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Review: Cary Brothers : Who You Are
By Greg Swan, on May 30th, 2007%
Cary Brothers
Who You Are
Label: bluhammock / Procrastination Music
Release Date: May 29, 2007
If you know anything about Cary Brothers, odds are it’s from “Blue Eyes” on the Garden State soundtrack. And if you fall into that category, you may even have assumed the track was written by two brothers by the last name of Cary.
It’s time to get up to speed, people.
Singer/songwriter Cary Brothers grew up in Nashville but was schooled in the UK pop sound. After some EP success, his full-length debut, Who You Are, comes out this week. With some EP oldies, anyes, the four year-old . . . → Read More: Review: Cary Brothers : Who You Are
Review/Interview: The Trimmed Hedges : The Seas Elected
By Greg Swan, on May 29th, 2007%
The Trimmed Hedges
The Seas Elected
Label: The Missing Stamp Collective
Release Date: May 29, 2007
Minneapolis experimental-rock quartet The Trimmed Hedges released their debut full length LP this week, The Seas Elected.
Diverse, strange, magical and masterful, The Seas Elected is a chaotic genre-mashup surprise. It’s music for hot-boxing, immature 2 a.m. weeknight parties, and serious strolls around the lake with only your headphones for company.
The Trimmed Hedges : “Tear the Fences Down” (mp3)
The Trimmed Hedges : “It Makes Sense Somehow” (mp3)
We sat down with group leader Dominique Davis to chat about the band, the disc and the strategy . . . → Read More: Review/Interview: The Trimmed Hedges : The Seas Elected
Interview with The Smarts
By Greg Swan, on May 28th, 2007%
The Smarts
A Tribute To
Label: Self-released
It ain’t easy being smart. Just ask Blaine, MN-based The Smarts, who have battled tides of Midwestern naiveté to bring their unique brand of modern, jazzy pop.
We sat down with the group to chat about the band, the new album, designer error and a laundry list of people smarter than them (well, at least 4)…
Perfect Porridge: Who are The Smarts?
The Smarts: The Smarts are 3 men in search of a dream. No, actually 2 men in search of a dream and one man in search of a jobbing gig that pays decent coin. We have . . . → Read More: Interview with The Smarts
Interview with Jim Fairchild of All Smiles (formerly Grandaddy)
By Greg Swan, on May 24th, 2007%
For his debut solo album under the name All Smiles, Jim Fairchild builds on his experience playing with Earlimart, Great Northern and the solo-career launcher, Grandaddy, and brought in a butt-load of guest drummers: Janet Weiss (Sleater Kinney, Quasi), Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Black Heart Procession), Danny Seim (Menomena) and Solon Bixler (Great Northern).
Atmospheric acoustic guitar strumming set to high-strung vocal pop, Ten Readings of a Warning is underwhelming at first but will grow on you as the album trends into harder territory with the piano-led “The Velvetest Balloon” and our favorite track, the burning electric beast . . . → Read More: Interview with Jim Fairchild of All Smiles (formerly Grandaddy)
Video Premiere: The White Stripes, "Icky Thump"
By Greg Swan, on May 24th, 2007%
The White Stripes – “Icky Thump” at Spinner and at YouTube.
This is the official video, although YouTube has some fun . . . → Read More: Video Premiere: The White Stripes, "Icky Thump"
Review: Black Rebel Motorcyle Club (BRMC), The Cobbs, Eastern Conference Champions, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
By Greg Swan, on May 23rd, 2007%
Black Rebel Motorcyle Club (BRMC)
The Cobbs
Eastern Conference Champions
First Avenue, May 22, 2007
Minneapolis, MN
Think of a setlist like a mixtape. Positioning and song choice will make or break a live show similiarly to how a mixtape featuring EXACTLY the right songs in EXACTLY the right order will make that 8th grade teenage girl instantly “get” you and fall madly in love with your acne-riddled self. Let’s just say it’s an excruciating rite that many practice but few have perfect
In the 16 months since they last hit Minneapolis, Black Rebel Motorcyle Club has learned a thing or two . . . → Read More: Review: Black Rebel Motorcyle Club (BRMC), The Cobbs, Eastern Conference Champions, First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Review: Astrid Swan : Poverina
By Greg Swan, on May 20th, 2007%
Astrid Swan
Poverina
Label: Minty Fresh
Release Date: May 22, 2007
Finnish singer/songwriter Astrid Swan has a new album out this week, Poverina. We’ve told you before, we don’t have any business reviewing female singer/songwriter stuff.
If you like Aimee Mann, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, feel free to listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Until then, here’s Astrid’s cover of The Killers’ “When You Were Young”
Astrid Swan : “When You Were Young” Killers Cover . . . → Read More: Review: Astrid Swan : Poverina
Review: Steven Mark : Racing Grey
By Greg Swan, on May 18th, 2007%
Steven Mark
Racing Grey
Label: Basset Records
Release Date: May 22, 2007
We weren’t familiar with Steven Mark’s two previous albums (Aloneaphobe and Distraction), so this was a fresh listen.
Racing Grey, the New Yorker’s new disc out next week, is highly-produced, melodic, Lennon-ny pop. And although Mark tries his hand at social commentary (“Paris Hilton Generation” and “God on High”), most songs lack an edge.
He sounds like a really nice guy, but we’d like to hear more emotion and add in a pinch of musical grit. As for the Paris Hilton track, pointing out kids are on MySpace, watch the Real . . . → Read More: Review: Steven Mark : Racing Grey
By Greg Swan, on May 14th, 2007%
Great Northern’s debut LP, Trading Twilight for Daylight, drops tomorrow on Eenie Meenie Records. We LOVE the album and count the band’s show at SXSW as one of our favorites.
Great Northern : “The Middle” (mp3)
Perfect Porridge had the opportunity to interview vocalist/guitarist Solon Bixler about the new album, new songs and discover musicians really do read what you crazy kids write about them on your blogs…
Perfect Porridge: Where are you?
Solon Bixler, Great Northern: In L.A. I’m at home drinking coffee and playing the piano.
Your High Noon gig at SXSW was one of our favorite shows this . . . → Read More: Interview with Great Northern, Trading Twilight for Daylight
Review: Mastodon, Against Me!, Cursive, Myth, Maplewood, MN
By Greg Swan, on May 13th, 2007%
Mastodon
Against Me!
Cursive
May 11, 2007
Myth Nightclub, Maplewood, MN
Music started at 5:30 — on a Friday. And considering Cursive headlined a First Avenue show not even a year ago, Against Me! has a top MTV video and Mastodon is the next wave in grunge metal, it was definitely a strange evening for a daylight rock show.
Cursive was dressed in tuxedo garb, with the ever-changing facial hair of Tim Kasher trimmed extra close. Some diehard Cursive fans (us included) packed into the front rows to chant along with “Art is Hard” and some new stuff from Happy Hollow. Definitely not one of their better . . . → Read More: Review: Mastodon, Against Me!, Cursive, Myth, Maplewood, MN
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