Weekly FMA Soapbox
KAISER CHIEFS - "Ruby" [stream]
Avoiding the sophomore slump and following up a storming album like Employment was never going to be easy, but the Kaiser Chiefs have pulled it off with style! Yours Truly, Angry Mob sounds confident, assured and almost effortless; our boys have grown up. After road-testing the new material on the festival circuit, the Kaiser Chiefs buckled down with Smiths producer Stephen Street to capture the band’s evolved sound. While we wait with baited breath until the album is released on March 27th, here’s lead single "Ruby." “Ruby” turns down the adrenaline rush of their earlier work and offers a hit of XTC, with a side of power pop. It's the difference between downing a shot and sipping on a cocktail, it’s Morrissey fronting Cheap Trick, it’s already your favorite song.
The phrase “giddy” doesn’t even to describe the mood amongst indie-rock fans when it was announced that Sebadoh were reforming their original line-up of Lou Barlow, Eric Gaffney and Jason Loewenstein of a round of shows. The trio, formed after Barlow’s unceremonial dismissal from Dinosaur Jr., were one of the archetypal indie-rock of the early 90’s setting the scene for a legion of devout followers. The vastly disparate styles of the three musicians is evident in the seminal III, with Lou’s fractured love songs, Eric’s dischordant sound experiments and Jake’s guitar abuse, coming together to create perfect musical chaos, and one of the best albums of the genre.
ELENI MANDELL - "Girls" [video]
LA-based chanteuse, Eleni Mandell is gearing up to release her sixth album, Miracle Of Five, next month on Zedtone Records. Calling in the talent of Wilco lead guitarist Nels Cline and X drummer DJ Bonebrake, Mandell has created a record showing classic American influences in the vein of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Take a look at this retro-influenced black and white video for her daydream-esque track "Girls," showing exactly how Eleni Mandell would handle a prettyboy gentleman caller with a wandering eye. When she whispers "I am the dice you roll in the alley; I am the pennies that come in handy," you'll be perfectly persuaded to her motives. Get ready for Eleni Mandell.
CROWDED HOUSE - "Mean To Me" [video]
After a decade-long career, Crowded House, took the stage at Sydney's Opera House in 1996 for their "Farewell to the World" concert, which is to be immortalized next week in a 10th anniversary CD/DVD combo. Responsible for four full-length albums and a collection of rarities, Crowded House are probably still best known at your local karaoke house for every patron's priceless drunken version of the 1987 hit "Don't Dream It's Over." This CD/DVD includes the complete 24-song set list, behind-the-scenes footage on the concert and history, as well as commentaries from frontman, Neil Finn and bassist Nick Seymour. Check out this clip of "Mean To Me" and pay particular attention to a few enthusiastic crowd surfers, while wishing you were a part of this farewell celebration.
FIELD MUSIC - "Sit Tight" [mp3]
Field Music is comprised of brothers Peter and David Brewis and their keyboard playing friend Andrew Moore, and have created quite a stir in the last year. They’ve toured with Architecture In Helsinki, played the European festival circuit, played an extremely well received set at SXSW and still found time to record their second album. Taken from their upcoming album Tones Of Town, available in the US February 20th, "Sit Tight" combines a loping bassline, and staccato glammy guitar part to great effect, before both drop out for a tender piano 'n' strings chorus. Field Music; they’re the UK’s answer to the Cold War Kids.
So who's the best of this week's lot?
"The Freed Pig" is def. one of my favorite Sebadoh songs, along with "Gimme Indie Rock" and somewhat less fashionably, "Flame."
Posted by: Megatron | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 10:00 AM