Red Sparowes

Red Sparowes, Los Angeles post-rock (or, if you will, post-metal) group, have announced plans to set out on tour at the end of March through the first half of May in support of their forthcoming release, The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer, set to be released April 6, 2010.

Red Sparowes — “Giving Birth To Imagined Saviors,” from The Fear is Excruciating, But Therein Lies the Answer

Download audio file (Giving_Birth_To_Imagined_Saviors.mp3)

In anticipation of their third album, the band has released “Giving Birth to Imagined Saviors” for public consumption. Featuring a more nuanced approach than their previous efforts — but lacking none of the bombastic fervor they’ve set out as their own, the latest effort from Red Sparowes is one to watch for.

Red Sparowes on tour

• 03/29  Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room **
• 03/30  Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad **
• 04/01  Dallas, TX @ Lola’s **
• 04/02  Austin, TX @ Red 7 **
• 04/03  Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s **
• 04/05  Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon **
• 04/06  Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree **
• 04/07  Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits **
• 04/08  Orlando, FL @ the Social **
• 04/09  Atlanta, GA @ the Earl **
• 04/10  Chapel Hill @ Local 506 **
• 04/11  Washington DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel ** ^
• 04/13  New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge **
• 04/14  New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge **
• 04/15  Boston, MA @ the Middle East Downstairs ** ^
• 04/16  Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa ** ^
• 04/17  Toronto, ON @ the Garrison ** ^
• 04/18  Cleveland, OH @ The Grog Shop # ^
• 04/19  Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio # ^
• 04/21  Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall # ^
• 04/22  Madison, WI @ High Noon # ^
• 04/23  Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar # ^
• 04/24  Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Jr. # ^
• 04/26  Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge ^
• 04/27  Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge ^
• 04/29  Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s # ^
• 04/30  Vancouver, BC @ the Biltmore # ^
• 05/01  Portland, OR @ the Hawthorne # ^
• 05/02  Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall #
• 05/05  Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place ^
• 05/06  Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place ^
• 05/07  San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall ^
• 05/08  Los Angeles, CA @ the Echoplex ^
• 05/09  San Diego, CA @ the Casbah ^

** With Doomriders
# With Caspian
^ With Fang Island

The Symphony of Science — “The Poetry of Reality” | download
Download audio file (Symphony_of_Science-The_Poetry_of_Reality.mp3)

The video includes lectures and interviews from the widely known — Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Stephen Hawking — to some known in more specific circles — PZ Meyers, Brian Greene, Carolyn Porco, Michael Shermer — and represents an engaging cross-section of figures of science advocacy.

Musically, “The Poetry of Reality” is perhaps the strongest piece since the first video, “A Glorious Dawn.” If the Symphony of Science is successful in spreading its very important message, it will be to the benefit of humanity as a whole.

• Symphony of Science

Matt Pond PA, credit: Jeremy Balderson

April 6, 2010, Matt Pond PA, indie-pop all-star band from New York, NY, will be releasing their latest album The Dark Leaves on Altitude Records. Currently, their single “Starting” is available for download on Paste. In November, Matt Pond PA released a limited edition EP showcasing the single. The EP, THREEEP, includes 3 A-side tracks, instrumentals, and 3 additional B-side tracks. Currently, their “Starting” 7″ is available for purchase on Altitude Records. The three song EP includes “Starting” as well as “The Colour Out of Space” and “Stopping.”

Matt Pond PA will be performing at SXSW this year, and will be touring with The Wooden Birds through February and March; The Wooden Birds are also appearing at SXSW.

Matt Pond PA — “Starting,” from Starting 7″ (2010) | download
Download audio file (Matt-Pond-PA-Starting.mp3)

See below for a video and tour dates from Matt Pond PA.

Matt Pond PA – Last Light

Matt Pond PA | MySpace Music Videos

Matt Pond PA @ SXSW

• 03.19 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s East – AAM SXSW Extravaganza
• 03.20 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

Matt Pond w/ The Wooden Birds

• 02.28 – Austin, TX @ The Scoot Inn
• 03.04 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
• 03.05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
• 03.06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
• 03.07 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
• 03.09 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
• 03.11 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
• 03.12-  Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
• 03.18 – Austin, TX @ SXSW – Red Eye Fly Barsuk Showcase
• 03.19 – Austin, TX @ SXSW Day Show (TBA)

Box Art from the SNES game "Chrono Trigger"

Since “Chrono Trigger” was released in 1995, it has been widely regarded as having one of the best soundtracks on a video game. It helped spur the scene of video game music remixes and has had many iterations over the years. The soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda, originally in just 16-bit audio, still contends with full orchestral music heard in today’s games and has a large cult following in the video game scene.

