This is an online music fan zine. Please support music and musicians by going to shows, purchasing CDs, buying a damn T-shirt!
All mp3s are posted here with permission from the artists/labels/PR folks, and for a very brief time. If you have any issues with content on this zine please email me; atartytart@gmail.com I'm addicted to my Iphone, darlins'... I'll get back to you.
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And you can find PuppetShow at enjoy.the.puppet.show@gmail.com
Matthew, over at Song, by Toad sent me this lovely little cover, done by the Savings and Loan, of a Palace song. Who’s this Palace group, you say? I did some digging and it’s none other than Will Oldham, a.k.a. Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Their (it’s Oldham and his brother and a few more folks, as far as I can tell) christmas album, Hope from 1995 is a favorite of many of you hipsters out there. I am loving The Savings and Loan’s version a whole lot more, I must admit. And I hear that their album might be out as early as this summer. Let me know what you think, xox
Oh my are we getting snow here or what? Lots of it is falling, more on the way and I’m out in it all day today, ugh. So, comfort yourselves in the knowledge that you work in cozy little office cubicles or at home, you lucky little drones. I’ve been slaving away on a mixtape which you will soon find over on the pages of Slowcoustic, a fantastic blog by the wonderful Sandy! So, I’m exhausted and not entirely ready for all this nasty weather, but I’m still thinking of you, darlings and thank you for stopping by! And enjoy this grab bag of SNOW tunes, with love, from the Tart, it’s not often I dig into my crazy and vast music collection for you, xoxo ….
(click on the album titles to purchase them and support these artists!)
Let It Snow (Bit Shifter on Gameboy) mp3 by the 8bitpeoples from 8bits of Christmas it’s free! I love, love, love chiptune, blip blop, whatever you want to call it and this little gem is from a few years ago. I was ecstatic to see that they have performed with one of my favorite bands, The Depreciation Guild who use the Famicom in their music to great effect.
Snowmen Have Hearts mp3 Provo/Howl, from Suburban Sprawl Xmas #5, their free holiday compilation! This is by Provo/Howl, which as far as I can tell isn’t a band as much as it is Julian from Javelins, an indie band out of Detroit. I love this experimental/noise/ambient song.
Cheap Living mp3Phil and the Osophers Parallelo (up for only 3 days, get this track while you can and click on the album title to go buy it, ya cheapskates!)
In time for your holiday gift-giving, I hope you’re considering some new music from Phil and the Osophers for your whacked out music-loving friends! This band is just so totally cool and their album seriously gets better and better with every listen. See my review here. Have I said that before? Well it’s true. And just now they’ve released a new video for “Cheap Living,” catch it here. (I just wanna know whose gold records those are!) xoxo
Its Christmas Time (Sufjan Stevens’ Cover) mp3 Snow mp3
This is a really nice cover of Sufjan Stevens’ song featuring Carrie Peters and a thoughtful track, “Snow” that reminds me a bit of Elliot Smith. I am absolutely loving my little Soundcloud drop box over there on the left sidebar. All sorts of random things end up in it and I hear some wonderful little treasures on almost a daily basis. Today I discovered these two gems from a project by a guy who calls himself Hans V. His “band” is The Standalone and it consists of him in the studio layering sound upon sound in some very beautiful ways. When he plays live he’s joined by a rotating band which includes Tyson Kingrey (guitar/vocals), Scott Funkhouser (bass/keys/vocals), Todd Dahlhoff (bass/keys/vocals), and Harrison Edwards (drums). Based in Portland, Hans has put out an EP, titled One and you can buy it on Amazon here.
No Christmas While I’m Talking mp3The Walkmen from Bows + Arrows And really, I’m not sure what to make of this one either, but the more I listen to it, the more I love it. But, I’m weird like that, you know. It’s not a Christmas song in any way, shape or form. It’s actually a horribly painful song to hear once you know the lyrics. If you really must know, click here. I appreciate the Walkmen more than I did before I heard this track, I’ll say that much. (click on the album name to buy it on Amazon)
These two I received in my inbox this week: Listen To The Choir Sing mp3 from Ian McGlynn, a sweet little song (a one-off, but click on his name to go to his site to purchase it) that evokes some real Christmas feelings. Please go check his website out, you can listen to his album This is the Sound there, it’s beautiful singer/songwriter, piano-heavy music and features that angelic voice.
