Category: Just The Bits

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Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)

boston does boston
Various Artists
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2
2013

Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 is out. It’s 26 tracks of Boston bands covering each other to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Read all about it right here. This is my first time through the collection. I’ve been waiting to listen until I had time to go end-to-end all at once. I’m jotting down some notes. Let’s see what happens…

  • “Get Away” (Township covering Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents) – Hell, yes! I love the original. This version is just Township doing their thing. We’re off to a good start.
  • “Bright” (Will Dailey covering Reverse) – Yes and yes. The original sings with supersaturated glory. This version kicks back. Perfect.
  • “True Star” (Reverse covering I, Pistol) – Reverse gets a cool groove going on this I, Pistol tune. Sweet harmonies and guitar lines. Three songs in and this collection is blowing my mind a bit.
  • “Amylee” (I, Pistol covering The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library) – When in doubt, rock it out. Especially when it sounds this natural.
  • “A Madness To His Method” (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library covering Gene Dante & the Future Starlets) – The “watch me falling down” parts on this version sound really good.
  • “Trainwreck” (Gene Dante & The Future Starlets covering Miss Fairchild) – Everything Gene Dante touches is delightfully seedy. This cover is no exception.
  • “Costumes” (Miss Fairchild covering Mr. Vertigo) – Tremolicious.
  • “Sleeping Alone” (Mr. Vertigo covering The Field Effect) – A modern-rock-radio-ready take on a stripped back Field Effect tune.
  • “The Sun Shines” (The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver) – Come on. The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver? Do you know me? Thank you Boston Does Boston.
  • “Straitjacket” (Sidewalk Driver covering The Luxury) – Sidewalk Driver make magic. When the boy/girl vocals meet up with the bop-baddas, good things happen.
  • “Infinity Minor” (The Luxury covering Ted Billings) – Meticulously layered and melodic.
  • “Celebrate” (Ted Billings covering Garvy J.) – A spunked up and stripped down take on the Garvy J. anthem.
  • “Pavement Prophet” (Garvy J. covering Sarah Rabdau and Self-Employed Assassins) – Subtly glorious. Shrouded in mystery and synthesizers.
  • “Rian” (Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents covering Township) – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents return the favor, turning a Township tune into one of their own. Geez. These cats are good.
  • “No God in Massachusetts” (Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins covering Dead Cats Dead Rats) – Whoa. That was unexpected. Sarah turned herself inside out without losing sight of who she is. Impressive.
  • “On Fire” (Dead Cats Dead Rats covering The Lights Out) – Blistering take on an already rippin’ tune.
  • “Atom Bomb” (The Lights Out covering Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys) – There’s still some grit under the nails, but steamcrunk cleans up nicely. Nice pairing.
  • “The Ladder” (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys covering Black Thai) – Still heavy. Possessed vocal. Possessed viola.
  • “Less Talk, More Rokk” (Black Thai covering Freezepop) – Yes, yes, yes and more yes! Black Thai slay the synth-pop giant.
  • “Sweater Weather” (Freezepop covering Parks) – Look, a perfect pop song is a perfect pop song, OK? Proof.
  • “Badfinger Bridge” (Parks covering Corin Ashley) – A natural pairing with a lovely bouquet.
  • “Marigold” (Corin Ashley covering The Curtain Society) – I’m not familiar with the original, but this version is lovely.
  • “Birds Fly Information” (The Curtain Society covering Here We Just Dream) – Poppy. Trippy. Melodic. Great guitar solo.
  • “The Most Beautiful Thing” (Here We Just Dream covering Sarah Blacker) – There are a lot of nice, subtle touches in this one.
  • “Whiskey” (Three Day Threshold covering Nemes) – Three Day Threshold singing about whiskey? Shocking.
  • “Kindness” (Nemes covering Will Dailey) – Impressive shared vocals and a wonderful sentiment. Nice way to end the comp.

Yeah, so this is great. All you have to do now is download this thing and enjoy it yourself. Oh, and maybe check out one of the live events happening this weekend.

Where to get it:

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Jonathan Pape – “When The Lights Went Out” (2013)

jonathan pape - when the lights went out

Jonathan Pape
“When The Lights Went Out”
2013

Jonathan Pape has released a couple of compelling singles in recent months. The first of these is the brooding “When The Lights Went Out.” The song grabs you immediately with the repetitive guitar pattern and haunting harmonies. Tension builds before a brief breakout at the 1:45 mark. It’s a short-lived respite. The terse patterns soon return. Mr. Pape has worked too hard setting the mood to let us off that easy. His words echo in the dark.

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Space Cranes – Christmas Robots (2011)

space cranes - christmas robots
Space Cranes
Christmas Robots
2011

Space Cranes (aka Chris n Kate) put out this collection of holiday tunes a couple of years ago. It features oddball arrangements of the classics. There’s the new wave surf of “Winter Wonderland” and “Good King Wencenslas.” Their version of “Silent Night” is a spacey country waltz with horns. Like synths? Check out “Deck The Halls.” Would “Jingle Bells” arranged for a pair of ukuleles, slide guitar, shaker, sleigh bells (naturally), bass and a couple of horns make your season brighter? Chris and Kate have you covered. “Hark the Drunken Angels Scream” is pretty much what you would expect (and then some). I love the wacky world of Christmas Robots.

