SXSW 2007 Lineup Sneak Peek

By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2006%

As we prepare for the SXSW music droolfest that will take place once the official schedule for the annual Web/Film/Music festival and tradeshow — (clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas — the Filter Magazine Blog has a sneak peek at 2007 band lineups. After all, last yearâ€™s roster was released Dec. 15, people! This is agony!

Hereâ€™s what Donewaiting can gather:

–Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s
–Mates of State
–Malajube
–Headlights
–Thunderbirds are Now
–Snowden
–Voxtrot
–Six Parts Seven
–Canada
–The High Strung
–Page France
–Say Hi To Your Mom
–Saturday Looks Good To Me
–I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness
–Discover America
–Rahim
–Gazelles
–The Dark Romantics
–Shapes & Sizes
–Architecture in Helsinki
–Youth Group
–The . . . → Read More: SXSW 2007 Lineup Sneak Peek

Drama For Yamaha EP

By Greg Swan, on December 22nd, 2006%

Drama for Yamaha
Drama For Yamaha EP
Label: BrotherSister (Australia)

Consisting of two Aussies and two Malaysians, Melbourne’s Drama for Yamaha have themselves a fantastic post-punk 6-track debut EP here.

With the fresh sound of tribal drums, complex tempo changes and well placed synth, keys and guitar, the quartet is like an impish, made-for-radio Broken Social Scene.

This track is HIGHLY recommended:
Drama for Yamaha – “No More Ease” (mp3)

And if you dig that, download the entire EP . . . → Read More: Drama For Yamaha EP

Minneapoliscast "Song of the Day" Call for Entries

By Greg Swan, on December 21st, 2006%

Inspired by Dial-a-Song, Tony over at Minneapoliscast is putting together a fun project for February.

I’m looking for 28 artists to submit one new song each to be posted on Minneapoliscast during the month of February. One new song each day. In the spirit of They Might Be Giants, the songs can be anything. A 30-second recording into a handheld tape recorder is fine. Whatever you can muster and get to me by February 1, I’ll use. This is NOT limited to folks who have already been on the podcast, so spread the word. Send them to me on cassette, CD or . . . → Read More: Minneapoliscast "Song of the Day" Call for Entries

Memphis : A Little Place in the Wilderness

By Greg Swan, on December 19th, 2006%

Memphis
A Little Place in the Wilderness
Label: Good Fences

Montreal’s Memphis is essentially Torquil Campbell, lead singer for Stars and North Carolina’s Chris Dumont. On their sophomore album, A Little Place in the Wilderness, the duo teamed up with Metric’s James Shaw and Josh Trager of the Sam Roberts Band for a 10-track lo-fi Ã¼ber party.

It’s winter in Minnesota, and this album makes the perfect soundtrack for scaling windswept snowdrifts with the car heater cranked to keep out the 10 degree cold. Mmm..brr. Look for it in stores in early 2007.

RIYL: Kings of Convenience, Belle and Sebastian, . . . → Read More: Memphis : A Little Place in the Wilderness

Sonic Youth Contest

By Greg Swan, on December 19th, 2006%

Prompted by our review of Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities, we’d like to run a little contest for you, our faithful readers.

What You Could Win:
-Copy of Sonic Youth’s Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
-Sonic Youth t-shirt

How to Win:
Simply be the 10th person to e-mail us your name and address with “Sonic Youth Contest” in the subject and you too can have “Fire Engine Dreams.” GO! CONGRATS TO KEVIN FROM . . . → Read More: Sonic Youth Contest

Sonic Youth : Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities

By Greg Swan, on December 19th, 2006%

Sonic Youth
Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities
Label: Geffen Records

Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities is a treasure trove for Sonic Youth fans unable or unwilling to troll eBay and Craigslist searching for out-of-print singles, Japanese imports and potentially non-existent live recordings.

First off, let’s just say that this album is incredible, even if you donâ€™t like Sonic Youth (gasp!)

After kicking off with the 10+ minute instrumental “Fire Engine Dream,” the disc segues into “Fauxhemians,” a funky instrumental bass groove worthy of a Drums & Tuba encore.

Some tracks (e.g., “Campfire” and “Loop Cat”) trend towards Phish’s ambient noise album The Siket Disc, while other . . . → Read More: Sonic Youth : Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities

Johnny Action Figure : Asks the Room to Please Stop Spinning

By Greg Swan, on December 18th, 2006%

Johnny Action Figure
Asks the Room to Please Stop Spinning
Label: DRP Records

High school indie emo rock friends from Reading, Pennsylvania who made a big splash young, Johnny Action Figure are looking to continue building buzz nationwide with some help from MTV, CN8 and rotation on East Coast radio.

Their latest, a 7-track EP titled Asks the Room to Please Stop, has too much harmony to captivate the Warped crowd and too much quality progressive songwriting and guitar hooks to really make it on TRL.

But we wish them luck. It’s hard for young pop rock groups with talent to make it big without selling . . . → Read More: Johnny Action Figure : Asks the Room to Please Stop Spinning

Aviette : Until We Hear From Dave

By Greg Swan, on December 18th, 2006%

Aviette
Until We Hear From Dave
Label: Draw Fire Records

With Until We Hear From Dave, Minneapolis-based Aviette unfurls its postmodern indie rock blitzkrieg upon the few intellectuals left amongst the musical desolation known as the Midwest.

Consecrated in the same musical tableaux as the Kills and Andy Warhol’s The Velvet Underground & Nico, it’s downright impossible to tell Aviette’s principal songwriter hadn’t touched a guitar or microphone until senior year of college.

Recorded in Chicago with Johnathan Raymond and producer Devon Bryant (Sybris, Brighton MA, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, The Saps), Until We Hear From Dave features groovy grooves and nonchalant, agnostic vocals surprisingly too infectious to be contagious.

Aviette on Minneapoliscast (mp3)

We sat down with the trio — Holly MuÃ±oz (vocals/guitar), Justin Hartke (bass) and Kyle Larson (drums) — to talk about the group, Dave and blogging. Read on…
Continue reading Aviette : Until We Hear From Dave

Paul Christian : Never Been Lonely

By Greg Swan, on December 14th, 2006%

Paul Christian
Never Been Lonely
Label: Texas Drift Records

Minnesota’s own Paul Christian has a new album out, Never Been Lonely.

Inspired by the likes of Chris Isaak (thanked in the liner notes for his advice and inspiration), Orbison, Yoakam and Lovette, Christian has a superb talent for folk songwriting – evidenced in the musical showcase of his 11-track album.

In addition to gently persistent acoustic guitar work, Christian & Co. have added toharmonica, keys and slide guitar to the musical medley – although musical rests are equally as important. However, bold lyrical understatement is the theme here. Despite calling his Minnesotan home a flyover state, . . . → Read More: Paul Christian : Never Been Lonely

Story of the Sea : Enjoying Fire

By Greg Swan, on December 13th, 2006%

Story of the Sea
Enjoying Fire
Label: Speaker Phone Records

Walking the streets of downtown Minneapolis, the three members of alt-rock band Story of the Sea look like any other random dudes. But in a club on a Friday night, SOTS become a three-headed post-punk animal.

With power chords, catchy but not crappy hooks and earsplitting drums, on tape SOTS shows remarkable restraint. If anything, the quality songwriting and recording mix overshadow the vocal mix on their full-length debut. That’s why you must catch them live.

Your typical high-school parking lot-rocker “Well Adjusted” is our favorite track, but here are two others to whet your appetite.

Story . . . → Read More: Story of the Sea : Enjoying Fire