Sounds Like: island music and synth pop got into a street fight and Professor Murder was the only one to make it out alive
There are few songs and even fewer indie artists that are so funky you have to restrain yourself from making a fool of yourself by dancing. Professor Murder is one of those bands; hard to pin down to a genre and what I only know how to describe as dance music with a slight island music twist. This is the third artist from New York to be posted on SoundSuck this week, but I’ve gotta admit I would not have expected this kind of music to come from the east coast but it is interesting to see how irrelevant geographic influences have become in music today. The band’s debut EP was featured on Pitchfork awhile ago so they’re definitely moving out of the shadows and into the limelight, but they’ve still got a few steps ahead of them, mainly the releasing a full LP.
Why They Don’t Suck: Super funky tracks with some real diversity; this is ear candy. Talented use of synthesizers in combo with percussion instruments makes for an entertaining listen. Watch for them at Coachella.
Sounds Like: watching storm clouds form off the coast.
This band has been around for a few years now, but of all their instrumental contemporaries, The American Dollar has probably received the least amount of publicity. Bands like The Album Leaf or Explosions In The Sky usually get the first mention during conversation and I’m not about to debate who is the best artist in the genre. What I will say is that this band deserves a lot of credit for remaining independent even after releasing their second album which they could have released through a label fairly easily. There are no vocals in the album, hence the term instrumental, and unfortunately for some people that fact alone is a turnoff. If you’re the type who shudders at the thought of music without words I ask you not to force it, but try to let the music grow on you because it is nearly impossible to find musicianship or structural craftsmanship as excellent as that displayed by the artists in this vein of music.
Why They Don’t Suck: With the current state of our economy you’d be hard pressed to find a more appropriate name for a New York band than The American Dollar. All word associations and other presumptions aside, The Technicolor Sleep is a perfect “alone” album; a set of tracks made for the times you’re disconnected from the world and simply internalizing your own feelings.
Album: One and Nine We Had a Hell of a Run / new demos
Sounds Like: Really Nerdy Rock & Roll
Everyone has a little nerd inside them somewhere, and after listening to a band with a name like Tastydactyls I’m sure it will come out. You might find the nerd in you will come out at Common Grounds, a local coffee house in Waco, TX, as you are listening to the Tastydactyls. In fact A close friend of mine had that very thing happen to him. After hearing 2 of the 5 songs played in the the Tastydactyls set, Tyler proceeded to stand up and shout quotes from Mortal Combat. He yelled GET OVER HERE! and added a subtle GIRLS! at the end for reasons only he knows. The Tasty’s have a very unique style to say the least. When instruments like the glockenspeil get involved great things are bound to happen, well at least for the Tastydactyls they do. Be-warned, anyone who dares listen to this band, these songs may get stuck in your head do to catchy lyrics. You may find your self saying “tasty” a little too often.
Why They Don’t Suck: The band’s implementation of multiple singers adds an extra element to each track that allows them to stay harmoniously simple while at the same time bringing discord to other areas. The Tasty’s use a central melody in every song which helps counter the spasmodic lyrics to create a good balance. And finally, their name is THE TASTYDACTYLS! how cool is that?
Originally known as Lolita Brass, this three-piece set from New York have been around the block at least once. There’s nothing exceptionally earth shattering about The Party Faithful upon first listen, but after replay number two or three it becomes easier to pick up on the amount of epic-goodness the band has managed to cram into each track. Make no mistake, Seven Cycles is clearly a rock album, but it’s the most easy listening rock I’ve heard in some time. Nothing feels out of place and there are moment when the band gets into a ecstatic rhythm unmatched by most of their contemporaries. If you can dig a well constructed chorus and some promising ingenuity you’ll be able to enjoy The Party Faithful.
Why They Don’t Suck: In my mind rock as a genre has essentially come to mean “repetitive chord progressions combined with unoriginal song composition and uninspiring lyrics… but very loud.” It was invigorating to stumble upon this album and hear something grounded in rock fundamentals that still manages to mix in some creativity.
Sounds Like: the soundtrack to a western bar fight.
My good friend Matt Gandy was surfing the intertubes today when this sickeningly soulful music began wafting from his speakers. Low and behold we soon discovered The Josh Weathers Band is composed of four men with incredible ability from Fort Worth, TX. All the members of the band obviously have several years of experience under their belts and Josh Weathers fits the bill as lead flawlessly. After scouring over hundreds of artist’s websites I’ve come across a few with really talented musicians; they play the guitar, drums, piano, bass, violin, banjo, kazoo, accordion, pipe organ, whatever, really well. But just as I’m about to declare another Soundsuck victory my ears are assaulted with what these bands call singing. It makes me cringe just thinking about the wasted efforts of the entire band simply because their lead singer sucks so bad that they will never get anywhere. Not so with The Josh Weathers Band, Josh’s vocal prowess compliments the band’s playing style so well that it makes you think “these vocals were made for this song.”
Why They Don’t Suck: In a lot of ways this band reminds me of The White Stripes; some would say I’m making too much of a stretch. Artistic style aside, when four members of a band work so well together that it makes you think they could have been separated from birth you know you’re on to something good.
Sounds Like: the photos you left in your old room after you moved out.
I first heard The Eastern Sea (Matthew Hines) about a year ago in Houston, TX. I thought by now his music would be a little more produced and slightly less acoustically driven. It still sounds lo-fi, which isn’t bad thing but is definitely a road block on the path to greater success. Regardless, The Eastern Sea uses the acoustic guitar and MacBook combo very well, sometimes to great effect by highlighting a well structured chord progression and adding a noticeably “earthy” feel. Occasionally a track on Further Up, Further In Pt. 1 really sticks out, is elevated above good, and works perfectly as an independent melody with earnest lyrics.
Why They Don’t Suck: I’d say Hines work could be described best as two parts lo-fi indie and one part digital mix up. Even though most of their songs are good I think it’s best to appreciate The Eastern Sea’s work not only for what it is but also for what it has the capability to be if the production side of their music was given room to improve.
Sounds Like: a living room with a warm fire and old friends.
Koley O’Brien sounds subtle at first yet the vocals slowly gain influence to the point where his voice compliments the music almost perfectly. Although at times his voice goes slightly too high, the beat remains catchy as the steady rhythm keeps you relaxed which means A B & The Sea’s tracks never reach a point of annoyance. This is some of the most genuine indie-pop I’ve heard, and although they’re destined to appeal to mainstream listeners, they seem well grounded in their values, their sound, and the message they want to get across. Heck, the band is still inviting strangers over to their house to play gigs. This demo set was recorded only last month and the band is relatively unknown, but I wouldn’t count on that for much longer. I’m anticipating listening to their album in it’s entirety and am interested to see how these guys handle their growing success.
Why They Don’t Suck: When you boil it down these two guys utilize mixed elements of alt-pop and lo-fi goodness to great effect. I’ve gotta add their description just because it’s awesome; “Sounds more like Dawn of the Dead than anything else but such a description can only complimentarily match the scene of mainstream music in the coming days. Millions of the staggering half-brained march to be swallowed by the dissonant sounds of repetition.” -A B & The Sea (Myspace Page)
Sounds Like: island music and synth pop got into a street fight and Professor Murder was the only one to make it out alive
Album: The Technicolor Sleep
Album: One and Nine We Had a Hell of a Run / new demos
Album: Seven Cycles
Sounds Like: the soundtrack to a western bar fight.
Sounds Like: the photos you left in your old room after you moved out.
Album: Just demos for now