CMJ » Katie Chow

Cheatahs (London, UK)

Katie Chow — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:37:17 +0000

Photo by Robin Christian

Across the pond, guitar music’s coming back with a vengeance. At the end of last year, the head of Universal Music in the U.K. predicted a resurgence in British rock. Alongside acts like Savages and Palma Violets, Cheatahs are leading the pack. Last week, the London band re-released its first two U.K. EPs, SANS and Coared, as a compilation titled Extended Plays on Wichita. It’s an eight-track assertion of no-frills garage rock that’s already been well received at home, particularly with SANS single “The Swan.”

“It’s really weird. We started getting played on mainstream radio and stuff,” says Canadian-born singer/guitarist Nathan Hewitt, a veteran performer who previously saw critical acclaim for his work with Male Bonding. “I’ve been doing music my whole life,” he says. “Now is the first time that I’ve had a label that’s been on my band.”

A couple of years ago, Hewitt launched Cheatahs into full swing with guitarist James Wignall, also of the psych-pop band Weird Dreams. Whereas Hewitt’s sound in Male Bonding was best when tightly wound, his own songs take a more laid-back approach. There’s still a familiar crunchiness, thanks to bassist Dean Reid’s production in the band’s home studio. Drummer Marc Raue rounds out the group with his jittery, dance-ready rhythms.

While the quartet excels at the hazy and acid-washed, it also knows how to ratchet up the intensity level when necessary. There’s the pummeling intro to “SANS,” which goes on to showcase some sharp riffs veiled in reverb. A certain brightness bleeds out from under the rough edges. “We’ve got a sunny sound, sentiment,” Hewitt says.

Indeed, on SANS’s “Fountain Park,” he sings, “Fill my lungs with English sun,” but there’s a balance between the light and the dark, as Hewitt repeats, “I know I’m drowning.” “Flake” turns retro vocal harmonies into something less innocent, questioning, “And then I wonder why am I such a fuck up? Maybe it’s time that I grow up.” The first EP let Cheatahs’ darker, moodier side show more in the music, like the faintly mournful “Jacobi,” though “Froshed” hinted at the direction going forward.

Cheatahs will be touring the U.S. extensively this spring, setting out first with Veronica Falls, then with Wavves and FIDLAR on a journey that’s sure to leave massive destruction in its wake. “Just being in the States, the whole thing, it’s really exciting,” Hewitt says.

At the suggestion that now is the time to break in America, the frontman stays unassuming. “Right now, our goal is to just have fun and play shows and just write and finish up our first record. We don’t have a major plan of action other than just writing songs and playing.”

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Bear Hands, Slam Donahue @ Glasslands: December 13, 2012

Katie Chow — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:00:19 +0000

A solid night of indie rock can cure a variety of ills, and that’s what was on the bill at Brooklyn’s Glasslands Gallery last night as Bear Hands headlined their last show of 2012.

Cantora labelmates Slam Donahue opened up the night. If I had it my way, everyone would be listening to them, but for now, they’re one of Brooklyn’s better-kept secrets. Placing relatable lyrics in rough-edged, weirdo pop frames, the Hemlock Tea EP was one of the most compelling introductions of the year. Onstage, the good-humored duo has the personality to back up the talent, and they’re still a reliable band to keep an eye out for.

Joywave hails from Rochester, which they reminded everyone is “real upstate, not like Westchester upstate.” The quintet’s more driving sound made for a natural segue into Bear Hands. Led by an engaging, mustachioed frontman, the band highlighted tracks from its album Koda Vista.

It’s been a couple of years since Bear Hands’ debut LP Burning Bush Supper Club came out, but the songs still ring true. Their taut, bass-heavy sound shows an attention to structure that should be seen more often, showcased on favorites like “Tablasaurus” and “What A Drag.” Bear Hands previewed a number of new songs for the hometown crowd, which appear to include titles such as “Monster” and “Vietnam.” The tracks were being test-driven for the band’s second album, anticipated for next year. With their tight performances, it sounds like the record is well on its way to finding its direction.

