popwreckoning updates |  |
| The Decemberists - Hazards of Love Posted: 01 Apr 2009 01:57 PM PDT Hazards of Love, The Decemberists‘ 5th studio album and second album put out by the major label Capitol, is an interesting concept album more along the lines of a straight up rock opera. Themes of love echo throughout the album with weird characters such as William, a forest drifting shape shifter (sung by Colin Meloy) and love interest Margaret (Becky Stark), who are destined for each other. It sounds pretty weird, but none can pull it off better than the Decemberists. All story telling aside, the music carries the story just as well with reoccurring melodies corresponding with the right themes. After a prelude, the album starts off with "Hazards of Love", the first of what will be four parts by the end of this story. With catchy lyrics and melodies that repeat frequently throughout the record like text painting, this song is easily a standout track for the album. Going straight into the next song without a break as if it were just another scene in a movie, the band moves through to songs like "A Bower Scene", where we are introduced to some power chords emphasizing an action, and "Won't Want For Love", where we meet our new character Margaret. Every time the next part of the title track appears it seems to carry a different feel as the story progresses, but still carries the same message. The first gave us a sort of introduction, the second subtitled "Wager All", brings everything together and progresses the story/music. The third installment of “HOL”, subtitled "Revenge!", is more upbeat and sung by a children's choir focusing on rescue and, obviously, revenge. On the last of the four on the album, subtitled "The Drowned", everything wraps up with our two characters dying together on a sinking ship, but it's OK because they are together at last in peace. I can't tell if it is more Romeo and Juliet or Jack and Rose. Either way it still is an interesting way to put out an album. The story itself isn't something that grabbed me, but I thought that it was very well put together. I really enjoyed the music and idea of this kind of concept album. This album would be amazing to see live in its entirely, which they are doing. So if they are playing in your area go check it out, because if you don't then you are missing out for sure. Hazards of Love is available now. You can stream the Decemberists’ performance of Hazards of Love in full at SXSW thanks to NPR here. Tracklisting: The Decemberists: website | myspace  Related Posts |
| Sebastien Grainger’s “Who Do We Care For” Video Posted: 01 Apr 2009 01:19 PM PDT |
| Bishop Allen @ Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence Posted: 01 Apr 2009 11:21 AM PDT Yeah, I’ll admit it–in six attempts to see Bishop Allen at SXSW, I failed six times. All of the rainclouds that could only form in the land of South By, poured on me at all the right moments leaving me either wet or changing my proverbial clothes during their sets. So, it goes without saying that nothing was going to keep me from seeing them at the Jackpot Saloon: Lawrence, Kansas’ answer to a “hipster bar.” My car could explode somewhere between Kansas City and the bar and I’d happily steal a bike from a little kid to get the rest of the way. This show meant that much to me. Despite claims from friends and co-workers that the band’s live show tends to sway a little towards the drier side of music, I found the 40 mile drive to be worth my time. Justin Rice’s vocals stand out clearly over punctuated drum progressions and choppy, exclamatory guitar riffs. Their flowing solos are catchy without becoming over the top or in your face. The group also is really quite talented in their abilities to fall out: pulling back everything by acoustic guitar and forceful vocals, drawing the crowd into the energy of what they’re saying/screaming. This aspect leaves the door wide open for crowd friendly sing-a-longs. My only real fault with the band lies in their actual stage presence. Their movements, or lack of, honestly leave a lot to be desired. Until the set’s final three or four songs, very little motion actually took place. Though this could be the result of the Jackpot Saloon’s stage itself, which is no bigger than a small closet. However, the raw abilities of this band make the better half stand and their feet shuffling stage show pretty easy to overlook. It’s my opinion that it is in your benefit to give Bishop Allen a listen at your neighborhood dive while you still have the chance. Like The Decemberists, The Shins and Fleet Foxes, I see these guys going from 100 person audiences to drawing decent crowds at Lollapalooza. These guys are going to turn heads and conquer the world. I’m calling it now.                 Bishop Allen: website | myspace  Related Posts |
