Voilà!

Peachcake is Back!!! (They were never gone, but I was!)

2011-05-28T14:50:00.005-05:00

Hello, friends! It has been a while (seriously a while, probably at least half a year but probably longer) since I've posted...anything. I'm sorry. I'm a busy lady with lots of things going on, always. But listen, this is worthy of me digging my password out of my brain to get everyone in on this action.

Everybody knows that Voila! is collectively a huge Peachcake fan. We always have been, and we certainly always will be. If you didn't know...now you do, and don't forget it. From our first post about Peachcake way the hell back in 2008, we've been mesmerized.

So, time to get down to business. I'm pretty nervous about writing this post since I haven't written one in a while and I want to do justice to this EP.

Today upon logging onto my Facebook, I received a chat message from my friend Stefan Pruett. I'm name dropping because he is the man. He's Peachcake's singer, who, after meeting me many years ago (I'M FULL OF COMMAS AND I'M SORRY BUT I HAVEN'T TAKEN AN ENGLISH CLASS IN A YEAR,) he has been relentlessly kind and patient. I say patient because no matter how many times he sends me an update and I pass it on to Chris, he still is kind enough to send me information about his next project. Now that the timing is right and it is summer, I hear from him again and have the opportunity to listen immediately and get writing! Now I'm writing but also stalling, accidentally. The point of this paragraph: I wanted to set up the next paragraph, where I tell you about the wonderful music that Stefan sent to me.

For those who don't know, Peachcake is an electronic and vocal ensemble from Pheonix, Arizona. They've been around for a while, and at some point when I wasn't looking, they transitioned from a rough early-Fruity-Loops-and-keytar-esque (no offense, Stefan! I still loved and love it!) sound to a mature, polished group. While this sound is new to me in regards to Peachcake, it still retains the soul that I remember from way back in my freshman or sophomore year of high school when I saw them for my first time opening for Hellogoodbye.

Peachcake, however, no longer constitutes an opening act. I've been to a few of their shows (unfortunately I have not made it to all of the ones in my area T_T) and those who have as well know that they put on an act that would make Lady Gaga shake in her boots to follow. I mean, a seriously colorful, interactive show complete with a feeling that will never leave you.

The new sound of Peachcake is organized, polished and greatly matured in comparison to Peachcake circa-"Don't Act Like You Know More About Internet Cafe than Me". I've been listening to this free EP (sorry, you'll have to wait until the end to get it. Or just scroll down and click...but I suggest reading the post anyway.) for the past hour, wondering what I missed in the past few years that morphed Peachcake into this whole new genre, almost.

I'm having a hard time picking a favorite track from their new EP, This Wasn't Our Plan. I want to go one-by-one and talk about all of them, but I don't want anyone to have preconceived notions when listening to each track. Each of you will have a different experience listening to each track, and that's what's so beautiful about it music. So I will quit my rambling, and just say this: I don't know if the world is prepared for the change that Peachcake is planning to bring, but I know that Peachcake is prepared to change the world.

Download Peachcake's new EP, This Wasn't Our Plan for FREE at Bandcamp!

You won't regret it for a second!

Video: Mobile Phone Commercial

2011-04-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

As if you didn't already know, Voilà! is a music blog. Fascinating, astounding, completely unheard of, I know. But music isn't just limited to the miniscule amount of bands that we feature here. No, no, the realm of music stretches far and wide, from the biggest stage at the largest festival to the smallest amp or most quietly played guitar by the kid who doesn't want to wake his parents up at night. Music is big, and everywhere, and though I can't feature it all here, I can certainly help anyone reading Voilà! glimpse some cool stuff.

Which brings me to today's video. NTT Docomo, a Japanese phone company, is marketing their latest and greatest product, a phone with wood paneling instead of plastic or aluminum. And sure, they could've shown all the hip young'ins using their fancy-pants phone all around Shinjuku or something. But YAWNERAMA, that's so passé. You've got to intrigue with your commercials, snare the attention of the masses. So, how do you do that?

Apparently with a massive mount of creativity poured into a remarkably simple concept: wood and music. I could go on, but this is one of those entries on Voilà! where it's much better to show than tell. Turn your speakers up loud, sit back, and watch the magic of their unique interpretation of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach.

Band of the Week: Apollo 18 (아폴로18)

2011-04-06T14:30:00.001-05:00

[April 4 - 10]

Apollo 18 (아폴로18)
Sounds Like: Experimental / Post-Rock / Shoegaze
Terroir: Seoul, Korea
Drinking Buddies: Wax on Radio, And So I Watch You From Afar, Battles

Synopsis: An hybrid of spacey post-rock and rockin' post-hardcore.

Makes You Want To: Rock out; Scream; Gaze.
[Official] / [Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Apollo 18 (아폴로18).

The digital age is a magnificent thing, especially in terms of music. Only thirty, sometimes even twenty years ago, we were extremely limited on what we could hear musically. You were either listening to the local music stations in your town - oftentimes, frankly, which can be quite lacking is quality - which would normally feature the biggest recording artists as selected by the music industry; limited to the bands that came thru your area on tour, trips of which were no doubt rare and less publicized than they are now; and of course, stuck with whatever artists may have been local to your locale, and again, these were oftentimes not the best quality.

However, with the power of computers, the entire planet is our locale, and you have the freedom to experience all manner of different musical tastes and cultural styles. Which is why it's odd that these two music discovery experiences - the old school "analog" style, if you will, and our new digital style - convened for me at the local punk rock venue. For those who don't know, I'm in Fort Worth, Texas, where we are more than fortunate to have the one and only 1919 Hemphill, an communally run music venue centered around punk rock. And it was within those very walls that I was introduced to Apollo 18.

Named after the iconic space exploration vessel, these South Korean rockers bring spacey to a whole new level. Blending their sound calm, post-rock/instrumental sound with heavier hardcore and metal elements, the result is a sound that is perfectly juxtaposed between calmness and chaos. Apollo 18 moves their listeners with quiet, fulfilling guitarwork similar to that of This Will Destroy You or Explosions in the Sky. And in similar fashion, they can build their songs up until they rip apart the speakers with massive walls of sound and wild expulsions of dense musical release.

They aren't instrumental, to be said. But it is also to be said that their singing, while crucial to their songs, is more an instrument than an instrument in itself, rather than a poetic form of expression - the voices that join the powerful gutiars and rhythmic bass are more a contribution to the musical construction than trying to say something in particular, similar to the Vonlenska experimented with by Sigur Rós. However, as I compare these guys to similarly spacey artists in the post-rock world, do not underestimate their ability to lay down some proper rock. Their sound is significantly heavier than most of their peers, as if a rejection of the seemingly structured South Korean society, generating wild, raucous energy all contained and exploited within a concentrated process of musical performance. Their sound weaves between genres, from experimental, to jazzy, to some good ol' fashioned rock 'n roll, and they are definitely a name quickly on the rise, one you'll hopefully be hearing from more as the days go on.

Apollo 18 is only two years old, and brand new to the American coast as far as I'm aware. But they're quickly climbing into the consciences of savvy music listeners around the world. They won the award for "Best Rookie of the Year" at the 2010 Korean Music Awards (2010 한국대중음악상), and have been a major performance at both the Green Plugged Festival in Seoul, as well as one of the biggest festivals in Korea, the Jisan Valley Rock Festival (지산 밸리 록 페스티벌), playing alongside the likes of major international acts such as Pet Shop Boys, Mutemath, Vampire Weekend, Belle & Sebastian, and Muse.

From what I can understand, the show I got to catch here in Fort Worth, Texas was the last Apollo 18 had booked for their first tour on American shores, which had them roaming all across Texas and around the south, culminating in a tonne of awesome shows down in South by Southwest. Assumably, the trio returned to Korea to relax and recover. Apollo has three albums under the belt already: Blue Album, Red Album, and Violet Album. They were also selling some strange album - which I have - that has NO name beyond the band's and no info beyond their contact information. So I'm nicknaming it the Black Album, and it's filled a compilation of all their different releases.

Apollo 18 has their official site, both in Korean and English, as well as a Myspace, where you can get quite a bit of a preview into their music. They have quite a number of live videos posted around the net so you can experience their live performances for yourself. And of course, you can snag all their awesome albums from their online store or via iTunes for digital download. Enjoy their wicked sound, and have an awesome week, readers!

Video: Doolittle Addiction

2011-04-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

I thought after that bit about Ms. Eliza Doolittle at the beginning of the week would end my binge of the fine lady's fantastic vocal work and summery hooks. Apparently that's not the case. On a spur, I hopped onto my iPhone's YouTube and looked her up so as to introduce her music to someone. One of the first videos in the results is not one of her hits, but instead, a cover. Which begged me to ask the question, "Are there more?"

For those who don't know much about my musical tastes - and I reckon that's a fair number of you - I am a sucker for a good cover. Copyright copyspite - I don't care what record labels say is legal or not, I love it when an artist can spin another's song into something new; if not something new, something unique and intriguing in its own right, whether by transition or in the form of homage. I have a huge collection of covers in my music library, and my ears are always perked for new ones. Especially good ones, and especially from artists I really enjoy and respect, such as Eliza Doolittle herself.

I enjoy Eliza's honesty. You so rarely get that from an artist, especially a pop artist with a big label. But she shines of it. Between her blog to keep things personal, her countless videos of her doing... well, nothing in particular, and her impretention (can I coin this word? That'd be awesome!) is a glowing example of how I like my musicians when on or off the stage. So to you all, who hopefully have also been riding high from Eliza's tunes earlier in the week, a collection of lovely covers I found. There are plenty more to be found, so if you're still hungry, search about the internet or YouTube. Look for some gems. Also, I'll have you all know that this is the only circumstance I have ever listened to a Justin Bieber song without groaning and or self-mutilating. Just sayin', don't automatically discredit it.

Fuck You (Cee-Lo Green) - Eliza Doolittle

Creep (Radiohead) - Eliza Doolittle

Yellow (Coldplay) - Eliza Doolittle

Baby (Justin Bieber) - Eliza Doolittle

New Death Cab: "You Are A Tourist"

2011-03-30T16:13:00.003-05:00

As if on cue, I happened to restart Voilà! right when one of my favourite bands is announcing their new album! That's right, the good ol' west coast folks of Death Cab for Cutie are releasing a new record, entitled Codes and Keys. It's been three years since they're fantastic release of Narrow Stairs, which slept listeners by storm with its sheer density and well composed musicianship. A shining album of creativity, to be sure.

The set release date for Codes and Keys is due for 31 May, another summery release. And while we don't have much more than some album artwork to offer, a few songs have leaked out here and there from Camp Death Cab.

Firstly, there is the official release of "You Are A Tourist" off Codes and Keys, via Stereogum. You can check that out here. They also have LQ soundbytes of some live performances by Death Cab, new songs that will eventually appear on the album. They're rough, and likely to change quite a bit by the time of the release of the album. But it could pique your interest with a little preview. Stay tuned, or

Band of the Week: Eliza Doolittle

2011-03-28T16:02:00.002-05:00

[March 28 - April 3]

Eliza Doolittle
Sounds Like: Pop
Terroir: London, England
Drinking Buddies: Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Lenka

Synopsis: The long-lasting bubblegum pop with a delectable taste.

Makes You Want To: Skip down the street; Sing + Dance; Walk in the park.
[Personal Blog] / [Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Eliza Doolittle.

It's been awhile, readers! But Voilà! is sort of back in action. If you're new to this little game we play, it is weekly tradition to feature a wicked musician every week. Or at least try to. Just something that's been bubbly bouncing out of the speakers into our lives; something that we feel is worth sharing with the masses of eager ears begging for some delicious tuneage.

And are we ever returning to the music scene with a delicious piece of candy. Meet Eliza Doolittle. That would be Eliza Caird if you know her personality. But her My Fair Lady-inspired pseudonym has been the one to springboard this delightful, curly-haired darling into some fairly significant international spotlight.

Let's get things straight: Eliza Doolittle isn't your prototypical pop artist. Okay, maybe she's super stylish, has a delectable voice, and is absolutely stunning. But c'mon, let's put the fundamentals of this lovely lady aside and get to the fundamentals of her sing-song. Her band got their feet on the musical ground back in 2009 with the release of Eliza's self-titled, debut EP. Not only did this EP flare up like oil in a fire, it caught the eyes and ears of listeners and major talents across the UK and beyond. Her first songs got several remixes made of them, including one by the likes of The XX.

This helped to propel Eliza along to her first album, equally self-titled, and equally infectious. Her musical style is unfathomably bubbly and fun-loving, light with a sense of jubilance, and a voice reminiscent of Kate Nash. Pair this with a proper band of lads to accompany her, a quick wit, and a flirty sense of lyricism, and you have a road well paved for some excellent hits that will have nearly any listener cooing over her her quirk.

Eliza's quick success has placed her as a shining star quickly rising in the sky over the UK. Her singles "Skinny Genes" and "Pack Up" both have scored her numerous honours, and both got their own nifty music videos. Tonnes of media outlets have picked up on her rising fame, on aiding in making her rise further exponential. Her success even landed her a number of gigs at SXSW 2011, which I was fortunate to attend, meaning her sound is only expected to expand across the seas. And why shouldn't it? Her viral success is the best sort of ailment you can receive, giving you symptoms of random public singing and dancing. You'll want to catch yourself a bit of Eliza Doolittle.

After her stay in the Texas capital, and a brief stint here and there whilst on tour, Eliza Doolittle and her gang of misfits have returned to the UK. She'll be touring throughout Great Britain, bouncing around from several gigs and festivals. Eliza Doolittle's eponymous debut has been out for awhile now, and is finally reaching American and international audiences through regular music outlets. Or, of course, you could snag some music from iTunes. There are tonnes of videos and remixes of her songs. Whoever the dancer is in "Pack Up" is FANTASTIC, the paper-cutout version of "Skinny Genes" is too fun to watch, and I'm a particular fan of her latest single, "Mr Medicine." Check them all out! Or, if you're just curious about what Eliza and co. is up to, wander over to her personal blog and check it out for yourself. In the meantime, I recommend this nifty acoustic, rooftop performance. And until next time, peace out!

Seeking Writers

2011-03-22T02:45:00.002-05:00

I'm debating starting this silly blog again! I've missed being apart from the music scene, and after a revitalizing time down in Austin at this year's South by Southwest, I feel energized, and ready to re-enter the scene. Maybe... It's still undecided if I will actually do this. But it's definitely on the table.

However, one major thing I'd really appreciate is having another team of writers at my disposal. Voilà! never lifted off the ground in the way that I hoped it would the first time around. It turned into a blog mostly about my opinions on music I liked, which is not what I wanted. I wanted a more cohesive blend from several different perspectives - for whatever reason (potentially the lax structure I had for writers), people didn't post, and it ended up being almost myself exclusively. That's a drag.

If you've ever wanted to voice your opinions about music, here's your chance! Contact me at chris.voilamusic@gmail.com and we can try to arrange something. Again, I'm not entirely sure if I'll be returning. But with hope, I just may do so! We'll see. Until next time, readers!

Band of Skulls: Live

2010-05-25T06:58:00.004-05:00

Before I go to see a gig, I always look up live videos of the band online. Now videos can never compare to the live experience itself, but if a band looks completely boring in a video from a previous gig, they probably won't be amazing when you go to see them.

For this reason, I had mixed feelings about what I was in store for when I went to the Band of Skulls gig at Camden's Electric Ballroom, London. After watching a few clips I'd experienced both mediocre and wonderfully brilliant performances from the Southampton three-piece.

I can gladly say that the latter was true of the live performance.

The vocals were to the standard of the studio recordings, guitarist Russell Marsden was on form, and the atmosphere was great (though being directly at the front certainly helped).

Having only one album, 'Baby Darling Dollface Honey' (which and modern rock & roll lover should buy, by the way), they played most of it, and what they didn't had to be in the encore.

Great gig.

Video: "I Wanna Live In Paradise" - Slow Club

2010-04-23T17:43:00.002-05:00

Our favourite English duo, Slow Club, has been keeping busy! Seems they've got themselves a new tune called "I Wanna Live In Paradise," featuring the cute couple both playing on piano. It's quite lovely, really. Check it out!

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Ends Hiatus

2010-04-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

That's right, you read correctly. Listen to the words from GY!BE themselves:

after a decade’s retreat, god’s pee has decided to roll again.

we are, as always, stoked, stubborn and petrified.

between now and the live-dates, there’ll be rivers of noise and distraction. and the internet is a petty tyrannical monster. please remember that really all that matters is the keep on keeping on. and all that really matters is the shows. and physical engagement in the world. and folks like us and folks like you. thanks for understanding, and thank you for still listening.

see you next winter.

xoxoxox godspeed you! black emperor

To boot on this extremely amazing news, Godspeed You! Black Emperor will be playing and helping out at All Tomorrow's Parties: Nightmare Before Christmas 2010. Find out more here! And also, check out Godspeed You! Black Emperor here.

The XX

2010-04-08T12:56:00.005-05:00

'Lively' would usually be the first term to spring to mind when speaking about the music of most London bands, however the endearing basslines and almost soothing vocals of Wandsworth three-piece group The XX is anything but energetic; yet just as far from boring.

'XX'

The album's first track, 'intro', does exactly what it says on the tin. The two minute instrumental leaves the listener crying out for some sung lyrics, and this is exactly what the listener gets.

Romy Madely-Croft's softness perfectly compliments the deeper, velvety tones in Oliver Sim's voice, making for a great record - in terms of vocals at the very least.

A mix of upbeat tracks such as 'Heart Skipped a Beat' and songs which are perfectly calming ('Night Time', 'Fantasy') this album has pretty much nothing missing.

Think eery indie with R&B and dance qualities, and you won't be far off from summing up The XX's addictive style of music.

I won't be deleting them from my playlist any time soon.

Rating: 10/10 , 9 if you want to be picky.

Ones to repeat:

- Crystalised

- VCR

- Heart Skipped a Beat

- Islands

Ones to put you to sleep (in a good way!):

-Shelter

-Night Time

-Stars

-Fantasy

From The Basement

2010-04-07T19:34:00.002-05:00

Clearly I have been ignoring some things that should be blatantly obvious to any keen music listener. Those of you reading Voilà! back in October may remember the article I wrote up on Radiohead's live performance with From The Basement, hosted by VH1. It was a truly powerful performance by them (one now that streams frequently while in public places, via my iPod (thanks iTunes)). It seems, though, that From The Basement has taken things to the next level by having a new website.

And they've expanded quite far from their Radiohead roots. While I haven't been gandering at their wicked site, From The Basement has managed to record very lovely and truly unique performances by HEAPS of new artists: Andrew Bird, Albert Hammond Jr., Beck, Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Sonic Youth, and Queens of the Stone Age just to name a few.

So what are you waiting for? Go check out From The Basement's official site for tonnes of the latest and greatest performances they've filmed.

Sing To Me, Tiffany - Mount Righteous + Interview

2010-03-29T13:47:00.002-05:00

DC9 Live at El Sibil: Mount Righteous from Dallas Observer on Vimeo.

I'm From Barcelona - Le retour

2010-03-24T12:09:00.003-05:00

Jovial! Happiness! Celebration for one and all! That's I'm From Barcelona's standpoint, and happiness has been what they've been advocating with their music since their uniting as a band back in 2005 and releasing Let Me Introduce My Friends, followed by the significantly darker and more experimental Who Killed Harry Houdini? But the mood behind what I'm From Barcelona is never changes: a group of friends who love music with all their hearts and souls.

It's hard for I'm From Barcelona to share their love with people. This is mostly due to the 29 folks in the band that make I'm From Barcelona such a wonderful musical experience! It's hard to move 29 folks around on tours, so generally, I'm From Barcelona restricts themselves to playing big festivals around Europe and the rest of the world. Us concert goers should be very thankful the collective leaves Sweden at all. But sadly, not everyone can attend big festivals, meaning they miss out on very fantastic performances by the wonderful band, which is a sad truth to admit indeed.

For those of you (and myself included) unlucky enough to be able to see I'm From Barcelona for ourselves, La Blogotheque comes to save the day! La Blogotheque had already featured a performance wandering through the streets and in a cantina, following I'm From Barcelona around on a musical escapade through the city street. Now La Blogotheque rejoins with their old friends for a night of frivolity. After a concert at Bataclan in Paris, La Blogotheque follows I'm From Barcelona for an intimate after-performance performance with the entire crowd. I could continue, but it is on occasions such as this where I prefer show-and-tell more than to write and explain. Feel free to catch the entire 00 minute concert experience with I'm From Barcelona via La Blogotheque here on Voilà!, or visit La Blogotheque to catch their article on the event.

I'm From Barcelona - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Chris Riffle - Introducing...

