Band of the Week: Quruli

[May 12-18]
くるり (Quruli)
Sounds Like: J-Pop/Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: The Pillows, Fujifabric
Synopsis: Laid back indie rock from Japan. Where can you go wrong?
Makes You Want To...: Learn Japanese; Walk in the park; Dance.
[Myspace]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is くるり (Quruli).

No more classes! Well, for me, anyway. On a whole, school is winding down for college students, and we finally have a nice, long summer break to relax. How better to do that than with some great music?

Quruli is a quaint little duo hailing from Kyoto. These two fun-loving Japanese guys have been pumping out the lovely J-Pop tunes since 1996. Typically playing an upbeat sound, Quruli weaves wondrous music through the airwaves to your eager ears.

We are talking about veterans here. Quruli hasn't been coasting through the music scene in Japan (or internationally) for twelve years. Quruli has an unbelievable 18 EPs and seven full-length albums under their belt, with creativity flowing from every section of their ensemble. They have been ranked 74th best band in Japan by HMV records, have been the first band from Japan to record in Austria by invitation (to record their latest live album, Philharmonic or die), and have successfully organized the first ever outdoor concert in the Kyoto metroplex, the Kyoto Music Festival In Umekoji Koen.

Obviously Quruli has a Myspace, where they are selling more of their albums than I know what to do with. They also have a bunch of neat videos scattered throughout YouTube, which you should definitely check out. As for me, I'll be listening ハイウェイ while I take a nap. Nighty night, readers.

"Hit The Wall" - Broken Social Scene

It was almost as if the excitement in the air over the next Broken Social Scene album was palpable in the air. After Kevin Drew's unprecedented success with Spirit If..., the co-release of the first in the series of Broken Social Scene Presents... albums, fans have been nearly begging for the next album the Social Scene is going to endow upon us avid listeners.

Well the wait is dwindling down as the debut date of July 22nd gets ever closer to the release of the next album in their series, Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning: Something For All Of Us... Broken Social Scene may be wandering like gadabouts in Istanbul on their international tour, but it was as if they could feel the anticipation raising. And thus, they delivered. Now on their Myspace is the first single from the new album, "Hit The Wall." Quick, intense, progressive, and undeniably cool!

Other announcements have been leaking out of the air-tight secret that is Something For All Of Us... include cover art, tracklists, and collaborators. I'll let those eager readers who are so inclined hunt for the tracklisting on their own, but let it be known that we'll be hearing the likes of many amazing Canadian musicians, including: Kevin Drew, Jason Collett, Ohad Benchetrit (Do May Say Think), Amy Millan (Stars), James Shaw (Metric), and many more. You can find "Hit The Wall" on either Brendan Canning's Myspace, or the Myspace for Broken Social Scene. Don't miss it.

I Hear Sirens Releases New Songs

Those inventive post-rockers from Salt Lake City, I Hear Sirens have posted some brand new songs. Titled "The March" and "Intermission," these progressively instrumental can carry listeners to dream-like, guitar and keyboard textured landscapes, as they remain soothing and gentle throughout the song. These new songs follow the release of their debut and self-titled EP, released last year. They are definite gems, and should be heard. You can catch I Hear Sirens' two new songs on their Myspace.

Band of the Week: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

[May 5-11]
Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down
Sounds Like: Folk/Singer-Songwriter
Drinking Buddies: Laura Veirs, Jack Johnson, Bishop Allen.
Synopsis: Quoted from Thao's Myspace, "Tangles of guitar, knots of singing, threads of beat and thump make a rope fit for hauling the heavy machinery of your day."
Makes You Want To...: Read a book; Walk in the park; Write poetry.
[Myspace] [imeem]




One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Thao with The Get Down Stay Down.

Slowly, surely, for college students all around the nation, finals week is decending upon the masses to crush the educational hopes and dreams for many students this semester. Or maybe it's an uplifting event! You never know, but the fact is, for myself and my peers, this week is going to be particularly stressful. Between cramming for tests, waiting in lines to buy Scantrons (which, mind you, are reminiscent of the bank runs in the 20s), and pulling hair out in the silent classroom as right answers are bubbled, essays are written in Blue (or green post-consumer recycled!) Books, we are all just a bit busy. But good music doesn't stop! And I don't know about you, fellow reader, but I say a good band humming tunes into my head while I'm taking a test is quite stress relieving.


One of these handy, catchy, bubbly personalties is Thao Nguyen, a singer-songwriter from east coast Virginia who is working with her latest outfit, The Get Down Stay Down, in west coast San Francisco. Combined, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down is a very talented collective. So talented, that Thao is renowned for her incredible ability to beatbox and hum at the same time!

But I under-exaggerate and digress; Thao with The Get Down Stay Down plays some catchy contemporary folk-rock which bathes your ears in candy-like sound, supressing your senses in a stranglehold of ecstatic joy. Sex, love, relationships, hot boys/girls, family business; all topics are open for the opinionated Thao to sing about, and with her country blues inspired song composition, as well as unprecedented guitar solos, you'll find yourself melting to Thao's tangy voice.

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down are currently on tour in Europe with Anais Mitchell, and tomorrow are no doubt giving Glasgow, Scotland a run for their musical money. Then they are taking the weekend off... hey, don't complain! Thao with The Get Down Stay Down are hitting the road immediately after the short break, kicking off an North American tour with the Sasquatch Festival. Afterwards, they truly embark around the country with "Holy-crap!-I-Can-Not-Believe-We-Are-On-Tour-With-The-One-And-Only" Rilo Kiley.

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down is no doubt touring in support of their latest endeavour, We Brave Bee Stings And All, which was released merely three months ago on Kill Rock Stars. They also have a previous album, Like the Linen, and were featured on Kill Rock Star's compilation album The Sound The Hare Heard, along with the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Colin Meloy, and Laura Veirs. Obviously they have a Myspace with a couple songs for download, but they also have themselves an article on Daytrotter with some great tunes. If you weren't spoiled enough, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down also has an imeem where you can see some like acoustic performances by Thao, as well as hear the entire new album, including personal commentary by Thao herself for each song. Following this article is an aforementioned video from imeem; Thao belts out an amazing cover of "Baby, I Love You" by Aretha Franklin, which I cannot stop watching. Bite our lips, and sing the songs with Ms. Nguyen, and we'll skirt through this ugly week of finals!

Video: "Neon Bible (Elevator Version)" - The Arcade Fire

I found this through Canaddiction, but it's quite neat.
Basically, the crazy collective of Arcade Fire was putting on a show for the French blog, La Blogotheque, at Olympia Hall, Paris. Why yes, they did decide to film a candid performance of "Neon Bible," performed acoustically in the cramped confines of an elevator (while using a magazine as percussion). They also decided to begin their concert with "Wake Up," singing surrounded by the throng of people in the audience. Definitely worth a view by your eager eyes.

So let's run down the list briefly before we watch a nice video. Canaddiction is all about great Canadian bands, and you can read their lovely blog right over here. For you Francophones, La Blogotheque has quite a few interesting articles pour vous plaisir d'écoutez. Allez vous là. Finally, those Montreal minstrels, The Arcade Fire have a Myspace, where you may easily find some beautiful music to listen to.

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

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




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

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

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

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

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

Death Cab for Cutie on Daytrotter

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

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

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