Major Bands, Minor Labels 1.25.12: Vote Independent
Posted by Nick Krenn on 01.25.2012
This week's MBML has news on President Obama’s indie ties and an indie newbie already earning reissues of his first two albums. Also, I've got new downloads and music videos featuring The Lighthouse and the Whaler, Elephant & Castle, Pontiak, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Plus, I’ll give you 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 President Obama's indie leanings and Liam The Younger getting the reissue treatment for his first two albums. Also, new downloads from The Lighthouse and the Whaler and Elephant & Castle; music videos for Pontiak and Unknown Mortal Orchestra; and a new artist to keep your eyes on. And of course, I've got music recommendations worth your time.
Let's get started...
Obama Seeking Indie Support
I've been working on getting the President of United States to endorse this column for quite some time now. And while you may believe that to be a far-fetched idea, our President Obama has a thing for indie music. No lie. MTV is reporting that Obama has compiled a list of individuals that he would love to have as campaign supporters for his 2012 re-election campaign. Those among the list are none other than Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend.
Other wishful campaigners include Jay-Z, The Roots, Counting Crows, and many celebrities, CEOs, and other musicians. Obama has not confirmed or denied the "wish list", but it's safe to assume that the President was rocking out to The Suburbs in 2010. Who does Newt Gingrich have supporting his campaign? Toby Keith? Come on! While I dig the President's choices, I wonder why Arcade Fire when they're a Canadian band? That's probably just a small technicality.
Liam The Younger Gets Remastered/Reissued
Liam Betson released two albums last year under the moniker of Liam The Younger. His blend of earnest songwriting and lofi production caught the attention of Underwater Peoples and A Learning Computer who plan to remaster and re-release his bedroom folk masterpieces After The Graveyard and Clear Skies Over Black River. Both reissues are due out February 7th and will be followed by a new album later this year via Underwater Peoples. Check out two tracks "It Is Good" (from After The Graveyard) and "Under The Weeping Willow Tree" (from Clear Skies Over Black River).
Liam The Younger After the Graveyard
February 7th 2012
(Underwater Peoples / A Learning Computer)
Current Joys
This Land Pt. 1
Ode To Then
This Land Pt. 2
After The Graveyard
Songs Of Living
I Will Be Good Pt. 1
It Is Good
An Easy Place Pt. 1
If I Ever Live Alone
I Will Be Good Pt. 2
Two Sides
An Easy Place Pt. 2
An Easy Place Pt. 3
Sleep Pt. 3
Liam The Younger Clear Skies Over Black River
February 7th, 2012
(Underwater Peoples / A Learning Computer)
Leaving Black River
Country Wide
By the Pines
Walking
Cooking
Okay
Beneath the Weeping Willow Tree
My Wall
Clouds, Unfold
Little Dog
Clear Skies
Wymond Miles
On February 7th, Sacred Bones will release Wymond Miles' (of The Fresh & Onlys) solo EP Earth Has Doors. The new EP marks Miles' first solo release, and the material is quite intelligent -- based on concepts of eschatology, anthroposophy, and Gnostic and Hermetic symbolism. After you get done looking up what each of those things are, listen to the first single "Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find Them" below.
Says Miles about the new EP: For the first time I had a sense of place, and a reverence of humility for my surroundings. I was full of wonder, but I felt very small, and went inward to begin the work of writing. Sonically the mood had to reflect the somberness of moving between the existential chaos of my twenties into this new perspective of living -The mysterious hues of sound reflect a sense of curiosity and possibility in the canyons of sound.
Miles recorded the EP at his home on 8 track tape (the infamous Tascam 388) and performed almost everything on the record — guitars, synths, bass, drums, manipulated tape delay, and vocals. A few friends played with him, guesting on drums ("Hidden Things" and "Earth Has Doors") and viola ("As the Orchard"), while his wife Sarah sings some harmonies on side A.
The new EP will be followed by a full-length album later in the year through Sacred Bones Records.
Earth Has Doors Track Listing:
Side A
01. Hidden Things Are Asking You To Find Them
02. Temples Of Magick
Side B
03. As The Orchard Is With The Rain
04. Earth Has Doors, Let Them Open
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.
The Lighthouse and the Whaler - "Pioneers"
Cleveland, OH band The Lighthouse and the Whaler is one that you should have your ears glued to. They just released a new single "Pioneers" that will appear on an upcoming EP that shares the same name. And besides an upcoming EP, the band is finishing touches on a debut LP that will release later this year. Download "Pioneers" for free below.
