The Pigeon Detectives: My New Favorite Band... for the next 15 minutes

So, I heard about this band thru the In the City showcase that they were having after the panels in NYC last week. The Pigeon Detectives were supposed to play the Nokia Theatre with The Happy Mondays but THM cancelled the week before the show. They ended up playing the Knitting Factory with The Rakes last Wednesday night- I missed it for Razorlight which is a completely different story that I will post about later.

Hailing from Leeds, this band formed in 2002 taking a path that very likely will lead them into rockstardom- well at least for a brief while. Getting on some great tours having supported Dirty Pretty Things whilst they toured in Spring 2006 and Kaiser Chiefs in early November 2006, this band is getting major "buzz" as summer festival season nears. Their debut album "Wait For Me" was just released last month in the UK produced by Will Jackson (Kaiser Chiefs/Embrace) and mixed in part by Cenzo Townshend (Snow Patrol/Kaiser Chiefs/Bloc Party) and Steve Harris (The Automatic/U2). From what I've heard so far (haven’t picked up the CD yet) is some solid catchy pop/rock. Their songs are all really similar (aka sound the same) but that doesn’t bother me since I find them to be infectious and full of energy. Last week, I couldn't get "I Found Out" out of my head playing it at work over and over again. Unfortunately, they are not slated to gig in the US any time in the future, as I hear their live show takes the recorded songs to new heights with charismatic lead singer, Matt Bowman’s stage antics, crowd surfing etc. I assume as they get bigger, The Pigeon Detectives will be making trips to NY to showcase for a US label deal (if they don't already have one in the works).

The Pigeon Detectives - Wait For Me.mp3
The Pigeon Detectives - I Found Out.mp3
The Pigeon Detectives - Im Not Sorry.mp3

In the New York area there are limited copies of the album available from the following stores:

Generation Records
210 Thompson St
New York, NY 10012
(212) 254-1100
www.generationrecords.com

Other Music
15 E 4th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 477-8150
www.othermusic.com

Wax Fang @ Mercury Lounge 6/6

Wax Fang played last week with The Features at Mercury Lounge and I was blown away by the sheer musicianship that this Louisville, KY 3-piece displayed. Their sound is so epic, crisp and tight. Originally a solo project for Scott Carney (vox, theremin, guitar) developed in his basement playing all the instruments himself until he eventually added Kevin Ratterman (drums) and Jake Heustis (bass, keys) to round out this retro/but updated indie rock outfit.


Carney sounds Michael Stipe-ish when he sings as some of the songs are instrumental or with lyrics with little regard for the traditional chorus, verse, bridge, chorus etc formula (below are two songs with lyrics). Their influences seem to range from southern 60s rock, to the obscure indie rock. They have recently toured with My Morning Jacket. Here's what Jim James of MMJ had to say about Wax Fang:

"...it’s got futuristic energy, a lot of elements I’ve never heard work before. A combo of all these things you remember from the past. You can sense some David Bowie in it. It’s so unique, it’s hard to place. The cool thing about it is he [Carney] made it by himself. Every single instrument is played by him and he paid attention to the details….The production is amazing, the songs are amazing. It takes you to a different place." - Jim James of My Morning Jacket from the New York Times

MP3:Wax Fang - Sweet Bloody Murder.mp3
MP3:Wax Fang - Bi-Polar Bear.mp3

Rando MP3s I'm feeling, so might you: M.I.A., Uffie, Amanda Blank, Yo Majesty and more

RECOMMENDS:
Justice - The Party (featuring Uffie).mp3
M.I.A. - 09 Hit That.mp3
Leaked new track, in the hook of this song, I think everyone who grew up in the early 90s knows this chant from Rump Shaker by Wreckx-N-Effect
Amanda Blank - 03 Track 03.aif
This is one of her new songs, so new, I don't even know the name of it
Bjork - 01 Earth Intruders (Spank Rock Remix).mp3
The Pack/Ashanti - Retro Kids.mp3
Matt and Kim - Yeah Yeah (Flosstradamus Remix Tagged).mp3
Amerie - Gotta Work (Clean).mp3
digiwaxx.com hooks me up with mainstream fun!
Yo Majesty - club action.mp3
I know, I know, everyones already on this one, but whatevs

Just Jack is not just from Will & Grace

This LDN native started djing at 15 and got heavy into the Grime (UK's abrasive brand of hip hop) scene. His first album "The Outer Marker" released in 2002 was given the cold shoulder, barely making a dent in the UK. "Overtones" is Just Jack's sophomore release on Mercury Records, having reached number 2 on the UK charts with the single "Stars In Your Eyes." People have taken notice and he is not playing sold out shows in the UK and being compared to the likes of Mike Skinner aka The Streets. However, Mike Skinner is the farthest from Just Jack. The media sees two white guys rap/talking over grime-ish beats in London with a storyteller quality and assume they are the same. Anyways, my favorite song has to be "Disco Friends". Check em out, I guarantee you'll like em



