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Suddenly last night I couldn’t find you.
You ran beneath a plume of smoke.
And all your sisters, they ran after you.
When did you know… that you were chosen?
Cause it’s a wicked world for you to grow up in.
And it’s a thickened skin, the skin you walk around with.
Just don’t get cold.
Cause soon your own…
fatalistic dreams follow you.
And it’s a hapless place that time will tell.
I know you don’t need another mother.
So I’m giving …you …something … else.
Cause it’s a wicked world for you to grow up in.
And it’s a thickened skin, the skin you walk around in.
Just don’t get cold.
Cause soon your own…
You can take it slow, you don’t have to know it all…(I’m sorry I went too far.)
You can take it slow, you don’t have to know it all… (Im sorry I went too far.)
You can take it slow, you don’t have to know it all (I’m sorry I went too far.)
You can take it slow, you don’t have to know it all (I’m sorry I went too far.)
Cause it’s a wicked world for you to grow up in.
Yeah there’s wrong, there’s right.
There’s not a list to memorize.
Can we see your heart?
But I’m blind in that part… in… you.
I’m sorry I went too far.
“Wichitalright”
Samantha Crain knows the advantages to taking it slow, she’s seemingly always known this. From her first EP, The Confiscation, this young woman with her syrupy, quavering voice, has poured out her heart to us in more than a few ways. She’s done traditional folk melodies, alt-country ballads, kick-up-your-boots rock songs and on this new album she stretches even further. What remains constant is that gorgeous contrast between her voice sung low and quiet when it’s soft and velvety and as it is when it’s loud and full throated and lush. This contrast, used again and again (and I never grow weary of it), is woven throughout You (Understood) but doesn’t define this new and beautiful album. I’m having a difficult time defining it at all.
Lions mp3 Samantha Crain You (Understood) ….. pre-order here!
“Lions” is the winning track for any Samantha Crain fan; it’s a perfect meld of her EP and previous album, Songs In The Night,. What a fitting first track! Other songs like “We Are The Same” are a natural extension of her work, to my ear. Slow and sweet, it takes the advantages of expert production to capture the intimacy of vocals and guitar with simple, pared down harmonies to elaborate equally intimate lyrics. “Santa Fe,” track eight, jumps right off her last album as well, with a very comfortable duet and hint of banjo in the undertones. DC, of The Waiting Room, and I have been drooling over discussing this album for days; we’ve been so excited to get our hands on it. He’s eager for me to tell you just how much ”the basslines are gorgeous, bulbous. The guitars are ragged and sharp. The production is crystal sharp; you can hear the individual layers of instrumentation and the stereo mix is giddyingly spot on. This feels like it has been laboured upon, analysed, poured over, perfected. but you just know this has been perfectly stress-free, with no fuss or needless fiddling.” Yes, I stole those words from him, unabashedly. I also love what I hear on “Blueprints;” a sinewy melody that winds itself around such beautiful and heartfelt lyrics. Here’s what she wrote about the song and posted just yesterday on her MySpace page:
I would like to think that we all are pre-drawn, mapped-out entities. For that to be true, it would treat understanding people and knowing yourself like studying for a history test. You congregate your inventory of facts from all the research and reading you’ve done on the subject and, the more you examine, the better you retain the information and the more you know. But people are not blueprints, they are relentlessly in flux, changing their minds, their preferences, their haircuts, their accents, and this makes it unfeasible to ever know someone. I used to be discouraged by that but I think that is how we can show that we love each other, by showing that you’re ready to pay enough attention and time to find out who that person is today and the next day and the day after that.
This album is full of insight and soul searching but without all the hand-wringing that is so often found on those kind of things. No, You (Understood) is positive, full of light, encouraging, with interesting instrumental changes. It just moves from one song to the next in a perfectly wonderful way. It’s shameful of me to not review it track by track, for that is certainly one of its strengths. I thought numerous times that I had settled in and could begin writing this review. And then another song would hit me and I had no idea how to describe that! “Equinox” is that song, par excellence! It’s quirky and fresh and like nothing I’ve ever heard her sing. These songs flow one to the next in precision if one could imagine a flowing precision. In fact, Samantha Crain herself embodies just such an oxymoron, “flowing precision.”
