Interview With Now, Now

Now, Now (formerly Now, Now Every Children) has been a band for nearly ten years now, but the band's hard work is just finally starting to pay off. Currently signed to Chris Walla's (of Death Cab For Cutie fame) Trans Records, the band's efforts have finally culminated with big tours and even an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's late night show. The band took some time after their show with Motion City Soundtrack and Jukebox The Ghost to speak to us regarding topics such as playing on Fallon, reflections on their latest album Threads, drummer Brad's Sombear project, and more (including an appearance from Jukebox The Ghost pianist/vocalist Ben Thornewill) which you can read below.

Artist of the Day: El Ten Eleven

As you gear up for a hectic day of astonishingly good deals and busy-bee activity, remember to step back and take a breath. Black Friday is a busy day for many of us in the States, but if we get too caught up in bargain-hunting, we let a part of our imperialistic selves take control and forget the humanizing aspect of living - empathy, reflection, self-examination. Tough as it is, we all do it at some point, and to be honest, I find it much easier to think about while I'm listening to some great music. That's where El Ten Eleven comes in. They'll fit just about any situation too, they're lively enough to play in the early morning to get you awake, atmospheric enough to keep you thinking about their music, and they're wholly emotional, so that you can have all the thinking time you need while you go about your day.

Artist of the Day: Iain Morrison

I don't know much about Thanksgiving. All I know is it means the British man must write because apparently he doesn't get to join in. Something about turkeys and some kind of weird event where all the stores are transformed into fighting arenas the day after... I haven't a clue. Anyway, no worries: I have a new favourite singer-songwriter to accompany me as I wallow in a state of equal parts loneliness, confusion and -on the part of the music- general wonderment.

Iain Morrison's music lies on the more instrumental, well-produced spectrum of acoustic singer-songwriters: with far more emphasis placed on instrumental refrains and the gaps between words than the lyrics themselves. His pieces are exceptionally atmospheric (the record label feels the need to inform us that songs were recorded in both the U.S. and Scotland... *gasp*), but it's the soft yet rustic vocals -which sit perfectly in the fuzzy, acoustic nest- that make Iain something to remember. The whole package sums up as incredibly polarised in its effort to be lovely, and it works, because right now I want to sit down and listen to it forever.

I'll probably go and like the guy on Facebook first, though.

Interview: Sithu Aye

Instrumental progressive metal guitarist Sithu Aye sure has shaken up the DIY scene lately. With three releases created over the last year, the artist is redefining the capabilities of writing music alone. October brought us a space-themed blast of an album, Invent the Universe (which we covered here.) I was blessed to be able to catch an interview with the innovative musician, and to be able to ask some questions I've personally been wondering for awhile now. We catch a glimpse of the man behind the albums, what's inspired him to create his music as well as how he goes about making it. 

Artist Of The Day: Big Boi

Six years on from Idlewild and five since they announced an indefinite hiatus, the prospect of Outkast's members reconvening seems more distant than ever. Whilst Andre 3000 and Big Boi's separation has proved a frustration for fans, however, there has been a crumb of comfort in the form of the latter's solo career, which took off back in 2010 with the release of Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty. A genuine hip hop tour de force, it was the sound of an artist emerging emphatically from the shadow of his more illustrious partner, and along with Speakerboxxx went a long way towards backing those who consider him the group's superior component. Such arguments could hold even more weight before the year is out, with solo sophomore Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors confirmed for a December 11 release - hopefully a fitting conclusion to the stunning year the genre's enjoyed. With guest slots from the likes of Kid Cudi, A$AP Rocky and Killer Mike early signs look promising, and should it match the excellence of its predecessor there certainly won't be any dissent at his continuing lone ventures.

Full details of Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors can be viewed here.