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Lovelife – The Fourth Floor [EP]

Katie Chow — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:15:32 +0000

It’s all about beginnings for the Brooklyn-via-London band Lovelife, as it follows debut EP El Regreso with its first official release, The Fourth Floor EP, on new label National Anthem.

“Heaven” swoops in with a floaty introduction, quietly showing off the duo’s flair for synths. The first words heard on The Fourth Floor are “Someday, I will be something to believe in.” Loaded with Icarus imagery, the lyrics are intimate, paying tribute to dramatic declines leading to fresh starts. Lovelife was formed from the ashes of British rock group Viva Brother, and it’s in this context that “Heaven” takes on more meaning, knowing that the duo of Lee Newell and Ally Young are moving on from the past. Their productions are triumphant, their words and voices colored with the kind of sentiment that only experience can give.

On “The Key,” the duo veers more toward ’80s bombast, with a muscular bassline that recalls El Regreso track “Tonight (We’re Taking Our Own Lives).” Ghostly, auto-tuned vocals make “Your New Beloved” the sum of the cold/warm feeling that stretches across the EP’s four tracks. There’s a strong grasp of pop conventions, but that’s far from a bad thing. Even the band’s name ties into the subject most often mined in songs. As “Invisible” closes out The Fourth Floor with a rattling beat and pointed synths, it feels like it’s over too soon.

Lovelife stands strong alongside other soulful electro-pop acts like Lemonade and Autre Ne Veut. And while it’s still early in its (new) career, it seems like a safe enough bet that someday, Lovelife will be something to believe in.

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Ex-Cult – Ex-Cult

Katie Chow — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:59:59 +0000

You’re in some dimly lit dive, wearing your finest faded denim and drinking beer from cans. What are you listening to? You might be listening to Ex-Cult, whose self-titled debut album weaves together raw energy and tight control.

Opener “Knives On Both Sides” is a driving force that invites listeners straight into whatever dingy basement the band is holed up in. For an introduction, it’s an assertive one, though they save up their full thrashing potential for tracks like “Post Graduate” and “Cemetery Secretary” later on in the album.

The quintet is from Memphis but decamped to the West Coast to record the album with Ty Segall in San Francisco. The influence of the California sunshine is easily heard as “Shade Of Red” emerges into the daylight, uncoiling and twisting in on itself. Though Ex-Cult’s Tennessee roots are strong—before signing to Goner, the band also put out a single on the DIY label Nashville’s Dead—the South doesn’t seem particularly evident in the snarl. It’s San Francisco that seems to have left its mark on the record. “That place is like a dream world,” vocalist Chris Shaw told Spin, and the sentiment is evident in the loose opening riff to “Better Life Through Chemistry.”

Production-wise, the fuzz is out in full force. Shaw’s bratty vocals stay drenched in reverb, and the guitars stay crunchy throughout the album, though Ex-Cult possess an angularity and attention to structure that can’t be drowned out. “On Film” is one of the diversions from the two-and-a-half-minutes-or-less punk playbook, and it’s a highlight of the record, with an insistent bassline and a tempo that pushes and pulls but never lets up.

Ex-Cult is a force to be reckoned with, a powerhouse outfit that might just have more potential than it’s already letting on. Let’s shred.

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Memory Tapes Remix Tame Impala Track

Katie Chow — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:27:39 +0000

In addition to putting out his third album, Grace/Confusion, today, Memory Tapes has unveiled a remix of Tame Impala’s “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.” It places Kevin Parker’s vocals against a more chilled-out, stripped-down background, lending a sense of tranquility to the jittery anxiety of the original track.

“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” appears on Tame Impala’s highly acclaimed album, Lonerism. The single release with the Memory Tapes remix will be available physically and digitally on December 18 via Modular. Check out the remix, below.

Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Memory Tapes Remix) by modularpeople

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Thom Yorke Shares Atoms For Peace Album Details

Katie Chow — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:37:09 +0000

After months of speculation, Thom Yorke has decided to share the details surrounding the debut full-length from Atoms For Peace, his side project with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, Joey Waronker and percussionist Mauro Refosco. The album will be called Amok, and it will be released in the U.S. on February 26 via XL.

The band first came together to perform tracks from the Radiohead frontman’s solo album, The Eraser. Check out the tracklisting for Amok and listen to the record’s second track, “Default,” below.

Tracklist For Amok:
01. Before Your Very Eyes
02. Default
03. Ingenue
04. Dropped
05. Unless
06. Stuck Together Pieces
07. Judge Jury And Executioner
08. Reverse Running
09. Amok

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Music News, November 30, 2012

Katie Chow — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:09:28 +0000

Adele’s 21 has reached diamond status, selling 10 million copies in the U.S. It’s the 21st album to do so.

NPR looks into the process of how songs get placed on store playlists. Think about that the next time you hit the mall.

How about those Spotify revenues? David Macias of Thirty Tigers takes a deeper look into the math behind the streaming service.

Beastie Boys are being sued for copyright infringement for samples allegedly used on their iconic ’80s albums Licensed To Ill and Paul’s Boutique. However, this might be a statute of limitations situation because such suits are supposed to be filed within three years of the music’s release.

Black Friday proved to be profitable for independent record stores. Artists like M83 and the Gaslight Anthem put out special releases that day.

Happy 30th birthday to MIDI processing technology.

Beyoncé directed a documentary about Beyoncé. Don’t question it.

Russian feminist punk collective Pussy Riot was nominated for TIME magazine’s Person Of The Year.

You should probably still be glad that you weren’t trapped on an airplane with Rihanna for a week.

In case you hadn’t heard already, people who illegally download more still spend more on art.

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Watch: Matthew E. White’s “Will You Love Me”

Katie Chow — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:09:34 +0000

Matthew E. White‘s debut LP Big Inner is set to see wider international release on Domino early next year. The singer-songwriter, who has collaborated with acts like Bon Iver, the Mountain Goats and Megafaun, dropped his album in the U.S. back in August, and on January 21, the rest of the world will get to enjoy his vision of Americana.

Alongside the release, he will be making his live debuts in the U.K. and Ireland in January. In addition to these achievements, he’s also just released a tender, contemplative clip for “Will You Love Me” that does a great job of showing off White’s impressive beard. Seriously, that’s a great beard!

Watch the video and check out his tour, dates below.

Tour Dates For Matthew E. White:
11/29 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West *
11/30 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle *
12/01 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge *
12/03 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom *
12/04 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater *
12/05 – Austin, TX – Emo’s East *
12/07 – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Brewing Co. *
12/08 – Phoenix, AZ – Crecent Ballroom *
12/09 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress*
12/10 – San Diego, CA – Irenic *
12/12 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge At Hollywood Forever Cemetery *
12/13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Troubador *
12/14 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore *
12/16 – Portland, OR – The Aladdin Theater *
12/17 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox Theater *
12/18 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
12/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
12/20 – Denver, CO – Hi-Dive #
01/22 – Brighton, UK – The Hope
01/23 – London, UK – Lexington
01/27 – Dublin, Ireland – Whelans

* with the Mountain Goats
# with C.P. Carrington and Luke Redfield

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Listen: New Single From METZ

Katie Chow — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:26:05 +0000

Photo by Colin Medley

Toronto rockers METZ have a new single, titled “Dirty Shirt.” Backed with “Leave Me Out,” these tracks were previously only available on a limited-edition 7″ but will be released digitally on December 4. Watch the trailer for the crunchy A-side’s chaotic video and stream the full song below. METZ’s self-titled debut album is out now on Sub Pop.