“Wichitalright” is where it hit me, just how this all hangs together – how I think she’s able to transverse genres and excel at every step. Beginning like a slow waltz it lulls and soothes, and yet as she sings such comforting words her voice cries so sadly. Of all the Samantha Crain songs I know, this one has most artfully captured what she desired, in my opinion. Re-read the lyrics I’ve copied at the beginning of this review. I listen to this song over and over and, I realize, this is not folk music any more. Samantha Crain has crossed over into some smoky room with a big white piano and amber-colored drinks on ice. And I quite like this side of her. But not for long! The very next track, “Two-Sidedness” jars me awake and out of that lull; instrumentally it’s mature and harsh against her voice which flows through it in great watery ribbons. At this point in the album, I’m utterly convinced she can do anything. And “Toothpicks,” track eleven is where she proves just that with a completely avant garde, lopsided, gutsy experiment that ends so abruptly that I had to listen to it four times to decipher it. It’s the kind of ending that had me shaking my head and laughing to myself. On a good day I can’t tell enough people about Samantha Crain. After hearing this album, I can’t tell enough people about Samantha Crain on even the worst of days. She’s come into a fine inheritance with You (Understood) and it’s about time you all take note of it. Check my post here for tour dates.
thank you, to the folks at the blog done waiting for finding this!
the basslines are gorgeous, bulbous. the guitars are ragged & sharp. the production is crystal sharp; you can hear the individual layers of instrumentation & the stereo mix is giddying spot on. this feels like it has been laboured upon, analysed, poured over, perfected. but. you just know this has been perfectly stress-free, with no fuss or needless fiddling.
Can you tell I’ve been recovering from last week/weekend still? I’ve barely kept my head above water since Sunday night! Forgive me, darling readers. Here’s some random goodies for your weekend. I’ve got an album review in the works, just waiting to hear if I can give you an MP3 with it. So hang in there.
I loved hearing/seeing Jarrod Gorbel when he came to Schubas last month. Here he is singing with a school choir You should keep an ear out for his new album, Devil’s Made A New Friend, hitting us on August 31st. I’ll let you know more, look for more videos too. There will be ten coming out in the ten weeks preceding the album release, featuring guest artists and filmed on location in NYC.
Lonely mp3 The Middle East The Recordings of The Middle East …. buy it!
This weekend just really can’t get much better! I’m just in from a wonderful show by The Twilight Sad and MONO at Lincoln Hall last night where my mind was blown by incredibly loud, beautiful, music. Both bands were really just on the money in such a great hall. But that’s not all – tonight I go to Schuba‘s to hear and interview The Wailing Wall, a.k.a., Jesse Rifkin. And tomorrow night brings us Mumford & Sons with The Middle East! And to think I was under the impression that March and April were busy months for music in Chicago.
