Fujiya & Miyagi played a packed house at (le) Poisson Rouge last Tuesday, February 17th. The sold out show opened up with School of Seven Bells, playing their last show in New York before hitting the road. The trio played their shoe-gazing tunes to an accepting crowd that was seemingly there to spend a night dancing away from their NYU studies.
Eager and excitable masses more than welcomed Fujiya & Miyagi as they took their place on stage chanting and dancing away to the 70′s infused krautrock. The Brighton boys are on their tour through the U.S. until the end of March when they head to the UK to continue rockin’ out. Catch them if you can!
Last Sunday, February 15th, South Paw opened up its gates to 4 very different sounds. Cole Sullivan, the opening duo, sat playing on stools with their stellar guitar skills and folk style vocals. Inner, a three piece band with two multi-talented musicians and one awesome quirky lead singer, had a stage presence like fire itself. My favorite song from their performance entitled Myphilosophy demanded attention and brought a silence over the otherwise chatty crowd. The Delicious reminded me of the movie The Geeks Strike Back! This four piece group possessed a sarcastic charm, amazing musicality and adorable dance moves.
The headliner, Luke Temple’s new band, Here We Go Magic left me feeling like something was missing. The curtain, which was awkwardly drawn half way through the bands set up, was pulled back to an eclectic mix of musicians who appeared to have been thrown together at the last minute. Luke Temple who released two solo pop folk albums, one in 2005 and then again in 2007, is an extremely talented musician and should stick to his old acoustic sets. Although Here We Go Magic’s album is filled with track after track of brilliantly layered tunes, some how that brilliance didnt carry over to their live performance. Needless to say, I am still waiting for “the Magic.”
Asobi Seksu‘s new album Hush will be available everywhere February 17th and I urge you to make it available to yourselves. The album is expectant of the future and it’s brightly promising lyrics evoke hopefulness.
The group’s third LP is exceptional from their other shoe-gazing works in that their sound is stripped down, revealing the details that make Asobi Seksu the sensation it is. “Layers” opens the album appropriately communicating what is under the surface and giving way to the dream-pop explosions to come. A personal favorite track is “In The Sky”. Lyrically eloquent, Yuki Chikudate’s glistening voice twills away at the effulgent lyrics.
Win Butler stands on a balcony, with only a mic and the dark sky to keep him company, belting out the beginning lyrics of “Keep the Car Running.” Random answering machine messages are played from calls placed to 1-866-Neonbible, with some being messages of hope, some of hate, some of sheer desperation. There is also an awesome takeway show where the band is squeezed into an elevator and the beat is kept with the ripping of pages out of a book.
Miroir Noir was released by Arcade Fire on December 15th. It is a documentary on the band’s live shows, recording sessions, and random goofy moments. It covers the warming up and the cooling down. Intriguingly, it brings a sort of humanity to one of the most notable indie rock bands of the 21st century. If you are a fan of Arcade Fire then their 76 minute documentary is a must have.
My 2008 Itunes playlist can keep me occupied for ceaseless hours. It is an eclectic mix ranging from straight up dirty folk to electronic dance rage to some fine indie rock tunes and everything in or around. As the year comes to an end lets stop and take a gander at some of the ridiculously awesome albums of 2008.
January: MGMT-Oracular Spectacular, Electric Dance Rock music at its finest. Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser started out rockin in school together and have basically exploded into an indie sensation.
Feburary: Hot Chip -Made in The Dark, 13 tracks of electro dance goodness, these guys could get even the scroogiest of scrooges to bust a move on the dance floor.
March: The Dodos - Visiter, Not only are the lyrics poetically powerful but Meric Long, the lead singer, has an enchanting voice. The guitar and drums are some of the best I have heard in a long time.
April: The Presets - Apacolypso, The best track off the new album is “Talk Like That.” This group is blessed with the sexy skill of incorporating the organ into a sick dance floor track.
May: Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid 18 years in the bizz, this might be their best album yet.
June: Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes, their first full length album. Self described as “baroque harmonic pop jams,” the quintet have created a beautiful, hauntingly poetic sound.
July: Black Kids - Partie Traumatic, keep an eye on these kids, their indie rock tunes are going to be around for a while.
August: Lykki Li - Youth Novels, The Swede’s first album is a smash. 17 tracks full of amazing lyrics, beats, and rock. We love her.
