Category: Just The Bits

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Christians & Lions – More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake (2006)


Christians & Lions
More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake
2006

In 2006, Christians & Lions returned with More Songs for Dreamsleepers and The Very Awake. Sound familiar? It should. It’s the same title as their previous effort, with many of the same songs. The original version was created by the band’s original duo in preparation for a tour. This updated version gets the full band treatment.

The songs are as good as ever. The intimate recordings of the past have given way to fully polished indie folk pop gems. Songs as good as “Bones,” “Longboy,” “Tender Sparks (October & Over)” and “Stay Warm” would sound good sung into one of those micro cassette dictation recorders. The fact that they happen to beautifully recorded by Jack Younger certainly isn’t going to hurt.

While comparisons to The Shins and Iron & Wine are still somewhat relevant, the band branches out this time around. These recordings play up the influence of The Kinks and The Beatles on the band. You can even hear some Jack White in the distorted guitar sounds. It’s hard to pin Christians & Lions down, other than to say they know what they’re doing and they do it well.

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Rule – “Bloodletter” (2011)


Rule
“Bloodletter”
2011

Remember when I asked you to remember when you liked metal? This is why…

“Bloodletter” is Rule’s first single and it’s awesome. The future classic metal riffs come flying right from the start. John Brookhouse’s throaty guitar riffs are propelled by the bombastic duo of Greg Beadle on drums and Jim Zavadoski on bass. This metal has a groove. Even when they thrash through the song’s outro they never lose the heaviness. The guitar solos have just the right ratio of flash to trash.* Above it all, Mike Soltoff’s vocals soar to metal glory. The dude can wail. Rule can wail.

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* This is metal and John Brookhouse is on guitar. You knew there would be guitar solos, right?

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The Wrong Shapes – “Places I Used To Hunt” (2011)


The Wrong Shapes
“Places I Used to Hunt”
2011

There’s something about The Wrong Shapes I find intriguing. This group makes music that spins my head. The guitar and cello are intertwined in a double helix. This is musical DNA. I feel like Bo Barringer and Rachel Arnold are toying with me. The sounds are looped and processed until they become some kind of twisted, cryptic puzzle. The vocals only give me clues, never the whole meaning. I’ve heard Bo and Rachel perform “Places I Used To Hunt” as a duo. The recorded version is augmented by Reuben Bettsak’s intricate drum patterns. Another twist in the plot.

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The Organ Beats & Friends – “This Christmas” (2010)


The Organ Beats & Friends
“This Christmas”
2010

Last year, The Organ Beats got together with some of their friends and recorded “This Christmas”. The song has the familiar longing of of “Blue Christmas” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” set over a power pop beat and big guitars. Noelle LeBlanc and Ronnie Ragona trade off verses before joining in their plea to Santa for a holiday reunion. The xylophone is the kicker here. Nice touch.

Need more incentive? All of the proceeds go to the MSPCA. C’mon. Do good this holiday season.

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Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola – “Shift Your Shopping!” (2011)


Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola
“Shift Your Shopping!”
2011

Here’s a little something to think about on the busiest shopping day of the year. Michael J. Epstein and Sophia Cacciola have put together a folk ditty in support of the Shift Your Shopping campaign. It’s called “Shift Your Shopping!” Go figure.

The song itself reminds me of the classic Space Balloons healthy snack anthem “Grapes”. This time the positive message is about spending your holiday shopping dollars close to home. “Mom-ing and pop-ing” as they like to call it.* Also, there are sleigh bells, which officially qualifies this as a holiday song. “Shift Your Shopping!” even comes packaged in a variety of different sizes!

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* Or is that “momming and popping”. I need an official ruling on the spelling of this.

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J-Krafty – “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” (2011)


J-Krafty
“Bigfoot Likes the Ladies”
2011

I’m not gonna lie. J-Krafty’s new single, “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies”, is a novelty song. It’s an awesome novelty song. J-Krafty casts Bigfoot as a hairy gangsta and a ladies man*. Seems totally reasonable to me.