2010-03-04T00:42:00.004-06:00

Chris Riffle sounds young, but certainly not inexperienced. He is the kind of singer/songwriter who is a natural at making music. Introducing... is not the accustomed album of your typical man with a guitar. Rather, it sounds like the collection of his most well received coffeehouse songs, recorded with an array of extra instruments, all carefully constructed and layered. Chris Riffle immediately lets you know this is a personal affair; his voice is delicate yet inviting, his guitar plays gently enough so you can hear every little texture in the background. His songs feature piano, cello, and many layers of vocals throw in to put you right at home. The lyrics often feel like snippets of diary entries, perfectly fitting for the personal aspect of the album. “Simple” is perhaps the most encompassing track on the album. The vocals are just above a whisper, there is consistent percussion keeping the track from seeming flat, and the chorus hits with catchy lyrics while still keeping a calm atmosphere. Chris Riffle does justice to the singer/songwriter genre with Introducing…, and is sure to be a name people will be proud to know before he makes it big.

RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Daphne Loves Derby
Recommended Tracks: Simple, Roll Over, Everything You Need Is Here

Tegan & Sara sur Les concerts à emporter

2010-03-02T22:20:00.002-06:00

Normally I'd have more to say... but I'll let the videos speak for themselves.

Tegan & Sara - Alligator - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Tegan & Sara - Feel It In My Bones - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Tegan & Sara - Nineteen - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Retrospection: "Highly Evolved / Get Free" - The Vines

2010-02-16T16:39:00.000-06:00

Retrospection is a little series of articles we started on Voilà! quite a bit ago. The idea behind the series is to revisit some old, but still amazing, songs that some of us may have forgotten over the years. And aren't there loads of them! Where to even begin with choosing what band and what songs to feature?

The fact of the matter is, rock music doesn't die. In fact, if you play it loud enough, it'll either jog your memory with the sonic vibrations or get your attention back, reminding you how amazing the song was. As far as contemporary rock music, you can't really go wrong with The Vines, and their modern hybrid of 60s punk and 90s grunge. The Australian collective has been busy working on their rumoured 5th album, which has apparently exited the pre-production stage as of this month.

But while the rock experts prepare to woo us with yet another fabulous album, let's reminisce on some old times. Particularly, on this occasion, dream back if you will to the year 2002. A simpler time, to be true. But it was the year that saw the release of The Vine's first major record debut, Highly Evolved. Fittingly, this performance by The Vines is of the self titled song, along with a blending into their other big hit - "Get Free" - was filmed on the popular late-night Australian talk show Rove. To save you the raw fury that is The Vines, I won't go any further into this truly epic performance. But do please enjoy.

A Valentine's Day For All

2010-02-14T13:40:00.009-06:00

So... it's Valentine's Day, and maybe you're loving every second of it, or maybe you just feel evil in the pit of your stomach. No worries, I've got you covered with a little mix for everyone, from the hopeless romantics to the scorned loveless.

Situation #1: You're actually in love.

Congrats! You've been a loving, faithful partner, and now are celebrating this holiday with chocolate and teddy bears. Want to seal the deal? Play these songs for your beloved:

Mat Kearney - Undeniable
The Weepies - Gotta Have You
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine
Kevin Devine - You Are The Daybreak
The Beatles - Something
As Tall As Lions - Acrobat
Angus and Julia Stone - All Of Me
Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky

Situation #2: You've been scorned, and feel very bitter.

Oh no, how terrible! Someone has been a lying, cheating, so-and-so, and now you feel terribly alone on valentines day. Well, I would advise to take a deep breath, force a smile, and wash over the pain with these tracks:

Fall Out Boy - Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today
The Honorary Title - Everything I Once Had
The Spill Canvas - All Hail The Heartbreaker
Dashboard Confessional - The Best Deceptions
Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
The Early November - Baby Blue
William Fitzsimmons - You Broke My Heart
Motion City Soundtrack - Hold Me Down

Situation #3: You're just existing in life, and don't feel particularly with or against love.

Not a problem there, soldier, you go on being happy and awesome. Maybe love will find you in the future and make your life extra special, but if not, then you're going to make it extra special yourself. Positive thinking is the sweetest of all candy. Here are some awesome songs, just for you!

You, Me, And Everyone We Know - Livin' Th' Dream
Augustana - Sweet and Low
Manchester Orchestra - The Only One
The Narrative - Castling
Copeland - The Grey Man
Lydia - This Is Twice Now
Straylight Run - Big Shot (Hands In The Sky)
Snow Patrol - Open Your Eyes

So remember, no matter how love is treating you, remember that it's merely nothing more than a little mix of music in your heart, and you are in control. Happy V-Day, everyone.

Soirée de poche - Vampire Weekend

2010-02-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

The people in charge of the francophonic music blog extraordinaires La Blogotheque do what we can only dream: beyond writing up some amazing articles for your French-knowledged yeux, with their series of videos - Les concerts à emporter (Take Away Shows) - they're able to get up-close and personal with some of our favourite bands. Yo La Tengo, Sigur Rós, Okkerville River, and Phoenix; it's not enough for them to expertly film performances so wonderfully, but the musicians they ask to film are some growing names in the music industry.

La Blogotheque also has a new series of videos; Soirée de poche. If you were reading Voilà! several months ago, you would've caught the last time we mentioned the Soirée de poche series, when they showed a very intimate, fun performance with Kings of Convenience. Well, the Soirée de poche has filmed another amazing performance, this one by a certain band that Voilà! is all too fond of.

Vampire Weekend released Contra last month, and considering that it was the 12th indie album in history to make it to the number one spot on Billboard's 200, I'm going to have to say it was a pretty big success. No doubt to coincide with this release, Vampire Weekend hooked up with La Blogotheque for their very own unplugged session of Soirée de poche à Paris. About half an hour of awesome songs, old and new. You can check it out right here on Voilà!, or wander on over to La Blogotheque and see it there. Or, feel more than free to visit Vampire Weekend's Myspace and catch some of their songs and videos there!

Band of the Week: Nobuo Uematsu

2010-02-09T11:01:00.001-06:00

[February 8-14]

Nobuo Uematsu
Sounds Like: Classical / Piano / Orchestral Composition / Progressive Rock
Drinking Buddies: The Black Mages, The Final Fantasy Series, Square-Enix

Synopsis: Video game compositions have never been so cool.

Makes You Want To...: Dream; Play video games; Learn piano.
[Square-Enix Music] / [Official Site] / [Black Mages fanpage]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Nobuo Uematsu.

Most people think music these days always has to be hip and trendy; that it has to be on the hottest TV shows, plastered all across the internet, smeared all over the radio or MTV; even if the bands are independent and lesser known, most contemporary music is assumed to follow a certain formula: get a Myspace > make music > release albums > party. But in truth, music can't be clichéd, and can never follow any sort of formula. In truth, music is created in many different ways. And just because the source may be unexpected doesn't make it any less exquisitely done.

Nobuo Uematsu is a prime example of music defying conventions in music making, and does so with the sort of panache that makes his peers and rivals fill with jealous and envy upon the execution of every single note. Uematsu is a pianist. He was self taught, and the beginning of his career sprung up due to his sister, thereafter him applying his homegrown pianist skills and brand new keyboard in some amateur bands and for some commercials. But the reason his name is one that should be respected highly among professional musicians is the part of his musical career that made him famous. Nobuo Uematsu gained his fame after being hired by the video game company Squaresoft (presently Square-Enix), where he was one of the chief composers of many of their video games - including their most monumental, successful entertainment release - the Final Fantasy series.

Most folks out of the loop know Final Fantasy as Owen Pallett, he formed his moniker after the successful game franchise. But from the game that inspired him, arose the talent of Nobuo Uematsu. After the series' success and expansion, Final Fantasy has quickly become one of the largest successes in video gaming history. Final Fantasy VII has been arguably labeled one of the best video games of all time, and as the series preps for its release of their latest title, Final Fantasy XIII, Square-Enix can humbly thank the talents of Nobuo Uematsu, who provided the musical workings for titles I - XI, as he has been building his reputation as an esteemed composer since 1985.

Some folks who play video games may take the music for granted, while in fact, the music of any video game is possibly one of the most integral parts. Music sets the mood, and it sets the pace, just as in movies. If you watch an action movie, the chase scene would be pretty boring without an awesome soundtrack backing it up; the same for video games. Someone is always behind the helm of these games, and Final Fantasy has been enjoying the reign of Nobuo Uematsu now for almost three decades. Uematsu composes almost all the music for the Final Fantasy series, among other games, which is a lofty task indeed, requiring talent and skill that is unrivaled by musicians. Dabbling in all sorts of moods - from soft piano tunes to epic, all-out orchestral performances - and experimenting in many forms of genres - from classical music to heavy metal - Nobuo Uematsu has seen it all, and is a master at his art.

Beyond his work with video games, he also enjoys remastering his own music, constantly returning to it, revamping it, and bringing it back to life in new, beautiful ways. He co-founded the band, The Black Mages, a rock/metal band that takes his compositions, and transcribes them from classical and orchestral works into heavy hitting rock songs. And while Uematsu contributes to many of the Final Fantasy original soundtracks, he also returns to his music for solo piano performances - just him, his piano, and his music - solitary, emotional, and captivating works of a true artist. All of Uematsu's music is beautiful, all different, as he constantly innovates. Songs of love, songs of pain, songs of anger; songs of war, songs of strife, songs of celebration; Nobuo has done it all time and time again, and while his music is predominately instrumental, it is no less powerful in its ability to tug on your heartstrings - to make you feel what you're intended to feel. Uematsu's music is simply unrivaled, in whatever form it takes.

Presently, Nobuo Uematsu is working on three projects: 10 Stories (which I think is a Japanese anime), Fantasy Life (a game for the Nintendo DS), and is composing the entire original score for Final Fantasy XIV, which will be his first major contribution for the series since Final Fantasy XI. If you want to hear Uematsu's music in its intended form - as video game compositions - you'll need to score yourself many of the very lovely titles he has contributed in, a list which is quite extensive. But if you're interested in strictly the music, you'll be glad to know that Uematsu's discography is EXTENSIVE, in ways that I could never explain. Between all the original soundtracks for all the games he has done, as well as the three albums released by The Black Mages, I sincerely and earnestly recommend to everyone reading all of the piano performances for the video games. They're some of the most beautiful music I have ever owned, and you will not regret purchasing these passionate works. You can probably get his music from Square-Enix's site, but I recommend iTunes or Amazon for all your musical needs.

New Kid.

2010-02-08T00:14:00.005-06:00

Hello there music-lovers and e-stalkers, I'm Noor, a fifteen(sixteen in nine days) year old girl from Melbourne, Australia. I jumped on the band wagon when Chris posted a thread about this little slice of net heaven on Lookbook so here I am.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with my first post but I thought it'd be appropriate to start somewhere local.

A young lady who has taken over my iPod (and sister's car stereo) is the lovely, quirky and superly awesome Lisa Mitchell. Originally a contestant on Australian Idol a few years back when she was only a young teen, Lisa Mitchell has blossomed into a stunning performing in her latest album 'Wonder'. Containing hit singles such as 'Coin Laundry' and 'Neopolitan Dreams', 'Wonder' is that perfect mix of indie folk and pop music. She recently toured Australia and New Zealand doing the Big Day Out festival and now she's set out to tour the UK. With her unique, soft voice and catchy tunes, Lisa Mitchell is one to look out for!

My favourite song off her album would have to be 'Love Letter'. A beautiful love song about a girl breaking up with her long distance boyfriend. But there are many others, in fact I listen to the whole album way too much.

iTunes: Australia | UK
And a video just because:
Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry

So folks that's my first post on Voilà! I hope you enjoyed it. :)

Where We Left Off...

2010-02-04T16:15:00.002-06:00

Okay, Voilà! has been out of commission for awhile. I know this. I lament it! After a long end to last year, I intended the resurrection of Voilà! in a big way. Then the computer's keyboard up and died, and the repair shop decided to prolong a five minute repair process into three weeks. Thus, I finally got my computer back, and now have the ability to try that resurrection thing one last time. If you all bear with me while Voilà! works out its kinks, shakes of the blogospheric dust, and stretches its muscles, I can promise some very cool things!

Why not start things again on a good note, aye?

Fanfarlo! Those English folk have had it going on lately, what with the wide-distribution of their debut Reservoir, along with several awesome tours around the world that are garnering them quite a lot of fans. As they finish up a big European tour, they'll then take a trip around England, wander over the Big Pond for a quick West Coast tour in the states, and spending the majority of March back at home in the GB.

For those of us not lucky enough to catch Fanfarlo live in our locale, there is a live event that is prepared to entertain your musical tendencies for hours upon end in the works. iTunes will soon be featuring Fanfarlo for a session of iTunes Live, including some lovely live songs you're not going to want to miss. You can preorder the EP here for $4.99, or you can wait for the iTunes drop date on 16th of February. For all sorts of information on the new EP, as well as tour dates, blogs, albums, and videos, wander on over to Fanfarlo's official website, and peruse!

Need I Really Say More?

2010-02-01T19:30:00.001-06:00

Voilà! Music Wrap-Up: 2009

2009-12-25T13:05:00.002-06:00

What a year, what a year! A year of change, a year of history, and of course, a very filling year of music. Last year boded good news with the coming of 2009, and musically, it was far from a let down. And though Voilà! took some breaks here and there, more than I would have liked, it never stopped following the music! To recompense for our substantial absence, a toast to a year gone by. Voilà! presents the best music of the past year!

All of the following albums/bands are in no particular order - we're just going with the flow - but all made their mark specifically in the last 365 days. Just like last year (when possible), I'll provide the link to buy the album from the well respected folks at Insound.com, in my opinion, one of the best music purveyors on the net. But in these tough economic times, you may want to send your money to a more "renowned" business. Never fret, because most of the music that made our list can probably be found on Amazon.com! But, before we begin, let's have a short review over how Voilà! handles our Music Wrap-Up.

Here's how it works:
The Top 10 - The best 10 albums of 2009.
The Bottom 10 - The best 10 albums that didn't make the Top 10. Hence, Bottom 10.
Obscure Recommendations - Some more obscure or interesting albums released in 2009 that were worthy of mention, whether they simply didn't make The Top or Bottom 10, or were just nifty finds.
Best Bands of 2009 - The best of the best that Voilà! was enthused by all year round.
Best Bands For 10 - Some awesome folks you should really pay attention to starting January 1st.

Top 10:
[the best of the best]

Daisy by Brand New - The record begins slowly, soothingly. Daisy, such a sweet name. As the listener sways to the slow, melancholy introduction, their expectations are unremorsefully shattered with an antonym release in Brand New's discography. The music is dense and heavy, pressurizing your mind with its weight. Maintaining the continually intriguing esotericism developed in The Devil and God..., Brand New changes their tone from distant and lonely, unleashing with guttural, violent, unrestrained anger, heard both in the lyrics and music. Despite the criticism Daisy has been attributed, don't judge. Listen to one of the best records of the year, and hold it to no expectations.

Reservoir by Fanfarlo - From the moment the drum beat and tamberines crash on "I'm a Pilot," in their marching rhythm, you know that your listening of Reservoir is due to be an experience. And you are far from disappointed as you experience Fanfarlo's imaginative, endearing creativity from beginning to end. Fanfarlo's expert arrangements and mixing of an array of different instruments is sonorous, and variation from song to song is extraordinary. Reservoir is a work of love, by Fanfarlo in their prime. If you listen to no other album on this list, make sure you listen to this one. You will be amazed.

The Hazards of Love by The Decemberists - Folk opera. Just the phrase makes one curious; makes one imagination. Three years long, Decemberists fans waited, and they were rewarded. Expanding on lengthy, wildly imaginative songs like "The Island" and "The Crane Wife" seen on The Crane Wife, maintaining The Decemberists continuously more progressive musical style, The Hazards of Love is a conceptual masterpiece, telling medieval tales lovely damsels, proud heroes, dastardly villains, and evil witches. Playing out like a movie, using countless musically thematic elements and some of the most verbose and articulate lyrics written in modern music, The Hazards of Love is one of the most vibrant creations by The Decemberists, and is a must have album of 2009, no argument withstanding against.

As Seen Through Windows by Bell Orchestre - The ability to convey feelings, thoughts, and ideas through nothing but music is a powerful talent to master. And none other than Montréal's instrumental collective of, Bell Orchestre, can so accurately capture that. The long awaited As Seen Through Windows is a complex expression of musical art. The aging of Bell Orchestre is audible from their previous release, Recording A Tape..., to As Seen Through Windows, which offers a much more developed, intricate presentation. From near-quiet walls of sound, Bell Orchestre is extremely successful of exciting and astounding with this year's release.

Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective - It's hard to predict new Animal Collective records... for obvious reasons. But with a noticeable change in the esoteric attitude of AC on Strawberry Jam, could one have accurately predicted what would erupt from the speakers as Merriweather Post Pavilion plays? Merriweather is by far Animal Collective's most accessible album, moving away from their extreme experimentalism, and filling their sound out with pop music techniques, such as solid verse-chorus-verse structure. But still retaining their emphasis on being as weird as freakin' possible, Merriweather Post Pavilion manages to please old fans while opening their sound up to an audience of people who never thought they'd be grooving to Animal Collective, myself included. As an aside, the only reason their latest EP, Fall Be Kind, didn't make it on the Bottom 10 is because it's an EP. It also requires your attention.

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand is unique in the sense that their sound is always in evolution, yet never fails to please those who have grown accustomed to what a Franz Ferdinand song "should" sound like. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is the Scottish blokes' third phase of musical evolution. Likening toward more funky, electronic sound, Franz Ferdinand literally has you busting moves on the nearest dance floor with songs that fill your nervous system with an unshakeable groove. This is probably the most fun, unpretentious album of the year, and will have you smiling from ear to ear, from start to finish.

It's Blitz by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz blitzes straightaway, leaving you no chance to get your footing. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs release all their kinetic energy, making It's Blitz an extremely progressive, forward-moving album. Dense in its composition, but with the elements and style that is to be loved in Yeah Yeah Yeahs, listeners are allowed a full, unique experience that can only be labeled as awesome.

Jam Dreams by Dr. Manhattan - Jam Dreams is probably one of the most charmingly surprising albums released in 2009. From their early tracks, you may expect something wild and crazy, loads of heavy tunes. And when you let the album play through "Electromaumatized" and "Texas," you'd like to keep hold of that opinion. But listening into Jam Dreams, Dr. Manhattan graces us with everything from cute and silly love stories, bubbly and bouncy tunes, hip hop (yes, I did say hip hop), to heavy and high energy, raucous songs. Jam Dreams is has a strong sense of "party and rock out," and can't be compared or judged.

Sainthood by Tegan & Sara - Following their release of The Con two years ago, Tegan & Sara showed a steady progression in their sound their release of Sainthood. Featuring straightforward, well textured, no-fuss indie-pop, with tonnes of standout tracks, shows further development of the sound they experimented with on The Con. Notably, this is the first T&S album to feature a co-written songs by the Canadian twins. Starting on "Alligator," the tone of the album significantly switches to a more novel sound coming from Tegan & Sara, and which can only bode great things about their musical future.

Yeah So by Slow Club - Debut albums are tricky, because you've got a lot of people waiting to be impressed. Slow Club aims to please! The English duo presents a good 45 minutes of love songs hitting every end of the emotional and musical spectrum. The density and complexity of Slow Club's arrangements is astounding, and it's easy to forget you're only listening to two people. It's records like this that put other duos, like Mates of State or The White Stripes, some major competition to worry about. There are not enough ways to describe how wicked Yeah So is.

___________________________________

Bottom 10:
[the albums that almost made it]

The Other Truths by Do Make Say Think - Canada's talented musicians never cease to please these days. Their renaissance, which began several years ago, has produced some of the most beautiful music of the decade. But while the notorious Broken Social Scene has a quiet year, their protégés make headway. The Other Truths is a beautifully composed post-rock album that spans great lengths and feelings on it's mere four tracks. But with the tracks, "Do," "Make," "Say," and "Think" reflect on the band at all, it reflects well. If you're into instrumental albums, Do Make Say Think's latest is something you don't want to miss.

Manners by Passion Pit - I've been doing this Music Wrap-Up ever year since 2007. This being the third edition of the series of articles, I'm faced with the realization that there is one consistent trend: there is always one really awesome, very dancey album every single year, that is given lots of great public reception. Last year, MGMT's Ocular Spectacular swept the world by storm. 2009 belongs to Passion Pit's Manners. "Sleepyhead" was featured in Skins, and this band took hold of the world's grooving feet; their album, brimming with pulsing beats and high notes wiggles your body in rhythmic ways that you can't help but love.

Say Anything by Say Anything - I was really unsure about Say Anything's self-titled album fitting into the top or bottom 10 this year. Such a fickle album, it is; contradictory in the sense that it fuses pop aesthetic so closely with Say Anything's silly, antic-filled punk rock style so close-knit. But in truth, Say Anything is an extremely full, fun album that does its very best to make you wish it wasn't amazing. And knowing "Crush'd" is all about Sherri DuPree of Eisley only adds to its cuteness.

