Band of the Week: Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin

[April 28 - May 4]
Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Oh No! Oh My!, The Boy Least Likely To, Vampire Weekend.
Synopsis: Just go here, because we know you are curious about Boris Yeltsin.
Makes You Want To...: Sing; Act silly; Read a book.
[Myspace]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yelstin.

Well, I certainly had fun with all those crazy foreign bands. I've heard more Polysics than I think I ever have, and relistened to The Whitest Boy Alive's Dreams more times than I care to retrospect about. Lucy and the Popsonics totally deserved more credit, and Yelle's Pop-Up is even in the mail maintenent, soon to arrive in my mail box. But we return Stateside now, with a slew of new faces who will please your senses.

Let's face it: all the adults we used to hang around back in the good ol' days reiterated one gem of wisdom. "Never judge a book by it's cover." Sure, it was good advice, but you must admit, some book covers are really pretty! A band's name is their bookcover, and when speaking about band names, there is no lack of creativity. Say Hi To Your Mom, Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah, !!!, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Oomph!, Up up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, Tacks the Boy Disaster... the list goes on and on.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin joins the ranks of the quirky, ever so strangely named ensembles. This playful quartet hailing from Springfield, Missouri who has dedicated their name to certain Russian presidents plays an equally quirky, but very fun style of indie-pop. They've been getting more credibility in recently after a slew of blog features. But SSLYBY has style to back up an interesting name: with cute, quaint songs about love and fun times, you can't really go wrong!

SSLYBY is currently on tour through may in support of their latest musical venture, Perishing. I assure you, reader, if I didn't have finals all next week, I would be lavishing in their lovely tunes when they come to Denton, Texas. They also have their debut album, Broom, ready for you to divulge. You might have guessed it, but yes, you are correct - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin has a Myspace. Beyond this, Someone Still Loves You... is not a band you're going to want to miss. As you bask in the lovely music, I say, have a good day!

Death Cab for Cutie on Daytrotter

Oh my heart, how you have not forsaken me. We've waited so earnestly and so patiently for your endowment of musical love, and thus you have provided!

If you can't tell by the subject, Death Cab's recently recorded performance at Futureappletree Studio 1 has been officially released today. Six songs, hot off the recording presses, are ready to weave their way through the airwaves and your hearts for free download courtesy of the large largess Daytrotter offers us. And they (Death Cab or Daytrotter - either way you look at it) did not skimp on their provisions toward our excellent appetites. Not only did Death Cab record four renditions of some old tunes (The New Year, Styrofoam Plates, A Movie Script Ending, and Why You Want To Live Here), but they also granted listeners with the tantalizing tracks that will tingle taste buds far and wide. "Cath" and "Talking Bird," are both freshly released tracks from Death Cab's upcoming album, Narrow Stairs, which drops into stores on May 13th.

I'm sure you know that Death Cab has a Myspace, where they're featuring the first single off of Narrow Stairs, "I Will Possess Your Heart." I'm sure you also know that Daytrotter is one of the neatest websites out on the interblag presently. But honestly, if you aren't already listening to Death Cab's performance... well, what's keeping you?

Band of the Week: The Whitest Boy Alive

[21-27 April]
The Whitest Boy Alive
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Kings Of Convenience, Peter Bjorn & John, Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
Synopsis: Deutscher Tanz mit einem Gespür nur Erlend Øye kann zur Verfügung stellen.
Makes You Want To...: Tanz, Nut, singen.
[Myspace]



This month, Voilà! is covering foreign bands!
Eine Woche, eine Gruppe. Sie verstehen, daß die Weise Sachen sind.
This week, the featured artist is The Whitest Boy Alive.

The key with modern music is that it is new, hot off the experimental presses and ready to hit the ears of unsuspecting audiences everywhere. Now don't get me wrong, anyone can make modern music as long as they're living in present tense. The key with good modern music is that it pushes the boundaries of music as a whole. The idea of doing something new and inventive that no artist before you has every done, and that other artists will be emulating in the future.

That's where The Whitest Boy Alive. This quaint quartet spawning out of Berlin may sing in English, but they bring a sound that those Stateside have yet to dream up. Using constant, lively rhythm throughout each song with a steady beat, The Whitest Boy Alive makes positively danceable the entire way through.

You may notice the subtle tones of a farmiliar voice as you listen along to The Whitest Boy Alive. You aren't imagining things, or losing your mind; that sweet, hypnotic voice that's coming through your speakers also happens to be the dulcet tones of Erlend Øye, the Norwegian national who is also flaunts his musical credibility with his solo songwriting as well as with his folk-pop duo, Kings Of Convenience, with bandmate Eirik Glambek Bøe.

