Quick Hits - Eulogies

Everyone knows I'm a fan of Sea Wolf. Well their Dangerbird label mates, Eulogies, is starting to make an impression on me also. Their self titled debut came out this September and its rockin' the 'ol pod right now. Eulogies plays straight forward indie rock taking me back to the likes of Wilco, Sebadoh, and Built To Spill. That's pretty high company, I know, but there's nothing more appealing than a band that just PLAYS ROCK MUSIC. They don't fuss around.

Eulogies - Life Boat
Eulogies - Running In The Rain

more Eulogies --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Figurines & The Seedy Seeds

Another drab Monday passes by and I realize it's a long time 'til the weekend. Then I remembered it's TOOFER TOOSDAY time!!! Up first is a band I'm quite fond of, Figurines. Yes yes the Baltimore-Denmark connection is alive and thriving. I first heard of these guys after they released Skeleton in 2005. Now they've got a new album When The Deer Wore Blue. Skeleton had high energy shaken up with strong pop sensabilities. When The Deer Wore Blue is toned down on the energy side, but taken up a notch with strong lyrics and pop melodies. If you're a fan of straight up pop rock with a twist of off beat Modestmousenessities, then you should check Figurines out.
Figurines - Bee Dee (from When The Deer Wore Blue)
more Figurines --> website --> buy


Next up is The Seedy Seeds. "The Seedy Seeds don't know you, but they already like you." How can you not be interested in a band that says that. The Seedy Seeds formed in 2005 and make danceable indie rock electronica pop. Imagine Imperial Teen with electronic beats, samples, and of course banjos. Here's a great song of theirs and you can stream more on their site.
The Seedy Seeds - Earned Average Dance America
more The Seedy Seeds --> website --> buy

New Nada Surf

As if this week wasn't already chocked full of great music, I just found out today that Nada Surf has officially announced the release of their next album entitled lucky. The release date is set for February 5, 2008. The album is produced by the band and John Goodmanson(Death Cab For Cutie, Blonde Redhead, Sleater-Kinney) and feautures contributions from Ben Gibbard and Ed Harcourt. They also have made a free track available for download to give everyone an idea of what this album will sound like.
Nada Surf - See These Bones(from lucky)
If the whole album sounds like this I would be most pleased. The end of this song just kicks butt!
Here's the tracklist from the album:

Weightless
Whose Authority
Beautiful Beat
Here Goes Something
From Now On
I Like What You Say
Ice on the Wing
The Film Did Not Go 'Round
The Fox
Are You Lightning?
See These Bones

They are also on tour w/Sea Wolf as I mentioned a coupla days ago.

More Nada Surf --> website --> buy --> mp3

Mysterious Wolves Of The Sea

While temporarily engulfed with the beautiful music of Radiohead, I some how managed to come up to the surface and remember that there is some other music being produced these days. And hey this music ain't half bad either. Sea Wolf's frontman Alex Brown Church is mysterious fellow it seems. Or at least that's what comes across in Sea Wolf's music for me. This is music to sit on the porch of an old cabin by the mountainside while gazing into the light fog hanging there down in the valley. Not really Friday music, but quite possibly good Sunday morning music.

Sea Wolf - Black Dirt

more Sea Wolf --> website --> buy

Also Sea Wolf is currently on tour with NADA SURF! Check their myspace page for the dates. If you're in the Baltimore area they will be at the 8x10 on November 2nd.

Quick Hits - Pinback

Pinback always puts out a solid album. Nothing to write home about(I rarely write home anyway), but a good listen all in all. Their latest album, Autumn Of The Seraphs, came out in September via Touch and Go Records. This one has a little more bite to it, perhaps because of the addition of two new drummers to the record. Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket from the Crypt) and Chris Prescott(No Knife) add an energy that was absent from past releases. Before the drums, the guitar, and bass were super syncopated, creating a beautiful sound, but sometimes a bit repetitive. On Autumn Of The Seraphs the drums and guitars are allowed to roam free a bit and explode into energy. BLAM! Well maybe not so much. It's the same Pinback we all know and love, but with a twist.
Pinback - From Nothing To Nowhere
More Pinback --> website --> buy --> mp3s

