The Week In... Couples
Since this is the first of my The Week In... columns, I'll make it easy. Couples, that's the theme for this week. Just seemed to be a lot of them floating around. The theme will change weekly, but you know, this whole column is a work in progress. Call it a blog, call it a diary, it is what it is. Things will expand on this page on a week by week basis, especially the links to the right. Please bare with us.
So, the week that was:
-I saw Mates of State on Saturday night, at the State Theater of all places. And it was really great. The new Mates of State album, Bring it Back, is honestly my favorite album of 2006 thus far. Clearly something happened after Team Boo because the writing on this album is really so much better; it's almost like they really learned how to put together a complete song, not just part of it. The entire album is full of near-perfect pop songs, one after another. But, as much as I love the album, I had some concerns about seeing them live. I had heard a lot of negative things, everything from them just sounding bad all the way to their “staged” married couple word play back and fourth. I didn't hear any of the latter, and the former just isn't true. The acoustics are great at the State Theater, and it didn't surprise me that the sound carried wonderfully. You could hear all the lyrics even with ear-plugs, and if anything was going to be an issue it would have been muted vocals. For about an hour they played a good batch of old and new, hitting most of the songs off the new album I happened to really like. If you are into solid hooks and harmonies in your indie-pop -- and who isn't -- I advise you to take a listen to the album and the band if you can catch them live. Bring it Back is clearly a top 10 album this year.
Openers Hail Social and Maria Taylor were a bit uneven. I liked Hail Social and it was nice to hear a band actually rock out at the State. Maria Taylor and her band were nice enough, but the songs from the Azure Ray songstress were a tad bland. I can't remember, but was she the one who married the lead singer of the Faint? Maria is opening for most of the Mates tour, Hail Social were simply playing a one-off.
Check out IndieInterviews podcast of their Mates of State interview
Stream the Bring it Back on their website
Maria Taylor's Saddle Creek page
Hail Social
Stuff I've been listening to this week:
-The new Morrissey single, "You Have Killed Me," is pretty damn catchy. And the video is damn good as well, rather understated, but cool none the less. Ringleader of the Tormentors is out on April 4th, but you can stream the new album on Morrissey's myspace page.
"You Have Killed Me"
http://myspace.com/morrissey
-I am not as in love with the new single from the Stills, "In the Beginning." Their album, Without Feathers, comes out in May, and they are playing Baltimore on April 8th.
"In the Beginning"
Other folks I'm digging a lot this week are:
-SpankRock, who are actual a duo, whose LP Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo hits stores on April 10th. A pretty big tour planned, but sadly no DC? We might have to fix that. I'm generally not a dick and pussy in my song kinda guy, but the beats really make it all ok.
http://www.spankrock.net/
http://www.myspace.com/spankrock
-Services,also a duo(4), these guys kick my ass. It's not often I consider buying music on iTunes, but after hearing these two myspace tracks, you too will feel like you have to hear the rest as soon as possible.
Consider
Elements of Danger
-Hot Chip, I'm clearly not the first to talk about these Brits, but you have to love a band with a member named Al Do It. Quirky, glitchy, yet there is melody. It is not the cold hard electronica you might expect.
A media player on their site has some good stuff
-Everyone and his brother have reported on this Britney Spears statue, but it is really so bizarre I thought I would as well. But where is the picture from behind? I mean, is the babies head really popping out? Who gives birth that way anyhow? And no statue of big daddy Kevin?
-This coming Tuesday, March 28th, Dead Heart Bloom, aka Boris from Phaser's new project is playing Iota. I've heard the new disc and it bears some resemblance to earlier Phaser, but is also quite different. The band's name should be a telling tale of what sort of music you are in for. I'm not quite enamored just yet, but it will get some more spins. I can't be there on Tuesday, but you should be.
Download the entire self-titled album here
-There are actually quite a few interesting shows this week, including a bunch from locals. Might not have the full shows listed, just the bands I like.
Monday
-Arctic Monkeys w' Spinto Band @ 9:30 Club
-Hard Tomorrow's w' Greenland @ Black Cat
-the Caribbean @ DC9
Tuesday
-the Bonapartes and the Oranges Band @ Black Cat
-Dead Heart Bloom @Iota
Wednesday
-Editors and the Mobius Band @ 9:30 Club
Thursday
-South w' Margo and the Nuclear So and Sos @ 9:30 Club
-Hard-Fi w' French Toast @ Black Cat
And sadly, other than the Orb on Friday night at the 9:30 Club, a sad weekend of shows. Unless Roni Size does it for you, I could see that. Me, I'm burned out and will likely only make it to the Exit Clov show on Wednesday at the Mojo in Baltimore. Even music editors need to take a rest sometimes.
