Micropop - Why Wait!

DC Rock City

kosmo — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 14:01:40 -0500

On occasion I get the opportunity to DJ in between bands at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. The 9:30 club is one of the best venues in which to experience live music period. This past Friday (1/28/06) the club allowed three of DC's best local bands to strut their stuff and I was on hand to provide the tunes during the set changes.

On hand to entertain the crowd assembled were Bicycle Thieves, Cedars and Nethers. My full setlist is over at my DJ website DJ Wren's Record Bag which includes links to some of the bands spun. Information Leafblower and Seeking Irony have nice wraps and pictures from the Gig.

Seeing as this is suppose to be a MP3blog here are links to some of the song spun during the show. Many more are unfortunately only available as snippets or trapped on Myspace.com

Belle & Sebastian - "Another Sunny Day"
e.joseph- "Ain't Life Grand"
Pale Stars-"Everything's Wrong"
Aberdeen City - "In Combat"

Due to a technical snafu on my part, several songs from both local and beyond artists tracked down via suggestions of DCist and other blogs didn't get played. Here are links to some of the missing ones.

Panthers - Thank Me With Your Hands (MSTRKFT Remix)
The Bonaparts - "Tomorrow_and_Tomorrow_and_Tomorrow"
Voxtrot - "The Start Of Something

Also checkout Troy Gregory and the Stepsisters Detroit combo led by the guy behind Witches and also ex-member of Prong.

Hello Tokyo, local DC rock group with nice pop sensibilities.

and finally Computerman new UK band specializing in energetic rock with synths

Tops in 2005

kosmo — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:06:15 -0500

At this moment in time these are the records which mattered most to me this year.

1. The Sugarplastic "Will" and "7x7x7"
2. Kate Bush - "Aerial"
3. De Novo Dahl - "Cats and Kittens"
4. Nic Armstrong and The Thieves -"The Greatest White Liar"
5. Brendan Benson - "The Alternative to Love"
6. Do Me Bad Things - "Yes"
7. e.joseph - "Absinthe Minded"
8. Detroit Cobras - "Baby"
9. The Shout Out Louds - "Howl Howl Gaff Gaff"
10. The Coral - "Invisible Invasion"
11. Roger Joseph Manning Jr - "Solid State Warrior"
12. The Decemberists - "Picaresque"
13. Bettye Lavette - "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise"
14. The Magic Numbers - s/t
15. LCD Soundsystem - s/t
16. Brazilian Girls - s/t
17. The Orange Peels - "Circling The Sun"
18. Petra Hayden = "The Who Sell Out"
19. Franz Ferdinand - "You Could Have It So Much Better With ..."
20. Bloc Party - "Silent Alarm"

A couple enteries too late for this list, but definitely worth checking out!

The Pale Stars @ Myspace
Gavin Elder - "Rock and/or Roll" also @ Myspace

Charm City Singers

kosmo — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 09:39:58 -0400

Several of my current favorite artists hang their hats in Baltimore. Two of those highly regarded Charm City Singer/Songwriters have exciting new releases coming at ya!

I've closely followed the various projects of Ed Neenen for the past couple of years, both as band leader and solo artist. Ed's most recent project is a solo record released under the nom de plume E.Joseph. "Absinthe Minded" is a collection of tracks Ed has been demoing and performing since his last band went down into the Bunny hole never to be seen again.

Ed has this ability to write songs which often reflect thoughts of my own. "Low-Flying Aircraft" from the new collection is one such example. Once the sound of an airplane or helicopter flying over head was just another part of the experience of living near DC. Now, however, when one does fly over, it does make one wonder if indeed something bad has happened and should I be turning on the news.

Besides "Low-Flying Aircraft", I've included the track "Ain't Life Grand" which has potential hit single written all over it...

Full details will soon emerge but another one of my fav Baltimore-based songwriters has recently signed a deal with a major record label. Based on what was passed along to me, the deal calls for a greatest hits record to be released soon, followed by new material next year. Fingers crossed on the success of this one...

Low-Flying Aircraft (MP3, 7MB, 192kbps)
Ain't Life Grand? (MP3, 5.3MB, 192kbps)

Bonus Track
Don't You Breathe A Word (MP3, 6MB, 192kbps)

Tallboy Records

kosmo — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 08:00:01 -0400

All Fun No Filler

kosmo — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 08:56:42 -0400

Thanks to a last minute angel, I managed to get a ticket to the Bloc Party show at the Black Cat, a sold out sold show which became one of the hottest tickets of 2005. Based on their great show, Bloc Party have become a band I will want to see in concert again and again. Like Sloan and Idlewild this band enjoys playing live, something which makes the concert going experience that much more fun to attend. The songs all sound and are treated like hit singles. The audience was singing and clapping along through out the set. While the bands influences leak through on the record, in concert there is a more defined Bloc Party sound. It's great they don't feel the need to replicate the record live, ragged around the edges is fine by me. Chaotic drumming always a plus.

The other bands, The Ponys and Pony Up became a distant memory a couple songs into the Bloc Party's set. Pony Up were just not my thing, the bands "basic" indie pop sound really didn't grab my attention. Wasn't really sure where sonically The Ponys were headed, but the garage/mod tinged third song won me over briefly. The post-punk influences then began peeking out and eventually were front and center. A transition in sound didn't seem as froced as with other bands. Which is the case with Kasabian.

I'm very glad to have gotten to see Bloc Party, a show which surely will be a quick sellout at larger venues down the road.

Fancies Tickled Parts 1&2

kosmo — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 08:20:16 -0500

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.

Hat not required

kosmo — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 01:12:00 -0500

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...

How cats make kittens

kosmo — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 00:28:06 -0500

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

The Armchair Gathers Dust

kosmo — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 07:36:28 -0500

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.

Maybe it was the orange juice buzz

kosmo — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 09:02:29 -0500

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