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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
La Roux at The Drake Underground in Toronto
Frank YangA typical Sunday evening for me can go any number of ways. Catching up on the past week’s television, working ahead a bit on the blog, taunting the cat with a piece of string, whatever. What is not a typical Sunday evening is standing in front of a PA cabinet with obnoxious dance music being pounded into my ears and midsection. And yet, this was my past Sunday at the Drake Underground.
The why was because I had been invited out to see the next buzzy thing in British electro-pop, the ’80s-adoring duo called La Roux, who had been tipped as one of the BBC’s Sound of 2009 acts but who had yet to really begin to capitalize on that cachet – this made a tiny club show like this appealing for bragging rights, if nothing else. So I acquainted myself with their entire recorded output thus far – two singles clocking in at under 10 minutes total – liked what I heard, and off I went.
The DJ went about 20 minutes longer than I’d have liked – dude, when no one is dancing you’ve failed – but eventually gave way as the keyboard half of the band, Ben Langmaid, took the stage to kick off “In For The Kill” and frontwoman, voice and hair Elly Jackson followed soon after. Without a whole lot of material to draw on, their set was necessarily short – just seven songs – but it was enough to get a sense of where their fortunes might lay. On the plus side, they obviously have a distinctive look – Jackson’s coif was as impressively vertical as one would hope – and even separated from her backing tracks her voice is distinctive and impressive, not quite falsetto and with an almost vocoder-ed quality. And while none of the songs quite reached the inescapable catchiness of “In For The Kill”, it was mostly solid material throughout.
On the con side, it was very evident that the live performance end of things was still new to them. Langmaid was fine, hidden behind his banks of equipment, but Jackson never seemed especially comfortable onstage, preferring to perform with eyes tightly closed and microphone in death grip and occasionally working in some tense dance moves. It was good to see that her “no smiling” policy of publicity photos didn’t carry over live – she was friendly in banter if a bit awkward and cracked a couple jokes – but there wasn’t a lot of charisma on display. If there’s a positive side to that, it’s that with her nervousness and rather… eclectic fashion sense, she seemed quite genuine, and that’s not necessarily the first attribute you’d expect to find in potential electro-pop divas.
I’m sure the La Roux live experience will improve with more shows, but if there was ever a case study for a synth-based act who could benefit from some more live instrumentation, it’s them. They should look up to the top of that BBC list at Little Boots for an example of the difference a live drummer can make. Either way, I do feel fortunate to have gotten to see them perform such an intimate show – when their debut album is released in June, I’m sure that the hype will buoy them to much larger performances. I just hope they’re ready for them.
The Times has an interesting feature following La Roux as they try to convert buzz into hype into real success.
Photos: La Roux @ The Drake Underground – April 5, 2009
MP3: La Roux – “Quicksand” (Joe & Will Ask remix)
Video: La Roux – “Quicksand”
Video: La Roux – “In For The Kill”
MySpace: La Roux
The Toronto Sun talks to White Lies.
Natasha Khan discusses the distinctive style of Bat For Lashes with The Quietus. Scotland On Sunday and Digital Spy also have interviews. Two Suns is out today and their April 25 show at the Mod Club is nearly sold out.
The Rumble Strips talk about their new album Welcome To The Walk Alone, out June 8, with Clash.
Billboard talks to Mark Olson about making the Jayhawks Green Grass-era reunion official. Good Times also has an interview with Olson.
The New York Daily News talks to Bishop Allen’s Justin Rice while Art In The Age has video of a recent in-store performance in Philadelphia.
Metromix has an interview with Jenny Lewis. According to Chart, a documentary detailing the making of her last solo record Acid Tongue is in the works.
So Neil Young’s new one Fork In The Road is finally out today – don’t y’all trample each other at the store getting a copy, now – and in addition to the little webcam videos he’s been making for the songs, there’s also a mini-film entitled Get Around which basically features Neil driving his Lincvolt around America whilst singing along to the album. They do use better quality cameras, however. You can “rent” the thing at Jaman and while you have to register, it does appear to be free.
Trailer: Get Around
Son Volt will release their new album American Central Dust on July 7 – details at Billboard.
The Martlet profiles Chad Van Gaalen.
The Young & The Hungry talks food with Ra Ra Riot. The Daily Orange, despite being named for food, talks to them about music.
The Guelph Mercury and Exclaim! talk to Julie Doiron.
Bradley’s Almanac is sharing a recording of The Mountain Goats’ recent show in Somervile, Massachusetts last month including a couple of new songs.
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
Review of Emmy The Great's First Love
Sam SeagerIt occurred to me that amidst the music media mayhem that is March and my not wanting to look too much like an obsessed stalker-fan (though I suspect the damage on that front was done long ago), I neglected to actually provide at review of Emmy The Great’s long-awaited debut album First Love after it was released way back in February.