One of the most notable renditions on the soundtrack is the acid jazz album Chrono Trigger Arranged Version: The Brink of Time. The album was released just over three months after the game and features ten remade tracks. Initially, the album had very mixed reviews with critics claiming to either love it or hate it. Personally, I enjoyed this acid jazz arrangement of the soundtrack quite a bit. It has all the workings of an enjoyable acid jazz album mixed with memorable songs that incite great memories. The choice of acid jazz seems like an obvious one simply because the sounds used, if not emulate, at least do justice to the original 16-bit sounds.

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. DJ Ali Haeri – “Kingdom Trial” remixed with “1, 2 Step” by Ciara feat. Missy Elliott from Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1
Download audio file (2-05-1-2-Step-Ciara-feat.-Missy-Elliott.mp3)

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. DJ Ali Haeri – “Underground Sewer” from Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1
Download audio file (3-08-Underground-Sewer.mp3)

Yasunori Mitsuda arr. Daniel Floyd – “Morning Sunlight” from Chrono Symphonic (2005)
Download audio file (02-Morning-Sunlight.mp3)

Another of the great renditions is The Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1. The mixtape originated as a joke amongst DJ Ali Haeri and his friends about creating a stereotypical hip-hop mixtape. The album contains 10 “clubbed” up versions of “Chrono Trigger” songs mixed with a capella vocals from popular hip-hop artists such as 50 Cent, Young Jeezy, Ciara, and Kanye West. The mixtape, released in 2005, has three versions, the first being the most stereotypical and satirical of the three. It features the mixed-up tracks, DJ’d by the fictional DJ Epoch. The inclusion of DJ Epoch is the only element that sets versions one and two apart, but it really makes a difference. DJ Epoch was introduced to give it that authentic “annoying DJ” feel. These mixes even include obnoxious introductions to the songs, complete with an over abundance of delay and echo. The third version of the mixtape is an instrumental mix, and is personally, the most enjoyable. The 16-bit sounds are directly translated into bass thumping hip-hop.

When “Chrono Trigger” was released for the Nintendo DS in 2008, we heard several beautiful orchestral arrangements and even a few unreleased tracks. If you are looking for a great compilation of all the 16 bit tracks directly from the game with a few extras, this is the album for you. The Nintendo DS release soundtrack spans 3 discs and includes 78 songs, totaling nearly 3 hours of pure “Chrono Trigger” goodness.

Last but certainly not least are the wonderful symphonic renditions that can be found on the unofficial, download only album, Chrono Symphonic. This album was released on the website OverClocked ReMix in 2006 and features 25 of our favorite “Chrono Trigger” tracks. The songs contain intricate full symphonic scores and a lot of dynamic variance. Not only does this track shine as a remix of the tracks, but as a symphonic album as a whole.

Chrono Trigger will have it’s 15th birthday in just a few weeks — March 11 to be exact — and even after so long, it is still sitting pretty as being one of the most loved and heavily remixed video game sound tracks of all time. So in honor of Chrono Trigger’s upcoming birthday, this one goes out to Yasunori Mitsuda. Without him, we would be devoid of so much of our favorite music that has come from video games in the last 15 years.

If you want to download either Chrono Symphonic or any of the versions of Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1, just click the links below.

Chrono Symphonic
Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1
Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1 (No DJ)
Chrono Trigger Mixtape, Vol. 1 (Instrumental)

I Call Fives

In a sea of new independent pop punk music, I Call Fives really floats above the rest. They are a refreshing take on the typical pop punk band and deliver catchy guitar hooks and anthemic lyrics. The track “My Last Mistake” from First Things First stands out exceptionally well and offers up some of their best material.

Hailing from New Jersey, this incendiary pop punk outfit never fail to deliver. Every song on their 7 track debut, First Things First, grabs you and doesn’t let go until the next track is starting up.

I Call Fives, “My Last Mistake” from First Things First | download
Download audio file (My-Last-Mistake.mp3)

I Call Fives garners particular respect from MusicGeek for their support of the online community. Offering up downloads on websites and always being cooperative and personal with their fans online are just two of the many reasons I love this band. On a certain website, which shall remain unnamed, the group has over 27,000 downloads and the count is always going up. I Call Fives is yet another shining example as to why independent and major artists alike should embrace the online community.

Check out this awesome pop punk group at their myspace page.

Courtesy of Force Field PR

Cap’n Jazz — “Oh, Messy Life” | download
Download audio file (Cap_n_Jazz-Messy_Life.mp3)

Read on for a video of Cap’n Jazz performing “Oh, Messy Life” as part of the Joan of Arc Don’t Mind Control Variety Show, the surprise set in January.

Elizabeth & the Catapult - Taller Children

Despite what could be construed as a strangely typical name for this era of music, Elizabeth & the Catapult are hardly the typifying outfit of the accompanying sound. Inflected with vocals with a style more keen on jazz than post-punk and an outright affinity for Cocteausian dream pop, Taller Children is something “new” from the outset.

