ALBUM REVIEW: SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE – Diary & LP2

2009 December 1
by doubtfulsounds

Diary 1 2 3 4 5
LP2   1 2 3 4 5
reviewed for FasterLouder

Sunny Day Real Estate were a ‘best kept secret’ for many years, especially in these parts of the world, so it is interesting to see the attention they are now getting and the level of cult fandom they have achieved. I first came into contact with them in the mid 90s when a friend returned from Seattle raving about this amazing band he had seen. Dodgy name I thought but pretty soon the CD had circulated around town and everyone was sold on them.

With the re-release of their first two albums (with the original lineup of Jeremy Enigk, Dan Hoerner, William Goldsmith and Nate Mendel) time also gives us the opportunity to put them in the context of the times. Their debut Diary was released in 1994 and it stood out from the prevailing winds of grunge by incorporating the quiet/loud dynamics patented by the Pixies (and taken to the masses by Nirvana) and more intricate and dextrous musicality of indie and the post rock stylings of bands like Slint who were stretching punk rock’s possibilities.

Diary contains one of the band’s best known songs in Seven with its landslide rhythms and the incessant riffing of Hoerner. Each member of the band brought their own signature style to the album. Goldsmith played every beat with manic intent while Mendel was almost the antithesis, coaxing and massaging the notes out of his bass. Seven personifies their early songs with the stop/start dynamics and Enigk’s voice reaching into the stratosphere when he strains and sings, You’ll taste it, you’ll taste it, in time”. Its a glorious moment.

the rest of Diary has its moments of greatness, none quite matching Seven and for that matter In Circles. The song with the eternal riff that circles and squeals until the verse brings relief, the calm before the chorus. SDRE pull back slightly for the gentler waters of Song About An Angel, add some metallic crunch to the Pumpkins-like 47 and add some wonky sideshow piano on Phuerton Skuerto to prove they weren’t just angst and bombast.

Looking back 15 years later, it is impressive that on Diary they could bottle and maintain their tension across the whole album. They seemed to be giving so much in each song, something most bands struggle to master in just one song.

The relative success of Diary meant touring became a priority and eventually a chore to some members of the band. Enigk in particular struggled with the lifestyle, culminating in him experiencing a ‘religious explosion’, contributing to the dissolution of the group. Thankfully they managed to scratch together some existing songs and wrote a bunch more that became the basis of LP2 or as many refer to it The Pink Album.

LP2 is a superior example of what SDRE were capable of creating in that it strips back the layers to reveal the essence of their sound. From the opening lullaby notes of Friday there is a greater sense of calm and maturity. They sound more comfortable in their skin. The screams and exultant wails of Enigk are still there but they are more controlled, settled and tamed.

The melodic guitar playing of Hoerner rises to the surfaces on LP2. His mastery of riffs that just fall into place and work so perfectly with the other musicians is magical to listen to. Theo B twinkles and has a chiming quality that sounds effortless. His clever shifts and changes in 5/4 betray the post rock influence of bands like Slint and Fugazi, showing that SDRE was unfairly lumped in with the so called grunge movement. They offered quite a different emotional feel to those other bands.

Enigk made up a lot of the lyrics during the recording of LP2 and many of his words are hard to grasp the meaning of. This isn’t a bad thing as it turns the spotlight onto the music which has the ability to paint a million shades of meaning with its time signatures and contrasts. Iscarabaid is schizophrenic and at times queasy as the verses snake along. As the chorus crashes in the fog lifts and the mood shifts to a determined rallying cry.

Though SDRE went onto release further albums with different members (all worth checking out) it is Diary and LP2 that remain closest to the hearts of their fans. Inspiring and instilling passion in the audience is the much sought after holy grail for bands and SDRE certainly achieved that. It was evident in the way we hunted down their music in the 90s and the level of excitement that has been generated by the 2009 reunion of the original band. Great music never dates and SDRE still sound as vital and invigorating as ever.


NEWS: OFF THE STREETS benefit gig…

2009 November 30
by doubtfulsounds

A benefit gig has been organised in Sydney to raise money to help youth avoid a life on the streets.