But beyond the aforementioned factors, one of the reasons I didn’t feel compelled to write the record up was that it didn’t feel new, and thus didn’t strike that evangelical chord within me. As The Daily Growl, a much longer-time Emmy fan than I, alluded to in his review, we’ve been living with so many of these songs in so many live/demo versions for so long, that the notion that these are the “proper” and “final” versions of these tunes just don’t quite register. The sense of immediate familiarity is contributed to by the fact that the production on the record favours a very straight, live feel – this is not a complaint, they obviously know that the relatively unadorned approach utilizing the components of her live band compliments Emmy’s voice and lyrics best, and it when little bits of studio or instrumental flourish is dropped in – the synth bass in the coda of “Absentee” stands out in particular – it’s that much more striking.
But as it should be, Emmy’s voice and words are the centerpiece of the record – the former clear, understatedly expressive and with remarkable diction and the latter evocative, incisive and witty in a manner more melancholic than humorous. In the wrong hands, these ingredients could come across as overly precious or precocious but with Emmy, the sincerity of it wins out. It feels like a coping mechanism wherein the only way to deal with heartbreak is to describe it in as painstaking detail as possible and if you’re of that sort of personality, it resonates deeply.
About half of the record appeared on my own homemade Emmy mixes through the better part of 2008, and so I can’t say whether the reason the other half of the record hasn’t grabbed me as much as is because it’s not as ingrained into my DNA or if they’re actually just weaker songs. But even if the latter, the overall quality of the record is impressive and any record that boasts songs like “24”, “Easter Parade” and the title track makes for a worthy debut. Do I love the record? Yes, I do. Did it make my jaw drop? No, but that’s because my jaw was already there.
MP3s below are live or non-album versions, but the versions that I’ve played to death over the past year. Same for the “Easter Parade” and “MIA” videos.
MP3: Emmy The Great – “Easter Parade”
MP3: Emmy The Great – “MIA” (live from Black Room Sessions)
MP3: Emmy The Great – “24” (live on Welcome To Our Show, January 2008)
Video: Emmy The Great – “First Love”
Video: Emmy The Great – “We Almost Had A Baby”
Video: Emmy The Great – “Easter Parade”
Video: Emmy The Great – “MIA”
MySpace: Emmy The Great
Maps welcomes Noah & The Whale to their studios for an interview and session. Their new album The First Days Of Spring should be out in June and they play the Mod Club on April 27.
MP3: Noah & The Whale – “Mary” (live at Maps)
MP3: Noah & The Whale – “My Door Is Always Open”
Exclaim has some info on forthcoming releases from Florence & The Machine. The A Lot of Love, A lot of Blood EP, which collects her singles so far on single 12″, is still due out on April 28 and her debut full-length, which has been given the title of Lungs, appears to set for a June or July release. She talks to BBC6 about coming up with the name for the record.
Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan tells Gigwise that plans are afoot to make a musical-fantasy feature film (think Labyrinth) based on songs from her first album Fur & Gold, and that all that’s left is “to get the funding”. So yes, look for that to be coming to a theatre near you REAL soon. But first, listen to the live MP3 from the new album below. Then read these interviews at BBC and MTV. Then look for her new record Two Suns in stores next Tuesday. Then look for her to play the Mod Club on April 25 (with Lewis & Clarke as support – again). Then look for monkeys to fly. THEN look for the movie.
MP3: Bat For Lashes – “Glass” (live at Nimes)
Blurt celebrates Swervedriver and also offers a feature on frontman Adam Franklin, whose new solo record Spent Bullets is out today.
Though not a proper Take-Away Show, La Blogotheque has some pretty stunning – and of course stylish – live footage of Mogwai. They’re at the Phoenix on May 4. And note that Take-Away Shows mastermind Vincent Moon has started a blog.
Video: Mogwai – “Mogwai Fear Satan” (live)
Spinner loves Leonard Cohen, premiering a new video taken from his Live In London double-CD set, out today, as well as streaming the whole of that.
Video: Leonard Cohen – “Hallelujah” (live)
Stream: Leonard Cohen / Live In London
Also out today and streaming is Lost Channels, the new one from Great Lake Swimmers. Paste, The Georgia Straight and The Gauntlet have interviews with Tony Dekker, who will be at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 25.
Stream: Ghost Lake Swimmers / Lost Channels
And one last goodie from Spinner – an Interface Session with Neko Case. She’s at Trinity-St Paul’s on April 17 and 18.
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007
So the final lineup for Toronto’s Virgin Festival was supposed to be announced yesterday but by the end of the work day, no press release from the organizers had appeared. But there was one from Universal Music which probably explained why the official announcement hadn’t come – as many had expected, Amy Winehouse had cancelled her Fall North American tour on account of her burgeoning career as a cautionary tale.
