A Beach in the Garage

Riding the wave of the recently popularized appearance and sound of over-abundant Indie acts out of Brooklyn, NY; Beach Fossils still have their own uniqueness to them. They’re part of a new approach to indie music. Many songs have the Strokes’ style guitar sound of a prominent string of repetitiveness along with a Julian Casablancas-esque mumbling tone of vocals, and the track ‘Time’ even exudes a Joy Division ambiance of lofty distortion to accompany the suppressed vocals. This band’s soon to be released debut is to be a promising deliverance of surf pop and experimental psychedelic pop with a shroud of a garage band’s unpolished spontaneity.

Here is a video of ‘Daydream’ being performed acoustically in a bathroom…I still slip into a daydream hearing it regardless of the bathroom setting!

It’s a surf and garage mix of the beach boys with the strokes that exudes from the influx of indie lo-fi sound bands like Beach Fossils, Girls, Holiday Shores, etc. that I can’t stop from enveloping myself in. Their subdued lo-fi sound from their psyche-rock, new wave, and garage influences has created me a niche between physchedelic rock and garage rock.

xo-Biggles

Spanish music phase.

Biggles and Bilo having been super busy since school started and has left almost no time for our ‘baby’ (blog). But have no fear, we are back -or at least we are going try to post more often than before.

After going through my Depeche Mode and Blur phase, I found myself totally and unexpectatly  listening to all kinds of Spanish (Latino)music. Stuff that I remember hearing when I was a kid growing up in Colombia- thanks to my mom and brother- to stuff that I just discover and I’m completely amazed and taken over by it.  One of the most wonderful things that music can do to a person is take them back to a time in their past. To a little time capsule where all the sights and experiences of that period of time come rushing back once you hear that song. Well, for me that what has happen in the last month. From Alejandro Sanz to Luis Miguel, to Los Aterciopelados and Shakira. From Carlos Vives to Juanes. Tons of artists that I grew up listening to their voices and at the time totally dislike them for some unknown reason (ex:Eroz Ramazzotti and Carlos Vives) and that I turn my back on them once I moved here and started to listen to British and American bands. Those are artists are now music to my ears and make me proud to be where I’m from.

Here are some videos and songs. This might be the first part to a long series of Spanish music. So let’s start with some music from my native land, la bonita Colombia.

A New Band to Believe In

Girls

Ever wonder how the offspring of the Free Love era or a hippie cult would grow up to be?

Band Members Christopher Owens (offspring of the Children of God cult) and Chet White.

Girls are a San Francisco, California duo bringing San Fran Physc. Rock on a hazy trip back to mainstream. Their (easily classified as experimental) songs deliver what many along with the duo themselves have described as a modern Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds”.

Chronologically, this duo embody what the hippie culture has morphed into and spawned. Seen in how the culture’s face and sound have been changed with the influx of newer/harder drugs and DIY music production; this duo soundtrack neo-flower children.

The band’s debut album is soon to be released and videos for ‘Hellhole Rat Race’ and ‘Lust for Life’ can be seen on Youtube. A live performance video of  ‘Carolina’ is sure to draw you in too.

xx-biggles

“I hope to God you’re not as dumb as you make out…”

Orange Juice are a wonderful group that I wish more people realized that their songs are pure pop perfection. But then again maybe the fact that they are not that widely known makes them more endearen to the people who do discover them. Well for me is that case. I have long heard of this Scottish post punk band, mainly from their front man Edywn Collins (remember that great Iggy Pop inspired track “A Girl Like You”…yep, that’s him) and the work he did as a producer for the Crib’s second album and not to mention he’s unfortunate health condition that he was recently involved in. But a couple of months ago I was in the car and the song “Rip it Up” was played in Sirius radio. I loved the main riff right away but soon afterwards I forgot to look the song up, until about a month ago when I was bored and I typed Orange Juice in youtube and after that I been hooked. They have funk, disco, post punk with the right mix of campyness and style. But even though they weren’t entirely the biggest band, they only had a top 10 hit in the UK with “Rip it Up” they have had a big influence on bands. You can hear Orange Juice in alot of Franz Ferninand and alot of Edwyn Collins in Alex Kapranos.  I leave with a slighty different but still amazing version of “Rip it Up”  from the Old Grey Whistle Test and the song “Falling and Laughing”. Keep a ear for a nice Buzzcocks reference in “Rip it Up”.

