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Smith Westwerns on Their Road to Adolescence

Shafira Desliara — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 14:28:30 +0000

When Smith Westerns released Varsity, a single out of their new album Soft Will, we were instantly reminded of those long summer high school nights spent cramming up our room, whining on how life sucks, while our friends were out there having fun—dancing away at some cool party or trying out a new kind of extreme sport. With the whirring 80s synths and 90s guitar-pop, Varsity sounds a little sad, depressing, and mellow, but not in a way that it would make your whole body shiver at how dark it sounds—because it’s not dark at all. It’s just, well, a little bit moody.

What we didn’t expect was to find that the sad anthem vibe doesn’t only resonate in Varsity alone. It’s a constant existence throughout the whole album. Soft Will still has the 60s—70s influence speckled on each track, showing that while Smith Westerns have grown throughout the years, they still haven’t fully forgotten their original roots. But unlike the band’s last album, Dye It Blonde (2011), Soft Will doesn’t have huge choruses.

The first track, 3am Spiritual, is a massive summer-poised sing-a-long number; lazy and laidback with a breeze of warm air, what with the flickers of guitar and airy bass. The next track, Idol, has spacey melody and feels a little like a Beach House song. Glossed gives a nod to the past by channeling some 60′s feel with a taste dream-pop and psych-laced slide guitars. It seems like Smith Westerns are now trying to lean onto a more contemporary sound than sticking to the sounds of yesteryear. While you might frown at the rather—ahem—dull title, the eight track, Best Friend, is sun-drenched and stretches out vocalist Cullen Omori’s vocals and enamors you with the harmony.

Soft Will sees Smith Westerns maturing in terms of style and production. But it’s lacking some weight in it. Smith Westerns seem to have gotten lost in this teen-dreamatorium; they didn’t didn’t bring much in the way of rhythmic drive to the proceedings—leaving the mellow vibe alone, not giving it any twist. It’s something that will make you feel like you’re being taken to somewhere more peculiar than a common beach, but you actually are not going anywhere. By the time you realize it, you’ll be a little bummed, but at least the view is pretty.

Do I Wanna Know? A Brand New Music Video from Arctic Monkeys

Andriani N Pratiwi — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:29:54 +0000

After they performed Do I Wanna Know? for the first time at Ventura Theater, California..

The Modern Tunes From Vampire Weekend

Andriani N Pratiwi — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:17:49 +0000

After revealing six songs in the past few month, Vampire Weekend finally released their third album on 14th May 2013, one week later than originally announced (7/8 May) due to some unanticipated delays in the production of physical copies of the record. The album ‘Modern Vampires of The City‘ can be streamed on itunes since last week (7/6).

The band’s musical architect, aesthetic director, and also producer, Rostam Batmanglij said on his twitter page that “It is a good time to tell you I think it’s our best record“. With help from Ariel Rechtshaid as co-producer, Batmanglij and Rechtshaid successfully built the ‘dark’ character on this album and made it to be their best record. If you listen the song ‘Hudson‘ and look at the album’s cover, it’s an art photograph taken by Neal Boenzi for The New York Times on November 24th 1966, you can easily feel the ambiance of the tunes.

Photo by: Alex John Beck

Batmanglij and Koenig started writing materials for their third album right after they finished ‘Contra‘ tour in 2010. The band’s drummer, Chris Tomson helped them writing ‘Hannah Hunt‘, a song about Koenig’s classmates in college. After all the material wrapped up the band who just performed on Saturday Night Live last Saturday (11/6) began to record the album at L.A.’s Vox Studio.

Speaking of the whole album we can assume that it is different than the two previous albums. You can see the preppy Ivy Leagues grads have become more mature in every songs both for musics and lyrics. But you still can feel their unique characteristic. Like in ‘Diane Young‘ or ‘Dyin’ Young‘, ‘Unbelievers‘, ‘Finger Back‘ and ‘Worship You‘ you can still jumping around and dance your ass off (just like what you do when you listen to the songs on their previous albums). In the last track ‘Young Lion‘ you can hear Batmanglij’s tender voice because this song is written and sung by him.

The actor and director Steve Buscemi, who directed Vampire Weekend American Express Music Unstaged at Roseland Ballroom, said, “What I love about them is that you can either just get off on the musicality of it or go deeper.” and we couldn’t agree more with him.

Sleep Alone New Video by Two Door Cinema Club

Andriani N Pratiwi — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:44:02 +0000

Your favorite Northern Ireland’s band, Two Door Cinema Club just released their new video from..