US Tour Dates
5/24–Lincoln Hall–Chicago, IL (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
5/25–Varsity Theater–Minneapolis, MN (w/ Mumford & Sons)
5/29–Sasquatch Music Festival–Quincy, WA
5/30–560 Club–Vancouver, BC (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
5/31–Aladdin Theater–Portland, OR (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/2–Slim’s–San Francisco, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/3–The Music Box–Los Angeles, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)**SOLD OUT**
6/4–The Music Box–Los Angeles, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons)**SOLD OUT**
6/5–Detroit Bar–Costa Mesa, CA
6/6–Belly Up Tavern–Solana Beach, CA (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/7–Rhythm Room–Phoenix, AZ (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/9–Antone’s–Austin, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/10–House Of Blues Cambridge Room–Dallas, TX (w/ Mumford & Sons) **SOLD OUT**
6/12–Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival–Manchester, TN
European Tour Dates
June 25 Manchester, UK Deaf Institute
June 26 Dublin, Ireland Sugar Club
June 27 Glastonbury, UK Glastonbury Festival
June 28 Brighton, UK The Freebutt
June 29 Paris, France La Maroquinerie
July 1 Koln, Germany Studio 672
July 2 Berlin, Germany Comet Club
July 4 Belfort, Germany Les Eurockeennes de Belfort
July 6 Oslo, Norway Garage
July 7 Hultsferd, Sweden Hultsferd Festival
July 10 Balado, Scotland T in the Park
July 11 Naas, Ireland Punchestown Racecourse
July 12 London, UK Somerset House **SOLD OUT**
July 13 London,UK Bush Hall
July 15 Tonsberg, Norway Slottsjell Festival
July 16 Suffolk,UK Latitude Festival
July 17 Dour, Belgium Dour Festival
July 18 Nijmegen,Holland Festival de-Affaire
July 30 Woodford, Queensland Splendour in the Grass
One thing Mumford & Sons have going for them is, well… everything at the moment. Their album, Sigh No More, has gone platinum in the UK, has debuted #2 on Bilboard’s Heatseekers Chart, AND they’ve sold out nearly all their shows on this US tour. They are playing Sasquatch, Telluride, Bonnaroo and Glastonbury festivals (among so many others.) Amazingly, I had the opportunity to chat with Ben Lovett, who sings and plays keyboards and accordion, two days ago from Washington DC, as the band was just getting ready to perform to a sold out show at the 9:30 Club.
I thanked Ben and the band for their efforts alongside the organization Music Matters, to help musicians get paid for their work. (Please do click that link and see how the Music Matters Trustmark works and how you can help by choosing to download from sites that offer legitimate services which compensate musicians.) Throughout our discussion, Ben and I returned to the point that it really is the music that matters and not any profit for the band, something that is a given in the Music Matters Trustmark endeavor.
“The thing that’s annoying me, especially this tour, is what you guys call scaplers,” Ben says. “It’s really frustrating when you meet lovely people outside venues who are fans of the band and they can’t get tickets, and scalpers go and sell them. This guy in Montreal the other day tried to sell me a ticket to our own gig! He had no idea, [who I was] and I was on the edge just… I was just angry… I mean, he wasn’t a fan and it ultimately takes away from musical creativity and it makes it impossible [to continue doing what we do]. I think our common mentality is to make sure that we don’t do anything that is exploitative or questionable. But in decisions we make, we try and do everything we can that is straight down the line. We’re definitely not trying to profit from what we’re doing. And as long as we can keep playing shows and keep having material to tour we’re happy and it feels like our fans are happy. It’s a simple life in a nutshell.”
Certainly the image of Mumford & Sons; the lyrics of their songs which hearken back to a simpler time. The clothing they choose and the lack of pretentiousness in their approach to their fans belies the fact that they do strive for this simpler life. I think this is part of what attracts so many of us to the band and to their music. One of the first songs to really strike me was, the at the time, yet-to-be-released “Sigh No More,” with it’s lyrics borrowed from Shakespearean’s Much Ado About Nothing. I first heard the song on The Waiting Room’s live session and interview back in September 2009 (recorded in May 09) just after their trip to SXSW, before they were signed to a major label, and when no one had even really gone to hear them. In this interview they report people were chanting “What’s your name?!” at some of their gigs! I remember thinking at the time, no one was using eloquent, if somewhat archaic, lyrics like that outside of gospel or Christian music and attracting masses of people.
And masses of people were already beginning to watch this band. By the fall of last year the whole thing had spiraled nearly out of control and in April of this year, fellow blogger friend Matthew over at Song, by Toad was lucky to capture them at the last possible minute to get this wonderful series of audio/video sessions. I asked Ben if they thought they could continue to do these, seeing as they were an excellent way to give fans a very personal connection which profited no one.
