Nothing minor about it.

Led by Paul Larson (of Strictly Ballroom, Dntel) and first started as his solo project, The Minor Canon have grown into an acoustic ballad for the indie soul. I love the change up at the end of "A False Start," giving you a full satisfying plate of emotion in just under 4 minutes. Recommended for fans of Wilco, The Polyphonic Spree, and Coldplay. Not recommended for anyone on the brink of crying.
A False Start
Good Luck
+ Myspace

Lets Get Out of this Country

I love Camera Obscura, it's as simple as that. Ever since I bought Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi in 1999, I've had a special place in my heart for this band. Sure they always get lumped in with Belle and Sebastian, and while some of the songs might sound similar and Tracyanne may have dated Stuart, Camera Obscura are just a bit better than Glasgow's biggest band.

They are way more personable than B&S could ever hope to be. Having met them in 2004 at Mergefest, I can attest that they are among the nicest Glaswegians I have ever met (and I've known and erm dated a few!). Some of the best musical conversations I ever had were in front of the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill and in Washington DC at the 9:30 Club w/Nigel, John, and Gavin.

After they finished the tour they went back to Glasgow and in the fall of 2005, Camera Obscura traveled to Stockholm to begin work on a new album with acclaimed producer Jari Haapalainen (The Concretes, Ed Harcourt, Nicolai Dunger, International (Noise) Conspiracy). Influenced by a wide variety of heroes - from Jimmy Webb to Lloyd Cole, from Connie Francis to Skeeter Davis, from the Supremes to David Lynch - lead singer/songwriter Traceyanne Campell and crew have assembled a remarkable batch of new songs. Decidely upbeat, optimistic, a bit different, and catchy at times ("If Looks Could Kill", "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken"), while also beautifully romantic, quiet and reflective at others ("Country Mile", "Dory Previn"), the new album - Let's Get Out Of This Country - is the sound of a wonderful young band just hitting their stride. Look for it from Merge Records in June 2006.

Until then enjoy a look back and a sampling of the new album from one of the coolest tweest bands ever.

From Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi...

Eighties Fan
Shine Like a New Pin

From Underachievers Please Try Harder...

Keep It Clean
Number One Son

From Lets Get Out of This Country...

Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
Lets Get Out of This Country

The new album comes out on June 6th. The fine folks at Merge are releasing it, and you should most definitely buy it.

From the Variety Pub in Glasgow...

Paul the Anglophile

When You Wasn't Famous

With the latest Streets album out this week, I figured I'd pay tribute to the wacky garage genius that is Mike Skinner. Over the course of three albums, Mr. Skinner has single handedly produced some of the coolest garage, grime, whatever records around (just don't call him rap…he's not rap folks). From, "Let's Push Thing Forward," to "Dry Your Eyes," the guy has a knack for great songs. He's almost like the Jarvis Cocker/Damon Albarn of the garridge scene. He creates characters, stories, scenes that people can relate to, much like his Britpop peers did in the mid 90's.

His latest album is no different. Whether it's autobiographical or about someone he made up, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living is bound to be another great record. If you've heard the single already then you know how true this is.

In tribute to Mr. Skinner and his wonderful teef here's a look back and a look forward.

from Original Pirate Material...

Don't Mug Yourself (Mr. Figit Remix)

from A Grand Don't Come For Free...

Fit But You Know It (Futureheads Remix)

from The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living...

When You Wasn't Famous

How I fell in love with Tanakh.

It's 7:20 on a Monday evening, and I'm running late... as usual. I finally make it into my favorite local frozen margarita spot, El Sombrero, where I am greeted by quite possibly the friendliest band I have ever had the pleasure of sharing a pitcher of margs with. We talk. We talk about music. We talk about what I do, and how they do what they do. We then talk about green tomato pie, noodling, and the lack of grits here and there. It turns out that although they come from Italy, the lead singer and songwriter, Jesse Poe, is a former southerner like myself. Talk about an instant bonder.

