StreightAngular have been relentlessly touring around New England for the last few years, but they finally just came out with their debut full-length this summer. The new album is called After and Before was was released on Polk Records.
StreightAngular bring to mind the silliness and pop-sensibility of the Pixies, the nosiness of Sonic Youth, and the brutal intensity of early punk. My very favorite song of their is called “Empathetic Environmentalist”, which was included on After and Before, but will also be featured on their upcoming live album, Station Identification. Check out this sneak preview of the live version, recorded on air at WUML.
Posted March 3, 2010 by Matt at 2:00 pm ·
Filed under Promising Artists
I first heard about Janelle while working at Newbury Comics. Her debut EP was quite devisive throughout the staff. Then I saw her about a year or so ago opening for Jamie Lidell. I have to say, she was absolutely excellent.
She has been popping up all over the internet since in that cute pompador. Pitchfork gave her the solid Best New Music for her first album single “Tightrope”. But I want to point out the excellent “Come Alive (The War of Roses)” which I think sums up the live show and the attitude of this former Outkast backup singer a little better.
Seer Group blends sun-warped nostalgia for cassette tapes and analog synthesizers with the sugary-sweet melodies of early video game soundtracks (think Mega Man III vs. Boards of Canada). These guys are new to Grinding Tapes and are currently finishing up their contribution to a split cassette single with Sylphid. This will be our first ever electronic release. Needless to say, we are very excited!
We are very excited to announce that Vinegar Socks’ self-titled debut album is now available in CD and mp3 format our store. Vinegar Socks are establishing themselves as one of the most important indie projects in Italy with their sophisticated and lyrical music that draws from a number of musical forms, including Irish folk, gypsy, and punk. This album is a fully-embellished work of stunning beauty. Check it out!
Unfortunately, I didn’t know about this earlier, or believe me I would have made haste to share the information with all of you. But me and my girlfriend, in search of a movie, stumbled across this treasure of a concert going experience the other night. If you live in one of the cities yet to be hit on this tour, I implore you to go and see it. Andrew provided a positive environment as always, and his passion for music was showcased in a way I had never seen before.
The Calder Quartet are an extremely talented group of young gentlemen who have embarked on what Andrew repeatedly referred to as an “experiment of sorts.” In this experiment they certainly allowed us, the audience, to take part in a number of ways. There were performances from composers Phillip Glass and John Cage on the bill, not to mention solo improvisations on piano from Andrew (a sight to behold), and inclusive retelling of a few “I Get Wet” classics. His solos were riveting acts of a rock-and-roll mind bent out of control and intent on delivering a piano-style vengeance on the ‘classical’ style. The Calder quartets performances were impossibly vivid displays of what us rock and roll fans miss when we look over the classical section of our record stores. Andrew’s more rock based music and presence provided the glue of hilarity and joy and unity that fans have come to expect, and onlookers were made to love.
If you have never experienced Andrew W.K. in concert (or even recorded) I suggest you spare no expense to do so at your next possible chance. But if you have seen Andrew, I suggest you do whatever is in your power to attend this unique concert-going experience. The dates are few, but hopefully he will extend or return to performing in this fashion again soon.
Here is Andrew’s album of Piano Improvisation, “Cadillac ‘55″, in it’s entirety:
Hi everyone! We are very excited about the Grinding Tapes showcase that is happening at The Middle East tonight! Here are the bands on the bill, all of which were hand-selected by Grinding Tapes:
Here is a really cool video I stumbled across today. It’s by a rapper named Brother Ali, a pretty solid honest boom-bap type of rapper. If that’s your thing, or even if it isn’t, be sure to check out this cool little promo for his new album. It includes some live vocals and production and some heart felt raptitude.
His new album, Us, comes out September 22nd on Rhymesayers.
