Okay, I have gotten back on an indie rock kick (listening to Interpol, Arcade Fire, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead, Snow Patrol, etc.) and I was reading about "Silent Alarm" by Bloc Party. Seems like a band that is similar to my beloved Interpol and Franz Ferdinand. Anyone have that album? What are your thoughts on it? Also would appreciate it if anyone that had these albums could comment on them: "Up the Bracket" - The Libertines "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" - Bright Eyes "Girls Can Tell" - Spoon "Gimme Fiction" - Spoon Also, if there are other good indie rock albums coming out that you want to plug, go ahead and do so by all means (I am eagerly awaiting the 13th of September for Sigur Ros's new album). Thanks!
Spoon - Gimme Fiction is a fantastic album Bright Eyes needs to be shot, he's a whiny baby crying at the teet of our beloved shoplifter Winona
You should try The Shins Bright Eyes ...And you will know us by the trail dead Death Cab For Cutie Piebald If you are looking for some more indie rock bands.
The Libertines are one of the best bands i've ever heard ~ seriously I recommend getting everything they have put out (just 2 albums and a live DVD). They broke up right after they finished the 2nd album -- the lead singer formed a new band called 'Babyshambles' and will have an album out soon. I have ‘Digital Ash Digital Urn’ the 2nd album from the two released simultaneously by Bright Eyes it's good -- I should play it more often than I do. Both the Spoon albums are good, but they grow tiresome after a short while IMHO. The best way to listen to Spoon to go through all their albums and take the best songs out and create one best of compilation.
Manny... check out SOUND team. They're coming out with an EP in October, their LP will be out next year. I'm telling you now so that later I can say "I told you so". Actually, I've got some of their stuff on mp3 I can send you.
Ya'll should check out 'The Editors' -- Munich is a great song. Here's a couple of sample tracks: Editors
Not sure about 'Up the Bracket' by the Libertines, but after recently reading some encouraging reviews on them I picked up their self titled CD. I think it is a US only release of their singles and maybe an ep or two. It's produced by Mick Jones of the Clash. While they do sound sorta like the Clash (and dress like them) they seem rather trivial by comparrison. Many of the songs are sung off key in a sort of British pub, sing-along style that has not endured it's self with me after repeated listenings. Still, there are a few cuts that stand out and are quite catchy; so if they can gather themselves and get serious, I could see them putting out some very good lp's. I bought Spoons first (and only, I think) major lable release 'A Series of Sneaks' and did not like it alot at first. But, unlike the Libertines, it's quirky, angular (ultimately infectious) tunes soon began to grow on me and is now an LP I very much like. I also have 'Girls Can Tell' and that is where they show indication of the super cool, laid-back, soul-punk sound they have now. Good stuff, amigo. Oh yeah, Bloc Party is getting some hype here in So Cal, but I have not heard enough to form an opinion.
I don't want to pull a FattyFat here, but over the last year or so, I've started to take issue with the overriding and consistent sound that has seemed to permeate all "indie" rock out there: that angular, jumpy, tinny sound. Bloc Party is a perfect example. To me, these groups are fine for a few listens, and I've bought the Spoon and Bloc Party albums, but I'm getting sick of this nervy, frantic sound. All these groups claim to be Talking Heads-derivative, but they forget that the Heads took their cues from American RnB and soul records. They were frantic to be sure, but also knew how to make the music swing. Even on the first two albums. These groups have their hearts in the right place, which is all you can ask for, so I'm hoping they grow and move past their initial blasts of energy.
Win, I have "Kill the Moonlight" by Spoon and listened to it this morning for the first time in awhile - fantastic record. From what I have read, "Girls Can Tell" is considered to be the best Spoon album (at least according to AMG) although the good reviews on "Gimme Fiction" make me think otherwise. DarkHorse - I would love to hear that mp3 - you can email me through the board - thanks!
i like the spoon. i moved to austin in 95, when they were just starting to get big (on the "indie" scene at least). ive probably seen them more than any other band - de schmog would be a close second). i like all their stuff and really am enjoying the new record, but i think series of sneaks remains my favorite.
Exactly, KD's post in this thread is the post I consider as useful as the ones that praise these artists or recommend others as it gives insight. Anyone can take a giant **** in a thread - that isn't hard to do (which I think is one reason why you know who does what he does so often).
