The Needle Drop The Needle Drop The Neele Drop is devoted to reviews from new and upcoming bands on independent labels. Articles
Review: The Sword- Gods of the Earth
2008-04-01 15:57:00 Since it's start, heavy metal has been at the forefront of extremity when it comes to speed, virtuosity, intensity, and especially volume.But the Sword , a metal quartet from Austin, Texas, is making a name for themselves as purists rather than extremists.However, their latest album, Gods of the Earth , is much more than an exercise in nostalgia or metal pretentiousness. Sure, it will undoubtedly attract the old school metal fanatic, but the heavy production quality on this LP should have it leaving a boot-shaped impression on the loud rock youngins as well.The band's riffs and song structures call back to some seminal metal music: Black Sabbath, early Metallica, Iron maiden, and Led Zeppelin. And the vocal delivery of J. D. Cronise features some of the same lyrical spacing used by Bruce Dickinson, and sounds about one accent away from Ozzy Osbourne.Some of the short-lived acoustic interludes on the album have a tinge of influence Tull, and songs such as "To Take the Black" feature... More About: Review
MP3: Laromlab- "Mission for Glory"
2008-03-31 22:19:00 Ah, chiptunes! What a genre!It's almost completely defined by the tools used to make it: usually sound chips from vintage video game consoles.Though this genre's army of seemingly unrecognized artists are free to explore the possibilities of chipjazz, chippunk, or chipanything, many relegate themselves to familiar and interesting styles of songwriting forged by early chip composers such as Kōji Kondō--the writer of scores for video games such as Super Mario Brothers and Legend of Zelda.But of course, since the roots chip music are in electronica, it's not completely outside of mirroring other trends in electronic music, too.The mind of Brandon Harrod, a.k.a. Laromlab, is where the familiar melodic ideas from 80s video games meet with the sensibilities of dance music. And though the resolution of 8-bit sound doesn't exactly lead to bumping bass, Harrod's work is undeniably catchy."Mission for Glory " is definitely a tune that would turn up on the soundtrack to an early Mega Man...
The Needle Drop: 03-28-08
2008-03-29 16:13:00 Here is the podcast of The Needle Drop 's on-air debut on WNPR, Connecticut Public Radio!On this first installment of the show, we have a review of DeVotchKa's new album, A Mad and Faithful Telling; some slick pop rock from the UK's UltCult; and the rerelease of some seminal music from Boston's Mission of Burma.PodcastMP3s:DeVotchKa-" Transliterator"DeVotcKa-"Along the Way"Mission of Burma- "Weatherbox" (live)
Review: Health- Self-Titled
2008-03-27 20:22:00 One day I will buy an alarm clock. One with a CD player. The song I want to wake up to is "Girl Attorney" from Health 's self-titled album. It's thirty six seconds long. And within this thirty six seconds is a chaotic battle to the musical death of guitars and drums. The first fifteen second blast is crammed with fun, shrieks, crazy cymbals, and guitars that snap their jaws. It's how I want to greet the day.Health's album is brief and always to the point. If you want something to "boo hoo" over and pull a blanket over your head, get a new hobby. This is an album for bloody noses. And it's in Melt-Banana/Deerhoof school of thought where good instrumentation, sounds and spirit make one hit repeat over and over again."Tabloid Sores," is an awesome kick you in the face, tribal drumming verse chaotic chorus song. The vocals are soft enough to draw you in. The guitars get all ambient towards the end over an industrial elevator. And of course, there are crazy patterns where the guitars... More About: Review
Comment: The Smashing Pumpkins V. Virgin Records and the ethics of selling
2008-03-27 15:24:00 According to a recent article in Spin, the Pumpkins are suing the thrones out from under the benevolent profiteers at Virgin Records in order take claim of any money made by the EMI subsidiary during a Pepsi ad campaign that unlawfully used the band's music.Surprise, surprise! Let's just say from the get-go that whether or not you actually like the Smashing Pumpkins is irrelevant.And maybe I'm preaching to the choir on this one, or maybe I'm just saying something that needs to be said.I could be hearing less people speaking out against major labels and the mainstream music industry because I'm in good company, or maybe it's just not at the forefront of peoples' consciouses.I could be hearing less about the "s" word--sellout--because it's just assumed to be bad, or maybe it's just not that big of a thing anymore.If the latter is the case in each instance, maybe it's time to look at the way things work again.Virgin Records may seem like a different animal in the greater wor... More About: Selling , Ethics , The Smashing Pumpkins
Announcement: TND hits the airwaves
