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New: The High Wire "Leave me in Love"

The High Wire describe their sound as "ecstasy pop". The genre apparently just means wispy electronic music. The band is releasing their debut album The Sleep Tape March 8th. The album's first single is "Leave Me in Love". Check out the track.
MP3: The High Wire "Leave me in Love"

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New: The Infesticons "Kick Anthem"

Mike Ladd is preparing to release the third and final part of his epic Infesticons trilogy. The first single from the album is "Kick Anthem". The track is a killer combination of uptempo production, rock like energy, and hip hop vocals. Check the track out.
MP3: The Infesticons "Kick Anthem"

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New: The Radio Dept. "Heaven's on Fire"

The Radio Dept. are preparing to release the "Heaven's on Fire" on March 24. But we have it for you early on StGA. The track sounds like a male fronted Camera Obscura. Check it out
MP3: The Radio Dept. "Heaven's on Fire"

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New: King Baldwin "Numbers"

King Baldwin are getting to release their debut self-titled EP. The first single from the EP is "Numbers". The track sounds like Antony and the Johnsons meets Interpol. Check it out.
MP3: King Baldwin "Numbers"

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Phantogram: Eyelid Movies

Phantogram: Eyelid Movies
Eyelid Movies is the debut album by Saratoga Springs, NY duo, Phantogram. Unlike that other Saratoga Springs duo Ratatat, Phantogram makes music that's more subdued than meant for parties. Their music deftly combines elements of psychedelic rock, trip hop, and pop.
The group's debut single "When I'm Small" immediately caught my ear. With the vocals of Sarah Barthel being both soft and sexy, the track sounded like Portishead being remixed by J Dilla.
However the single is not necessarily representative of the entire album. "Turn It Off" is much more rock-based. It sounds somewhere between the Dandy Warhols and MGMT. "You Are The Ocean" is a soul song with a trip hop backbone. "Futuristic Casket" is a shoegaze song with male/female vocals and a hip hop beat under it.
It seems that when Phantogram goes the more traditional downtempo/hip hop production route, the songs are a bit more enjoyable. The group gets a little caught up being a band and adding band instruments like U2-esque echoed guitars and it over powers the production. I can't fault a band for trying to spice up their music but it seems to me there is a beauty in their more simplistic songs.
Rating: 5.8/10
MP3: Phantogram "When I'm Small"
Buy: iTunes, get the vinyl at Insound

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Interview: Fred Schneider of the B-52's

As a blogger, we're not often given opportunities to interview legends. So when the offer to interview Fred Schneider came up, I had to jump at it. As the creative force behind the B-52s, Fred Schneider helped write such immortal songs as "Rock Lobster" and "Love Shack", both of which were included in Rolling Stones' 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time. Schneider is currently involved with The Superions whose debut EP will be released later this month. Over the course of our interview, Schneider and I covered such varied topics as his childhood, Athens, GA, and the future of the B-52's.