“Do people watch and listen to them? You never know when you’re in a room with a couple of people filming something, if people will see it.” he says.
“Oh yes, people come to the blogs for this and I’m quite certain those are responsible for concert tickets and album sales.” I tell him and he seemed genuinely happy to hear it!
I ask him, “What is it about your music that resonates with Americans?”
“It feels too early to tell, we’ve only really hit the East Coast [of the US.] It’s really hard to know why four guys from London would connect with American fans. I think … uh… if we knew the answer, well, an awareness of that probably would be certainly detrimental to who we are, if we knew why people liked us. It’s the same as every relationship in life, we don’t have a formula and we definitely don’t think that we know the answer. We didn’t think our tour was going to sell out at all.”
“It’s better to not know?” I suggest.
“It is better to not know. We don’t analyze our small success so far, we just try and stay focused on making sure we play a good show every night. And when we walk into a room that’s the most important thing.”
“Don’t screw up the process, right!” I laugh.
“Exactly!” I can hear him smiling across the phone line.
By the age of 22 or so, most young men are just graduating college and starting a career. These four Londoners are standing on the brink of international recognition after 3 or so years of touring and performing together. I wonder what the road has taught them so far.
“Life on the road is a lot about people skills to be honest. You meet people working at venues, You meet people promoting what you’re doing. You meet people who are fans of the bands. I don’t think one would be happy if you didn’t like engaging with people. I think we’ve come out of our shells a little bit, to the public world. To really engage with people includes respecting people and choosing support bands that we really like and want our fans to hear. So you’re thrown into this very intense relationship with another band for the duration of a tour. And so we’ve got six weeks with The Middle East on this tour, they’re amazing guys. It’s really interesting. It’s almost what defines a tour [for us] is the support band. That’s who you’re sharing the experience of going from one city to the next.”
And I marvel at this experience and can only be envious of a life spent in the company of so many musicians and so much music. Is that not a music blogger’s dream, darlings?!
I know Mumford & Sons are working on new material. There is a new bluegrass EP to come out later this year. And I have heard that they are doing some new songs in this tour. Certainly being on the road colors any new writing and I ask Ben how it’s going.
“I think, some of the experiences now, it’s not that they’re different,… the relationships have changed, the solitudes have changed. It’s not like a solitude where you’re literally just on your own, you’re in your room writing a song. Sometimes on the road you have to seek that solitude and when you do it’s brief or as a brief as time allows.”
“So you are writing on the road then and not just while you’re at home?”
“The road is our home!”
And then we are cut short, my allotted 15 minutes are gone. No time for the really good questions about music and instrumentation and songwriting. I must ask my final question. It’s one that always elicits an insightful response and usually a laugh.
“If you could come back in another life, as any instrument you chose, which instrument would you be, and who would you choose to play you?”
“Brilliant!” he laughs and pauses very briefly “Definitely wouldn’t be a drum kit.” Then asks, “How many people will know what I say? Probably quite a lot then!”
“Oh yes,” I assure him. (Now make this true, dear readers!!!!)
“I’d like to be a harp played by Joanna Newsom!” and we have a good naughty giggle before saying our goodbyes.
Now go buy a ticket if you can find one. Don’t pay a scalper and don’t go selling your tickets on craigslist for a profit, eh? Do find a way to see the show; it’s going to be fantastic! Mumford & Sons aim to thrill you. I believe they will accomplish their goal with simple charm, brilliant talent, and a genuine love of music.
