Tune In Saturdays: Fields.

So, I was a little excited about this new band.  And, I still like the album I just got.  But, now I've seen the boring labored, annoying, pretentious video, and somehow, now I hate them.

Did a major label signing make them suck?

Anyway, 7 from the Village, the ep released by the, according to MySpace, Birmingham/Reykjavik/London based Fields. is lovely.  It's glossy, but interesting.  It sort of reminds me of the Secret Machines, but with a little more pep.

It's a good good from a band that's less than a year old, but already making the jump to Atlantic Records.  Hopefully they won't go all Coldplay.  By that I mean, get rich, marry famous and make bland crap.  If the new video is any indication, the slow fade to shit has already begun.  But, at least we'll have 7 from the Village to remember them by.

Tune In Saturdays: Baboon

You don't really expect to be overly surprised by a band that's been around for 15 years, but with Dallas-based Baboon, they fucking shocked me.

As a staple of the Dallas scene for years, they've flirted with labels, got big and bigger back when the Toadies were still rockin' it, and from what I thought, had settled into being just a hometown band.

And then comes this eponymous new release, full of bleeding harmonies and soul, but still retaining all the old-style noise ruck and punk manifesto that they ever had.  It's not a reinvention, but more of a resuscitation.  All the rock, but now with more depth and maturity.

Although, the record is full of gems, start over at the MySpace page with Light of the Lightning Strike.  The payoff is so nice.  I promise.

Or, below is the promotional video for the new record, featuring the song Saturday.

Tune In Saturdays: The Panda Band

Whaddup Beach Boys!  Whaddup Beatles!

You've got some fans in The Panda Band, with their leg kickin' album The Vital Chapter.  It's full of enough harmonies, hooks, bleeps, blips and big beats to keep any fan of the Flaming Lips or alliteration happier than a pig in shit.  See, there's some Texas for ya!

While searching around for a little background info, I stumbled across a better review than I could ever do.  It's a brilliant video review of Eyelashes by the impeccably tasted Cincinnati video blog, The Anchor Center.  I'll let them hold down the fort from here...

Home.
MySpace.

Tune In Saturdays: The Lovely Feathers

Well, I've officially read the most annoying website band bio ever, and that distinction belongs to poppy Canadians The Lovely Feathers.

The Lovely Feathers
are a band which toots blossomy, extractive post-punk-infused eccentric pop.

Rarely do we experience music that portrays the canopy of life with such clarity and tragic heartsmiles. The Lovely Feathers, in all its poppy grandeur, somehow manage to convey feelings we never knew we knew so well.

The Lovely Feathers are five people from Quebec, Canada.

They had been friends for a while, but only joined musical forces in their later years.  Bravo, bravo.

Canopy of life?  Heartsmiles?  Ok, guys, only dorky music reviewers get to say things like that.  But, if I were a dorky music reviewer, I might say something along those lines.

So, enjoy the Spoon-like hooks and the punky drumbeats over at their MySpace page.  Start with Wrong Choice, cause it kicks ass.  Or, you could watch the video for frantic below.

Tune In Saturdays: The Joggers

Somewhere in the middle between thrift-store indie rock and craziness, resides Portland, Oregon's The Joggers. They proudly wear their Pavement influences, but comparisons to Gang of Four or French Kicks are especially easy.

Head over to the MySpace page, start with Long Distance Runaround to get of a taste of the layered harmonies, jaunty beats and jazz expressionism that make them so great.  Below is the video for Hot Autism.

And, no, I have no idea what the hell jazz expressionism is, nor do I care. It sounds just about right.

Tune In Saturdays: The Dears

The Dears, a theatrical Montreal-based sextet have been somewhat defined by brit-pop influences like Blur and Morrisey, which are both apt comparisons.

Their newest album, Gang of Losers, takes on some heavy issues like race relations (especially in a song knowingly titled "Whites Only Party"), poverty, and (gasp) indie-rock alienation.  Really, they're just a fun collection of toe-tapping, steering-wheel drumming songs, full of big explosions and Oooo Lah harmonies.

They've been making splashes for years, but are poised for greater things with this, their most accessible album to date.

Go to their MySpace page to listen to a few songs (start with "The Ballad of Humankindness"), or watch the video for "Whites Only Party" below.

Tune In Saturdays: Voxtrot

Austin, Texas five-piece Voxtrot said it best:

"With one foot in the library and the other on the dancefloor, Voxtrot combine classic 60's pop (think Love and Left Banke) with the heady, subversive sounds of 80's Britain and still come out ahead of their time."

These guys are full of infectious pop, driving rhythms, toe-tapping, tambourines and indie dancing. Sort of like the Strokes when they were good mixed with rainbows and candy.  If you need a good pick-me-up, this is a good place to start.

Start here to listen to Trouble a new song of the upcoming ep, via gorilla vs. bear.

Or go here, to listen to more. 

Or go here, to read the blog.

Or here for the homepage.

Or, watch a video of them below:

Tune In Saturdays: Matt Pond PA

You know how you know you've made it as a band?

Yep, that's right, you make the soundtrack of the soul crushing FOX show, the OC.  Somehow, that's become the new indie cred.

And, for Matt Pond PA, I imagine that is neither the beginning, nor the end.  I know I probably reference the following bands too much as influences, but what can I say, I like 'em, and I like bands that sound somewhat like 'em, so with that, if you like Death Cab for Cutie or The Shins, you'll probably like this band.

Most songs are layered with the basics plus some strings and keys.  While they never really hit you over the head, it's always a pleasant ride.  Head over to the MySpace site for a taste of their newest record, Several Arrows Later, or check out the video for "So Much Trouble" below.

Home. Altitude Records. MySpace.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2EYqmuSGYU]

Tune In Saturdays: Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura, a Glasgow-based six piece, has made an engrossing mish mash of 50's and 60's retro combined with atmospheric pop.  Let's Get Out of This Country has a melancholy undercurrent, and would feel very much at home on a Belle and Sebastian record. They just feel nice and comfortable, like some sort of background music to a Zach Braff movie. 

The unfortunately-named Dan Raper over at Pop Matters sums up the appeal of the band, and more particularly, lead Tracyanne Campbell quite nicely:

She’s got this kind of lovable confusion that everyone in their 20s can relate to—and she expresses it in shades of sweet harmony that makes any eager consumer of characteristic UK chamber pop flutter with excitement.

If you head over to their MySpace page, give "Hey Lloyd" a listen, it's a nice upbeat indoctrination into the band.  Below is the video for "Let's Get Out of This Country."

Camera Obscura Blog.
Home.

Tune In Saturdays: The Channel

The Channel would fit nicely with the Sub Pop label on their record.  They have a smooth sensibility marked by bands like The Shins and Rogue Wave, but with a quirky, Pavement-esque after-taste and some nice harmonies that would make the Beach Boys proud.

Another great find from gorilla vs. bear, A great indoctrination into The Channel, Sneaks or Skates, can be found here.

Or you can hear more over at the obligatory MySpace page.