Saturday, December 27, 2008

Niki Carmen - Preview EP

I've had the privilege of being exposed to the talent of local folkster Niki Carmen for a couple of years now and in order to fuel anticipation for her debut full length, Niki has release an EP that simply skims the surface of what this bright young talent is capable of.

Her Preview EP is a collection of well produced tracks that melds together the vibe of sixties influenced folk tinged singer songwriter material with a very modern sounding mainstream (but not too mainstream) pop sensibility. The album opens with Forever Young In Green Grass, a very strong opener that showcases Niki's accomplished vocal stylings, along with her uncanny ability to paint vivid mind pictures by means of her adept lyricism. The pristine production on this track also adds to the overall mood that comes from longing for one's hometown. Feather In My Hair is a beautifully chilled out number that is the perfect indoor remedy for a cold winter's day. In Girl Behind The Moon, Niki's voice displays a slight similarity to Leslie Feist, which may not be the moment's most original sound per se, but is still impressive nonetheless. The fiddle is featured quite prominently in this song, adding to its authentic sound but never detracting from its overall appeal. Your Life Is A Beautiful Thing is the most organic sounding song on the album, keeping the instrumentation minimal, allowing Niki's voice to be front and center. This allows an endearing vulnerability to shine through, making this track perhaps the most heartwarming of the bunch. Next we have Foreign Ground, which contains a lyricism that displays a maturity that goes far beyond what Niki's age would suggest. The song perhaps overstays its welcome by about a minute or so, but minor quibbles aside, it is still an impressive slice of poetry. As mentioned earlier, the EP is immaculately produced and nowhere is this more evident than in Close To The Edge. Particularly in the song's second half do the overdubs and instrumentation lift the song to anthemic heights. The last song is Spare Part To Your Heart, a song that has always been a personal favourite of mine. I've had the privilege of hearing her perform this song live on a number of occasions and I have to admit, that this is the only case where the song suffers a little bit due to excessive production. Particularly is this true in the addition of a very distracting and unnecessary harmonica part that unfortunately buries the song's melody away and almost relegates Niki's voice to the background. However I'll admit that these criticisms may be due to my own personal attachment to this song and there's no doubt that the performance is still strong enough to garner plenty of enthusiasm.

Overall, this little pre-debut teaser is an excellent taste of the wistful and melancholic nature of Niki's musical talent. Her abilities are undeniable and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for this vibrant new talent on the indie scene.

Photos: Niki Carmen @ Free Times Café on flickr
Myspace: Niki Carmen
Download: Forever Young In Green Grass mp3

Download: Girl Behind The Moon mp3


Other stuff: Sorry for the mild news hiatus lately, I've been pretty busy, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any exciting things going on lately. Here's what I've got for ya:

Crawdaddy online magazine has their fantastical 2008 year end review online, which includes a list of the top 10 live bands of the year. Included in the list is Mudhoney, My Bloody Valentine and Magnetic Fields. What year was this again? (Notice that they used MY picture of Mudhoney? How cool is that?)

Stereogum has put up a tribute video featuring all of the bands that have decided to call it a day in 2008. I was sad to see the demise of Phantom Planet, Be Your Own Pet and Junior Senior. As for Velvet Revolver, did anybody know that they were even still around?

There are about a billion year end best-of lists circulating on the interweb right now, but Soundscapes is always the most interesting one since they usually feature CD's that aren't on any other list. Their numbers one and two are uncharacteristicly predictable this year, but the rest of the list contains some pretty neat suggestions.

[Via Chromewaves]: In order to promote their upcoming Ready For The Flood album which is due in stores early 2009, Gary Louris and Mark Olson are going to be playing a seated (!) show at The Mod Club on February 4th. Tickets are $22.50 and it's going to be suh-weet!!! [Myspace: Ready For The Flood]

[Also via Chromewaves]: Wilco will be releasing their very first concert DVD entitled Ashes Of American Flags which should be available in early 2009. Apparently a new album is in the works also. [Myspace: Wilco]

The Matthews Brothers are playing a free show at The Horseshoe on Tuesday night (Dec 30th) with Tree Star, Quiet Center and Sound Foundation. They are the second band of the night, coming on at 10pm. [Myspace: Matthews Brothers; Tree Star; Sound Foundation]

