Anti-Genre, just music:
Below are two new songs that are as infectious as they are vaccinations to combat radio rock. The songs are made up of simple ideas, reliance on smart hooks, and both songs know when to both calm down and speed up.
Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man
A Silent Film - You Will Leave a Mark
Enjoy,
- Echo
Note – Gnarls Barkley may cause seizures
“Gnarls Barkley's new video may make some people crazy. And that's why you won't be seeing it on MTV.The clip for the Grammy-winning duo's "Run," which features a cameo by Justin Timberlake, has been kept out of rotation on the music channel after failing the Harding Test. The test monitors strobe effects in video content to make sure the images don't set off seizures, à la the infamous Pokémon scare of 1997.Danger Mouse, one half of the hip-hop, soul duo, told Billboard that he and rapper-vocalist Cee-Lo Green hoped to retool the video and get it on air as soon as possible.”
Justin Timberlake, Pokemon seizures, oh my! I’m probably the first human being to ever write that down on the internet…which is nice. You have to love that the duo of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse are so focused on delivering an amazing video for you, that they’ll induce seizures to make sure.
Craaaaaaaaazy….
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GA3a15xF0c[/youtube]
-Crescent Fresh
Armed & Ready’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2008:
2008 Releases Guaranteed to Make You Tingle in Your Giblets:
1. Death Cab For Cutie (Myspace) - Narrow Stairs
Why Should We Be Excited: Ben Gibbard is one of the most talented singer/songwriters of our generation. Add Chris Walla to the mix and I’ll promise you nothing but gold. It’s been almost three years since the release of Plans and we’re all dying for a new collection of songs to spin and spin and probably never get sick of. Gibbard was quoted saying he’s is throwing away the overproduced recording mechanics and getting back to the purity of what made Transatlanticism such a potent record. Coming early this spring, I’m sure starving Death Cab fans will take Stairs with open arms, flaws and all.
A&R Suggests:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=tInDoGtKBs4[/youtube]
Why Should We Be Excited: I'm just going to say it... I forgot how to dance and it's all your fault Mr. Fink. It's hard to believe that Wet From Birth was released way back in 2004. I dare anyone to stand still when "Desperate Guys" or "Worked Up So Sexual" starts bumping in the club. Hell... I'd start dancing in the library if The Faint was even playing in my head. I guess it's time to dust off my dancing shoes and get ready for their August release. I was dying for some new cardio anyway.
A&R Suggests:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=uFMxKY-DXUM[/youtube]
3. She & Him - TBA
Why Should We Be Excited: This project is so fresh that we don't even have links for you! No website, no myspace, and very little hype. She & Him is the acoustic collaboration of indie-film starlet Zooey Deschanel and folk icon M. Ward. We've all heard her singing here and there in films like Elf and Winter Passing, but little did we know Zooey spent her time off screen making demos and singing nights in smoky L.A. nightclubs. Soon enough she met up with M.Ward for a movie collaboration and the two hit it off. Convincing her to really take her projects seriously, the two combined their talents on a tentatively untitled album due to grace your ears sometime this Fall.
Not the Best Quality, but Here's a Taste:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=mAMlyAGHdkA[/youtube]
4. Tilly and the Wall (Myspace) - TBA
Why Should We Be Excited: Jamie Pressnall, the percussionist of the Omaha quintet, was quoted saying the new album is more punk. Wait... more punk? Let me remind you that Pressnall's percussive instrument is nothing more than a pair of tap shoes. More punk? I'm confused. Regardless, Tilly and the Wall have given us two solid albums of quirky, and ever-so-catchy dance tracks like "Bad Education" and smooth steady acoustic ballads like "Let it Rain." I can't wait to see what they'll be bringing us early this June.
A&R Suggests:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=XZCZRTcY3uA[/youtube]
Also, look for albums announced this year from:
The Flaming Lips, Camera Obscura, Lily Allen, Ladytron, The Bronx, Mew, Alkaline Trio, CSS, Metric, and what's that? Oh yes, it's a new one from The Presidents of the United States of America.
- Broken Humor
A Maze of Amazing!
