{Photo: Suzi/Spratt 504}
Before the band came out on stage Monday night, Neumos looked like a high school gym after a dance- lot's of tinsel. Unlike the sad charm of an empty gymnasium, this show was sold out. As the band began and a green light hit the stage, and the reflective nature of tinsel became the perfect set décor for the self-reflection they induce. Beach House is a band that allows the listener to glean their own impressions from their songs and carve out moments of personal meaning.
Latest comment by: Will: "This review was magnificently written. I just discovered your site, and have fallen in love. "
New York's chimeric-bopping Beach House's debut on Sub Pop, Teen Dream, came out last week to bold fanfare and acclaim from old fans (and new acolytes like me). They also got hit with some critical flack for not mixing in enough dark flavors with the Scotch-and-butterscotch ice cream float of their sweet, intoxicating sound.
For a third full-length from the formidable duo of vocalist Victoria Legrand (the niece of French chanteuse Christiane Legrand, and awesome composing mastermind Michel Legrand, whose soundtracks for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Band of Outsiders are essential in the OST canon) and young multi-instrumentalist Alex Scally, some scribes were apparently hoping their M.O. of sunny, chilly, melancholic impressionist pop with sweet drum ticks would "evolve" into something else. But what? Something "more substantial"? I have no defense to that behind my immense rating for the record.
Latest comment by: Chris Estey: "Correction: This album was created in upstate New York."
Sasquatch 2009 is a mere two days away. Go see bands all three days, cheer your head off, drink some beer and/or smoke a joint. Get dirty campin' toes and sweat through your forehead bandanna (or brave kilt-lifting style winds like in 2007). Come back harried and skip out on work Tuesday. Recount every last moment, with positive embellishments, to anyone fool enough not to attend. Buy the tshirt and flaunt the shit out of it.
Here is your big bad SASQUATCH 2009 PREVIEW.
Latest comment by: almost imaginary dan: "My Sunday schedule is so rad, and so simple. Check it: 1215pm Mike Watt EAT FOOD 205pm The Walkmen SERIOUS NAP 520pm Murder City Devils 600pm Airborne Toxic Event 715pm M83 8pm Nine Inch Nails 10pm Jane's Addiction "
Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "me too. num!"
Latest comment by: Imaginary Shrie: "No worries Jon. I'm sure we'll have the chance to work in tandem soon. I'm sad you missed it though!"
In which we gather up a sampling of free MP3s from the web so you don't have to!
Beach House and their pretty pristine pop will be at Chop Suey on March 18th with The Papercuts.
To mark the occassion, we've teamed up with MuseBox to give away a pair of tickets and a whole lot more.
Latest comment by: Audrey: "Do you think telling the e-mail recipient that I love them ups my chances for winning or is totally creepy? Too late now!"
I'm a huge nerd when it comes to pouring over annual, best of lists (I'm still biting my nails in anticipation of the Idolator critic's poll that should be out soon), and I'm always intrigued by what the favorites of people who work in the business of music but aren't (necessarily) critics or reviewers. So, I asked Chop Suey's brand new booker Pete Greenberg to submit his list of favorite albums with the promise of posting them here - to which he happily complied.
Here's what made his list:
1. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
2. Future of The Left – Curses (Too Pure)
3. Handsome Furs – Plague Park (Sub Pop)
4. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights (Daptone Records)
5. The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (Merge)
6. Big Business – Here Come The Waterworks (Hydra Head Records)
7. Beach House – Beach House (Carpark Records)
8. Blonde Redhead – 23 (4AD)
9. Band of Horses – Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)
10. Siberian – With Me (Sonic Boom Recordings)
11. Matthew Dear – Asa Breed (Ghostly International)
12. Lavender Diamond – Imagine Our Love (Matador Records)
13. Peter Bjorn & John – Writer’s Block (Almost Gold)
Fat Asian Baby's looking ahead to 2008 with new hot act Beach House.
Latest comment by: imaginary liz: "Thanks FAB -- you can also download "Gila" mp3 here. And here's the cover art."
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