If you're not going to be partying with The Sadies on Dec 31st at The Horseshoe, a fun (and slightly cheaper) alternative might be to check out The Bicycles at The Tranzac with a whole whack of other amazing bands. Tix are $12 adv, $15 door. Check out the entire band list on The Tranzac website. [Myspace: The Bicycles]

And finally, there's still a couple of days to enter my contest to win a pair of passes to next Friday's Amos The Transparent show at Rancho Relaxo on Friday January 2nd. Whale Tooth and Bellewoods are opening and the contest rules can be found here. [Myspace: Amos The Transparent; Whale Tooth; Bellewoods]

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, February 04, 2008

Joni NehRita - A Fine Time

As was shown in previous reviews of Shelly Bhushan, Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators and Slakah the Beatchild, if I'm going to review an R&B artist, then there has to be something truly unique and slightly old school about them. Over the top production, heavy thumping drum machines and "lookit how great a singer I am" vocal gymnastics just simply do not do it for me! If you dig that, that's cool, but just don't come to my site looking for it.

Having said that, Joni NehRita is none of those things. She actually falls more into a smooth jazz category, but thankfully she takes her cues from the Stevie Wonders of the world, as opposed to the Kenny G's. 'Not That Deep,' for example, is an excellent pop song with a slight Latin feel, and the restraint that Joni displays in her vocals makes it all the more compelling. Reminds me a bit of Steely Dan for some reason. If you know me, that's one of the highest compliments you can get. 'You Left' is one of those old school jams that I was mentioning before. As the song reaches the two and a half minute mark, it's funkiness gives way to bluesier territory, making it wonderfully eclectic. The hookiest tune of the bunch is 'How 2 Get Thru.' It's one of those songs you'll find yourself humming at various points throughout the day. Very catchy. Admittedly, 'Star' ventures a little too close to elevator music territory for me, and the attempt at reggae on 'The Way Of The World' doesn't quite work, (although lyrically, the song is quite powerful) but overall, this CD is a very promising debut by an artist that definitely has breakout potential.

Joni played her first show of the year in Montreal and CBC Radio 3 reviewed it here. Her CD release party is at Hugh's Room in Toronto on April 15th.

Myspace: Joni NehRita
Video: 'On My Way' Live @ Lala Lounge on youtube
Purchase: 'A Fine Time' over at CDBaby

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Karma Controllers - Sirens

The littlest big band you've ever heard comes in the form of Toronto's Karma Controllers. Helen Kuan and Jack Jamieson have been playing music together since high school and they're clearly influenced by the likes of Cole Porter and Cab Calloway, as much as they are with Jenny Lewis, Sondre Lerche and Stars.

I basically love this album. The guy-girl harmonies are great and the song structures are sublime. The band would've been great if they chose to go the typical indie pop route. but the fact that they add a touch of jazz (thanks in big part to Jesse Paul's percussion,) kicks their CD up to a whole new plateau that has been mainly untouched elsewhere.

The album opens with the rock by way of mandolin tune 'The Longest Year,' which is cool, but merely just a coming attraction popcorn ad before the main feature hits the screen. 'Searchlights 1' shows off a slight rockabilly bounce and a remote Gordon Gano warble. Track 3 is entitled 'Whisper Sister' and is probably my favorite song on the album. Helen's voice starts off all subtle and hypnotic before the song kicks into full big band shuffle and turns into a saxophone/trumpet assault to the solar plexus. Another song along the same lines is 'Don't Do It, Jack,' where Helen plays the part of the voice of wisdom, while Jack plays the role of the dude who has a little trouble thinking with his head when confronted with the all-too-powerful femme fatale. Sounds like an old film noir? Well, it plays out like one as well. Awesome tune. I could go on and on about all of the tracks on this CD but the best thing you could do is simply check it out for yourself.

