A&R: The Music Submissions

The Black Rabbits - The Black Rabbits EP

The Black Rabbits are a high-energy rock outfit from Ashville, North Carolina. Their debut EP is full of the type of catchy, pop-rock music that is so universal, it sounds familiar even the first go-round. While that might sound like a slight, it sure isn't! Making that type of thing sound fresh and likable, which The Black Rabbits manage to do on each of their five tracks, is no simple feat. There are a few reasons it works, one of which is simplicity. In the same way that The Beatle's early music is characterized by short, flawlessly produced catchy rock and roll beats, so too is The Black Rabbits. Now, they don't sound like The Beatles, but that's the idea. Nothing too grandiose, no conceptual checks written that this 4 piece can't cash. Vocalist Jetson Black has an appealing sound, unique but not polarizing, which is best characterized on the EP's only slow jam, "Painter, Poet, Prophet, Priest". Otherwise, it's the least memorable of the lot. Luckily, there are four other peppy pop-rock tracks to love.

Sounds Like: A cheerier Eve 6 or Harvey Danger dragged through the early '60s
Listen To: For Way Too Long Now, Emotion



Grand Canyon - The Hits

One theme of the many music submissions to SFCritic (yep, there are many! And yes, there are some themes!) is "non-traditional" releases. It seems popular in this day and age to not only forgo the more traditional record label route, but to do away with tradition all together. Grand Canyon, out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has done just that. Billing themselves as an "indie/alternative/punk/country/whatever band," they released their debut album "The Hits" (ironic?) on cassette tape (what ARE those, right?!). Well, they sold through all 50 of those right quick, but thankfully the album is also available for digital download, free, on their website. Now, creative marketing ways aside (or gimmick, for all the haters out there). On first listen, it's an interesting album! There are horns and harmonies. It has a solid Western feel, vaguely reminiscent of Johnny Cash. Songs like soaring, vaguely hobo-lament "Hole in My Shoe" beg to be heard in a smoky bar clutching a cold beer. However, there is nothing to be gained from the album's length. The sound is neither distinct, complex, nor broad enough to bother listening to more than a few tracks, enjoying them, and moving on.

Sounds Like: The Hold Steady's less lyrically-gifted cousin from the Southwest.
Listen To: From the Westside, Demons

A&R: The Music Submissions

It's full-on San Francisco springtime, and this week SFCritic has been listening to some totally weather-worthy EPs out of the UK. Sip something, sun yourself, and check out the goods.


Building Pictures - Joey and the Moon EP

John Gribbin, a 23 year old from Northern Ireland, is the one man behind the band, Building Pictures. Joey and the Moon is his second EP release, though he has been writing in the UK and Brooklyn for other artists, while doing gigs for various bands. There are no surprises on the EP, just good songwriting and subtle touches that make each song distinct from the rest. It's full of the kind of songwriting and earnestness, barely scuzzy-sounding guitars, and slacker vocals that make an artist destined for shoe-gaze stardom. "I'm Serious" has harmonies and a catchy chorus, while "Building a Picture" (calm down, Gribbin) is the kind of coming-of-age ballad most people ruin. Nothing is ruined on Joey and the Moon--doing just enough to stand out from the pack of male singer-songwriters and not much more. It won't inspire raves, but boy is it likable.

Sounds Like: Jamie T's less street-wise little brother. (Note: Check out Jamie T.)
Listen To: I'm Serious, On Our Own


Bare Threads - Wasted Nights EP

Bare Threads is a Bristol-based, bluesy rock band. Their latest release (March 29th) Wasted Nights EP was released on their own label Beats Harder recordings. The vocals, provided by the lovely Joanna Bennett, are totally lounge-worthy and supported by the richness of a stand-up bass and a trumpet. The one aspect lacking on the recording is the recording itself. The songs come off a little muddled and far away. On some tracks, like on the more electric "Under Your Shoulder," it's as if Bennett's sultry voice is floating through a smokey jazz club or across the lawn at an outdoor concert. The whole EP could benefit from higher production standards. Wasted Nights is an expression of Bare Threads' DIY ethos, acting as the kick-off for a Bare Threads-created ongoing collaborative art and music project. The artwork brief for the EP is available here.

