So. 2010 totally happened… I know right? I was there too. In terms of the world we still appear to be here. In terms of music a lot fucking happened. But that’s not what we’re here to gander about at this moment in time. We are here to gander about 2011 and how there’s a lot of stuff that’s coming down the pipeline. Good shit too. For today’s post (incidentally our first non-administrative post,) I’m going to take you through a tour of some things I’m most excited about this coming year. Musically speaking, there’s a lot to look forward to. And hey! If you’re new to this blog you will want to check out the media player at the bottom of the post. Ya’ see, my friends, once you’ve finished reading about all this great sounding music, your ears may find themselves thirsty to actually hear it. Well, look no further than the media player! There I have assembled a selection of songs for your ears to drink in. Is your brain happy at the thought of it? Good. It should be. Get thee to reading!
The Lonely Forest have fucking superpowers when it comes to writing music. It doesn’t seem to matter who you are, how old or young, where you come from or what you normally listen to. You (yes, You) are destined to like The Lonely Forest. I don’t know why. Is it the blend of powerful guitars and indie rock sensibility? Is it John Van Deusen’s beautifully honest and poetic lyrics? Is it the overwhelming sense of hope and wonder their songs generate? It’s probably all of these things. Their most recent release is their Self-Titled E.P., which is pointing in the direction of their next full-length album, Arrows, due out sometime in this next year. No release date as of yet, but the very anticipation of it’s existence is exciting.
For your listening pleasure, I have included “Turn Off This Song And Go Outside” form their Self-Titled E.P. The song is ironically named seeing as how I have never, not once been inspired to turn it off while listening to it. My guess is that you will feel the same.
Seattle’s suavest Party Hip-Hop band Fresh Espresso (the core duo of which features P Smoov of Mad Rad and Rik Rude) are quite possibly set to replace the Blue Scholars as Seattle’s premier Hip-Hop act entirely. All they need to do is release a superior collection of songs to their now borderline debut album, Glamour. But if the new songs they’ve been playing the last two times I saw them are any indication, the new album (as of yet untitled and unset for release date) is going to be quite solid. Seeing as how Mad Rad’s sophomore album failed to surpass the quality of their debut, the title of Seattle’s Best Party Band is also up for grabs. Champagne Champagne could grab it I suppose, but it would not surprise me if Fresh Espresso snapped up both previously mentioned crown and scepter in one fell swoop.
For your listening pleasure: Fresh Espresso’s contribution to the 4 The Love Of Music Compilation, “Sunglasses On.” “I’m an awful boyfriend/I’m an awesome drug fiend.”
Post-Punk Revival is one thing, but unearthing is another all together. I joke of course. Gang Of Four, for those who don’t know, were one of the first wave of Post-Punk bands in the late 70’s and early 80’s, (a movement of music that would eventually be dubbed New Wave.) Known for their bitingly political lyrics and their angular Guitar/Bass/Drum sound, Gang Of Four one of the landmark bands of their era. Without them, many bands, from Bloc Party to Death From above 1979, would never have existed. What’s amazing is that Jon King and Andy Gill, the core duo behind Gang OF Four, are still together and making music with a changing guard of rhythm section.
This year, on January 25th, they are releasing their first album of new material in who knows how long. It’s called Content and I’m looking forward to it quite a bit. Will it be as groundbreaking as their classic Entertainment! album? Probably not. But will it be good? My guess is yes. For your listening pleasure: the rerecorded version of “Damaged Goods,” Gang Of Four’s classic song of mixed metaphors examining love, lust and consumerism.
Israeli Garage Rock Wunderkind Monotonix have returned for their latest collection of frizzy-haired, wide-eyed, blood-splattered, flammable cocktail of skuzz Rock cannonballs. The one small failing of Monotonix albums so far is that their recordings have not been able to equal their live shows sheer level of mayhem (see picture for details.) But this next album could be the release that changes all that. If you like some fuzzy distortion for breakfast, coupled with howling vocals and combustive vigor like a flaming stallion on PCP all lit up like a Christmas tree, then Monotonix is for you. For your listening pleasure: A new cut off Not Yet, the upcoming album by Monotonix.
So last year it was announced through Josh Homme’s Rekords Rekords that Queens Of The Stone Age would be re-releasing their long out-of-print and hard to find Self-Titled debut album. This was supposed to happen in November but then it got delayed to this January, where it was delayed… again. It’s currently indefinitely delayed, but my guess is that it will be out by the end of the year, at which point Robot Rock Desert Dancing will commence. "These Aren’t The Droids You’re Looking For"… Indeed.
To be Continued…
1 comment:
oh, man... i LOVE qotsa!! can't wait to get that shit on vinyl!
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