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Band of the Day (5.10.11) Other Lives

11 May

Excuse the language but FUCK I love Other Lives


Band of the Day (5.10.11) Other Lives

We’re back…Hell it’s been a rough last six weeks. Computer death, then me Mr. Editor and The Music Muse had a little squirt. That’s right a little 8 lb Hummingbird is fluttering around our house enjoying all of the new music we’re about to present. Because come June 1st, we’ll be counting the first half of 2011 with our One Year NBD Anniversary Best of 2011…So Far event. Get us your picks, let us know who you love. We really love Other Lives. 2011 has been an interesting year of music, with a slew of early rock records and an interesting array of raptastic newbies, we’re still searching for that one band. I have my favorite, but it’s not as certain as 2010.

It was seven years ago when Other Lives formed as Kunek, they created an EP and made Stillwater, OK proudly scream for their hometown heroes. An album a name change and now a new record and Other Lives thrills America with a beautiful record. Think Wolf Parade, sprinkle the bells of Sigur Ros and a tad bit of National brooding without the guttoral leads. It’s a DNA favorite of Southern fried folk. Tamer Animals is a great record and one that I think you’ll be raving about all year. Buy the record here –> on LP

Oh STREAM THE ENTIRE ALBUM NOW!

Vitals:
Hometown: Stillwater, OK
Members:
Jesse Tabish (piano, guitar, lead vocals)
Josh Onstott (bass, organ, Backing vocals)
Jenny Hsu (cello, piano, Backing Vocals)
Colby Owens (drums)
Jonathon Mooney (piano,violin, guitar)
Sonic Soulmates: Mercury Rev, The National, Wolf Parade
Trackables:
“For 12 (Demo)”

“Tamer Animals”

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Official Site

Band of the Day (5.4.11) – EMA

4 May

90's dirty basement rock, Sleigh Bells vocals and a new record...GOOD STUFF!

Band of the Day (5.4.11) – EMA
EMA – Erika M. Anderson, former lead of the California noise-folk band Gowns, a band she led with her BF, brings a celebratory record. She was the darling of SXSW this year and she is the darling of our eyes. By the way it’s been over 20 years so it’s safe to use Nirvana chords without being ridiculed, but now it’s cool. She cleverly creates self harmonies, layered with those 90’s rock riffs, piano notes and snare drums. She makes me feel so dirty with “Milkman”, but soothes me and clears my guilt with “Breakfast”

It’s cool shiat and I think you’ll find her busting through on 2011 best of lists.

Vitals
Hometown: West Oakland … originally from South Dakota
Members: Erika M. Anderson, Nicole Anderson, Nicky Mao, Leif Shackelford
Sonic Soulmates™: Zola Genius, Sleigh Bells, Early Hole
Trackables™:
“Grey Ship”

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EMA Official

Band of the Day (4.27.11) (David) Vandervelde

27 Apr

Unique vocal falsetto brings shivers down your spine and Loggins memories - Vandervelde


Band of the Day (4.27.11) (David) Vandervelde

There was a time when I could watch the first 8 minutes of Caddyshack and it would put me in a good mood. Maybe it was the “Danny’s in the bathroom” scene, or the bike scene or maybe even the parent dynamic. It dawned on me that it was a simply the song. Kenny Loggins was the shiat for a moment in time. Probably for about three years, he was the lead maestro of every single movie that meant anything to us kids of the 80’s. I’m not looking for a hipster revival of Loggins, but hell Hall and Oates are having one. But, maybe just maybe his sound will have a revival. In 2007, Secretly Canadian Records released the first David Vandervelde solo album, The Moonstation House Band. Vandervelde, a Chicago/Nashville/Brooklyn native pulls from the vocal closet of Kenny an the rock vibe of T-Rex. He’s a folky hipster, but he’s got that poppy vibe. I loved his 2007 record and his new one, More Than You Can Feel , is quite brilliant. Hear three tracks below oh and hey he’s just made the Lollapalooza line-up. Vandervelde recording with the much missed Jay Bennett.

