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December 11, 2013

Tokyo Police Club – Argentina (Parts I, II, & III) (Music Video)

Tokyo Police Club have had one of the more intriguing career paths of the mid-00’s buzz bands. After falling into the trap of releasing an incredible EP and then buckling under the pressure when it came to a follow-up, they’ve been making strange choices. Today, they’ve unveiled a simplistic lyric video for Argentina (Parts I, II, & III) that finds the band sounding better than they have since A Lesson in Crime.

Their edge from that EP is suddenly present again, only this time the pop sensibilities they’ve acquired and honed in the post-EP wake have manifested themselves into that edge. The end result is something genuinely stunning and could point to their upcoming LP being one of 2014’s biggest system shocks. There’s an expert blend of post-punk, powerpop, and indie rock on display here. All of it sounds unconventional, forward-thinking, and strangely new. It’s damn near perfect.

Listen to “Argentina (Parts I, II, & III) below.

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December 11, 2013

The Thermals Release Online Video Game

One of this year’s best emerging trends may very well be the unexpected rise of the retro online video game. Okkervil River was the first to implement this with an exceptionally intelligent take on the 8-bit adventure game as part of their brilliant promotional campaign for The Silver Gymnasium. Today The Thermals have released a simplistic action game to accompany their song “The Sword By My Side” off of their Saddle Creek debut, Desperate Ground.

Thermals bassist Kathy Foster is the game’s central figure, cutting up demon bat-like creatures with her sword. Around the halfway mark, Hutch Harris and Westin Glass appear as helpful sprites to aid Kathy in her quest to defeat evil. The Sword By My Side doesn’t take long to play and qualifies as dumb fun, an aesthetic The Thermals do wonders with (see: literally any of their music videos) and something everyone needs once in a while.

As the deadlines for year-end pieces are approaching quickly, the game also serves as a nice reminder that Desperate Ground was an unreasonably strong record and deserves to find itself in contention with many of this year’s consensus picks thus far.

Play The Sword By My Side here.

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December 11, 2013

Burger Streams Velvet Underground Tribute Compilation

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Burger Records, no strangers to coverage on this site, have gone ahead with their zillionth noteworthy item this year; a full stream of their just-released tribute to Velvet Underground’s White Light/White Heat . While the release does cover all six tracks, it’s no quick cash-grab. Each track is packed to the gills with loving admiration and it’s clear a lot of care went into its making. Only one of the bands here turns in a completely faithful cover, while the majority turn in loving appropriations that suit their respective sounds. Each track and approach culminates in an unflinchingly honest and perfectly-crafted tribute piece.

Of the six tracks, the clear standout seems to be from Netherlands punks Mozes & the Firstborn. Their cover of “Lady Godiva’s Operation” continues an unlikely winning streak the band kicked off earlier this year with the release of their outrageously catchy self-titled record. “Lady Godiva’s Operation” is far from the only reason to listen to this tribute compilation, though.

All of this release is worthwhile, with each band taking memorable turns in a time of remembrance. From Natural Child to Gap Dream, Burger’s roster is well-represented. Curtis Harding, The Memories, and Mr. Elevator and the Brain Hotel are the three bands round out Burger’s cast for this release. Everything on display here comes together and points to one unshakable fact; Lou Reed may be gone but his legacy won’t be forgotten.

Listen to Burger’s tribute below and purchase it from the label here.

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December 11, 2013

Sunn O))) & Ulver Preview Upcoming Collaborative LP

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This pairing is likely enough to bring a wealth of new music blogs like this one into existence. It’s the reason several more exist in the first place. When two critically acclaimed behemoths like SUNN O))) & Ulver team up for a record, the prospect of that record is not to be taken lightly. Both bands have maintained their status as two of the most interesting on the planet since their founding in 1992 (Ulver) and 1998 (Sunn), respectively.

Earlier this week they unveiled a three minute preview from Terrestrials and made it available on a bandcamp set up specifically for the collaboration. “Eternal Return” is the song the excerpt is taken from and is one of the three improvisational pieces that Terrestrials will be composed of. “Eternal Return”, or at least the preview of it, is a melancholy ambient piece that’s punctuated by piano, an erratic propulsive bass line, and hints of menace. Synthesizers appear unexpectedly as the preview trails off, leaving a distinct impression that Terrestrials may be one of next year’s most surprising records.

If the three minutes of “Eternal Return” that are previewed are any indication, Terrestrials is going to be a priority purchase. Are those three minutes worth the outlandish $100 price tag that currently accompanies the “Eternal Return” preview? Absolutely not. From the sounds of them, though, Terrestrials sounds like a million bucks so far.

Listen to the “Eternal Return” excerpt below and be sure to pick Terrestrials up when it’s released in February.

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