Lungs by Florence + The Machine - Strong, sweet, and soulful. You can't really go wrong, and all three combined are like a delicious cup of chai. "I have this breath, and I hold it tight, and I keep it in my chest with all my might..." And a powerful voice indeed, as Florence Welch belts out her incredibly magnificent voice over the soul inspired Lungs, filled with progressive indie rock to some delicious results. As if you hadn't heard enough of their extravagance on Skins, take a listen to Lungs, straightaway.

Fantasies by Metric - As mentioned back on Do Make Say Think's review, while the Broken Social Scene hides away, their smaller entities shall come out to play for their eager fans. This holds true for Metric as well, who have waited patiently, four years, to release their 4th studio album, Fantasies. The wait was worth the result; Fantasies follows the same groove as It's Blitz by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: steady and danceable, and well composed straight through.

No One's First, and You're Next by Modest Mouse - As if Modest Mouse wasn't one of the most legendary indie rock groups, going on two decades strong, and as if they hadn't already treated us to We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank last year, the guys treat us to a brand new EP. Honestly, though, No One's First plays like a full album, holding its own with B-Sides from both We Were Dead... and Good News For People Who Love Bad News. If you haven't heard the sickly banjo and gutteral singing of the contorted, dark "King Rat," you've been missing out.

Beacons by Ohbijou - Ohbijou's latest release shows the natural progression of these Canadian souls' sound. Brimming with a unique blend of orchestral rock, Ohbijou's style has been rounded out since their debut, Swift Feet for Troubling Times. With much more power and objective in their sound, Ohbijou presents a very deep, lulling, beautiful album with Beacons, a must have of the Toronto collective.

Blood Bank by Bon Iver - Once again, Justin Vernon presents some of the most delicate, full, expansive tracks in Bon Iver's ever expanding repertoire. The title track, "Blood Bank," didn't fit onto For Emma..., and retains the same lonely, cold sound. But as said by Bon Iver's label, Jagjaguwar says, "As much as Emma is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection is about the warmth that gets you through it. You can feel the air move. Like a fire you've been stoking for hours and finally got to sustain itself, the heat blisters your face while your back is frozen solid." The 3 brand new tracks reflect a strange sense of ambien noise throughout, to appealing results. The deep and powerfully repetitive, "The Woods," is my favourite song of the entire year, and one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

Changing Horses by Ben Kweller - Putting out a new album is one thing, but Cowboy Kweller has taken the ultimate switcheroo on his fans with his release of the straight-up country album, Changing Horses. This genre shift shows us a completely new side of Ben Kweller as he gets back in touch with his Texan roots, to some very amazing results! This is not an album you should lightly pass by.

Chronicle by フジファブリック - I can only explain how ridiculously impressed I am with フジファブリック's progression as a band. Ever release in their discography shows the steady progression of fuller sound and skillfully orchestrated music that gives the standards in J-rock a run for their money. Chronicle is no exception. フジファブリック rocks out a storm of significantly faster, heavier tracks than is typical of their style. Think of Chronicle as raising the stakes on complexity and intensity we heard on Teenager; less bubbly, more down to earth rock from one of the coolest J-Rock bands around.

___________________________________

Obscure Recommendations
[some folks who made enough noise to be heard]

Open Your Mouth by Mount Righteous

In The Unlikely Event by The Fall of Troy

New Junk Aesthetic by Every Time I Die

Warm Heart of Africa by Esau Mwamwaya

The Open Door EP by Death Cab

Vandalize by アリス九號.

Wake Up The Sleepers - Kill Hannah

Bandages For The Heart by Lacrosse

I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose by Bombay Bicycle Club

Field Studies EP (with Lymbyc System) by This Will Destroy You

Me & My Uke / The Summer by Nevershoutnever

Labyrinthes by Malajube

Noble Beast by Andrew Bird

Fall Be Kind by Animal Collective

____________________________________

Best Bands of 2009
[the ones Voilà! watched closely]

Fanfarlo

Mount Righteous

Dr. Manhattan

Bell Orchestre

Animal Collective

The Decemberists

Brand New

Bew Kweller

You, Me, and Everyone We Know

Minuscule Hey

____________________________________

Best Bands For 2010
[the ones you should start watching closely]

Eisley - The Texan troupe just completed their tour with Say Anything, and released the Fire Kite EP, all in support of their forthcoming album, due out sometime in the first half of the year.

Vampire Weekend - Contra is slated to be released 12 January! Excitement ensues.

Fleet Foxes - The folk quartet was too busy touring this year to release their second full length. But they're promising a new album sometime in the second half of 2010!

Bell Orchestre - The Canadian instrumental group is due to release a new EP sometime in late summer!

Crystal Castles - The Canadian electronica duo is prepped to release their still nameless sophomore LP sometime in April!

Nevershoutnever - Chris Ingle is busy working forward toward his next record! We can only hope his freshman LP will astound us with the beginning of the decade.

Uffie - FINALLY, this ridiculous woman will be releasing her debut album, Sex Dreams and Skinny Jeans, on Valentine's Day 2010. FINALLY!

Hellogoodbye - The boys just released their latest single, "When We First Met," from their forthcoming untitled album, hopefully due out sometime in 2010.

Broken Social Scene - The huge collective is filming a film, This Movie Is Broken, and is rumoured to start recording their next album in summer.

Arcade Fire - The Canadian orchestral rock legends are due to release their third LP sometime in May!

Merry Christmas from Eisley!

2009-12-24T23:00:00.003-06:00

The lovely ladies of Eisley are wishing everyone some happy holidays! This is probably the most attention deficit thing I've seen in ages. But to compensate for the randomness of their video, Eisley is also in the festive spirit, and is releasing their version of "O Holy Night." It's quite nice, and if you're in the spirit, this is a neat Christmas present from the DuPree family. Check back soon for Voilà!'s end of the year wrap up! Merry Christmas, everyone!

http://eisley.com/christmascard09/

Video: Harold T. Wilkins - Fanfarlo

2009-12-03T18:47:00.003-06:00

How ridiculously timely is this?

Here I am, dawning my warmest shirts and jackets for a night out to Dallas! It's quite cold here in North Texas with this chilly cold-front tormenting the United States, reminding us that it's December now. I'm dawning these warm clothes because in half an hour, the doors open to The Loft in Dallas, where the one and only Fanfarlo is due to play! Excitement abounds, obviously.

But I decide, hey, I might as well give the internet a quick look over before I depart. And when I make my way over to Twitter, guess who's at the top of the feed. Yes indeed, the English sextet, Fanfarlo, sharing their brand new video! Again, how ridiculously timely is this? The folks have finally signed with a record label, and as such, have some cash to spend for a new video. So this second version of my favourite song of theirs, "Harold T. Wilkins or How To Wait for a Very Long Time," is quite neat, depicting them in a very cold wood.

If you're in Dallas, I'm hoping to see you at the Loft soon; Fanfarlo will be enthused as well! If not, check out "Harold T. Wilkins" right here on Voilà!, read the Stereogum article which presented the video to us eager musical listeners, or visit Fanfarlo's official website and check out their cool Advent Calendar for some Christmas celebrations.

Video: Cousins - Vampire Weekend

2009-11-29T17:37:00.002-06:00

Whew, where did the time fly? Seems the end of my semester of classes made me feel a bit over-encumbered. I'm very sorry Voilà! had to suffer as a consequence. But my ears have remained close to the speakers, dear reader. Hopefully when finals calm down, I can pick up my musical responsibilities here. Just bear with me, and thanks for all the patience.

So where to re-begin? Well, there is this little ditty that I can't help to have been grooving to for weeks since its release. It was conjured by the creative minds of a hip and trendy little quartet that comes out of New York. They call themselves Vampire Weekend, and as our old friends prepare for the big release of their new album, Contra - slated to debut on 11 January 2010 - they have released their first official single from their sophomore album, entitled "Cousins."

Vampire Weekend is very theatrical, both with their eclectic, vibrant songs, and with their unique choice of directors, their videos reflect the attitude. The band stuck with British comedian Richard Ayoade for their songs with sweeping motifs, in both "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" and "Oxford Comma." But with the release of "Cousins," Vampire Weekend has returned to the stylistic quirkiness of Garth Jennings who also directed "A-Punk," my personal favourite in the Vampire Weekend repertoire. Filmed entirely in a back alley of New York City, on a tram normally used for filming, "Cousins" features lots of nifty camera effects, awesome images, and lots of confetti.

Ready? Set? Then why don't we get this video going? Check out "Cousins" by Vampire Weekend on Voilà! right here. Still have a craving for more new material from Vampire Weekend? Never fear, for they have also released "Horchata," the first song set to appear on Contra, which you can snag a free mp3 of on Stereogum. Still not enough? Well wander over to Vampire Weekend's Myspace to catch both songs for streaming, along with their older single "Ottoman," along with a slew of other neat stuff. Enjoy!

Arrah and the Ferns Reunite

2009-11-07T10:45:00.003-06:00

NEED I SAY MORE?!

Here is the Arrah and the Ferns' (former) ExBand of the Week article written on Voilà! only a couple months ago.
Here is Arrah and the Ferns' Myspace.
Go to either to find more info on them.
Following is their official reuniting statements!

"Hey all,
Sure has been awhile since i've written one of these. As a lot of you know the 4 of us went our different ways, on good terms, back in early '08 and as most of you have probably guessed this blog is about a reunion tour...and no, it's not a joke. Arrah and I will be playing shows around the midwest and joey and dave will be playing some of them too. Then she and I will head east with some good friends to play a few towns ending in a weekend of shows in philly and NYC to promote peace between the two cities after the world series craziness. We'll be playing a mix of mostly acoustic stuff from Evan is a Vegan as well as new songs.

Check out our page to see the tentative dates. We've got some stuff brewing so check back for updates. Also, if you live in or near one of our TBA cities and can help us we'd love it. Most of the shows will be just Arrah and I so we are down for acoustic house show parties or whatever. We're just excited to be on the road again because the life we love is making music with our friends and we consider ourselves blessed to have so many.

see you soon and love from all of us,
carl"

Soirée de Poche - Kings of Convenience

2009-11-03T18:29:00.000-06:00

Delicacy, intricacy, subtlety... plenty of words describe it well, but no word can accurately explain simply how beautiful the music of two Norwegian guys truly is. In a very calming style, Kings of Convenience is more than accustomed to sing their sweet songs as they pluck their dual guitars expertly, creating melodies with incredible depth for our auditory enjoyment. It's been awhile since Erlend Øye and Eirik Bøe have treated us to some new music. But as of last month, Kings of Convenience released their latest and greatest album, Declaration of Dependence, and is a delightfully mellow album that has been so eagerly awaited by fans.

Recently, though, the Norwegian duo wandered to Paris. In a special presentation with the series of recorded performances, Soirée de Poche - a series hosted by La Blogotheque - Kings of Convenience offers a truly unique performance. I could tell you all about it, but instead, why not watching it right here on Voilà!, and experience it for yourself? And don't forget to visit Soirée de Poche's archives, which include Andrew Bird, Beirut, and many more lovely performances.

Hallow's Eve 2009

2009-10-31T21:42:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Video: Noviembre (Live) - Bell Orchestre

2009-10-29T00:07:00.003-05:00

For post-rock / instrumental music fans, one of the hidden loves in the chilly city of Montréal is Bell Orchestre. Their unique twist on instrumental music, often forgoing the use of rock aesthetics often found in other instrumental artists, puts a nice spin on their sound. If you're a good fan of Bell Orchestre, you'll already have their debut album, Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light. And if you're a punctual fan of Bell Orchestre, you would've been one of the first who went out and got their latest release, As Seen Through Windows, not to mention their remix album, Who Designs Nature How?.

But if you're a real fan, you know all about the unofficial Bell Orchestre demo. Here's a brief history for those out of the know: Bell Orchestre originally recorded Recording a Tape... at the same time as their sister band, The Arcade Fire, was recording and releasing the one and only Funeral. Bell Orchestre delayed the release of Recording a Tape... until 2005, when they made their official debut. But in secret, Bell Orchestre already had a debut album. Circulating around the internet and via secret hand-to-hand exchanges, there exists a rare demo of otherwise unreleased Bell Orchestre material, all professionally recorded, never properly publicly spoken about.

I'll leave the mystery of searching for the self-titled, unreleased album up to you. But just as a tease, this is one of my favourite live Bell Orchestre performances that circles the internet. It's their performance of "Noviembre," off their unreleased album. The climax is particularly fabulous. When you're done with this video, don't forget to peruse Bell Orchestre's Myspace, or wander over to their official website to find out the latest.

The Get Up Kids on Daytrotter

2009-10-22T13:12:00.002-05:00

There are quite a lot of bands that we tend to forget about. Bands that take their leave of the stage or the spotlight, and fade into the abyssal black beyond musical venues. For whatever reason, some bands just disappear out of our collective consciousness. But one of the most glorious feelings is when one of these glorious ensembles return to their instruments once more and begin strumming on our memories held on our heartstrings, playing on our love for when we eagerly related their next note back in the day.

The Get Up Kids, 90s emo rock superstars, eventually announced their break-up back in 2005. Though members of The Get Up Kids had moved on to other projects such as The New Amsterdams and Reggie & The Full Effect, the affect that this band had on their fans was long withstanding beyond the break up of the band. Then, quite suddenly, The Get Up Kids announced thier shocking reunion at the end of last year!

Presently the blokes are in the studio, working on a brand new record to christen their reunion properly! But in the mean time, it seems like the boys dropped in at Futureappletree Studio 1 to record a session with the Daytrotter crew! Featuring two old The Get Up Kid favourites, as well two exclusive, unreleased tracks, you can check out The Get Up Kid's Daytrotter performance right now! I suggest you do it ASAP! But when you're done there, feel free to drop by The Get Up Kid's Myspace page, and make sure you stay informed on the latest and greatest from this reunited band.

The Eigenharp

2009-10-20T22:25:00.002-05:00

Music nerds and band geeks all over the world, REJOICE! There is a new instrument to meet the world that you're going to have to embed within your vocabularly.

The Eigenharp! Ah yes, this... peculiarly named instrument is the latest and greatest in musical-electronic engineering. What IS an Eigenharp? Well, I could get all technical, but I'll save you the trouble. The nickname for this curiosity that has spawned on the internet is "The Any Instrument" Instrument. Obviously, this is on account as the Eigenharp is capable of reproducing the sounds of a large amount of different instruments within one object, including clarinet, synthesizer, drums, and many more.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8295813.stm

The BBC did a cover story that shows you a quick run down of how it works, as well as lets the students who have begun mastering this odd instrument to play you a song. Okay... so they play Moby, but it sounds REALLY COOL. You guys won't be disappointed. You'll also want to see them play The James Bond Theme. View the BBC link before you watch this lower video though. And enjoy!

Video: Hotel Song (Regina Spektor) Cover

2009-10-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love covers. I make that very much apparent in my frequent praising of the ability of musicians playing the music of other musicians. It was once, quite some time ago, that I featured a delightful darling from deep in the heart of Mexico, putting her own twist on Panic At The Disco's "Build God, Then We'll Talk." No big stage, no big band, just a guitar, a camera, and subsequently, a YouTube video.

Once more, I take you to another wonderful young lady putting her own twist on some of our favourite artists' music. Meet Irma, hailing from Cameroon in West Africa. With her acoustic guitar, and a computer to help with some back-up vocals, she offers us a taste of Russian-American singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, in Irma's cover of "Hotel Song." It's quite delightful. If you enjoy it, definitely wander over to Irma's YouTube to catch more covers by her.

Live From The Basement: Radiohead

2009-10-10T22:16:00.003-05:00

The skies are gray, the weather is chilly and cold, and the streets always seem to be thoroughly soaked with the rain that intermittently blankets the landscape. That's how North Texas has been throughout the past week. It's on these days when I get contemplative, and I must say, when I get contemplative, I certainly get imaginative. And with the porcelain skies lingering overhead, dropping their pitter pattering rain on the roofs, I can't help but dream of the UK. It certainly doesn't help that I've been consuming myself with my recently purchased copy of series 1-3 of Skins - the only cityscape embedded on my vision being Bristol - but that's a story for another day.

The Biritish Isles are known for their unique style of music, and possibly one of the most famous/notorious/interesting ensembles to hail from the United Kingdom's contemporary music culture is Radiohead. With their intense musical numbers ranging from fast and loud, to deep and nearly silent, their take on music sets them apart from their peers, giving them few comparisons in style to other potentially related artists; their style is truly separate from the whole.

Radiohead is intensely known for both their mysterious attitudes - if the release of In Rainbows doesn't speak numbers about this, what does? - and their epic live performances. The difficulty of seeing Radiohead live is that it's quite cumbersome, as these self-proclaimed environmentalists simply don't tour very often. And when they do tour, they seem to make their tours as short as possible, seeing that they don't particularly like hurting the planet just by gallivanting to country after country impressing their drooling fans. When these tours are underway, tickets seem to disappear out of thin air as soon as they go on public sale, and it's almost a distinct privilege to attend such Radiohead affairs, even though the blokes successfully book some pretty amazing venues.

As a result, though their performances certainly are awesome and in high demand, seeing Radiohead perform live is still a mystery to many. Certainly, there are plenty of grainy, gaudy, low quality videos on YouTube. But how can a mere YouTube video give one a similar experience to actually attend a Radiohead concert? VH1 sought to try and become the bridge to this awesome event. Their series Live From The Basement features exclusive filmed performances of plenty of bands live.

And Radiohead is now one of the many eclectic line ups now notched on the series' belt. Radiohead's grandiose performance on VH1's Live From The Basement is quite the fabulous show, stretching a good 45 minutes, as the boys play songs off their latest release In Rainbows. If have haven't seen a Radiohead performance in person (this includes me), I can only recommend that this performance would be an excellent way to attempt to comprehend such a vastly wondrous sight.

Live From The Basement: Radiohead [In Rainbows] can be found in its full television-version entirety on YouTube, at this lovely little video that AustinBrock posted for all us greedy listeners. You can watch all 45 minutes in high definition right here on Voilà!, or right off of YouTube, in the privacy and comfortable space of your own home. Pop some popcorn, and immerse yourself! But bear to mind, this is only the performances released on television. If by the end of this length video you find yourself simply craving more of the wondrous British blokes, mosey on over to YouTube and search "radiohead live from the basement" to find a slew of other videos from the same performance that were not part of the television version of this performance. Oh, and of course, enjoy.

The Black Cabs of The United States

2009-10-06T19:00:00.002-05:00

It's been touted, it's been promised. The notorious Black Cab Sessions have promised and promised and promised the chance for us to catch them in their iconic English cabbies in a sojourn throughout the states! It's been long coming, but that time is now.

Finally, the Black Cab Sessions are revealing their treasure trove of American performances! Two adventures - with one trip to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, as well as a big intercontinental love affair with the London natives in New York City - have resulted in a grand total of FIFTY PERFORMANCES. Oh yes, 50 performances from some of your most favourite artists!

The Black Cab Sessions only has four of this massive repertoire of new videos to debut over the next... who knows how long. But those videos already posted are fabulous: Ed Harcourt and Graham Coxon doing an improvisational song together, Little Boots electro performance, The Virgins - a good friend of Lookbook.nu - breaking it down in the backseat, and some of friends of Voilà!, Champagne Champagne, featuring Mark Gajadhar of The Blood Brothers and his two mates with a pair of the finest hip hop flows this side of the Atlantic. Wander over to the the Black Cab Sessions, and check out the awesome United States performances right away!

Video: "Pop The Glock" - Uffie

2009-10-03T23:08:00.004-05:00

Still busy, readers and friends. Not to mention midterms are creeping around the corner like some eerie sort of creepstalker on Facebook. I'm plenty busy, but I think I can nip in for a moment to drop some info on an old intrigue of the Voilà! feature articles.

Uffie, that crazy, raucous, wild party girl of a musician is notorious for her... well, her odd bit of sexy notoriety. She has no album - only some EPs that can hardly be called EPs, two tracks a piece - a mere pittance of tracks that randomly seem to circulate the internet from blog to blog. But Uffie is famous for her international performances, and major collaborations, including her part in "TTHHEE PPAARRTTYY" by the French electro band Justice, as well as her slew of photoshoots that leave little to the imagination when it comes to her figure.

But finally, it seems Uffie's musical repertoire is getting a bit more solidified and organized. Not only is her debut record, Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans, but Uffie is getting her act together by filming her first music video! Featuring one of her early tracks, "Pop The Glock," this video in the setting of a hipster party scene. Fun times, and sexy people, with some electro-hop can equal to fun times.