The gig happens at the Annandale in Sydney on December 10th and will feature:

Lions At Your Door
Ghoul
Parades
Bird Automatic
The Winter People

Tickets are only $12 HERE or $15 at the door. Get out and support a great cause with some great local bands.

VIDEO: Trailer for new Blur film…

2009 November 30
by doubtfulsounds

Due for release in January 2010, here is the trailer for the Blur doco No Distance To Run… Looks like its all love and cuddles!

ALBUM REVIEW: A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS – Exploding Head

2009 November 26
by doubtfulsounds

1 2 3 4 5
Reviewed for The Dwarf

Shoegaze is genre that has been going through somewhat of a renaissance in the last few years. On the local scene you have the likes of The Laurels admirably resurrecting a sound that was at its peak when the band were probably still in nappies. Internationally there has been a revival led by acts like A Place To Bury Strangers, The Horrors, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to name a few.

Exploding Head is the second release from A Place To Bury Strangers and it continues their recycling of the harder side of the genre. They prefer cold and dark places, automated emotions and abrasive sounds. Their debut was a more caustic experience so they have allowed some light and melody to emerge through the cracks on this more satisfying follow up.

It Is Nothing sounds like My Bloody Valentine in a roller derby with Swervedriver with its incessant drums and wailing and screeching guitar battling to be heard. Its an energetic and succinct start to the album that is expanded upon in the second track In Your Heart where melody emerges via a soaring riff and Oliver Ackermann’s vocals are more prominent in the mix. They channel Joy Division and they do it well.

Garage rock influences raise their head on Dead Beat with the mangled surf guitar stylings taking it to a more American psychedelic place. That shapeshifting continues with Keep Slipping Away and its early Cure chords again placing their sound back in the UK at the dawn of the 80s. At times it is as if they are trying to cover their formative bases rather than settling on their own sound; though they do it all so well it is hardly a criticism.

So as to avoid any accusations of lightening up, A Place To Bury Strangers load the back end of the album with some white noise distortion and a narcotic haze that perfectly mirrors the black and white TV static imagery of the album’s artwork. Amongst the sonic scree there is the title track which is perhaps the most accessible song on the album. There is a discernible chorus, an infectious guitar riff and a danceable post punk, jerky rhythm.

Exploding Head is a big leap of confidence for the band, probably born out of touring experience and the more generous production sound on the album. The distortion burns in a nice way compared to the sharp, icy blast of their debut and the melodies have been slowly coaxed out of the chaos.  Amongst the beautiful noise, A Place To Bury Strangers show they can also create something with beautiful poise. One hopes that Album #3 will see them balance their extremes even further and deliver the great record they are heading towards.

ALBUM REVIEW: RICHARD YOUNGS – Under Stellar Stream

2009 November 26
by doubtfulsounds

1 2 3 4 5

Richard Youngs is an experimental, avantgarde English musician based in Glasgow who has been releasing both his own music and the recordings of others (via his No Fans Records label) since the 80s. His latest release on Jagjaguwar is a hypnotic collection of songs that hang in the air and focus primarily on the voice.

Youngs’ voice has a haunting, keening tone that brings to mind Mark Hollis of Talk Talk, Robert Wyatt and David Sylvian. He is in that tradition of restless wandering English musicians who are both prolific and exploratory in their method.

Under Stellar Stream utilises very sparse musical backdrops. All Day Monday And Tuesday is a relentless repetition on the theme of time with a melancholic organ and bass soundtrack. With Youngs’ voice up loud in the mix it builds a feeling of intimacy and a slightly unnerving closeness to the artist.

Cluster To A Star returns melody to the moment allowing the listeners attention to work in behind the vocals and explore the shimmer and floating ambience in Youngs’ compositon. The chords in Arise Arise hang in the air ominously like Twin Peaks filtered through Mogwai while a distantly faint bass drum pulses almost inaudibly like a fading heartbeat. The song is the album’s most engaging moment.

