Micropop

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives / The Dears / American Minor
03/21/05 - 9:30 Club, Washington DC

Last night proved to be an exhilarating evening of new music discoveries. Rarely does both my Ôø?Arty PopÔø? and Ôø?Need to RockÔø? fancies get ticked at the same show. Various body parts were seen attempting to move to the beat as well.

Having seen Three Days Grace, American Minor was certainly not the worst band ever to play at the 9:30 club, and I too kept expecting Jason Lee to bound on stage. While liberally borrowing from any Southern Rock band with Cousin It tresses, American Minor certainly didnÔø?t seem as forced as the Kings of Leon. It took a couple songs but I warmed up to them, but they got me in a good frame of mind for the show.

Was very interested in hearing The Dears based on the EP I had heard from them and they did not disappoint. Their set had the same impact that the Delgados had on me when I saw at the Ôø?HateÔø? tour. That feeling of WOW this group is great, totally digging what they had to offer and being completely won over. I was pretty much bouncing off the walls after their set.

While the bands initial wall of feedback and distortion could be off putting to some, it was that when paired with the subtle flute and harmonica touches that set the mood for the set. A top notch set which consisted of arty pop, complete with strange twists and turns in the flow of the compositions. The singer, sounding nothing like Morrissey, reminded me more of David Bowie and Damon Alban. Wish I knew the song title, but about the third song from the end, The Dear delivered one of the best Ziggy Stardust era inspired tunes IÔø?ve heard.

The Dears secret weapons include the drummer with his jazz influenced soft to explosive style of playing. A more percussive driven sound then rock steady. Also the sound engineer who was serving as seventh member of the band, by adding touch of sound manipulation which included swirling the sound between the speakers. IÔø?m eagerly looking forward to any future The Dears show, especially the tour when they take along the Quadraphonic sound system.

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives is also a bit IÔø?m just learning about. Had given Ôø?Behind The MusicÔø? a few whirls and enjoyed what was on offer. TSOOL certainly bring the appropriate tools in which to rock with, Double Bass Drum Kit containing the spirit of Keith Moon, Flying V Guitars, Rickenbacker basses, and a larger than life singer. Where else is one going to hear the best of 60s and 70s rock on parade done so lovingly right? The Who, MC5, Pink Floyd, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop and even a little Robert Pollard is lurking in the shadows.

TSOOL ebbed and flowed at the beginning, but really caught fire towards the end before the encores. TSOOL could have been utterly brilliant and made me forget about The Dears, completely sucked, or fallen in the middle. In the end I give The Dear a slight advantage on the evening, because TSOOL delivered the rock. A great evening where both bands proved they were better than most, and I left the club with a smile on my face.

It's a good thing that not every musician in Nashville is trying to don the black cowboy hat for the masses. Nashville has had for several years a vibrant but overlooked independent rock and pop scene. Overlooked most likely due to the fact that Nashville has been labeled the Country Music capitol. But thankfully the scene is kept alive due to local and national supporters of who could care less about the latest production line country music artist.

A very quick rundown of what's shakin' from the Nashville Area, plenty more worth seeking out.

The Privates are attracting fans from the Nashville area with their brand of energetic pop. If you like The Privates I can also recommend from West Virginia The Argument

Imaginary Baseball League hail from the same boro as De Novo Dahl. DND of course being Micropop approved and highly recommended. There must be something in the water of Murfreesboro seeing as it's produced it share of interesting acts along the lines of Self, Rich Creamy Paint, etc.

Imaginary Baseball League came across my desk courtesy 3hive a most excellent MP3 blog. Checkout what the band has on offer...

Entertainment Weekly has become for me a good source for finding out what "pop" records to buy. Rarely have I been let down by one of their reviews for a record which sounds interesting to me. The latest in a long stream of talented Scottish groups, Aberfeldy put out a brilliant little record last year on Rough Trade Records. "Young Forever" is full of quiet quirky folk inspired songs which sound as if they were recorded in someoneÔø?s living room. The only heavy metal heard on this record is the Glockenspiel. The cover art features two lions getting down to the business of producing offspring.

For fans of Belle & Sebstaine, Nick Drake,

Aberfeldy
Rough Trade America

When I was living in Detroit, there were local bands that were actually more popular in France than on their own home turf. The Japanese have a long tradition of keeping forgotten groups careers going.