2008-03-26 18:09:00 That's right! The Needle Drop is going to be its very own radio show.The announcement was made during this morning's feature of the blog, and soon to be radio show, on WNPR's Where We Live.The show's weekly time slot will be at 10pm EST every Saturday, and the premiere will be on March 29th.Though this will lead to (some sort of) a change, TND will continue its devotion to independent, interesting, and experimental music. We're just happy we'll soon be able to bring these artists and our ideas to a broader medium.TND will have full creative control over its 30-minutes of airtime, and each show will be posted on the blog, so don't worry about missing out.Feature on Where We Live More About: Announcement , Hits , Airwaves
Fresh Fruit: Bottle Up and Go
2008-03-26 14:15:00 With the popularity of groups like the White Stripes and the Black Keys, the electric blues duo has reminded music listeners of two things: The blues are pretty good, and maybe some decent music was being made before the advent of the Beatles.Because of the length of time between contemporary rock and prewar blues, artists like Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, and Charlie Patton can seem alien. But here comes Connecticut's Bottle Up & Go to put the nail in the coffin of anyone ignoring the ancestry of modern rock.Their music, though it has a tendency to be aggressive and volume-reliant, has a catchy groove and some clear ties to American roots music.Keenan "Hot Pants" Mitchell and Fareed "The Prince" Sajan make up the duo, and their recent signing to Kill Normal Records will lead to an EP release in May or June.Until then, the songs on their MySpace will have to suffice.For more information on Bottle Up & Go, visit myspace.com/bottleupandgoband or killnormal.com/bottleupandgo. More About: Fruit , Fresh
Review: Religious Knives- It's After Dark
2008-03-24 21:04:00 There’s something about “The Streets” from this album. It might be the keyboard. It might be the droning Nico-ish vocal. It might be that strange percussion loop in the background. It might be that rattlesnake shaker that hits your ear right before the chorus comes in. And that freaking organ in this song. Sounds like a vampire plays it. It might be the venom of the chorus. And it is how they all work together.Religious Knives comprises of members of Mouthus and Double Leopards, delivering drones and evil.“Adam” is a terrifying flashlight game, set on a moonless night. “Adam” is chanted over and over like a search party, over piano and percussion. It’s the consistent approach to creating these psychedelic trip soundtracks that perk one’s ears up. They are unsettling songs but easy to put on repeat.The rocker “It’s Hot” cries out like a cave has been intruded on, and the last true sixties garage band has been exposed for the first time to the sun, in over for... More About: Review , Dark
TND Podcast: An Interview with Guapo's Daniel O'Sullivan
2008-03-24 20:49:00 On this week's installment of The Needle Drop Podcast , an interview with Guapo's Daniel O'Sullivan.Despite 10 years of changes in lineup, progressive and avant-garde music has remained the name of the game for the London-based band.Their new album, Elixirs, comes with yet another change in roster: the resignation of Matt Thompson, an original member of the band.The Needle Drop spoke with Daniel about the music on Elixirs and carrying on Guapo's name.Podcast More About: Interview
Streaming Music: The Shivers
2008-03-24 19:14:00 Tomorrow, March 25th, The Shivers release their new album Beaks to the Moon. It's a step forward from their last release, Phone Calls, with expanded instrumentation and another songwriter. And the hip hop inspirations seem to have faded, replaced with a more focused, fuller and matured sound.Found here is a set recorded for a show called Fair Game from last year with the songs "Cold in the Morning" and "Wish I Was Never Born" from the upcoming album.The sarcastic waltz of "Wish I Was Never Born" takes a private oath mentioned often in life, and turns the phrase into an anthem against anger and confusion. It also lingers in one's head with Keith Zarriello's strong vocals. The performance of "Beauty" rocks gently capturing the tenderness of the version found on Charades.The showThe Shivers' Myspace More About: Music , Streaming
MP3: Man Man- "Hurly Burly"
2008-03-20 16:17:00 Straight from the upcoming Rabbit Habits comes another track from Philadelphia's Man Man. Their latest album is scheduled for an April 8th release, and it seems every new track explores something outside of the sounds on their sophomore release Six Demon Bag.The bizarre brass on songs like "Top Drawer" and "Big Touble" may be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the upcoming album's style and production, but "Hurly / Burly" throws a wrench in the works of any assumptions about what's coming--but it's a good wrench.On this track, Man Man strays a bit from their usual heavy-handed rhythms to put together this fast-paced howler with xylophone, hand claps, guitar, and buzzing organ notes.Right away, the song's sporadic drums and party horns reach for the attention of anyone within earshot. At the start of things, you don't know much about the girl being mentioned other than that "she feels life's a dog on fire." The song's male antagonist seems to "burn brighter inside her," but t...
