The Music Submissions: Looking Back at 2k9

In the beginning SFCritic was all about going out and looking for great music. One of the many ways you the readers shared your love with us this year was by sending us music that you think we'd like, or more likely that you'd like us to hype. When it became clear that there was just way too much stuff coming in, and gems were likely being lost in the shuffle, The Music Submissions were born. Each week the emails streamed in, and each week we listened to as much as possible before deciding which two albums (or songs in rare cases) would go up for you, our fearless readers, to read. It was our hope to give you a more intimate glimpse into the musician-marketing-blogger relationship in addition to giving constructive criticism to acts large and small.

It was an inconsistent bunch, to be sure. Sometimes the submissions were for rising stars, like Fanfarlo and The Antlers, both of which wound up making my Top 8 Albums of the Year. Bowerbirds, Lookbook, and Birdmonster were all highlights. Others not so much. Not even :Kinema:'s cover of Animal Collective's "My Girls" was enough to make-up for their uninteresting auto-tuned disco. While Portland's Hockey seemed promising the first few listens, it turned out to be at best bland and at worst annoying. We at SFCritic would like to thank you all for sending us so much music and for following us in 2009. Keep sending in new, weird, and wonderful music and we'll write about it in 2010.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

A&R: The Music Submissions

Dylan In The Movies - "Josephine If You Only Knew"

Dylan In The Movies is a relatively solo project or "musical brainchild" of Boston-based Brian Sullivan. The album features the input of some big names in contemporary alternative rock/alt country world that should bring Sullivan's new release more notoriety. Name-dropping The Watson Twins (not to mention their partner Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley) and Tanya Donelly (formerly of the Breeders, among others) should give the album buzz, though it might not clue listeners in to what they're getting. The single itself sounds like a more complex, and yet marketable, version of the adult contemporary genre. While that sounds like a snooze, his voice has a honed yet rough quality that makes it an appealing match for the emotional yet vague lyrics that tend to highlight the pining and regretful moments in male-female relationships. The guitar hook in "Josephine" is sunny, catchy, and only slightly plaintive. Though it's probably not going to be "what the kids are into", Sullivan has the talent and ear to put together an appealing single.

Sounds Like: Edwin McCain without the kitsch.



Ken Helman - Emerging

After hearing his latest project Emerging it seems like music veteran and recent transplant to the SF Bay Area Ken Helman has come to the right place. His pianist-singer-songwriter style evokes both musical theater and the contemporary artists that have successfully translated their style into honest and emotional pop careers. The uniqueness of his voice, clearly controlled but vaguely unsettled, seems to frame the stories that his lyrics weave. There is nothing to distract you from the fact that Helman is telling intensely personal tales with his songs, nothing between the listener, him, and his piano accompaniment. Broadway fans and those with an avid appreciation for a pared-down style, embellished only with talent, will probably treasure his work. Others probably won't get it.

Sounds Like: Rufus Wainright or Antony & The Johnsons, with a less broad appeal.
Listen To: "Caught a Ride", "Passing Stranger"

A&R: The Music Submissions

By Eve Marcellus


Birdmonster - Blood Memory
Birdmonster is a San Francisco-based band and Blood Memory is their fourth major release, coming out a year after their last full-length album, From the Mountain to the Sea. The songs have the unmistakable fine-tuned element of a band that's seasoned: they've recorded full-length albums, explored their sound, and toured the country and you can hear it. At the same time, nothing about the EP's eight tracks feel slick. There's a roughness that comes across through the edgy guitar hooks and barely strained vocals. It's reminiscent of the Replacements-influenced Alternative rock of the 90s, easily floating between folksy, morose acoustic tracks and songs with a more post-punk sensibility. Since they do it well, it comes off sounding both fresh and classic. All in all, it's a super-likable release from a band that seems to be evolving its sound and its skills rather than putting out more of whatever the kids are listening to this week.
As a bonus, swing by their website and check out their blog for a highly recommended "short history of heavy metal."

Sounds Like: A less precious version of early 90s Goo Goo Dolls.
Listen To: I Might Have Guessed (Mean Version), Forever Gone, Day to Day



Everyone's Talking - Dragonflies
Everything about Everyone's Talking's new album is high drama. From the first few notes of the first and title track, you know that no one is going to play any of this at a party--that's ok. This is a piano rock release, it comes with the territory. It goes without saying that the main element of their sound is the piano, not the most popular instrument to put front and center in this heyday of auto tune. However, they certainly don't abandon the electric, and it is used to somewhat an interesting effect. "War pt. 2" is a particularly enticing, if slightly nerdy, blend of digital and analog keys that would be quite at home on the score of the robot version of Braveheart. It is also the only song without vocals on the album. The vocals are high and a touch nasal, for the most part, and the lyrics mirror the instrumentals' seriousness. The tracks where they let some lightness in, and push the boundaries of their dark wave piano, are at least interesting to listen to, but when they don't--well.