First time he sees you he’ll try and get your digits
then he’ll be textin’ you like every 15 minutes
and he’ll be brushin’ on his teeth and using mouthwash
bigfoot on the prowl for a fine lady sasquatch

Also worth noting is that Bigfoot carries a gun but is more likely to hug you than shoot you (either one could be dangerous). Also also worth noting is the use of the term “cryptozoologists”.

Joe Krafty is also “Navigator Joe” in Space Balloons, who performed a version of “Bigfoot Likes The Ladies” at their recent Rosebud show. This production is a far cry from the acoustic guitar and ukelele version on display that night. This thing sounds huge.

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* OK, I’m clearly out of my element here. I can’t believe I typed out the word “gangsta”. Clearly I should have used “playa” there as well. I just couldn’t do it. I feel embarrassed even thinking about it.

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OldJack – Maxi​-​Single (2011)


OldJack
Maxi​-​Single
2011

OldJack are a live favorite of mine. Pack this crew onto a small stage with some hot lights and their presence is downright combustible. It would be impossible to capture all that energy in a recording studio.* I, for one, am glad they were crazy enough to try. The result is a smoldering virtual slab of rock, rhythm and blues.**

This set opens with the swagger of “Hey Miss”. The band finds a groove and Dan Nicklin gets all Mick Jagger on your ass. Set closer “Make Up Your Mind” contrasts this with a sense of yearning and hints of a Dire Straits influence.

In the middle of it all stands “Parade”. This song is a staple of OldJack’s live set and a personal favorite of mine. It’s the one that prompted me to write “there is something special about the moments when Dan Nicklin, Kelly Davis, Christie Beaulieu and Emily Belastock all sing together” after a set at the Lizard. To me, it’s the song that defines OldJack.*** You don’t write a song this good without being onto something special. OldJack is onto something special. Thankfully, they’ve chosen to share that something with us.

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* Which is why I will once again implore you to go see OldJack at a club near you. Hell, travel a great distance if you have to.

**Or is it rock, country and soul?

***My five year old son would make a case for “Love Me Or?” being OldJack’s defining song.

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Streight Angular – “Supermarché” (2011)

Streight Angular - Supermarché
Streight Angular
“Supermarché”
2011

Damn. Streight Angular have put out two of my favorite songs of this year. A few months ago I stumbled upon the amazing “Everyone Is Syncopated”. Now they’ve followed it up with the raucous and raving “Supermarché”. It’s The Pixies meets Queens Of The Stone Age over a hyperactive dance beat. It’s a neon strobe light, inviting you to party and taunting you at the same time. I can’t stop listening to this. Streight Angular really got me now. I want some more.

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The Bynars – “Haunted House” Remix Single (2011)


The Bynars
“Haunted House” Remix Single
2011

Let’s pretend you are The Bynars. It’s mid-October. Halloween is right around the corner. You’ve got a hip power pop number called “Haunted House” on your latest album. It’s got a retro-horror keyboard part, a cheap-shot scare hit after the first chorus and a catchy vocal hook. Seems like a good time to make the song available as a free download to drum up a little publicity.

If you’re The Bynars, though, you probably realize you need to up the ante. After all, you’re the band that made an interactive music video. You don’t do things in a small way. So you get Sawtooth to do a hyper remix of the song with enough whirrs and blips and beats to make dance-inclined folks giddy. And you get Chris Piascik to do some amazing artwork. And you put it up on the web. For free. Only until November 1st. Because you’re The Bynars, and it seems like a cool thing to do.

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Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents – “Bandit of Love” b​/​w “That Moon Was Low” (2011)


Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
“Bandit of Love” b​/​w “That Moon Was Low”
2011

Holy smokes! Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents are back to steal your heart and soul. The A-side of this digital single is a number called “Bandit Of Love”. It’s pure girl-group goodness with a spy music twist. This thing just jumps out of the speakers. What a band! What a recording! Let Jenny and the gang take you back to a time when music was fun, even for the brokenhearted.

Once you catch your breath, grab your best girl and head back out onto the floor for “That Moon Was Low”. The Graham Parker-penned B-side is a ’50s style slow dance. Lovely.

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