Monday Mystery Tour #2

Okay. So nobody took a stab at the first mix challenge. JB said he knew all but one track...but that just doesn't cut now does it JB? Oh well, here's the track list solution:
1. Soul Position - Keys
2. Lovage - Stroker Ace
3. Susan Christie - Paint A Lady
4. A Tribe Called Quest - Get A Hold
5. Of Montreal - Cato As A Pun

If you like the challenge, please try again for this weeks round. Just remember that you have a week to get your answers somewhere posted on this blog. If you ace it then you will be forever immortalized on the sidebar of this blog. Get crackin'!
Monday Mixdown #2

Quick Hits - Imperial Teen

Here's my 'lil take on IT's new album, The hair the tv the baby & the band. It's good. Not as good as the last one, On. On was great no nonsense POP MUSIC. The hair... is not as cohesive or poppy. Truthfully, I'm just happy they're making new music and that I get to rock out to a song called 'Shim Sham'. Hell yeah!
Shim Sham - Imperial Teen

More Imperial Teen --> website --> buy --> mp3

The Slice

John Vanderslice is the man. He is so much the man that I have shortened his name to simply "The Slice". Album after album, The Slice continues to churn out solid indie rock that strays from normal pop tendencies. There's no recipe to his genius, he just writes great lyrics(a bit of poetry and a bit of story telling) and is a master producer. The drums are thick and the guitar is up front with you patting your back, urging you to go on and tap your hand on your leg as if you were strumming along(ahhh the run on sentence). Ever since I heard MK Ultra's 'The Dream Is Over', I knew this guy is for real. He's not just a guy actually, he's The Slice. Keep on slicin' Slice!
The Parade (from Emerald City)
Trance Manual (from Pixel Revolt)
They Won't Let Me Run (from Cellar Door)
The Dream Is Over - MK Ultra (from The Dream Is Over)

More Vander'Slice' --> website --> buy

Also--he's on tour with Bishop Allen!!! Go check em out! Now!

Toofer Toosday- White Williams & BOAT

White Williams has sparked my interest recently and has me anticipating his November 2nd release of Smoke, his debut album from Tigerbeat6 Records. White Williams, aka Joe Williams, has been playing music for a good while now alongside Girltalk's Greg Gillis. Williams' music reflects Gillis' in a certain way, but then again not at all. Williams' crafts pop songs emersed in life. His use of samples and synthesizers build homes, hills, and mountains around his timid vocal melodies. He pushes the definition of pop songs to new levels much like Girltalk completely rewrote the book on mash-ups. Please check him out.
White Williams - Violator

More White Williams --> website --> mp3s


Don't let the picture scare you, these guys are good. Hailing from Seattle, BOAT is indie rock at it's best. Catchy pop and an unfiltered sound means these guys are stuck on repeat on the pod. Please check them out.
BOAT - Holding All The Globes

More BOAT --> website --> buy --> mp3s

Pseudosix

Sometimes new music is very inspiring. Today was a humdrum kind of day. Nothing special. Then a song I never remembered hearing before comes on the old sound box. Medium tempo with subtle melodies and strumming guitars. I admit I'm humming to it. Then just when I thought it was all peace and love in the song, a little edge comes through. Some angst hidden but embraced like a lovers warm deathly kiss(huh?). I LIKE THINGS LIKE THAT. SUPRISES ARE GOOD. So if your in the mood for something melodic, strummy, and angst infused, then Pseudosix is the music for you.

Pseudosix - Under the Waves

More from Pseudosix--> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday #2

Here's more music floating around my vast database of sound.

Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

Wax Tailor - Positively Inclined feat. Marina Quaisse

The first one is off of Rogue Wave's newly released "Asleep at Heavens Gate". Pretty much everything these guys produce is fantastic, so don't hesitate to pick this one up. They also have a completely change of pace cover of the Pixies' "Debaser" available to stream on their site.

The second is from a french dj Wax Tailor. I picked up a couple albums of his on Emusic. Most is standard trip hop. Not bad, but over time it could fade in my music library. There are some stand outs like Positively Inclined that make getting these albums worthwhile. If you can read french you should check out his myspace page.