Sounds Like: Evanescence, only with boys.
Listen To: War pt. 2, Dragonflies

Diggin' in the Crates: Gal Costas' "Sao Salvador"

By Noam Ofir
A few weeks ago while I was walking down the streets of Tel Aviv with a friend, returning empty handed from a record store I frequent, when I noticed this record store I'd never been to. As I began digging through the untouched collection, I found a bunch of dope Brazilian records in good condition (for only $2-3 each!!). I guess there isn't much of a demand here, because this was a steal.

One of the records was Gal Costas' Gal Canta Caymmi. In this record Costa is performing Dorival Caymmi, with the arrangements by Joao Donato.The whole record is chilled, groovy feel, making it feel like you stretch your toes on the beach. This song is called, "Sao Salvador," which Caymmi wrote originally about his hometown where Costa is from as well.

A&R: The Music Submissions

The Mean Jeans - Are You Serious?


The Mean Jeans are a Portland punk band. They are comprised of three semi-anonymous hard partying dudes who sound an awful lot like the Ramones. It's hard, though not unexpected, to imitate the sound of the band that birthed the genre. Where the Ramones sang about women and love sometimes, The Mean Jeans seem only to love drinking and putting drugs up their noses. Though the lyrics are spewing tales of self-destructive behavior, the songs are really catchy. They aren't taking this music thing too seriously, and they have the chops to make it legit. The band apparently came together after a move West from DC and is made up of super-skilled musicians. There is something a bit more intricate about the combination of hyper guitar riffs, super-strength bass lines and and plaintive vocals that works with and without moshing. Probably helpful, too, if they're going to be performing smashed.


Sounds Like: The Ramones, obviously.
Listen To: Stoned 2 the Bone, Steve Don't Party No More





Ada Fijal featuring Louie Austen - Take Your Time

There are a variety of things that can catch your attention in an inbox full of random music of varying quality. Sometimes it's clear and apparent talent, sometimes a catchy hook, and sometimes unquestionable suckiness. "Take Your Time" a new single from Polish singer and television actress Ada Fijal (aka Madam Retro) is attractive for a somehow worthwile combination of the three. The song, which is the first duet between Fijal and Louie Austen, is ridiculous upon first listen. Laugh out loud ridiculous. "You're hot like Pamela Anderson"? It doesn't even rhyme. It doesn't even try! But given a second it's kind of, dare I say it, catchy and fun. It's possible to get into if you're not offended by obviously Eastern Euro-club trash and if you've ever been seduced by Kylie Minogue b-sides.
Check it out (plus remixes omg!) here.

A&R: The Music Submissions

Bowerbirds - Upper Air
There are many, many things to love about folk music, one of which is that it is relatively timeless. Yes, it fell out of favor with the "hip youth" for a while there (at least for the most part). But luckily there have been dozens of excellent releases in the past few years that have revived the genre and made it possible for bands like Bowerbirds to find mainstream success.
The Raleigh, North Carolina three piece first caught indie/nu-folk buzz with the release of their 2007 album Songs for a Dark Horse. 2009's Upper Air exudes the same charm with a little more energy. The album is full of the kinds of earnest yet complex instrumentals that really show the care of the people who produced them. Founding members Beth Tacular and Phil Moore used a rotating cast of support to create the delicate, yet powerful cornucopia of instruments that support their balanced vocal harmonies. Their music sounds old fashioned and special without trying too hard, paying homage to folk traditions without seeming overly referential.

Sounds Like: A more delicate Blitzen Trapper
Listen to: Northern Lights, In Our Talons



Lookbook - Wild at Heart

On the opposite end of the spectrum there is Lookbook. The Minneapolis electro-pop band has a fairly serious following locally but is poised for even more national notoriety with the release of Wild at Heart. The album celebrates all that is wonderful about synths. Lead vocalist Maggie Morrison's voice is perfect for songs like, "True to Form" that update good 80s pop with just the right amount of grunge appeal. Even though Grant Cutler, the man behind the band's creative electro sounds, shows off his skill set with a full range of catchy dance beats he proves his range with more markedly subtle arrangements on the latest release. The title track on the album is a more subtle, melodic take on their dynamic sound, recalling Fleetwood Mac-esq classic rock more than drum machine-heavy New Wave. These are the kind of songs that will have people dancing and swaying just as much in their living rooms and at their high-energy live shows.