So as with last year when Massive Attack’s festival-closing slot was cancelled on account of visa issues, V Fest is again left scrambling to replace a high-profile act though the three weeks they have this time around is far better than the two days they had last time (Broken Social Scene were tapped last year, to the delight of some and the dismay of others). I’m also sure that feelers were put out for a possible replacement after Winehouse ODed a couple weeks ago. The most logical place to look for potential subs would be the Osheaga fest, happening that same weekend and just up the highway (well, six hours up the highway). I’d put money on Feist if she wasn’t scheduled for the Saturday in Montreal so maybe… Macy Gray? Or, possibly/hopefully a certain Brooklyn three-piece who it’s just come to my attention will be in town for a private sort of thing the night before… Who? Antonym up the post title for a hint. Also unclear is whether Paulo Nutini, who was going to be around on account of being the tour opener for Winehouse, will be in attendance.
But the rest of the show must go on and so looking at the Virgin Festival website, even though they haven’t announced it as such, it looks pretty final. A number of smaller acts have been added in the past week so if there’s still anyone yet to be announced, it’ll probably be of that stature. Those who are still hoping for someone like Radiohead to be a last minute addition – and they’re out there, I’ve seen them – will certainly be disappointed but if you live in a world where you honestly believe that Radiohead would be added to a festival lineup at the eleventh hour, you’re probably used to being disappointed.
So here’s how it’s looking:
A whole lot of unknown names on that list, but having done a very quick sampling while gathering website links there’s a good mix of styles represented so there’s a good chance of finding something new and interesting no matter what a given festival-goer is into. Now even if the lineup is final (Update: obviously it’s not, as it’s been changing via various sources throughout the day, tracked above), there’s still the question of scheduling – there’s plenty of opportunity for conflicts between must-sees there. Hopefully that makes its way out soon and finally, since I won’t be posting this with the show review, a song from and for Ms Winehouse.
MP3: Amy Winehouse – “You Know I’m No Good” (featuring Ghostface Killah)
One of day two’s big acts – Stars – is gearing up for the physical release of In Our Bedroom After The War on September 25 by offering bonus goodies with the CD – a bonus 55-minute documentary feature on DVD called Are We Here Now?. Pitchfork has details and a trailer. And speaking of Stars goodies, make sure to swing back here later this week, I’ve got some good stuff to give away. In the meantime, watch their new video.
Video: Stars – “Take Me To The Riot” (MOV)
And if you clicked through the Feist link above, you may have found instead of her website a handwritten note announcing that she’s abandoned it for the time being for fear of robots, opting to use MySpace as her sole internet presence. She talks about many things in this interview with The Sydney Morning Herald but not the robophobia – maybe it’s still too delicate to discuss.
The New Pornographers finally released Challengers yesterday. New York Magazine, Dose, The Phoenix and The Globe & Mail talked to Carl Newman about the new album as well as his recent nuptials.
Check out the second video from Rilo Kiley’s Under The Black Light, centering around a plot wherein Jenny Lewis realizes just how short Blake Sennett is. Metacritic is being far kinder to the record than I’d expected.
Video: Rilo Kiley – “Silver Lining” (Flash)
Billboard has details on Neil Young’s next studio album and, in true Neil fashion, it’s a sequel to an album that was never released in the first place. Chrome Dreams 2, out October 16, is the follow-up to the original Chrome Dreams which was shelved in 1977 though many of the songs intended for it trickled out on subsequent releases. I had an MP3 version of it cobbled together from bootlegs, live recordings and outtakes and while it was near-unlistenable due to the crap audio quality, if released it would have possibly been Neil’s greatest record. I mean, look at the tracklist. INSANE. Here’s hoping the follow-up is even a patch on the original.
Ryan Adams discusses kicking his various drug and alcohol additions with The Sydney Morning Herald. Maybe someone should forward that link on to Amy Winehouse?
The AV Club’s Permanent Record Hall Of Fame is on a roll recently, with the latest inductee being The Wedding Present’s very worthy Seamonsters.
Billboard reports that REM will release their first live album, R.E.M. Live, on October 16 in a 2-CD/1-DVD package. Just in time for Hallowe’en!
Mercury prize nominee Bat For Lashes has a date at the El Mocambo on September 28, an unfortunate date because that’s the same night Bloc Party are going to be at Ricoh Coliseum and The Brunettes and Ferraby Lionheart are at the Horseshoe. The Sydney Morning Herald talks about the ’60s with Brunette Heather Mansfield. Hot Hot Heat is at the Kool Haus October 8 with Sebastien Grainger and De Novo Dahl, Spoon’s October 15 show has been moved from the Phoenix to the Kool Haus and Jesu is at Lee’s Palace on October 25. Adam Franklin is also at the Drake Underground on October 25. Check out the goods from his new album Bolts Of Melody below:
Stream: Adam Franklin / Bolts Of Melody
MP3: Adam Franklin – “Seize The Day”
MP3: Adam Franklin – “Syd’s Eyes”
And finally, Shout Out Out Out Out are at Lee’s for a two-night stand October 26 and 27. JAM! talks to the band about playing V Fest in Baltimore a couple weeks ago.
And we come topical full circle! Woot!
Shut up. I make my own fun.
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