The Soft Drugs: Tim Walsh returns home article
Our article on the local Boston group, The Soft Drugs, is now up at Ajisignal.com
Download: “Don’t Sweat It” and “Family of Four”
Upcoming Shows:
PJ Ryan’s
Saturday, March 8th
TW Walsh solo show at The Red Door in Portsmouth, NH
March 17th
Oxfam Cafe at Tufts University
April 7th
Other related links:
Official Website
Last FM site
Myspace
Albums on Amazon
Any Jeremy Fisher Fans out there?
If so, we’re giving away a couple of tickets to his upcoming show at the Paradise Lounge on 2/25 here in Boston.
To win the tickets, all you have to do is answer the following trivia question and if you’re the first one to get it right, you win. Post your answers in the comment section.
Q. What is the real name of the artist Bon Iver? And what does Bon Iver mean?
Download a track from Bon Iver’s recent re-release on Jajgauwar records, For Emma, Forever Ago – “Skinny Love”
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.
Purchase For Emma, Forever Ago (Label) (Amazon MP3 store) (eMusic)
Don’t know who the heck Jeremy Fisher is? Watch the following YouTube clip of Jeremy playing “Cigarette”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3779019364369535983
Hola, como estas? Muy Bien.
No, my Spanish is actually not that great. But I did my best. I may have told a few people that they smell like cheese by accident when looking for the Plaza Meyor but in the end, everyone was quite understanding. And no words can express the gratitude that Amanda and I have towards our two tour guides, Taiki and Jose. If you need a tour guide, let me know. Taiki is fluent in 10 languages and can take the best pictures. Ha.
I’ve been slow going on the review front but I’ve been in the works on a new article for the city based website, Ajisignal.com. My first article for this site was for the Providence, RI native, Deer Tick. This time around we decided to take on a more seasoned artist. No, we’re not talking about gray haired and aging indie rockers such as Dinosaur Jr., but rather a Boston based, former Seattle transplant, Tim Walsh (aka TW Walsh), and his new band, The Soft Drugs.
So keep your eyes on Ajisignal.com over the next couple days. Or, you can keep your eyes posted here as I will most likely be posting when it goes up on their site.
Finally, I want to share with you the U.S. tour dates for M83. I haven’t talked about his new album much but I’m really excited for it because every review and bio of the recording fits right in line with my love for the 80’s. M83 (real name: Anthony Gonzalez), has come out saying that the main influences behind “Saturdays = Youth” are the many 80’s based bands and movies that helped develop him into the artist he is today. From bands such as Tears for Fears and Cocteau Twins as well as the movies of John Hughes; Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink to just name a few.
For the album, Jose brought along producers Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros, Sugarcubes, Cocteau Twins, Suede, Clinic) and Ewan Pearson (Tracey Thorn, Ladytron and The Rapture).
On the road Jose is bringing along the following band members – Loic Maurin on Drums, Pierre-Marie Maulini on bass and guitar and featured album vocalist Morgan Kibby (of LA-based band The Romanovs) on vocals and keyboards. Jose will be playing vocals, guitar and keyboard.
The album is due April 15th on Mute and the single, “Colours”, is being released on February 26th and includes an exclusive remix by Jori Hulkkonen. Stream the song on their Myspace page or stream it via WMP or RealPlayer.
M83 on Myspace (HERE)
M83’s official website (HERE)
“Saturdays = Youth” tracklist:
You, Appearing
Kim & Jessie
Skin Of The Night
Graveyard Girl
Couleurs
Up!
We Own The Sky
Highway Of Endless Dreams
Too Late
Dark Moves Of Love
Midnight Souls Still Remain
U.S. Tour Dates:
Tue 5/20 – Los Angeles @ Echoplex
Wed 5/21 – San Francisco @ Great American Music Hall
Fri 5/23 – Portland, OR@ Doug Fir Lounge
Sat 5/24 – Vancouver @ Richards on Richards
Sun 5/25 – Seattle @ Neumos
Wed 5/28 – Minneapolis @ Triple Rock Club
Thu 5/29 – Chicago @ Empty Bottle
Fri 5/30 – Toronto @ The Mod Club
Sat 5/31 – Montreal @ Cabaret Music Hall
Mon 6/2 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
Tue 6/3 – Brooklyn @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Wed 6/4 – NYC @ Bowery Ballroom
Fri 6/6 – Philadelphia @ First Unitarian Church
Sat 6/7 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Chip break, Spain, 80’s
So I’ve been on a business trip in Las Vegas this past week and I’m about to head out to Spain on Tuesday for a little vacation with Amanda. Pretty pumped for Spain. So with all this travel that obviously means that my posting is going to suffer.