Download: Whisper Sister mp3
Video: 'Searchlights 1' @ Rancho Relaxo on youtube
Myspace: Karma Controllers

Labels: , , , , ,

Saturday, February 02, 2008

Schuman The Human - Showtime For Schuman

As I've mentioned before, my little blogging hiatus has left me with a backlog of CD's to go through, but so far, my favorite of the bunch is this little gem from the UK's Schuman The Human. Combining elements of bluegrass, northern soul and indie pop, Mark Foster has created a fun mix that makes my dreams of Lee Hazelwood fronting The Modern Lovers an intense reality. The CD opens with 'Klutz' and 'Charlie Varrick,' a couple of numbers that smell like staples of the Americana songbook. Accompanying Mark on vocals is Chilli Gold, whom I've never heard of, but apparently she's the former child progeny of Frank Farian from Boney M. Just a little fun fact for ya! Speaking of fun, 'Tow That Line!' is another convivial little ditty, full of handclaps and delightfully overbearing violin. 'Coming To Pieces' is one of my favorites, reminding me a bit of Young Fresh Fellows, only with the silliness toned down quite a bit. The most impressive moment for me however, is track four entitled 'Dark Regrets.' It's my favorite song of the year so far (I know, I know, it's only February but still...) and Chilli's voice is pure elegance, harmonizing beautifully with Foster's laid back vocal demeanor. Apparently it wasn't an easy one to perfect but I'm glad they put forth the effort. Overall, 'Showtime For Schuman' is an enjoyable and diversified country-ish romp.

"Showtime For Schuman" is currently available on limited CD pressing of 1000 through the Ugly Nephew label.

Download: Dark Regrets mp3 / Klutz mp3
Myspace: Schuman The Human
Myspace: Chilli Gold
Myspace: Ugly Nephew Records

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, November 02, 2007

Parker w/Basia Lyjak @ The Horseshoe

Last night I took a vacation, just for one night, from my pretentious yuppie indie twee holier than thou musical palate to check out a couple of bands that fall outside of my usual elitist lines of recommendation. I've spoken before about guilty pleasures, but I do not feel guilty about liking either of these artists because they are both excellent in their own way.

The members of Parker are no newcomers to the Canadian music scene, having been associated with several reputable bands for over a decade. I recently received their new CD "Bombshell", but I'll save most of the pertinent information for when I review the actual CD, probably next week sometime. But for now, let's just say that they don't really sound like anybody else on the indie scene at the moment, and because of that, their music may require a bit of a digestion period before it's fully appreciated. Last night must have been a tough one for them, because the crowds had pretty much subsided by the time they hit the stage. At times it felt as if they were playing a private show for yours truly, but if that's the case, then they must have a mad crush on me, because they were seriously playing their hearts out. Their musical talent is undeniable, and lead vocalist Tom McNeil has a certain awkwardness about him that I think, given a bigger crowd, would have made people smile. The songs are pop music gold, and his voice was pitch perfect, as he belted them out with passion and power. I was glad to see that their last song of the evening seemed to draw some attention from those who were hanging out at the bar, thanks in part to Thomas Ryder Payne's mad skillz as a wicked awesome guitarist. That song in particular ended with an all out musical jam of sorts, that would not have sounded out of place at a Dears or Besnard Lakes show. Furthermore, I've been humming "Love Myself" in my head all day, so they must have something. I hope that next time I get to see them with a more enthusiastic crowd in attendance, because I'm sure that they would excel in that type of setting.

Photos: Parker @ The Legendary Horseshoe flickr
Stream: Bombshell- The entire album can be streamed here.
Myspace: Parker

Prior to Parker was a performance by local rocker chick Basia Lyjak. I don't listen to flat out rock 'n roll all that much these days, but in my teens I went through a faze where if it didn't rock, I wasn't interested. Before she hit the stage, the speakers were blasting 80's hair metal classics from the likes of Van Halen, Def Leppard and The Scorpions. Here's a bit of a credibility crush for you (as if I haven't done enough of that already,) but there's a small part of my brain that still smiles whenever Joe Elliott belts out "Oh baby I'm not fa-fa-fa-foolin'! Oh fa-fa-foolahen!" Thankfully I'm still of the belief that only two or three people regularly read this blog, so my secret is safe right? Right?

Anyways, that music was a perfect setup for what Basia was about to belt out, because she was definitely here to rock it old school, and that's exactly what she did. Her supporters were there in full force, as I looked around and saw several people singing along and rocking out to her songs as if they had a share in the writing process themselves. She performed several cuts from her latest EP entitled "Writings On The Wall", as well as some freshly written songs and a couple of covers. Her original material can best be described as classic chick-rock in the vein of Pat Benatar meets Veruca Salt. In fact, her set ended with a cover of the former's "Heartbreaker," which gives you an idea of what she is all about. She is an incredibly enthusiastic performer who clearly loves what she does, and knows that first and foremost the goal is to rock 'n roll the audience as much as is humanly possible. And that she did.