I want to make a small objection to what Kelly said in this thread. Talking Heads may have been influenced by American R&B and soul music but the same criticisms you are making against Franz Ferdinand, Hot Hot Heat and Bloc Party (the New Quirky and Angular Wave?)- that they don't offer much substance beyond energy- is the same thing people said about Talking Heads and their ilk when *they* came out. Just substitute "swing" for "depth," or whatever. Franz Ferdinand's first album was just as good as anything Talking Heads put out and I love Talking Heads. Time will tell if this new crop will last like the Heads did (hell, I thought the Breeders and Elastica were good to go for a long time way back when), but making indie music you can dance makes them a plus for me. I like Spoon...their albums are full course meals..takes a while to digest, but great. I find Bright Eyes alright, but his "talent" is a little too self-consious for my taste...he's a very mannered songwriter. I think he tries a bit too hard to come off like a genius when he's really not all that. He's kind of like Ryan Adams to me. Bloc Party are a lot of fun...I don't like them as much as the Kaiser Chiefs, but then again, I like who Kaiser Chiefs are ripping off (Blur) more than Bloc Party's influences (I guess Gang of Four). Manny, I would recommend checking out all of the New Pornographers records, plus their off-shoots AC Newman and Neko Case. Great power pop with hooks that would slice up a Mastadon. As always, Supergrass and Super Furry Animals are the best bands in the world and are always worth investigating.
I really don't want to insinuate that I think these groups are lacking depth. I understand where you're coming from and how you probably got that from my post, but I really am not saying those particular groups lack substance. Quite the contrary. In fact, my criticisms are lacking depth -- because I'm speaking strictly on a musical front. I'M the one being shallow here, because I'm not even taken the full scope of the song into consideration, only the sound. The groups could be reading their grocery lists for all I care, my issue is with the sound and the music and the lack of dynamic they boast from song to song. I don't think they're shallow at all, I just want some let up on the pervasive tone of the album (whatever that sound it may be). And usually I wouldn't dream of putting any of these groups up for comparison with the Heads because that's simply not fair to the groups, they want to be judged on their own merits. But because you did, BMoney, there's my in. I'm a b*stard like that. A quick song-by-song description of the Heads' second album, "More Songs About Buildings and Food," the one most closely associated with that "jumpy" sound. "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel" -- A country gallop, with little disco scratchies thrown in there. Almost like an American version of a Jam song. "With Our Love" -- Starts off with an ascending guitar riff that seems like it was ripped right out of Pitchfork's playlist. Includes a Television/Dead-esque trippy bridge. "The Good Thing" -- Major key, 12-string twanger with a disco beat, knocked completely on its ear by this droning, Eno/Roxy-like chorus. "Warning Sign" -- Flanged-out drum intro, prog-rock meets NYC beat-box, morphs into this sort of Brian Auger jam before heading into a off-key vocal/spoken word that predates the Minutemen by a few years. "The Girls Want To Be With the Girls" -- Almost anthemic, Pettyish opener, clavinet/funk-driven pre-chorus/chorus, bridge nearly apes "Sparks," off of 'Tommy.' "Found a Job" -- Back to the jumpy stuff, but this one seems to have its heart more in Studio 54, rather than trying to be off-putting. Enervated halfway through, but somehow keeps the focus up while still sounding beat. Very NYC. Some sort of plucked cello/violin driving the melody in the outro. "Artists Only" -- Big Television ripoff in the intro, sounds great. Devolves into some odd, updated VUs, disco verse. Cale/Reed hallmarks all around. "I'm Not In Love" -- ...and we believe it. Jumpy, off-putting, never finds a groove and doesn't seem to want to. "Stay Hungry" -- Jumpy intro, but gets into an almost Byrds-ish minor key verse before changing again into a happier major key (and changing the actual key twice after that) before falling into a bit of the disco. Sounds like Mike Chapman produced the disco parts. "Take Me To the River" -- An Al Green cover, in 1978. In terms of public (narrow-minded) perception, this is the ecquivalent to Bloc Party covering a Jeffrey Osbourne song today. And yet, it's their own. Reverent, but on their own terms. Few groups could pull off a cover like this without sounding irreverent or almost mocking, but with the Heads the sincerity is there in their efforts (which anyone can do) AND in their sound (which most cannot). A fabulous track. "Big Country" -- Much less reverent take on a country travelogue, later beaten into the ground and all to hell by Mazzy Star and Hope Sandoval. So, eleven songs, with myriad influences and sources for energy -- all under their "jumpiest" album. I'm not saying these current groups can't pull off this same sort of versatility later on down the line. What I am saying is, when I hear early Talking Heads and the like, I can hear the attempts to broaden their sound; and it's usually only held back by limitations with their own instruments. I don't hear the same interest from the newer bands, at the moment. I'm hoping that changes.
all three are great.... the bright eyes album is probably my favourite of the 3 going to go see spoon next weekend others to try include Futureheads, Decemberists, Razorlight, Andrew Bird, The Coral and Sufjan Stevens
Bloc Party is gonna blow up big here in the states.. Very talented UK band with a lot of charisma.. their drummer is unbelievable. don't know how anyone can play that kind of relentless, uptempo style with a 3 ft stick height and maintain that kind of precision. impeccable timing, an absolute human metronome. They'll be at ACL next month for anyone that didn't know. btw: i think bloc party is just considered 'indie' right now simply because it hasn't caught on mainstream here yet. they're also categorized under 'europop or rock.' edit: oh, and I hate Interpol and Franz Ferdinand.