Most bands would just mail you a copy of their album to review. Tanakh, on the other hand, were generous enough to meet with me personally for the exchange. It's almost symbolic of dropping your baby off at the sitter's for them to watch. And I will tell you honestly... 'Ardent Fevers' is the most beautiful baby I've ever sat. I feel intoxicated by this album, even still after the margaritas are well worn off. It's like laying in a hammock, mid-spring day on the countryside, straw hat and hound dog included. There are flowers abloom all around and a perfectly cool breeze flowing over your face.

The influences and talents behind this band are extraordinary, and I only see it getting better from here. Already described as magic and art, it's rare to find music like this that really touches you. And it's even more rare that the music touches all those it should. But I'm not doing them any justice here, so just give it a listen yourself:

Drink To Sher
+ More tracks on Myspace

And hey, if you like it and you're in one of these areas, why not make it to one of their shows while you can?

4/21/06 8:00P: TERRASTOCK 6 - Providence, RI
4/24/06 8:00P: The Cake Shop - NYC, NY
4/26/06 8:00P: PA's Lounge - Sommerville, MA
4/27/06 8:00P: Mezzanotte Lounge - Syracuse, NY
4/28/06 8:00P: Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
4/29/06 8:00P: Drake Hotel - Toronto
4/30/06 7:00P: Big Car - Indianapolis, IN
5/02/06 8:00P: Lager House - Detroit, MI
5/03/06 9:30P: THE EMPTY BOTTLE - Chicago, IL
5/04/06 8:00P: Land Locked - Bloomington, IN
5/05/06 8:00P: Huntington Youth Art & Music - Huntington, WV
5/06/06 10:00P: Velvet Lounge - Washington, DC
5/07/06 8:00P: KNITTING FACTORY - NYC, NY

Hope to see some of you at the NYC shows.

- LB

New, rich sound.

If this is where hip-hop goes, then I may finally become a fan of it. Nouveau Riche bridges the gaps between indie rock, hip-hop and pop, finally giving us a way to all get along on the dance floor. The best part about them? REAL instruments, people. Not enough acts these days (that I've heard anyway) include a full band actually playing instruments. With a list of influences that include The Clash, Gang of Four, The Roots, Sonic Youth, The Cure, The Smiths, Radiohead, and The Beach Boys... you can't help but like these guys. Yes, it's new... and rich.
Take Me Home
Wait a Minute
+ Myspace

Rule Brittania

So...here we are yet again. I'm back with a fresh crop of tunes and a breathable atmosphere to match. My allergies are finally on the retreat and I can actually use both nostrils again. This means you guys get new music and I get to stop spending more money on Claritin D then on food. These are both very good things.

Britain is cranking out the good stuff out right now and there's soooo much of it out there. It seems after the Arctic Monkeys broke on the net the amount of demos from unsigned bands floating around in the ether exploded. It reminds me of my Death Metal days when I would get demos from all of these strange bands that were so underground they didn't even know they existed. The difference here, of course, is that these bands don't actually sound like they are being gutted with a steak knife.

With that friendly little image firmly burned in your mind...I give you four tracks from the British Indie Underground...

Dega Breaks: The Looking Glass
A shuddering, jerky disco punk floor filler that sounds something like a britpopper caught in an Editors instrumental while being whirled around by a Puressence tune. It stops, starts, gets all 4/4 on you and then spins you right off the dancefloor. A moody disco punk treat.

Kubichek: Nightjoy
In the running for single of the year in 2005, this song is/was more hypnotic than a thousand ticking pocket watches. It's all because of the chorus. It's unescapable, it's catchy and you'll never forget it after listening to it twice. It's amazing that these guys are unsigned after putting out two BRILLIANT 7".