September: TV On The Radio - Dear Science, The 16 track album (including remixes, and some bonus tracks) follows the feel of previous TV On The Radio albums but sounds more refined and refreshing.
October: Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping, They are not from Montreal, but rather from Athens, Georgia. Either way they know how to entertain. ”Of Montreal will never get ya down”
what more could you want? Oh wait, theres a 12 minute video on there too. Formed in 1982 this collection of tunes is the best of the best, making it the 5th compilation album of The Smiths to date.
December: Cat Power - Dark End Of The Street, The Queen of smokey blues numbers, Cat Power, brings us an EP of six tracks recorded during her Jukebox sessions, four of which are previously unpublished.
Blonde Redhead was started by Kazu Makino, Maki Takahashi and twin brothers Simone Pace and Amedeo Pace in 1993. Shortly after the band released their first album Maki Takahashi left the band, and then there were three. I had the privilege of seeing Blonde Redhead two summers ago at Randall’s Island. Their set was by far one of the best of the night. These three know how to rock. Half way through a song Kazu Makino will put down her guitar and take over the drums all while continuing to provide the sickest of vocals.
Their music has been compared to that of Sonic Youth, but in my opinion they are one of a kind. Kazu Makino’s eerily high pitched voice creates a sound like none other, and I like it. Blonde Redhead’s 7th and most recent album, “23″ came out in 2007 and is still creating buzz. They are scheduled to play a New Years eve show at the Terminal 5. If you enjoy a great performance, incredibly beautiful music, and a rocking good time then a ticket to see Blonde Redhead is an excellent choice to ring in the New Year.
Kevin Barnes, the lead singer and and song writer for Of Montreal, and Andrew Van Wyngarden, one of the masterminds behind MGMT have joined creative forces. The duo hopes to release an LP under the name Blikk Fang in early 2009. The LP should be a wonder of grand, theatrical proportions. Keep an eye out for Blikk Fang in the new year.
Sufjan Stevens has been busy arranging and producing songs and bands on his record label, Asthmatic Kitty Records, with The Welcome Wagon as one of his most recent. The band is made up of Presbyterian pastor Reverend Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique. Although Stevens and the Aiutos have ties to Michigan the three did not meet until after they relocated to New York City. Aiuto and Stevens became great friends after both enrolled in a writing class. Aiuto even played on a couple of Sufjan Stevens’ past albums.
Welcome To The Welcome Wagonis their debut album which focuses on the couples plain voices and sincere lyricality, complimented by melodic instrumental fragments. December 9th marks the release of the album and includes “Sold! To The Nice Rich Man” a track Spin Magazine notes as “a song you need to download now.”
Amazing Baby was started last Jan. with former band members from Diamond Nights, Lions and Tigers, Nebula, Heavy Hands, and Stylophone. Their noise is indie rock all the way, if David Bowie were dead this Brooklyn based band could resurrect him with their tunes. The band’s single Pump Your Breaks was sitting at number 2 in Spin’s August 2008 issue one of the “Songs You Must Download Now.” As it turns out you can download the Amazing Baby’s entire debut album for free on their website.
Do your stretches, and get ready for some dance inducing, fist pumping music, Amazing Baby plays at The Mercury Lounge Saturday, November 29th with Tigercity, you do not want to miss this show.
Las Vegas should be proud, the sin city rockers have put together another killer, excuse the pun, record. The album is said to be a continuation of Sam’s Town, “its like looking at Sam’s Town from mars.(Brandon Flowers, vocals)” Day & Age wasjust released on Monday, November 24, 2008. The album hits you with track after track of guaranteed living-room dance floor action, and does not stop. As always, their lyrics are intriguing, their beats are hot, their chorus’ crash and the sound is vicious.
Asobi Seksu
Meric Long, the lead singer, has an enchanting voice. The guitar and drums are some of the best I have heard in a long time.
what more could you want? Oh wait, theres a 12 minute video on there too. Formed in 1982 this collection of tunes is the best of the best, making it the 5th compilation album of The Smiths to date.
I had the privilege of seeing Blonde Redhead two summers ago at Randall’s Island. Their set was by far one of the best of the night. These three know how to rock. Half way through a song Kazu Makino will put down her guitar and take over the drums all while continuing to provide the sickest of vocals. 