Photos: Basia Lyjak at The Legendary Horseshoe flickr.
Stream: Writings On The Wall - The EP can be streamed here.
Myspace: Basia Lyjak

This weekend we return you to our regularly scheduled musings of indie rock snobbery.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Amycanbe - Being A Grown Up Sure Is Complicated

The stunning debut album by Italy's Amycanbe was released yesterday and I think it's quite breathtaking. Their sound is simple, yet difficult to put into any particular category. Lead vocalist Francesca Amati has a voice that reminds me a bit of Chan Marshall from Cat Power, especially in songs like "Get Closer" and "Little Dog." I love that her vocal demeanor is of one who does not have any desire to try too hard, or to make a showy display of what she is capable of. She simply sings in a way that is appropriate to the song. Most of the songs stem from an acoustic setting, creating a lush yet stripped back feel. "Down Under" is a standout in that it's the only one that, to me, has a very distinctive Italian feel, as if sailing along on a Gondola. (Are Gondola's even Italian? I don't even know.) I also really like "Killer Bees" which delves only slightly into electronica, while remaining mainly in an acoustic indie-pop vein. The album closer "Heal" opens with a haunting piano and horn, giving the song a very breezy and jazzy feel. It sounds like a standard, along the lines of Gershwin's "Summertime."Hopefully, the band can get a bit of recognition over here on North American shores, because I'd love to see them live. I am confident that their sound would translate very well in a live setting.

Download: Down Under mp3
Myspace:
Amycanbe
Videos: Killer Bees youtube
Purchase: Being A Grown Up Sure Is Complicated at Dancing Turtle Records

Labels: , , ,

Friday, October 05, 2007

Cannonball Jane - Knees Up!

In grade 7 I had a music teacher who I thought was the coolest gal ever. She had this massive obsession with music that was very contagious, and she pretty much fueled and encouraged my love of music that clearly lasts right to this day. Along those lines, I imagine that elementary school teacher Sharon Hagopian has a similar effect on her students. The fact is that she may be Mrs. Hagopian from Connecticut by day, but by night she is the super talented electro-pop indie artist Cannonball Jane. Incorporating elements of Spector-inspired 60's girl pop, Motown, hip hop and garage, she has crafted a genre of music that is immediately accessible but entirely unique. Her first full length release is entitled "Street Vernacular." It was released in the U.K. last year, but was released in North America last month. She has quickly followed that up with an EP entitled "Knees Up!" which is very very catchy and there ain't no way you can avoid getting sucked in by her charisma. (Sorry, Mrs. Hagopian, I know...double negative.)

The EP opens with "Take It To Fantastic," a great pop song that opens with a killer guitar riff that quickly morphs into a beat heavy go-go dance party that inspires wacky head shaking and some serious hip twisting. "Slumber Party" is another great tune with a classic feel that I would suggest is very Dusty Springfield meets Le Tigre. That is followed by "Breaker Breaker" which is what The Incredible Moses Leroy would sound like if he was a girl group. That's what is most amazing about this release is that there is so much going on, yet it truly is the work of only one woman. This is a totally D.I.Y. affair, although it has the sound and feel of a full band. The EP also contains remixes of the first song, one of which was put together by none other than Beastie Boy Ad-Rock. Her music is guaranteed to garner even more praise than it already has by those who like their sounds sassy, fun and energetic.

Download: Take It To Fantastic (Ad-Rock Remix) mp3
Myspace: Cannonball Jane
Video: Daily Fix Feature on Cannonball Jane current tv
Purchase: "Street Vernacular" and "Knees Up!" at the online store

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Jason Falkner - I'm OK, You're OK

So I'm finally able to listen to Jason Falkner's long overdue release "I'm OK, You're OK." Why? Because it's only available as a Japanese import here in Canada. Why? Because North American polyester three piece suited musical type people wouldn't know quality product if it pre-empted American Idol and removed Simon Cowell's toupee. (OK, he probably doesn't have a rug but I'm ranting here.) The Under The Radar website lumps everybody in the world into two categories: those who LOVE Jason Falkner and those who DON'T KNOW who he is. Sadly, the latter category is still in the majority. And if people don't start promoting him a little bit more, it's unfortunately going to stay that way.

