A Band To Check Out: White Denim
The story, I’ve found of white denim really, begins with parque touch; then; after the departure of byshop massive from which white denim comes. In not attempting to prefess, now I may if I will say that these jobs are reflected in each song of the bands every move. The sirs before mentioned in these modern times are near to themselves and becoming daily in their times at the “free wheel” of disposure. At the brink of it all is the concretality of a format being contributable to outcomings. If not to simplify too; so, I retrace in my unstated, potentially radical view, of the eventual occasion to this at present one may encounter upon; whether enduring or adoring, but presently existing continually.
Check out White Denim’s solid first album Explosion and also be on the look out for a new album called Fits on June 22nd.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: White Denim: Heart From Us All
A Band to Check Out: Crocodiles
Sorry for the lack of posts over the last month yall, for I have moved to a new city and have been in the process of getting things together. Regular updates should resume from now on.
Anyways, some of you have probably already come across Crocodiles but I just got this album and as conrad would say, “it is a winner.”
Here is one of my favorite tracks from the Crocodiles album Summer of Hate.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Crocodiles: Soft Skull (In-My-Room)
The Thermals Live in Chicago at The Bottom Lounge 4/29/09
I had heard The Thermals over the last couple years casually, but never really listened to them extensively. With that said, I went into this show a little blind. Not knowing what to expect, the show was quite enjoyable. The band played their songs tight and for a three piece they filled out the sound well.
The Show was at The Bottom Lounge, a venue in Chicago I have never been to. I gotta say, I really thought it was a great place. Not just a music venue, The Bottom Lounge has a huge main bar/restaurant area on its main floor, another huge bar/dance floor/DJ area upstairs and a huge outside patio upstairs. These areas are perfect for hanging out and grabbing a drink before the show starts. This is huge if you show up to the concert early and don’t want to have to stand around while the opening band plays. You can just grab a table in one of the main areas, grab dinner and some drinks. Whenever you are ready, you can head into the actual venue and enjoy the show.
Being that I don’t really know any names of Thermals songs, there is not much else for me to say. All around this was a great, entertaining show. The Thermals played a tight, energetic rock set, clocking in at a perfect length. Oh, and then encored with the infamous Nirvana song, “Happy!”
Below are photos and a video we took of the show. *Thanks to John G. for heading up to the front and grabbing some great photos and video for me.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Thermals: Now We Can See from Now We Can See
Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip Present Neon Neon
To follow up on yesterdays post about Super Furry Animals, I thought I would talk a little bit about Neon Neon, Gruff Rhys from Super Furry Animals electro-pop side project with Boom Bip. Their album, Stainless Style which was released last year, is seriously REALLY REALLY GOOD. Effortlessly catchy with a bit of 80’s-esque cheese thrown in, Stainless Steel is about as pleasant of a listen you are going to find.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Neon Neon: I Told Her On Alderaan
Super Furry Animals: Dark Days/Light Years
I first got into Super Furry Animals around 2001. Back then I was really into the British rock magazine Mojo and I remember reading a little blurb about a band called Super Furry Animals that simultaneously released an audio and DVD album called Rings Around the World. It sounded awesome, so without hearing anything by them, I ordered the Rings Around the World DVD from Amazon.com.uk since it hadn’t been released in the states. When it arrived I was all excited only to realize European DVD’s don’t work with US DVD players. I finally ordered a new copy when it got released in the states. As an album, Rings Around the World infused electronica, beach boys harmonies, Beatles Pop and straight up rock and roll into a satisfying eclectic album. As an “album music video”, it mixed in strange animations, high quality cinematography from around the world and visual psychedelic freak outs.
“Receptacle For The Respectable” from Rings Around The World DVD:
Fun Fact - This tune features Paul McCartney on “carrot and celery rhythm track” (a homage to his performance on the Beach Boys’ “Vegetables”).
After Rings Around the World, Super Furry Animals released 3 albums, Phantom Power, Love Kraft and Hey Venus!, which are all very solid, but I think their just released album Dark Days/Light Years is their best since ROTW. Check it out!
On of my favorite tracks from Dark Days/Light Years, a fun little funky dance jam:
MP3: Super Furry Animals: Moped Eyes from Dark Days/Light Years
Radiohead Live in Saitama, Japan (Full Concert HD Video)
How long has YouTube been able to host full videos like this? I guess I am out of the loop. Regardless, here is a full concert video of Radiohead in Japan. I am still waiting for them to release a DVD concert video.
*Check out and download A Tender Praise’s list of the best Unreleased Radiohead songs here.
New NOMO Album “Invisible Cities” Out in May
A Tender Praise has been a big fan of the Michigan based collective NOMO for a while now after seeing their high energy shows and digging into their awesome LP’s. With that said, we are getting excited for their new album Invisible Cities, which is set to be released on May 5th.
NOMO:
NOMO is not just a band of thieves, garbage pickers, drifters, jammers, and players. In their soul, NOMO truly is a party band. From their roots, rocking sweaty basement shows in Ann Arbor and Detroit, to their current gig, rocking sweaty basement shows and the occasional jazz festival in Brooklyn, Chicago, New Orleans, London, Sevilla, or Montreal, the band has developed its own form of celebratory dance music owing as much to Can, Eno, and MIA as it does Kuti, Francis Bebey, and Funkadelic. They’ve upped the energy level on recent jaunts and it’s impossible to find a stationary body in the house. This music moves people, and it’s refreshing to see teen hipsters get down with crate diggers, jazz heads nod along with the noise kids at a NOMO show. The band crams three drum sets into the silver Ford Econoline, along with enough electric kalimbas to pull-off all of the two hour marathon sets, plus a few extra to sell to the audience. Horns and guitars fit on top of the amps, and it’s a touring six-piece-sonic-arsenal that packs a pretty heavy punch.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: NOMO: Invisible Cities from their Forthcoming album Invisible Cities out May 5th.
Thunder Only Happens When It’s Rainin
My favorite Fleetwood Mac song and probably one of my top ten favorite songs ever. And not to be a dork, but I haven’t found a song that sounds better than this on vinyl.
A Band To Check Out: Cymbals Eat Guitars
I had 9 songs left to download for the month on Emusic and was looking for something to get. While browsing through the current 10 most downloaded albums, I checked out Cymbals Eat Guitars and realized their album Why There Are Mountains was exactly 9 songs. I gave one of the songs a sample listen and it sounded good. I went ahead and downloaded. It turns out the album is pretty good. They sound a little bit like The Wrens at times.
DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Cymbals Eat Guitars: And The Hazy Sea
New Dirty Projectors “Stillness Is The Move” Free MP3
Domino Records is giving away The Dirty Projectors first single from their forthcoming album “Bitte Orca” for free on their website.
“Bitte Orca” comes out June 9th. A Tender Praise has been fortunate enough to have given it a listen and it is killer.
LISTEN:
MP3: The Dirty Projectors: Stillness Is The Move
Click here to download the song for free on Domino’s website.