Facebook
Twitter
Official website

Live Review: Frank Turner, O2 Academy, Newcastle, 17/11/2012

No one - not even his most warped, deranged detractors - can possibly denounce Frank Turner's work ethic. The man is quite simply a machine, and shows no sign of slowing even with a relentless schedule that's thus far yielded four albums, a host of EPs and relentless touring since his departure from Million Dead back in 2005. Things may have seemed a little quiet of late, but that's because the Winchester singer-songwriter has been locked away writing and recording a new full length, atop of appearing at the Olympic opening ceremony and stalking stages topless with hardcore side project Mongol Horde whenever he's faced the novelty of a day off. It's an approach that's bearing fruits way beyond his established fanbase. Indeed if this ram-packed return to Newcastle's O2 Academy (solo show number 1,291, no less) proved anything it was that Turner has suddenly, and quite belatedly become massive - a guise which suits him no end considering the confident, crowd-pleasing and utterly brilliant manner with which these performances are conducted.

Album Review: Courage My Love - For Now

Album Rating: B+

Looking back on the release of For Now, it's a little strange that Courage My Love didn't get more support than they did - they seem to be doing everything right. With just over 25,000 Facebook fans and only one YouTube video with more than 1 million views, it's unclear why the band didn't skyrocket like so many similar groups. After all, their marketing strategy seems rock solid. Hot chick singing and playing guitar? Check. Hot chick playing drums? Check (this alone probably should have doubled the size of their current fanbase alone). Hot chick playing bass? Well, no, but you can't be perfect. Ridiculous music videos that showcase said hot chicks and bassist? Check - just look at "Bridges," filmed on the field at a staged football game that's a bit like A Day To Remember's video for "I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?". Ridiculous song titles? Check - try "Anchors Make Good Shoes (If You Have Issues)." Going out of their way to appeal to a large potential group of fans (namely geeks)? Check - "I Sell Comics," a free download off of the band's Bandcamp page, uses part of comic don Walt Flanagan's work as lyrics.

Album Review: P.O.S. - We Don't Even Live Here

Album Rating: B

The most notable difference in 2012’s P.O.S. is he isn’t taking himself as seriously, and this is big news considering 2009’s Never Better. The album existed as a call to arms against pop culture, but in a tightly scripted manner. Each moment was precisely constructed, and every minute detail captured carefully. Never Better is an anthem of its own, but it’s an entirely different beast than the punk-rapper’s latest release, We Don’t Even Live Here. Instead of intricately planned beats, we’ve got more straight-forward punches that are as effective, albeit in a different way than before.

Artist of the Day: Departures

Melodic hardcore group Departures are best known for the way they shocked us last year. When Losing Everything is Everything You Wanted, their debut album, hit the scene and gathered more attention than anybody anticipated. The album was very well-received, too; music critics all over the Internet praised the organic and straight-forward approach the group took, while still thinking outside of the box.

Artist of the Day: Motion City Soundtrack

Although the band undeniably peaked after 2005's venerated album Commit This to Memory, Motion City Soundtrack has had an undeniably good run since their humble beginnings in 1997. The band's new EP Making Moves, released just this week, seems to show an improvement from the disappointment that was June's Go. Motion City Soundtrack, like most pop-punk bands of their generation, are buoyed by strong vocals with decent contributions being made by all supporting instruments- look no further than the drumming on "Time Turned Fragile" for evidence of the band's competence.

Album Review: Cazzette - Eject Pt. 1

Album Rating: B

For all the hate electro house gets from more "cultured" electronic music fans, there's still something to be said for it. After all, it doesn't generally try (or even pretend to try) to be deep, subtle or profound, and while that displeases a lot of people it's not in and of itself a bad thing. It's made for the dancefloor, and though that might not be for everybody, the style has its own time and place. The straight four-on-the-floor beat, the kick or snare doubling over and over again until the drop, the Massive wobbles, the hint of melody before said wobbles kick in, and the jump-up-and-down fist-pump main section are all designed with the average EDM listener in mind, and it's unfair to say it's bad simply because it's made for a more general market than critically acclaimed styles like garage or IDM are. Given that, though, a lot of electro house releases fade into anonymity immediately because many songs in the genre sound too damn similar for their own good. Really, it turns into a "name game," with big-name artists releasing whatever the hell they want and, so long as they meet the minimum electro house requirements, achieving success after success. Even a dismal release can succeed if the artist is well-known enough (see Zedd's Clarity), making it difficult for an unknown artist to break through the walls between them and being recognizable. So, in short, the biggest songs, EPs, remixes, and (rarely) albums are usually released from a few artists on a handful of labels, which isn't quite the healthiest possible scenario for electro house.