Snow Angels mp3 from Boca Chica. I had this all ready to post, and then realized that it was from the ever-so-wonderful 2009 Indiecater Christmas record! You really must go over to Kevin’s site and hear the wonderful album he’s compiled … yes, you can stream the whole thing and then purchase it for only 6 Euros, that’s not much, my American friends!
An Indiecater Christmas
1) The Garlands – Christmas Song (Carving Ice Sculptures In Stockholm)
2) Candy Claws – Snowdrift Wish (Writing Gift Lists In Fort Collins)
3) Loxsly – Mrs. Kris Kringle (Overdoing The Outdoor Lights In Austin)
4) Adam and Darcie – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Calling Round To Neighbours In Provo)
5) Allo Darlin’ – Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Buying More Stamps In London)
6) Woodpigeon – Little Nemo (Winter Lullabye) (Making Festive Mixtapes In Calgary)
7) Boca Chica – Snow Angels (Humming Stop The Cavalry In Pittsburgh)
8 ) Oldfolks Home – We Don’t Cry At Christmas (Suffering Indigestion In Winnipeg)
9) Betty & The Cavaleros – Hey! I’m Your Gift Today (Googling Eggnog In Fredrikstad)
10) Standard Fare – Tinsel Politics (Taping Good TV In Sheffield)
11) Sunset – New York Love (Making Snow Angels In Austin)
12) I Hate You Just Kidding – It’s Fun To Do Bad Things (Cleaning The Chimney In Costa Mesa)
13) Sweet Jane – Silent Night (Downing Hot Toddy’s In Dublin)
[This is the first in a series of guest reviews by my good friend Puppet Show, who has thankfully given in to my begging and agreed to help me out. I've passed on to him a great record that I knew he'd love and that is definitely one of my favorites of 2009]
Pure Reason Revolution is a band out of University of Westminster and is comprised of:
• Jon Courtney – vocals, guitars, keyboards
• Chloë Alper – vocals, bass guitars, keyboard
• Jamie Willcox – vocals, guitars
• Paul Glover – drums
Some time ago Tart turned me onto this band, and when I first listened to this album I was not sure how to describe where to put it in terms of genre. They meld together a bit of Electronica, Progressive Rock, and Indie. If I were to ask 12 people I’m sure I would get 10 new genres to put it in, a move which I find to be smart because of the capacity to open up your fan base. This may not work for all bands but for some reason it works for PRR. The vocal ability of Chloe Alpers balances Jon Courtney and in conjunction with the instrumental ability of Jamie Wicox and Paul Glover, it all works in such a manner that the harmonies are almost orchestral in nature.
The opening track “Les Malheurs” lets you know what you’re in for with the next 46 minutes. With melodies that rival most birds and choirs, PRR has somehow spliced together a harmonious union between voice and instrument that is extremely pleasant to listen to. Moving on through the album, the track “Disconnect” gives a very electronic, chill sound which was all too soon countered with the track, “Deus Ex Machina.” This song can take you from a dance floor to a mosh pit in a matter of moments. I did find at times that the lyrics can be a bit simplistic, but it was always accompanied with a great melody and phrasing that allowed the song to come together in a manner that made you forget anything you didn’t like.
In my many years being involved in music, from time to time I will be struck with phrasing or tones that will dredge up another song that I have heard before. Though I’m sure most people will curse at me for saying this, “Victorious Cupid” struck me with a feeling, in the rhythm, voice, music and words that I had heard it all somewhere before. I was amazed after racking my brain, that the phrasing turned out to be similar to Jesus Christ Superstar’s “The Temple.” I have always been a fan of Jesus Christ Superstar and remember watching it with my father as a kid, and after hearing that rhythm it brought back so many memories. For me, at this moment, I think both “Victorious Cupid” and “The Temple” are equally brilliant songs.
AVO (Amor Vincit Omnia or love conquers all) is the absolute highlight of the album. It is a song I consider the beginning, ending, and encore, not that I think this song overshadows the album, but it is the cornerstone that keeps it in place. The music coupled with lyrics like – “Did you feel loved? You’re dead like one of us, It kills real love, Like one of us” is one of the most brilliant lines I have heard in some time. Building itself from a small particle in space to its own galaxy in a manner of 4 minutes 47 seconds, AVO is amazing. The best way I could conceive of describing this song is as layers of a cake: the piano begins, sounding as raindrops – the base layer. Moving up through the cake you make the Pinbot layer where the midi sounds like an 80’s pinball legend. As we work higher I am reminded of Close Encounters of the Third Kind as the next synth begins to play, I begin to want to shape my mashed potatoes into a mountain somewhere in Colorado. The final instrumental level is Philharmonic strike, as it is drizzled with vocals of cotton balls and razorblades, and ending in a riot that disperses in a orderly fashion, an amazing feet to say the least.