The Romance: Curse Our Love
Until the Dirty Pretty Things album comes out, there needs to be lots of good ol Libertines-like grot n' roll to remind us how great the original was. The Romance happily fill that gap quite nicely. In fact they do such a good job, I can't help but think they're pretty great on their own merit; and, "Curse Our Love," is proof. It's a dirty punky little drunk rock and roll song that snotishly weaves it's tale about love and lies rather hastily! One for that CD you were making your significant other.

The Sugars: Black Man White Boy
If you were like me you thought the last White Stripes album was a bunch of over hyped garbage. Remember how good the first two albums were? Well The Sugars do and they must listen to them everyday for inspiration. This sexy ass three piece is the definition of frickin brilliant raw bluesy rock n' roll. And if you want a taste then The Sugars have the sticky good stuff you need. "Black Man White Boy," sounds like it was recorded in a alley littered with syringes, broken bottles, and burning cars. It's unpolished trashy rock n' roll recorded on about a $5 budget and it RULES. If sugar tasted this good my dentist bill would be in the millions!

My little bishop in a turtleneck.

I am really looking forward to tonight's Mondo at Luke & Leroy, because the lovely John Cameron Mitchell of 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' fame will be guest DJing. I'm certain the music is going to be fantastic because it always is, and the addition of Mitchell will just solidify the evening. If you're going, be sure to say hello if you see me!

On with today's selections...

Tenki:
I love whenever I get an email from Future Appletree Records, because I know whatever it contains will be brilliant. So when I opened up these tracks from Tenki, I was not surprised by how hard I fell in love with them. A combination of (sometimes) disco-esque basslines with the standard indie-pop-tastic keys, horns, and guitar... then washed over with Beulah-ish vocals. Just listen to these tracks and tell me you're not in love.
On Such a Day
Kiss of Millions
+ Myspace

Ideal Free Distribution:
If you liked the songs I posted before by the Melody Function, then you should definitely take note of IFD. They share not only one member, but also the same genius talent. I admire when a band can do 60s psychedelic pop and do it all so well.
Saturday Drive
Apples and Oranges
+ Myspace

Mohanski:
Another psychedelic influenced band, Mohanski remind me of the qualities I used to love about Blur and Radiohead... but more consistently. They are releasing a little 7 inch sometime in the next few months, and I definitely plan on getting one. So should you.
Sadness
Killer
+ Myspace

Hanni El Khatib:
A combination of folk, blues, and indie rock... and he never gets boring. After the second time around, you'll find yourself singing along. It seems that Hanni is also a big fan of flannel, but I wouldn't hold that against him.
I Know It's Bad For Me
+ Myspace

Kamal Arafa:
Another folky one (I've really been feeling it lately for some odd reason), and Kamal has an alluring voice. I feel that although the production may lack a little, it's still precious.
Fingers - Family Visits
+ Myspace

Astronaut:
I'm half and half with this band thus far. I really enjoy "FUB" and it's Sleepy Jackson-like sound, but then I think "Death By Disco" gets a little too intense for me during the chorus. If they just softened up the vocals a little more, it could have the whole Dandy Warhols appeal going for it. I'll have to wait until the release to pick a side.
FUB
Death By Disco
+ Myspace

- LB

Holy cow, Gil, you blow my mind.

I had never heard of them up until last night's Art Brut show at Bowery Ballroom. Why? I'm really not sure. One thing I do know, Gil Mantera's Party Dream know how to put on a show. Even when their equipment cut out on them a couple of times, Ultimate Donny knew how to take control of the stage with comedy antics that briefly reminded me of the style of Mitch Hedberg's delivery. "We built a bridge from Ohio to New York. A lot of other people have talked about doing it, but we actually did it. Those other people never got it done because they were speaking in metaphors. But we really fucking did it. And we made it out of french fries." That quote is not exact, but I'm working from an overloaded memory here. You get the point. These guys are like Junior Senior in spandex after a hit of MDMA and 2 cases of budweiser back in 1989. I'm in love.