If you're intrigued, check out Uffie's new video for "Pop The Glock" on Voilà!, right here! Or if you're in the mood for some exploration around the interblag, mosey on over to Voilà!'s feature article on Uffie, or straight to Uffie's Myspace. A shout out goes to Heather René on the Lookbook.nu forums, for giving me the scoop on this news. Also, don't forget to dance while listening; it's necessary!

Uffie "Pop The Glock"
by edbangerrecords

Yo La Tengo sur La Blogotheque!

2009-10-01T20:23:00.002-05:00

O curse you busyness. Curse coursework. My greatest apologies for the lack of updates, dear reader. I have suddenly found myself swamped in my coursework than I know what to do with. And somehow, between fixing up annotated bibliographies and poring through novels for class, I find myself with a lack of opportunity. And alas, it seems some of the other writers for Voilà! are also too busy, so those contributors have been removed for now until they're willing to contribute an article.

The good thing for you, my good reader, is that makes more room for you on the Voilà! team! If you've ever been intrigued in writing some articles about your favourite bands on a public space like this, feel free to leave a comment or send an email to (chris.voilamusic[at]gmail[dot]com), and we can arrange you to join our humble team here. We'd love to see your submissions!

But onto the big topic of the day, being news involving one of the most iconic indie bands on the music scene, Yo La Tengo. Oh yes, those legendary musical soldiers soldier on with their amazing, fun I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass attitude of rock music. As it turns out, the ensemble found themselves in Paris recently, and recorded with the team from La Blogotheque with some lighthearted performances with the environment of Paris as their venue. Well what are you waiting for? Head to La Blogotheque ASAP and check out Yo La Tengo's performances.

[Ex]Band of the Week: Don't Mess With Texas

2009-09-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

[2004-2009]
Don't Mess With Texas
Sounds Like: Post-Rock
Drinking Buddies: This Will Destroy You, The Pirate Ship Quintet, pg.lost
Synopsis: Proving instrumental music is universal and eternal.
Makes You Want To...: Dream; Learn about the world; Open your mind.
Evolved Into:

[Website] / [Last.fm]

This month is one of old and new.
Voilà! is featuring bands that have broken up.
This week, the featured artist is Don't Mess With Texas.

It's tough. Tough when your favourite bands have broken up. Voilà! has been doing our [Ex]Band of the Week month for two years now, and in those two years, we've shown some really great independent artists who just couldn't last. This year, we saw Los Abandoned, Something Corporate, and Arrah and the Ferns. Last year, we were entertained by the musical stylings of Test Icicles, The Blood Brothers, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and Some By Sea. These are all wonderful bands, and we aren't gossiping about their dispersing so much as we're honouring they're memory. By talking about these bands, by letting their music live on, we do honour to their memory as musicians, and give them the credit they deserved, when they were still around and in our present day.

It's important to take stock in that which has past, and to do it justice. This year, we're ending with a little group by the catchy name of Don't Mess With Texas. This mysterious quartet hails from Zagreb, Croatia. Now, Zangreb, Croatia may not exactly be the centre for music in Europe - I know folks who couldn't spot Croatia on a map. Certainly it's not easy for a small band to get started, though, you may only think that if you didn't know Don't Mess With Texas plays in the post-rock genre. For those still fishy about the genre - as the style is still extremely new, vastly unexplored, and sparingly colonized - post-rock music is generally defined by its use of extremely vast, imaginative soundscapes, instrumental compositions, with special emphasis on repetition, and a push away from lyrical composition and typical song-structures.

If you think about post-rock as a genre, and some of the more prominent figures (whether they claim the genre title or not), ponder where these bands have come from. Explosions In The Sky original hails from Midland, in west Texas; Sigur Rós from far and away in Iceland; Godspeed You! Black Emperor from the cold and rebellious Québec. All these bands come from places defined by either their independence, remoteness, or a combination of the two. What says a band from Croatia can't make some fabulous instrumental music as well?

And fabulous indeed. Comparable in quality to that of This Will Destroy You, Don't Mess With Texas presents a simple, yet powerful sound marked by repetition of chords and ethereal iimiages in sound. Their sounds range in length, but are unlimited in scope and mood. Expressing intense emotions ranging from melancholy to uplifting, Don't Mess With Texas sets themselves apart with intense focus given to their meleodies, with the added uniqueness of piano featured prominently in many of their songs. But alas, not everything can last, can it?

"We wanted to let you all know that Don’t Mess With Texas disbanded. We decided to break up and stop functioning as a band. It just didn’t feel right anymore. It makes no sense to write sagas about the break up or about the band, we just want to thank everyone that helped us in any way, it was wonderful while it lasted. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Sasha, Ozren, Slobich and Neven"

The break up of Don't Mess With Texas is certainly a sad outcome. But this gives us, as listeners, even more of a responsibility to show this grand ensemble exactly how wonderful they were at making the music they created. They have two albums: their debut Don't Mess With Texas, followed by their sophomore album Los Dias De Junio. They have no Myspace, but you can listen to some of their music on Last.fm. Or, if you're more interested in ownership, you can go to Moonlee Records and purchase their albums. Show them your love, readers.

Video: Time Of Your Life (Green Day) - Goot

2009-09-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

Covers cover covers. Mmmm, I can't get enough of them. Hearing new version of my old favourites absolutely makes my auditory heart race. Hearing horribly cheesy songs I would never have liked in the first place in a new light can also give me a hugely novel perspective of the original artist (The Scene Aesthetic's cover of "Love Story" was first to show me what made Taylor Swift so darn addicting).

Alex Goot loves his covers, and I've written about him many times before, featuring his awesome musical renditions of some great tunes! Well, Goot is back again with yet another cover: This time, you can catch Goot performing Green Day's 90s hit, "Time Of Your Life" on piano. Echo? It's quite fabulous, and I know you'll enjoy it. Feel free to check out Goot's Myspace after the song here on Voilà!, so you can enjoy the rest of Goot's musical repertoire.

[Ex]Band of the Week: Los Abandoned

2009-09-21T15:57:00.000-05:00

[2001-2007]
Los Abandoned
Sounds Like: Chicano Rock / Rock
Drinking Buddies: Bam Bam, Elis Paprika, Zoé
Synopsis: Rock bilungua en Español y Inglés!
Makes You Want To...: Rock out!; Party; Learn Spanish
Evolved Into:

Pilar Díaz

[Myspace] / [Last.fm] / [KCRW Session]

This month is one of old and new.
Voilà! is featuring bands that have broken up.
This week, the featured artist is Los Abandoned

Without much contemplation, we know what we want: we want a deal. We want that two for one offer. We want the buy one get one free. We want that special offer that nobody else is getting. We want our money's worth, and it's not so much to ask for as much as we can get. When we commit to things, we expect the best we can get. If you're in the market for non-anglophonic music, the options are nearly limitless as soon as you explore the unique music worlds outside of the North American continent. But even here, with artists such as Bonjour Brumaire, Malajube, and Bam Bam, we know that the language barriers are jokes to some of our North American inhabitants. But if you're looking for bilingual bands, there's only one real clear cut band you can turn to...

"Me quieren en Chile, me quieren en LA. Me quieren en España, me quieren in Francia." Call it pride or arrogance, there's one thing you cannot deny: Los Abandoned lives up to the expectations. This wild, vibrant band from "Eleh-Ah" blares through your speakers with the intensity and unpretentious expression of true veterans. Los Abandoned set themselves apart from the crowd by their emphasis on straightforward, raw, pop-punk music and bilingual lyrics. And what a result they ended up with! With the blend of US and Mexican cultures comes a extremely wonderful mix of music, combining Hispanophone lyricism with and candied, delicious musical styling, all pop hits and rock and roll mashed together in something that I'm pretty sure could be classified as a really spicy enchilada with all the toppings.

Starting out with some simple, yet amazing EPs, Los Abandoned quickly became the talk of the LA music scene back in their prime. Their perfect combination of musical and lyrical stylings played directly on the huge demand for both indie-pop and Chicano rock in the LA area, and abroad, wherever Spanish speaking music lovers can be found. With a pride for their City of Angels, and a "we love you, and don't give a damn what the haters think" attitude quickly drew folks in. This goes without mentioning that Los Abandoned played with some of the hottest names in the contemporary Mexican-rock scene: Zoé, Caléxico, Molotov, Café Tacuba... the list goes on, but it's clear that not only did Los Abandoned make great music, they rolled with a good crowd.

Brevity caught the band's wonderful sound short, as the members settled to split up in their separate directions. But what lives on beyond the lifespan of Los Abandoned is an attitude and some amazing music that will always be a driving force for modern bilingual music and awesome pop-rock. Dig around on the internet or at some record stores, and you'll be able to find Los Abandoned's premier studio album, Mix Tape, along with their two EPs: Demotape and Los Abandoned. The band still has their Myspace up, but no music posted. Never fear though, for there are places to get your Los Abandoned fix. Their Last.fm features some of their songs, they have an old performance for Morning Becomes Eclectic at KCRW, and one search on YouTube will result in a slew of videos by them.

The Voilà! Music Omnibus (III)

2009-09-19T14:52:00.000-05:00

I try to stay on top of the music world, at least from my point of view, as thoroughly as possible. But I freely admit, sometimes the music scene gets carried away, and will unleash more stuff than I can keep track of, or have time for. It's not exactly hard work to keep a music blog up, but when one has to maintain a professional/social/family life as well, I must admit, sometimes I can't report everything to thee avid readers.

But don't fret, my friends! That loud engine is the sound of the renowned Voilà! Music Omnibus! Take a ride on our little transit system, reader, as we drive you down the streets of the music scene; a scenic tour for your eager ears of the little happenings here and there, or the mentionings that weren't mentioned. Be it band break ups, pre-album gossip, new songs, or new tours, you can find it all. Get your change together - we only accept CD and MP3, because sadly vinyl doesn't fit into our coin box. Here we go!

Open Wide!
Mount Righteous' New Album On The Way
Long, long, it's been so long. It's been nearly two years since Mount Righteous stepped cheerfully onto the scene with their debut album, When The Music Starts. What followed were escapades of rampant frivolity across the world, with everyone dancing, and clapping, and singing of smiles and candy and love. Well gird your loins, fellow friends, because it's my esteemed privilege to let you know that the new album, Open Your Mouth, by Mount Righteous is set for release this coming Friday! For those North Texas natives, there will be a big CD release party which you can find out more about on Mount Righteous' Facebook. But for everyone else, you can download their single "Sing To Me, Tiffany" from an article in The Dallas Observer, or just wander over to Mount Righteous' Myspace.

I Am Trying To Figure Who I Am
New Things avec Nevershoutnever!
That crazy kid, Christofer Drew, has been up to his kooky antics again (as usual). What do I mean by that? Well, probably that he's just so infinitely busy I don't know how he manages to find so much time to be so dang cheerful and live such an awesome life! Firstly, he's been dabbling with his less cute, more crazy side, whilst working on new music for his side project Eatmewhileimhot. Secondly, he's been finishing up works on a new, full length Nevershoutnever! album, which has apparently been completed (we can only wait patiently now)! Finally, he's hitting the road next week for a massive autumnal tour with friends Now Now Every Children and Meg & Dia. Hustle over to Nevershoutnever's Myspace for the rest of the news!

Getting The Axes Out
Eisley Teases Us With Tours And EPs
Now, it's been quite awhile since the world was graced by the material of the lovely band from Tyler, Texas. They've been on tour recently, but since the release of Combinations two years ago, Eisley has been busy out of the music world, living life, getting engaged, and the like. Sometime around the beginning of the year, they announced they would be wandering into the studio. Promises kept! Eisley's new album won't be out until early 2010, but they seek to recompense the wait! Eisley's launching on a very hefty North American tour, where they'll be releasing a special tour EP (with a free lithograph!)! Find out the info on Trolleywood, or just wander over to their Myspace.

Talking On The Fanfarlophone
Fanfarlo Busy With Tours and Videos
Our good friends at Fanfarlo certainly haven't been resting on their laurels lately. Their biggest project over the last several months has been solidifying the production of their debut album, Reservoir, in physical form (the woes of making records completely independent, without labels). Done done done it is, and it's going to be quite sleek. The physical copies of Fanfarlo's Reservoir are for sale out on their website. But if you're lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, you can catch Fanfarlo on their US tour, going on presently! They have hit up the west coast, with dates in Philadelphia and New York City. If you're even luckier, you can catch Fanfarlo on their British tour as soon as they get back to their island home. For those of us not so lucky, may I recommend checking out their website - filled with all the Fanfarlo you could ever desire - their YouTube - filled with brand new videos of "The Walls Are Coming Down," acoustic sets, and covers - or wander right over to their Myspace.

Pushing Daisies
Brand New Brand New Album
Where to even begin. Some things are easy to describe, and some things are so abstract, it's as if there is no logical point of origin. This would be the latter. Brand New is getting famous for taking hiatuses, disappearing from the music scene while crafting new music. While lately, they've been touring around much more than the period after Deja Entendu, they remain a very mysterious ensemble. Now, three years after The Devil and God Rages Inside Me, Brand New is releasing their fourth studio album, Daisy. It's EPIC, in the layman's terms. Daisy will be officially on sale September 22, but if you've been eagerly waiting for a release such as this, then you'll want to head to Brand New's Myspace. Brand New is streaming Daisy in its entirety until the release. You're still reading? Go listen to Brand New ASAP!

[Ex]Band of the Week: Something Corporate

2009-09-16T10:52:00.001-05:00

[1998-2006]
Something Corporate
Sounds Like: Piano Rock / Pop-Punk
Drinking Buddies: Mae, Making April, Dashboard Confessional,
Synopsis: Punk rock with a piano. Can you go wrong, really?
Makes You Want To...: Sings; Cuddle; Kiss
Evolved Into:

Jack's Mannequin

[Myspace]

This month is one of old and new.
Voilà! is featuring bands that have broken up.
This week, the featured artist is Something Corporate.

Something about love just gets into your soul, don't y'know, reader? There's this famous line from High Fidelity - probably one of the symbolic pieces of literature out there on the die hard music lover - and it goes something like this... "People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands--literally thousands--of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss. The unhappiest people I know, romantically speaking, are the ones who like pop music the most; and I don't know whether pop music has caused this unhappiness, but I do know that they've been listening to the sad songs longer than they've been living the unhappy lives."

Admit it, at least to yourself: music, as we fundamentally know it, can be based on a few things: the three of which are preportionately more created being partying, politics, and love - whether that love is good or bad. Thousands of songs about first loves, and first kisses, and "When you're fifteen, and someone tells you they love you, you're going to believe them," etc. etc. And whether Rob up there in his London record shop, spilling his heart and mind out over a girl (who admittedly has a nice taste in music) is right or not, love is engrained in our music. We take it for granted, because it's everywhere these days. But we like our own style of love in our music.

There are so many tastes. Would you prefer something dark and depressing - maybe Taking Back Sunday or My Chemical Romance? - or how about something weird and esoteric? - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place is probably right up your alley. There's angry, like "Texas" by Dr. Manhattan, or cute like Arrah and the Ferns... The possibilities stretch out in all directions. What do I favour? Well something, honest, straightforward, and heartfelt. Something poetic but not burdened down by the pen of a confusing author. Something Corporate, maybe.

Oh Something Corporate, you dreamy Californian heartthrobs. How you make me sway and swoon! These melodic creatures were one of the biggest hits of the early 2000s if you knew the right sort of college rock station or website to sneak to, streaming their dreamy, eloquently simple love songs. Songs about never leaving folks alone, or leaving folks because you have to; songs about heartbreaking breakups, or heartfelt reunions. Hell, there's even an "eff-you" songs hidden between this awesome quartet's records. But you know the moment that record begins playing, you're getting something honest, and when you're listening to music that's played honestly, you'll know you're getting exactly what you deserve to hear from any artist.

But what sets Something Corporate apart from the masses of musical love-singers out there, because as I've made it clear, not only are love songs common, but they're the standard. How does one set themselves apart from the masses? Something Corporate does so dilligently with their frankness and honesty. Their music is well rehearsed and thought through. Yet, it feels as if its composition is all but organic and natural, as if McMahon's poetry is simple torn out of the pages of his personal journal. You can't help sing along and feel the emotion within the songs because of accustomed we are to all the feelings expressed, for if you've ever been in a relationship, you can jive with the message sends forth. Something Corporate didn't write their music for their fans - they wrote their music for themselves - it's a miraculous wonder that their fans can feel so close to personal experiences, because by sheer chance, their own personal experiences are so very similar to that of the band. That humble attitude, that easy feeling of expression, is part of what makes Something Corporate a fabulous band.

The other is their obvious twist on pop-punk music. Sure, how many times have to seen the young guys pick up the devil's favourite electric, six stringed instrument and pour out their sole to the tones of the guitar? Plenty, is the simple answer. But in this day of Coldplay and Radiohead, we sometimes forget how uncommon it is to see a piano up on stage with a rock band. This was a standard for Something Corporate's unique sound, with their diligent piano pieces composed directly adhered to their pop-punk aesthetics. The mix results into a truly unique sound of piano-punk-rock, which has ONLY been attempted by one band in my personal, collective memory sense Something Corporate's time earlier this decade. The soothing melody of piano and lyric, mixed with the somewhat raucous attitude, fun-loving expression with the expected rock instruments, makes Something Corporate a very unique icon in their genre, one that can never be replicated, that they remain kings of their own castle to hold the rights to.

Good things pass on sometimes, just like our relationships. Our love and caring was needed in the Something Corporate camp, when lead singer Andrew McMahon was diagnosed with leukemia. With the good wishes, love, and care of friends and strangers alike, McMahon's cancer has eventually gone into remission. But with his sickness, came a pulling apart of Something Corporate. Since the band officially disbanded in 2006, and Andrew recovered, Andrew has gone on to form a band with a similar sound - Jack's Mannequin - where he also combines a similar, less 90s inspired, more contemporary form of that pop aesthetic with piano chords that's so pleasing on the ear. But for the the true fans of love spilling forth from the keys of a piano, they know they can always seek solace in the wonderful records of Something Corporate.

Something Corporate has a slew of records under their belt while their eight year campaign lasted, most under the Drive-Thru records: their first release, Ready... Break, as well as the classic Leaving Through the Window, and one of their masterfully created records, North, along with several live albums, EPs, and awesome videos (need I even suggest you see "If U C Jordan"?). As for Andrew McMahon, with the reclamation of his life, he pursues it full force in his new band Jack's Mannequin, who's busily touring about. But of course, Something Corporate still has their Myspace, where you can continue to stream their songs and feel the love and life within their notes and words.

Peachcake on Daytrotter

2009-09-13T19:15:00.001-05:00

Andddddd action! No, the scene's not over. Don't cut! Keep rolling.

One chance filmmaking. It's gorgeous. It's wonderful watching scenes from cinema that weren't cut and butchered to pieces by close, over-editing. Just letting your actors act, letting your characters move, and letting your scene play out is a beautiful thing to see if you enjoy that sort of subtlety. It's smooth, it's fluid, and it's natural. That's what makes it unique, and that's why you've got to love it.

There's also Peachcake, and I'm certainly not talking about the dessert. Unless you're the type of person to consider them some sort of musical dessert! These guys are fluidity defined. With their banging drum beat, electro-inspired musicianship, and wild, crazy antics on and off stage, these guys can do nothing but make everyone in their presence smiles and dance. Peachcake is like a living bottlerocket: tonnes of potential energy all contained in an extremely small package, and all they do is invite you to set them off so they can release themselves in energetic entertainment.

Well, there's a musical version of this fluid cinematography: deep in the heart of the state that feels the Illinoise, at Rock Island, is a humble little studio simply known as Futreappletree Studio 1. In their legendary art of recording wonderful instances of musical ecstasy, these folks use analogical recording to bring out the honesty, integrity, and love in its most raw form through speakers all throughout the world.

Well there are none better to express love than the residents of Planet Awesome!, wonderful friends of Voilà!, Peachcake. The essence of fluidity has now been recorded in a truly awesome, unique, fun loving, live performance on Daytrotter, recorded back in the heart of winter! Featuring six songs - most of which are off Peachcake's still delicious, new album, What Year Will You Have The World? - are performed with all their quirkiness and delightfulness (live, spontaneous, inspirational monologues included). Check out the feature article and the Peachcake's Daytrotter performance with the greatest haste, readers and lovers. Or stick around Voilà! a little longer, and read up on some Peachcake concerts and memories, and feature articles. Or, but of course, you could always wander straight over to Peachcake's Myspace, and party with them! Regardless, hopefully this is the perfect pick-me-up for another Monday, tomorrow. Have a grand week readers!