But I digress, The Whitest Boy Alive will have you dancing and dreaming to their mystifying music 'til the sun comes up. They presently have their only album, Dreams, which was released two years ago (which is excellent, mind you!). The Whitest Boy Alive is about to embark on a short European tour, and the sky is the limit once they finish! Of course, they have a Myspace, where they're featuring a nifty unreleased instrumental (which I probably have listened to way too much). They are also the final foreign band (officially), concluding the month of cultural differences and great music. I can only hope you have enjoyed, and that you have an excellent week!

Daytrotter + Death Cab

Hot off the presses from camp Daytrotter, this little band who nobody really knows about, colloquially known as Death Cab for Cutie, dropped by Futureappletree Studio 1 in Illinois two days ago. While there, they graced the young music blog with an exclusive 7-song session, all of which was recorded for craving music lovers. As Gibbard, Walla, Harmer, and McGerr left, continuing their huge tour, they leave us with the agonizing suspense of waiting to hear tonnes of new material from their latest endevour, Narrow Stairs.

The news is way too exciting for me, but so as to save face from my obsessiveness with Death Cab, I'll have you know that you should definitely keep your eyes peeled and your eager ears ready and waiting. Death Cab has recorded three unreleased tracks off of Narrow Stairs, and gave a few old tunes a whirl for histrionics. The article and accompanying music should be up for your reading/listening pleasures sometime in the next two weeks. For now though, you can always amble over to Daytrotter, which is presently featuring Ezra Furman and The Harpoons, who sounds like a clash between Bob Dylan and Hot Chip.

Still dying for new Death Cab for Cutie business? They have a Myspace. If you haven't been there in awhile, it may shock and awe you that they have their debut single from Narrow Stairs already posted, entitled "I Will Possess Your Heart." A definite must-hear song with a long instrumental introduction, which makes me wonder if they've been listening to a lot of Explosions In The Sky or their own Stability EP a bit too much. But if you'd excuse me, I have to become a bit less excited so I seem to retain my sanity; more Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin for me!

Band of the Week: Polysics

[14-20 Shigatsu]
Polysics
Sounds Like: Experimental/Electronic/New Wave
Drinking Buddies: The Pillows, Daft Punk, Lucy and the Popsonics.
Synopsis: すべてに間違って行くビデオゲーム。 (A video game gone horribly wrong).
Makes You Want To...: ダンス; 演劇のビデオゲーム; 狂気に行きなさい.
[Myspace]



This month, Voilà! is featuring foreign bands!
1 日の週、聞くべき1 バンド。典型的なルーチンを知っている
This week, the featured artist is Polysics.


Trying to get that Japanese text up there was an adventure in itself. WHEW! But hey, now I can see Japanese words! Woo! If you haven't caught

Anyway, this week, we're featuring the wild, quirky quartet known as Polysics. These wild children hailing out of Tokyo, Japan have a taste for the unusual. Using tonnes of electronic noises, as well as the fast-paced, intense J-Rock one would expect from such experts in the field, Polysics breaks down heavily textured songs to lose your mind to.

Everything from guitar solos to wild bleeps and bloops from their synthesizers make Polysics sound like a deranged, out of control 8-bit video game. I say this in the most complimentary way possible! Polysics' music is very out there, but can have just about any dancing to the playful, wild J-Rock. They even site one of their biggest musical influences of that band Devo, who recorded "Whip It" back in the 80s. C'mon, you've got to respect that. And dance to it!

Polysics presently has... well you see they.... okay, I'll be frank, they have way too many albums to even begin to list and properly do them justice. Suffice it to say, they have a few noteworthy albums out, most prominently their Polysics or Die!!!!, but not forgetting to mention Now Is The Time! and Neu just to name a VERY few. Obviously they have a Myspace, but you should also check out their website... it has a lot more information than I could ever provide in such a small entry. The news from camp Polysics has been quite quiet as of late, but that can only mean delectable music is being conjured up. Or so we can hope!

Colin Meloy Live at The Granada Theater

On Tuesday, here in Dallas, excitement brewed as the troubadour Colin Meloy wandered in for the second show of his solo tour which he recently began in Austin the day prior. Colin has set out on the road this time in support of his new, live, solo album, Colin Meloy Sings!, as well as his latest cover album adventure, Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke.

The opening act was Laura Gibson, who played through a nice set of traditional-styled folk tunes. Her songs were soft and mellow, and her voice clear with a tang. Sadly, some of the attendees of the show were a bit too inebriated and social to pay their attention, but such is the risk one takes with music that doesn't grab attention. Laura is a great artist, but better heard around a campfire with good friends.

Colin was up next. The backstage crew at the Granada had a mix-up with the curtain after the set change, and upon attempting to raise it, the curtain slowly lowered itself... right as Colin stepped on. But Colin turned the show into a comedy as well as a musical, and was a good sport. He even got the full applause from the audience for two introductions! Can't complain, eh?