Vitals:
Hometown: Nashville, TN, USA
Members: David Vandervelde
Sonic Soulmates: T-Rex, Lindsey Buckingham (minus the virtuoso guitar), Benjy Ferree, Ferraby Lionheart, Cool Caddyshack Kenny Loggins
Trackables:
“More Than You Can Feel” – Lead single from the new record!

“Checking Out My Baby” – it’s a little Scissor Sistery.

“Learn How to Hang” – This is my fave from Mr. Vandervelde. Caddyshack anyone?

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Band of the Day (4.26.11) Jeniferever

26 Apr

Swedes rule again. Love this record.

Band of the Day (4.26.11) Jeniferever

Well I was and still am but soon to be outed closet fan of Smashing Pumpkins. Many bands have attempted to rewrite the dueling lead guitars or the searing solos of Iha and Corgan. Jimmy’s anthemic drum beats were one of kind. I miss the Siamese Dream version of SP, it all fell apart when they decided that ego and bravado was more important then writing and producing a good record. Melancholy can suck it, it’s greatest value was it’s Lenny Kravitz like karoke tracks, but we’ll always remember the perfection of Siamese. It wasn’t a surprise to hear several bands ripping off the early SP sound, CandleBox, etc, but rarely did you see a band that literally named themselves after a demo track. Jeniferever is a band from Uppsala, Sweden formed in 1996. Their music is ambient indie rock, it’s melodic, and each track drives to anthemic finishes. They’re Sigur Rós in English. They’ve released several EPs, a two full lengths with the third that just hit stores last week. Silesia, is triumphant and it’s brilliance is why we feature the boys of Jeniferever. We love the “Waifs and Strays” and you little buzzers will too. Listen and love like we did. By the way JE is our first Swedish band of 2011. We featured almost a dozen last year…LET’S GO NORDES!!!

Vitals:
Hometown: Uppsala, Sweden
Members:
Fredrik Aspelin
Kristofer Jönson
Olle Bilius
Martin Sandström
Sonic Soulmates: Sigur Rós, My Vitriol
Trackables:
“Waifs and Strays”

“A Drink To Remember”

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Jeniferever.com
MySpace
Twitter

Band of the Day (4.25.11) Crystal Stilts

25 Apr

It's a Rock. Get out from underneath it and try something good Crystal Stilts


Band of the Day (4.25.11) Crystal Stilts

Call me old fashioned…how dare you age me like that…whatever, but I have an affinity for the lo-fi. The lo-fi guys that keep it authentic, Jack White style, when they enter the recording studio. The mics, the drums, the guitars, even the strings, whatever, just to know that a band respects history is worth the listen. To be frank. which I am clearly not, but ProTools can suck a dick in my mind. Bands who employ drummers that play in the vertical stand-up position deserve a fucking high-five and my $20 for the vinyl. Crystal Stilts is cool 1st Wave new wave reborn under the stripped down garage genre. It’s like taking Jesus and Mary Chain, replacing the shitty electronics and giving them heavy amplification. These guys are not “New” per se, but this new album, In Love With Oblivion, catapults their hipster 2008 status to a new stratosphere. Alight Of Night, their first album after a string of here-today-gone-tomorrow singles and EPs, was good and it captured the hearts and minds of the DUMBO crowd. In Love With Oblivion, stretches them to new areas, good songwriting/crafting, organs, guitars and melody. Good record and good guys. Now go buy the damn thing and spread the word bird.

Vitals:
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Members:
JB Townsend
Brad Hargett
Andy Adler
Miss Frankie Rose – Was featured on NBD in July of 2010.
Kyle Forester
Sonic Soulmates: The National, Jesus and Mary Chain, Joy Division
Trackables:
“Flying Into The Sun”

“Through the Floor”

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Best New Band of 2011 Band of the Day (4.21.11) Slowness

22 Apr

SF based and ready to gaze - Slowness


Band of the Day (4.21.11) Slowness

Okay okay okay okay….if you read NBD every day you’ve noticed that I’ve been dormant. Well I apologize. My MacBook died. Literally. Photos, music, documents, all locked away behind my hibernating Mac. It was my good friends at Keane Mac repair that 7xed my Mac and brought NBD back to life. So happy today and so happy that I met a place that does something well! Cheers to you my friends!

