Look, I know times are tough out there, so in the spirit of giving I thought I’d fire up a special 2-for-1 post for you guys – think of it as a musical bailout if you will. As far as internet time goes, I’m probably aggressively late to the game on both of these bands, but I think after taking a listen you’ll respect my adherence to the old ‘better late than never’ rule. Both debut albums, both irresistibly catchy in their own way and both currently enjoying multiple spins at the Train Station. Read on…
First on the mic are Harlem Shakes. Named after Sydney C’s favorite late night dance move, the Brooklyn based quartet has just released Technicolor Health on Gigantic Records. It’s hard not to get overwhelmed with the sheer mass quantities of music we are all bombarded with on a daily basis, so when I find myself listening to an album like Technicolor Health from start to finish and then feeling the urge to press repeat, I pay attention. Lead singer Lexy Benaim sounds a little like a more coherent Alec O. of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah fame (a good thing) and the music is both cheerful and infectious. I also can’t resist the line from ‘Winter Water’ which unabashedly declares that ‘if we are sleeping, we’re sleeping together’ – I’ll have to try that line out this weekend. Check it:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
On stage next is Cymbals Eat Guitars. The Staten Island group’s independently released debut Why There Are Mountains recently caught everyone’s attention when it was hit with Pitchfork’s Best New Music label. Now I realize it’s cool to hate on Pitchfork (which I heard someone hilariously refer to as Bitchfork once), but even the staunchest of naysayers have to admit that they got it right with Cymbals Eat Guitars. I mean, the lead singer goes by the name Joseph Ferocious – that fact alone is enough to make it onto my playlist. Their songs have the tendency to go from balls-out loud to somewhat subdued within the span of a few seconds and will have you perpetually guessing as to what sonic treat is coming up next. I’ve heard their live shows are off the chains too, so keep an eye for these guys, and in the meantime get your jam on below in the comfort of the Muffin bakery.
Cymbals Eat Guitars – And The Hazy Sea
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Cymbals Eat Guitars – Cold Spring
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Technicolor Health and Why There Are Mountains are out now wherever good music is sold.
Dude, you know I only bust out the harlem shake on industry nights at the club.
I may be preconditioned at this point to liking all music that has Train as the author – but this shit rocks.
But a quandary if I may, is it necessary to live in NY to find out about bands like this?
And sorry if I used the word ‘quandary’ incorrectly, it just popped into my head and I have no idea what the fuck it means.
How I heard about these guys…
Dream version: I was cold chillin’ in Union Square, wayfarers on and burning a heater when a couple guys recognized me from the Muffin and excitedly slipped me demos of their bands’ new albums.
Reality/FML version: I spend a lot of time on the intarwebs.
I used that “if we’re sleeping, we’re sleeping together” line this past weekend, it was a total dud