If you missed it, they are headlining a show tonight at Northsix in Brooklyn. If you can make it... I DEFINITELY recommend going. It's just something you need to experience for yourself. If nothing else, you just have to go to see Gil's dancing skills.

-- Elmo's Wish
-- Elmo's Wish Video
+ Myspace

P.S. To the guy who thought it was funny to scream "You look like Hitler!" between every song during Art Brut's set - You're an idiot and it wasn't funny the first time.

- LB

I'm a soul man...

It's true. When I'm not weeding out old Lush 7" records on 4AD I love a good Soul record. Of course I love Motown and the whole Detroit sound but there were soooo many more labels and groups that were never as popular as Motown or anyone on the label. Strangely enough, my whole path down the undiscovered Soul road was spurred on by my trips to the UK.

I'd always hear people refer to Northern Soul. I used to wonder what the hell are they talking about...then I found out. Like every other genre of music there are sub-genres. Northern Soul happens to be one of the Soul ones(the easiest way to think of it, is to think of it as rare soul)..there's also Southern Soul(characterized by its location)...Philly Soul(which in a sense IS Northern Soul and it kind of defines itself)..etc. Once you start listening to this stuff repeatedly you can actually hear differences in the styles. I won't go into writing a thesis on the 60's soul movement but trust me the differences are there.

Anyway, I've posted six little gems that you may or may not have heard before. They're all favorites of mine, five weren't on Motown and one wasn't technically. Enjoy...

Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle
Bob & Earl started out as one of several aliases under which Bobby Day (of "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Rockin' Robin" fame) and Earl Nelson (aka Jackie Lee) recorded together for the Los Angeles-based Class Records label. Bob & Earl made an indelible mark on popular culture in 1963 by recording the original version of "Harlem Shuffle" (produced by Barry White), which was a modest success in America and a major hit in England. It's easy to see why. The groove on this record is amazing and everytime the horns kick in I get goosebumps. One of my alltime favorite tunes.

The Showstoppers - Ain't Nothing But A House Party
The Show Stoppers were Philadelphians, and recorded in the States, but had their only hit courtesy of the United Kingdom. Two sets of siblings made up the quartet: Timmy and Earl Smith, and Alec and Laddie Burke (brothers of popular soul man Solomon Burke). All were either 18 or 19 years old when "Ain't Nothing but a House Party" broke in England. Yet another song that has a great groove. This is a bit more poppy, if you will, and the way it was recorded it almost gives you the sense that it was done in the middle of a happening.

The Sapphires - Slow Fizz
The Sapphires, who were two guys and a girl with sometime backup singers, sang about as sweetly as any Motown group of the era, and had a sound that, if a little stripped-down, was just as sophisticated. "Slow Fizz," has dancefloor written all over it and in fact even mentions going to a Go-Go. It was released on ABC but if this would have been recorded by say the Supremes and released on Motown it would have been huge. Nonetheless it did manage to sell 40,000 copies.

Dobie Gray - Out On The Floor Most people know Dobie Gray for two songs. They either know his classic, "The In Crowd." Even my mom did! Or they know him for his 1973 hit, "Drift Away." But Dobie did have other hits in the 60's. "Out On The Floor," being one of them. Originally released on Charger Records in 1965 this breezy tune is all about forgetting your problems, you guessed it, out on the floor.

Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood
More than likely you know this song and while this is technically Southern/Memphis Soul it has a Northern heart. Singer/songwriter Eddie Floyd scored one of the defining hits of the Memphis soul sound with "Knock on Wood," a number one R&B smash that typified the Stax house style at its grittiest. Floyd was born in Montgomery, AL, in 1935, but grew up in Detroit, where his uncle Robert West owned a couple of record labels, including Lupine. Floyd eventually wound up back in the south working for Stax when his friend Al Bell started working there. The rest they say is history. "Knock on Wood," was originally intended for Otis Redding, but Eddie Floyd took it and made it a number one hit on the R&B chart. It is a bonified classic.

