Nurses - Hangin' Nothin' But Our Hands Down

Nurses is a wicked awesome band from California who have created a truly remarkable album in “Hangin’ Nothin’ But Our Hands Down.” They’re obviously very interested in bucking the current musical trends (and really any other past trends too for that matter) and creating a listening experience that really is like no other. Of course, in order to make a recommendation one has to find a point of comparison somewhere. I guess there’s a little bit of TV On The Radio, Q And Not U or Radiohead in their eclecticism. But what makes them unique is that they are eclectic, true, but they are not so avant garde that they require a lot of getting used to. No, the hooks and melodies are there, but they’re presented in a wholly original way. In fact, I was compelled to write this review based on a single listen. It really is THAT impressive. “Way Up High” made me laugh with its wacky vocals, thumping piano and crazy “buh-weeep” whistle sound that the band obviously just threw in for the heck of it. “Wait For A Safe Sign” and “Act Now! You’re King” could have been simple pop songs if that band chose to go that route. The verse-chorus-verse thing is there but they threw in so many Zappa-esque background doo-wops that mainstream radio will likely find it hard to get past that. Of course, that is exactly why I hate mainstream radio and why I love Nurses.

Download:
Alone At Last mp3
Hungry Mouth mp3

You can purchase “Hangin’ Nothin’ But Our Hands Down” here.
Visit Nurses myspace page.

Menomena - Friend And Foe

I had never heard of Menomena prior to the release of this year’s “Friend and Foe,” but apparently this is the third in a series of wonderfully eclectic releases by this Portland, Oregon three piece. Their music seems to attack you from all over the place, and the first comparison that comes to mind upon listening to opening track “Muscle ‘n Flo” is that of the excellent TV On The Radio. The vocals are somewhat similar and their use of loops and beats show that these guys are at least on the same wavelength. The greatest difference however, is that Menomena clearly relies more heavily on improvisation than TTVOTR, and they do so to mixed results. When it works, the sound is nothing short of spectacular. A song like “Weird,” for example, is a real experience, where the steady groove is poised to reel you in, before a densely sporadic saxophone burps and toots its way into the proceedings, making for a strictly free sound. On the other hand, “Air Raid” seems to rely too much on improv, causing the song to lag and drag a little bit. The melodies are there as well, most notably in “My My,” where it sounds as if Thom Yorke may have given them a pointer or two on how to effectively balance art and the mainstream. I’m enjoying this album quite a bit and I would be interested in revisiting some of their older works and seeing how they compare with this one.

Downloads:
Wet and Rusting mp3

Stream the entire album here.
Go to the Menomena mypace page.
Purchase "Friend And Foe" over at Barsuk Records.