Sounds Like: Letters to Cleo for the jazz inclined.
Listen To: Wasted Night, Under My Shoulder

A&R: The Music Submissions

Battle Flags - Color Engine

The email I received from artist Jack Budd, the solo artist known as Battle Flags, was, puzzling at best, off-putting at worst. Budd stated that the album itself began as a stencil graffiti in what I assume was a dorm room in Richmond, Virginia. He described the music as a mix of sounds from "stolen pots, pans, shovels, empty kegs, and living room chairs." I have listened to the album and find this an entirely inaccurate description of its sound. The whole thing has a lot more polish, a diversity of sounds borrowed from hip-hop, Daft Punk, than such a description evokes. "Her" is a simply breezy love song, filled almost to the brim with horns and hand-played percussion. More highly produced, synth-based tracks evoke hints of Justice as on "Catch a Fire." The military-style drums, most effective on "Siren Sounds" and "Won't Come Around Here," lend a cohesiveness that lacks in the album's overtones. When almost everyone can whip up an album with a Macbook Pro and a microphone, Color Engine shows that sometimes the results can be worth checking out.

Sounds Like: A pleasant stroll through his musical influences.
Listen To: Her, Siren Sounds, Won't Come Around Here

Fate Lions - Good Enough for You

While it would be easy to say that the Texas-based Fate Lions had me at the witty copy splashed across their website, that's not really fair. Yes, they have crafted a smart voice, and I appreciate that. But is their, ahem, "wannabe smarty pants fist pumping roller rink bubble gum downer pop" any good? Thankfully, the answer is yes. It is pretty good! The production is ultra-smooth, the arrangements lush but uncomplicated. Album-opener "Seen it All" energetically sets the stage with classic rock guitars and hand claps. If you like it, chances are you will be delighted the whole way through. Fate Lions clearly have a firm grip on their sound, and are not trying to reinvent the wheel. When "The Queen Himself" begins you fear you are about to hear a misguided Bowie homage, but the song stays true to their talents and might be my favorite on the album. "All You Do is Crazy" subtly showcases really lovely harmonies, which are another of the album's stand-out highlights. There are, naturally, a few moments it could do without, including most of "Our Song," which feels flat and borders on Junior Prom slow dance. For the most part, however, the album is full of the type of sunny, juicy arrangements for which the term "summer jam" was coined.

Sounds Like: The Foo Fighters, Weezer, and Ben Kweller's love-baby.
Listen To: The Queen Himself, Seen it All

A&R: The Music Submissions

Conil - Strange Part of the Country

In the 1990s, there was grunge. Seattle bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden dominated the music (and fashion, but that's for a different blog) of decade. They emerged as soulful, grating, and immediately identifiable "voices of a generation". This year the nostalgia for grunge is rapidly taking over pop culture. After a listen to the debut album from London-based singer/songwriter Conil, one can't help but recall the music styling of twenty years-ago Seattle. Called the "anti-James Blunt", it is clear that Conil is establishing himself as a gritty and emotional artist. He has a great voice, at times clear and exhibiting impressive range, still with plenty of cigarettes and coffee gruffness. The single "Stoned" has a harder, mainstream rock sound than some of his others, and also feels a little more flat all around. "Years Between" is the most melancholy of the bunch, but better exhibits the vocal skill that is really the best part of the album.

Sounds Like: The Verve Pipe
Listen To: "Years Between", "Grapevine"


Clare and The Reasons - Arrow

It is rare that something as cute as Clare and The Reasons contains as much depth and appeal. Brooklyn-based collaborators Clare and Olivier Manchon released their sophomore album, Arrow, in October. It is full of unapologetic-ally pretty songs that sound like the soundtrack to the movie of a downtown New York romance. With a sound that specifically executed it would be easy to write Arrow off as a bit of a gimmick, but that is just the very basis of its appeal. "You've Got Time" is a bit spare on the surface, a combination of Clare's hypnotic vocals, few lyrics, and an undulating synth line, but gradually opens into a deep arrangement of strings and backing vocals. "Alphabet City" is a slow reminiscence with smart lyrics and an infectious chorus. There is a cleanness to the music, a deliberateness to its execution, that makes this album feel at once personal and appealingly commercial. There is also enough interest added throughout, from surprisingly powerful bass lines to actual whistling (!) to bear repeat listens.