Sounds Like: Synth-pop for big kids.
Listen To: True to Form, Over and Over

A&R: The Music Submissions

This week we have two bands that have strong female vocal leads. Hopefully, this is a refreshing change after the past few weeks, which have been rather intensely boy-focused if you've been paying attention. It was certainly welcome to find them in the inbox at least.

Lowenbad - Bricks for the Naysayers
Portland band Lowenbad describes themselves as a "beautiful concoction of soul, rock, and hip-hop. Combining rock guitars, soul singing, hip hop loops, politically slanted lyrics and esoteric beats". The beautiful part clearly comes from lead vocalist Holly Cole, whose sultry voice lends the "soul singing" aspect that does sound lovely over the hip hop beats. Every once in a while, the guitars and simple drum beats veer into Evanescence territory, which is too bad since the songs where the band leaves thing a bit more "raw" are the strongest. Cole clearly has the ability to deliver a tune, which lends an interest and complexity to the music that is lacking in many of the other elements.

Sounds Like: For some reason, Dido. Maybe before she went solo.
Listen to: Another Measure, Bricks


Hey Young Believer- Invisible by Day
I am completely willing to forgive local band Hey Young Believer for their lack of complexity. Their new album is chock full of the kind of fun music that cute people will be bounce-dancing around to at live shows. Vocalist Lilly Wolfson sounds lovely on each and every track, but most of the time her vocals are so much the focus that it is hard to tell (or care) who and what is doing the backing music. Songs like "Yellow Roman Candles" show the band stretching its instrumental legs a bit more, and is one of the more agreeable on the album. I hope that future releases will showcase the obvious skill of this band with a little bit more risk-taking, maybe something weird. Bay Area kids can and should check them out Monday November 9 at Tiny Antennae Have Large Receptors.

Sounds Like: Letters to Cleo
Listen To: Playing the Grand Design, Walking Over You

New Moon Just Keeps Making Itself Relevant

By Eve Marcellus
Twilight hysteria is alive and well, y'all. And while this certainly has it's disadvantages (Robert Pattinson over-saturation, the books and movies keep coming out, etc.) something good has to come out of it eventually. And, finally, something may have in the New Moon soundtrack. While the last go round tween fans were dazzled by songs from bands whose appreciators tend to be of a similar demographic, the New Moon soundtrack reads like a who's-who of contemporary greatness. The Killers, Muse, and Death Cab for Cutie. Thom Yorke, Bon Iver with St. Vincent, and Lykke Li. The iTunes download even has a bonus track by Lupe Fiasco. Seriously! Even though the sheer association with such a cultural spectacle is probably enough to keep the usual listeners of many of these mega-talented artists away, it should not be so.

To listen to some of the music, check out the MySpace Page, or the official website.

Perezfest 2k9 or Ladyhawk at the Fillmore (9/30/2009)

By Eve Marcellus

All Photos By Patrick Kelly

It is with most sincere apologies that I state that this is yet again another Perez Hilton-related post. As part of the "Perez Hilton Presents Tour," last Wednesday the enigmatic and adorable Kiwi singer known as Ladyhawke (aka Pip Brown) took to the venerable Fillmore stage. For full disclosure, this was my first time at the Fillmore, which is an awesome venue. It is a little striking that the lineup of shows for the next several months is eclectic enough to include everything from Foreigner to Matisyahu to Dinosaur Jr. to five nights (yes, five) of the Black Crowes.With the exception of Brown and her London-based band's extremely satisfying performance, it was a strange and awkward evening.

A&R: The Music Submissions

By Eve Marcellus

Katatonia -Night is the New Day
Katatonia is a Swedish goth-metal band whose upcoming Night is the New Day is their eighth studio album. The band has been together and making music since the early 1990s. When discussing the recording studio the band choose for the album this is literally what their website describes: "Broken glass, blood on the walls at the front door to the building and threatening messages written on the elevator. Even excrement and urine on the floor in the basement makes you wonder if the caretaker is a serial killer himself." Right. Well, whether or not that story is true, one would assume the outcome of such, let's say, inspiring surroundings would be one bad ass album. And in it's own way, it sort of is. There is an obvious skill that comes from almost two decades of hard rocking, and many tracks on Night is the New Day seem to show that off. Unfortunately, nothing remarkable seems to be happening. The combination of a lack of lyrical complexity and a surprisingly high number of slower, quieter songs doesn't quite grab you by the heartstrings or inspire but a few headbangs. Whether or not this album is "possibly the greatest heavy record in the last 10 years" as their website touts, it's certainly not something to seek out if it's not your "thing".
 