Albums You Should Anticipate For The Next 365 Days

svanapaper — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:27:26 +0000

Here we are now still with some leftover new year’s spirit and expectation for the future of this year album from your fav musicians. You may have listened to some of their singles but are you still trying to imagine which album should you buy this year? Thats why we are here to help you out by sorting 20 albums you should listen for the next 12 months ahead.

Chairlift, Something

Its been a while since we listen to their Bruises hits song, but wait no more cause this New York Band will released their 2nd album this january 23(UK) and 24(US) by Columbia/Young Turks. The track also includes Sidewalk Safari, Met Before, Guilty as Charge, Cool as Fire and many cool tunes that we also cant hardly wait.

Of Montreal, Paralytic Stalks

Maybe beside their Cirque du Soleil, what’s best Canada can offer is this rock band Of Montreal. Still with their psychedelic marauders theme and numerous amount of members, Paralytic Stalks will be released on Feb 7th. Recorded at Kevin Barnes’s home studio and collaborating with woodwind/brass player Zac Cowell.

The album will includes a seven minute orchestral pop epic song “Wintered Debts” which you can see below, “Gelid Ascent,” “Spiteful Intervention,” “Dour Percentages,” “We Will Commit Wolf Murder,” “Malefic Dowery,” “Ye, Renew the Plaintiff,” “Exorcismic Breeding Knife,” and “Authentic Pyrrhic Remission.”

Sleigh Bells, Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror is expected to drop in February, so does all hipsters over the world are going to give craps over this new release – no offence. Listen to the their first single, “Born to Lose”

Blondes, Blondes

After last year’s EP album ‘Touched’, this duo Sam Haar and Zach Steinman will release their two disc debut album RVNG Intl, on Feb 7th. The album will including their previous vinyl songs such as Lover, Pleasure and Wine, Water, and remixes by JD Twitch, Laurel Halo, and also Teengirl Fantasy.

Heartless Bastards, Arrow

This will be the band’s first album to be released under their new Brooklyn ‘indie’ label, Partisan Records on Valentine’s day. The band will be appear at SXSW to support their new album.

School Of Seven Bells, Ghoststory

The amped-up vibe of Ghoststory, due February 28th, is partly due to when it was recorded — between gigs on the band’s tour with Interpol earlier this year. “We brought the energy from our shows straight back home,” says Curtis, who sketched out tunes in the Brooklyn apartment he shares with singer Alejandra Deheza. “The idea was to write really quickly and not second guess anything.” -spin

The Magnetic Fields, Love at the Bottom of the Sea

Still with some of their previous albums theme, the 90s synth and adding some pop melodic like their 69 Love Songs, this new album Love at the Bottom of the Sea will be released on March 6. Same as Heartless Bastards the band will also be appear at SXSW to support the album.

Santigold, Master of My Make Believe

Santi White aka Santigold aka Santogold had released her first debut album three years ago and collaborate with many musician since such as Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, M.I.A, Lykke Li, Beastie Boys till Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With her performance at Clockenflap which we had review on our tweets was a big hell a show, we definitely can expect something big for her second album on this Spring.

The Shins, Port of Morrow

We love them since their first album in 2007 Wincing the Night, this American indie rock band will be release on James Mercer’s own label, Aural Apothecary on March 2012.

Andrew Bird, Break It Yourself

Since his last album Noble Beast in 2009, we haven’t heard something new from this Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and whistler, but on March 6 Bird will released his sixth studio album Break It Yourself. The album itself is produced by Bird and recorded in Western Illinois and will be released by Mom + Pop Music. You can check his tour dates and news of the album from his website (www.andrewbird.net/)

Sigur Rós, TBA

This Icelandic post-rock band has been on hiatus since 2008, and replaced by news and songs from Jónsi Birgisson. But this year around spring, the group will be back with their new album. Lets hope their new album will sound as airy as we used to loving it.

The XX, TBA

With Mercury Prize for their first release, we surely does have high expectation of their second album. Even though they had confirmed to released it in 2012 but the date hasn’t been set out yet. but we believed you all have already listen to the demo right? what do you think about it?

Gaslight Anthem, TBA

The badass New Jersey punk rock poets are expected to come together once again to release their next album – their first after signing with their new label Mercury Records – around July of 2012. Earlier this year, Gaslight members Brian Fallon and Ian Perkins dropped Elsie, the debut album from side project, The Horrible Crowes.

Arcade Fire, TBA

2011 maybe the best year for this Montreal-based band who had won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for The Suburbs. Their fourth album is expected to release sometime in 2012. The date is not yet set, but you will be the first to know from us once the news coming out.