Sounds Like: The Cardigans in France.
Listen To: Skip nothing. Devour it all.

A&R: The Music Submissions

Here at SFCritic we have been unusually fortunate to receive some truly excellent music submissions. For most people it is not everyday that your inbox fills up with not one, but dozens of moving/fun/jaw-dropping/truly confusing albums, singles, and videos, but for us it is. And it's awesome. We know that for any musician it is both necessary and difficult to put yourself out there, to be critiqued, and it is not a job we take lightly. We would like to give as many artists the opportunity to have their work reviewed as possible, but since this is basically a one-person job, we've decided to set a few ground rules to make it easy for you to get heard, and for us to keep our limited sanity.

So it is with great excitement that we present the SFCritic Music Submission Guidelines:

• Please submit only full albums or EPs. We prefer zip files or streaming links. The better to hear you with, my dear.
• Include a large, high-quality image of your album art. At least 500 x 500 pixels please.
  
• Make sure to include a short biography of yourself/your band. Things to include: 1) Members' names and instruments, 2) geographical location, and 3) any description you can provide about your "sound."
  
• If you would like us to include download links in the article please say so and make sure to include them in your message.
  
• Just because we WANT to post about everything we receive does not mean that we WILL. Please don't cry if we skip yours.
  

A&R: The Music Submissions

Man/Miracle - The Shape of Things

There is something terribly invigorating about finding out there is an awesome band in your backyard. Man/Miracle, based in Oakland, CA, will give any Bay Area resident (present company included) that lovin' feeling. Their debut album, The Shape of Things, is a high-energy romp through familiar sounds. Remember the irreverent lyrics and global influences that blew you away the first time you listened to The Talking Heads? How about the forceful guitar, high hats, and thick-as-pudding bass that made all the guys jump into one another at your first basement punk show? Ever listen to The Cure so much, you convinced yourself only their New Wave angst could express how you truly felt inside? Those elements are all present and accounted for on the album. It has its indie rock moments that recall Vampire Weekend, but with a heavy dose of punk noise and a harder edge. What it lacks in complexity in parts, it more than makes up for in fun and weird wonderfulness.

Man/Miracle opens for Rogue Wave at Bottom of the Hill February 24, 2010 as part of the Noise Pop festival. (21+, 8pm.)

Sounds Like: The now tragically defunct Plastic Constellations out of MPLS, MN
Listen To: Hot Sprawl, Above the Salon


The Novel Ideas - The Sky is a Field!

The Novel Ideas are a band out of Newton, Mass. The Sky is a Field! is their first full-length, and is self-released (download or stream from their website). Its main focus is on vocals, a pleasant harmony of earnest, if slightly male crooning with delicate female support. They label themselves as a rock-folk outfit, which is, perhaps apt if not entirely helpful given the current slew of new releases claiming such a title. The horns, slide guitars, and violins are used sparingly, providing either drama or lightness at times which is lacking for most of the album. The lyrics clearly center around the feelings that only love (or lack thereof) can conjure, and often make the album feel more than a little emo. On "Julian Carax" the pleading vocals call to mind the misery of Dashboard Confessional. The following track "A Breath of Fresh Air," is a more energetic, hopeful track with a rhythm you might even want to dance to. The album is good enough, and certainly without a clear misstep, but for the most part the problem with The Novel Ideas is that they just aren't that novel.

