Sub Pop Records

Sunset Rubdown vs. Handsome Furs? Sounds like an indie music porno if I’ve ever heard one. After releasing the great At Mount Zoomer last year, Wolf Parade’s Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner both went headlong into their side projects this year. Instead of reviewing each separately, let’s just toss them in the ring for a throwdown, Bobby Flay style.

Handsome Furs – Face Control

When listening to Wolf Parade, I’m always pulled to Dan’s songs. There are electronic elements to Handsome Furs’ music, but it’s not overpowering and not nearly enough to turn me off. It’s like listening to the best 80’s music had to offer – the keys, big choruses and guitar riffs with zero cheesiness.  I really dig “Legal Tender,” “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything” and “I’m Confused.” The album rarely wavers and is consistent from one song to the next.

Sunset Rubdown – Dragonslayer

It’s hard to win a throwdown when you’re competing with this album title.  It’s also hard to compete with the drama and vocal warble of Spencer Krug. His voice didn’t always agree with me when listening to Wolf Parade, but the first track “Silver Moons” immediately tipped me over the edge. The album is less electronic/industrial than Handsome Furs and offers more variety in each song, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

The Verdict

Although only 8 songs deep, Sunset Rubdown’s Dragonslayer wins this round. Regardless of the outcome, these guys are a powerhouse individually and a juggernaut when together. And just like Bobby Flay’s throwdowns, there really isn’t a loser. Each has their own flavor of Wolf Parade and all this shit tastes good.

Handsome Furs – I’m Confused

Handsome Furs – Radio Kaliningrad

Sunset Rubdown – Idiot Heart

Older media from all mentioned bands:

Sunset Rubdown – Winged/Wicked Things

Sunset Rubdown – Up On Your Leopard, Upon The End Of Your Feral Days

Handsome Furs – Cannot Get, Started

Handsome Furs – What We Had

Wolf Parade – Language City

Wolf Parade – Call It A Ritual

Wolf Parade – Shine A Light

Wolf Parade – My Father’s Son

Fruit bats are releasing a new album on August 4th called The Ruminant Band. These guys have a special spot in several of my playlists since their song “When U Love Somebody” was featured in the mix CD I played during cocktail hour at my wedding.  Here’s the label’s description of the new album:

Using bright melodies, defiantly major-key chord structures, natural imagery mixed with the occasional blazing insight and tender observation, the Fruit Bats have never shied away from darkness, but more uncommon in this day and age, they’ve refused to shy away from light. With The Ruminant Band, this tradition continues in characteristically rich and involving fashion. From the barn-floor stomp of “The Hobo Girl” and the Fleetwood Mac-esque shimmy of the title track to the propulsive yet spacious ‘70s country-rock jam “Tegucigalpa” and the parlor piano soft-shoe of “Flamingo,” The Ruminant Band makes good on Johnson’s recent message board promise: “We are going to choogle for you.

The old track featured in the Oz wedding:

Fruit Bats – When U Love Somebody

The new tracks:

Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band

Fruit Bats – My Unusual Friend

Here’s a whole slew of tour dates:

Aug 18 Lucky Bar, Vancouver, Canada
Aug 19 Media Club, Vancouver, Canada
Aug 20 Crocodile Cafe, Seattle, WA
Aug 21 Mural AMphitheater, Seattle, WA
Aug 22 Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
Aug 24 Gunlach-Bundshu Winery, Sonoma, CA
Aug 25 Independent, San Francisco, CA
Aug 26 Spaceland, Los Angeles, CA
Aug 27 Plush, Tucson, AZ
Aug 28 Corazon, Sante Fe, NM
Aug 29 Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO
Aug 31 Opalis Productions, Norman, OK
Aug 31 Guestroom Records – OKC, OKC, OK
Sep 01 Good Records, Dallas, TX
Sep 01 The Loft (TX), Dallas, TX
Sep 02 Mohawk, Austin, TX
Sep 03 Walter’s on Washington, Houston, TX
Sep 04 Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, LA
Sep 05 Red Star Bar @ The Lyric, Oxford, MS
Sep 06 The Earl, Atlanta, GA
Sep 07 Grimeys, Nashville, TN
Sep 08 Exit/In, Nashville, TN
Sep 09 Square Room, Knoxville, TN
Sep 10 Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
Sep 11 Black Cat, Washington, DC
Sep 12 Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
Sep 14 Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
Sep 15 T.T.The Bears, Cambridge, MA
Sep 16 Big Orbit’s Soundlab, Buffalo, NY
Sep 17 Southgate House, Newport, KY
Sep 18 Zanzabar, Louisville, KY
Sep 19 Orpheum Stage Door, Madison, WI
Sep 20 Schubas, Chicago, IL
Sep 20 Reckless Records (Wicker Park), Chicago, IL
Sep 21 Schubas, Chicago, IL

“Black River Killer” is by far my favorite track on Blitzen Trapper’s latest album, Furr (our favorite album of 2008). Here’s the video and some mp3’s.

