It's Business Time! FOTC Season 2 Promos

I forgot how much these two make me laugh. New Zealand's musical-comedy duo The Flight of the Conchords are returning to HBO with a second season this January and here are some funny promo videos for it. The first season was thoroughly amazing and from the looks of it this season will be just as good.








Season 1 Band Meeting


[Buy FOTC Season 1]

Department of Eagles - In Ear Park

Department of Eagles consist of singer/songwriter Daniel Rossen of the band Grizzly Bear, and Fred Nicolaus. The two met as roommates at NYU and formed the group around 2000-2001. They released an album in 2003, Whitey On The Moon UK, that was re-released in 2007 under the name The Cold Nose. I've yet to hear the album, but from what I've read the songs were written when they were really young so naturally it's a complete different sound than their current record. I'm still interested though.

Given the recent success of Grizzly Bear and how much Rossen plays a part in that band, it was interesting to learn that he was going to release another side project album with his old friend. Especially at a time when Grizzly Bear are in the midst of recording a new album. In an interview with Artist Direct, Rossen talks about how the difference between the songs on In Ear Park and Grizzly Bear is that they are far more personal. Indeed, the record is dedicated to his father who passed away last year.

Now I'm a fan of Grizzly Bear. I really like their style and the new stuff is sounding fantastic. However, I think this Department of Eagles record is better than any of Grizzly Bear's albums. The sounds are very similar: weird chord structures, hauntingly beautiful melodies. The difference though lies in the focused, consistency of In Ear Park.

The title-track opener projects the overall mood of the album: a son trying to recollect the memories of his father and to never forget him. Most of the instrumentation is very stripped down, intimate, and alludes itself to a gorgeous sounding authenticity. Folky acoustic guitar, chilling piano, deep bassey percussive sounds all play a huge role in the album, yet the excitement comes from the very subtle detail of added instrumentation throughout each song. "Around the Bay" slowly blooms with background bass vocals, light key melodies, and stomping percussion. It's like a pleasant dream gone bad and you can't figure out where to run to or how to wake up.

While most songs are the type that grow, there are exceptions which provide a delicate balance to the album's dark side. A vintage-sounding bassline grooves along with lush string arrangements on album standout, "No One Does It Like You" creating some sweet pop goodness. Songs written by Nicolaus also carry a much more pop feel. On "Teenagers", piano delicately treads alongside his soothing voice as a swirl of mystical strings lie in the background. It has the feeling of a really good Christmas song.

Main Point: Department of Eagles - In Ear Park is shaping up to be one of the best records to come out this year. It may take some time to really get into it as the songs don't latch out, they mostly start simple and slowly grow into rich, layered compositions. The beauty is in the detail so give it the attention it deserves and preferably listen to it on good headphones/speakers.






Bonus: Live Alt-Version "No One Does It Like You" The chorus is sublime.




[Buy In Ear Park]

[DOE Homepage]

King Tuff - Was Dead

I'd like to take you back to the year 1975. It was summer.
You're cruising down the open highway with nothing holding you back.
Your destination is unknown. It doesn't matter at all.
All that matters is that you just keep driving.
The adrenaline keeps you alive.

My friend Harpal played this album for me last night and it sounds great. It's surprising this was made this year. It sounds like something that would come right out of the 70s. For fans of 1970s/punk/powerpop/rocknroll.

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Underexposed: Thomas Function

When I'm looking through my favorite records of this year, one artist that I really dig that isn't getting enough attention is this four piece from Alabama, Thomas Function. Their debut full length, Celebration, combines the perfect mix of raw garage punk and catchy pop melodies. Their sound is all about having a good time. Singer/Guitarist Joshua Macero carries a voice that would lend itself greatly to drunken sing-alongs. Keyboardist Zack Jeffries provides soulful organ touches that blend in well with Travis Thompson's driving basslines. Their sound of course wouldn't be complete without music's finest instruments, the tambourine and shaker. They're the band that you wish were always playing the house party you're attending. There's no big message, simply to just have fun. Life is short.





[Buy Thomas Function Music]
[Myspace]

Test

I’ve been meaning to start one of these for a while and instead of continuing to sit on it I decided to just start it. This blog will focus mainly on new music, particularly of the indie genre, but along the way there might be other things that I feel like evangelizing about. My hope is that whatever interests you on here you go out and seek more of. This is the end of my first post. Yay.