Dirty Projectors, TBA

Another NY experimental band that has been quite taking our attention since their first album Orca in 2009. David Longstreth and the gang will release their 11th studio album around Spring. Lets hope the album will take our attention also this year.

Grizzly Bear, TBA

No release date has been announced for their next album, though the band stated on their Facebook page that “with all my heart and soul, I promise a new album in 2012! Unless something crazy happens. But let’s not get crazy, let’s just get creative!”.

They might be the most phenomenal indie rock band today. Their previous album Veckatimest, was too much to be appeared as the “Best of” lists for 2009 such as on Pitchfork, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. So lets hope their new album will be as creative as we hope to.

Animal Collective, TBA

Baltimore may have their famous broadway dancing choir or something like that, but we may know the town from this experimental psychedelic band, which sadly now they based in New York City. With members from -i don’t have any words to describe an indie band that consist many indie bands- Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz).

Portner, in an interview for Madison, revealed that they have just finished writing sessions and that they intend to start full recording sessions in January 2012 for the next album.

“We just finished another two weeks of writing sessions and put together five new songs..We’re really excited about this record … and it’s been really fun jamming with those guys again.”

Best Coast, TBA

This California garage rock / surf pop / lo-fi / indie rock band which consist of Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, will released their 2nd album sometime in summer 2012, with Jon Brion as the producer. They already announce that their first appearance will be for Big Day Out.

The Walkmen, TBA

2012 might be the year for this band to shine. After their Lisbon album on 2010, the new album will also mark the band’s 10-year anniversary, with lots of shows and a first-ever vinyl release of their 2002 debut album, Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone (1/10). Their new album itself will be produce by Phil Ek, the same guy who produce Fleet Foxes ‘s Helplessness Blues. You can see their tour and vinyl album on their web (thewalkmen.com)

Yeasayer, TBA

Yes they are going to release not one but two full-length albums in late spring or summer 2012. Maybe because its already been a while since their Odd Blood, so they trying to make it up? jk. The band have revealed that they have more than 22 songs ready.

To SPIN, Singer Chris Keating says that “one [is] the real album with three-and-a-half to four minute pop songs, and another that’s more like a soundtrack and released on the internet.” The “real” album is purportedly made up of 3 and 4 minute pop songs. Of the sound of these songs Keating admits “if it sounds too much like something we’ve done in the past, we don’t do it.” So how does it sound, well see what you make of this; Keating says “It’s like an Aaliyah album if you played it backwards and slowed it down. Or David Bowie’s Lodger. Those two are major influences.”

Efek Rumah Kaca on their 3rd album progress “Sinestesia”

Tiara Ayuwardani — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:08:40 +0000

It’s been three years after their last album, now we heard Efek Rumah Kaca is going to launch their third album. Excited? You must! Don’t know Efek Rumah Kaca? Bow down in shame since they’re one of the greatest name in Indonesian indie scene. Cholil, Akbar, and Adrian are three musicians behind the genius lyric of “Jatuh Cinta Itu Biasa Saja”, the provocative upbeat of “Mosi Tidak Percaya”, and thedazzling melancholy of “Desember”. Now questions start popping up in your head; new album? what? when? how? where? which? why? Read up, have some answers.Rumor has it you guys are going to launch your third album at the end of this year? How was the progress so far?
Cholil and Akbar : (share a meaningful glance at each other then burst out laughing)
Cholil : We’ve finished most of the parts, except mine. So we recorded this album per instruments; first was drum for the whole tracks, then bass, piano, guitar, and vocal at last. We are halfway on the guitar part, while on vocal.. none. Haha. We don’t have the lyrics yet.So it’s music before lyrics, has it always been that way?
Cholil : Yeah, that’s pretty much how we usually do itHow many songs were planned to be in this album?
Cholil : Six
Akbar : But the duration of each songs is kind of lengthy, around 6-8 minutes. It’s because we’re merging the songsBy merging, you mean like recycling your old songs, or combining the new ones?
Akbar : Combining new songs
Cholil : Making music is like plotting mysteries. Sometimes we don’t like a music because it is too predictable, like, we know where the notes are gonna go even when we haven’t heard it before, just the same old boring chords. We want to make something new, something unpredictable. When you see someone’s taking a picture on an upholstered couch located on a beach; it doesn’t seem to be in place, right? But what’s fit and what’s not, isn’t that all just from our state of mind? Why can’t we blend two things which are completely out of place, totally unrelated? That’s what we’re trying to make, to break boundaries in our constructed state of mind. We want you to let yourself be surprised by where the song will take you to.