Elephant & Castle is the project of producer David Vincent Reep. Spending much of his early career focused on another area of music (starting a DIY label), Reep hopes to make his presence known in the electronic/ambient genres. Citing influences of Flying Lotus and DJ Shadow, Elephant & Castle's first single "En Memoria" not only hints at promise, but it also delivers with a cameo from Tune-Yards' Merrill Garbus. The track will be a part of Elephant & Castle's album Transitions out March 13th via Plug Research. Download "En Memoria" below.
Elephant & Castle Transitions
(Plug Research)
Street Date: March 13, 2012
Track List:
1. Adjoining Souls
2. Rise
3. Derni / Paralysis
4. Altered Scones
5. En Memoria (Feat. Tune-Yards)
6. Oakland Stroll
7. The Hangar
8. Formatting... (Feat. Rachel Fannan)
9. I Will
10. RGB<<
11. Distance To The Sun
Indie Vids features the latest videos created by some of the independent artists that I'm watching or already love.
Pontiak – "Lions of Least"
Building anticipation for their new album, Echo Ono, Pontiak's band of brothers (3) have released a video for the album cut, "Lions of Least". The video plays with light and dark // black and white and color. Oh, and the song rocks hard too. Watch it below.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra have released a new video for their song "Thought Ballune" featuring a trippy birthday party with tasty cupcakes. Seriously, I would eat six of those things that all of my body parts would be floating away.
"Thought Ballune" was directed by the team of Jordan Blady and Ryan Knowles.
Full video credits:
Directors - Jordan Blady / Ryan Knowles
DP - Bernard Evans
Producer - Matt Stanley
VFX - Benjamin Davidson / Katerina Arroyo / Mark Holden / Lisa Ryan
Music Recommendations
My music recommendations feature the latest stuff that I and the writers at Earbuddy have checked out recently.
Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory
I have been blasting the new Cloud Nothings' album now for about three weeks. Considering that front-man Dylan Baldi's previous albums were the typical lofi, bedroom recorded songs that you get from many indie artists, his new album is a complete shock, combining raw emotion with an angry delivery. And angry guitars! This album shreds, and at only an eight-track album length, you can listen to it countless times without worrying about filler. Top to bottom Attack On Memory is the best album I've listened to all month. Read the Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory Review.
Chris Bell says: "Clear Heart Full Eyes, Craig Finn's first album as a solo artist, is a record that won't surprise Hold Steady fans, and yet is miles away from anything he has done with that group. Sounding more like Jay Farrar than The Gaslight Album, this record puts Finn cleanly inside of a singer-songwriter mode. With little to no exceptions, this works for Finn without having to change up his songwriting style too much." Read the Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes Review.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela and C.U.B.A. - Area 52
If you previously thought that Rodrigo Y Gabriela were lacking an alluring musical presence, Area 52 could be the album that changes your mind. World music and instrumental fans will likely appreciate these bold new interpretations of past songs. Adding pianos, horns, strings, electric guitars, and a SITAR (!), C.U.B.A. adorns each song with a grandiose abundance. Read the Rodrigo Y Gabriela and C.U.B.A. - Area 52 Review.
Mindless Self-Indulgence - Tighter
John Downey says: "Tighter is a remastered, redone, and repackaged version of Mindless Self-Indulgence's debut album, 1999's Tight. Had MSI advertised this album as consisting of all new material, I wouldn't have known the difference, though that might not be a good thing. It's an MSI album, and if you are already familiar with the band's work, you probably already know if this is your kind of thing." Read the Mindless Self-Indulgence - Tighter Review.
JD McPherson - Signs & Signifiers
Chris Bell says: "There are several acts around today that mine older-than-normal references and happily play in genres long since considered dead. Generally, they are well-reviewed, but often treated like novelty acts. JD McPherson fits well into that category, releasing a debut that could easily have fit in with the dirgy Rock acts of the 50's and 60's. Think Raphael Saadiq, but as a white greaser. Unfortunately, that comparison does little to explain just how good this record is. See, the dirty little secret of these retro acts is that they are so often well-reviewed because they are made by great musicians. A talentless hack can pass themselves as artistic by copying the Arcade Fire and hiding their inadequacies under a mountain of studio trickery or intentionally aloof songwriting. JD took a different path. His songs bleed earnesty, his performances as straightforward as anything Bo Diddley ever played. For McPherson to break through, he actually has to be good, and he is." Read the JD McPherson - Signs & Signifiers Review.
If you like my album reviews on 411mania, be sure to check out reviews done by me and my buddies on my blog Earbuddy and check out my blog's Facebook for more news and stories on artists featured in MBML:
Comments are always appreciated, and I would really like to hear from you guys through email (earbuddymusic@gmail.com) or Twitter. You can follow me @earbuddy so that we can chat about all kinds of things. Thanks for reading.