Tour Dates May 24 2010 8:00P Lincoln Hall *SOLD OUT* Chicago, IL
May 25 2010 8:00P Varsity Theater *SOLD OUT* Minneapolis, US
May 29 2010 8:00P Sasquatch! Music Festival George, US
May 30 2010 8:00P 560 Club *SOLD OUT* Vancouver, BC, CANADA
May 31 2010 8:00P Aladdin Theater *SOLD OUT* Portland, OR
Jun 2 2010 8:00P Slims *SOLD OUT* San Francisco, CA
Jun 3 2010 8:00P The Music Box at The Henry Fonda Theater Los Angeles, CA
Jun 4 2010 8:00P The Music Box at The Henry Fonda Theater *SOLD OUT* Los Angeles, CA
Jun 6 2010 8:00P Belly Up Tavern *SOLD OUT* Solana Beach, GB
Jun 7 2010 8:00P Rhythm Room *SOLD OUT* Phoenix, AZ
Jun 9 2010 8:00P Antone’s *SOLD OUT* Austin, TX
Jun 10 2010 8:00P House of Blues – Pontiac Garage *SOLD OUT* Dallas, TX
Jun 12 2010 8:00P Bonnaroo Music Festival Manchester, US
Jun 14 2010 8:00P The Bluebird Bloomington, US
Jun 15 2010 8:00P Off Broadway *SOLD OUT* St. Louis, MO
Jun 16 2010 8:00P Record Bar *SOLD OUT* Kansas, MO
Jun 18 2010 8:00P Nightgrass at Bluegrass *SOLD OUT* Telluride, CO
Jun 20 2010 8:00P Telluride Bluegrass Festival Telluride, Colorado
Jun 25 2010 8:00P Glastonbury Festival Somerset, UK
Jul 2 2010 8:00P Eden Sessions *SOLD OUT* Eden Project, Cornwall, GB
Jul 3 2010 8:00P Hop Farm Festival Kent, GB
Jul 10 2010 8:00P Oxegen Festival Co. Kildare, IE
Jul 11 2010 8:00P T In The Park Festival Kinross, GB
Jul 14 2010 8:00P Montreux Jazz festival Montreux, CH, SWITZERLAND
Jul 16 2010 8:00P Benicassim Festival Benicassim, ES
Jul 18 2010 8:00P Latitude Festival Suffolk, GB
Jul 22 2010 8:00P THEBARTON THEATRE ADELAIDE, AU
Jul 24 2010 12:00P Under The Supertop @ Perth Esplenade Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA
Jul 28 2010 8:00P Palace Theatre *SOLD OUT* Melbourne, AU
Jul 29 2010 8:00P Palace Theatre *SOLD OUT* Melbourne, AU
Aug 3 2010 8:00P Enmore *SOLD OUT* Sydney, AU
Aug 4 2010 8:00P Enmore *SOLD OUT* Sydney, AU
Aug 13 2010 8:00P Haldern Festival Lower Rhine, DE
Aug 15 2010 8:00P Summer Sundae Festival Leicester, GB
Aug 19 2010 8:00P Frequency Festival St. Polten, AT
Aug 20 2010 8:00P Pukkelpop Festival Hasselt, BE
Aug 27 2010 8:00P Reading Festival Reading, UK
Aug 29 2010 8:00P Leeds Festival Leeds, UK
Sep 5 2010 8:00P Electric Picnic Stradbally, IE
Sep 11 2010 8:00P Bestival Festival Isle of Wight, GB
The Twilight Sad are touring the US and they are not to be missed! You might recall the last time they came through Chicago, back in October. It left a lasting impression on me, check out my review here. Tour Dates
May 21 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Turner Hall Milwaukee WI, Wisconsin , US May 22 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Lincoln Hall Chicago IL, Illinois , US
May 23 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Magic Stick Detroit MI, US Find Tickets
May 24 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Grog Shop Cleveland OH, Ohio , US
May 25 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Brillobox Pittsburgh PA, US
May 26 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Lee’s palace Toronto ON, Ontario , CA
May 27 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ La Salsa Rossa Montreal QC, Quebec , CA
May 28 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ The Middle East Cambridge MA, US
May 29 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Daniel Street Club Milford CT, US
May 30 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ The Bowery Ballroom New York NY, New York , US
Jun 1 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ First Unitarian Church Philadelphia PA, US
Jun 2 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ 9:30 Club Washington DC, Washington, US
Jun 4 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ North State Sound Durham NC, US
Jun 5 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ The Masquerade Atlanta GA, US
Jun 7 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Exit/In Nashville TN, Tennessee , US
Jun 8 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Hi Tone Cafe Memphis TN, Tennessee , US
Jun 9 2010 8:00P The Twilight Sad @ Spanish Moon Baton Rouge LA, US
Jun 11 2010 9:00P Emo’s Austin Austin, TX
Wow, just wow…. see, sometimes I think I need one of those tumblr accounts…. This was an amazing evening, I wish I had filmed some of the lesser known parts with a real video camera because Marco is truly a legend. This encore is a crowd-pleaser and unlike much of his usual work. But just look what he does to it! Buy his new record, Between The Needles And Nightfall, it’s gorgeous!