Coincidently, I’ve been waiting almost a week to post about our new favorite Arizona Turk derived obsession….SLOWNESS! Yes it explains my posting strategy for April, but their music was well worth the wait. You know we love the local music scene in SF, but we’ve never put limits on our posts. We just find it fun to feature bands from our own music backyard, this market for some reason took a shit in the 90’s and 00’s and it’s just now having it’s moment…again. Drone rock can be fun, the shoegaze theme hasn’t really worn thin, but it’s the hipster version of a jam bands. It’s just darker arenas, less patchouli, and heavier distortion. We like to stick our nose down to our shoes to the Phishes of the world, but let’s be honest if you give them an amp and hair in their face you have Phish goes shoegaze. That being said Slowness takes the best of the genre and delivers a perfect EP. Harmonies, wailing whining guitars and eerie vocals. I liken their sound to one of our faves The Raveonettes, even Autoluxie a bit. Really a great band and I’d expect to hear Geoffrey Scott, Julie Lynn and Scott Putnam bouncing around the country and on the festival circuit very very soon.

We’re back, we have a new hard drive and we’re ready to rule the world.
Vitals
Hometown: SF, CA, USA
Members: Geoffrey Scott: guitars, vocals, loops Julie Lynn: bass, keys, vocals Scott Putnam: drums, vocals
Sonic Soulmates: My Bloody Valentine, The Raveonettes, Autolux
Trackables:
“Slowboat”

“Black & White”

Follow Slowness:
MySpace
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Band of the Day (4.12.11) Code Pie

13 Apr

Who are we fooling, no one, these guys are amazing. Code Pie


Band of the Day (4.12.11) Code Pie

Ready from a new record from a band you’ve never heard but you should have been anticipating since 2007? Are you antsy, anxious but yet unaware of what the hell I’m talking about? Good, because you should curious about Code Pie. Code Pie is a Canadian indie rock band founded in the early 2000’s in Montréal by singer and guitarist Enzo Palermo. Other band members are Salvatore Ciolfi (guitars), Michel Semienchuk (bass), Vince Varano (drums), Eva Boodman (trumpet) and Rebecca Lessard (cello). They’re part Broken Social Scene, with the layered melodic noisy mess all accompanied with a subtle horn. They could also be confused with Architecture From Helsinki, but no matter what you say or how you compare them, Code Pie is a stand-out and they deserve your hopeless Facebook post for more music. So get with the program and follow your new favorite band.

Vitals:
Hometown: Montreal, CN
Members: Enzo Palermo. Other band members are Salvatore Ciolfi (guitars), Michel Semienchuk (bass), Vince Varano (drums), Eva Boodman (trumpet) and Rebecca Lessard (cello)
Sonic Soulmates: Broken Social Scene, Architecture in Helsinki, South, Lord Huron
Trackables:
“Morning After”

“Love Meets Rage” – The title track and quite possibly my favorite track of 2011. SO f’n good.

Grab the new record Love Meets Rage …you won’t be disappointed…promise it’s full of songs culled from 2-3 years worth of jam sessions.

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Official Site
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Band of the Day (4.11.11) Early Winters

11 Apr

Great new global artist of 2011 Early Winters


Band of the Day (4.11.11) Early Winters

Maybe it’s the anticipation for our NewBandBaby or it’s our Spring mood, but we’re in the mood for some fun loving soulful folk sounds. The Civil Wars were our last post, soft, acoustic XX/XY duetables. Today we have Early WInters, with Carina Round sounding a whole heck of a lot like Norah Jones, Stevie Nicks or even a little Dolly Parton with a strong backing band. The members of Early Winters are not college bandmates, or from the same town, they’re British born singer-songwriter Carina Round, Canadian artist Justin Rutledge, L.A. Producer Dan Burns and Pedestrian bassist Zac Rae. They decided to form this group, they had to figure out a way to get everyone in the room at the same time…Skype was the answer.