Artist of the Day: The Mars Volta

Have we covered The Mars Volta here before?  Perhaps, and that shouldn't be surprising, considering the avid fan base that the prog-rockers have accumulated.  Hell, this writer even considers them to be a favorite band of his, as they were pivotal in driving him towards one of his favorite hobbies--music.

And it is with a heavy heart that this very writer pens "The Mars Volta on hiatus," a handful of words he hoped he'd never have to write.  While they were only active for a decade, they leave a huge crater in the music world.  Rarely can a band be so off the wall and unapproachable, yet be so loved.  With roots starting in post-hardcore, the band quickly changed up their sound into a more progressive delivery.  With an insane amount of members, The Mars Volta always sounded huge.  Strings, brass, and a myriad of percussion create a bombastic sound that channels salsa, rock, and psychedelic into one beautiful modge podge.  Always challenging, the band released albums that nearly wore on one's patience, with wild concepts and long run times.  However, the fervent "catchiness" and complex writing always made it worth it.  Added to that, mastermind Omar Rodriguez Lopez always reserved his most brilliant production skills for each of the band's six albums.

The word hiatus is much more hopeful than a break up, but the band is tight lipped on getting back together.  And while Noctourniquet was a lovely album, it didn't feel like the swan song it should have been.

Album Review: Stumbleine - Spiderwebbed

Album Rating: B

It’s safe to say that after a series of increasingly dull EPs, the idea of a Stumbleine full-length wasn’t particularly exciting. Up to this point, there were many who’d begun to dismiss the style as a whole as stagnant: seemingly safe in the knowledge that there was nothing left for this sugary sweet, dubstep-inspired strain of downtempo. But in surprise to all and not least myself, it seems that Stumbleine has batted down all misconceptions. Spiderwebbed shines as a glimmer of hope for the genre, and the best thing Stumbleine’s ever produced.

Artist Of The Day: Halestorm

In an alt-metal world that has practically stood still for the past 10 years or so, any sort of innovation is welcomed. Even if that innovation isn't much - more melodic guitars, a lead singer that doesn't sound like the lead singer of Seether/Nickelback/Theory Of A Deadman, anything - fans almost always appreciate something new. And while Halestorm aren't exactly reinventing the wheel so far, there's still something about their sound that's refreshing. Lead singer and guitarist LZZY captures the essence of classic hard rock artists like Joan Jett & The Blackhearts with a voice that, instead of being growly and annoying, stays clear and raw. It's probably the most distinctive feature of the band, although the instrumentation is also surprisingly good for a hard rock band like Halestorm are. The other major positive about the band is that their songs are surprisingly catchy - tracks like "I Miss The Misery" and "I Get Off" are good indicators of the band's style, with the power chords and hooks needed with modern hard rock and vocals separating the songs from the rest of the pack. Listening to their material, it's easy to see why such a young band has been signed to a major label already, and so far they've managed to prove their position there.

Facebook/Twitter

Interview with KJ Sawka (Pendulum)

After Pendulum, arguably one of the biggest drum & bass acts in the world at the time, broke up this summer, people had mixed reactions. Fans of their recent electro-rock style pined over their split, and the people who were severely disappointed with their shift from the classic jungle style of Hold Your Color decided that the split was a good idea. However, it's impossible to say that the six members of the band no longer influence the EDM world. Lead singer and bassist (and two of the three founding members) Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen are back in the spotlight as Knife Party, a huge electro duo who have cracked the DJ Mag Top 100 after only one year of existence. DJ Paul "El Hornet" Harding (the third founding member) is on tour under the Pendulum name, doing DJ sets all over the world with Pendulum MC Ben Verse. Guitarist Peredur Ap Gwynedd is apparently taking some time off in his home in Wales, much deserved after years of touring with the band.