"I'm OK, You're OK" is his first real release in 8 years and it's another example of purely perfect power pop that only a gifted man like Jason can produce. "This Time" is the album opener, and what an opener it is! A gem in the vein of great power pop songs like Matthew Sweet's "Sick Of Myself," or Sloan's "The Good In Everyone." I mean, it doesn't sound anything like those songs but it certainly matches them as far as the catchy-ness factor goes. The line about being "ignored by this industry," is certainly expressive of the way his fans are feeling these days. "NYC" stars out slightly funky until the power chords kick in and it becomes a nostalgic romp about a girl and the city she loves. The other major highlight is "Komplicated Man," which sounds a little bit like his old band Jellyfish but without the obvious influence-imitation that Jellyfish would sometimes overdo. There are few throwbacks to new wave and classic rock, and although the album runs just a little bit too long, it is still another example of how a pop record is supposed to sound. Viva Falkner!!!

Interview: Excellent interview with the man in Under The Radar.
Download: This Time mp3 (for a limited time only kiddies...)
Myspace: Jason Falkner



Labels: , , , ,

Friday, July 13, 2007

Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War

Officially, Stars' fourth album entitled "In Our Bedroom After The War" is being released on September 25th. However, in order to legally accommodate those who simply cannot wait that long, the band has opted to digitally release the album 3 days ago, just 4 days after completion. Works for me. I downloaded it that day and have listened to it several times since. Although it lacks some of the majesty of "Set Yourself On Fire," I still like it quite a bit. The orchestration seems to have toned down a touch, but overall they're still cranking out the romantic pop that has been synonymous with their name for a few years now. Amy's voice is as magnetic as ever, and Torq seems to be getting a little bit more experimental with his voice. He sounds like a completely different vocalist while singing the chorus of "Take Me To The Riot" which is one of the strongest cuts. I also love the falsetto he's sporting in "The Ghost of Genova Heights," giving Barry Gibb a run for his money. Amy seems to be getting a little more stage time on this one, which I don't know if I like. I mean, she's got a great voice, but I think the songs that they do together are by far, the strongest. I always thought it was weird that "Ageless Beauty" was the "hit" on the last album since I personally thought that it was one of the album's weaker songs. This one also opens with a beautiful instrumental intro and ends with the epic piano-y title track, which gives the album a compelling uniformity. Final analysis: good album but it's missing the mind-blowiosity of tunes like "What I'm Trying To Say" or "Soft Revolution" from SYOF.

Stars are performing day 2 of V-Fest on Toronto Island on Sept 9th, along with Peter Bjorn & John, Tokyo Police Club, Metric and Blonde Redhead, to name a few. I really really really want to go to this show, but I'm afraid the old budget won't allow it this time around. So if you're going, I hate you but have a good time.

Download:
The Night Starts Here mp3

Stars' myspace page.
Download "In Our Bedroom After The War" on the Arts & Crafts page.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Friday, June 29, 2007

Bishop Allen w/The Teeth @ Lee's Palace

The Teeth are a powerhouse of a rock band from Philadelphia who I found extremely impressive. I arrived at Lee's partway through their set, but from what I saw, they were full of punk rock enthusiasm as they oozed rock star machismo. They had the melodic wit of The Kinks melded with the hyperactive swagger of The Clash. Listening to their music on myspace, it sounds like they're also heavily influenced by 70's Bowie-esque glam rock. I would really like to get better acquainted with this band because they're the type of band that I think I could really get into. Ultimately, their live show has the feel of a punk rock band who had been transported to 1955, picked up on the exciting vibe of rock 'n roll when it was still fresh and new and then beamed it forward to our day and age. Very cool.


Bishop Allen are an incredibly cool indie band from Brooklyn, who's "Charm School" release a couple of years ago, had a real Costello-like, well, charm to it. Although I really enjoyed it at the time, I have to admit that with the massive influx of music that I'm regularly introduced to, I kind of forgot about them. However, I was forced to reintroduce myself to them when my friend asked me if I wanted to check out their show. Impressively, last year they released a separate EP for every month of the year, that's 12 EP's in all, and from what I've sampled, they're songwriting abilities are pretty solid and consistent. The show last night was brief, but it showcased their upcoming release "Broken String" quite extensively. Lead vocalist (and sometime actor) Justin Rice was very charismatic, clearly enjoying himself on stage while other vocalist Christian Rudder (also a sometime actor) showed off what an amazing musical talent he was, making a single stringed ukelele sound invariably cool. However, the superstar of the evening for me was the drummer. I don't know his name because there is no official drummer in Bishop Allen, but he was a maniac, at times drumming with one hand in order to handle xylophone duties with the other. I am pumped to hear "Broken String" in its entirety when it's officially released on July 24th.

