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The Primary 5 – Mailman
Of course it all makes sense when you’re armed with the knowledge that Glasgow’s The Primary 5 were led by Paul Quinn who used to drum for Teenage Fanclub (and the Soup Dragons for that matter). Sadly, and despite 3 jangling delights, his creation decided to call it a day just last November. Seems a shame, especially given how out of kilter his former buddies appear to be of late. ‘Mailman’ comes from an LP called ‘North Pole’ which is an almost entirely unreasonable title given the sunny chords and harmonies within. This is the fuel that powers this blog, our bread and butter, the reason we dust off the keyboard and the source of our wide smiles most evenings. A song for your sugar spun sister. KD
The Primary 5 – Mailman
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Primary 5
Year: 2004
Steel Phantoms – Bedouin
It doesn’t sound particularly original but what ‘Bedouin’ lacks in new territory it more than makes up in ploughing its own furrow in the old country, especially when things step up a notch in the latter stages. The band are Steel Phantoms from Brooklyn and they certainly have something, besides a perfect email manner (you’d be surprised how far a personal email gets you), that suggests that ‘Bedouin’ could be one of their early tentative steps before the great leap forward. If you need more songs before you make up your own mind there is a free EP, called ‘Forer’, available for free from their website. KD
Steel Phantoms – Bedouin
More Info: Official
Buy Songs:
Year: 2011
The Notwist – Boneless
It wasn’t always this way for German electronica wizards as their source stretches back to the 80′s, in that time they’ve had to change clothes a number of times. 2002′s ‘Neon Golden’ was a turning point though and despite an inordinate wait for its follow up they never quite left our consciousness. That’s probably due in a large part to ‘Pick Up The Phone’ and its accompanying video which we spied one early hazy Sunday morning. It left quite the impression. While that songs charm was understated ‘Boneless’ has a more immediate sheen and for that reason it is probably less of a keeper. Still manages to crush the opposition mind. KD
The Notwist – Boneless
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Notwist
Year: 2008
Suckers – Out On The Water
Suckers ‘Out On The Water’ sounds like a tune I loved and lost many moons ago. Not possible mind given that this Brooklyn band only created the splendour in 2009. I’m half kickin’ myself that I missed it back then but half jumping for joy too that it wasn’t lost in the abyss that is 100 gigabytes of unheard music. I tell ya, without random shuffle I’d probably be still listening to listening to ‘Bye Bye Badman’ on repeat. Anyways Suckers (not you, them) do appear to be a colourful bunch and given the hazy post-psychedelic nature of ‘Out On The Water’ it seems they take their eccentric style choices into the studio with them. Along with the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Walkmen too I’d imagine, for this is a homage to genius that reveals the genuine article once you peer beneath the scratchy surface. ‘Out On The Water’, incidentally, is a mere b-side from the band. KD
Suckers – Out On The Water
Twin Shadow – Castles In The Snow (Daytrotter Session)
It’s been a crazy month around these parts, so full of obligations and activities that it has seriously pumped the brakes on my music blogging activities. That’s not to say I haven’t been coming across a lot of great new music, I just haven’t had much time to sit down and type about it.
I have a great excuse though, and I hope the readers of mp3hugger will cut this fellow some slack because of it. I’m getting married in less than a week – 9/10/11 – isn’t that cute? The bride and I are in the midst of final preparations for the ceremony, which means we are writing a lot of checks and running endless errands.
We are confident that all of our hard work and expenditures will be worth it when we are enjoying the Best Day of Our Lives.
How does this relate to Twin Shadow? Ever since Twin Shadow burst onto the scene in early 2010, they have been one of my very favorite groups. Their song ‘Castles in the Snow’ was featured on the very first mixtape I made for my future bride, and after we say the I do’s, the two of us will be whisked off to see the charismatic George Lewis, Jr. and his band perform live on our wedding night.