I'll admit it, back in college I experimented a little...with "experimental post-hardcore." I don't even know what that means. I feel like the people that make these genres up are the same people that invented Mad-Libs. If I had to label the following band, I would use about eight adjectives that, when put together, mean "I like to party." Therefore, I'd call The Receiving End of Sirens (myspace) technIcaL/sIcK/EnergeTic/melOdic/exPerimentAl/progRessive/well-crafTed/heavY music. They say a singer can make or break a band. But with two amazingly talented singers, these guys are musically dressed for success. Throw in some catchy riffs, syncopation, and a hint of random keyboard sequencing and you've got a unique sound that'll keep your musical taste occupied for a while.
Check-check it:
- "Dead Men Tell No Tales"
- "Planning a Prison Break"
- "The Evidence"
- "The War of All Against All"
- "Smoke and Mirrors"
Part of the genius behind The Receiving End of Sirens comes from one Mr. Casey Crescenzo (the guy on the keys in the video above). He broke apart from the band in 2006, and took an eclectic group of songs he had written over the years that didn't really fit the format of the band and started The Dear Hunter (myspace). Now, how to describe this music...it's like he wrote a bunch of musical styles and concepts onto a deck of cards, and then played 52-pickup. This guy definitely thinks before he writes music, and he knows what he's doin'. And on top of all that, his albums are tied to a detailed story he has written (holy concept-albums, Batman!). If you get a chance, try to get your hands on the first two albums:
- Act I: The Lake South, The River North
- Act II: The Meaning of, and All Things Regarding Ms. Leading
Bold and underlined music suggestions don't lie:
- "1878"
- "City Escape"
- "Battesimo Del Fuoco"
- "The Church and the Dime"
- "The Bitter Suite 1 and 2: Meeting Ms. Leading and Through the Dime"
- "Evicted"
- "Red Hands"
- Stansford
Five New Videos To Make You Happypants:
MGMT - Time To Pretend:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=XVnRzEjpUmE[/youtube]
We Are Scientists - After Hours:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=ER2yuiP2v2g[/youtube]
Goldfrapp - A&E:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRYvHYxezzk[/youtube]
Electric Soft Parade - If That's The Case, Then I Don't Know:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaXWW7SSH94[/youtube]
Phoenix - Long Distance Call:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKkkGjnt3-Q[/youtube]
Miami Style Battle – Artists vs. Designers:
Enjoy the photos, and the next time Smirnoff comes your way, slap them in the face and say, "Stoli, biznatch!"
I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again):
The young and fresh Black Kids (myspace) are truly brand spanking new. Forming in 2006 and with only an EP (Wizard of Ahhhs) under their collective belt they have already gathered quite an impressive following in indie circles here and across the pond.The secret is how much damn fun they are! The way I like to describe them to my friends is this ... "Take the Cure, mix in some Beach Boy pop mentality, some mid 80's dance kicks, and then throw in some shout back chorus fun and you have the vibe of the Black Kids."
The lyrics are smart, the tunes are fun, and the band is quickly becoming something to pay attention to.
Black Kids are:
Reggie Youngblood - Vox/Guitar
Ali Youngblood - Vox/Keys
Dawn Watley - Vox/Keys
Owen Holmes - Bass
Kevin Snow - Drums
A&R recommends:
- Wizard of Ahhhs - EP (free from their website)
-Czarcaustic
The Messengers of Style: Foxy Shazam
Its official, Foxy Shazam has brought the hot sex with their sophomore album Introducing released… TODAY! That’s right; Armed & Ready is now bringing you reviews in real time. These
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=jqK1dE0FWo0[/youtube]
A&R Suggests:
The French Passion Animality Opera - The Flamingo Trigger
- Broken Humor
Interview : Steve from Meriwether
Meriwether (Myspace) is a Baton-Rouge-based rock band, formed in 2003 by guitarist Steve Bergeron, bassist Josh Barbier, drummer Brett Schexnayder and guitarist/singer Drew Reilley. Recently signed to Suretone Records alongside Angels & Airwaves, From First to Last, and even Chris Cornell, Meriwether is picking up steam fast with a fan base that seems to double every day. The boys of Meriwether recently recorded a new album, entitled "A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing" under acclaimed producer Howard Benson, who has produced alongside musicians from My Chemical Romance and the All-American Rejects to Motörhead and Sepultura.
Two years ago, I was lucky enough to share the stage with these guys in Tallahassee, Fl. I saw true talent in Meriwether, and made sure to stay in contact with the members. With the new release coming out later this season, I made sure to sit down with guitarist Steve Bergeron to find out exactly what has been happening with Meriwether, and more importantly what their fans can expect in the year to come:
Steve Bergeron: Well....its tough to gather all the band but lucky for you I'm drunk on Jager now and I'm also the normal go to guy for interviews.