| 3OH!3 @ Stubb’s, SXSW, Austin TX Posted: 01 Apr 2009 10:35 AM PDT I don’t care if this makes me a bad hipster or whatever, but I love 3OH!3. Sure they have some womanizing lyrics–”Shush girl. Shut your lips. Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.” And sure they can be cheesy–during their show they joked, “Two peanuts were walking down the street. One was assaulted.” But dammit, they sure can be fun. This Colorado duo knew how to work a crowd as everybody was dancing along. For two skinny, white guys, those boys have some mad dance skills. As they hopped around the stage and climbed around on amps, they never lost the breath to keep up with their tongue twisting rhymes. From “Colorado Sunrise” to “Starstrukk” to their very popular “Don’t Trust Me”, everybody in the audience kept up with every whistle and hip shake. It may not have the profoundness of catching M. Ward or the indie cred of seeing The Decemberists, but this was maybe the most fun I had at any show at SXSW. Do yourself a favor and let loose at a 3OH!3 show.                           Related Posts |
| Metric tour dates in support of new album “Fantasies” Posted: 01 Apr 2009 09:30 AM PDT
The band is already making waves with their new record as first single, “Help I’m Alive” debuted at #1 on the FMQB Top 25 Singles Chart for US Specialty beating out the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Decemberists, which also impacted the same week. Tour Dates: Fantasies hits stores on April 14th, but you can download it now from iTunes.  Related Posts |
| Cursive’s “From The Hips” Video, Spring Tour Dates Posted: 01 Apr 2009 07:45 AM PDT Omaha’s Cursive recently debuted the video for single "From The Hips" off new album Mama, I’m Swollen, available now. The video, an interesting coming together of people, premiered on MySpace last Friday, and you can watch it here now: After a recent appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman”, South By Southwest performances, and a winter string of club dates, Cursive will again hit the road later this month with Philadelphia’s Man Man, another Popwreckoning favorite. Tour Dates: * w/ Man Man  Related Posts |
| Brasstronaut @ The M Room, Philadelphia Posted: 01 Apr 2009 06:45 AM PDT What drew me to Canadian quartet Brasstronaut foremost was not my love of brass, but my inherent word nerdiness. Fan of the band or not (you should be), you have to admit that Brasstronaut is a badass name, and these guys can back it up. I regrettably showed up a bit tardy for Brasstronaut’s set, but it take long at all before I was completely enchanted by their sometimes moody, sometimes sunny piano driven melodies punctuated by sensual brass interludes and a solid rhythm section.
The hit the road not to support their Old World Lies EP, available now, but to road test new material for an album they’re in the process of creating and recording back at home. Philadelphia was the second stop on their tour, after an opening night in Jamestown, New York, and is the second American city they’ve ever played in. It was clear from the first few notes I heard just how talented these musicians are. Band namesake Bryan Davies floated effortlessly between a trumpet and flugelhorn as front man Edo Van Breeman impressed with beautiful and haunting piano melodies and a voice made for adult alternative radio, often reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s. Brennan Saul on the skins and John Walsh on bass round out the foursome providing tight and solid rhythms. The entire set was 100% solid and totally entrancing. The only disappointing aspect of the evening was how empty the venue was. While The Manhattan Room isn’t known for selling out, especially on a Tuesday night, the lack of crowd was slightly discouraging, but it made for an intensely intimate show, and the band’s sound filled up the space quite nicely, though next time they swing through the City of Brotherly Love, I hope it’s on the stage at Johnny Brenda’s. Be sure to catch Brasstronaut as they make their way back to the Rocky Mountains of Calgary to continue working on their debut full-length, scheduled to drop in October of this year. It’s definitely a show to arrive promptly at doors for. Brasstronaut - “Requiem For A Scene” Tour Dates: Brasstronaut: website | myspace  Related PostsThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Matt & Kim Postpone Remaining Shows Posted: 31 Mar 2009 08:43 PM PDT Due to an injury suffered over the weekend, Matt and Kim have regretfully had to postpone the remaining five shows on their spring tour. The Brooklyn duo have been touring nearly non-stop since the release of their outstanding 2nd LP Grand, playing sold out shows across North America. Matt, known for his exuberant energy onstage, is undergoing medical treatment for a back injury at this time. Matt and Kim are hoping to reschedule the dates in Tallahassee, Gainesville, Athens, Asheville, Richmond and Philadelphia for later this summer. Related Posts |
| You are subscribed to email updates from popwreckoning To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of popwreckoning in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: popwreckoning, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