Where to get it:

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Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling – By Hook Or By Crook (2013)

DNFMOMD - By Hook Or By Crook
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
By Hook Or By Crook
2013

Boston’s favorite “The Prisoner”-inspired musical act is getting feisty. Not content to wail and fuzz with bass and drums, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling wail and fuzz with bass, drums, keys, oboe and viola on By Hook Or By Crook. “Episode 10 – Living in Harmony” may be my new favorite DNFMOMD song. The vocals are simultaneously desperate and matter-of-fact. The augmented instrumentation adds to the emotional pull. Oh, the video ain’t too shabby, either. “Episode 15 – The Girl Who Was Death” will be instantly recognizable to those who have seen one of the band’s recent performances. The refrain of “You have just been poisoned” is effective in its directness and repetition. This is music design to make in impact. It does.

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Butterknife – Attractions (2013)

butterknife - attractions
Butterknife
Attractions
2013

Butterknife’s slick Do The Needful was one of my favorite releases of 2012. The crisp production and hooks-for-days tunes “Restless” and “Coattails” were the sugar that made the emotionally charged subject matter go down easy. The band’s 2013 follow-up, Attractions, mines similar lyrical coal with less of the candy coating to keep your tummy from getting flip-floppy. This is grown up stuff. There are still hooks, but this time they cut a little deeper. It still sounds great, but this time the band isn’t afraid to let things stay a little ugly.

The opening riff to “Goodnight Goodbye” messes with your balance before delivering a knock-out chorus punch. “Muscle Memory” conjures the best escalator imagery since the movie Mallrats. “Afraid Of Me” has a guitar-and-vocals-in-unison run that is the perfect lead-in to another well crafted chorus. All six songs are solid. Attractions is really good. Butterknife wins.

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Mellow Bravo – “House Party” (2013)

mellow bravo - houseparty
Mellow Bravo
“House Party”
2013

Mellow Bravo covering “Ain’t Nothin’ But a House Party”? This is some chocolate and peanut butter stuff right here. If you’ve ever seen Mellow Bravo and you’re familiar with the song then you already know what this is gonna sound like. All that’s left is to go download it. Need more incentive? All proceeds go to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan via the American Red Cross. Pony up some dough for a good cause and boogaloo!

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Mellow Bravo – RiPPER (2013)

mellow bravo ripper
Mellow Bravo
RiPPER
2013

Oh, what’s this? Mellow Bravo have a new EP?* That’s nice. I’ll just download it and OH MY WHAT THE HOLY GEEZUMS HELL YES! THIS F’N RULES! Look, I love Mellow Bravo. Strut is a great party record with moments that hint at something more. Their self-titled album dug deep to show the world their guts. This one here, RiPPER, cuts through you like a chainsaw through brie. “Feel Like Dancin'” and “Party” are both destined to be perennial set openers. “So Pretty” is right there with the riffs, too. Mellow Bravo close out the EP with the devastating “Low Ain’t The Bottom.” They back off the gas a bit to deliver the knockout blow. RiPPER just became my favorite Mellow Bravo release. JUST GET THIS, OK?

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* Yes, I know it’s not brand-spankin’ new anymore. I’ve been too busy listening to this thing to write about it, OK? Back off.

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The Deep North – “Voices” (2013)

the deep north voices
The Deep North
“Voices”
2013

The Deep North must be a pretty self aware bunch. They have to know about their knack for polishing up anthemic indie rock tunes. It’s something they’ve done in the past and have refined to near purity with “Voices”. The soaring vocals, relatable lyrics and wall of guitars that hit when the chorus comes around are designed to lodge the song in your head for at least the rest of the day. It’s a proven technique, and one The Deep North execute effectively. Like I said, they know what they’re doing…

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Ryan Schmidt – “Another Friend” (2013)

ryan schmidt another friend
Ryan Schmidt
“Another Friend”
2013

I first became aware of Ryan Schmidt through one of my all time favorite One Night Bands, Golden Owl.* Then I got turned onto his White Horse EP, with a title track whose presence cannot be denied. Ryan just released a new single, trading in lush string arrangements for synthesizers and a modern R&B groove. “Another Friend” is a big departure for the ambitious musician, showing a breadth of ability the defies the overused-and-now-nearly-meaningless singer-songwriter label that has been hung on him in the past. Ryan’s working it on this one. His vocal delivery is outstanding. The melody deftly bobs and weaves its way between the beats. Ryan has a passion for this. The song has a hook. The production is outstanding. Impressive.

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* I even got to shoot their promo pic!

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The Lights Out – “Vinny & Roxy” (2013)

lights out vinny roxy
The Lights Out
“Vinny & Roxy”
2013

Hey. The Lights Out have a new single with a nice story. What does it sound like? Phil Lynott singing a song about a couple of kids from Bruce Springsteen’s America. Yup. “Vinny & Roxy” has a summer song feel, so enjoy it while the days are still long. Good luck you crazy kids.

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