Youngs’ has put together an album of grand and austere avantgarde pop music that can be traced back to Cale’s solo work and on through the serious and weighty efforts of the artists listed at the start of this review. His skill lies in minimalism and mood and a certain feeling of strength via loss. It is bleak music that awkwardly comforts.

Under Stellar Stream is out now on Jagjaguwar via Inertia

VIDEO: PIXIES – Debaser on Fallon…

2009 November 26
by doubtfulsounds

Ahead of their Australian Doolittle Tour next year the Pixies stopped by Fallon to promote their current USA shows…

ON TOUR

2009 November 25
by doubtfulsounds

Here is the latest update of what is turning into a ridiculous summer of festivals, sideshows and tours…

The Original Wailers – 26th November @ Metro Theatre

Songs – 26th November @ Oxford Art Factory

Salmonella Dub – 27th November @ Metro Theatre

The Veils – 27th November @ Oxford Art Factory

Underground Lovers – 4th December @ The Annandale

Tiki Taane – 4th December @ Forum

Thee Oh Sees – 5th December @ Oxford Art Factory

Mono – 5th December @ Manning Bar

Jarvis Cocker – 7th December @ Metro Theatre

Patrick Wolf - 9th December @ Metro Theatre

Crocodiles – 9th December @ Oxford Art Factory

Skunkhour – 10th December @ Metro Theatre

Pitch Black – 10th December @ Civic Underground

Animal Collective – 11th December @ Enmore Theatre

Akron/Family – 12th December @ The Annandale

The Church – 12th December @ The Factory

Heavy Trash – 13th December @ Manning Bar

Why? – 16th December @ The Annandale

Castanets - 27th December @ Excelsior Hotel

Biffy Clyro – 3rd January @ Metro Theatre

Seasick Steve – 4th January @ Metro Theatre

White Rabbits – 5th January @ Oxford Art Factory

King Khan & The Shrines – 6th January @ Oxford Art Factory

Editors – 6th January @ Metro Theatre

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – 8th January @ Metro Theatre

Brightblack Morning Light – 14th January @ Oxford Art Factory

John Cale – 16th January @ Enmore Theatre

The Decemberists – 19th January @ Metro Theatre

The Horrors – 20th January @ Oxford Art Factory

The Mars Volta – 20th January @ Hordern Pavilion

Kasabian – 20th January @ Enmore Theatre

Mastodon – 21st January @ UNSW Roundhouse

Fink - 22nd-24th January @ The Spiegeltent

Devendra Banhart – 24th January @ Metro Theatre

Dizzee Rascal – 24th January @ Enmore Theatre

Dirty Three & Laughing Clowns – 26th January @ Enmore Theatre

Florence & The Machine – 26th January @ Metro Theatre

Them Crooked Vultures – 26th January 2010 @ Hordern Pavilion

Hockey – 28th January @ Metro Theatre

Wild Beasts – 1st February @ Oxford Art Factory

Grant Hart (Husker Du) – 11th February @ The Annandale

The Dodos – 13th February @ Oxford Art Factory

Yo La Tengo – 18th February @ Metro Theatre

Soundwave 2010 – 21st February @ Eastern Creek Raceway

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – 21st February @ Oxford Art Factory

Jane’s Addiction – 23rd February @ Enmore Theatre

Isis – 23rd February @ Manning Bar

Placebo – 24th February @ Enmore Theatre

Clutch – 24th February @ Gaelic Theatre

HEALTH – 1st February @ Oxford Art Factory

Black Lips – 8th February @ Manning Bar

Calexico – 3rd March @ Metro Theatre

Pavement - 4th + 5th March @ Enmore Theatre

The Big Pink – 7th March @ Metro Theatre

Dinosaur Jr – 11th March @ Metro Theatre

Pixies – 14th + 15th March 2010 @ Hordern Pavilion

The Dead Weather – 26th March @ Enmore Theatre

Wilco – 1st May @ State Theatre

Wilco – 2nd May @ The Factory

NEWS: New Collection from THE BRIDGE SCHOOL…

2009 November 25
by doubtfulsounds

Every year, Neil and Pegi Young host the non-profit Bridge School Concert, benefiting the unique learning complex which assists children with severe physical impairments and challenging communication needs. The first was held in 1986, and the event is known as a totally unique musical event. Over the years the line-up of participants reads like a history of rock & roll.