Elizabeth & the Catapult — “Taller Children” | download
Download audio file (TallerChildren.mp3)

Produced largely by Saddle Creek alumnus Mike Mogis — the one exception is the titular track, which was produced by Jim Eno of Spoon and the dubious-careered Jon Kaplan (who has produced such masterworks as … the Jonas Brothers!) — Taller Children is a solid pop record with a cheerful melodic bent taking the musical front seat in the recording, and the production supports that without becoming intrusive. Never does a song sound overproduced or forced, much to the album’s benefit.

Elizabeth & the Catapult take their good pop sensibilities, merge them with good songwriting, and top it off with gentle, proven production to create a record that will satisfy the appetites of pop-lovers across the globe. Taller Children — replete with catchy hooks, engaging rhythm, and vocals that occupy a new niche of indie pop — is memorable for the best reasons. It shifts seamlessly between being upbeat and infectious and taking a more slow, introspective approach.

Taller Children has tracks ranging from pure, innocent indie pop (“Momma’s Boy”) and seductive neo-jazz (“Right Next to You”) to a string-laden Leonard Cohen cover (“Everybody Knows”) and jazz-inflected bluegrass (“Complimentary Me”) — the diversity isn’t overwhelming, but it is refreshing, and it keeps the album from becoming yet another homogenous effort from a promising act. Elizabeth & the Catapult now have a real task ahead of them: Produce a second album that’s engaging, interesting, and different enough from this release to make a mark on the dense landscape of indie pop. If I’m to guess, this act is up to it.

Released June 9, 2009 on Verve Forecast

What role do politics play in your music?

Politics in modern music can very easily have the tendency to be preachy. I avoid this sort of statement as much as I can, unless I really want to put some balls behind something. I prefer subtlety, like “Ojala,” by Silvio Rodriguez, probably one of the most potent and subtle statments made in a song against Castro.

Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few – “Flowers on the Stones” | download
Download audio file (08-flowers-on-the-stones.mp3)

What role do you think music should play in politics?

Music has always been a reference point for society to bounce itself against, or it has been pure escapism. Most of the time it fills an entertainment quota in politics … you only have to look as far as Palin’s use of “Barracuda”.

Would you ever allow a mainstream political candidate to use your music in campaigning? Why or why not?

I honestly don’t think any politician is going to be asking to use one of my songs.

Would you consider throwing your endorsement behind a candidate you were passionate about?

One thing that was amazing about Gandhi for example, was that he never actually became a politician, ie. leading a party, but his presence and advice were so heavy he was able to operate outside the political realm but still have enormous clout. I would endorse someone like that, but not a politician.

Why are the political opinions of popular musicians such a hot topic with their fans?

It would be hard for some people to continue loving some folk singers music if they found out he was a leader of a KKK group. I know I would. Is it possible to truly separate someone and their political beliefs? Not sure…there are the famous examples Wagner, a huge anti-Semitic … Dali more or less complete fascist. Their art is amazing … but …

Do you think there are major problems with the modern political system? Does celebrity involvement play a part in this?

Modern politics have definitely become more slanderous in the public realm, to the point where it’s almost pathetic, i.e., Canada’s political campaigns right now. Either the contestants belittle their audiences with tried homegrown folksy semantics, slander each other, or dance around poignant questions. I have yet to hear an interview so far in the current Canadian campaign where one of them came off truly confident in what they’re saying and not trying to say answers they think people want to hear. The shape of the voice can be extremely telling. Of course this is a bit idealist, but better to start with the ideals then move down I figure. What did Churchill say … Democracy is the worst sort of government but better than all the other options.

Celebrity involvement … it’s always been there, just different celebrities now, maybe more pop culture based, which would explain the trajectory of today’s campaigns.

Are you following the 2008 U.S. elections? Are there any thoughts you’d like to share on what you’ve seen?

Yeah, I’m following it a bit. I’m definitely pro Obama. It’s interesting that so many Republicans worry about him having no international experience when they elected Bush II, and he’d hardly ever been out of America, and very obviously failed geography class in elementary school. He actually seems a hell of a lot more proactive, whereas McCain fills the typical aged reactive approach. I think a lot of people are tired of that approach … and McCain dies and Palin is suddenly leading the US …

Share your perspectives on music and politics; comment below and get involved.

What Laura Says opens their second release with a collection, of sorts, of musical styles: “Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried” opens with a gentle folk-inflected tune before it transitions (with a door knock, of all things) into an a capella medley, then making a segue into a Ben Folds Five-style piano-romp, complete with the group’s trademark vocal harmonies.

