes dips its toe, only the pinky mind you, into more rockin' territory." Read the A Classic Education - Call It Blazing Review.
Fairlamb - People Change
There's a lot of pain on People Change, the debut album from singer/songwriter Suzanne Fairlamb. And while that declaration could have you believing the album is mostly somber – thick on violin strings and saddened vocals – you'll be pleased to know that Fairlamb chooses a different approach. Fairlamb makes pain pretty with finger plucked guitars, layered vocal harmonies, and some decent rockers. And instead of the usual jilted lover woes that even Selena Gomez could write, Fairlamb focuses on a variety of adult subjects. Read the Fairlamb - People Change Review.
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