The M’s
The dilemna? Keep running with this whole anti-Valentines thing that the kids and the nation’s biggest retailers got going on and throw in a little post-Valentines Norwegian death metal today on 3hive? Or try to actually extend the blessed day–after all I do have four Valentines at home–by finding a band whose name had something to do with Valentines Day, other than the Valentines? But what’s this? Chicago’s the M’s have got a new album coming out next week, so today just had to be them and their fuzzy, psychedelic-tinged ode to the music of the 60’s and 70’s, completely unashamed of wearing their influences or their hearts (hearts, get it?) on their sleeves. Happy Wednesday!
Moose
I thought of this the other night while watching this new show about an A&R guy who leaves his major label and goes indie. No comments about the show itself, but in one scene, his love interest rattles off her Top 5 songs. Dylan, Beatles, Starship, I can’t remember the whole list, but it inspired me to compose my own Top 5 list. One of my Top 5 is Moose’s “I Wanted To See You To See If I Wanted You,” the version on their Liquid Make Up single. I remember everything about the first time I heard Moose. I was in Sean and Jan’s living room in Dublin, Ireland, in March of 1991, throwing things at (and having them thrown back at me by) her daughters Aisling and Niamh. The television was showing some program about up and coming bands and Moose was one of them. I was in love. Somewhat bizarrely, I recall scenes of Moose walking through a park. Although grouped with the shoegazers, Moose really had their own version of pop, combining delicate melodies crafted in some complicated noise.
The rest of my Top 5? Lilys’ “Any Place I’ve Lived”, Acetone’s “Come On”, Spiritualized’s “Run”, and The Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored.” Anyone wanna share their Top 5?
Pelle Carlberg
A Swedish boy and his guitar. Former leader of the Swedish band Edson, Pelle Carlberg, is out on his own now, finding his way in the big world and singing about it all with warm, personal, and calmly infectious pop.
Mark Robinson
Like Sam says here, I, too, have been impressed with eMusic’s recent additions, which have allowed me to get a bunch of albums I should have already had, but just never got around to getting. Like more Mark Robinson, founder of Teenbeat Records (not the teen mag), member of Unrest, Air Miami, Flin Flon, Grenadine, Olympic Death Squad, and all around swell guy. I’m a big fan of his work and probably should have shared this long ago, so like Sean says, shame on us!
Tender Trap
Apologies to you, dear 3hive reader, for slacking on the job. Tender Trap, an ecletic pop band whose members have been in too many great indie bands from the past to name them all so I’ll just say Amelia Fletcher is the heavenly voice behind Heavenly, and their label Matinee Recordings have dispatched with the free MP3s. No more sharing the sharing. Well, they used to share MP3s with us, but here I was, sitting on Tender Trap, just biding my time, thinking I had all the time in the world until, alas, I was too late. Or so I thought. Thanks to Spain’s Elefant Records, the driving electro synth pop of “Face of ’73” can be shared with the world, albeit in crappy 80kbps, for which I also apologize. Just think of it as really good AM radio.
Metal Hearts
Sorry, no stories about scars on fingers today, even though I have two nice scars (and stories to match!) on my right thumb. I can just picture in my mind young Sean standing with his finger stuck in the car door waiting for Mom to notice.
Today we have Metal Hearts, two youngsters from Baltimore whose debut album Socialize is due out on February 21. Their label compares them to Modest Mouse, Arab Strap, and Cat Power, and I’m gonna throw in that they resemble a toned down version of Bishop Allen. Part moody, part carefree, the title track “Socialize” is a tasty appetizer from the new album.
The Valentines
Two events, no, three events have created this post about the Valentines. One, WindyLou, a 3hive reader, asked why my year-end list did not include more Memphis bands. Two, my friend Vince made a submission about the Valentines, a Memphis band who moved to Washington state. Three, the Monday holiday completely messed up my schedule so I’m a little late today. I really thought it was Tuesday.
So the Valentines (formerly the Dearest Darlins) make fun music with simple keyboards, guitars, and a crappy microphone. A little indie, a little rocksteady, a little toe-tappin, that’s what the Valentines are all about.
Loveninjas
Swedish. Pop. Labrador Records. Silly. Dark. A concept. Songs about a Japanese female assasin. Thrilling costumes. Songs about murder and sex. Not really a band. Genius.