Volume IV, 22-track collection of live performances will be available digitally at iTunes on Nov 24th and features a wide range of artists including John Mellencamp, Josh Groban, Trent Reznor, John Mayer, Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ministry, My Morning Jacket, Norah Jones, Tegan & Sara, Death Cab for Cutie and Band of Horses.

Tracklisting

Ministry – Here They Come

Ministry – Paisley

John Mellencamp – Jackie Brown

Jerry Lee Lewis – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Trent Reznor – Fragile

Trent Reznor – Hurt

John Mayer – Heart Of Life

John Mayer – Waiting On The World

Regina Spektor – Ain’t No Cover

My Morning Jacket – Gideon

My Morning Jacket – Just One Thing

Tegan & Sara – Dark Come Soon

Tegan & Sara – Like Oh, Like H

Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet – What Keeps Mankind Alive

Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet – The Part You Throw Away

Band of Horses – Marry Song

Band of Horses – The General Specific

Norah Jones – Jesus Don’t Cry

Death Cab For Cutie – Cath

Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart

Josh Groban – Changing Colors

Josh Groban With Neil Young – Harvest Moon

VIDEO: Jimmy Fallon impersonates Neil Young via The Fresh Prince

2009 November 25
by doubtfulsounds

A piece of genius…

more about “Jimmy Fallon impersonates Neil Young …“, posted with vodpod

 

ALBUM REVIEW: THE MALADIES – With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down

2009 November 24

1 2 3 4 5
Reviewed for FasterLouder

Sydney’s The Maladies have been playing together for a few years now,  taking their time getting around to recording an album. That has worked in the listener’s favour as the clumsily titled With You Right By My Side… is 40 minutes of consistently brilliant songwriting, lively playing and the exceptional voice of Daniele Marando.

The thing that hits you straight away is the big warm sound and production courtesy of Jamie Hutchings. He has nailed the mood and controlled chaos of their live show and at the same time allowed the songs to flex and breathe. There is a tumbling feeling through many of The Maladies songs that conjures up images of danger, darkness, wracked souls and dances with the devil.

Continuing the southern gothic streak that Nick Cave has trademarked, The Maladies tell stories of lost love and life’s trials and tribulations. Their swampy blues incorporates chain gang vocals on This Wood & This Wire, Take Me Down and I Feel So Fine. All three songs are so infectious I’ve woken the next day still humming and singing their echoing refrains.

The immediate star of the show is singer Daniele Marando who truly possesses one of the most life affirming voices I’ve heard in a long time. His ability to switch from a delicate and sweet croon to an aching and tortured wail of a scream is spine tingling. When he sings ‘I feel so, feel so, feel so fine…’ it is as if he testifying to save his soul. So many singers these days can harness similar elements but Marando’s range and conviction are compelling.

Marando’s singing is like a much more realized and gospel-ized Finn Andrew of The Veils. It also has the warm falsetto of Roy Orbison as well as a sweet, sweet country croon that he uses beautifully on a cover of Don Walker’s Silo.

The rest of The Maladies are crucial components to their intoxicating sound. They know when to play with passion over technique and when to play with sensitivity restraint. Drummer Josh Harvey uses more than his standard kit to build clatter and harsh percussive sounds into the music while Daniel Babekuhl plays with a diversity that shows a strong knowledge of different guitar styles and emotions.

With You By My Side… isn’t all doom and gloom, the final track You And Your New Tattoo… is a fun waltz-like shuffle sounding like a Greek gathering in the back room of a bar, possibly a tip of the hat to some of the members cultural heritage.

The Maladies have produced the strongest possible renderings of their songs and captured what makes them such a great live band. Hard to believe it is their debut, it confirms them as undeniable talents on the local scene with a sound that will also transfer well to international audiences. Listen and you will be singing along to one of the best Australian debut albums of 2009.