Blitzen Trapper – Furr

Blitzen Trapper – Gold for Bread

Video: Blitzen Trapper – Black River Killer

Iron and Wine are readying a compilation album called Around The Well for release on May 19th via Sub Pop Records. They’ve offered up a 9 minute plus doozy called “Trapeze Swinger” for free download. More about the album:

Collecting songs ranging from out-of-print to never-before-released, Around the Well spans Iron and Wine’s earliest sessions which yielded the band’s debut (2002’s The Creek Drank the Cradle) through material recorded for 2007’s The Shepherd’s Dog. The double-disc Around the Well collection is broken up into two sections. The first half is an assortment of hushed home recordings, unedited and raw, and the second highlights moments captured in the confines of proper studios with the help of other musicians, friends and engineers.

Iron and Wine – Trapeze Swinger

Obits is a new band consisting of indie-rock veterans. Lead singer and guitarist, Rick Froberg, is a Southern California musician who has played in Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and a few other bands. He and his fellow Obits bandmates, including Sohrab Habibion, Greg Simpson and Scott Gursky revel in doing nothing groundbreaking. They do what they love. They love rock and roll. They do it very, very well.

I Blame You starts off with “Widow of My Dreams,” featuring crazy surf-punk guitar riffs that sets the stage for the rest of the album. It’s raw, edgy and loaded with great guitar interplay and driving basslines. My jaw normally doesn’t drop when I hear a bass guitar, but “Two Headed Coin” is an exception. It’s one of those songs that makes you work, walk, run, drink faster. I’ve been on a workout hiatus for about six months, but I credit that song with getting me back in the gym.

Sub Pop Records made a great move gobbling up Obits. I regret not tracking them down for a set at SxSW, but they’re touring around CA this month including a stop at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on May 20th.

MySpace | Sub Pop Records

Obits – Pine On

Video: Obits – Two Headed Coin

Tight Knit is Vetiver’s fourth album, but it’s their first appearance in my music collection. San Francisco singer-songwriter Andy Cabic is the soul of the band that plays gently strummed, breezy acoustic songs perfect for a beach day along the Bay. While the slower tracks like “Rolling Sea” and “Through The Front Door”  are the perfect soundtrack for afternoon naps, Vetiver shines in their uptempo sunny pop gems like “Everyday,” “More Of This” and “Another Reason To Go.” The album is subtle, but if you’re patient, you’ll find really good stuff in the nooks and crannies.

Tight Knit is due out February 27th via Sub Pop Records.

Website | MySpace | Sub Pop

Vetiver – Everyday

Sub Pop’s newest band, Obits, is all set to release their debut album I Blame You on March 29th. The members are all veteran indie rockers and the sound is in your face rock and roll. I haven’t heard the entire body of work, but what I’ve heard is coming off like The Rolling Stones meet Pavement with a modern Von Bondies sound.

Something like that. I dig it.

Obits – Pine On

Video: Obits – Two Headed Coin

It’s high time we start our SXSW 2009 coverage. We’ve quietly been updating our SXSW 2009 band list page and, in case you weren’t reading last year, most of our coverage focuses on day parties that don’t require a badge and serve free beer (because that’s where we’ll be).

Sub Pop tipped us off about their SXSW 2009 lineup for Thursday March 19th, but the location hasn’t been specified.

Here are the bands that will be in attendance with Sub Pop and a few mp3’s to sample.

Handsome Furs
Daniel Martin Moore
Tiny Vipers
Red Red Meat
Grand Archives
Obits
No Age
Vetiver

Handsome Furs – I Am Confused

Daniel Martin Moore – Stray Age

Tiny Vipers – Shipwreck

Grand Archives – Torn Blue Foam Couch

Grand Archives – Miniature Birds

No Age – Ereaser

No Age – Teen Creeps

Vetiver – Everyday

Daniel Martin Moore got a big break by taking a stab in the dark. He sent his unsolicited demo to Sub Pop Records hoping that someone would give it a chance. At HearYa, we get assloads of submissions from bands each week and, while we listen to every single one, we only have time to talk about a select few.  The odds are exponentially worse if you’re submitting your music to an established record label to get signed.

Sub Pop listened and took a chance on the Cold Spring, KY singer-songwriter. His debut album, Stray Age, is a gentle, acoustic folk-pop album that would be perfect to hear in your local coffee house. His sound finds middle ground between the lazy beach vibe of Jack Johnson and the more folky shades of Mason Jennings. If you dig this track, then you’ll enjoy the entire album.

MySpace

Daniel Martin Moore – Stray Age