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17 Aug 2009 23:13

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Music: ShortFormBand: SUNBEARS! makes us feel cheery and excited

Sunbears
  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, SUNBEARS! completely ignores our rules on brevity, but because we like their pop-laden music so much, we learn not to be such sticklers. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound: Interesting music with a bit of pop-sensibility.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Scriptures/texts (any religious/philosophical scripture/text will do): To get inside the heads of thinkers/spiritualists long past no matter how bonkers or completely boring they may be.
    The outdoors: Because there’s always something more to look at.
    Real smiles: Because it’s always inspiring to witness someone being truly happy.

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Animal Collective – “My Girls”: I love the beginning with the triplet synth part, how swimmy it all is, until the beat drops on brings it all together.

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: Just using things like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter to communicate with people in an everyday sort of way. “What’s up? What’s happening!? These are my thoughts…”

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you? To keep pushing forward. Writing more tunes, Playing more shows.  source

10 Aug 2009 23:32

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Music: ShortFormBand: For an anonymous collective, Golau Glau rules

A pretty picture in place of Golau Glau
  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, Golau Glau finds that perfect middle ground between 8-bit synths and anonymous female harmonies. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound: Golau Glau make electronic silverpop.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Nintendo NES: Summer of ’92
    Aquariums: sharks and bubbles
    Late-night rain: noise, texture, smell

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Joy Orbison – “Hyph Mngo”: Freshest, hottest, most irresistible tune ’09. With chips (UK meaning).

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: Sending tunes to people we respect on Soundcloud, making things look smart on all sites, keeping our own blog and ignoring the bullshit.

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you? Some tasty slabs of vinyl, we hope, in time for your Christmas list.  source

03 Aug 2009 23:08

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Music: ShortFormBand: Wheat loves coffee almost as much as music

Wheat plus Wheat's feet
  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, indie-pop stalwarts Wheat (fresh off a solid 7.4 on Pitchfork) discuss their love of music, coffee … and coffee. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound: Syrup with cream. Maybe some caffeine, maybe some alcohol. Many mistakes kept.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Family: I try harder
    Music: I feel lighter
    Coffee: I keep going

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Bon Iver: “Woods” Amazing smash of lullaby and bad hip-hop vocoder awesomeness!

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: We use Myspace, Facebook, the regular wheat website, and e-mail. (Is that social networking?) And we still use postcards. I know that might seem old school, but we love the tangible object.

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you? Bring our new songs and love to the people. Another song, another record, another coffee. source

06 Jul 2009 23:35

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Music: ShortFormBand: Paper Plane Pilot soothes us with his synth-pop

Paper Plane Pilot, a.k.a. Dustin Frelich
  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, Paper Plane Pilot (Dustin Frelich) cheerily gets out his synth and makes us smile with breakbeats and sine waves. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your sound: Electronic indie pop. Happy melancholy laced with introspective songwriting and catchy melodies.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    80s Music: Rad! Awesome! Cool!
    The Internet: Wisdom on demand
    Simplicity: Overcomplexity is tiring

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Plastic Operator – Home 0207: Pulsing. Driving. Soothing. A muted answer to epic electronic hits.

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: Social networks allow me to participate in conversations with other music lovers. The “rock star” paradigm is dying. We’re all just people.

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you? I’m working on songs for a new album. Keep an ear out! source

14 Feb 2009 20:12

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Music: Our latest musical crush: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

  • About the band This NYC band pulls off this neat little trick – initially, they start off heavy and crushing, with noise and feedback bouncing everywhere like the Jesus & Mary Chain, but it slowly becomes obvious that they’re the really the next generation of C86 jangle-pop – which never was all that popular except for people big into Sarah Records acts like Heavenly. Which, strangely enough, we are!
  • Where to start The band’s self-titled debut, on the fitting Slumberland Records, is the real twee-pop deal. Worth listening to in particular are the loud-to-lilting “Come Saturday,” and “Stay Alive,” with the most jangly guitars you’ve heard since Toad The Wet Sprocket was still popular. In six months, Belle and Sebastian fans are going to claim that they have a new favorite band. Just you wait. source

04 Feb 2009 10:50

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Music: Death Cab for Cutie has an iPhone app

This app will either follow you into the dark or possess your heart. We’re not sure which. source