MP3: Mission of Burma- "Max Ernst" and "Weatherbox (Live)"
2008-03-19 19:21:00 As if Matador Recordings helping the resurrection of Mission of Burma with their latest albums wasn't enough, the label is leaving no stone unturned by spearheading the rerelease of works from the band's pre-reunion work.In the early 1980s, the sophisticated approach of these Boston post-punkers took in mixing the energy of punk with tape manipulation, odd song structures, and recondite lyrics paved the way for band's like the Pixies, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Fugazi, and Yo La Tengo.From what Matator is dubbing "The Definitive Editions," are these two MP3s: an analog remaster of "Max Ernst " and a live cut of "Weatherbox." The vocal delivery, slightly distorted guitar strumming, and the fast--but not too fast--drumming on "Max Ernst" make the connection to Sonic Youth obvious. And the opening vocals, guitar riff, and miscellaneous guitar noise on "Weatherbox" might make the jaws of any unfamiliar Fugazi fans drop.MP3s:Mission of Burma- "Max Ernst"Mission of Burma- "Weatherbox (Live )"...
MP3: Alamo Race Track- "Black Cat John Brown"
2008-03-18 15:48:00 Amsterdam's Alamo Race Track just finished their trip to the states to play at SXSW, and they're headed back to Europe to finish off a tour promoting the band and their second album.And with that album comes the haunting single it's named after: "Black Cat John Brown ."The single just screams a sunbaked highway in the middle of an American nowhere complete with tumble weeds. Not to mention the lone red Cadillac being piloted by a psychotic bounty hunter on the run from the law.The opening drone of reberbed electric guitar, a blues chord progression on an acoustic, haunting vocals, and temopo-keeping tambourine create an atmosphere Nancy Sinatra could get her boots walking to.The rootsy ethos of rock music from the USA's southland is so prominent in the song, it's hard to keep in mind the band is from Amsterdam, but it's an enjoyable and highly-repeatable 3:38.MP3: Alamo Race Track- "Black Cat John Brown"For more info on Alamo Race Track, visit alamoracetrack.com.
Review: Crystal Castles- Self-Titled
2008-03-17 19:52:00 Who says disco is dead--fools, that's who.If anything, the infectious rhythms, sweet melodies, and dance structures have been smuggled across the decades, hiding in the music of artists following and living parallel to the movement: Talking Heads, Delta 5, Gang of Four, the Raincoats, Gary Numan, and more.Though the aesthetics of this era seem like an archaic joke now, the sonic spirit lives on in a new generation of musicians and producers influenced by the sounds of post-punk and 70s dance music.Enter Crystal Castles . Two years of suspense fueled by a leaked song, touring, and remixing the music of their contemporaries--Health, Klaxons, Liars, and the Whip to name a few--has finally lead up to the release of this self-titled full-length.The Canadian duo is made up of vocalist Alice Glass and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath, and their 8-bit approach to dance music production is attention-grabbing to say the least. The booming low end and lo-fi hiss of Glass' vocals on "Love and... More About: Review , Crystal Castles
TND Podcast: Kaki King and Koenjihyakkei
2008-03-17 16:03:00 On the surface, it would seem as if these two albums have very little in common. The smooth songwriting and calm execution of Kaki King seems worlds away from the lumbering rhythms and operatic falsettos of Yoshida Tatsuya's Koenjihyakkei.Even though it seems like these two artists work in different worlds, both are renowned within their circles of fans as fantastic musicians. Virtuosity is virtuosity, but vision can take it in an infinite number of dicrections.Podcast MP3: Koenjihyakkei- "Doi Doi"For more info on Kaki King and Koenjihyakkei, visit kakiking.com or skingraftrecords.com.