Tour Dates For METZ:
12/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall Of Williamsburg*
01/25 – Athens, GR – Six D.O.G.S. Cultural Center
01/26 – Larissa, GR – Stage Club
01/28 – Manchester, UK – Soup Kitchen
01/29 – Glasgow, SF – Broadcast
01/30 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
01/31 – Brighton, UK – Green Door Store
02/01 – London, UK – Birthdays
02/04 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
02/05 – Nijmegen, NL – Merleyn
02/06 – Lile, FR – L’aeronef
02/07 – Paris, FR – Point FMR
02/08 – Clermont Ferrand, FR – L Cooperative De Mai
02/09 – Poitiers, FR – Confort Moderne
02/10 – Toulouse, FR – Dynamo
02/12 – Porto, PT – Plano B
02/13 – Lisbon, PT – ZDB
02/14 – Madrid, ES – Siroco
02/15 – Barcelona, ES – La 2 de Nista
02/16 – Saint Malo / Brittany, FR – La Route De La Rocke
02/18 – Zurich, CH – Mascotte
02/19 – Fribourg, CH – Fri-Son
02/20 – Milan, IT – Ligera
02/21 – Rome, IT – Traffic
02/22 – Bologna, IT – Freakout
02/23 – Zagreb, HR – Park (Purgeraj)
02/25 – Vienna, AT – Arena
02/26 – Munich, DE – Orangehouse
02/27 – Nuremburg, DE – K4
02/28 – Leipzig, DE – Nato
03/01 – Hannover, DE – Cafe Glocksee
03/02 – Hamburg, DE – Molotow
03/03 – Berlin, DE – Berghain Kantine
03/04 – Copenhagen, DK – Vega
03/05 – Gothenborg, SE – Pustervik
03/06 – Oslo, NO – Blaa
03/08 – Malmo, SE – Debaser
03/09 – Stockholm, SE – Svenaska Musikklubben
03/10 – Zeewolde, NL – Where The Wild Things Are
03/11 – Brussels, BE – AB Club
03/12 – Hasselt, BE – Muziekodroom
* With King Tuff

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Solange – True [EP]

Katie Chow — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:16:17 +0000

Stepping out of your older sibling’s shadow is difficult enough already, even when you’re not Beyoncé’s sister. But that’s Solange Knowles’s lot in life, and she’s done what she can to establish her own identity. Indeed, it’s also difficult to avoid the laundry list of things that establish her indie cred: her cover of Dirty Projectors’ “Stillness Is The Move,” her collaborations with Rewards and Of Montreal, her signing to Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear’s Terrible Records. This is the world where she’s found her home, and she firmly stakes her claim with the True EP.

Knowles made the record with another ever-evolving act, Dev Hynes. While Knowles was being molded into the kind of pop star she wasn’t meant to be, Hynes started off as a dance punk, then went alt-folk. Now, they’re both making sharp and sophisticated pop. (He currently goes by the name of Blood Orange and has collaborated with artists like Theophilus London and Sky Ferreira.) The two share production duties on True, which is laden with crisp percussion and synth flirtations. It’s subtle, but across the EP she treats her voice as an instrument, from the sampled yelp that “Losing You” is built around to the rhythmic skittering of “Don’t Let Me Down.” Hynes’s voice only appears on one track, the impeccably titled “Some Things Never Seem To Fucking Work.” He provides a spoken-word breakdown that serves as counterpoint to Knowles’s narrative, affirming her independence.

Lyrically, she stays pretty firmly in the well-traversed territory of romance, but she delivers songs like “Losing You” and “Lovers In The Parking Lot” with enough style and flair to still sound fresh. “Look Good With Trouble” is a dreamy, soulful ode to the bad boys, an interlude that shows off her range. True coasts to a close with “Bad Girls,” a track that recalls the ’80s more than expected on a record that mostly doesn’t stake a claim on any particular place or time.

True is described as “between an EP and LP.” With seven tracks, it’s more assertive than an EP but without the fully developed personality of an album. It’s just enough that we know where Knowles stands: on her own.