Interview: Graph Rabbit

Graph Rabbit's Austin Donohue (L)

and Shy Kedmi (R)

Even in this age of limitless access and no-holds-barred exposure, music retains the capacity to surprise and delight like no other art form. A little over a month ago, I was all set to engrave my imaginary 'Album Of The Year' trophy with the name of The Walkmen, whose supreme latest offering Heaven had sat virtually unchallenged atop my mental list since it's release back in May. That, however, was before I was alerted to the existence of Snowblind, the debut LP from Brooklyn's Graph Rabbit that's currently converting all lucky enough to stumble upon it. A glorious hub of stark minimalism, still ambience and superlative beauty, the group's primordial sonic venture is the type of elegant, enveloping masterpiece which only crops up every so often, and even less so courtesy of practically unknown novices. It was my pleasure, then, to quiz singer/songwriter/ guitarist Austin Donohue concerning the group's origins, the making of the record and their future plans, all of which you can read below.

Artist of the Day: Japandroids

Japandroids is a fun band. It's hard to say that about artists that take themselves too seriously, but Japandroids releases material that is easy to listen to, not too over-produced, and has a raw sound that has a carefree vibe to it. The band released their second full-length this last June, and it's a work to be remembered. Not in a solemn way, either; it's a record that you listen to and enjoy thoroughly, nothing withheld, and in doing so, cheer yourself up, bring yourself around to have a good time. Songs like "Fire's Highway" and "Adrenaline Nightshift" bring lots of energy to their repertoire, which is a strong suit for the unrefined garage-rock band, and they really bring out the kind of performance a live show might bring out, but leaves it to be accessible on your phone or iPod, any time you want it. And after three years without a "real" release, critics were just as excited as fans; the lively track list was commended all around and the album was received with acclaim. It's not a surprise, though; one listen will tell you exactly why it was received so well, and why this lo-fi noise-rock duo strikes it well with so many people.

To listen to the album, you can stream it for free on their Polyvinyl Records page.

Artist of the Day: Vacationer

Vacationer's Gone is the reason why you should still believe in the endless possibilities that music can present us.  Even though Gone combines the ambient, quirky, and sophisticated electronic sounds of Deerhunter and Animal Collective with the free-flowing, summery, and relaxing sounds of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dirty Gold, the sound isn't what the most special thing about Gone.  Even though Gone has phenomenal love songs ("Be With You" and "Dreamlike,") even though Gone has great and grandiose rock songs ("Summer End" and "Everyone Knows,") and even though Gone has one of the 10 best songs of the year ("Good As New"), none of this is what makes Gone so inspiring and so reassuring.  The reason Gone is so special is because of the people who are making the album.

Royal's Reveries - On Genres

Genres are as important as they are devilish creatures. It goes without saying that we need genres for the sake of categorization, that we meticulous music devotees view music categorization no differently than having all of our iTunes album artwork as accurate as possible. It's a way of life for us. We divide bands into niches, into movements that share characteristics but also possess innumerable differences. While understandable, this is alarming, and highly problematic for those that care to ever be surprised.

Album Review: Code Orange Kids- Love is Love//Return to Dust

Album Rating: B

Many months ago, I had the opportunity to see Defeater with Touche Amore.  Known as the biggest acts in the scene right now, they didn't disappoint with putting on a nice show.  Two fine bands, really.  Yet it wasn't the aforementioned hardcore heavy-hitters that drew me in.  Sure, the promise of a great performance wrangled me in, but it was the supporting band, Code Orange Kids that truly sealed the deal.