Vitals:
Hometown: Los Angeles / Toronto / England
Members:
Carina Round
Justin Rutledge
Dan Burns
Zac Rae
Simon Smith – Bass
Scott Seiver – Drums
Sonic Soulmates: Norah Jones, Cardigans, Fleetwood Mac, Dolly Parton
Trackables:
“Spanish Burn”

“Tough Love”

Grab the new album

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Official Site
Facebook
MySpace
Twitter

Band of the Day (4.6.11) The Civil Wars

6 Apr

The Civil Wars are a duo in harmony. No War Here.


Band of the Day (4.6.11) The Civil Wars

Sometimes fate does get involved when it comes to hearing you favorite new band. This morning it was Facebook and one of my trusted music mavens to introduce me to The Civil Wars. They’re a combination of The Swell Season and some of our favorite XX/XY duos. WIth a classic folk slant that would make our Southern roots happy, hence the band name. The two started as strong solo artists, but it was a chance meeting, fate, that brought the two together. Though, I wouldn’t say that attending a song-writing camp is fate. “We actually met at what’s considered a songwriting camp,” Williams laughs. They were actually assigned roommates, that’s the fate part. They have a strong melodic harmony, but they shine better when they sing to one another. It’s very Starsesque, but add in a little Swell Season emotional sexual tension.

Vitals:
Hometown: Santa Cruz, Calif./Florence, Ala.
Members: Joy Williams and John Paul White
Sonic Soulmates: The Swell Season, Buddy & Julie Miller, Ray LaMontagne. Stars
Trackables:
“Barton Hollow” – Title track, a little

“Poison and Wine”

Watchable:
“Poison & Wine”

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Band of the Day (4.1.11) Goblin

1 Apr

Tyler the Creator is Goblin is cool is ready to take over the hip-hop world


Band of the Day (4.1.11) Goblin

Seriously this is no April Fool’s joke. Tyler, the Creator, is amazing, he is a founding member of Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA), the 10-person hip hop collective that are roaming around your inbox. Tyler, the Creator, has made a splash of his own. On December 25, 2009, Tyler self-released his first album, Bastard. The album, quickly buzzed for its dark energy and punishing beats and eventually ranked 32nd on Pitchfork Media’s list of the Top Albums of 2010. In early March Tyler released his new single “Yonkers” and since that time, Kayne obsessively called it the video of 2011, and Diddy has called him the future of the music industry. Now it’s your turn to be the judge, watch the video of “Yonkers”, listen to a few tracks and grab his new vinyl here.

Vitals:
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Members: Tyler the Creator AKA: Wolf Haley, Ace
Sonic Soulmates: Seriously, it’s deep dark and unique enough to say, can’t find one. MellowHype? Maybe?
Trackables:
“French (Toro Y Moi Remix)”

“French” – Great track from TTC Goblin’s first record.

Watchables:
“Yonkers” ‘

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Twitter @fucktyler
Facebook
MySpace
Buffalo-Bill Site

Band of the Day (3.29.11) Iroha

29 Mar

Birmingham's Iroha brings supergroup melancholy shoegaze to our ears.


Band of the Day (3.29.11) Iroha

I’ve always been a big fan of shoegaze, mostly the moody kind that fits a rough day. Jesu was a perfect mix of power chord shoegaze filled with walls of electric guitars, slow beauty that is accompanied by slowly paced beats.
Former members of Final, Jesu, Godflesh and Napalm Death have created something melancholic and surprisingly good be it that came from such a mix of metal heads. See we all knew those rock dudes had broken hearts. Hear the brilliant tracks from their new record now….hell stream the whole thing below. Thank you to the Arizona Turk…we’re missing your music. Send some more brother.