_Bilo_:D

Biggle’s New Wave Fave’s

Psychedelic Furs- Sister Europe and Dumb Waiters

An unreleased single from the Psychedelic Furs 1980 debut, and a highly successful single from their 2nd album that found them success in the U.S.

Sister Europe is a fave for it’s dark, post-punk wall of sound delivery, and gives singer, Richard Butler’s vocals a distant vibe.

Their 2nd album saw the band progress in lyrical clarity that made for mainstream success outside of Europe. Dumb Waiters became prominent for being featured with Pretty In Pink in 80’s bratpack film Pretty In Pink. Dumb Waiters is a fave of mine because it instantly grabs attention without becoming a pop tune like Pretty In Pink does with how easily listeners are attached to the chorus.

All of the Psychedelic Furs songs have pure originality no matter how much mainstream success they garnered. The band’s predominant use of the saxaphone in their songs set them apart from being too moody or too pop, and made their delivery stronger and sound unrivaled by other New Wave contemporaries.

Adam Ant-Physical (You’re So)

As one of Adam and the Ants first demos, this was one of the first of simple songs to be transformed with Adam Ant’s ingenius behavior.

Joy Division- Disorder

The opening drum beat automatically makes me move. The lyrics give narrative to my memories of the first night I ever went out dancing.

I’ve got the spirit, lose the feeling, let it out somehow

Ian Curtis with his iconic ‘we don’t know if he’s seizuring or dancing moves’. Not to be joked about considering his struggle with epilepsy, but definitely not how I was dancing…nor have I seen anyone dance like that. I guess it should be just reserved for him, R.I.P.

xo-biggles

the CULT

The one and only cult I’d lose my top or drink the Kool-aid to join. Yet, a 21+ previous member list is rival to only that of Deep Purple’s and alludes that the cult may not be that exclusive. Especially when so many have at some point been a part of or influenced by this light-goth, heavy-rock group.

At the forefront, Ian Astbury built the Cult’s rock and roll take on the tudor image and supplied the band’s synonymous vocals. Alongside was the only other founding and still remaining member, guitarist Billy Duffy. Duffy can be attributed with introducing the Smith’s iconic guitarist Johnny Marr to the guitar and giving the Cult its sound through his unique mix of punk and rock riffs. This mix Duffy created broke ground for alternative rock music to blossom from the late 80’s.

The Cult’s videos like Lil Devil give INXS’s videos like Suicide Blonde a run for their sex appeal. Yet, the Cult go beyond the fashion and sexy war with Astbury’s powerhouse vocals and Duffy’s revolutionary guitar riffs heard on classics like “She Sells Sanctuary”, “Rain”, and “Wildflower”

xo-biggles

“In the summertime, I fear I’m gonna lose my mind….”

With final exams the next day and summer just around the corner, what is the best thing to do? Go to a concert of course!!! And that’s just what I did with my bestie (Biggles) and my brothar in tow.  We went to see the Virgins @ the Social on June 1. Though it was the thrid time we seen the Virgins (first in the Nylon Tour where I had never heard of them but I was hooked by the end of the night, and later in the year on tour with the Black Kids) they played a great energy paced 30 to 45 minutes and they even played one of my favorites “Love is Colder than Death”, actually twice as they played the version on the album and EP. Ironic, considering that when I saw them in September I yelled for it and I just got “isn’t it though?” by Donald. Of course, “Rich Girls” was a crowd pleaser and no matter how many time I hear it, I will always dance to that bass line but the encore was nice. A cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Countess from Hong Kong” and ”One Week of Danger”  Anyways,  I danced like there was no tomorrow  and for the time that the Virgins played I forgot I had finals and things to do and I just dance and dance and forgot everything and it was just what I needed it!! By the end of the set, I even saw my brother moving a little…HAHA.

But even though I had the greatest of time, there’s still somethings that pisses me off about crowds in shows…1) People who think that smoking is gonna make you look super cool…..is NOT and oh how about lighten up in a tiny ass club in fucking Florida in June? It makes you look pathetic and I actually feel I little sad for you. 2) People who mosh. This is not a punk rock show and even if it was…not everybody wants to, so have some respect when you see people not wanting to join in your dumb antics. Don’t get me wrong, I got my moshing when I saw Against Me! but I couldn’t get my head around how some people were moshing to the Virgins…..