Elliot Magazine

2009-09-10T17:59:00.003-05:00

Busy busy busy. It's a busy time, folks. School has started for just about everyone now. I'm on my third week, and somewhere between essays, The Picture of Dorian Gray, mes leçons françaises, and a crazy textual analysis course, I try to find times to puruse the internet for the latest and greatest music news. Granted - and if you're a regular reader on Voilà!, I'm sure you've noticed - I don't have all the time in the world. And considering I've started an art project with some international friends, and am way more addicted to Lookbook.nu than I'd normally like to admit - not even beginning to mention that I'm something of a perfectionist, and only want to deliver the best of the best musical articles to you lovely readers - sometimes I just don't have time to write the most quality article with a very high frequency every week. For that, I certainly apologize.

So there wasn't an [Ex]Band of the Week article this time around (we'll call my excuse Labour Day and the presidential speech to Congress last night). But that can only mean two awesome articles for next week! That only brings reasons to get excited to mind. But - and that perfectionist bit is showing right now - I can't just let Voilà! sit completely empty for a week. I have to do something.

Voilà! loves all things independent, from music, to cinema, to literature. We've mentioned our old friends, the Vomitorium Collective Art Concern about one year ago; the indie art magazine still feature some of the greatest contemporary artistic minds you can find on our fine planet. But all this talk of art, culture, and independence is making me tingle with excitement. Because by complete chance, I've stumbled upon something that may just be right up Voilà! readers literary alley.

Elliot Magazine is touted as being a quirky cultural collective from a duo of designers, interested in the presentation of journalistic expression. That might be one bold, longwinded, tongue twister of a claim, but you'd be hard pressed to find some sort of way to contest it! This very sleek, well designed, unique, cultural webzine literally made its inaugural launch today. Filled with 63 pages full of interviews, articles, photographer features, some music articles, Elliot Magazine is due to be an up and coming star in the online cultural scenes. And since I try to tie everything on Voilà! back to music, I'll have you know that besides a couple of neat playlists at the end of the magazine, the debut issue of Elliot Magazine features a favourite from Elliot Magazine's own home town, Toronto: a concert review of Broken Social Scene.

See how your eyes widened and ears perked up, just dying to hear a clip from "Pacific Theme?" Oh yes, reader, I knew your interests would be peaked. For our old friends at Vomitorium, editor-in-chief Brice Baum has released six wonderfully eclectic magazine issues, and is busily working on the seventh issue, due sometime in the future (hopefully soon); you can check out all the news, as well as purchase your own copy of Vomitorium from their official site. As for our new friends at Elliot Magazine, you can wander directly to the free and independent online magazine as we speak, and check out all of the lovely literature they have to offer!

Thao with The Get Down with A New Album!

2009-09-05T09:01:00.001-05:00

Friends, real and otherwise! Time to come together!

It's been a long time gone, friends. "Geography" has made a mess of all of us, and even though we've been around our "Swimming Pools", sitting at our "Big Kid Tables," "Yes, So On and On," we haven't forgotten the memories that have been left with us. I could be talking about no less than the wondrous trio of Thao with The Get Down Stay Down!

I was lucky enough to see the cool cats behind the folk rhythms down at South by Southwest during the Mess For Texas performance, following up Cursive. The performance was neat despite crazy Austin winds, and was a refreshing reminder of exactly how awesome Thao and the boys are. But at the time, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down were recently featured in a brand new Daytrotter session, where they performed a new song! Exciting as that is, new songs insinuate that a new album is in the works...

Hopes have now been awarded!

"We are proud and pleased to announce the upcoming release of our new record Know Better Learn Faster-- out Oct. 13th on Kill Rock Stars. To celebrate, we are going on tour. Please see show dates; we are thrilled at the prospect of seeing you again or for the first time.
On this record, we clapped, sang, shouted, laughed, danced, played instruments, and i cried just a little bit, for texture."

Need I say more? Hurry off to Thao with The Get Down Stay Down's Myspace, check out their tour dates, catch up on all their tunes, and get ready for the release of Know Better Learn Faster this October! Huzzah!

Video: Down On Lovin' - The Soft Pack

2009-09-03T08:32:00.002-05:00

So Voilà! is featuring different [ex]bands all month long. It's a nice way to get cozy and retrospect about wonderful musicians and songs gone by. Makes one think of past styles, and past musical trends. But it's not all about old music this month; there is room for the new as well!

The Soft Pack draw from the old themselves. Their simple style of straightforward rock reminds many of a brand of rock music that's more old school. But this new band has been keeping themselves quite busy down in Southern California. To be incredibly timely, these boys have just released a brand new song with a video! Filmed straight on the beaches of the Pacific, the blokes of The Soft Pack are playing their latest song, "Down On Lovin'", which is another well crafted song from a wonderful band. You can check it out on Voilà! right here!

The Soft Pack 'Down on Lovin'' from Felipe Lima on Vimeo.

[Ex]Band of the Week: Arrah and the Ferns

2009-08-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

[2005-2008]
Arrah and the Ferns
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop / Folk
Drinking Buddies: Slow Club, The Boy Least Likely To, Math and Physics Club
Synopsis: Coy whispers between young lovers.
Makes You Want To...: Daydream; Smooch; Walk through the park
Evolved Into:

the bears of blue river
council, idaho
the native young
prayer breakfast
see orange
whoa bro awesome/sleeping bag
woodlands

[Myspace] / [Website] / [Last.fm]

This month is one of old and new.
Voilà! is featuring bands that have broken up.
This week, the featured artist is Arrah and the Ferns.

Tea. It's simple. Tea is simply tea. Coffee is complicated: it makes your entire body buzz from head to toe, if you drink it too fast you'll burn your mouth and tongue, and with contemporary coffee shops (which shall remain unmentioned), they have behemoth mutant coffees decorated with icing and ice, with all nameless sorts of names. Coffee is complex. There's not a lot to tea, really. Heat up some water, toss some leaves in it, let it steep for a bit. That's all there is to tea; you've got to love something that's just so pure, easy to understand, and simply made; no complications, just what you expect it to be. It's a comfort, tea is. And it's very personable, as there is no one way that people are required to drink tea. Have it hot with milk, have red tea straight and bitter, have white tea subtle and calming, have icy cold and extremely sweet black tea. Tea can be whatever you want it to be, and there's a taste for about everyone; it's because of tea's simplicity that it's so relateable.

Simple is calming, and simple is delightful, as are Arrah and the Ferns. It's soothing to listen to something so clear and easy to understand; so unpretentious and fun; so relaxed and jubilant. These cools cats Indiana are a gem rested gently in the midwest for four years, quietly making a huge musical difference for those ever-so lucky enough to be apart of their miniature movement.

Arrah and the Ferns made a lot of friends in their short creative musical group; this was a family of friends, all based on their own unique brand of friendships. And through these bonds, a quaint, unique brand of music was created. All that love for each other and music just flowed in the way streams are meant to, and streaming out the musical instruments were lighthearted, easygoing songs about love, and all the silly things that follow in its wake. Everything is light, from the guitars to the gentle keyboard, to the tap-tap rhythm on the drums.

It's hard, to sell some bands that break up, especially so soon in their musical career. Most bands have a long history, and well defined personalities, which makes for longwinded, thrilling essays that stretch for miles with the wasteful syntax of sentences strewn about careless defining their musical prowess. But Arrah and the Ferns really doesn't need that flowery language to define their sound, because their sound defines itself. It's earnestly one of a kind, drawing you in with the aforementioned simplicity and malleability. Arrah and the Ferns carry themselves as if they were your favourite band all along, and their album simply got lost amongst your record collection until you found it one day, rubbed all the dirt off, and became reacquainted with old friends. Old friends, good friends.

These friends in Arrah and the Ferns made their claim to fame with their debut album, Evan Is A Vegan. The album flows as a low-fi peace of genius, eclectic yet simple; easy to understand, yet it calls you back constantly to re-listen and re-indulge; it draws you back in eagerly to smile with each melody, with every witty lyric, with every bouncy note. Their sound is comfortable, and cool, and make you want to make friends with shy folks to see how thrillingly interesting they are once you get them talking. This is an album for friends, by friends. Lackaday, friends may stay friends, but some things change. During their work on their sophomore album, Bad in One Place, Arrah and the Ferns unfortunately went their separate ways. Now across the musical world, in many a number of different bands, Evan Is A Vegan and Arrah and the Ferns are a cute, memorable musical photo on the shelf, reminding us all how simply and fun music can be. Arrah and the Ferns are a nostalgic snapshot that reminds us to look for those hidden gems, because they are the most valuable.

Arrah and the Ferns still live on! They are featured in a song on Standard Records Christmas compilation, A Very Standard Christmas, with their song, "Merry Christmas Not X-Mas." And of course they have Evan Is A Vegan! If you want to catch a glimpse at the album, you're free to log on your Last.fm account, and visit Arrah and the Ferns' page, where you can hear the entire album for free. When the limited play count kicks in, you can rush straight over to iTunes or Standard Records' online store and buy your very own copy of Evan Is A Vegan, a diamond that no proper collection should be missing. Or, if you're just cheap, and want to see fond memories from better days, check out Arrah and the Ferns on their Myspace.

Band of the Week: Franz Ferdinand

2009-08-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

[August 24 - 30]

Franz Ferdinand
Sounds Like: Indie Rock
Drinking Buddies: Bloc Party, LCD Soundsystem, Mando Diao, The Wombats
Synopsis: The hip, artistic exploration of dancing and foot tapping.

Makes You Want To...: Sing; Dance; Party.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Franz Ferdinand.

In the moment, in the groove. Somewhere deep within the rythmn of life, of culture, of fashion, of society, of music, beats this ethereal essence of something-or-other that invigorates the soul. This strange, inexplicable pulse is a fabulous thing, because it is the driving force that inspires to do their own things - to be themselves - to act without restriction and inhibition. It whispers in these adventurous folks' hearts, and tells them they need to act atypical. And why? Well, just because someone has to. And one can argue this fate-granted aspect that can be endowed upon anyone. But if you walk in time, if one were to walk in rhythm, to that perfectly orchestrated beat-pulse-thing, one would wonder why they didn't follow the beat of their own drum a long time ago. One could wonder why everyone else isn't following this same beat.

We speak so frankly about this odd surreal motivational factor on Voilà!, today, because it may or may not be this odd factor - this inane, insatiable drive - to act different that inspires some of our favourite musical artists to do that thing they do. And the more entwined they are with this certain something - the more their musical interminglings intertwine with the aspects of culture, such as those mentioned prior, the more fluid the musicians styles glide along, ever so effortlessly. There are plenty of artists who are masters of this cultural symbiosis, but today, we're focusing on a quirky quartet out of Glasgow, Scotland.

They may be named after famous arch-dukes of Austria. Maybe it's because they wanted some effect in their name, or maybe it's because the name had so much affect on them. But regardless how you take it, Franz Ferdinand is certainly an iconic moniker in the contemporary rock scene these days. Having the often recounted history of being the latest and greatest art school rock bands - brimming with eclectic lightheartedness, and unpretentious funloving - to come out of left field in the earls 2000s. But the addicting rhythms and catchy choruses from these stylish Scots caught the ear of many a keen-minded music listener.

Using a powerfully unique blend of many generations of rock music, with their own twist on every single note, Franz Ferdinand easily perks people's attention. Their style involves steady, flowing electric guitar and very bass centric song structure, all orbitting the perfect distance in complement to Kapronos' poetic talent. With tight, close, perfectly timed beats that give every song a danceable quality, Franz Ferdinand has crafted themselves a style that's truly one of a kind; in fact, the only time another band has even approached a similar to style to Franz Ferdinand was with the debut release of fellow UK band, Bloc Party, on their album Silent Alarm.

Franz Ferdinand has a further qualities that can be attributed to them. While Bloc Party's Silent Alarm did share certain moods and styles with Franz Ferdinand's eponymous debut, it is Franz Ferdinand is the one who excels by launching themselves into further expansions of their own sound. With the release of their second album, You Could Have It So Much Better, Franz Ferdinand took everything their listeners loved off of the original release, and refined it into an even more pure form than its original. Furthermore, with the release of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, in the beginning of 2009, Franz Ferdinand once again harnessed their musical prowess to once again evolve their unique style into something powerfully unique, with out at all detracting from their original sound that their fans loved so much. So you see, Franz Ferdinand a band which merely changes, solidifies, only to morph again; their sound is fluid, and ever evolving, never losing its learned benefits, only gaining more, growing and increases in wonder and intrigue. An ever evolving musical experiment that will have any listener entranced to keep listening and shaking their hips to the groove laid down on the record.

They've got the groove, Franz Ferdinand does. They've been laying it all down for quite some time now, with their three studio albums, every which one is a powerful defining mark on Franz Ferdinand's belt. Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better, and Tonight: Franz Ferdinand can be purchased just about anywhere these days, and all are worth every dollar you can spare for them.

When these boys aren't being featured on Pitchfork or NME - being hailed with thousands of well deserved musical accolades - they're probably busy showing up in Nylon or FashionTV for their fabulous fashion sense. If you're hoping for a more personal touch of Franz Ferdinand, you're in luck! Our faithful quartet is presently touring their hearts out! While presently wandering about the North American continent, following up with a UK tour, followed again by some stops in Russia and Japan, all before a return to the lands of Europe... Well, let's just say they're busy. For a musical treat, tour dates, and much more, check out Franz Ferdinand's Myspace. And while you're grooving, may you happily have a great week.

Modest Mouse, B-Sides, Heath Ledger, and Whale Poaching

2009-08-21T08:37:00.000-05:00

Voilà! hasn't made mention of Modest Mouse before. Which is a very curious event, seeing as not only are they one of the greatest experimental, wild, quirky, and unique artists of the past decade and a half, but they play their own style flawlessly, every time. They're by far one of the most influential indie rock outfits of the past sixteen years, and certainly aren't going anywhere. And with such records like The Lonesome Crowded West and The Moon & Antarctica under their belt, they don't really need to. They can sit on their throne built of off-kilter rock music, and watch the rest of their musical peers dance in circles, like little bemused rats pretending they can compare.

Speaking of rats, have you heard of "King Rat" yet? I hadn't, even though it has been released for almost a month now. After getting the hook-up from Oney T. via the Lookbook.nu forums, I had to explore, and boy, did I find a proverbial treasure trove of intrigue, all under Modest Mouse's heading.

Firstly, and most importantly, Modest Mouse have released a new mini-album, as of August 4th, under the title No One's First and You're Next. The album was released somewhat quietly (considering Modest Mouse is such a big player in the contemporary music scene), unless you were paying specific attention to Modest Mouse or their Myspace. More like a long EP, this 30 minute long collection was assembled from the bits and bobs that were left lying about the musical floor of Modest Mouse's recording studios over the past six years, including b-sides from both Good News for People Who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. How these songs didn't end up on either album is a mystery to both you and I. But now that we have them, I don't think we should do much complaining.

No One's First and You're Next flows like you'd expect any Modest Mouse record to, all filled with twisted pop songs gone wrong, and crazy rock songs gone just right. The sextet holds firm to their somewhat rollercoaster stylings, songs going a bit in every direction at once, both confusing while making perfect sense at the same time. But while they got some help with the music video for "Satellite Skin" (directed by Kevin Willis, who's normally responsible for Tool's music videos), it was Modest Mouse's video for "King Rat" that really stuck out. Not only is this the most bizarre song off No One's First..., part of the intrigue is no doubt due in part to its original director, the late Heath Ledger.

Oh yes, that Heath Ledger, your acting friend who haunted Brokeback, and haunted you as Joker; he was the original director of the video for "King Rat," prior to his passing. It was animated While co-directed by Daniel Auber after Ledger's exuent, and animated by Norris Houk and Jade Taglioli, the story is credited to Heath Legder himself. In mutual coordination between Isacc Brock and Heath, Ledger invisioned a twisted, derranged video in protest to illegal whale poaching practices in our modern day. The video is a must see before the turn of this decade.

You can snag yourself a copy of No One's First and You're Next by Modest Mouse right now wherever you can find it (including iTunes). You can catch the extremely weird video for "Satellite Skin" here, or you can stick around Voilà! a bit longer, and watch "King Rat" right here (or here for a really sexy hi-def version). Listen, reader, and open that mind to the strife in the world around you.

Modest Mouse - King Rat

Hailing a Cab to a Festival

2009-08-19T14:36:00.000-05:00

You've got to get around. We all do. Ever since the dawn of time, we've been forced to deal with our necessity for travel. Whether for demand or for leisure, some of our greatest exploits - from the first invention of the wheel, to steam powered automobiles, larger locomotives, gasoline powered cars, planes, et cetera - are defined by our desire to get from one place to the other.

Musicians travel, oh yes, they certainly do. Here, there, everywhere; whether it's touring around their home country, traveling abroad, or just romping about around their town, music is constantly in motion as our favourite artists gadabout. And where music is, vehicles of transportation follow. And where musical modes of transportation are concerned, the best of them all would undoubtedly be the hailed cabs taking the team of the Black Cab Sessions all around England.

Oh, those cooky blokes from the London are getting well know for their mobile live performances of all wondrous sorts of musical troubadours, performing grandiose, unique, catch-it-now-or-you've-missed-it live performances in the back seat of the good ol' fashioned English cabbie-car. But Black Cab Sessions has lately been all about expansion. Besides a huge shift in website design, the Black Cab Sessions has extended the reach (and no doubt the price of their fares that they rack up) beyond the limitations of London.

The Black Cab Sessions has been debuting several special festival-styled Sessions, as they guide their cabs to some of the great English festivals, still featuring some of the most eclectic and wonderful musicians you could ever hope to hear performing live in a car. They started a year ago by attending the Green Man Festival. But this year, Black Cab Sessions is going mental by following the music to the Secret Garden Party, Field Day Festival, and The Big Chill. At every event, they met some great musicians, who all offered very wicked performances, as only you could expect. Besides some unique bands I haven't caught wind of, including Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Official Secrets Act, and Wildbirds and Peacedrums (who somehow fit an entire drum kit into the cab...), there are many acts that fall straight into Voilà!'s listening range, including Au Revoir Simone, Calexico, Final Fantasy, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Noah and the Whale.

Unfortunately, because of that aforementioned recent update on the part of Black Cab Sessions, I'm no longer able to feature their videos on Violà!. But, that shouldn't stop you from checking out any of those wonderful musicians' performances for the Black Cab Sessions festival recordings! As consolation, I'll provide links below to every festival performance on the Black Cab Session, so you can visit them all at your own pace. I'll also post Fanfarlo's old performance, because it's just so cool, and Voilà! ♥'s Fanfarlo (as if that weren't made extremely obvious). Let excitement ensue, readers!

Hafdis Huld | Bombay Bicycle Club | Brute Chorus | Speech Debelle | Au Revoir Simone | Official Secrets Act

Wood Pigeon | Final Fantasy | Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs | King Charles

Sweet Billy Pilgrim | Tom Hickox | Wildbirds and Peacedrums | The Laurel Collective | Calexico | Noah and the Whale

Band of the Week: Nightmare Of You

2009-08-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

[August 10 - 16]

Nightmare Of You
Sounds Like: Indie Rock
Drinking Buddies: Dear and the Headlights, As Tall As Lions, Kevin Devine
Synopsis: Progressively back to basics.

Makes You Want To...: Sing along; Read fiction; Daydream amorously.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Nightmare Of You.

There's a certain joy in simplicity. We constantly search it out, and for good reason. Because as flambouyant and contrived as so many things in our life can become, there's nothing more refreshing than catching glimpses at where it all started. You have to be open-minded though, not so restrictive with your opinions. You can't judge modern things that harken toward that of their predecessors. You must be able to appreciate the old, while embracing the contemporary.

It's the simple stuff, the sort of rock music you're used to and crave at a very basic level, that makes Nightmare Of You so intriguing. I've been following these guys from New York City have been rocking their a simplified four-piece band since 2005, and since then, they've gaining quite the fan following over the years. Representing the town they're from, Nightmare Of You sings imaginative love tunes and cynical snaps to their over-pretentious peers in the music scene. And now freed of their music label chains (as if they could've been chained to begin with), now running their own indie label themselves, they're evermore free to represent themselves how they choose.

The music Nightmare Of You plays is what's more retrospective. Sticking to basic guitar chords, drawn out and steady - or twangy plucks mixed with electronic keyboarding reminiscent of The Cure - along with the ubiquitous guitar solo; their adhering to a more farmiliar rock trends further opens them to more creative song crafting avenues. Unfortunately, my verbosity as a wordsmith can't seem to do Nightmare Of You their proper justice, as they truly are a unique entity in music. While everyone else is busy with their fashion, their scene, or their gimicks, Nightmare Of You is content to relax, while playing they dig. It's very creative, and flows perfectly; what more do you need to enjoy some wicked tunes, eh?

