A Certain Romance

Magic Man - "South Dakota"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:13:00 +0000

I love it when I don't even remember downloading something and then I end up loving it days later. This tune has owned my weekend in a very good way. It sounds like early Mum slowly churning through a Postal Service tune. Class. And, the entire album is available for free download at Magic Man's bandcamp site here. Enjoy.

Magic Man - "South Dakota" from "Real Life Color".

Lulu & The Lampshades - "You're Gonna Miss Me"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:39:00 +0000

I love this song and wish I could find an MP3 version. Until then, this is a frequent video play for me. Lulu & The Lampshades doing "You're Gonna Miss Me (aka Cups)" via Bandstand Busking. Brilliant. Enjoy.

PS - "Ask and you shall receive", I suppose. After bemoaning my not having an MP3 of this tune, I was granted one via a comment. Thank you very much. Enjoy.

Lulu & The Lampshades - "You're Gonna Miss Me" (aka "Cups) (Live).

Goldhawks - "1996"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:51:00 +0000

Britain's Goldhawks come pounding straight into this one and never relent. I love the bounce of the rhythm and the verse/chorus dynamics (guitars dropping out and then returning something fierce), all of which merely support an insanely catchy rock melody. This song is blistering and ambitious, which I love. No attempt to undersell or back away from what is truly a huge tune. I have no idea who produced this, but it sounds incredible. Enjoy.

Goldhawks - "1996".

Everything Everything - "My Keys, Your Boyfriend"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:35:00 +0000

"Cause he was looking at me like WOAH!"

Alright. As far as I'm concerned, this song is pure genius. If the incessant little stabbing melodies and harmonies don't get you, how does that persistent verse keyboard riff not? If the lyrics don't entirely make sense at first, how can you not love a song reportedly about "what it would be like to try and have any kind of normal relationship if your country was being bombed constantly by an occupying nation, from the point of view of a self-obsessed, post-traumatic, stress-disordered Lothario"? And it's all set to a mess of class 80s hooks. Look out for these guys. This is some talent. Enjoy.

Everything Everything - "My Keys, Your Boyfriend".

The Soft Pack - "C'mon"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:32:00 +0000

Is it just me or do these guys just keep getting better? Great new tunes.

The Soft Pack - "C'mon".

The Soft Pack - "Answer to Yourself".

Surfer Blood - "Fast Jabroni"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:23:00 +0000

"Someone broke into my heart..."

Surfer Blood - "Fast Jabroni".

A Century Removed: Bow Wow Wow - "Fools Rush In"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:06:00 +0000

"Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love
So how are they to know?"

Bow Wow Wow - "Fools Rush In" (from Your Cassette Pet, 1980).

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 16

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:09:00 +0000

Thirteen tunes that have entertained my ears over the past few months. Burn it to a CD and play it loud in your car. Enjoy.

01 - Frightened Rabbit - "Swim Until You Can't See Land".
02 - Pet Lions - "Propeller Plane".
03 - Turbo Fruits - "On The Road".
04 - Jose Vanders - "Puppets".
05 - Mr. Little Jeans - "Angel (RAC Mix)".
06 - Johnny Foreigner - "Criminals".
07 - Frankie Rose - "Thee Only One".
08 - Faces On Film - "Indicator Indicator".
09 - The Rifles - "The Great Escape".
10 - The XX - "Basic Space".
11 - Doug Burr - "Slow Southern Home".
12 - Danny Malone - "Sailing".
13 - Jonsi & Alex - "Boy 1904".

Good at Songs, Bad at Fidelity: Lo-Fi.

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:45:00 +0000

If you follow new music at all, you've surely run into the trendy "lo-fi" movement by now. Now, if you are old like me, you will remember the "lo-fi" movement of the early 1990's courtesy of bands like Sebadoh and their four-track recorders. Well, the old trusty four tracks have been upgraded to GarageBand and the like.

As with most genres, there's a ton of copy-cat junk out there now, but there are always some gems as well. As the Internet Forever tag line goes - "Good at Songs, Bad at Fidelity" - these are great catchy tunes buried in intentionally minimalist production values (hence, "lo-fi"). And, for the most part they come off like a fun new party.

