This one’s for Clay, as a bookend to his Dean and Britta post and a celebration/lament of the amount of time we both spent listening to Galaxie 500. While Dean Wareham was off with Luna, et. al., the rhythm section — Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang — made some beautiful music of their own. Subtle, soaring, and consistently artful, D & N’s sixth album comes out in February on their own 20/20/20 record label. “I Dreamed of Caucasus” is off 2002’s Song to the Siren.
The Changes
Continuing in my tour of OPLs (Other People’s Lists), I found this gem — amidst Blockhead, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and Comets on Fire — on Scissorkick‘s eclectic hit parade of 2004. (Convenient comparison alert!) The Changes are modern-day Chicago’s answer to Haircut 100: bouncy, dreamy pop that makes you want to smile at complete strangers or maybe, just maybe, swing from a vine in a Hawaiian shirt. However, unlike Haircut 100, these guys appear to have a longer career in them.
The Herms
My next-desk neighbor tipped me off to The Herms this afternoon. We’re both back in the office after a healthy holiday break. His New Year’s Eve was much more celebratory than mine. He: Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco for the Rogue Wave, Kelley Stoltz, and Herms show; Me: road-tripping back home down I-15, determined to miss the Las Vegas to L.A. parking lot over the weekend. It’d have been nice to have iPodded these tracks for the ride. “Record Machine” could be a demo recording from Bauhaus, and the remaining tracks, while wandering off on a sort of Jonathan Fire*Eater tangent, fail to disappoint. I’m baiting Clay with the former comparison. Watch for his impending, spirited comments.
Gran Ronde
If you count yourself among the many fans of the current faux-British invasion, then get ready to surrender to another crusader. Today’s 3hive pick brought to you by the number 3 (what else?) and by a hot tip from regular (in his use of 3hive) Todd Simmons. Thanks, Todd!
Stars
This year, I became a father for the first time. On the way home from the hospital, we listened to Stars’ brilliant album, Heart, and barely held it together. The first few weeks were touch and go, sleepless and filled with more emotion than I’d ever known existed. Heart was the soundtrack. This new track off the forthcoming Set Yourself on Fire sounds more raw and still as beautiful. You can’t help but love a band who will tell you at the height of the holidays to go listen to Prefab Sprout’s first full-length, Swoon, because it’s a reminder of Paddy McAloon’s failed youth. Yes, I’m out and proud about my Prefab Sprout love. I’m also out and proud about Stars.
The Green and Yellow TV
Thanks to 3hive regular Kieran for dropping this suggestion in the box. His email sent me rummaging through some old MP3s on my backup drive, because I was sure I’d heard of these guys before. Lo, there they were: three tracks which I’d apparently downloaded off the pre-Vivendi MP3.com back in March 2001. Those three tracks aren’t available on the band’s site, but these four are — which sufficiently illustrate The Green and Yellow TV’s euphoric, timeless pop with a keen ear for hooks, lines, and melodies. I dare you to not air drum/strum/sing along.
Hinkley
I love this time of year, and not just because I can lounge around all day in my jammies eating leftovers and candy. I love it because this is when I start cherry picking the best-of-the-year lists for artists I somehow missed or slept on. Today’s find comes from Mystery & Misery’s Best of 2004. They caught my eye because my grandmother’s maiden name is Hinckley, which turns out to be a happy coincidence. Their ragged, folksy pop would make them at home in the Elephant 6 stable but for now they’re unsigned and living in Rochester, NY. Thanks, Jason!
Worm Is Green
We’re officially five days into winter so I thought it apropos to turn our attention to Iceland. I know it’s not winter there year round, but it should be! Worm Is Green’s debut album is almost a year old here in the States, but proper respect has yet to be paid. The band does a brilliant cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” and the rest of the album will put you in a cool chill with its warm synth tones and atmospheric vocals. These tracks are all demo versions and outtakes from Automagic. You’ll have to put down some cash for the final product.
Fonda
What’s the only song better than Wham’s “Last Christmas” on Christmas Day? Fonda’s cover of Wham’s “Last Christmas” on Christmas Day. Like their name suggests, Fonda are a hybrid. (As in Ford + Honda = Fonda; Hord just doesn’t work.) Part British, part American, residing in L.A., Fonda create their own pop: a dash of West Coast dreamy pop, a pinch of British shoegaze, a touch of American indie pop, a morsel of late ’80s British alternapop. And yes, they did the Spy Kids theme.
Dean and Britta
I really should have kept track of how many hours of my life were devoted to listening to Galaxie 500. Dean Wareham went on to start Luna, who, by the way, are still going strong. Here he joins with Luna-mate Britta Phillips for a song on the soundtrack of the movie Piggie, which he also stars in. Also thrown in is a little number that the two of them recently recorded with Sonic Boom, a founder of Spacemen 3. I really should have kept track of how many hours of my life were devoted to listening to Spacemen 3. Although perhaps it’s better that I don’t know.