Nightmare Of You is finally back home in New York, after some extremely extensive touring all throughout the beginning of summer. They have one more fête to throw in their hometown though. That is to say, their fantastic record release show tonight! After the releases of a few EPs, most notably their BANG! EP in 2007, and their eponymous debut back in 2005, Nightmare Of You is finally making their sophomore release a reality. Their independently released, brand new full-length album, Infomaniac, is presently on sale through digital outlets, including iTunes, while its physical brethren was introduced into stores as of yesterday. You can catch their tunes... literally all over the place... So I'll just give you their Myspace, as expected, and let you hunt down their purevolumeimeemfacebooketc yourself.

Nightmare Of You has been an old favourite of mine since high school, and I certainly hope you folks enjoy. Ah, hearing "I Want To Be Buried In Your Backyard" and "Dear Scene, I Wish I Were Deaf" bring back tonnes of memories. I hope you love them. For those in Chicago, hope you haven't been passing out due to the heat at Lolla. For everyone else, peace.

When It Comes To Saving Animals, Nevershoutnever!

2009-08-07T14:50:00.000-05:00

Awww, look at this. Then this. Lastly, this. Aren't they absolutely adorable? Don't you just want to hug them? Okay, well, maybe they're a little dirty... but if they were clean and/or you had access to a shower, wouldn't you want to hug them and let them know exactly how cute they are? You've got to love animals, from kittens to endangered species to adorable kittens and puppies; that includes the humble livestock populating our world's farms as well, like those cute critters aforementioned.

Unfortunately, as the way our world operates, those cuties that I showed you are destined for some sad fates. It isn't a future of rolling around in the dirt, chirping away with their avian buddies, or relaxes out in a nice pasture. No, the way us more intelligent folks (humans) will have it - since we're up at the top of the food chain and all - we'll probably have those lovely souls slaughtered for the meat consumption of our omnivorous stomachs.

The sad truth is that despite it being extremely cruel to innocent, defenseless animals, and being inexorably costly from an environmental standpoint, we - as humans - eat tonnes of meat. Okay, maybe this is drifting a bit toward wagging Voilà!'s finger at you, dear reader, to be more conscious of animals. But there's a point to all this, I assure! There are plenty of folks out there trying to save animals by choosing not to eat them. I'm a vegetarian for one, but their are plenty of respectable folks in the music scene that follow the same dietary path: Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie, Jón Þór Birgisson of Sigur Rós, half of Fanfarlo, and don't even get me started with Morrissey.

Well as it happens, there's another faithful vegetarian to add to the ever-growing list of musical masters who stave off meat: Christofer Drew, AKA, Nevershoutnever!. As it also happens, he's doing some great things to try to get the word out about how smart an idea vegetarianism is! Besides his personal self-promotion, Nevershoutnever! is now rockin' a contest with the animal advocacy group PETA2. The winners will get some Nevershoutnever! albums and original artwork! If you're just in it to learn a little more about Mr. Drew, well you can wander over to PETA2's interview of Nevershoutnever! back during SXSW. Or, of course, check out Nevershoutnever!'s Myspace.

Band of the Week: Ponytail

2009-08-03T16:41:00.001-05:00

[August 3 - 9]

Ponytail
Sounds Like: Art-Rock / Experimental
Drinking Buddies: Deerhoof, Times New Viking, The Moi Non Plus, Pterodactyl
Synopsis: There's a fine line between insanity and genius, and we're jumping rope with it.

Makes You Want To...: SUGAR RUSH!; Wild out; Random play
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Ponytail.

Call it what you will, call it what you may. Call it whatever you damn well please, but whether you like it or not, music is not just music. It's not just well orchestrated sounds put on pieces of plastic. It's not just a tremendously ingrained cultural aspect within our society. No no, not in the slightest. Music is more. Music is a river a creativity, flowing through the audiovascular system to the cerebral vortex of the minds of musicians and listeners everywhere. My friendly readers, music is more than music. Music is an artform, every bit as much a creative adventure as anything you'll find in some sterile museum.

But whereas regular art is confined to canvas or a podium for visual display, music has no limits except those of your mind. You make what you wish of music by your own interpretation, and all you have to base it on is exactly how tightly wound the guitar strings of your mind are. And believe me, the more you loosen up those strings, the more fun you can have. You can quickly realize some music doesn't need words. Hell, you'll learn some songs don't even need structure. You can learn feedback sounds beautiful, screaming sounds pristine, and your voice is not just an outlet, but an instrument. Music is art, simple as that. And Ponytail is Ponytail, simple as that.

Yes, you heard me. Ponytail is Ponytail - duh - didn't know? Do you really need to judge this crazy quartet from Baltimore? Not particularly; they have two guitars, a drum set, and a few microphones. But they're just a band of folks who like making some neat music. But there's so much more to discover when you're not judging, so stop while you're ahead. Ponytail is all about loose guitar strings and just jammin' around all day. Their music doesn't really have to make sense to anyone else, because it certainly makes sense to them. Ponytail is well contented to play however they want and let you tie all the rest of the knots if you're interested enough to follow them on their auditory exploration.

They play fast, they play loud, and they play without inhibition. Ponytail dips their feet directly into that swimming pool of creativity; but they don't linger, rather, cannonball straight in and start splashing anyone who hasn't joined them. Forgoing and bass guitar, they concentrate all of their music on duel guitars, shredding away in two opposite direction before crashing back together. As if the guitarists weren't a show enough, their singer dances and sings along with inane energy seeping out of every inch of her skin, wildly yelping and rocking out to every disjointed yet harmonic note, all whilst deafening blasts of malleable beats blare from the drums backing up the whole affair. Many of my writing peers frequently described Ponytail's crazed eclecticness as a musical "sugar rush," and they couldn't be speaking more of the truths. Turn up your speakers, down a few pixie stix, and listen to "...,,,;;;:::!" by Ponytail; you might understand.

The wicked folks of Ponytail aren't very busy right now. Besides a local show scheduled in the somewhat near future, they're chilling. It's well deserved though, after heaps of touring following the release of their sophomore album, Ice Cream Spiritual, a celebration of all things huhwoahreallythat'ssocool. You'll understand what I'm talking about if you listen to "7 Souls." If you're further intrigued, you can also catch their freshman release, Kamehameha, which you can stream off of Last.fm if you're cheap and strapped for cash at the moment (like me). Or you can wander over to Daytrotter, and catch their very spontaneous acoustic session.

And all I can furthermore I hope that you enjoy.

Who The Hell Is Ponytail?

2009-07-31T11:10:00.001-05:00

You can probably quote me as saying it, at least once or twice. Something along the lines of "this band is making a lot of noise." 'Tis an odd phrase, to be true. What I normally mean by that is generally something positive. Yeah, this little collection is making some noise - it's good noise - noise that should be registering in your auditory canals; that's the general meaning of that phrase.

I try to reserve the phrase. I don't use noise in that context very often. Kind of in the way some people say they don't love someone; it's not because they don't love them, simply that they want the term love to retain some sense of importance - some sense of not just anyone deserves this term's use. That's my thoughts on noise. Austin makes a lot of great noise. So does Montréal and Chicago. There's a lot of great noise coming out of Japan. Bam Bam is making some great noise. Mount Righteous, Fanfarlo, and Explosions have some wonderful noise to make. Important places, important people, to me anyway, or folks who are quickly making a mark on the scene. The term is reserved to those special individuals. That's just how I roll.

That being said: Ponytail is making some serious noise.

So who the fuck is Ponytail? Well, that'll remain a mystery for now. But they're definitely making the world aware of their presence; I use that term "noise" very conceptually and literally, in this case. They make a LOT of noise. Loud, wild, violent, mathematical, artistic noise. It's ridic, kids. I'll let you do your own personal research on Ponytail until you hear the official word on what Voilà! has to say. But if you're even slightly intrigued, might I suggest you wander over to their Myspace or their acoustic feature on Daytrotter? Until later.

Band of the Week: Minuscule Hey

2009-07-27T14:00:00.001-05:00

[July 27 - August 2]

Minuscule Hey
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: The Blow, くるり (Quruli), The Pinker Tones

Synopsis: Easily enjoyed to minimalist indie-pop duet with a tiny dash of zing and minusculity? Ouais.

Makes You Want To...: Dance; Sing; Tap your foot.
[Site] / [Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Minuscule Hey.

There's this thing about uniqueness. It's important, standing out of the crowd, that is. There are plenty of folks content to go with the general flow of traffic, following all the major thoroughfares. But it's so boring! I mean, just take a drive on the highway; marred with potholes, you'll spend most of your time (no doubt, if you live in as large of a metropolitan area as I), stuck in traffic, being tailgated, or watching warily for those cops with the motorcycles. It's bad enough on the highway, much less in life. No sir'y-bob! That's not for certain folks out there, and these certain people brave the side streets in search of the scenic routes. Adventuring of the often beaten trails - maybe you'll find something out there, maybe not - but the point is, living within the confines of the typical gets... well, typical.

Atypicality is a spice in life! A quirky taste, that tastes something like cayenne peppers. You've got to savour it, and there's plenty of neat stuff to celebrate. Minuscule Hey knows that, and they represent it well. Okay, so their 'hey' is small, Minuscule Hey doesn't mind much. This anglophonic French band out of Bordeux labels themselves 'mini rock.' And there's no real phrase that could express it any better.

Eclectic is the name of the game for Emily and Laurent of Minuscule Hey. They go for mixing it up, these two troubadours. They swirl pop and rock perfectly together like some wildly delicious milkshake concoction, all tastes tantalizing, musical notes dancing across your audio-cerebral taste buds like some truly imaginative invention of sound and style. Accompanied by their trusty drum machine a tut tut tutting away for them, Minuscule Hey brings tapping feet, dancing hearts, and nodding heads together all at once - all like minded individuals converging and crashing cataclysmically together in some sort of musical combobulation. I think the message here is that this is some fabulous music.

Minuscule Hey caught my heart up with their fabulous cover of Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" that began to circulate across the internet earlier this year. As it so turns out, Minuscule Hey has released that cover, along with their 10 other minimalistic ditties spread out across three low key EPs, their eponymous debut, Bananoffee, and their latest release titled We Feel Minuscule. I'm not sure where any of us can score the two first records... I'm at a complete loss this time, reader. But! Minuscule Hey had We Feel Minuscule debuted by French indie label Alienor Records, and you can listen to and snag yourself a copy of this nifty EP off of their site for €4.

Minuscule Hey is taking a break for the summer before they launch on a minuscule tour about England in October, followed by some French shows afterwards. Leur site est seulement en Français maintenant, but they're working on getting an English version of the site operational soon! You can check out aforementioned website right here. Or you can go peruse their Myspace, which has a host of their great songs! Or, if you're having fun wandering around Voilà!, you could always check out their Bob Dylan cover right here. In any event, reader, I bid you an imaginative week. Have fun!

Killer Songs - Killer Albums - Kill Hannah

2009-07-17T12:09:00.000-05:00

There are a few bands out there who do their business. Quite a few actually; they've got their collective together, they've got their fanbase, and they've got their unique style of music. What do they do with it? They make an album, tour like all get out, they have a grand ol' time, and... poof.

Yes, some bands just disappear. Wax On Radio, Brand New... just a few examples of bands who try to fall off the radar once their business is complete. Certainly there's no problem with this, as every group of minstrels needs a good rest. And thus, it is entirely possible that they disappear straight off the musical map for awhile.

Kill Hannah is not one of these bands. Flying the Illinois flag high in Chicago, Kill Hannah has - as far as I can honestly tell - always been busy. They are constantly on tour, constantly making music, and when it doesn't seem like they're doing anything else, they have tonnes of guest DJ'ing gigs all around the Windy City. But, it's time for Kill Hannah to get particularly busy...

A new album! It's been three years of touring and pleasing their loyal fans with wild, unique, and all around awesome rock concerts - all supporting the release of their previous album of critical acclaim, Until There's Nothing Left Of Us - Kill Hannah is set to release their brand new album, Wake Up The Sleepers, in September. They're on tour at the moment, but come the end of September, you can expect very good things from these Chicagoan natives.

Presently, Kill Hannah has released their latest song... well, sort of. It's not a new song to old school Kill Hannah's song - an old dance track from back in the day - but this time with a full band. You can check it out straight up in all its rock-out glory on their Myspace right now.

Band of the Week: Blitzen Trapper

2009-07-13T17:24:00.003-05:00

[July 13 - 19]

Blitzen Trapper
Sounds Like: Folk / Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes

Synopsis: Oh, is that what you thought folks was? Sorry, we changed it.

Makes You Want To...: Ponder; Rebel; Whistle.
[Myspace] / [Site]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Blitzen Trapper.

It's an interesting thing, how the tides turn from unfavourable to a blessing that will guide you into shore. It's intriguing how somehow those who are so biased against - those have only a voice, but no say - are so quickly given their say - are given their peace to speak atop the soapbox. Some have called it one's fifteen seconds of fame, and maybe they have been pursuing such fame, or such fame tripped and fell conveniently in their lap. But regardless, when the underdog, obstructed from view by the metaphorical skyscrapers of society that surround them, gets their opportunity to shine, it makes for all the more heroic story.

Have you heard of Blitzen Trapper, reader? I'd be shocked if you haven't at this point. This quirky sextet out of Oregon is one of those sudden success stories that have sailed to the top in a New York minute. With their somewhat experimental, southern sounding folks style, Blitzen Trapper hovered in a bubble of complete musical obscurity for the longest time, their biggest fans bravely touting them from the nooks and crannies throughout the internet as loud as they could muster. Alas, though they were perfectly comfortable with their position, for all the accolades Blitzen Trapper received, for all kind words endowed, nothing could break this shield against notoriety.

But they say good will overcome, and I suppose the same goes for good music. It was the release of Furr, Blizten Trappers' latest release, that slingshotted these boys into some immensely bright spotlights in the musical industry. With the pat on the back from the Sub-Pop Records family, Blitzen Trapper released their latest record, filled with uniqueness and intrigue on every inch of the album. As a result, they were subsequently hailed by the obvious fans - Pitchfork, Spin Magazine, and the like - but also praised by one of the most influential musical voices in the journalism industry: Rolling Stone Magazine featured Furr not only as a wonderful album that deserves your attention, but ranked it as one of the best albums of 2008.

And despite all the attention, they've remained quite humble through it all, albeit a bit busier than before. Blitzen Trapper is presently touring their hearts out all summer long. They'll be gracing the Pitchfork Music Festival in a few weeks, and will arrive back in the northwest, playing a free show with Throw Me The Statue in Seattle, and a festival in their hometown, Portland, before launching on a tour across Europe that can only be described by the words "impressive" or "epic." Your choice.

Blizten Trapper is on their fourth album with the release of Furr. They also have their eponymous debut, Field Rexx, and Wild Mountain Nation (which is an album you don't want to miss) under their belt, along with a slew of featurettes scattered across the internet, mostly on iTunes. They've been featured on Daytrotter a ridiculous FOUR TIMES in the last year (I, II, III, IV), their fourth session debuting on the site today - all of which I almost feel essentially constitutes an EP- each session is as sexy and unique as the last, filled with the most delightful folk twanging tunes you could ever dream up. You have to respect the fine boys and their passionate style. Get to listening, keep those ears on the speakers, and have a great week, reader.

Video: You! The Magic Number - Mount Righteous

2009-07-09T11:11:00.004-05:00

You might notice the weird punctuality of the updates on Voilà! for a bit, reader. Since I'm the only one of our site's fair writers without a life, I end up being the one who is the most verbose of the entire lot, blabbering endlessly about all nameless musical endeavours. Alas, sometimes the cruel eyes of responsibility look down upon me as they do the rest of us, and I get a bit busy. For that, and my lack of constant updates, I certainly do apologize. It happens.

You know who else has been busy lately? Mount Righteous, my favourite North Texan indie band. Things have been quiet lately high atop Mount Righteous out in Grapevine, Texas. But that's because Mount Righteous is busily working away on their lately indie-pop phenomenon. And if their sophomore album compares anything to the release of When The Music Starts, their first full length album, you know that it'll all be worth the wait in the end.

As for me though, I am getting quite pumped. Mount Righteous is done with their national touring for awhile as they busy themselves getting new music together. But they certainly aren't letting their singing voices and bubbly attitudes go to waste! They're pleasing us local folks here in the Metroplex by playing a few local shows. They'll be hitting up the Chat Room Pub this coming Sunday - July 12 - and a much larger venue, Granada Theater, at the end of the month. Sweet action! For my fellow Texans, these are some shows you definitely don't want to miss. As for every else, you don't want to miss When the Music Starts by Mount Rigtheous, because it's chock full of some of the catchiest, most loveable songs you've heard in all your years. Curious? Just check out Mount Righteous' article on Voilà!, or hussel over to their Myspace. I, if you don't mind, will watch more of their live performances scattered across YouTube.

A Memory

2009-07-07T12:59:00.001-05:00

Band of the Week: Explosions In The Sky

2009-07-03T14:33:00.003-05:00

[June 29 - July 6]

Explosions In The Sky
Sounds Like: Rock / Post-Rock
Drinking Buddies: Sigur Rós, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai

Synopsis: Beauty, no words necessary.

Makes You Want To...: Dream; Feel; Be
[Site] / [Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Explosions In The Sky.

Oh yes, tomorrow, The Fourth of July! The day the United States claimed its independence from the English Empire back in the day; the day a country of misfits and ne'er-do-wells stood up on their own two feet, and said, "Hey, we aren't going to take your perfectly logical taxes upon a colony lightly! We are the United States of England at the moment, and if you don't respect us, we'll be the United States of something else real quick-like." The day the underdog claimed their independence as a land of people who can think for themselves, and a day when a few crazy people started an avalanche of a revolution that changed history...

This day is special here in the States - it's the very core of what our nation was founded on - without the actions of the founding fathers of this nation's independence, well, the face of the world would be very much different today. It's a special day for my home country, and so, I feel like sharing something especially special with you, today, reader. This is my all time favourite band, bar none. This is a band not only from my home country, but from my home state of Texas, another epic landscape founded by the acts of a few crazy rebels. This is a band that has somehow taken emotions and dreams, and contained them within the sounds exquisitely assembled on a musical album, done in a way no other band could help to do. This band is a band of rebels, a band of raw feeling, and a band that have no equals. This is a band that is beyond unique. This is Explosions In The Sky.

In some wildly, unrealistically romantic turn of coincidence, Explosions In The Sky was formed on the Fourth of July of 1999, one whole decade ago to the day. With their beginnings of watching fireworks blast in the air with mind numbing beauty and volume, this quartet originally hailing Midland, Texas - now calling the capitol of Austin their home - aimed to dream beyond dreams, and with their inept, indisputable musical abilities, have began changing the very structure and ideals of music from the ground up.

Explosions In The Sky is usually put into the genre of post-rock - though they assure they're just a rock band. Post-rock is a new genre that is still in those early stages when all the weird mutations are happening, and the genre as a whole looks like some ridiculous reject from Spore. At present, the genre is mostly defined by tremendously powerful rock music, usually entirely instrumental, that uses crescendo, climax, and sheer walls of sound to its advantage. Post-rock is quickly becoming a tremendous musical creature with all nameless sorts of bands, such as This Will Destroy You, I Hear Sirens, and The American Dollar. But for any post-rock band that raises their guitar in triumph, you can believe without a doubt that much of the inspiration for such epic instrumental choreography was from the magic that Explosions In The Sky weaved across their guitars and drums.

But how does one describe a band so esoteric? Explosions In The Sky are a national phenomenon, yet somehow remain a musical underdog. They are esoteric beyond measure, yet some of the most relaxed and humble folks you'll see. Their music is epic, sheer walls of sound ripping apart speakers by the very seems of their electro-engineering, yet Explosions In The Sky are sincere masters of silence in their music, holding your heart and breath all at once as you wait for that next note to break the beautifully haunting quietude.

How does one describe Explosions In The Sky? I describe it as dreams in motion, ebbing and flowing in the inconceivable Ether of sound. I describe it as imagination personified, and thus materialized into existence, through the vehicle of sound. I describe it as the tremendous build-up of potential energy stored in the snow of a mountain's peak tumbling down to the ground in slow motion - each nuance full in view - all the chaos and beauty shining forth is such a terribly perfect event - crashing down upon the land below in powerful, unbelievably epic fashion, only to settle in silence, sitting cooly and calmly waiting for another dream to come true. But that's just me.

Explosions In The Sky have four full length albums to their name, all of which take and express a different feeling and emotion, these albums' titles being their individual theme. How Strange, Innocence, Those Who Tell The Truth Will Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, and All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone, all entirely unique, all completely different, all calming silence and deafening sound. All beautiful. They also have a mini-album, The Rescue, in an extremely unique fashion, which you can download for free and learn more about here, and read a little explanation straight from Explosions In The Sky.