Whatever, it was an awesome show and I finally got a Virgins t-shirt (even though merchandise sucked a bit), so thanks alot to Wade for giving me his pin.  I thought that was an extremely nice thing. We got home fairly early and even though I probably had less than 5 hours of sleep, I did fantastic on my exams ( well a B in English and a C in Algebra….it averaged to an A in both) and I thanked my post concert adrenaline rush. Imagine if I hadn’t gone…..I would have missed out on a fantastic time and just what I needed after a sucky school year……. dancing the night away.

Bilo.

New reasons for loving Jarvis Cocker……

I’m in a bit of a Jarvis Cocker\Pulp kind of mood lately and fortunately Mr. Cocker is almost everywhere with his new album, “Further Complications”. I didn’t really liked the first single, “Angela” when I first heard about a month and half ago but it really grew on me with every listen. Also, I been checking the music mags this month and he’s feature heavily with some great funny interviews but the one thing that really got me laughing out loud was in the new Spin magazine where he mentions a lyric about a teddy bear, but not just a normal teddy bear——a teddy bear with an erection (gotta love the man).  But the real reason I’m loving Jarvis even more than usual, it’s that his new music still sounds refreshing and funny. “I Never Said I Was Deep” is slowly becoming my favorite song of this summer—-heck of the year. It features great lyrics like this one…”And if every relationship is a two way street\I have been screwing in the back whiles you drive”.

To top it all of….just watch this video and prepare to say..”Ahhh how cute”

Edit: Thanks to stupid Youtube, the video I posted is no longer available. Sorry.

Bilo.

I’ll try to find you..left of the dial

Story has it that a girl from this band inspired the Replacement’s song Left of the Dial! Let’s Active were a popular college radio band from the mid-80s to early 90s and Paul Westerberg had fallen in love with one of the members while on tour. Left of the Dial was written because radios, at the time, had all of their college radio stations located ‘left of the dial’ and that’s where her band would be playing.
I love the stories of my favorite songs!
I wish I knew which member it was, and if she ever heard the song! I hope she did! It’d make the cutest love story!

Does anyone else think the lead singer of the View sounds like the lead singer of Let’s Active??

<3Biggles!

“Love at first sight may sound trite but it’s true you know..”

The final part of the Smiths and Morrissey countdown….:) (For some songs I would totally post videos like in the past but youtube isn’t helping me in that department)

7. Late Night Maudlin Street- Morrissey

Classic epic song from Morrissey debut “Viva Hate”….melancholy and heart wrenching. I think it made me cry the first time I heard.

6. Speedway- Morrissey

It was between this one and Why Don’t You Find Out for Yourself? both from the majestic “Vauxhall and I” which means if you haven’t heard it…..go and find it and listen to it.

5. The Last of the International Playboys- Morrissey

Found in, possibly my favorite Moz cd, “Bona Drag” this song is just an amazing pop song with the clever and unique lyrics of Morrissey.

4. There’s A Light that Never Goes Out- The Smiths

Yess, I know!! It’s soo widely heard (and quoted) but that doesn’t take away from the amount of genius this song carries. Doesn’t matter how many times I hear it, it still sounds gorgeous. If I heard this song live, it wouldn’t take more than 5 minutes for me to be in a hysterical crying mess.

 

3. This Charming Man- The Smiths

Seriously one of the greatest songs ever!!! That guitar, that rhythm section and those vocals and lyrics….it just doesn’t get better than this. And that classic video and image of Morrissey with the gladioli. GENIUS!!!

2. I Know It’s Over- The Smiths

There’s no explanation needed for this song…just go listen to it. A masterpiece.

1. Suffer Little Children- The Smiths

The first song the Smiths wrote and to me one of the greatest and most powerful. Such a morbid and tragic matter but that it’s completely close to Morrissey’s heart and that it shows in the song.  Even though it’s a sad song it’s still has this beauty in the poetry of the lyrics and the flow of the music. The greatest.

I try to make this countdown a bit different and include well-known songs and rare ones. Hope you enjoyed it and comment if you want. Thanks.

_BILO_