The Spanish have a hankering for US Power Pop bands. The Posies, Myracle Brah, even local DC mods The Phobes have all gone on tour in Spain to wildly receptive crowds. The Mockers and Splitsville are just a couple more bands which can be added to that list.

The Mockers who are based in Virginia Beach, but in reality have members who reside in NYC and LA. They had a top 40 song in Spain awhile back when included on a popular soundtrack. In the US the band caused a bit of stir with their anti Bush video "The Emperor Strikes Out" which can be seen on the Multimedia page of the bands website. (Yes I'm a bit behind on my posts).

The Mockers have recently released a third record in Spain, with plans on getting it out in the US soon.

Here are links to two of my favorite Mockers songs. Serving as a bit of a personal theme song is Here Come The Lackeys. Just a snippet for this one but still very worthy. C'mon Over To My Side (MP3 Sample)

More info and songs can be found on the bands website and myspace page.
http://www.myspace.com/themockers

Hailing from Baltimore,Splitsville is another band more likely to head off to Spain, then tour the US. Splitsville who formed out of the ashes of the Greenberry Woods a band which caused a bit of stir with their power pop classics in the mid 90s. Like The Mockers, Splitsville have more of a following in Japan and Spain. In fact their latest record which came out in late 2003, is imported to the US from Houston Party their Spanish Record label.

"Splitsville Inc." like all the band's releases has multiple personalities. There are songs which will easily appeal to fans of Coldplay and Keane. However, lurking in the next song the Cheap Trick and Kiss influences will suddenly appear.

And if thats not enough checkout the bands shoegazer influenced cover of Teenage Fanclub's Tears Are Cool
Splitsville

Fredo Viola is musician who got coverage in several blogs (Gizmodo, Metafiler, etc) last year for the video he created for "The Sad Song". While maybe leaning a bit towards New Age music for some, there is enough experimentation in his songs that could appeal to fans of the Beta Band. Personally, I really enjoy the vocal arrangements where he multitracks his voice with great effect. There are couple remixes available which give his originials a tad more edge.

More originials, remixes and merchandise can be found at his website. For now try the EP available on the Netlabel area of the Internet Archive.

Fredo Viola - Risa EP Extended [hc045]

The Original Man (MP3, 6.7MB, VBR)
Hogwash Abrv 4(MP3, 3.8MB, 128kbps)

Puss (Deltasleeps Everybody Look Through YourHair Remix)(MP3, 8.6MB, VBR)

Hippocamp
Fredo's Blog

Fans of the Cocteau Twins, The Cure and Bjork will enjoy this six song EP from Canadian group Hinterland released on Nishi. Hinterland is the latest project of Michaela Galloway, formerly with the Vancouver shoegazer group the Electrosonics. Founded in 2000 Hinterland released two EPs which were combined to form the six song available from the Netlabel Nishi. The band released a full length album on Hybride Electric Records in 2003 and is currently putting the finishing touches on a new record.

Expect ethereal vocals, over shimmering guitars, with a solid rhythmic foundation when listening to Hinterland.

Hinterland - Untitled (MP3, 6 Songs, 27.3MB)

Song Highlights

Lethe Water (MP3, 6.4MB, 128kbs)
Destroy Destroyer (MP3, 4.6MB, 128kbs)

Hinterland

Nishi
Hybride Electric Records

Hello to all my loyal readers. At this time my crack production team of Editors and Writers are currently working on new content. Ok... Pirates are doing the actual work. This is why it always takes longer then expected, as they tend to get distracted and then take off and go plundering. But, several updates are being worked on at the momemt, so please keeping checking back for the latest in music found on the internet.

Thanks to Psychic Departure Bunny Lounge for the blog mention...

The same team is also working on the the Kos-mo-meter system, which could soon be making its debut on Hi-Fi Pop

And there is a Princess named Zelda that wants saving....

Coming soon to Micropop:

The Privates
Hinterland
The Mockers
Splitsville
Do Me Bad Things
Aberfeldy

At my age it's great when a new band like De Novo Dahl comes around. Being able to get excited by something new means that falling asleep in the magical armchair gets pushed back a couple years.