Explosions In The Sky shocked their fanbase last year by claiming they are taking a short break from music, looking forward to, "getting back to our normal lives here in Austin...walking dogs, taking naps, having babies, playing scrabble, painting bathrooms, fixing air conditioners, reading about the Civil War, etc." But somehow, they haven't really settled down in their music careers, performing a miniature ten year anniversary tour, going to a limited number of cities, including Austin, Chicago, and others. They're book for the Free Press Summer Fest in Houston in August, a tour with The Flaming Lips afterward, and the infamous All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK in December. Explosions In The Sky is also celebrating their tenth birthday by playing a small show at Stubb's Barbeque in Austin, on the Fourth of July. You can hear more of Explosions In The Sky on their website, or on their Myspace.

As much as I could say about Explosions In The Sky, there is no way I could ever do this band any justice. To me, they are the epitome of music, and have - in their own way - changed my life, just a little, by allowing me to drift with them in their dreams. Just as Explosions ends all their messages to their friends...

Thanks for caring.

Love.

Independence With Fanfarlo

2009-06-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

It's almost time! Independence Day! The fourth of July, a day of explosions and festivities here in the United States. Not so much in the United Kingdom though, where it's just another day in the week. Well... that was before 2009.

This year, the 4th of July is a big deal, all due from the wow-worthy antics of one of the best new English bands around, Fanfarlo. Recently, Fanfarlo released their debut full-length LP, Reservoir, as a digital download. And it's fabulous, in the very least; in truth, this is one of the best, vibrant, most colourful albums of the year. It's one you definitely don't to miss, and because of how Fanfarlo is now selling their album, you won't have to!

One dollar. One American dollar. Yep, you heard Voilà! right, reader. Fanfarlo is now selling their Reservoir, their debut album, for one dollar until the Fourth of July, when the festivities end. Why? Well, Fanfarlo thinks their album is quite neat, and wants to share it with as many people as they possibly can. And since this album is actually one of the best of the best, then how can you possibly go wrong in purchasing it?! It's complete legit, and you can download the album straight from Fanfarlo's website.

Now, if you'd like to listen to some Fanfarlo's songs, you could wander toward their Last.fm, or even to their Myspace. But Fanfarlo are the type that likes to treat their fans! To promote this very awesome Independence Day indie music sale, they have filmed several acoustic sets of some of their favourite songs just for you. Watch them right here, because they're absolutely gorgeous. And when you're done, rush over to www.fanfarlo.com and download Fanfarlo's debut Reservoir for only $1 until the fourth of July.

Video: Today (Smashing Pumpkins) - Ben Kweller

2009-06-26T10:31:00.001-05:00

I'm from Texas, but I have this strange connection with Chicago. As a city, as a world, there's nothing else like it. It has it's own brand of uniqueness that simply can't be replicated. Maybe it's in the orange sky that hangs over the city at night, illuminating it with the eerie hum of electricity buzzing in every corner of the city. Maybe it's the bitter cold of Michigan when it freezes over, the entire city turns from bright and colourful to thousands of shades of neutral whites and grays as the city becomes blanketed in snow. Maybe it's the vibrant musical scene that has always centred around this mysterious, violent, eclectic, stiff shouldered sort of town. One can continue to ponder.

I will be heading up to Chicago once more for the summer. It bodes to be a wonderful trip, as I've only seen the city wrought with the glacial cold of a Chicago winter. But I'm not the only Texan - it seems - who has his own personal infatuation with the Windy City. The homegrown, humble dude going by the name of Ben Kweller has his own unique perspective of one of the most legendary rock bands to creep out of Chicagoland.

"I grew up in a small town in Texas, called Greenville, and so my only real source for music was what was on mainstream radio and MTV. So when I got into the Pumpkins, it was when Siamese Dream came out... I was totally into it... it was so incredible." Smashing Pumpkins, alt-rock phenomenas of the 90s, have definitely left their own unique mark on the modern music we hear these days. And this Chicago bred band certainly had their influence on Kweller.

As a sort of tribute, for Spin Magazine late last year, Kweller filmed an acoustic set, covering The Smashing Pumpkins' "Today" on the river in New York City. There's even an accompanying interview where Ben Kweller muses about the Pumpkins while driving through the city. Definitely something for any Pumpkins or Kweller lovers, a treat hiding amidst the abyss that is YouTube. Check it out.

Band of the Week: You, Me, and Everyone We Know

2009-06-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

[June 22 - 28]

You, Me, and Everyone We Know
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop / Powerpop
Drinking Buddies: Say Anything, Panic At The Disco, All Time Low

Synopsis: "Ain't it a shame we're so young and insane?"

Makes You Want To...: Sing; Rock out; Break it down.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is You, Me, and Everyone We Know.

The pop-punk genre is a fickle one. It's always been heavily populated. Honestly, it takes two of the strongest points of rock music, and mixes them together like some sort of hybrid musical milkshake: loud, fast, rebellious, electric-focused instrumentation plus catchy hooks and choruses, bright attitudes, and very lyrically centered songs make for a unique, extremely maleable style. pop-punk has taking its bruises as the biggest names (Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, etc.) and friends began going Hollywood on their friends, but it's called "pop" for a reason, right?

Regardless, the one thing a genre needs for progression is evolution. The music as a whole, from all artists, needs a maturing, and the artists need an overhaul. There are plenty of pop-punkers that are total blah-bubblepop-filler (sorry, The Cab, I'm looking at you). But as specific musical tendencies find their ways into place, some uniqueness is budding back into the genre in some very colourful forms. Say Anything, Neversaynever!, Midtown, Danger Radio, and a slew of other creative souls are bringing a little something unique back into pop-punk by rececitating the uniqueness in the music.

There's one other band engergizing pop-punk presently, and they are known as You, Me, and Everyone We Know. Inspiring their moniker from the independent film of the extremely similar title, You, Me, and Everyone We Know breaks it down with a distinct, vibrant pop-punk aesthetic that draws from more sources than I could put my finger on. Listen closely to "Dirty Laundry" or "I Can Get Up Now," and you will hear the biggest names in contemporary pop-rock in sleek, refined, musical medley, shaken not stirred. Singing like Say Anything, playing with a bit of Hellogoodbye and Starting Line, maybe a dash of Plain White T's or Relient K, add a little fairy dust and/or rock n' roll spirit, and you'll suddenly find yourself listening to You, Me, and Everyone We Know.

Don't take me wrong though, it's not that You, Me, and Everyone We Know deserves to be sternly called a copycat. For all the inspiration they've sought in their peers, You, Me, and Everyone We Know stand alone. Their tunes are completely original, eclectic, and silly - as to be expected - with the taste of sarcasm, geek, and romance lapping all over your audio pallet. This is the stuff that Warped Tour has been truly starved for until You, Me, and Everyone We Know's arrival on the scene: a concoction of everything wonderful in the genre, yet a perfect evolutionary pinacle that blares away with audibly sweet melodies that bring you back like an emphatic addict to the sound.

What's even more exciting is that these guys are completely ind-dee-pendent. That's right, they have no label; talk about homegrown musical cooking! So to speak, anyway. You, Me, And Everyone We Know have released two albums independently through their musical career: their debut Party for the Grown and Sexy, and their 2008 sophomore release, So Young, So Insane, and they're both filled to the brim with so grown, so sexy, so young, and of course so insane songs that will make your heart beat and soul smile. But at $12 an album, music may seem steep in these troubled economic times. Never fret, for you can catch the entirety Party for the Grown and Sexy entirely for free on You, Me, and Everyone We Know's Last.fm - just get an account (like mine) - which, frankly, any music lover should have already - and you're set!

But maybe you're more the type to get more intimate with your favourite musical artists. Well, maybe at least check them out in person! Fortunately, you'll have no better opportunity to do so with You, Me, and Everyone We Know this summer, as they are one of the many talented artists to grace the stages at Warped Tour this year. Tell me that's not exciting, I dare you! Of course, you can visit the boys on Myspace, or even on their aforementioned Last.fm. But You, Me, and Everyone We Know is definitely a group you're not going to want to miss. Peace, readers, and happy listening.

Today's Top 10 Driving Songs

2009-06-21T23:11:00.004-05:00

My friend Jordan and I had a discussion about our favorite songs to blast on the radio while cruising the streets of our respective homes. I thought I'd share a few of mine. It's a very interesting conversation stater, this question. Bring it up at parties.

Anyhow, these are some songs I've listened to in the car the past couple of weeks that have really got my wheels rollin'.

10. "Waking Up In Vegas" by Katy Perry
9. "Undone (The Sweater Song)" by Weezer
8. "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" by Islands
7. "Elephant Guns" by Beirut
6. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles
5. "Knock Me Down" by Keri Hilson (feat. Kanye West and Ne-Yo)
4. "Wow I Can Get Sexual Too" by Say Anything
3. "Electric Avenue" by Eddy Grant
2. "After Hours" by We Are Scientists
1. "Little Bit of Red" by Serena Ryder

Video: "Thug Story" - Taylor Swift & T-Pain

2009-06-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, eventually, I promise to stop blabbering on and on about pop-country music sensation that's sweeping the nation (and whatnot), Taylor Swift. But while I'm still on this ridiculous binge, mostly due to listening to Fearless and her live performance for iTunes, I'll continue. I say this straightforward and upfront, as serious as the music game is, you can't take yourself too seriously. It doesn't matter how deep, moving, and contemplative your music is: if you don't know how to laugh at yourself, and your own music, you're not doing a good job of putting yourself into the public eye. No, it is not jive to think you're the bees knees. You've got to stay humble.

I love humble. I search for humble, even in the world of the über-popular. Jack Johnson's down to earth; Death Cab for Cutie always have seemed to keep a level head on their shoulders; okay, Fall Out Boy may have lost a bit of their integrity to the vile paparazzi populated hell that is Hollywood, but at least Patrick, Joe, and Andy have somehow remained human. They know how to represent themselves seriously with a smile, which is why I respect all those folks.

The same logic goes for Taylor Swift. And if you doubt her humbleness, may I refer to you her latest music video featuring a certain hip-hop extraordinaire known as T-Pain. Performing a ridiculously silly song, Taylor Swift has teamed up with T-Pain to throw down the rhymes in "Thug Story." Normally, I'd say more... but pictures speak louder than words, and so does cinematography. Have fun watching Taylor Swift's latest video right here on Voilà!, and don't forget to see her feature article.

The Voilà! Music Omnibus (II)

2009-06-17T20:00:00.001-05:00

I try to stay on top of the music world, at least from my point of view, as thoroughly as possible. But I freely admit, sometimes the music scene gets carried away, and will unleash more stuff than I can keep track of, or have time for. It's not exactly hard work to keep a music blog up, but when one has to maintain a professional/social/family life as well, I must admit, sometimes I can't report everything to thee avid readers.

But don't fret, my friends! That loud engine is the sound of the renowned Voilà! Music Omnibus! Take a ride on our little transit system, reader, as we drive you down the streets of the music scene; a scenic tour for your eager ears of the little happenings here and there, or the mentionings that weren't mentioned. Be it band break ups, pre-album gossip, new songs, or new tours, you can find it all. Get your change together - we only accept CD and MP3, because sadly vinyl doesn't fit into our coin box. Here we go!

I See The Light
Ohbijou Release Beacons in Canada
Personally, most of my favourite music - no matter what genre - somehow ends up coming from Canada. One of those Northern ensembles of mine I mention was humbly featured here on Voilà!, and with their vibrant, miniature sonic orchestra, Ohbijou knows exactly how to liven up music. They have just announced that physical copies of their brand new album, Beacons, are available in Canada, particularly at their shows in the Toronto area. How is this relevant to non-Canadians? Well it means that the albums FINISHED! The rest of us can expect to hear the latest and from Ohbijou soon. Read it yourself on their Myspace blog.

It's All About Aesthetic
The Scene Aesthetic's EP Pre-Sale
Sure, some people get excited when the bands they follow announce new albums or music. But when the band hasn't put out any sort of material beyond covers in two year, what do you do but celebrate? Following The Scene Aesthetic's cover of a certain Taylor Swift song, they are now preparing to release their latest EP, The Type & The Shadow. Find out more on The Scene Aesthetic's Myspace blog, or get down to business and preorder the EP.

Swift and Successful
Taylor Earns More Accolades at CMT
Speaking of Taylor Swift... Okay, I admit, I did that article on Taylor Swift a couple weeks or so ago, and I'm still on a bit of an obsessive buzz from her lively pop-country-hybrid style. Seems her fans felt quite the same last night during the CMT award show, when Taylor Swift was awarded with both Best Female Video and Video of the Year, both awarded by votes from fans. Congratulations! Admittedly... This is probably just a better excuse for me to listen to "You Belong To Me" even more. Damn you, addictive pop tunes, and your delightfully magnetic qualities.

All Stars, Young Heroes
Ra Ra Riot join Death Cab, Bird, and New Pornographers' Tour
One car is traveling across New York. At the same time, three identical cars leave Washington, Illinois, and Vancouver. They all will travel at 70mph until they collide together: what will happen at the collision site? Well funtimes, of course! Apparently, Death Cab for Cutie, Andrew Bird, The New Pornographers, and Ra Ra Riot have all come together for a big tour. I hear something about Tegan & Sara too. Check out the dates from Ra Ra Riot's official website.

Flying South Before Winter
Foals Are Quiet, but Not Loafing
One thing that bothers me with a band is when they disappear without telling anyone. Wax On Radio was guilty until incredibly recently, and don't even get me started about Brand New pre-The Devil And God. Thankfully, Foals is kind enough to give us updates from their English abodes. Turns out our merry electrorockers - as featured on Skins - aren't just lounging around; Foals are cranking out the creative juices, working on the next album. Check their update straight off their Myspace blog. Or check out the mini-episode of Skins featuring Foals (and some other great musical nuggets as well).

Not Just...
Via Audio Live Via Tour
The website headline says, "is spending their time making music." But if you're in the know - if you follow closely enough - you'll see how tricky they're being. That's right, Via Audio is taking a short break from making music, and instead is going to be playing music. They're launching on a small summer tour that wanders them around the country, and will offer some performances you won't want to miss. Check out Via Audio's website for more info.

A Good Dream Of NOY
Tour and New Album info from Nightmare Of You
It's been a long time coming after the release of the BANG! EP, but finally, Nightmare Of You has their act together. Their brand new, full length LP, Infomaniac, is due out August 4th. As if that weren't exciting enough, Nightmare Of You is promising a wicked summer tour that will take them all across the United States. Find out the dates, ways to get tickets, and some album art on Nightmare Of You's Myspace blog.

Keep A Reservoir of Money
Buy Fanfarlo's Reservoir for $1
I'm in love with Fanfarlo. Love love love. Their style is great, all the members are eclectic - in person, they're pretty awesome folks - and their music is indesribeably awesome. I love to share their music as much as I can; turns out, Fanfarlo wants to share too. They're offering their debut album, Reservoir, for just one US dollar. That's it, no strings attached! They're even offering 4 exclusive songs, but only until July 4th. Why in the world would you pass this up? Head straight to Fanfarlo's website now.

Recruiting (III)

2009-06-14T22:13:00.001-05:00

On a Voilà! related note, I want to remind every reader out there about the way we do things here. Basically, Voilà! is trying to gather as many folks out there who are willing to write about music. Any ol' person will do, and there are no requirements for being a writer (except for having a Blogger account and an interest in music). We want you to join the crew! The more the merrier!

Since I first started this blog, Voilà! has actually evolved into a sexy, sweet, streamlined machine that has been bringing some great and entertaining blabbery about music. I love the music I listen to, and if I wasn't writing here, I'd still be scrummaging around the interblag for wonderful bands. Why would I not want to share some great tunes, eh?

There's something else we have in plentiful surplus. And that would be you! There have been readers in mass numbers flocking to Voilà! for all their musical needs over the past year and a half.! We have somewhere around one thousand of you lovely folks gracing our humble abode with your wonderful presence every week, and we're glad to have you! 290 some-odd posts later, three or four feature segments, and many a band of the week afterwards, here we are. Hopefully you enjoy the ramblings we waste our time with.

Oh, but don't get us wrong, fair reader. We're always eager to get some new opinions here. We always ready and willing to accept some new writers to the Voilà!. If you've ever been interested in writing for a music blog, or can't think about anything but music every day, feel free to leave a comment or email me (Chris) [chris.voilamusic@gmail.com], and we can get you hooked up on the Voilà! writing squad. There's absolutely no commitment on how often you write (though it'd be nice if it were somewhat frequent), or how well you write (though fairly good grammar is appreciated!). And if you're a writer looking for some neat job experience, or are more like me and have way too much time on your hands, this is perfect for you.

If you want to hear a somewhat-official way of how this site works, go over here.

If you'd rather just write, email me! But if you don't mind, those wanting to join might want to take a quick gander at some of the rules that that apply to writing here. And I suppose if you're really curious, you could see who's already writing for Voilà!. And as always, suggestions are always welcome if you think you know the next band of the week that I haven't noticed yet. Interested? I certainly hope so.

As for today's photo, it was taken by the young and budding Ka Lia Vang - eclectic North Cali photographer with a sweet demeanor and bubbly style of shots - and a person who is significantly cooler than I am. Might I suggest you check out her stuff on her DeviantArt? Yes, I might. Peace, folks.

The Black Cab Rolls Onward

2009-06-11T15:04:00.002-05:00

Time, time, yes, it flows on. Onward and onward to the abstract of infinity, the void of the future that is to be filled with the actions of present and past, mixed together like a really weird latte that has way too much caffeine. Yes, despite my busyness, time has been pressing forward at an ever increasing pace. And though I can't always give the most constant report to my ever-so kind readers on Voilà!, I do my best. Just because I'm not writing as often here doesn't mean I'm not keeping my tabs on the comings and goings of the music world though.

And within that music world of ours - as this particular tale happens to centre ourselves in that unheard of town of monarchies and big guys named Ben, London, England - there is one thing that never ceases in its mirandering back and forth all about the town. Of course, that certain thing I speak of is The Black Cab Sessions, the crew of cinematographers who wander about in taxi cabs with some of the coolest musicians you can listen to.

Busy busy, The Black Cab Sessions have been busy as time's a'flowin'. As their noteriety has grown, the Black Cabbers have had quite the notable guest musicians in the confines of their cabs. From The Walkmen to Pete and the Pirates - Peter and the Wolf to Slow Club - and don't even get me started on when Lambchop appeared - they have had the opportunity to film quite a few unique performances. Whatsmore, they've still got many things currently in the works, from their special Black Cab Session down in South by Southwest 2009, to rumours of the Black Cab Sessions in New York City. Talk about intrigue!

The Black Cab Sessions in New York Promo from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

As always, the Black Cab Sessions sporadically update their site with brand new performances by any number of awesome bands and musical artists. You can check out their site here. You can find the Voilà! article on The Black Cab Sessions here. For a more convenient way to follow the British folks and their taxis, I suppose you could always start following The Black Cab Sessions on Twitter. But I guess if that were the case, you'd also be following Voilà! on Twitter as well. For now though, you can taste a treat of the Black Cab Sessions on Voilà! right now. Check out their performances of Peter Bjorn & John, and Grizzly Bear, straight from the streets of London.

Peter, (Bjorn) and John from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Grizzly Bear from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Band of the Week: Original Folks

2009-06-09T02:45:00.005-05:00

[June 8 - 14]

Original Folks
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: The Morning Benders, Some By Sea, Nightmare Of You.

Synopsis: The sort of anglophonic French music designed to make you smile.

Makes You Want To...: Sing; Contemplate; Tap your foot.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Original Folks.

They say that there's nothing in are world that is truly original. They say that everything out there is simply a copy of something else - whether consciously planned or subconsciously brought about - and that never again will we see anything truly novel and unique, for all creations henceforth are duplicates of their forefathers long since created. Well, that's what "they" - whoever "they" are - say. I don't think that rule applies, reader. I think this world is overflowing with new and novel. I feel that there is no limit to the bounds of our creativity if we put our minds to it. And especially when it comes to someone so creative and so important such as music, I don't think we'll ever run out of ideas.

We tend to hear a lot about recycling these days. Okay, sure, maybe recycling is reusing old stuff, and we aren't seeing anything quote-unquote "new and original." But there's always something colourful to be found in old stuff as well. Give it a little twinge here, and a little tweak there, put it under a different light, and hear it in a different mood, and you find something truly unique, even if it's nothing earth-shatteringly innovative.

This recycled, but unique style suits Original Folks very well. Sure, they're not the original folks - granted, there most have been some folks before these guys arrived. And sure, their style isn't - as mentioned - incomparably nouveau nor mind-numbingly nonpareil. But it's the Original Folks' prevailing gallant representation of all the things that are great about tried-and-true song structure that sets these Folks apart.