Review: Guapo- Elixirs
2008-03-13 15:41:00 For just over 10 years, London's Guapo has been working in the world of avant and progressive rock.The band's past is a bit hard to track with its numerous lineup changes and guest musicians. The most recent change in roster was the resignation of Matthew Thompson, the founding member of Guapo, which occurred just before the release of 2005's Black Oni.The departure of Thompson has left Guapo with percussionist David Smith and multi-instrumentalist Daniel O'Sullivan. Though O'Sullivan is by no means a founding member of the band, but he was essential in honing the sound on Guapo's last two LPs: Five Suns and Black Oni.These two albums have been pivotal in building Guapo's following of fans, so it's hard not to credit O'Sullivan as an asset to the band. Also take into consideration that Guapo's earlier work such as the raw and guitar-driven Towers Open Fire or the noise-latent The Ducks and Drakes of Guapo and Cerberus Shoal sound completely different than their latest rele... More About: Review
MP3: Dan Deacon's Discography
2008-03-12 13:21:00 Dan Deacon's website is looking pretty stripped lately.The #FFFFFF background and Times New Roman font aren't very complimentary of an artist who helped spearhead a project that set his effervescent electronic compositions to neon-colored clips of Arnold Schwarzenegger films.But even without all the flash, there's a good reason to visit the site--free music.Dan has decided to offer most of his work released before Spiderman of the Rings up for download. The only pieces of the discography that have not made it are Live Recordings 2003 and Twacky Cats, the latter of which is available for free on Comfort Stand Recordings.But every everything else from the mind-numbing drone of "A Green Cobra is Awesome Vs. the Sun" to the viral "Big Big Big Big Big" is up for the taking.MP3 Directory: www.dandeacon.com/mp3For more info on Dan Deacon, visit myspace.com/dandeacon or carparkrecords.com. More About: Discography
Fresh Fruit: Yoshimi!- Mixed II
2008-03-11 18:07:00 The Netherlands' Yoshimi! takes a kitchen sink approach to electronic music production.Much of his work is a lo-fi concoction of acoustic instrumentation, beeping synths, and noise-ridden rhythms.His new EP of remixes showcases his love of jumbled instrumentation, and the admiration he's received from fellow artists through remixing his music.The EP's first track--a remix by Yoshimi! of "Hot Stuff"--features some better mastering than the original version, but the song still manages to pull off the same clumsy charm with it's percussive mouth noises and lazy background vocals. Remixed by fellow producer Crash Roswell, "Johnny Ain't Dead"--which was once an exercise in ska revival--has been turned into some melodic vocoder-driven electropop.It's also interesting to hear Evince's successfully executed D 'n' B remix of "Drowned in Sound." The rapid fire percussion and house synths on this one are something to reckoned with. If the remix didn't share the same title as its orig... More About: Fruit , Fresh , Mixed
Review: The Ruby Suns- Sea Lion
2008-03-10 23:15:00 Lo-fi recording, revisiting rock's notorious psych era, and a production style indebted to Brian Wilson--we've heard bands do it before, but when it's done right it can be like hearing it for the first time again.With lush vocal harmonies, horn & string arrangements, and lots of reverb, the Ruby Suns are up to rock's old tricks again with their sophomore album, but Ryan McPhun--the man who seems to be the mastermind of this New Zealand rock collective--brings a lot more to the table than the usual studio trickery. Sea Lion is also loaded with world music instrumentation as well as splashes of 80s pop that are hard to see coming.The atmospheric "Blue Penguin" opens up the album with it's patient guitar playing and whispering drones. When the heavy African drums and reverb drenched vocals kick in without warning, it's clear where the album is headed."Oh, Mojave" and "Tane Mahuta" are the most boisterous tracks on Sea Lion. Both feature interesting percussion, counter melodie... More About: Review
TND Podcast: An interview with the Terrordactyls
2008-03-10 18:20:00 This week's TND podcast features an interview with the Terrordactyls. Yes, they're as interesting as their name lets on.The duo's extravagant toy instrumentation, tongue-in-cheek lyrics, and infectious pop-songery make them stick out like a sore thumb--but in a good way.TND spoke with Michael Cadiz and Tyrel Stendahl about the band's newest release, their national tour, and, of course, the music.Podcast For more info on the Terrordactyls, visit terrordactyls.com. More About: Interview
MP3: Efterklang- "Mirror Mirror" Live
