The summer’s already a month over, but the annual search for the perfect summer anthem is still ongoing. That is, until now. This Norwegian quintet takes that famed Scandanavian rock ‘n’ roll swagger and applies to the ultimate song about the summer. “Summer Holiday & Me” is the best holiday soundtrack since Team USA’s “Halloween.” Life requires a soundtrack? So does the summer…
Mus
Please do not confuse Mus, the delightful Spanish duo of Fran Gayo and Mónica Vacas, with MUS, short for Memphis University School, the all-boy prep school I attended from 7th through 9th grades. First of all, Mus has a female, and there were no females at MUS. Mus use the soaring female voice as an instrument, highlighting their minimal approach, be it coolly electronic or calmly acoustic. And that voice sings in Asturian, from the Principality of Asturias in northwest Spain, making Mus as mysterious as a girl at an all-boy prep school.
Xiu Xiu
My high school was severely fractured, socially speaking. You had all sorts: jocks, preps (a distinct group from the jocks, although crossover was allowed), skaters, punks (who didn’t skate; no crossover with the skaters for some reason), nerds, freaks (the Southern term for the the heavy metal crowd), and couple of others. If Jamie Stewart, the driving force of Xiu Xiu, had gone to my school, there would have been another group: Jamie Stewart. Individual, honest, passsionate, what you hear is what you get. He does it his way, and there’s definitely no posing. “Bog People” is from the just-released La Forêt.
Forest Giants
Just because we all contribute to 3hive doesn’t mean we like the same bands. Jon’s got a thing for prog rock that I just don’t quite understand. Sean has his SoCal punk roots, but these days how bland is that? Joe, a Northerner, likes country! As for Shan, don’t get me started. That leaves Sam, and his lifelong obsession with Billy Bragg (likeable enough, as long as I don’t have to listen to him). But we all share common loves. Sam and I, we loved the Beatnik Filmstars. Forest Giants is the new band of Tim Rippington, formerly of the Beatniks, still cranking out beautiful noise, a la the Beatniks’ Laid Back and English. Mundane Sounds’ Volume Four Sampler includes Forest Giants and 14 other bands, all available for free download. And as for me, well, I’ve got impeccable taste!
Swirlies
Yes, I admit, I can be quite obsessive. Case in point: Sambassadeur‘s song “Whatever Season.” I’ve got it looping in its own playlist in MP3 player. But this obsessive behavior is nothing new, as 3hive’s own Sam can testify. Back when he and I shared a room in college I went thru a Swirlies phase. Swirlies are still alive and kicking, thanks to main man Damon Tutunjian. In their prime, no one could make a racket as beautifully as them Swirlies. Now please pardon me while I load my entire Swirlies collection onto my MP3 player.
Harlan T. Bobo
Harlan T. Bobo follows in the tradition of great Southern songwriters (be it blues or country), although not necessarily by choice, for after one love was taken from him, he turned to his other love, music, for salvation/survival. Dark yet hopeful, angry yet thankful, Harlan’s collection of songs about love bare his soul for all to see. Harlan’s album “Too Much Love” was recorded at the famed Easley McCain Studios in Memphis which were destroyed by fire back in March. Hopefully both Harlan and the Easley McCain Studios will be coming back for more.
Wonder Ground
Today the suggestion box brings us Wonder Ground, who will be recording an EP at the Ship with a guy from Earlimart, who were described by Joe here on 3hive as “intelligent pop that’s true to an indie-rock spirit.” That statement also applies to Wonder Ground. Joe added four descriptive words to describe Earlimart, but for Wonder Ground, I’ll add comparisons to American Analog Set and Beulah, who were, well, intelligent pop that was true to an indie-rock spirit. Don’t you just love the suggestion box?
The Mexicos
Don’t let the name fool you. The Mexicos ain’t Mexican. They’re Swedish, no doubt dreaming of the warm sunshine and luscious avocados of Mexico. The Mexicos play simple pop that is light without being lightweight, airy not airheady, and whimsical without being insulting. So grab your sombrero, you know, the one with the Swedish flag in it.
Applied Communications
Applied Communications is quite an appropriate moniker for the music of Max Hood. Max takes all types of communications and applies them straight to your ears. A cacophonous symphony of electronic sounds, beats, and tones brace up the delivery of almost stream-of-consciousness thoughts and tirades in the combined traditions and styles of Cex, They Might Be Giants, the Circle Jerks, and Henry Rollins. When Max repeats, “I don’t know how to play any instruments” over and over at the beginning of “Do You Know What I’m Saying?”, you realize, well, that’s not really his point, is it?
Ursula 1000
An oldie but a goodie (like 2003 is old!). Ursula 1000 is one Alex Gimeno, a New York DJ who delightfully blends samba, bossanova, and 60’s groove with smart beats. Sure, it’s nothing new, but Ursula 1000 is a leading adherent of the genre, and “Samba 1000” is awfully catchy. Dada…dada..da..da..da…