Fragile vocals over fragile guitars, Minmae’s songs could fall apart at any moment. Make one mistake and face utter cacophony. It’s in the band’s unflinching push to the next chord, verse, or just to the next riff that these songs transcend the notion of popular music and teeter on the verge of pure art.
Trans Am
Many artists have offered up the requisite anti-Bush song this summer; Trans Am opted for an entire album’s worth with Liberation. Not every track holds its own: “Uninvited Guest” is unoriginal B-side material, based on the well-circulated “Bushwhacked” MP3s. But the other two cuts featured here prove that Trans Am can make their point quite effectively by speaking softly and carrying a big bassline.
Tommy Guerrero
Like his Southern California counterpart, Ray Barbee, Tommy Guerrero is a skateboarder turned musician, using simple, 4-track technology to capture his loose, laid-back grooves. Between the two they’ve practically defined a new genre: skate-soul.
Epic45
Often the best part of art films is the moody instrumental soundtrack. Thanks to Epic45, you can now get your moody instrumental soundtrack without having to sit through the art film.
Devendra Banhart
Banhart’s voice and eerie gaze only add to the fragility of the song. “The Body Breaks” is hardly a pick-me-up, but it’s good to hear a songwriter with genuine eccentricity freely create something that nobody else can.
Bloc Party
Bloc Party churn out quirky, spastic post-punk curiosities that you can imagine were recorded in a bitter cold South London practice space around 1982 — only half of which could be true. Their debut LP drops September 14; the major label bidding war should start shortly thereafter (if it hasn’t already).
The National Splits
Let us celebrate the midpoint of summer with the National Splits. Mike Downey of the famed Chicago popsters Wolfie decided to go his own way a few years back, hence the National Splits. Perfect for BBQing, pool-crashing, and road tripping.
Two Gallants
Young and well-read, this San Francisco duo have, thankfully, spent very little time listening to (and even less time being influenced by) their rock ‘n’ roll contemporaries. Instead they’ve forged these songs from their own blood, sweat, and tears, and brought them to life with the simple tools of voice, guitar, and drums.
Comets on Fire
Sometimes a band’s name describes their music, sound, and modus operandi better than anything a fumbling music critic could come up with on an early Monday morning…
The Red Onions
The Red Onions dice up rock ‘n’ roll with their own raw, Los Angeles flavor until all that’s left is rhythm and blues.