First, let me just say that Hot Chip will be absent from the square as I have been overloading on them as of late. But if you know me, you know how passionate I can get about a single band, especially a band that moves me as much as Hot Chip does during their live shows. We do have some pictures from this past show in New York City that I will post but I won’t be giving any indepth review of that show.
My only thoughts about the show were that I had fun and I was very drunk. Started with the libations around 12 as I met the rents at JG Melons, had a drink at Sptizer’s near the Cake Shop where we attempted to see the free Teenagers show, and then kept the drinking going until the show at Highline at 9:30. Putting aside my toxic level, I will say that it wasn’t my favorite Chip show. They seemed a bit off. However, even an off night for Hot Chip is still a night of fun and dance. Just like the ‘Fork review said, even though this wasn’t their break out performance, they’re still a dominate force.
Recent Inbox
This 80’s radio / remix blog contacted me and if you’re a child of the 80’s like I, then you must check out this site and download some of their mixes. Most of them are of the female 80’s artists such as Madonna and Olivia Newton-John, but they have some great 80’s resources and stuff that makes for great late night dance parties.
Visit Retro Remixes: http://retro-remixes.blogspot.com/
Another rock n roll revival band that I’m sure you heard of (if you live in NYC) that made it in my inbox is The Teenage Prayers. At first, I’m not totally vibing the lead singer’s, Tim Adams, approach to the whinny, off key rock vocal style. However, a Philly soul rock legend, Solomon Burke, sees something in these fellas to the point where he produced their first EP, Ten Songs. And on their follow up album, Everyone Thinks You’re the Best, the founder of the Dream Syndicate, Steve Wynn, steps up to produce. So while they’re not standing out as this overly impressive rock revival band that some other folks are saying, they definitely seem worth more of a listen.
Visit The Teenage Prayers online – (Myspace) (Official website)
Watch the video for “Is this as Good As it Gets” – (YouTube)
Download MP3’s – (HYPE MACHINE)
They play in Boston on the 15th of February at the Lizard Lounge with The Great Bandini.
They have a whole bunch of dates in March as well:
2.15.08 – Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA
2.19.08 – Mercury Lounge, New York, NY
3.06.08 – Club Cafe, Pittsburgh PA
3.07.08 – Canal Street Tavern, Dayton OH
3.08.08 – Northside Tavern, Cincinnati OH
3.11.08 – House of Blues – Cambridge Room, Dallas TX
3.12.08 – SXSW – Austin, TX
3.13.08 – SXSW – Austin, TX
3.14.08 – SXSW – Austin, TX
3.15.08 – SXSW – Austin, TX
3.16.08 – Circle Bar, New Orleans LA
3.19.08 – Star Bar, Atlanta GA – w/ The Hymns, Deer Tick
3.20.08 – The Milestone, Charlotte NC – w/ The Hymns, Deer Tick
3.21.08 – Slim’s Downtown, Raleigh NC – w/ Hymns, Deer Tick
3.22.08 – The Lo-Fi Social Club, Baltimore MD
3.28.08 – TT the Bear’s, Boston MA – w/ The Shods
3.29.08 – Sound Fix, Brooklyn, NY
So until next time, I leave you with this Solomon Burke classic, “Cry To Me”, which was featured in the 80’s classic, Dirty Dancing. If your not one who can stomach sensual scenes, you may want to skip this video.
Hot Chip: Made in the Dark album review
Hot Chip
Made in the Dark (EMI / Astralwerks)
Release: Feb. 5, 2008 (US) and Feb. 4, 2008 (UK)
Recommendable to people who: Like Hot Chip, can handle drum machine versus real drums from time to time, like to dance, fan of krautrock, fans of funky electronic soul, experimental music
Sometimes a band comes along at just the right moment. Sometimes a band takes those moments and instead of just reveling in its present glory (cause, it’s not horrible to enjoy the fruits of your labor), it thinks of the future and how they plan to keep themselves going. How they can keep it fresh while at the same time echoing their past experiences that have brought them to this moment.
To me, Hot Chip is a band that embodies such a group.
Those familiar with the fivesome from London probably know them as the tongue and cheek electro pop crew that is both prolific in the studio, whether mixing their own songs or their peers, and have exceptional chops during their live acts. In fact, it’s their latter talent, their ability to take live shows to the next level, that has helped contribute to the direction Made in the Dark has taken.
You’re probably wondering if they sound completely different. Do they get serious? Have they toned down the electronic influences?
My response is that they do sound different. They do get serious and at times they have toned down the electro craziness. But, as mentioned above, that doesn’t mean they’ve left these influences out to dry.