Colin opened with the daunting 10-minute "California One/Youth And Beauty Brigade," and it was underway. Colin soon thereafter admitted to being ailed by a cold, and on appropriate pronouns throughout the show, he would accidentally forget some of the lyrics. But despite the slight awkwardness for him, the crowd enjoyed themselves and helped him sing along. Even Laura joined Colin for their cover of Sam Cooke's "Cupid." And when Colin wasn't blazing through Decemberist songs, he was chatting up the crowd with amiable eloquence.

The finale was a super-cute song that has been completely unheard til now. "This is a song which I have never played to anyone but my girlfriend." (Side note: Carson Ellis is an amazing artist, and you should definitely check her out.) After he finished, he wandered off stage with his glass of red wine. But as the crowd demanded an encore, he returned with his scratchy voice to take requests. His first encore was "Engine Driver," and the crowd happily hummed and sang along. "Since you're all in a singing mood," Colin says upon finishing, "I'll play a song which relies heavily upon you. And if you don't know the lyrics, follow your neighbour." With that, Colin launched into "The Mariner's Revenge Song" (my personal favourite). The concert evolved from Colin Meloy Sings! into Colin Meloy Sing-Alongs! as the crowd harmonized to the eerie sailor's ballad. And with a few last fast paced lyrics sung out by the crowd, Colin bowed out for the night.

Mr. Meloy may have a cold, but Colin and Laura Gibson's set of US shows has just started. You can go to this previous article for tour dates, or wander over to The Decemberists' Myspace, or Laura Gibson's Myspace. You can also catch two videos right down below.

Band of the Week: Lucy and the Popsonics

[7 de Abril - 13 de Abril]
Lucy and the Popsonics
Sounds Like: Electronic/Experimental
Drinking Buddies: Ghostland Observatory, Vive La Fete!, Holy Fuck
Synopsis: Um duo portugues de caos.
Makes You Want To...: Danca, disturbio, guincho.
[Myspace]



This month, Voilà! is covering foreign bands!
Uma semana, uma banda. Você sabe a rotina.
This week, the featured artist is Lucy and the Popsonics.


It may be a little late in the week, but Voilà! is still here. And Voilà! is still continuing with our month-long theme of foreign bands to be featured!

This week, we take a trip to the tropical lands of the Amazon, Brazil. In this giant of a country resides the duo Lucy and the Popsonics. Sounding something like Holy Fuck gone wrong, with less members and a louder drum machine, Lucy and the Popsonics belt out their wild Portuguese lyrics and fast paced, speaker-breaking music to keep your body moving.


Lucy and the Popsonics currently have their debut album with the quirky title, A fabula (ou a farsa?) de dois electropandas, for international sale. Of course they have a Myspace, but they also have Fotolog, Flickr, Youtube, and so much more. But you can find that out all on their Myspace, as well as savouring in the opportunity to download my personal favourite song of Lucy and the Popsonics, "Coracao empacotado," for free! Have fun, and a good (end of the) week.

Architecture In Helsinki and The New EP

Boys and girls, sit down. This is story time.

Once upon a time, there were a troupe of travelers who were named after the architecture in an large Finnish city. Though these merry gadabouts were from Melbourne, Australia, were and nowhere near their likeness in Scandanavian Europe, they were known far in wide (in places like Scandanavian Europe!) for their wonderful songs, crazy and disparate instrumentation, and lately their wild party antics that were illustrated with their latest musical endeavour, the album Places Like This.

But as the parties spawned from the release of Places Like This slowly began to subside, our fair friends, Architecture In Helsinki, felt it was time to depart from their endless stream of happiness. AIH has announced that their last show in the United States for the next year will be the Coachella Festival, along with the countless other amazing artists (including Vampire Weekend, Minus the Bear, recently mentioned Holy Fuck, and fellow fake-named musicians (who coincidentally are from Scandanavia) I'm From Barcelona). Then it's back to the distant lands of Australia.

But Architecture In Helsinki won't leave those States which are United without a bang! AIH is releasing their last EP in connection to Places Like This very-very soon. Furthermore, they have posted brand new songs, remixes, and mash-ups of their own material on their Myspace mere days ago! These are eventful happenings you should endeavour to listen to. Head to their Myspace right about now! And don't forget to snag your tickets to Coachella 2008... if you can!

And this is totally just some post-script jargon, but if you didn't know, all of Voilà!'s featured artists this month will be foreign bands. But... as of this week, I have yet to write about an American band. Totally by accident. I just thought that was kinda neat.

Nude (Radiohead) - Holy Fuck

Those experimental rock prodigies from Canada, Holy Fuck, have really pulled a nice trick out of their bag. Via the site RadioheadRemix, Holy Fuck has remixed their own rendition of Nude by Radiohead, from Radiohead's latest venture In Rainbows. For those who weren't happy with the quietude brought forth from the subtle original song, Holy Fuck has developed Nude very well, and it is worth an eager ear.