I couldn’t think of a better way to start a honeymoon…
Joseph Avary
== Best of luck Joey from all at mp3hugger ==
Twin Shadow – Castles In The Snow
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Twin Shadow
Year: 2010
The Sister Ruby Band – Graceland Smile
It takes a certain type of song to slot into the Sunday morning doze. Noise and general eclecticism, which at other times is our stock in trade, taks a backseat and instead the thrills become drowzy and comforting on ears looking for solace. And LA’s Johnny Ruby has a formula that fills the gap seamlessly, for ‘Graceland Smile’ is a honky-tonk without the baggage. His voice, deep yet warm sets the tone and the alt country chords wrap it up like a morning lullaby. The Sister Ruby Band have but one EP to their name but debut LP ‘In Cold Blood’ is just around the corner. Praise the dawnin’ of a new talent. KD
The Sister Ruby Band – Graceland Smile
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: The Sister Ruby Band
Year: 2011
Hello Moon – Measure Of Me
Only on a first tour of Hello Moon’s debut album ‘Only Count the Sunny Hours’ but already ‘Measure of Me’ sticks out like a beacon of brilliance. The LP sounds utterly under produced (and given its disparate recording locations it’s a wonder there’s so much organisation to the glorious ramshackle) but if it was any other way we’d be scratching our heads ’till we exposed delicate membranes. And pain is the last thing you want to be experiencing while the jingle jangle of Dublin’s finest exponents of lo-fi indie pop resides on your stereo. ‘Only Count the Sunny Hours’ is being put out on Any Other City Records (who do a neat line in new local amusements) and will be launched in the cosy surrounds of Crawdaddy on September 10th (in sunny hours that’d be in about 3 hours time). KD
Hello Moon – Measure Of Me
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Hello Moon
Year: 2011
Tom Brosseau – Big Time
Given that’s he’s backed by Fat Cat you’d imagine their powers of persuasion would have propelled Tom Brosseau beyond his current ripples. Especially given the simple yet powerful shimmy of songs like ‘Big Time’. This will creep up on you, always playful but only driving its stake through your heart as the momentum gathers pace. It is taken from the cleverly titled (yet factually untrue) ‘Posthumous Success’ which has been superseded by 2010′s ‘Les Shelleys’. Brosseau is quite prolific and each time he peels he reveals a more ravishing layer. KD
Tom Brosseau – Big Time
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Tom Brosseau
Year: 2009
jj – New Work
A couple of years on since their foundation and jj and label Sincerely Yours remain as tight lipped as ever. No detail, just a solid gush of new sounds that for the most part are pleasing and in some cases a but more than that. Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander appear to have stalled a little since becoming the haystack of choice for Pitchfork but that is not to say that they are redundant. In fact ‘New Work’ would tend to suggest that the Stockholm duo are very much at the peak of their powers. It may not swoop with the finesse of ‘Things Will Never Be The Same Again’ but then not many things do. In many ways ‘New Work’ is slightly awkward but in a world of conformism this is to be both applauded and encouraged. KD
jj – New Work
Art Imperial – Bugs Out My Mind
While I’m not totally sold on his vocals there is so much to recommend on Art Imperial’s free ‘Surf Suburban’ EP. For one it contains enough gilded chord movements over its 6 tracks to fill a C86 revival weekend. The fact that the songs are resplendent in lo-finess helps but there is a canny mind at work, this is someone who is able bring the melodies from deep inside out in the open without losing any of their inherent power. We’ve all heard the perfect song inside our head while lying on a sopping pillow late at night but the gift is turning those moments into recorded evidence. Art Imperial has succeeded so here’s hoping he fails to find a cure for that rampant insomnia of his. KD
Art Imperial – Bugs Out My Mind
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Art Imperial
Year: 2011
[the] caseworker – National Runner
They are an Irish band but not that you know it as the two protagonists (Conor Devlin and Eimer Devlin – unrelated) involved flew from their native shores in the last century. It was San Francisco where they mixed it up with indie glitterati and developed a sound that resides in the best part of the nineties (early). There are long protracted silences between albums but the good news is that their third album ‘Letters From The Coast’ has been snapped up by Hidden Shoal. ‘National Runner’ is the promo tune and you may recognise it as it was one of 5 tracks that we put out on the ‘Boats‘ EP via Indiecater last year. This should swell the heart of aging shoegazers and sweep the legs from beneath retired dreampoppers. In effect it is the sound you thought was lost but was merely waiting to flee the imagination of [the] Caseworker. KD
[the] caseworker – National Runner
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: On Hidden Shoal
Year: 2011
Brown Recluse – Night Train
Timothy Meskers, Mark Saddlemire and their mates may as well have been curating our mixtapes recently given the amount of their songs which end up there. This year’s ‘Impressions of a City Morning’ is probably their bona-fide classic yet a couple of years earlier they were still turning out indie pop gems. Like the 12-inch vinyl release ‘The Soft Skin’ that included ‘Night Train’, a song so flush with gleeful dynamics it could surely erase sun-drenched clouds from the sky. Its simple keys, flitting brass and wholesome harmonies put us in a tizzy every time. KD
Brown Recluse – Night Train
More Info: Official
Buy Songs: Brown Recluse
Year: 2009