Tour Dates
May 20 2010 8:00P the 8×10 Baltimore, MD Find Tickets
May 21 2010 9:00P North Star Bar Philadelphia, PA
May 22 2010 7:30P Bowery Ballroom Manhattan, NY
Jun 15 2010 7:30P Nightcat Easton, MD
Jun 16 2010 7:00P Sellersville Theater Sellersville, PA
Jun 17 2010 9:00P River Street Jazz Cafe Wilkes Barre, PA
Jun 18 2010 8:00P Bearsville Theater Woodstock, NY
Jun 24 2010 8:00P Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA
Jun 25 2010 9:00P Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
Jun 26 2010 7:00P Axe and Fiddle Cottage Grove, OR
Jun 27 2010 11:30P Rachel Browne Theater Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA
Jun 28 2010 7:00P Chapelle Historique du Bon-Pasteur Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Jun 29 2010 7:00P The Church of Holy Trinity Toronto, ON, CANADA Find Tickets
Aug 12 2010 7:00P Dazzle Restaurant Denver, CO
Aug 13 2010 7:00P Dazzle Restaurant Denver, CO
I’ve had this album by Quilty (they’ve dropped the kc part) on repeat, yeah, I know you hear that line often over here on this blog. It’s so true though! Clover/Coriander is an album that spans the divide between what I’d term alternative rock and everything new that I’m hearing in new music. I love that about this band. Sarah Dupuis has the capacity to belt out lyrics without sounding brash (read, still sexy as fuck) and also howl out long choruses without sounding pathetic (read, still sexy as fuck.) The bass beat never gives out too soon and on each and every song there’s more than enough versatility in guitar sounds and opportunities taken to keep me from classifying this album as having a particular “sound.” In fact, if it weren’t for the constancy of Dupuis’ vocals (which are sexy as fuck, did I mention that already?) I’d be raving about the songwriting. “Borneo” is a heavy, heavy track that lyrically stands up to it’s eerie melody simply because the surrounding instrumentation is as creative as that guitar solo is predictable. Sure, I saw it coming, but that didn’t mean I still didn’t really want it. There are a few things about Quilty that I could predict; the grinding bass, the delayed , mid-range beat of the drum, a judicious use of distortion to blur vocals and guitar in just the right range, in a Sonic Youth sort of way. But those tried and true elements are only the starting point for this band, and they jump off from there in entirely new directions. I’ve heard this thing through at least 15 times now, and I’m still finding new things in it. Now that’s the sign of a creative piece of work, to me. Clover/Coriander makes me think, makes me move, makes me want more. xoxo
Tour Dates (they’re booking their own tour, if you can help them out, get ahold of them, on their twitter)
May 21 2010 8:00P TBA (HELP!) Philadelphia, Pennsylvan
May 22 2010 8:00P Copycat f601 Baltimore, Maryland , US
May 23 2010 8:00P The Triple w/ THE MILKSTAINS + THE SUGARDICKS Richmond, Virginia , US
May 24 2010 8:00P Resevoir Carrboro, North Caro, US
May 25 2010 8:00P Go Bar w/ THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS Athens, Georgia , US