Thankfully, What Laura Says doesn’t keep up this strange method for long, opting to not make such bold breaks in style mid-song but still keeping the music convincingly engaging. “Fashionably Moral,” dark Western mood and all, bursts with acoustic energy midway through the song before settling down again, and the following track, “Illustrated Manual” marks another appearance of some nice piano-based pop — it’s clear that What Laura Says either get bored with a single style of music rather quickly, or they simply wish to showcase a bit of diversity in the music.

What Laura Says – “July 23″ | download
Download audio file (july23.mp3)

If it’s the former, the latter is still true: There is a certain element of diversity here that’s very hard to ignore. Alongside that diversity, serving to create a more complete package, is a skillful use of vocal harmony to provide layers of depth (see “Wish I Could Fly,” in which the vocals serve instrumentally both as added percussion and a melodic device.)

What Laura says continue their diverse display throughout: “Dot Dot Dot” involves a well-managed duo of acoustic guitars showcasing some beautiful melodic strain against soft, harmonizing vocals.

Even if What Laura Says aren’t the most consistent in style, they are fairly consistent in quality — and they do deliver interesting song after interesting song, rarely faltering from their pursuits. All told, Thinks and Feels is a solid release, but finding a common thread throughout proves a little difficult.

As a child, were you around music much?

Sean: Only when I got to school and started learning instruments. I think we’re just classic geeks and we spent a lot of time at home listening to music when we were teenagers because we didn’t know how to get girlfriends.

Christian: Not that much. My Dad didn’t even know who the Beatles were, he is a bit of an opera man. I was also hopeless at music at school. Aside from kids music like The Wombles, I remember hearing “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush when it first came out and being really interested in it, but not knowing why or what it was. After that I loved listening to the radio and taping the Top 40 singles charts every Sunday night. Those cassettes would literally get worn out. I didn’t get a guitar until I was about 16 or 17, my Dad bought me a right handed guitar, I’m left handed.

Monster Movie – “Letting You Know” | download
Download audio file (lettingyouknow.mp3)

Why (and when) did Monster Movie form?

Sean: We were originally The Geeks in 1989, then we were Eternal. Then Slowdive happened. In the mid-1990s we kind of messed about but we still weren’t old enough and close enough to death to take things seriously. By 2000 we were old enough and we formed Monster Movie because we were bored at work and we hated every other band — it was all that Travis and Coldplay nonsense — music for people who found Radiohead too difficult and read the music reviews in fashion magazines.

Christian: There was a whole bunch of us indie kids who would hang around in Reading town centre and were all about the same age. I think most people had guitars, but Sean was about the only one who could actually play it. Because of that Sean got roped into playing in The Geeks after I had arranged a gig when we hadn’t ever practiced and couldn’t even play. So in a way that was the start of Monster Movie. I suppose our first ever original song was played in that farcical gig “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, No” maybe it was also our pinnacle.

Sean: When we went in the ‘dressing room’ after our set the headlining band were all taking the piss out of us.

What are some of the struggles you’ve had in your years as a band?

Sean: We’re too lazy to struggle. The continuing fight is to get enough money to record and then to get enough people to take notice of the recording to create money to record again. The other struggle is to not be rubbish, I think we’re not rubbish more than we are rubbish but I wouldn’t like to look at the percentage breakdown.

Christian: One of the up sides of being completely unsuccessful is that there is no pressure or people trying to exploit you. Our struggles are fairly minor, like trying to sing a song in tune or trying to finish recording before the money runs out. Having said that, getting a record sleeve designed seems to be a huge struggle for us. They hardly ever turn out how we want them to.

You probably get this question a lot, but… Lon Chaney or Boris Karloff?

Sean: We took our name from Can. If you’re talking horror films my favourite monster this week is Doug Bradley in the Hellraiser films.

Christian: I don’t know. I would love to see this one horror movie again that I saw when I was about 10. I think it was called Bug. The bugs could create fire and electricity.

When do you plan to have your third album released?

Sean: Definitely before the end of the year and hopefully before the end of summer. We’ve just got the vocals to do but we also want to get some of our friends to play on it so there’s still a bit of organising to do.

What have you been listening to lately?

Sean: At The Drive-In, Depeche Mode, “The Process” by Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubauten, Nick Cave and David Bowie. Today I will be listening to Teenage Fanclub and Neil Young because I want to rip-off some of their ideas.

Christian: My favourite songs at the moment are “Number One Song In Heaven” by Sparks, “Big City” by Spacemen 3, “Who’ll Stop The Rain” Creedence Clearwater Revival, & “Bleecker Street” by Simon and Garfunkel. Flotation Toy Warning’s Bluffers Guide To The Flight Deck was my favourite album last year, I reckon Dreamend and Black Moth Super Rainbow will release great albums this year.