The Contours - Just A Little Misunderstanding
This tune comes from the same album that literally made them, Do You Love Me. The Contours were originally signed to Gordy records(but put out stuff on Motown) and this was actually the first record on that label. In contrast to Motown's slickness and choreographed moves, the Contours were all wild, with irrepressible energy, leaping and sliding all over the stage and even doing splits. A crazy bunch. "Just A Little Misunderstanding," is a great piano led groover that has a very Detroit feel to it. The chorus is classic and will linger in your head for days. It might be close enough to Motown to lose some of it's Northern Soul cred but it's still a brilliant tune.

Buy tons and tons and tons of Northern Soul at Goldmine Soul Supply. This is an EVIL website that once you're hooked will constantly lure your credit card to its limit. Or if you just got money to burn check out John Manship's shop. He's got everything!!!

And with that...I'm off.

From Wigan Pier...

Paul the Anglophile

A Little New A Little Old

After an absolute hellish week of allergy suffering and my tribute to it I can almost half breath again. Folks, make a mental note not to live next to the things that you are most allergic to. It's not a good idea...trust me. One allergy shot, THREE boxes of Claritin D, Clarinex, and Benadryl later and I'm back to post again.

That brings us up to this post which really has no set theme. I've gone through the ol stacks again and picked five new songs and five classics for your downloading and compiling pleasure. It's always fun to do these sorts of posts (despite our horrendous upload speed) because of the stuff that I get to dig up. Some of the classics I dug up for this post I haven't heard in years.

Anyway, enough of my yackin...get clickin.

New New New Stuff...
The Automatic - Recover
Another fine release from the fine folks at B-Unique. This tune twists and bends itself into a frenzy from the get go and seems to be about a night on the tiles. Literally. It screams, "Get Up. Recover. Cos you'll never dance again." But, with a corker of a bass line and that chorus its almost impossible not to try and dance just for the hell of it. And after all…the only way to recover scene points when you eat it on the dance floor is to get up and play it off like you meant to fall flat on your face.

Cazals - Poor Innocent Boys
A nice jerky Rock n' Roll tune that sits somewhere between Elvis Costello and Urge Overkill. It's got a catchy as hell guitar riff that will be stuck in your head longer than your Social Security number. Then it's got perfectly placed handclaps that add another level of charm. This song is the sort that bores itself into your consciousness no matter how hard you try and deny it and somewhere in the back of your head you just know that the no matter how hard the Cazals try and convince you otherwise they just aren't "Poor Innocent Boys."

Delays - Valentine
Let's just say this isn't your fathers Delays records. Gone are the epic soaring songs that once graced their repertoire. They've been replaced with spangly indie disco floor fillers that sound like Donna Summer on lots of hormones. "Valentine," sounds like "I Feel Love," sharpened with guitars and run through the 21st century. The song grooves so much that it's easy to forget that it's actually being sung in a key so high it could scare dogs away.

The Fallout Trust - Washout
These guys are a funny lot. Every record they've ever done looks absolutely depressing. But then you put the records on…and it's not at all what you would think. "Washout," despite its name is no different. This starts out sounding remarkably like, Razorlight's "Golden Touch," but quickly develops into a jumpy little tune that breaks down into a classic British power pop song that's not at all disheartening. In fact, it's quite a perky little number thanks to that Razorlight-ish riff and sort of a half-falsetto (I sense a theme here) vocal that carries the chorus. Nice stuff.

The Rifles - Repeated Offender
No falsetto vocals to be found here. Instead, this tune is punky, speedy, spiky pop that roars along like the Futureheads and the Jam in a race to reach a giant Mod target at the end of Carnaby Street. "Repeated Offender," is dressed up in its finest shoes, shirt, and suit and ready to dance the night away with some bird in a scooter dress. It is proper British pop unafraid to let it's Britishness get in the way. So break out your Union Jack and wave it proudly...especially those of you in say Alabama.