The first few moments of the album come at us like a ton of bricks. And I mean you’re hit pretty hard. By now I’m sure most of you have heard the Todd Rundgren produced track, “Shake A Fist”, and “Ready for the Floor”. However, I’m sure most have not heard the album opener, “Out At the Pictures”. It starts off with an electronic pulse that buzzes in your ear until the first synth line comes chugging away like a train gaining speed. Almost as if it’s revving up the album’s engines and preparing for the long and bumpy road ahead. Finally, in comes the drum and bass which at first gives us some break beat wildness where we’re not sure where to put our feet. Then, right as the break beat, breaks, the beat comes back in with a fluid “four on the floor” disco pulse that helps guide your toes and off we go to dance city.
After getting slammed in the face with the first three tracks, the show stopper, “Bendable Poseable”, sends us for a whirl. It’s not the most danceable little bugger on the album nor the most attractive. But it has it’s moments. It has the Hot Chip cheekiness we’re all use to with the wacky vocal tweeks and 80’s geek outs. I swear I can hear a sound bite from the Labyrinth soundtrack in here some where.
“We’re Looking For A Lot of Love” is the reason you’ve probably heard that there is more soul influences on Made in the Dark then on Coming on Strong or The Warning. This is the kind of song you buy subwoofers for. The bass soothes your ear as Alexis’ vocals reel us in. Awesome stuff.
With just the first few tracks under our belt it’s clear to us that Hot Chip is taking their experiences on the road and infusing them with their studio work. Many songs include sections that are clearly meant for exploration. One of the amazing feats of Hot Chip is their ability to pull you so in to their songs that they will introduce new beats or new melodies that weren’t even related to the song from the get go yet it all seems very congruent.
It’s tough to pinpoint who is doing what in the band besides Alexis’ vocal work but it’s very well known that Al Doyle (guitar, synthesizer, percussion) brings a higher level of musicianship then any other member. If you happened to catch LCD Soundsystem live during the 2007 tour of the immaculate album, Sound of Silver, you then saw Al playing guitar. One thing I noticed during the show here in Boston was how Al seemed to take control in the background of the timing between all the musicians, tapping his head, pointing to his guitar and counting off the beat with his fingers. Most of the guitar riffs you hear are crafted by Owen Clarke, a good portion of the programming is on the shoulders of Felix Martin but in the end, it’s the energy that brought founding members Joe Goddard and Alexis Taylor together at the Elliot School in Putney, London that drives the force behind Hot Chip.
The move towards a more serious Hot Chip is heard loud and clear on the title track, “Made in the Dark”. With it’s slow groove (another shout out to their love for soul) and Alexis’ careful treatment to the delivery of each word, this song is no joke.
As the first half of the album was a sure sign that the party is just getting started, the last half is exactly the opposite. You can hear it in the vocals…
“it was a really long time ago when you were a friend of mine, and I would really like you to know it would ease my mind, I would hold you up again, if you asked me” (“Touch To Much”)
You it hear it in the music. You hear it in their energy (“One Pure Thought”), both high and low (“In the Privacy of our Love”). I can just picture the lighters waving during the latter song, which closes out the set…ahem, I mean, album.
This flow fits the mold of any perfectly structured live show. The fact that a majority of the album was recorded in their own space and often times, recorded in one take, goes to show how comfortable they feel playing with each other.
In fact, if they came out this Saturday night in New York City at the Highline Ballroom and played the entire album, front to back, I wouldn’t care. In fact, I would be very, very happy.
Hot Chip on Tour:
Feb. 2nd, Highline Ballroom, New York (Sold Out)
Feb. 4th, El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles (Sold Out)
See the full UK Tour (HERE)
April 10th, Starlight Ballroom, Philadelphia
April 11th, 9:30 Club, Washington
April 12th, Terminal 5, New York
April 14th, Paradise, Boston
April 15th, Metropolis, Montreal
April 16th, Phoenix, Toronto
April 17th, Vic Theatre, Chicago
April 18th, First Avenue, Minneapolis
April 21st, Commodore, Vancouver
April 22nd, Showbox, Seattle
April 23rd, Crystal Ballroom, Portland
April 24th, The Fillmore, San Francisco
Purchase Made in the Dark (UK) (US)
Hot Chip on Mysapce (HERE)
Hot Chip official Website (HERE)
Don’t trust my recommendation, stream the full album before purchasing (HERE)
Download: “Made in the Dark”
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Watch the video for “Ready for the Floor”:
About Editor
Name: Luke "Kip" Owen
Location: Boston, MA
Contact: kippy[AT]hip2besquare[DOT]net
Twitter: twitter.com/kipdog
Youtube: youtube.com/kipdog
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