May 26 2010 8:00P Alabama Music Box Mobile, Alabama, US
May 28 2010 8:00P Little Hamilton Nashville, Tennessee , US
May 30 2010 8:00P The Cave w/ DAY SLEEPER Chapel Hill, North Caro
Nico, Nico, Nico… that’s all you hear in association with Cate Le Bon’s name. And it’s a pity because not many will know anything about Nico with which to label this talented young artist and fewer still will know enough about Cate le Bon to realize just how limiting that association actually is. Her debut album, Me Oh My, came out in 2009 but saw it’s American debut May 4th via The Control Group. I’m finding this album to be mesmerizing in its uncomplicated, unhurried rhythms. There’s an innocence that’s far from innocent about this. It’s too dark and psychologically disturbing to be entirely comforting and yet the harmonica plays and I find it all to be tastefully in tune, melodically pleasing. I guess it’s all really sad and you know how much I love sad music. With just her voice, unfettered by distortion or reverb or any special effects or production to speak of, Cate le Bon creates such a scene, accompanied by guitar and perhaps one or two other instruments. Me Oh My is melodramatic but quietly so. It’s emo in a very avant garde manner. And to this American ear, it’s retro-refreshing. It’s the Nico I wish Nico had been instead of the dismissive, oh-too-sick-of-this-world, nihilist creature that she was by the time fame hit her, despite her tremendous talent. And when the furious bits of instrumental madness are let loose on Me Oh My, Cate le Bon’s genius rises beyond what I’d expect of someone her age and experience. I respect this album for that. Go buy it. You’ll like it. xoxo
Cate Le Bon – Hollow Trees House Hounds from casey raymond on Vimeo.
Tour Dates
May 21 2010 8:00P Stag & Dagger, Swn presents @ Bar Music Hall LONDON, GB
May 22 2010 8:00P Wood Festival Oxfordshire, GB
May 28 2010 8:00P Take a Trip Festival Ystad Carreg Lwyd, Ynys Mon/Anglesey, GB
Jun 26 2010 8:00P Glastonbury Mojo Stage Glastonbury, GB
Jul 21 2010 8:00P Llangollen Fringe Festival Llangollen, GB
Jul 25 2010 8:00P Apple Cart Event London, GB
Aug 5 2010 8:00P Maes B Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Ebbw Vale, GB
Sep 10 2010 8:00P End Of The Road Festival Larmer Tree Gardens, DORSET, GB
Maps & Atlases are one of those bands that serve as a Rorscach Test for music lovers. People hear their one-of-a-kind blend of rock and roll and map onto it whatever genre they’re most interested in at the moment. Tune your ears to Chris Hainey’s drumming and easily label this band as “math-rock.” Focus your gaze on Dave Davidson or Erin Elder’s finger tapping guitarwork and you’ll walk away with some notion of a Don Caballero-influenced genius. Take in the songs on this new album, especially as they’re played live, and this band is all chaos infused, indie-pop. But with nearly 6 years together, Maps & Atlases is still re-inventing the sounds we expect to hear come swirling out of guitars, drums, and bass. And I haven’t even touched on the vocals yet!