Classics from the archive...
Delicious Monster - Power Missy
If I'm not mistaken...this might actually be our first Who Needs Radio request! A couple of posts back I posted a Delicious Monster track and someone not only remembered them, they agreed w/me that more people should have known about them and needed to hear more. So here you go. And as a result of all this I'm officially declaring that the Delicious Monster revival starts here. Download this track and you can say you were there when it began. About the song...unlike the previous song I posted, "Snuggle," "Power Missy," isn't nearly as aggressive. It's a bit more strummy but it rocks enough in a folky sorta way to draw comparisons to say the Sundays, Frente or maybe Juliana Hatfield.

Dweeb - Oh Yeah, Baby
Anyone remember Teen-C power? For those of you who don't here's a little primer...Unofficially started by BIS sometime in 96-97, the scene featured a whole host of bands with members under 21 cranking out spiky slightly twee indie pop that was sugary sweet (in fact...BIS even had a single called Sweet Shop Avengers). While there were tons of bands involved in all of this, about three really ever made an impact; Bis, Kenickie, and Dweeb. Dweeb signed to Fierce Panda initially and then got picked up by WEA offshoot Blanco Y Negro. They managed to release one album, which, "Oh Yeah, Baby" is taken from (it was a single). It's drum machine led, synthy, sweet, pohgoh inducing pop. It's the sort of song that's so goofy and silly you can't help but jump around and make a fool of yourself to. I still love it 10 years on. Incidentally, one of the members, John, is now known as DJ Downfall and has become quite the producer/DJ remixing everybody and anybody including the Postal Service.

Long Fin Killie - Lipstick (remix)
Is it indie and bass? Drum and indie? Who knows. What I do know is that this Scottish group produced some of the best and well thought out music that no one ever heard. Take the Tindersticks smoky moodiness, Dave Gedge's annunciation, Nick Cave's angularity and lyricism add a lorry load of intelligence mixed with excellent musical chops and you might be able to piece together a bit of what LFK were about. The band released three albums, named after tragic heroes (Houdini, Valentino, and Amelia) that progressively got better and better. By the time Amelia came around, which, "Lipstick" is from, the band had put together all the pieces of the puzzle to become a brilliant artsy theatrical sounding band. Unfortunately, Amelia was the last thing LFK did as a band. I guess it's best to go out on a high.

One Dove - Breakdown (Cellophane Boat Mix)
Many site Portishead as the creators of Trip Hop. But the way I see it, it really comes down to two other bands; Massive Attack and Glasgow's One Dove. I suppose Massive Attack technically were the first but there will always be a special spot reserved for One Dove. While they might be a bit more dubby (their records were produced by Andrew Weatherall) than Massive Attack(?!) or Portishead they're still slinky enough to fit in the genre. This particular remix was done by the legendary William Orbit sometime around the time of his amazing Strange Cargo III album. Singer Dot Allison has since released two albums on her own. Both are good. Incidentally, "Breakdown," was the first song I ever danced to.

Transvision Vamp - I Want Your Love
Sometime around 1988 Transvision Vamp took over the British Pop Charts. Despite every critic in the UK hoping for their demise, Transvision Vamp continued to crank out chart friendly pop. The bands leader Wendy James let success go to her head and developed an ego the size of Europe. She played up her campy sexiness and the bands status for everything it was worth. And despite critics hating her actions, the Great British public loved it and bought the bands records in droves. Sounding like a poptastic mish mash of the Pretenders, Blondie, T-Rex, and the Clash, Transvision Vamp were over the top fun. "I Want Your Love," is from the top 5 Pop Art and is TV at their campy best.

So that's it for this installment. Next time...we're headed to the Wigan Pier for some classic Northern Soul. Break out your suit, shine those shoes, and get your hard drive ready for an alnighter.

From across the sea or somewhere closer...

Paul the Anglophile