A&R: Jager happens to be my weapon of choice, too. I think we need to get sponsored. Speaking of sponsors, Meriwether was recently signed. Congratulations! How has life changed since you've been signed to Suretone Records? How did the label find you, and what was it like signing the papers?
SB: Truthfully, getting signed was strange and interesting. The short version of the story is that we played a show at CBGB's in New York City. We invited a shitload of industry cats out and no one came. This one dude came out, most likely by accident, and saw us. We went nuts and half of our band got thrown out of the club. This cat ended up giving our CD to a friend at a wedding, who was an A&R guy over at Suretone. He showed his boss and was told to fly in and meet us ASAP. We picked him up at the airport and drove him around to shows and drank on his tab an awful lot. Next thing we know we are flying to Los Angeles to play a showcase in a small practice space. The signing part was weird. We were FedEx'd the contract, and after we signed it we sent it back. Wow, thats getting signed! [Laughs] I was mostly shooting my friend with an airsoft pistol the whole time.
A&R: How will the Spring 08 Release of your new album be different than 'Make Your Move?'
SB: The re release of make your move was more of a low key event. We really didn't promote or do any massive touring for it. the new record will be a bigger ordeal; more promotion, more tours, more fun. maybe a few surprises, too. Man, you never know.
A&R: And the recording process, was it different than the process during 'Make Your Move?'
SB: During 'Make Your Move' we all had jobs, we would work all day and then try to come over to the studio and record a bit and then leave to sleep for work the next day. We didn't have a lot of the equipment we needed or the time we needed to make that record truly the way we wanted to. For the new record we didn't have to worry about holding down a job or any gear breaking. We all lived in one place and only had to focus on the record. We had time and the money to back any idea we wanted to try. It was an amazing experience.
A&R: Tell me about life with Howard Benson, how did he influence your sound?
SB: Benson was funny. We heard a lot of horror stories about working with him but I found him to be pretty normal. He would reel us in when we started getting a little too crazy. If i wanted to record underwater with a cowbell reversed with preverb, he would laugh and then tell me why i couldn't, or shall i say shouldn't do it. I liked working with him a lot.
A&R: Are there any Meriwether classic on-tour shenanigans?
SB: Well, I sleep a lot. I normally sleep in the van while everyone sleeps in the hotel. I have a running joke that when everyone goes to bed I open the "bar ala steve" which is me and the van stereo partying. Sometimes my band mates will walk out and just laugh. I mean, I'm sure I look pretty weird dancing and drinking with Depeche Mode jamming in a parking lot.
A&R: Does Meriwether have any pre-show rituals?
SB: Really, we stretch and I drink a few...talk to a few fans...noting really nuts. We are all secret nerds. Rock and Roll isn't really what it use to be. We are all pretty tired before the show. Last tour my pre-show shit was to steal vodka from Papa Roaches backstage.
A&R: Oh, P-Roach. Now that you have an arsenal of 50+ songs, how many B-side's hit the ears of the audience during a live set?
SB: Very few. We have a long list of b-sides recorded, radio appearances, live show stuff, and demos. We normally release them around Christmas and only around Christmas. The dvd has a few b-sides on it. Some jams I wish we played more.
A&R: Finally, this next year is going to be an intense year for the band. When the mic is plugged in and tens of thousands of fans are listening....what are you going to say?
SB: Nothing. I dont have a mic.
A&R: Well, I am going to have to call Suretone and fix that.
“This song is evil as shit…”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqMNEMrwhTg[/youtube]
"...so I wanna see all the kickboxers wigging the fuck out."
For three years now, scholars and scientists have tried to decode exactly what this means. Dan Brown is even writing a book on the quote.
Head Automatica (MySpace) is party music, flat out. It doesn't matter if you are a scenester, a hipster, a Beatles addict, a hip hop mogul, or Enya. That's right, even Enya slam dances on full-stack amplifiers to this stuff.
So now you know what to do when you are inviting 10-15 friends over to your Pier1-chic apartment, you've already bought the Jägermeister and film for your
Lamography Camera, and you are ready to go nuts. Head Automatica is the music to fill the room to make the best of any wild night.
A&R Suggests
- "Brooklyn is Burning"
- "Beating Heart Baby"
- "I shot William H. Macy"
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Armed&Ready
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