01 - Big Troubles - "Freudian Slips". This one definitely leans to the "indiepop" side of things (check that Pains of Being Pure at Heart influence) with a great bounce and guitar hook.
02 - Fluffy Lumbers - "Cruisers". I love the chug of the rhythmn here.
03 - Beach Fossils - "Daydream". A sinister guitar riff buried in reverb and muck.
04 - The Babies - "Meet Me In The City". Upbeat glory to get the party going.
05 - Gentle Friendly - "Clean Breaker". I'm cheating with this one as it's honestly not terribly "lo-fi", but the aesthetic isn't really that far off. Love it.
06 - George Washington Brown - "End Of The ...". Reminds me of my old loves Boyracer. Great tune.
07 - That Ghost - "Never Have Fun". Slacker rock is back. This is like Wavves without a distortion box.
08 - Internet Forever - "Cover The Walls". This trio make Casiotone For The Painfully Alone sound downright overproduced. Harmonies and hooks galore. Check out the entire catalog.

Surfer Blood - "Catholic Pagans"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:17:00 +0000

"When I met you, I broke the mold.
I fell apart and combed my hair."

Surfer Blood - "Catholic Pagans".

Titus Andronicus - My Time Outside The Womb

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:32:00 +0000

"I learned to play the guitar in the seventh grade in order to convince everyone I was a renegade.
I couldn't fool anyone.
I couldn't even fool myself.
I was just another book on the shelf."

Titus Andronicus - "My Time Outside The Womb". Buy here.

Danny Malone - Cuddlebug

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:06:00 +0000

"Did you know I whispered something low to you that morning, but you were half-asleep?"

I finally found my way down to Waterloo Records on Saturday (with two kids in tow) and picked up Danny Malone's "Cuddlebug". I've been waiting for this one forever and I'm not disappointed. As I've said too many times before, I think this guy is a rare talent and a great songwriter.

My favorite song has to be "Song for the Year", the video of which I've watched/listened to about a 100 times already. Here's the CD-version of the tune. Go buy it.

Danny Malone - "Song for the Year". Buy here.
Danny Malone - "Lightning Bolt". Buy here.

Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:31:00 +0000

For more frequent musical tips, follow me on twitter: @acrblog. See you there.

Elephant Parade

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:43:00 +0000

I just recently found out about Elephant Parade, the new project by Estelle from The Brittle Stars (arguably the best band to ever record for Shelflife Records). The band have a new album coming out soon, but this tune is an utter classic that belongs in a movie soundtrack. Enjoy.

Elephant Parade - "For You".
Brittle Stars - "This Trip".

Generationals

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:39:00 +0000

"And when they fight, they fight
And when they come home at night they say
"I love you, baby".

Generationals - "When They Fight They Fight".

Peggy Sue - Lover Gone

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Without pretense, without purpose, without drink, without remorse
I gave to you four years out of my twenty-four
I couldn't bring myself to give you more...

Peggy Sue - "Lover Gone" (on Yep Roc).

The Rural Alberta Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:08:00 +0000

"And we will burn our eyes, seeking out these purple nights..."

There was an old Sarah Records single insert that loosely described their selection process as a record label by stating that the chosen bands' demos typically (paraphrased from memory here) "had all the wrong notes and all the right everything elses". That's pretty much the perfect way to describe all those bands you know aren't perfect musicians but still embody that perfect ramshackle charm that matters so much more.

So it is with The Rural Alberta Advantage. The voices veer noticeably off at times, but their spirits are never lost. I've listened to these two songs all summer and I'm starting to defy the law of diminishing returns. I can't stop feeling it. Go Canada.

"And once in awhile I know our hearts beat out of time.
And once in awhile I know they'll fall back in line..."

The Rural Alberta Advantage - "Edmonton".
The Rural Alberta Advantage - "In The Summertime".

8tracks.com

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:54:00 +0000

No posts recently as we've been away on an extended summer vacation (with me working 2/3 of the time). In may absence, here are two mixes that I put together for the new 8tracks.com service (very much like the old muxtape). Enjoy.

Drones & Slow Builds

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Drones and slow builds have always been my surrogate drugs and I've never needed/wanted the real stuff. As such, this week I've been obsessed with "Happy Banjo", an odd mixture of Americana/drone by Dark Mean from Ontario Canada and a sayCet remix of Pony Pony Run Run's otherwise fairly poppy "Hey You". sayCet hail from France but put a decidedly Icelandic (think Mum and Sigur Ros) twist on this remix. Enjoy.

Dark Mean - "Happy Banjo" (Free download EP here).
Pony Pony Run Run - "Hey You (sayCet Remix)".

I've Always Liked The Sad Songs...

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:49:00 +0000

It really doesn't matter how I'm feeling, I love me a good sad song. Life can be as chipper as possible (and in most ways it has been lately) and still I'm a glutton for some melodic misery. I've been questioned about it a million times and my only great explanation is that it's definitely the emotional vicarious thrill and not the therapy that most people suppose it to be. There's just nothing like that wash of bummedness drifting over you. On that note, here are some of my recent faves; they aren't thoroughly bummed, but they deliver nonetheless. Enjoy.

