midweek madness - artist spotlight #5: war tapes

Let's face it: jumping into the world of indie rock is akin to jumping into an expansive body of water filled with crocodiles.

Okay, let me elaborate.

The truth is, there's so much stuff out there that you're bound to be bitten by something. This week's spotlight is a magnificent example of this rule. No matter where you stand on the spectrum, War Tapes projects a modern-romantic, timeless sound that seems to transcend decades into the heart of rock.

I envision the best comparison to be kind of a Cure/Franz Ferdinand hybrid (because I can't quite seem to conceive of musical styles without first presenting the band in question as a hypothetical rockbaby - I apologise in advance for your nightmares); the sound is full, it's dance-able, and the vocals have a familiar, precious, introspective lilt.

War Tapes' self-titled EP came out in September of 2008, and now they're anticipating the release of their first full length, The Continental Divide, on 26 May 2009. Do yourself a favour and check out their stuff.

War Tapes, War Tapes (EP) (2008)

War Tapes - "Dreaming of You" (mp3|5.21MB)

As always, send lovemail/hatemail/anymail related to the Friday Five to fridayfiveradio@gmail.com. Requests are always considered and welcomed. See you next week!

midweek madness - tin hat trio

I've never really been into country. The occasional hit of bluegrass, maybe, when I'm in the mood for it. Sometimes I really wish I could like country music - real country music, the kind played by the crazy guys in flannel shirts who have fingers like lightning. It's almost a shame that something in my blood seems to revolt whenever I hear copious amounts of twang.¹

Fortunately, what I'm about to share with you isn't country. Why is the above relevant, then? Because every single music website I've visited in order to find a label that corrects this grievous error apparently has these guys listed as country, and I don't get it. If anything, Tin Hat Trio (now simply Tin Hat with the rotation of a few musicians since The Rodeo Eroded's release in 2002) projects a style that's teeming with early jazz influences sidled keenly next to a sound that recalls more of a genre identity crisis than any adherence to something as specific as "country."

The highlighted track today is "Holiday Joel," which is a light little instrumental number that sounds like a jam session in the elevator of an empty Italian restaurant. Surprise drums! Sounds like jazz to me. Excellent jazz at that. Another high point of this album is "Fear of the South" (does it hold as much irony for you as it does for me, dear reader?), which is avant-garde and artsy enough to knock any uptight indie snob off their feet. (Never mind that a more effective method of doing so would be to apply a dobro viciously to the midsection. But hey. No twang, remember?)

Tin Hat Trio - "Holiday Joel" (mp3|4.10MB)

So, what have we learned today? That's right. ID3 tags lie. Don't worry. The shock and betrayal wears off after a few minutes.


¹ I think Colin Meloy gets away with it occasionally only because I love him, and love is apparently deaf as well.

midweek madness - shock of pleasure

By this point in our relationship, I'm sure you've noticed my musical restlessness and complete inability to focus on any one genre at a particular point in time. Just ignore the whiplash - it should go away on its own in a few months (or, barring that, chiropractors are marvelous people - at least the ones I've met).

This Wednesday, I'd like to slow things down a bit. It's been a hectic week thus far, not to mention a crazy morning (kidnapping and bank robbery? in southern Maryland? seriously, guys) so it's only appropriate that I should post something with a little more chill.

Meet Shock of Pleasure, a downtempo electronica outfit hailing from Dallas. They have a style that makes you wonder if Perfume Tree and Thievery Corporation actually went back in time to create a psychedelic lovechild from the ether of their sounds. Which isn't to say that Shock of Pleasure's talent lies in mimicry; their music simply blends the finer aspects of trance and rhythm in order to put forward a most lovely mark for themselves on the world of electronic music.

Shock of Pleasure - "Spacetime" (mp3|5.92MB)

If the rest of the album (It's About Time) is like this - and yes, I feel like a horrible person because I haven't actually had the time to listen to it, which is sort of ironic in a pathetic sort of way - then I think they've subjected themselves to acquiring another wistful fangirl with a propensity for tripping while entirely sober.

midweek madness - holly springs sacred harp convention

In Southern Protestant areas in the United States, an old and beautiful form of music thrives, held as sacred to those who convene to sing it. Sacred Harp music derives its name from the shape note book from which the songs are sung ("shape note" is a term which refers to the identification of notes based on their degree in a scale using shapes such as triangles, squares, and diamonds for "fa, la, and mi" respectively), and is sung entirely a cappella.

Holly Springs Sacred Harp Convention - "Stratfield" (mp3|2.03MB)

This mp3 is from the recently released soundtrack of Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp, a 2006 documentary which follows the tradition of Sacred Harp singing as it continues to pervade churches and organisations in the rural South. It's a beautiful piece. The human voice truly is the most lovely instrument.

midweek madness - grampall jookabox

Once a week (barring technological complications, bad weather, and general laziness), I hope to share a song/artist that can only be described as "so weird that it's awesome."

Occasionally, I need a little aural freakout. It keeps life interesting. And it makes me smile. I don't know about you, but my brain works better when it's been scarred a little.

Grampall Jookabox, a spankin' ghetto-jungle-folk band from Indianapolis, released the Rill Bruh EP last month as a compilation EP/precursor for their upcoming album Ropechain (4 Nov 2008, Asthmatic Kitty). I have to say one thing: it's crazy. But it's crazy sweet. If alien musicians landed their UFO in a trailer park and started drinking moonshine by the railroad tracks, this would be the result.

Grampall Jookabox - That Steamboat Gothic Stomp (mp3|5.28MB)

(Bonus: Like it and want more? Asthmatic Kitty Records has the whole EP available for download on their website here! [8 tracks, 47MB])