Sounds Like: Dashboard meets Headlights
Listen To: Adrian Blues, A Breath of Fresh Air

A&R: The Music Submissions

Woozy Viper - Woozy Viper

Woozy Viper is what you would call a palate-cleanser. Kansas-born and bred brothers Luke and Mitch Meseke recorded a lo-fi 12 song debut, put it up for free download with nothing but some seriously simple album art. It is an album of back-to-basics rock and roll songs, two scruffy vocalists, and tin can percussion. They sing songs about paying the rent, about wanting nice cars, and girls. They're the kind of rough and twangy songs that hearken back to a simpler time before "indie rock" was nearly synonymous with a heavy use of synthesizers (not that that's a bad thing). The songs are stylish and classic without seeming overly referential. For every song that overtly sounds like The Beatles or Johnny Cash, there are hints of Kurt Cobain's anguished drawl (on "The Switchblade Swing") or Sublime's plucky ska baselines (like "Dirty Rat"). They're a little bit country, a little Rolling Stones, and all-around enjoyable.

Sounds Like: The Kings of Leon not taking themselves so seriously. Also the song "One of These Days" really, really sounds like Spinal Tap's "Gimme Some Money".
Listen To: Speaking in Tongues, Woah Baby

Kidd Russell - The Dash

Kidd Russell's debut EP The Dash is a little confusing. It is predominantly of the hip hop persuasion, and certainly sprinkled with influences of hard rock (Korn, Slipknot maybe) and a little reggae. While the lyrics are earnest, the vocals certainly aren't great (a little flat) and the beats leave much to be desired. Each song seems to stand on its own, to cater to its own agenda rather than work together to create a cohesive sound. The EP's self-proclaimed star is "Dear Shooter," an emotional outcry against gun violence that calls to mind Eminem's haunting track "Stan," but it lacks a memorable hook and the raw emotion that made that song so important. A different, more rock-influenced track is "Rush (Rock Remix)" which is apparently hd.net theme song for Ring of Honor wrestling. It sounds a little like Kid Rock, and brought back all fondest memories I have of Limp Bizkit (of which there are very few). While it's clear that Kidd Russell has diverse interests, and enthusiastically includes them in his music, The Dash still feels a little rough and disorganized.

Sounds Like: A college football player turned musician (hint: that's what it is).
Listen To: Rush (Rock Remix), Dear Shooter

A&R: The Music Submissions

Foreign Born - Person to Person

Foreign Born is a (domestic!) four piece out of Los Angeles. The boys joined forces in 2003, were scooped up by uber-indie label Secretly Canadian, and released Person to Person, their second full length. It's a catchy, sunny and upbeat album. It is perfect, on first listen, to imagine putting several tracks on your playlist for a road trip up the coast, but with enough torment, density, and lush arrangements to keep it from being a once-round wonder. While comparisons to Grizzly Bear and The Walkmen are not necessarily unfounded, they're also not quite informative. There are moments of African percussion and cowbells followed by 80s U2-esque drum beats with haunting vocals to match, and airy guitar rifts. The songs feel vintage, without feeling trite or precious. These are tightly recorded pop ballads with danceable beats and stuck-in-your head choruses. Though released in 2009, Person to Person is certain to put Foreign Born at the forefront of this year's indie discussion. Catch them locally at Rickshaw Stop 2/24 with Free Energy as part of the Noise Pop festival.

Sounds Like: A West Coast answer to Vampire Weekend
Listen To: Wander Aimlessly, Vacationing People, Early Warnings

All My Friends - We Have No Faith in Machines EP

All My Friends is a Canadian synth-pop duo from Vancouver BC. The two eagerly site their major influences as Passion Pit, MGMT, Phoenix and The Postal Service. It is not hard to hear how these influences come through on their sparse Microkorg-produced EP. Well, The Postal Service part anyway. The boys certainly know their way around a synthesizer. Unfortunately, it lacks the layered arrangements, lyrical complexity, and production polish that make these groups excellent. Things look up for them on the ever so slightly more complex "Tonight Happens", a little bit grittier New Wave-influenced track, and "Secret Smiles", which could be a big dance-pop hit if it had more than a chorus. With the recent explosion of Owl City, that inexplicably popular baron of annoying emo electronica, it is not surprising that more boys would want to churn out basement albums made only with a synthesizer and a laptop. While All My Friends have wisely refrained from an embrace of auto-tune, tracks like "Stay" and "Another Morning" fall in that category.

Sounds Like: Owl City at worst, The Postal Service at best.
Listen To: Tonight Happens, Secret Smiles

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

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

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