Right Away, Great Captain - "Down To Your Soul".
Right Away, Great Captain - "Memories From A Shore (Anna No)".
Royal City - "I Called But You Were Sleeping".
Saxon Shore - "Nothing Changes".

The Boss (Covered & Covering)

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Knowing that my 18-year old self would be reeling in horror right about now, I press on with a blog post about Bruce Springsteen. A few days back I heard yet another version of his classic "Tougher Than The Rest" (courtesy of Camera Obscura this time) and was reminded what an incredible songwriter he can occasionally be (if you have not heard "Nebraska", stop everything and go purchase it right now; seriously). I've loved this song ever since the Everything But The Girl cover back in 1992 and though Camera Obscura's version doesn't stray much from that one, there's a refreshingness to it all the same.

All of this mainly just reminded me that I really needed to post Springsteen's version of Suicide's classic "Dream Baby Dream". Bruce's version tops the original by a mile and shows an almost shoegazey side of Bruce that I would have never suspected. This 2005 live version was released recently as part of the 10" vinyl series on Blast First Petite celebrating Suicide's Alan Vega's 70th birthday (along with an insane live Suicide box set from 1977-1978). Enjoy.

Camera Obscura - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover) (Live KEXP 06-June-2009).
Everything But The Girl - "Tougher Than The Rest" (Springsteen Cover).
Bruce Springsteen - "Dream Baby Dream" (Suicide Cover). Youtube.

A Baker's Dozen : Volume 15

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Some faves over the past four months or so. Enjoy.

01 - Johnny Foreigner - "Feels Like Summer".
02 - Two Door Cinema Club - "Undercover Martyn".
03 - Phoenix - "Countdown (Sick For The Big Sun)".
04 - Fanfarlo - "Fire Escape".
05 - Marching Band - "Travel In Time".
06 - Parachutes - "Tree Roots Turn To Forts".
07 - Peggy Sue - "Lover Gone".
08 - Jessica Lea Mayfield - "For Today (Live "Have You Heard " Session)".
09 - Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights".
10 - Airship - "Algebra".
11 - The Answering Machine - "Obviously Cold".
12 - Anamanaguchi - "Dawn Metropolis".
13 - Winston Audio - "Troubles".

A Century Removed: The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World"

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:00:00 +0000

The "I Hang Suspended" blog recently posted the first three singles by The Soup Dragons, all of which were released by The Subway Organization between 1986-1987. The first of these, the "Whole Wide World" single, remains one of my all-time favorite singles. I was fortunate enough to buy it on a trip to England with my parents in 1987 thanks to an awesome shop owner in Preston, England (who also fortunately convinced me to pick up the first three Talulah Gosh singles; proof that record-store owners can be great taste makers). I wore out the grooves of this 7" that summer and only later found the additional 12" track of "Pleasantly Surprised". I realize that it's 22 years later now, but these songs still have the bounce of the best Buzzcocks tracks. Enjoy.

The Soup Dragons - "Whole Wide World".
The Soup Dragons - "I Know Everything".
The Soup Dragons - "Pleasantly Surprised".

Songs The Cramps Taught Us

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Earlier this year, music fiends everywhere mourned the passing of the great Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps. In the wake of that sad event, loads of music both by The Cramps and music that inspired The Cramps has risen from the ashes to keep Lux's legacy alive.

This is a tribute post to Lux, compiling links of the garage/rockabilly/blues/surf/trash music that inspired The Cramps. Dig in. There are some real gems here.

- Songs The Cramps Taught Us volumes One, Two, and Three, courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- The Purple Knif Radio Show, hosted by Lux Interior, also courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- Lux & Ivy's Favorites, Volumes 1 through 11, courtesy of WMFU DJ Kogar the Swinging Ape.
- Finally, an obscurity from The Cramps, the 1979 "All Tore Up" demos courtesy of Detailed Twang.

There's a ton of music there. Enjoy. It will take me years to digest it all.

"I think the people who don't understand The Cramps are square, uptight, repressed people, and I don't know, there are probably so many things they don't understand that it's just sad for them". - Lux Interior, R.I.P..

Samples:
The Collins Kids - "Whistle Bait".
The Trashmen - "Surfin' Bird".
The Sonics - "Strychnine".
Hasil Adkins - "She Said".
The Novas - "The Crusher".

Ume - The Conductor

noreply@blogger.com (The McFersons) — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:27:00 +0000

This song has been floating around for a few months and I'm not sure why I never paid much attention to it. These Austinites take the "Loveless" template, put a major fist behind it and then pull it all back in an insanely catchy chorus. I'm addicted.

Ume - The Conductor (purchase here / watch video here).