Downloads:
The Teeth - So Long mp3
Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click mp3
Bishop Allen - Butterfly Nets mp3

The Teeth on myspace.
Purchase the CD "You're My Lover Now" at their online store.
View my pics of The Teeth over on flickr.

Bishop Allen on myspace.
Purchase their music on their online store. Or purchase digital versions here.
View my pics of Bishop Allen on flickr.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

They Might Be Giants - The Else

At one time, They Might Be Giants were actually the biggest alternative band in America. Of course, this prompted John Flansburgh to remark that being the biggest alternative band is “like being the world’s tallest midget.” I think it’s safe to say that the glory days of TMBG have long since passed us by. The nostalgia that drapes over me by way of memories of listening to 1990’s “Flood” over and over and over again to both the amusement and annoyance of my friends is one of those moments in time that can be revisited often but never repeated.

However, that doesn’t mean that the two Johns (Flansburgh and Linnell) have lost their ability to coin a witty phrase and a catchy melody. They may have dabbled a bit in the world of children’s music in recent years but the new CD “The Else,” although flawed, is probably their best adult release in a little while. Having it co-produced by The Dust Brothers (Beck, Beastie Boys) does give it a slight edge, but overall this is a straight forward TMBG album. The first two songs, “I’m Impressed” and “Take Out The Trash” are very good and hark back to the “Factory Showroom” era of the band. Set to a funky backdrop, the lyrics “Girl, why not take out the trash / and once you get him out/ tell him not to come back again…” may read like they should be in an Aretha Franklin song or something, but having the boys sing it just adds to its charm. Other highlights are “Bee the Bird of the Moth” which is filled with more of TMBG’s trademark kooky wordplay and goofy round-like background vocals, coupled with Motown-style horns. The best song is definitely the last one, “The Mesopotamians” which is a unique tale of a fictional band, featuring the band members “Sargon, Hammurabi, Ashurbanipal and Gilgamesh.” Only TMBG could sing those names in any kind of poetic fashion. The CD is already available for download on iTunes, but if you wait for the official hardcopy release on July 10th, you get a bonus disc chock full of more TMBG-goodness.

Visit TMBG on myspace.
Their official website offers free and exclusive mp3’s, podcasts and all kinds of nest stuff.

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Memphis - A Little Place In The Wilderness

It’s very rare when the wife and I agree on music, but we both must acknowledge the fact that Torquil Campbell has got to be the most pleasant sounding voice in indie rock. His other band Stars is one of our current favourites, and the first time we saw them live (in an intimate club in Hamilton) still ranks among one of our best live experiences ever. That’s why, while waiting for a new Stars album, the sophomore release by Memphis, entitled “A Little Place In The Wilderness” is just we needed to tie us over.

Memphis is basically Torquil on lead vocals with his long time friend Chris Dumont on guitar and harmonies. James Shaw (Metric) joins in on bass, trumpet and some drums and Josh Troger (Sam Roberts Band) also plays the drums. For the most part, Stars fans will also enjoy Memphis. Obviously the absence of a female presence does make this a slightly different (and perhaps less pleasing for some) listening experience, but Torq’s gift for melody, as well as his highly articulate poetic lyricism is still very much intact. Most of the album falls into a mellow indie-pop vibe, but there are a few deviations. “Incredibly Drunk on Whisky” is a silly but fun little ditty, that feels like a real throwback to 40’s style jazz, complete with Barney Bigard-like clarinet playing. “Time Away” is an airy number, capable of lulling one to dreamland. The album also contains a mildly interesting instrumental number in the vein of something off of “Pet Sounds” entitled “Shadows and Amazons.” The best song however, happens to be the first single. It’s an obvious choice called “I’ll Do Whatever You Want” which is very Arts & Crafty and should satisfy all of the fans of the BSS world.

Download:
I’ll Do Whatever You Want mp3

Memphis on myspace.
Purchase “A Little Place In The Wilderness” on Amazon.ca.
Watch the video for “I’ll Do Whatever You Want” on youtube.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,