2008-03-07 19:40:00 This week, Denmark's Efterklang celebrates five years of being a band. With that 5-year birthday, they've released a brand new song.The track is "Mirror Mirror," and it was recorded during a recent live performance at the Nordklang Festival in St. Gallen, Switzerland.MP3: Efterklang- "Mirror Mirror" (live) More About: Live
Review: Woods Family Creeps- Self-Titled
2008-03-06 18:11:00 Oh the phrase "freak folk"! How the New York Times and other media outlets abuse these comedic term! What’s so freaky about folk music? What’s so freaky about freak folk music? Can’t a group of drug addled twenty somethings continue in musical tradition without being labeled "freaks"?I know little about Woods Family Creeps. They’ve recently became a trio. They are on tour. This album is on limited pressing. I only know they should be heard.“End to End” opens the album with moans, whistle, and friendly advice: “By the time it goes away please get a grip on today.” And in the song’s brief passage, a memorable guitar line comes hauntingly towards the song’s end which ends abruptly with a microphone being smashed or dropped or dragged.“Twisted Tongue” is reminiscent of Built to Spill, or The Halo Benders, depending on your view on the vocals. It’s a nice rocker with cool vocals. “Your insides make you weep, you got to run from a fallen son, you’ve got a twi... More About: Review
Review: Various Artists- The Local Anesthetic
2008-03-05 17:07:00 This compilation just goes to show that our collective knowledge of early--and even current--punk music will probably never be complete.Punk's do-it-yourself ethic has basically handed us a tangled web of artists. And as revolutionary as the genre was, some of the bands aren't even worth sifting through.Quite a few groups have "floated to the top," but there are plenty of decent bands being glossed over in the so-called punk history books.That's where The Local Anesthetic comes in. It's only a small piece of the puzzle, but it's also more than an obscure conversation piece for the punk aficionado--it's good for listening, too.The compilation covers the music released on what was Denver's most prolific independent music label. The artists were all local to the area, and these 33 tracks cover a wide array of music that would have probably fit under the umbrella term of "new wave" being used in the late 70s and early 80s.The Frantix, who allegedly had the label's most popular ... More About: Review , Artists
MP3: Awesome Color- "Eyes of Light"
2008-03-04 19:17:00 In 2006, Awesome Color 's debut LP on Ecstatic Peace didn't make too big of a splash. And since then, maybe the thought of going back to the 1960s to be treated like Detroit rock gods alongside MC5 has crossed their minds once or twice.Maybe this is being too quick to judge the Michigan trio, but building time machines doesn't seem like their bag.So, they'll be staying in the present to keep the proto-punk torch lit and release their new album.Electric Aborigines will be out on April 29th, and if "Eyes of Light " is anything like the rest of the album, expect an aggressive mix coupled with equally aggressive playing.MP3: Awesome Color- "Eyes of Light"For more information, visit myspace.com/awesomecolor, awesomecolor.net, or ecstaticpeace.com.
Review: A Faulty Chromosome- as an ex-anorexic's six sicks exit, ...
2008-03-03 23:23:00 Beyond the strange hums on their debut album lies A Faulty Chromosome. They have fun making their noise, and it shows.At first, as an ex-anorexic's six sicks exit, ... comes off a bit sloppy. The album's first track, "them pleasures of the flesh," is a dense grouping of slightly flat vocals, heavy drum machine beats, and a mix-dominating guitar riff.The likes of Joy Division come to mind, but the strange electronics and dying hum toward the end of the track may still leave listeners wondering if there was something actually going on behind the static. Some may cast it off as amateur experimentation, but blatantly referencing the Beatles' "butcher cover" in their promotional photos says something more may be going on in the heads of these Texas three. And as the album continues, it feels like there is.For anyone not familiar with any bands working in the tradition of shoegaze, it may be difficult to see where A Faulty Chromosome is taking things. Their sonic density is no lo-fi re... More About: Review
TND Podcast: Beach House- Devotion
2008-03-03 18:41:00 This week's TND Podcast features Beach House 's Devotion .This Baltimore duo's second album focuses on the group's strong points: haunting vocals, fragile melodies, and resonant synthesizers.This album doesn't come on strong at first, but being immersed it's 60s nostalgia and unique ambiance make it so catchy it's almost viral.PodcastMP3: Beach House- "Gila" |
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