Perch Patchwork, the debut LP by Maps & Atlases, coming out June 29 on Barsuk Records, has pleased me more each time I’ve heard it. None of those listens have even slightly approached the experience of being front row, center at Metro last week when they opened for Frightened Rabbit. The sonorous decadence of the album simply exploded from the stage and the audience had no way of being prepared for it. I was thrilled. The band was humbled by their reaction. The applause echoed loudly off them after each break, and if they felt they needed to test this new material on a hometown audience, they were mistaken. Perch Patchwork stands on it’s own as a solid record of achievement. And yet it progresses fluidly from their two EPs. From their very accessible and yet elaborate compositions on Trees, Swallows, Houses and slightly less intricate but equally innovative songs of You and Me and The Mountain, these twelve tracks span the scope of both previous EPs,and this new LP stretchs this band further afield into more clearly defined pop realms. Dave’s voice simply sings more. I was not alone in humming along with him on “The Charm” that night; it’s a catchy tune and by the second verse you pick up where he’s going with it. This record is full of moments where Dave’s vocals nearly stand alone and we simply loved it. “Pigeon” also features a memorable few lines of lyrics accompanied by the sparsest of guitar melodies, soon joined by increasing percussion with a sort of South African feel (think of a few tracks off of that brilliant Paul Simon album, Graceland.) But don’t worry, there’s plenty of noise to this too. “Solid Ground” the single released in advance of the album, surely demonstrates that the band is in excellent shape. It was a joy to see them interact on stage and feel their chemistry.
If you’re going to accuse Maps & Atlases of going “pop” then recognize that it’s because of creative melodies and not due to any vacuous new direction in instrumentation or lyrics. “Israeli Caves” will prove that this band is more than capable of marrying the sound it has grown a following for with the horizons it now stretches toward. Quite possibly the best song they’ve written yet, “Israeli Caves” will deliver them to you and beyond you, to the world. Do not miss seeing Maps & Atlases on tour this summer. Their show was a really great mix of old and new music that represents the whole of their musical expertise. This is much more than a band to watch out for. xoxo
The band has also released a limited edition, three-track single that is only available at the shows on this tour. The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Solid Ground
2. Living Decorations (Demo)
3. Israeli Caves (String and Vocal Mix)
Tour dates with Frightened Rabbit
5/17 – Berbati’s Pan (Portland, OR)
5/19 – The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)
5/20 – Downtown Brew (San Luis Obispo)
5/22 – Casbah (San Diego, CA)
5/23 – Henry Fonda Theater (Los Angeles, CA)
Tour dates with Fang Island, Cults, & The Globes 6/26 – Subterranean (Chicago, IL) ^
6/27 – Green Festival (Chicago, IL)
7/6 – Firebird (St. Louis, MO) &
7/7 – TBD (Omaha, NE)&
7/9 – The Marquee (Denver, CO) &
7/10 – The Black Sheep (Colorado Springs, CO) &
7/11 – Kilby Court (Salt Lake City, UT) &
7/13 – Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR) &
7/14 – Media Club (Vancouver, BC) &
7/15 – Vera Project (Seattle, WA) &
7/16 – TBD (Eugene, OR)&
7/17 – Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco, CA) *&
7/19 – Howie & Son’s Pizza (Visalia, CA) *&
7/20 – Muddy Waters (Santa Barbara, CA)*&
7/21 – Casbah (San Diego, CA)*&
7/22 – Bootleg Theatre (Los Angeles, CA) *&
7/23 – Club Congress (Tucson, AZ) *&
7/25 – The Loft (Dallas, TX) *&
7/26 – Emo Jr’s (Austin, TX) *&
7/27 – Mango’s (Houston, TX) *&
8/05 – Blind Pig (Ann Arbor, MI) *
8/06 – Grog Shop (Cleveland, OH) *
8/07 – Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON) *
8/08 – Casa Del Popolo (Montreal, QC) *
8/10 – Space (Portland, ME)*
8/11 – Middle East upstairs (Boston, MA)*
8/12 – Mercury Lounge (New York, NY)*
8/13 – Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY)*
8/14 – Kung Fu Necktie(Philadelphia, PA)*
8/15 – Black Cat Backstage (Washington, DC)*
8/17 – Brillobox (Pittsburg, PA)*
8/18 – Southgate House (Newport, KY) *
You should keep an ear out for his new album, Devil’s Made A New Friend, hitting us on August 31st. I’ll let you know more, look for more videos too. There will be ten coming out in the ten weeks preceding the album release, featuring guest artists and filmed on location in NYC. 
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