Can't recall how long they play or what the exact setlist was at for the Iota show on 1/05/05, because it was just right whatever it was. Wasn't left wanting more as it was just right. Set highlights include my 2004 anthem "Monsterproof" , the band's subtle Jeff Buckley tribute "Memphis" and future hit singles "Be Your Man" and "All Over Town".

Needless to say I'll be at the coming shows in Feb , new CD in hand, singing along with a smile on my face attempting to bop along. While the armchair continues to gather dust in the corner.

Today while driving in Ned the Newtonian Mini, where I listen to much of my new music, I was taking in tracks from the forthcoming De Novo Dahl CD "Cats & Kittens". Ned is ideal for such listening, since I'm able crank up the music and fully assess its merits with bothering the neighbors. Plus, it's nice to be able to repeat songs at will.

The more I hear these new tracks, the more I get excited for the release of the new record. Seeing De Novo Dahl live for the first time was of the brightest moments of the 2003 Baltimore International Pop Overthrow festival. I eagerly picked up the six song EP the band was selling at the time. Even after repeated listens to that EP over the last 14 months, I'm still enthralled at the well crafted intelligent pop the band has created.

It's the bands arrangements which make De Novo Dahl's output standout, at a time when quirky pop has comeback in vogue. While bands like The Killers, The Arcade Fire, and Dogs Die in Hot Cars are worthy listens, it's De Novo Dahl's care in crafting their songs that sets them ahead of the pack. For instance in the new song "All Over Town" De Novo Dahl adds a touch of fuzzed out guitar to the chorus of and the use of glockenspiel is also a nice touch.

Listening to the bands songs reminds me of what made Motown records standout. Motown had talented songwriters and singers but what gave the songs that extra edge was what the studio musicians AKA The Funk Brothers, arrangers and producers did in the studio to create those memorable singles.

For fans of Super Furry Animals, Supergrass, Belle & Sebastine and all great Power Pop deities.

From the just released CD Cats & Kittens
All Over Town (MP3)
Be Your Man (MP3)
From the 2003 self-titled EP
Waiting for My Friends (MP3)
Memphis (MP3)

De Novo Dahl
More songs at Myspace.com

Inspired by the Rip. Sample. Mash. Share. CD in the November, 2004 issue of Wired magazine , I decided to seek out material released either via NetLabels and/or under the Creative Commons License for my Art-o-matic set. The artists and songs listed in red are those which fall in that category. Links, etc forthcoming. Several of these artists can be found on the Internet Archive site through my bookmarks .

Division of Laura Lee - Breathe Breathe
Fruitbats - Little Acorn
Venus Ray - Melody
I Am Kloot - Over My Shoulder
American Analog Set - Hard To Find
Johnathan Rice - Quiet Hushed Voices
The Shins - They'll Soon Discover
Math & Science Club - Graduation Day
Donovan - Mellow Yellow
Mark Helm - Isolation Day
e. joseph - Antenna
The The - Jealous of Youth
TV On The Radio - New Health Rock
Fredo Viola - The Original Man
Ofra Haza - Galbi
Lookbe - Boots

Portions Toll

Delegate - Booksmarts
Cartel - Fleets
Dutch Cousins - All That I Can Do
a beautiful machine - coming up

The Chance

Eyes Like Knives - Summer Song
The Things - Psychotic Reaction
The Hiss - Riverbed
The Volunteers - Gimme Some Lovin
The Witnesses - Everybody
Myracle Brah - Go
The Romantics - I Need You
The Anderson Council - Hole in the Sky

Brandon Butler

Bigger Lovers - Ninja Suit
Jason Falkner - Lost Myself
De Novo Dahl - Monsterproof
Aberfeldy - Heliopolis By Night
Very Proper Dragonflies - Just Believe
The Sugarplastic - Jesus is His Name

Exit Clov

Messur Chaps - Devil Exit From Fashion
Your Pal - Mercer
Detroit Cobras - My Baby Loves the Secret Agent
The Phobes - Has Anyone Seen Jane
Love - Rainbows in the Storm
The Mockers - Here Comes The Lackeys
Fancy - Wild Thing
Nick Chapman - Take Me Now

French Toast

Hinterland - Destroy Destroyer
El Vez - Feliz Navidad
My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday
Bugeye - Away
Sons and Daughters - Broken Bones