The Tepper brothers are the driving force behind The Natural History. With their comrades, they push out a pop-rock (or should that be rock-pop?) that entices and enthralls, like so many things from Brooklyn. The second album is still in process; these tracks from their debut should help shorten the wait.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Unfortunately for us, John Peel’s favorite song, “Teenage Kicks” by the Undertones, is not available for 3hive to post. And my favorite Peel Session, Wire’s on January 18, 1978, is also not available. So, as I perused the list of bands and artists who had Peel Sessions, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs just jumped out at me. So listen, and think of John Peel.
The Marlboro Chorus
Imagine Ween and Pavement each running for president. But, unlike next week’s real choices, you actually liked both candidates. Who would you vote for? Undecided? Enter a third party: The Marlboro Chorus.
Kleptones
These “original” tracks feature some swell breaks ‘n’ beats ‘n’ what-not but, to be honest, the Kleptones aren’t nearly as interesting when abiding by copyright laws… This post is merely an excuse to plug their new mash-up-and-more theme album, A Night at the Hip Hopera. After giving the Flaming Lips a b-boy makeover with Yoshimi Battles the Hip Hop Robots, the audio kleptomaniacs are back at it with a similar tribute to Queen. To have a listen, head over to Waxy.org, where you’ll find the complete album for download as well as a collaborative dissection of the countless samples used therein.
Louis XIV
When bands name a song after themselves, one of two things happen. It sucks or it doesn’t. There’s no room for middle ground. They’ve got the mojo to pull it off, or they don’t. Louis XIV pull it off. Louis XIV don’t suck. This is no news to the good people of San Diego where Louis XIV’s cup o’ mojo hath runneth over for years. Their smart, swaggering lyrics over garage riffs demand immediate attention. Word has it they just inked a deal with some big, fancy label so these tracks may not be available for long. Ignore at your own risk. (Thanks to Alec for the reminder on this one!)
Oxford Collapse
Time warp! These Oxford Collapse songs borrow heavily from some key songs from my youth. It’s uncanny I tell you… Respectively: Adam and the Ants’ “Beat My Guest”, Altered Images’ “Real Toys” (man, did I have a crush on Claire Grogan; I must have watched Gregory’s Girl fifty times), and, finally, a more recent favorite, Butterfly Train’s “What’s Falling About”. Sure the tempos are off a bit, but it’s the mood. It’s the rush of traveling backwards in time…
Revolutionary Hydra
Remember the Dutch Elms from a couple weeks ago? Remember I said I didn’t know anything about them, other than their ability to create pure pop? Well, I’ve since discovered the Dutch Elms and the Revolutionary Hydra have something in common: songwriter extraordinaire Jay Chilcote.
The Missouri Compromise
Starting all Tortoise-like and then building to an indie crescendo that could make even Conor Oberst cry. Epic.
Chin Up Chin Up
“We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers” is one of those cleverer-than-thou song titles that’s long, pretentious, and altogether undeserving of seriousness. Yet it’s full of chaotic meaning, the kind indie musicians strive for and then deny striving for just to keep their ambivalent cred. It’s pretty much perfect for the song itself: a burbling rush to nowhere that comes across as a math-rocky Polyphonic Spree. When I read back over that description I feel like I should hate the band, but I don’t. In fact, I think I love those crazy skyscrapers.
Camper Van Beethoven
3hive is more than just a good time, it’s an education. Today’s lesson covers one of the classics. If I may share, the very first t-shirt I made myself (designed and screened!) as a skinny 16 year old was a Camper Van Beethoven t-shirt. The second was a legendary Memphis band, Think as Incas, but that’s another story. CVB — while one of the founding fathers of indie rock — was really all things to all people, genre-hopping as they felt so inclined. ‘Cause, you know, it really was all about the music. The new album from the re-united CVB, New Roman Times, comes out in October.