Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Cotton Mather


Writing for allmusic, Stewart Mason describes this Austin, Texas band as "a brilliant fusion of the Beatles, Squeeze, Guided By Voices, and some less obvious influences." He goes on to say that "Cotton Mather are one of those rare power pop groups who transcend their inspirations to create powerful and original music of their own."

Cotton Mather
Hotel Baltimore
Lost My Motto (Millenium Chrome Version) mp3
The Big Picture
Last of the Mohicans mp3
40 Watt Solution mp3

The Morning After Girls


The Rainbow Quartz blurb says this Melbourne quintet melts "pieces of The Jesus & Mary Chain, Primal Scream, The Psychedelic Furs, The Pixies and My Bloody Valentine into their own controlled sound." Yeh.

The Morning After Girls - Run For Our Lives mp3

Tiny Steps

Their name was prophetic, their footprint small, but these Detroit rockers leave behind this perfect gem of power pop from their eponymous EP, along with the promise of a posthumous, downloadable full-length. May our paths cross again. Tiny Steps, we hardly knew ye.

Tiny Steps - 1-3/3-4 mp3

Powerpopulist Gets Down With The Theme Thing. . .


. . .to wit, our contribution to this hallowed eve.

(Note to self: Reuse at Easter?)

Thunderegg - The Envelope Pushes Back - What About (The Children) (Single Edit) mp3

Monday, October 30, 2006

Tesco Chainstore Mascara

First, a partial list of their cited influences: Apples in Stereo, The Beatles, Brendan Benson, Fountains of Wayne, The Kinks, Papas Fritas, The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, and XTC. Check, check, check, etcheckera, etcheckera, etcheckera. Their name? Hmmm. I'm not sure if they're advertising or mocking the challenges posed to small, local businesses by the Megalomarts of the world. Their music? You decide.

Tesco Chainstore Mascara - Suite in Lo-Fi - Just The Weight You Are mp3

Walker Kong

"Minnesota" is one of the funnest words in the world to say, especially trying to get the "o" right. And that's where these guys and gals are from. Minneapolis, Minnesota. How do I know this?

You'll be hearing some of their stablemates at Magic Marker Records, either on your own or with the assistance of your humble blogmeister, if, that is, you choose to click. Good hooch (another fun word to say).

Now, would you like that Farfisasized?

Walker Kong
There Goes the Sun - Executioner Song mp3
Transparent Life - Battleship of Thieves mp3

The Favours

The spelling contains an important clue. Find more here and here.


The Favours - Magpie's Revenge - What's In It For Me? mp3

Old 97's. . .

. . .are old hat to some of you, but in case not, here's a troika from one of Texas' finest bands. Read more here.

Old 97's
Can't Get A Line mp3
Rollerskate Skinny mp3
Lonely Holiday mp3

Hits in the Car/DAYS/Coast is Clear

One of the best music blogs I've come across is that of stytzer's at Hits in the Car. This music-loving Dane works his beehind off tracking down and posting excllent music. One recent posting put me in touch with the Swedish group DAYS. "Simple Thing" is my favorite so far, but stytzer has more. Incidentally, I found Hits in the Car via the excellent German blog, Coast is Clear. I don't necessarily understand every word there, but musically we speak the same language.

DAYS - Simple Thing MP3

the deBretts

My first post reminded me of this London group. (U. K.)

the deBretts - hole in the head mp3

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Swedish Polarbears

Helig Sverige, these bruins serve up the pop 100-proof! Skoal!

Swedish Polarbears - Worship This! mp3
Just in Time for 'Weening. . .

Hasten to 3hive (10/28) to check out The Postmarks' cover of Ministry's "goth-wave era hit," "Everyday is Halloween." On second thought, if the song holds, what's the hurry? You might like "Goodbye" as well.
Apropos of Shoes. . .

. . .be sure and check out NYMary's October 22 posting of four fabulous videos by those avatars of powerpop. Really, though, whom do I kid? You probably found me through her anyway, for which I thank you both.


Afraid of Stairs

Thanks to mp3hugger for the October 23 headsup on Sweden's Afraid of Stairs' new EP on the Lavender label. Many of you probably already have this, but in case you missed it, here's their aptly cited "mini classic," "Not Today". Yes, you might as well know, I am hopelessly enamored of the chaussure-focused genre. Up next: navelgaze. Om.

Afraid of Stairs - Not Today mp3

Woody Whatever

This Brooklyn-based DIYer recorded a bedroomful of songs in Ohio and offers them up for free. Great hookery, especially in "Personal Loan" and "Rave Time." Low-key, yes, but as a more electrified bunch put it, "I can't get it out of my head."

Woody Whatever
Personal Loan mp3
Rave Time mp3

Ether Aura

These Detroiters are new to my ken and quite pleasing. Among the many things I like about this song is the way they don't keep rushing back to the excellent chorus.

Ether Aura - Crash - 6 Days Yesterday

The Problem with The Prids...


...is minor and mine. I love 'em. I'm just having a hard time linking you directly to "The Problem," a song you Superchunkers and Portastaticators might find quite amenable. So if you're so inclined, go right to their website and click on Multimedia. (You might want to hit the PAUSE control in the upper right hand corner first, unless you like the autoplaying song.)

Ah, the smell of New Blog in the marnin'!

This post has been updated and superceded. Please click here.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Curtain

One Spinal Cracker (allusively): What the world needs now is another song blogger like I need a hole in my head.

Jojo: I've got five, maybe seven. One or two more might be gear. Let it be.

Amen.

Let us dream.




Kiss This Guy

I had one of those loony Hendrixian experiences this past Wednesday. No, I didn’t kiss a guy, although I sometimes do.* “Tree-ee-ee-ees and leaves are lovely/See-ee-ee-eek it, find the co-o-ore....” “Wonderful!” I blissed. “Perfectly suits the time of year. Season’s mellow, life is good, sparrows bark not in the wood.” But niggler I bethought me to verify that is in fact what the Lead Voice celebrates. It is not. Trees indeed are lovely, but so, as we’ve all noticed, are…knees. So bliss yourselves, mf’s,** with this lovely lay (chopperphile Pollard’s favorite, says the inestimable NYMary).

*my son
**my friends

Guided By Voices - Everywhere With Helicopter mp3



Spoon - I Summon You
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