The Original Folks hail from Strasbourg, France, and these English speaking songsmiths play through classic styles with a unique tinge that sets them apart from their peers. Original Folks stick stringently to a very simple, natural verse-chorus-verse song structure, with extremely little deviation. If you think this sounds a bit lame, and are already contemplating prejudgement, let me call you out on your bourgeois musical tastes! There's nothing wrong with such a simple song structure, albeit quite nearly any artist can successfully play it. What the Original Folks do is spice this banal song structure with unique, eclectic instrumentation and some of the most bubbly tunes I've heard recently. The result is something similar to cinnamon flavoured ice cream: gorgeous, light, and creamy - as you would expect - but with a twist, one which is ever so sweet. Coincidentally, you may also be really sad when you've heard all the Original Folks songs, as you would when the ice cream runs out.

Presently, Original Folks is keeping things local, while hitting up a couple venues in France. In the mean time, you can expect them to be crafting even more wry tunes for your eager ears. To prove how absolutely new these guys are to the music scene, their debut LP, Common Use, debuted back in March! You can snag it from their shop, or find it on iTunes by searching "Common Use." These Original Folks are a real treat, and a real gem that could easily go missed. So don't miss them now that you have the chance to groove with them! Have a great week, reader.

Retrospection: "Another Morning" - The Pillows

2009-06-04T13:06:00.005-05:00

There's this thing about music. Music isn't like those gorgeous vinyl records of yours - all Abbey Road, and Surrealistic Pillow, and Electric Ladyland - which sit on your shelf all the live long day, collecting the dust of ages gone by. No, music, in its raw, unrefined form, does not shelter itself in a lowly hovel to age like wine. No, it's out and about, serving its purpose, feeding their perfection directly through the nearest audio outlet and straight to your ears.

Music does, in fact, age like wine. But it ages with play - the more you listen, the more you love. Thus, our elders' songs - the ones made in musics heyday - have the heads up on contemporary music. It's already had the aging process take hold - all the good tastes have begun coming to realization in them - hell, they were there when the songs were first made. Tapping into the ethereal river of sound is gifting yourself with an unprecedented cache of musical miracles. Old songs have a place in contemporary music, that's for sure. Let's capitalise that opportunity.

This is Voilà!'s new Retrospect series of articles. What we're going to do here is tap into those unopened bottles of music that have been aging all this time to see exactly how awesome they've become with the passing of time. And what better place to start than the music that launched a band into international spotlights?

Of course, I speak of "Another Morning" by The Pillows. I occasionally tout The Pillows wonderfully eclectic J-Rock stylings whenever I remember to. But how can I forget that The Pillows are one of the most vibrantly fun musical ensembles to introduce themselves to the musical Ether. "Another Morning" is all about stopping, checking out those dainty white clouds puttering across the sky, breathe a sigh of gladness, and starting a'new.

"Kyō wa atarashii boku no tanjōbi nanda, kinen shashin o tori naosu kara oide yo. Suteki na omoide o utsusu rōsoku wa kesanaide umare kawaru asa ga kita."

For those of us anglophonically inclined, a translation: 'Today's the birthday of the new me. I'm retaking that photo! So come on, I'm going to record these wonderful memories; Don't blow out the candles, cause it's my rebirth day.' The Pillows show everyone how to have a proper new beginning. And a new international fanbase was the new beginning for the Pillows after the creation of this song. Released on Little Busters back in 1998, "Another Morning," as well as many other songs The Pillows recorded were due to be featured in the anime FLCL, which turned into a huge cult-classic of Japanese media. It's how I discovered The Pillows myself, and if you have a bizarre way of viewing the world, it's definitely recommended.

But for now, let's breathe our daily sighs of happiness and joy. Let's glance up at the clouds hiding the sun, and say, "ah, I'm glad to be here today." Enjoy "Another Morning" by The Pillows, today's Retrospection.

Band of the Week: Taylor Swift

2009-06-02T15:00:00.000-05:00

[June 1 - 7]

Taylor Swift
Sounds Like: Pop / Country
Drinking Buddies: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry

Synopsis: Pro-activity gets you the accolades, kids.

Makes You Want To...: Sing; Get back at an ex; Contemplate.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Taylor Swift.

It's a strange thing, pop music. It's no longer all about walking on a stage with a pretty face, and a smile, and a zombified fanbase of random people collectively brainwashed by TRL. Pop music has reached a state of demand, where it demands that musicians are more integrated with the writing and composition of their music; that musicians are less invested in their ego, and more invested in their musical integrity; that musicians are more than prissy, prancing boy bands that act cooler than they'll ever be (that goes for you too, Jonas Brothers). Stars are one of the leaders of pop music, and Evan Cranley says it best. "I've always been addicted to the pop song, but never really explored it [before]... It's such a direct route to get into someone's life; it can act as a window into someone's life."

Pop music these days has to be an artistic movement, a sheer expression of creativity. It has to nail its musical notes directly to the heart of the listener with moving music and sensitive, perfectly worded lyrics, to create the most powerful effect in the person as the musician can muster. Sure, there's a lot of pop still out there on that outdated format of OH EM GEE WE'RE POPULAR LISTEN TO US. But the fact is, the format is in fact outdated, and is going through a revolution. If you keep your ear to the speaker, you notice that more recent pop idols are pulling out more wild cards; their music is becoming more complex, and their lyrics aren't all fluff anymore; these idols are having to try harder to keep their listeners keen. Because of this, pop music is growing - if not a bit slow - as a whole.

Now I'm not usually sucked in by popular pop idols. But Taylor Swift got me. Somewhere between the big tour diary done by NBC, to The Scene Aesthetic covering "Love Song," Swift pulled me in. She's a young girl who now calls Nashville - a capitol of American country - home. She stepped up to the music industry with a sound and a vision, and presented them her music, straight up in the face of the music businesses biggest names. And it's not to say she didn't get her fair share of chewing up and spitting out, like so many other artists. But something clicked, and here she is.

If you follow any of my writing here on Voilà!, you know how I feel about musical trendsetters. I don't really pay attention, because usually, the artists that are setting the trends have little to say and less to listen to. Taylor Swift is one of those humble exceptions to the rule. I didn't expect to like her before I heard much of her stuff; considering she dates aforementioned prissy-boy-band Jonas Brothers, and rolls with the hole Cyrus crew, you can probably understand where I'm coming from. But as I said, Taylor easily exceeds expectations.

I could go saying what all the others musical literary spaces have said about her, so I'll digress toward the atypical, and more personal. Taylor Swift is in charge: she writes her own music and lyrics, and knows exactly how she wants to have it played live and on recordings. She's entirely in charge of her latest tour. Furthermore, she has a wonderful imagination, and is quite ready and able to express herself directly through her musical talent. That's what makes her a talented musician, as pop music seems to lately be devoid of such commitment. Is Taylor Swift's blend of pop and country music unique? No, not particularly. But like a milkshake, the blend isn't made to be unique, it's made to be delicious, and meant to keep you coming back for another taste, over, and over, and over, and over...

Taylor Swift is presently on her Fearless Tour, in support of her latest album, Fearless. It looks quite intense, and she'll be touring like nobody's business straight through summer. You can get tickets, I suppose... mais bon chance avec-ce. Bear to mind that when sales for Taylor Swift's performance in New York City, Madison Square Garden, opened, the entire venue was sold out in 60 seconds. Seventy thousand people in 60 seconds... again, good luck!

But, you can always snag Taylor Swift's albums just about anywhere! You can find her 2006 eponymous album, as well as her latest release, Fearless, anywhere they sell music! If you hadn't guessed by now, Taylor Swift has a Myspace. Sadly though, she only has samples available. She has a personal website, though that's not much better either (though you can listen to previews of all her songs). Oh well, there's always YouTube, ouais? Enjoy some different tunes this week; something popular that might catch your interest by surprise. And have a good week, reader.

Concert Review: A Short Fazed Hovel Tour, The Decemberists with Other Lives

2009-05-24T03:48:00.008-05:00

You're turning black tables, and you're making your head whirl.

It's roughly 8:30 PM, approximately thirty minutes before the opening band takes the stage (Other Lives), an amazing band in their own right. While this review should devote most of its time toward the main act, as far as opening bands go, this might be my favorite of all time—such a great presence and great sound. Meanwhile, as I wait for my dad to show up to the theatre, I'm bobbing back and forth from the crowded concert hall to the lobby looking out toward the street entrance. The opening band starts at about , and my dad shows up at around 9:30, just after they play their best song (Black Tables) which, although great on the record, is even more powerful live. Listen to it on their myspace.

You'll learn soon enough, the prettiest whistles won't wrestle the thistles undone.

One by one, each band member slowly makes their way onto the stage, first Jenny (playing "Prelude"), and as the song goes Chris, John, Nate, and Colin (each to their own applause). The intro song ends, and softly Colin's guitar enters to a roar from the crowd, his voice loudly taking control of the hall. Of course, most of us in the room had heard the album all the way through, probably multiple times that day even. But nothing on a CD could prepare me for how it would be presented live, for whatever sound cannot tell was told this night. Every bass note, every rough chord, every plucked string, every key, every cymbal crash, every second of lyric blew me away.

I think what took me by the most surprise, although I had seen her live before, was Shara Worden's stage presence. It's hard to appreciate what amazing talent she possesses just from listening to the record. But on stage, to witness what power she commands was such an incredible experience, one I will never forget. It's just something I cannot quite explain, but suffice it to say that nothing can really compare to it. When she came out from the back of the stage to sing for her first song (The Wanting Comes In Waves / Repaid) her sheer power overtook me. Honestly, Colin sings in a way that can put himself into any role, he does this very well. He plays William, and the Rake, and whatever other male character is on the album, so this ability comes in very handy. But Shara was the Queen when she was on stage. Her power to become that role was an amazing feat. And furthermore, its incredible all the more to see where her voice comes from, when from the sight, it doesn't seem like she could possibly have that good of a voice, it just amazes me. And just as she ends the song, she fades back to her regular spot in the back by John (drums), and picks up an acoustic guitar and plays (An Interlude), which is possible the most beautiful chord picking I've heard before.

I could go on about each and every song from the album, but I've already said my words on that (see my review of Hazards of Love). And besides, the best of the night is yet to come.

And the water rolls down the drain, the blood rolls down the drain.
O, what a lonely thing in a blood red drain.

To much of my amazement, they played a very long second set after nearly an hour of straight music. Granted, they took a break between, but still, it was surprising. Also, they played a pretty wide range from their repertoire, starting with "Sporting Life" and "July, July!" And to a fanfare, they broke into "We Both Go Down Together." By about this time, I felt the most enjoyment thus far. I felt that my foresight of possible disappointment crushed, that they could still fulfill my needs for old material even after such a dedication to the newest of their work. Next they played a cover of a song I hadn't heard before, a country song named "If I Could Only Win Your Love," a duet with Colin and Becky Stark (who voices Margaret in Hazards), quickly followed by their own duet in "Yankee Bayonet," with Shara. I felt very proud of myself for guessing Colin's next song (although I cheated by listening to many live performances of his) prefaced by his calling it "the worst song he ever wrote" to which I easily thought of "Dracula's Daughter" (which was a fore-version of a song that would eventually become "O Valencia!"). It then lead into Valencia, which I also guessed (out loud) would follow to my friends nearby. They ended the set in Decemberists fashion, and I mean that in every sense.

(I also guessed this would be the song played prior to them playing it.) Colin does this usually, as well, when introducing this song, calling it an autobiographical song (at this point I say to my friend "i'll bet you my life that it's Chimbley Sweep, which it was). And when the normal solo section came, I said to the same friend, "here comes 10 minutes of solos." I was about right. But, I was not right in how it would be presented. Roughly a minute or two in, Colin heads back to John behind the drum set, and proceeds to give him his guitar, and then takes his spot at the set. Meanwhile, Chris and Nate switch instruments, leaving Jenny alone on her original instrument, and much to Chris's dismay, it would stay that way. For the next four minutes, hilarity ensued. John sings a song that I couldn't understand, but it consisted of very high, shrill vocals, which made me crack up. At one point, he wants to return to the song they were playing, and he says this aloud, but (as he also says) he didn't know this words to the song, and asks Jenny what the words are. And although I didn't get to enjoy the true ending to the song, I was so happy to see Colin wildly (and childlike) playing the drums at the closing of the song, and then go on to tossing John's sticks into the crowd. The latter half of the solo and song can be seen here.

Colin then simply stated, "I don't know how to follow that." He also said that he wasn't to be blamed when something like that happens, which was hilarious. In his attempt to follow it, they played their regular set ending "Sons & Daughters" employing the crowd to chant "hear all the bombs fade away."

Remember what she does when you're asleep.

After much applause, they returned to play more songs. And it hit me that it would first be "Raincoat Song" when it was just Colin and John on stage (John does the back-up vocals for most of their songs), and indeed it was. Colin then prefaced that the next song would be their last, but that was an understatement to say the least. One would imagine that after how they ended their second set, they wouldn't have the energy for another amazing outro. But they did.

I knew it was going to be "A Cautionary Song" when he said the song would be a lesson. Any true fan knows this right away. But little did I know it would actually include an extra lesson apart from the one in the song itself. My first tip-off that something wasn't "regular" was when the drums kicked in, John (drummer) wasn't on stage, but wandering about in the crowd, followed by Chris, Becky Stark, and Shara Worden.

And then Colin changed everything that I believed about Decemberists concerts, that there were rules. Now there aren't any rules. He brought our attention once more to the band members in the crowd, labeling them the "Decemberists Family Players" and continued to present to all of us a story entitled: A Voyage on the Oregon Trail, to which each player was given a role. I have a video in full of the entire experience up on youtube, so I won't go into much detail. Suffice it to say that the story included two parties competing to make it to the pacific, audience members on my side of the theatre were cast as mountains, those on the farther side were cast as the Columbia river, and some in between were cast as marauding desert gypsies on camel back, who then raided the pioneers.

All I can say is that the night compared to none other of my life prior, and I doubt it will be beat by anything yet to come. For almost four hours, my life was changed forever.

-The Decemberists live at the historical McDonald Theatre, Eugene, OR, on the 21st of May, 2009. Opening band: Other Lives.

Blink-182 Returns

2009-05-20T10:04:00.001-05:00

Maybe if you've been in a musical coma since 2004, this won't be that shocking to you. Maybe if you were listening to or watching the last Grammy Award Show, then maybe this was all but expected. Maybe you're psychic... I don't think you are, and I mean, I know that one time you mentioned you were, but I won't really call you on it... Anyway, maybe if you're indeed telepathically endowed, this was just one of the millions of voices floating through your cerebellum. Maybe you learned from Twitter (everything's there these days, so much so it's a bit traumatizing). Who knows.

The fact is, I hadn't the faintest idea, but the truth was revealed on Jay Leno. Yes, blink-182, classics of pop-punk, have returned. "To put it simply, We're back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some." That's their official quote. It's a mere snippet, but for fans, there is nothing more that needs to be said. Three short sentences is all it takes.

Let's have a review. It was way back in the naïve years of the 90s when blink-182 had their humble beginnings to be the latest and greatest punk rockers to creep onto the scene. First the Cheshire Cat, then Dude Ranch, Enema of the State, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, and their fifth eponymous studio album; like the band or not, these guys have more hits than most people care to count, more memorable music videos and on-stage antics than most can muster, and a more impressive fanbase than many contemporary artists could hope to achieve.

It was after the release of Blink-182 when tensions began pulling the trio apart. And without even so much as a bow-out, blink-182 completely disappeared off the scene. Sure, there was that Greatest Hits album, but that's nothing. These guys just left all their fans hanging because the record label didn't want to admit the bands break up/hiatus/exploration of other ventures, whatever you want to call it. Tom DeLonge had Angels & Airwaves, Mark Hoppus had +44, and... well, Travis Barker had that MTV reality show bit, but what the hell was that, right? It seemed that the tensions were too taught - that blink-182 may never be through with this indefinite, nearly unannounced hiatus - that these legends of modern rock, affixed firmly within our culture, may never return.

Well, as it turns out, they are indeed back. Not only are they in the studio working on a brand new as of now untitled, 6th studio album, but they are also launching on their 2009 Summer Tour beginning July 24th, which will quite nearly everywhere - to be entirely frank - and won't have a chance to rest until October. Talk about making up for lost time, eh?

So what now? Well, unfortunately, this is the part of the diatribe where Voilà! is forced to leave you hanging. As it happens, there has been no release of any new material in conjunction from blink-182 with this huge announcement; all musical material off the new albums remains a mystery! But, this leaves you the perfect opportunity to catch up on blink-182's tremendous repertoire of pop-punk hits. All three of the guys have Twitters, so you can mosey over to their official website for that. Or, if you want to be every bit as shocked as I was when I saw them on national television, catch Monday's episode of Jay Leno, where the intrepid trio performed "The Rock Show," straight from Hulu. By the time this is written, I'm willing to bet that their second performance for Tuesday night's episode of Jay Leno will be available on Hulu as well, where they played "All The Small Things."

Now excuse me while I continue to gasp in sheer amazement. Wow.

Band of the Week: Clã

2009-05-18T14:34:00.001-05:00

[May 18 - 24]

Clã
Sounds Like: Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: Via Audio, Quruli, The Acorn

Synopsis: Quaint Portuguese indie-pop prominent with passion.

Makes You Want To...: Dance; Learn a foreign language; Sing
[Myspace] / [Official Website]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Clã.

Unique is a difficult term to nail down. There are a lot of folks you might who'll say, "Uniqueness is hard to come by." But I beg to differ; uniqueness is EVERYWHERE. But there are different types of uniqueness, from what I see. And since this is true, it's difficult to figure out which brand of uniqueness is actually the most unique and interesting. I tend to focus my effort (in music, anyway) toward those who are willing to have fun and play around with their sound. Folks who aren't afraid what folks will think; folks who want to play good music for the sake of playing good music.

It's in this land where boundaries that once seem to matter crumble under the pressure of freedom. Genres? Pishposh. Language? Never-you-mind. What's important here, in music without boundaries, is enjoying the neat sounds that spill forth from the speakers. And who better enjoy than Clã.

Clã hails from Portugal, and plays a unique, uplifting, invigorating pop rock with a European twist and tang. Clã has been around for quite a long time, first picking up their instruments back in 1992. They've expanded their repertoire with perky pop music and Portuguese lyric - tunes that just make your heart feel like beating, and that will make you feel like smiling. They've released quite a few studio albums - Kazoo, Lustro, Afinidades, Rosa Came, and more - and seemed to have really picked up in a more international fanbase with the release of their most recent album, Cintura, which was released in 2007. The pickle about Clã is that they are indeed independent, and they are indeed based strictly out of Portugal. This means it's VERY difficult to go about acquiring their music. But if you're willing to snoop around for your songs, then Clã is a band you definitely don't want slipping under your radar.

Presently, Clã is going to be touring around Europe for the Summer. If you were playing really close attention to Voilà! too, you may have even noticed that Clã made my list of bands to pay attention to during this year's South by Southwest; need I repeat Clã should not be overlooked? They have quite a sophisticated, sexy looking official website, with everything you need to know about Clã, in both English and Portugese. Or if you're the traditional Myspace type, you can even find Clã on Myspace as well.

It's time for something a little more unique, reader! Have a great week.

Peachcake and the Harrows of the Internet

2009-05-13T08:23:00.000-05:00

Oh you silly internet, you! You ridiculous little blogosphere. You feisty technological piece of genius. You're so fickle! You giveth, and yet, ye taketh away! On whims, no less! O, silly Internet, your ways our fickle indeed, but you have hurt dear friends to us. Why would you, fair Internet? What sort of strange karmic retribution doth ye wish to assail Planet Awesome with, in some strange form in intergalactic warfare in on all things that are beautiful.

Enough of the esotericism, reader, because I have finals today, and this is no time to be blabbering about music (for too long, anyway). I bring grave tale from the Peachcake camp. It seems the silly internet has taken its tole on Peachcake, when a hacker snuck within Peachcake's Myspace and ruined the account. Lame, eh?

Well, Peachcake accepts the ignorance of hackers angrily, but with open arms and hugs as usually (you can't stop the peace-giving of these boys). They have started up a new Myspace in the former's stead. Sure, it's a hassle to add a new Myspace, but Peachcake is ready to compensate! How? Let's just say that Peachcake is currently working on new songs, for a brand new record that is currently in development, have announced some great tour dates for the summer, along with so much more news. I could continue, but live I've been telling myself for the last week, "Come on Chris, you have to focus! Study study study!!!!!!"

That being said, wander over to Peachcake's brand new Myspace. It's spiffy and sexy, and still has that new smell. Listen to some of their great music off their studio album, What Year Will You Have the World?. Check out their new tour dates - find out if Peachcake is coming to a venue near you - you will not want to miss one of their inane performances. Finally, check out Peachcake's video update, either here on Voilà! or straight from Peachcake. Bon chance for my fellow college students, working up a storm as summer is just beginning!