I’ve always been a small fan of Handsome furs. I’m probably a bigger fan of Dan Boeckner’s involvement in Wolf Parade, but this recent release Face Control by the Furs has me torn. Handsome Furs is a side project Boeckner started in 2006 with his wife Alexei Perry. Plague Park, the couple’s debut album, is a testament to the Ruttopuisto park in Helsinki that sits atop a mass grave of victims from the plague of 1710. Mourning aside, the album oddly always brought me that old nostalgic feeling, and most importantly the track “Dead+Rural” which is brilliant. It was one of those albums that I only got one song out of, although I want to go back and give it another shot. Please, if you have not heard “Dead+Rual”, listen to it.
Face Control is the next release by the Furs, now scheduled to drop in March due to complications with their cover of New Order’s “All We Want, Baby, is Everything” - which, by the way, is great. The album is now out circulating the blogs, check it out, then buy yourself a copy in March. The duo will be performing the 15 of March at the Empty Bottle in Chicago.
Been listening to a lot of music over break and I’ve narrowed it down to five bands to watch out for this year. I’m aware it’s already the end of March, but come fall I think these artists will be big(ger).
1. Santogold
Singer, songwriter, producer and solo artist Santogold was recently recommended to me a couple weeks back. From Brooklyn, her first single ‘L.E.S. Artistes‘ was released this month (March) and her self-titled full length debut drops next month. The single sounds a lot like The Gossip or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs if it were done by MIA. But I could be miscalculating that description, just check it out for yourself. There’s been a lot of remixes showing up of her upcoming release.
‘By The Numbers‘ made the rounds last year on the blogs, probably more because the single was produced by Justice, rather than because of the group. It was one of my favorite songs last year. A couple weeks ago the French trio dropped their newest single ‘Cross the Fader‘ and ever since I’ve been obsessed with it. Welcome back rock music with energy. It still blows my mind the group isn’t properly signed. Soon though, very soon, Poney Poney will explode. (I hope).
Also from Brooklyn, Frankpollis just released an EP a few days ago. I’ve been listening to it on Myspace and I’ve been really digging it. Frankpollis is a young band made up of brothers James and Jackson Pollis, John Paul Frank, and Malcolm Perkins. The group’s original claim to fame was having popular NYC club kid, Jackson Pollis as their dummer, but Frankpollis is no longer that. Making positive headlines in Spin, QRO Magazine, and blogs across the net, the group has grown to be respected for the large portion of “rock nostalgia” being served up. Check out the entire EP on their myspace, 1 listen through.
Hailing from Canada’s club scene, Dvas is the best true club music I’ve heard in a long time - yea, better than Justice. Dietzche V. and the Abominable Snowman (aka DVAS), released Macho 2003-2007 late last year but it’s been getting a lot of buzz recently. ‘Forever’ has become a favorite of mine, but the duo’s newest remix of Faunts has been bloggin all over. Watch for these guys to become even bigger this year. The US iTunes store has their album, check it out.
Probably the band on this list you might have already heard of, MGMT (Management) made waves late last year with their electronic-rock goodness. The group’s debut album ‘Oracular Spectacular‘ dropped in October last year with positive reviews. Their single ‘Time To Pretend‘ gives the listener an instant idea of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden’s sound. Rolling Stone named MGMT an artist to watch in 2008 and the group took 9th in the BBC’s ‘Sound of ‘08′ poll. Listening to MGMT can possibly take you to higher places. MGMT is ALSO from Brooklyn. The group is signed with Columbia records.
This is our decision to live fast and die young.
/We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.
/Yeah it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do?
/Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?