This album has actually made my heavy rotation list. I am amazed, awed, and looking forward to Pure Reason Revolution and recommend it for anyone looking for a breath of fresh air in their collection of music.
[Tart says: There's an interesting interview with Jon Courtney over at Avant-garde Metal]
Wow, this is fun and different for us over here in the Shack, eh? Enjoy a little something from Chris Garneau and go pick up El Radio! xoxo
World Tour Dates
11/27/09 – Freiburg, Germany – White Rabbit
11/28/09 – Munich, Germany – On3Radio Festival
11/29/09 – Heidelberg, Germany – Pret A Couter Festival
12/01/09 – Berlin, Germany – NBI
12/11/09 – Philidelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church Chapel
01/01/10 – Bejing, China – Yugong, Yishan
01/02/09 – Shanghai, China – Mao
01/03/09 – Nanjing, China – Castle
01/05/09 – Wuhan, China – Vox
01/06/09 – Chengdu, China – Little Bar
01/08/09 – Changsha, China – 4698
01/09/10 – Guangzhou, China – Iron Age Space
01/10/09 – Shenzhen, China – Idutang Loft
Michele Ari came to me via Windy City Rock, a fantastic Chicago Blog that you should have on your radar. Frank describes her music as “mainly influenced by old school new wave, punk, college rock” and yeah, I can see that. But what I’m also hearing here are great lyrics sung by a woman whose style and phrasing reveal true singer/songwriter talent. Her new EP Mal a’ Propos has five songs which stretch her range from a more traditional new wave (how’s that for an oxymoron, eh?!) sound on “Don’t Go” to a beautiful ballad-like statement with “Atom Bombs.” Check out Michele Ari’s website and see for yourself how this evocative singer will capture you, xox
Oh Darlings, this is truly gorgeous, truly exciting, heady stuff I bring you this evening! There Will Be Fireworks, (that group that caused such a splash this summer when they entered the field of Scottish bands alongside Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad, and We Were Promised Jetpacks), is working on their sophomore record. They recorded this little number in one day, according to their PR, and if you’ve not hit the play button DO IT NOW. I love it. I love it. I love it. And there’s nothing naughty about it. It’s just a straight up, beautiful Christmas song. Enjoy! Let There Will Be Fireworks fill your ears with their full instrumentation and characteristically Scottish vocal sound and tease you with what their next album might sound like. It’s due out in early 2010! xoxo
Upcoming Live Dates
December
3 Caves, Edinburgh
18 Queen of Hoxton, London
20 King Tuts, Glasgow
First off, there’s loads of xmas songs in my mailbox! If you’ve got some goodies, send em on over, there’s never too many! This track is from a local band here in Chicago, Gidgets Ga Ga, that has a record out this year and I’m due to review it asap! But in the meantime, enjoy this cool little widget with their latest Christmas song. It’s very Chicago-y, if I may say so myself (proudly)
I have no real idea why these songs are grouped together in my addled brain this evening, other than the fact that they feature some sort of raw, masculine vocal and sense of perverse Santa/Christmas debasement. Have at that, in whatever manner turns you on. DC, darlin’ … this first one is all for you, xox
Christmastime In The Mountains mp3 The Savings and Loan from the Avalanche Records Alternative Christmas Album, 2009 buy it here!
Disc 2, from these originators and masters of industrial music.
2008, a gorgeous new tune.
2000, this will depress the fuck out of you, but what else do we expect from John Darnielle? It’s dark and interesting.
This track is so haunting… it’s almost too creepy to be a real Christmas song. (click on the album name to buy it on Amazon)
And really, I’m not sure what to make of this one either, but the more I listen to it, the more I love it. But, I’m weird like that, you know. It’s not a Christmas song in any way, shape or form. It’s actually a horribly painful song to hear once you know the lyrics. If you really must know, click 
1972
2000
1978
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