LCD Soundsystem Watch 2k10 - This Is Happening

LCD Soundsystem announced their new album title - This Is Happening, and revealed the cover, above.

May 18th.

That is all.

Review: The Morning Benders - Big Echo

I will begin this post by openly affirming that everyone who contributes to this blog at this time can't fucking stand Grizzly Bear. Put more specifically, I think what we really can't stand is Grizzly Bear's success. I don't know about Jon and Keegan (although I sort of do because we all had a bit of a collective epiphany the last time it came up in conversation), but I see Grizzly Bear as a band that people like because a bunch of critics say everyone should like them...even though I have yet to meet someone who actually likes their music. It's sort of how I used to feel about Radiohead before I got into them....but I really don't think I'll ever change my mind about Grizzly Bear. I've seen them live, I've given both their albums ample chances to actually impress me and give me at least something memorable that I can focus on and say "well at least there are one or two really good songs/moments/anythings." But no. Those moments don't exist with Grizzly Bear. Ever. And therein lies the fucking problem. But everyone goes on and on about how perfectly their songs are crafted, how great the production is, yada yada.

I'm not saying Grizzly Bear completely fucking sucks. I might think it sometimes, but I wouldn't say that (except maybe to Jon and Keegan). At the very least, they have some interesting harmonic tendencies. No, what I'm saying is that Grizzly Bear's success (much like Animal Collective's, in my opinion) is really undeserved, and revolves much more around a few overly influential dickwaving critics than the actual music. If I hear one more person say that Grizzly Bear is a band of "indie rock saviors," I'm going to punch him in the face.

Which is where we get to The Morning Benders. This band definitely has Grizzly Bear influences, but it keeps those tendencies under wraps and uses them as accents that complement their music instead of allowing them to take over. In short, the Morning Benders are what Grizzly Bear would sound like if they were worth listening to:

Their second album, Big Echo, was released a week ago, and I've listened to it 5 times already just in the past 12 hours. Grizzly Bear's bassist/producer Chris Taylor helped out with the studio mixing, which is the perfect role for him and which does add a lot to the entire work without bastardizing it (a quick side-note to this is that listening to Big Echo has fully convinced me that picking the right mixer is easily the biggest make-or-break decision for a band. Just as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot would have been a folksy misstep had it not been for Jim O'Rourke, I can see this album having been somewhat of a bore had it not been for Taylor).

In the end, I think there are several reasons I really like this band. First, I think their sound, unlike Grizzly Bear's, matches the area they hail from. Grizzly Bear has always sounded like a New York operation blindly grasping at a sound that will appeal to people out west; The Morning Benders are from fucking Berkeley, and you can tell. And I like that. You get a perfect sense for the surroundings out of which that the music has grown. The release date of the album also couldn't have been better: this is the best spring/summer anthem I have heard in...well, we all went to school in Seattle, so it's been a longassed time. But most importantly, I find myself constantly hearing moments in their songs where I think to myself "Wow. This is what I always wished I could get out of Grizzly Bear, but with this I don't have to try so goddamn hard." It seems far more effortless for this group, and I sort of hope that Chris Taylor walked out of the studio at the end having learned just as much as did the band members themselves.

The Morning Benders - OS|MS

Do Yourself A Favor And Get Into The Antlers

Sorry for the blog-clogging on my part, but this suddenly dawned on me when it randomly came back up on my iTunes: I forgot how much I love The Antlers, and how not nearly enough people know about them. I could go into detail about them, but I think watching a video of them playing two of my favorite songs of theirs in the back of a Parisian cafe will probably tell you more:

The Antlers - Two / Epilogue - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The Antlers - MS

@ Neumos on May 5th w/Phantogram!!!!!!!!

Tim's Track Of The Day: "Kid Klimax" by Atlas Sound

I'm going to start putting up a short post every day with a link to or video of a track from an artist I have recently discovered, or who people might have overlooked. To keep it brief, I just discovered Atlas Sound. Which also means I discovered Deerhunter. Which all basically means I just discovered Bradford Cox. His ambient stream-of-consciousness style endlessly juxtaposes the staggeringly beautiful against the disturbed and fucked-up-ugly in a way that Animal Collective only wishes it could (although this album does feature an appearance by Panda Bear that I can actually stand). Anyway, this a really beautiful song, and I hope you enjoy it!