Vitals:
Hometown: Birmingham, Midlands, United Kingdom
Members: Andy Swan, Nic Bullen, Justin Broadrick,
Sonic Soulmates: No Joy, New Order
Trackables:
“Last Day of Summer (Jesu Remix)”

“Eternal”

Stream the Album for Free

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Band of the Day (3.28.11) Mechanical Bride

28 Mar

The prettiest voice of 2011 - Mechanical Bride


Band of the Day (3.28.11) Mechanical Bride

I’m a sucker for a pretty voice. Aren’t we all though. If you really think about it, a pretty voice just makes your day so much better. She can make sad moments more uplifting and can make happy moments happier. Fine, I’m softening up in this so called Year of Rock Revival, but what do I care…really. Mechanical Bride’s label Transgressive sent over her lead track this morning and it took me approximately 18 seconds from the moment I hit play to start this post. That’s fast folks, super fast because I think the 25 year old songwriter and self-taught maestro Lauren Doss has something special, a very pretty voice and a history some great music. I doubt I’m the first to write about her sound since she was the owner of 2009’s beautiful folkish Rihanna cover of “Umbrella”. Much like Belleruche last week, Lauren Doss AKA Mechanical Bride, has a voice that really is special. Thank God they coupled her music with some fantastic production, layered self-harmonies, splash drums and a simple piano structure. She’s released some EPs, that have awarded her some critical acclaim, but she still needs our love to gain the fame and riches. Take a listen and spread the word. Her voice is one part PJ Harvey a whole lot of Bat for Lashes and maybe a dash of Björk

Vitals:
Hometown: Brighton, UK
Members: Lauren Doss
Sonic Soulmates: Bat for Lashes, PJ Harvey and Björk
Trackables:
“Colour of Fire” – Soft piano driven tune with beautiful production.

Grab the exclusive stream. ‘Colour Of Fire’ is available to download for free from the Mechanical Bride official site now. ‘Colour Of Fire’ is taken from Mechanical Bride’s debut album ‘Living With Ants’, released June 7th via Transgressive.

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Band of the Day (3.22.11) Charles Bradley

22 Mar

Modern day classic soul from Charles Bradley...A hummingbird is waiting.

Band of the Day (3.22.11) Charles Bradley

Born in Gainesville, Florida in 1948 and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Charles spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. This is probably the first time we’ve had an artist make his debut at the youthful age of 63. But as I’ve read many times, age is only a number and Bradley brings a timeless classic to our ears with his new debut record No Time for Dreaming. Soulful, heart-wrenching vocals make you feel as if the 60’s never ended. Charles heals his broken heart on this record and you can hear every painful to healing moment.

Charles is, was heavily influenced by James Brown, having toured for 20 years under the Black Velvet moniker. Through hard times and incredibly strong determination, Charles, down on his luck, was approached by Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records. After several singles, bands disbanding, etc. Charles met Thomas Brenneck, songwriter and guitarist for the Bullets they hit it off and began working together. They released two singles on Daptone under the name “Charles Bradley and the Bullets,” but the Bullets soon dismantled. Charles lost his brother in a tragic shooting, that emotional loss led to the core of his songwriting. Putting words to paper to the microphone, Bradley and Brenneck created a masterpiece with the Menahan Street Band. The album is a beauty and Bradley deserves the love. His SXSW sessions were amazing and I thank Rafi (Tenacious Hand Stamp) and The Marina Machine for this artist rec!

Buy No Time For Dreaming on Vinyl

Vitals:
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY (Bushwick)
Members: Charles Bradley, The Menahan Street Band (Leon Michels, Toby Pazner, Nick Movshon, Aaron Johnson, Mike Deller, Daniel Fodder, Dave Guy, Homer Steinweiss, Fernando Velez, Bosco Mann)
Sonic Soulmates: James Brown, Bill Withers, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Tyrone Davis
Trackables:
“The World (Is Going Up In Flames)”

“Golden Rule”

Follow:
Official Site
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MySpace
Twitter