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Watch: Dungeonesse Promises To “Drive You Crazy”

Katie Chow — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:03:27 +0000

The ever-reliable label Secretly Canadian has added a new artist to its stable. Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak) and Jon Ehrens (White Life) are Dungeonesse, a shamelessly pop project that wears its R&B influences on its sleeve. The Baltimore duo is set to release an LP next year, and first single, “Drive You Crazy,” is out on December 4.

With Wasner’s breezy vocals and a beat that sounds like its been put on fast-forward, “Drive You Crazy” is a song for when the party’s already gotten started. Watch the video (via The Fader), below.

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The Drums’ Jonny Pierce Releases Debut Solo Song And Video

Katie Chow — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:03:09 +0000

Photo by Jasper Rischen

Jonny Pierce, charismatic frontman of the Drums, has announced the 2013 release of his solo LP with the song “I Didn’t Realise.” The synth-pop cut poses a distinct departure from the Drums’ lo-fi surf rock, and the woozy production is accompanied by a claustrophobic black-and-white video that shows Pierce walled in between brick buildings. It’s a compelling first image for an insular project—Pierce produced and recorded the album alone.

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Nosaj Thing Goes Into Orbit With “Eclipse/Blue”

Katie Chow — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:21:36 +0000

Nosaj Thing has debuted the video for “Eclipse/Blue,” the lead single from the producer’s forthcoming second album, Home. In the clip, a pair of dancers becomes part of a kaleidoscopic light show, a space-inspired vision. The video, presented by the Creators Project, was directed by Tokyo artist Daito Manabe.

Laden with wispy synths, “Eclipse/Blue” features dreamy vocals courtesy of Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino. Home, out next year on Timetable/Innovative Leisure, will also see Nosaj Thing teaming up with Toro Y Moi. Watch the video below.

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Music News, November 16, 2012

Katie Chow — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:46:29 +0000

The Who, Kanye, Springsteen and Billy Joel will be performing at Madison Square Garden on December 12 to support relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy. The Brooklyn equivalent will take place this Saturday, featuring Vampire Weekend and members of Dirty Projectors and the Walkmen.

A bunch of stuff is happening with Spotify, including a $10 million investment from Coca-Cola.

Over on Pitchfork, Damon Krukowski of Galaxie 500/Damon And Naomi shares his experience on revenue from streaming services.

Spin takes a look at the economics of the dance music boom from the recording side.

Across the pond, the CEO of Universal Music UK has spoken about the need to break more British artists. He notes a decline in commercial radio’s support for new acts.

Apparently people still buy Now That’s What I Call Music compilations, but more people buy Taylor Swift records. One Direction’s new album is set to knock Swift off the top spot next week.

Seapunk, blah blah, Azealia Banks, Rihanna, stealing stuff from the internet, I don’t even know anymore.

Read a history of A&M Records over on NPR for the label’s 50th birthday.

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Faint Releases First New Song In Years

Katie Chow — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:51:43 +0000

Fans of the Faint can snag the band’s first new songs since 2008 on a limited edition EP, which will be available as a 12″ on the Omaha quartet’s current North American tour. Along with the new songs, the electro-rock heroes will be playing their seminal 2001 album, Danse Macabre, in full every night. Saddle Creek is reissuing Danse Macabre next week, remastered with a disc of bonus tracks, a DVD and a booklet detailing the record’s history.

One of the new tracks, “Evil Voices,” is available for download now. It’s good to finally hear something new from the Faint, and this track is still true to urgent, churning form. Listen to “Evil Voices” and check out the upcoming tour dates below.

Tour Dates For The Faint:
11/16 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades
11/17 – San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
11/18 – Los Angeles, CA – The Fonda Theater
11/20 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
11/21 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House
11/23 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
11/24 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
11/27 – Dallas, TX – House Of Blues
11/28 – Austin, TX – Emo’s East
11/30 – Nashville, TN – Cannery Ballroom
12/01 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven Stage)
12/02 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
12/05 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
12/06 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
12/07 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
12/08 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
12/09 – Montreal, QC – Club Soda
12/11 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
12/12 – Chicago, IL – Metro
12/13 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12/14 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium

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