Sounds like: You know, Swedish metal, right?
Listen to: Forsaker




 
Hockey- Mind Chaos
Plaid shirts? Check. Floppy hair? Also, check. A mustachioed band member? Oh heavens yes. So Portland, Oregon's Hockey is totally a hipster band. They are also making fully infectious, totally likable dance music and making it well. According to their website, they started making music people could have fun to at the parties they played. With Mind Chaos, they have certainly succeeded. Instrumentally, the synth is mostly the star of the show, often recalling either late 70s disco rhythms ("Learn to Lose") or 80s new wave on "Song Away". The vocals end a bit of a harder rock edge to the music and the lyrics, which range from witty to complex to tongue-in-cheek and self-aggrandizing, seem like a real bonus when so many contemporaries seem to treat them as an afterthought. "Too Fake", the single, stands out as the star of the album, recalling such recent blog hits as The Teenagers "Rich Girls", but not one track on Mind Chaos disappoints. That's reason enough to throw a party, isn't it? Hockey's finishing up a few more U.S. tour dates with Portugal. The Man before heading to Europe.

Sounds Like: Arctic Monkeys, The Killers (Hot Fuss)
Listen To: Too Fake, Wanna be Black

A&R: The Music Submissions

Red Cortez - Hands to the Wall EP
Red Cortez is an unsigned band from SoCal currently on a big national tour with the Airborn Toxic Event. They have also apparently joined such high profile acts as Stephen Malkmus, Morrissey, and Little Joy recently. Seems like a pretty good start for an act that has yet to release a full album. The band has a strong lead singer in Harley Prechtel - Cortez and they let him loose on songs where he either simmers or screams. They are all fairly serious, and the guitar-heavy rock largess of the EP might scare off a more traditional "indie" audience. That said, they seem like both a great summer festival band and someone to see in dingy rock club. That type of flexibility is always a good sign.

Sounds Like: State Radio, Kings of Leon every once in a while.
Listen To: Fell on the Floor, World at Rest



Sliimy - Paint Your Face
In case you hadn't heard, Perez Hilton is starting his own "record label" that may or may not actually just be a funny little side project of Warner Music Group (hint: it is). The first artist signed to this new media venture is Sliimy, an adorable French hipster who will almost certainly be performing at San Francisco Pride 2010. His first single from his debut album Paint Your Face is called "Wake Up" and has a cute live action/claymation video to match. It's a fun and energetic pop song that is addictive and slightly annoying at the same time. There's a whole lot of range on this album, but nothing quite stands up to "Wake Up" in terms of energy and originality as a single. The tracks that might hint to a future career are the ones that show how easily a cute boy can fill in for a girl, say, Lily Allen for example. "My God" is a little bluesy, as though it was written for a soulful lady lounge singer. Other tracks on the album don't quite capitalize on the appeal of Sliimy's androgynous sound and wind up sounding a little flat and forgettable. Hopefully, the attention he gets through Perez will allow him to stretch those skinny little legs more in the future.

Sounds like: Lily Allen, Mika. A lot.
Listen to: Wake Up, My God, Tic Tac

Murs the Scientist

By Henry Curtin

The worlds of science and hip hop rarely collide outside of a few teachers making their best effort to find a way to connect to their students. Thankfully, Murs has stepped up to the challenge. On his most recent solo album, Murs for President, he puts on his lab coat and drops a science lesson.

Murs: "The Science"

Upcoming Releases: Epik High, The Roots

By Henry Curtin
With this past week's release of Jay-Z's new album, The Blueprint 3, we've entered into a great period of upcoming releases. First, I have been eagerly waiting for the newest album from Epik High, one of the biggest Korean hip hop groups. Their 6th album features thirty tracks, with an appearance by Rakaa of Dilated Peoples. Here is a sample teaser they recently released:

Epik High [e] Album Trailer


The second release I am anxiously awaiting is the newest album from the Legendary Roots Crew. On the Jimmy Fallon show, where they are the house band, they recently played their newest single off their upcoming album, How I Got Over. Hopefully, the album is filled with more of the same.

The Roots: "How I Got Over"


If you enjoyed this post, check out these:

It's Working Out: An Interview With Mayer Hawthorne

Listen to What You're Missin': Portugal. The Man, Bat For Lashes, The Raveonettes, and Akron/Family

A&R: The Music Submissions