Growing up, what were some of your musical influences?
I never really sang around the campfire. Growing up I liked Halloween songs and nutty Christmas songs. When I started collecting records, I was into Motown. I was the only kid at the dance that didn't care to slow dance but was happy for "Dancing in the Street" or something equally wild. Everybody else wanted to neck, I wanted to do the jerk.
So pretty eclectic taste then?
Well back then you had your top 40 which was eclectic. You had your Supremes, your Beatles, the Four Seasons. That was the times.
Did you always want to be a musician or did you have other aspirations?
No, I never was a "when I grow up I want to be..." kind of kid.
So if music didn't work out, what do you think you'd be doing now?
Probably waiting tables. I've got no skills so I really lucked out.
Your vocal style is pretty distinct. How did you develop it?
Well, I'm more of a writer. I've always felt my strong point is writing. That's how it started. Keith and I used to make basement tapes; he would play guitar and I would just recite stuff off the top of my head. I can sing but I don't know maybe I just freeze up and forget melody.
Lyrically, your songs are pretty unorthodox. Where does that inspiration come from?
I've always been into crazy stuff even as a kid. Even with the B-52's, a lot of the later stuff that we did comes from those early basement tapes. I've always been into surrealism. I always thought that once I had to do a final project in college I was going to drop out. But a friend of mine did a book of poetry and I thought "...I'll just write a book of poetry". I just sat down and wrote everything that was in my head and I got an A. The teacher wrote "I didn't really understand any of this but I can see that you're serious". It was ridiculous. I had to read it in front of the class and everyone just sat there like "what the hell?". Except my friend who was in the class who just kept laughing at everything.
Then after that I was a janitor for three days. Then I went to work as a chauffeur who drives elderly people to doctor's appointments and delivering meals. I never really thought I'd go into music. We did this one show in 1975 where we played the same four songs for three hours. We had like fifteen people on stage including three violins; I don't know where we got some many violins. I don't think we had a drummer but Keith played guitar.
Speaking of the early days in Athens, when you started off Athens wasn't really...
BORING! Athens was really boring.
How do you compare Athens back then to today? And how has it developed?
Well there was really no place for us to play back then so when we signed with Warners and we moved to the North. While we were gone it became a little hot bed for great music. So we started it all and then left. But you know I think its more difficult now to start a band and do anything because there are so many bands there. We started just all hanging out and we thought "what should we do now? Let's go to a friend's house and jam on something" which turned out to be "Killer Bees" which we played out a couple times but faded from the repertoire.
That's how the B-52's came together. Your new band is the Superions, how did you guys come together?
Well, I've known Noah and Dan for a while now. When I'm in Orlando, we hang out because they're just as nutty as I am. One night when I was there, they said "we have this track would you put some words to it?" and I said "sure". I had a couple glasses of wine and came up with "Totally Nude Island". We thought "this is funny. This is great." We all loved it. Then we asked Ursula 1000 do a remix; I'm a big fan of his music. And he did and it really took off. "Who Threw That Ham At Me?", I was original too embarrassed to release. I thought "this is stupid" but it got everyone laughing so I thought "yeah okay, let's do it". There was some really nutty stuff that came out.
We were originally going to be called "The Delmorons" but a friend said "they're gonna think you're a comedy group, you should change your name". So we came up with the Superions. It's all very spontaneous; they have the music and I either write down lyrics first or put some lyrics to the music. Now we have a little music career going. We signed to Happy Happy Birthday to Me. Mike, who runs the label, is a great guy; I like a lot of the bands on his label. Originally, we were gonna put out a 12" then it snowballed into an EP. Then we signed to Revolver Records for the rest of the world. It just all sort of happened. Dan and Noah still have their full time jobs and I'm still with the B-52's but now I'm putting a ton of effort into the Superions. We're really shooting for a full length CD, a Christmas LP, and either a Halloween EP or CD by the end of the year.
Wow, so you've got a lot going on there.
The Halloween thing is gonna have TV shows on it. Really nutty stuff.
You've done collaborations with everyone from Sleater-Kinney to RuPaul. Is there anyone you haven't collaborated with that you'd love to?
Peaches.
You think it will happen?
Well Peaches I know. She seems interested about it but with being busy with the Superions and the B-52's still tour a lot. I've got my hands full. I'm so busy right now. Plus I'm really enjoying the writing process now; it's really fun. I know I've got something good if when I just burst out laughing and keep laughing. We're our own best audience.
We've mentioned the B-52s a couple of times. What's your future plans with them?
We recorded a show in Australia for a live album. Other than that, we had a remix album; I don't know what the hell happened with that. We got really shafted by the record company we had in Europe because they just fell apart right after our record came out. It's our first new record in 16 years and EMI tanks. I don't see how we do a new record the way we do them. We have to all fly to the same place and then write. We pay for the studio ourselves and then you can always download it for free...what's the point? Our last record broken even and that's it. It's our first new record and we think it's one of our best.
So you're skeptical if there will ever be a new full length from you guys?
I really can't say. It would be great but what's the point of putting out a new record if no one buys it? All these people think music should be free; maybe they should go to work for free.
Have you given any thought to the new music model Radiohead pioneered with "pay what you want" downloads?
I'm not sure. I think most people probably would say "I think I'll just pay a penny". I don't know how that worked for them.
No, I'd rather work with the Superions because we do everything digital. We use Protools and its easy. With the B-52's, we do need a studio, we need an engineer, we all need to fly down, we need to rent cars, we need to pay for hotels. We still use Protools but we still need to be there to write. We don't really write on the road.
You know, I shouldn't say "we're not gonna do another full length". You never know. We might do some covers or things like that but right now we're gonna concentrate on the live album coming out and make sure that's really good.

MP3: The Superions "Totally Nude Island (The Lolligags Remix)"

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New: Kil Ripkin "Aftermath pt.1"

Kil Ripkin is preparing to release The Balancing Act. The latest leak off the album is "Aftermath pt. 1". Even though it's just over a minute and a half, the track packs quite a punch. Check it out.
MP3: Kil Ripkin "Aftermath pt.1"

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You Say Party! We Say Die!: XXXX

You Say Party! We Say Die!: XXXX
Canadian dance-punk band, You Say Party! We Say Die! release their third full length album, XXXX finally in the US after its been available for several months in Canada. The album's release coincides with a major US tour.
Being a dance band with female vocals, You Say Party! We Say Die! is sure to get comparisons to CSS. The comparisons are not completely off base: a girl with kind of an accent sings/shouts over rock-based dance music. But YSP!WSD! has a feeling of melancholy about them, where CSS seems to only care about partying.
The album's first single "Laura Palmer's Prom" is a slower song with contemplative synthesizers, similar to the type of songs you might dance to at a prom. The track is definitely melancholy with the chorus lyrics being "my heart needs a love dance" and sung in that emotive way that Karen O sang in "Maps".
The album's major flaw is finishing strong. The album seems all downhill after "Laura Palmer's Prom" which is the seventh track on the album. XXXX goes out with a whimper with the most timid and least dancy songs on the album.
Overall, the album puts forth some great tracks but its hard to get over the weak ending. For the first half of the album, it appears that it will be great and then it ends mired in mediocrity.
Rating: 6.3/10
MP3: You Say Party! We Say Die! "Glory"
Buy: iTunes

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New: Tenlons Fort "You Won't Be Happy With Me"

Tenlons Fort are preparing to release Shelters on March 3rd. 50% of record sales of Shelters serve as the initial donations to Tenlons Fort Shelters Fund. The first single off the album is "You Won't Be Happy With Me". The track is a poppy alt-country song similar to Ill Lit. Check it out.
MP3: Tenlons Fort "You Won't Be Happy With Me"

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