Does it mean this third album will be like, more complicated?
Cholil : No, no. It might be complicated for us to play, but it shouldn’t be complicated for you to enjoy. Office matters are complicated, finance is complicated. Music must be enjoyable.

You said you’ve finished six songs, only minus the vocal part. Do you think you’ve succeed in making your music unpredictable?
Cholil : Vocal has a significant role in bringing the change of ambiance in a song, so before we fill in the vocal part, we don’t know yet

Seems like there are still plenty of completion to be done here and there, so, no exact date of launching yet?
Cholil and Akbar : (laughing)
Cholil : I want to have this finished by the end of this year, but we are having interference like domestic problems, office, stuffs like that.

How about packaging? Your first and second album came in similar package, any plans on making a difference for the third album?
Cholil : Well, focusing on the music material itself already requires a lot of energy, and we’re not sure we are able to spend some more on packaging, so I think most likely it will be just like the former.
Akbar : But the cover will –definitely- still be different

Have you settled a title for this album?
Cholil : I had this thought I haven’t even told them (Akbar and the manager-red) yet. It’ll probably be “Sinestesia”. Synesthesia is a condition where a person who has it able to perceive music as color.

Then what will this album be? Light, dark, pastel, or…?
Cholil : It will be colorful. So, we’re going to title the songs with colors, and there will be chapters. For example, “Black”. What brings you the sense of black; pocong? Current political situation?

Since you haven’t finished the lyrics, what topics would you like to highlight this time?
Cholil : I don’t know, life, maybe? Hahaha. Well, it will still be about life but in color metaphors.

All of your lyrics are in Indonesian, while nowadays many indie bands mostly use English. Principle reason?
Cholil : Well, language is not a barrier to enjoy music. Say, you’re using English to achieve this goal: going international. You can use any language to go international, because it’s your music that matters. Like Sigur Rós, he’s known worldwide even though he’s using his mother tongue, Icelandic. Or like Dengue Fever.

Any indicative change in genre?
Cholil : I think it’s going to be more folk, but that’s from me. It’s not really objective for us to define because we’ve been here, with our music, for years. You may need some second opinion from complete stranger-listeners. Before the album launch, yeah we said this is folk. After that, it’s up to you listener how you define it, what genre, doesn’t really matter.

Anything you would like to say to your avid listener who’s been eagerly waiting for this third album?
Cholil : Just don’t wait up

Remember an old saying: Patience is a virtue? In the mean time, let’s hold on to that while wishing them a trouble-free life, just so they could wrap the album, sometime soon. Fingers crossed!

Interview on September 23^rd 2011

Battles: Gloss Drop

svanapaper — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:00:35 +0000

This New York’s experimental band which consists of Ian Williams (guitarist), Dave Konopka (guitarist) and John Stanier (drummer), has started the band since 2002, but their first record album, Mirrored, was released on 2007 with songs that were featured in some PS3 video games, car advertisements, soundtrack for UK drama series, Skins, or even movies such as Big Fan.

With the departing of their vocalist for his own solo project, their second album Gloss Drop was released last month featuring some artist such as Matias Aguayo (Ice Cream), Yamantaka Eye (Sundome), Kazu Makino (Sweetie & Shag) and Gary Numan (My Machines). It’s really a wise choice of collaborators, which are singers who oftenly separated their vocal from themself to serve as an instrument, blending with the music.

What I like the most from the album beside the Gloss Drop cover, is the fact that they are brave enough to collaborate, to make the vocal blending with layered sound of acoustic and synth, and their usual atypical math-rock rhythm, and now you can listen more catchy tunes, such us “Ice Cream” and “Futura”. If you’re too bored to listen to the same alternative songs, you can try to listen to this album, and maybe you can found some inspiring ideas after. (Othy/CP/ssgmusic)

Feist: METALS

svanapaper — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:38:11 +0000

Last month Feist has announced her new album titled Metals and will be out on October 4th. On Tuesday, August 2nd, she just reveals fully painted cover album and track listing. The cover album was incomplete, and there was a competition to unveil the cover of “Metals” on her Facebook page. Some more information are available on the listentofeist.com.

Maybe some of you have seen her documentary film “Look at What the Light Did Now”, it’s about her journey to her Grammy nominated album. Her poetic film is no different to her previous album; aside from her journey, this documentary also telling us about her inspiration and those people who had supported her. She also used dramatic and artistic angles, visual and score, and many visible artifacts regarding her albums. Well, we loved her albums so far, she deserved the nomination, and from her unique cover album, we hope we can hear more unique and quirky sounds from her. (Othy)