Cheetah luvs!!!

Atlas Sound - MS

Deerhunter - MS

I ruv Owen Pallett

Formerly known as Final Fantasy, Owen Pallett, who is perhaps best known as the man behind the string arrangements used by Arcade Fire, recently released his first solo album under his real name: Heartland. It's fun, playful, slightly cheeky, cinematic, and extraordinarily diverse. And he's @ The Crocodile on May 8th! Here's the video he just released for the song "Lewis Takes Off His Shirt." Enjoy!

Owen Pallett - MS

The Dutchess and the Duke + The Cave Singers @ The Empyrean in Spokane!

The Empyrean is the one place in Spokane where the hidden hipster scene comes out of the woodwork. Up until November of last year, "The Empyrean" was across town in an ex-lamp shop, but had to move out for the same reason that The War Room in Seattle fell on hard times: Washington state bitching about the fucking sprinkler systems. So it moved into a building known locally as "The Big Dipper," which is owned by some 70-year-old ex-hippie and which has sat dormant for...my entire life. And I have no idea why it hasn't been used until now, because it's an amazing venue...and after a nice acoustic show by The Dutchess and the Duke (I think they had an equipment malfunction so they had to play unplugged), Spencer and I totally got to sit in what is basically a loft directly over the stage for the entirety of The Cave Singers' set:

The Cave Singers!!

And here are some shots from The Dutchess and the Duke:

(The Duke)

(The Dutchess). Hell yes. They both finished bottles, if you're wondering...

All in all, I was impressed. The venue and both the shows far exceeded expectations, and it was a lot of fun having such intimate access. I hope now that The Empyrean has resumed operations at this new (and better) location, Spokane will start attracting more shows like these. God knows the city needs them.

And if you like chill indie folk, both of these bands are worth a look. D&D is more intimate, while The Cave Singers sound as if David Gray went indie. Check them out!

The Cave Singers- MS

The Dutchess and the Duke - MS

Phantogram

My good friend Tim just introduced me to Phantogram, a sort of electronic indie rock hybrid from New York. Their music is dark and ominous, their vocals distant and distorted, but their atmosphere is amazing and their sound is impeccable. Apparently these guys (well, this guy and gal) have been slowly gaining steam for the last two years and recently played a series of sold out shows on the east coast, an accolade that they certainly deserve. Take listen to "Running from the Cops," where the vocals have been not only distorted but warped, making it sound like the saddest Black Moth Super Rainbow song of all time.

Phantogram - MS|OS

Running from the Cops

Wonderful Life - Hurts

I know this is kind of old (released last April), but its new to me and its super awesome! They're called Hurts, they're from the UK, and they play New Order style, synthy Post Rock amazingness. The song is appropriately down tempo and somber, and the video looks like its straight out of Joy Division prime, but with a sound this solid all that is entirely forgivable.

Big in 2k10?

Hurts - WS|MS

Wonderful Life

Starfucker

Oh thank heavens.

From the upcoming Starfucker LP Jupiter, I would like to present the synth-heavy, get your ass moving, don't fuck with me song: Medicine.

Enjoy enjoy! I'm glad they are continuing TV talking thing (a la Florida.)

get it:
Starfucker (MS) - Medicine

Something tells me the days of Starfucker house parties are over. I heard they kicked major ass at SXSW. Holla for P-town. <3

Shit just got hot

I was quietly celebrating the new Cursive album when I read this:



Release date: May 18 (UK) May 26 (US)
Tracks:
01 Make Light
02 Little Secrets
03 Moth's Wings
04 The Reeling
05 Eyes as Candles
06 Swimming in the Flood
07 Folds in Your Hands
08 To Kingdom Come
09 Sleepyhead
10 Let Your Love Grow Tall
11 Seaweed Song

Maybe I should stop pretending this is a music blog and just blog about Passion Pit.

Matt and Kim

Hurrah! One of my absolute favorite bands finally pushes something new into the world... and into the hands of Cheetah Love... and into your ears. A perfect way to kick off the LoveFEST 2008.75!!!

TWO new songs from our favorite band that slipped back into obscurity after the relative fame gained from their debut LP, from their forthcoming LP "Grand". <3!!!
Matt and Kim!(MS)|(OS)
Matt and Kim - "Daylight"
Matt and Kim - "Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare"

Cheetah LOVES! don't you?