Just Jack - Stars in Your Eyes.mp3
Just Jack - Disco Friends.mp3
Just Jack - Glory Days.mp3

Amanda Blank new song with XXXchange

Amanda Blank is a sultry sexy singer as well as a dope mc who can stand up to the boys.
Amanda Blank - Get It Now.mp3
Here's another new track I'm loving
Amanda Blank - DJ Play That Shit.mp3

and its been rumored that M.I.A. wants to take Amanda and Santogold on tour this summer which would be a show I would DEF be at! Will keep you posted on all that shit if it works out

And this song rings a little to close to home but I can dig it, can u dig it
it comes from The Pase Rock
The Pase Rock ft Amanda Blank - Sexy MF DJ Eli rmx.mp3

Ed Banger goons @ Hiro This Thursday

This Thursday, I just found out (I don't know how this got past me) that Justice along with DJ Medhi, Sebastian, Busy P...
Cheeky B*stard Presents
Ed Banger Records and Presets Live

The Presets are dope, check em out


The Presets - Are You The One.mp3
The Presets - Down Down Down.mp3


I'm going to miss Airspace!!! aaarrghhh

Airspace is a band a friend stumbled upon on myspace and told me to check out. I totally trust this person's music taste, so I listened to the music and was pretty impressed. Adding to my surprise, I saw that they were going to be playing in NYC the next week (this week). Sadly, I'll be out of town til Sunday and am missing a lot of great shows, including this band! I don't know the particulars but I know that some of the band is British and some are American which explains how thoughtful the music is. Anyway, I will get to the bottom of "their story" once I get back and have time to email/harass them. If any of my friends are interested in going to the show to review it for me and take pictures, let me know and I'll hook you up!

Airspace is playing 2 NYC dates:
3/7/07 Lion's Den @ 8:30
3/8/07 Pianos @ 8

Here are some great songs they sent me

Airspace - 06 Misspelled.mp3
Airspace - 05 Angel Unleashed.mp3
Airspace - 03 Candle.mp3

I don't esp agree with everything in this cause I'm a different person, but here's what Performer Magazine's Kat Amano had to say:
"With a sound that alternates between daring, grinding indie and shoot-for-the-stars mainstream, Airspace has yet to find label support, despite the help of hit-making engineer John Hampton (The Raconteurs, R.E.M., The Replacements) as co-producer. The album's transatlantic influences are immediately apparent: lead singer Alyn Mearns and guitarist Jimmy Brown grew up in Belfast, Ireland; bassist John Coogan and Alex Watson hail from the Southeastern U.S. The effect on this, their debut EP, is a smooth melding of Brit-rock edge and Southern sensibility, with a serious focus on thinking through the arrangements. This is perhaps the biggest appeal factor for Airspace. The overall sonic atmosphere sounds carefully, even meticulously, planned; dynamics are weighed and executed with excellent judgment, and yet never once does the band seem trapped in its own formulas. They maintain their spontaneity and liveliness, particularly as Mearns' vocals soar and sear through an impressive tonal range. He varies from expressive, balladic crooning to throaty rock 'n' roll sing-shouting as the music builds and pounds, at times sounding almost like The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, but with better lyrics. Mearns takes great care with his melodies and dynamic variations, understanding when to back off and let the other band members shine. On keys and guitar, Brown really drives the music with strong, weighty chords that serve the song without overpowering Coogan's quick-fingered bass lines and Watson's rock-your-face cymbals. The band keeps the quieter moments just as interesting, faltering only slightly on "Candle," which stumbles into emo territory with Mearns' breathy chorus and a "let's-outdo-U2" approach. Thankfully, they redeem themselves quickly with the punk-inspired "Hunky Dory" and then the catchy but rocking "Baby Don't Let Me Down." The key here is variety with unity, which nearly ensures an exciting and interesting live show."

Leaders of The Pack

Coming from the subgenre of hip hop known as hyphy from the Bay area, The Pack (formerly known as the Wolfpack)- skaters turned rappers from Berkeley, CA are bringing this movement a lot of attention as of late. Hyphy is distinguished by gritty, pounding rhythms, and in this sense can be associated with the Bay Area as crunk music is in the South. Contrary to popular belief, the musical aspect of the movement has very few similarities to crunk music, as it is dictated by more uptempo beats.

Longtime Too $hort studio engineer/production collaborator Taj Mahal Tilghman, who is Up All Nite Music's general manager and project coordinator says of The Pack “They're totally unique and they embody the whole essence of the 'hyphy' sound and style with their energetic crazy party personalities and all that shines through in their delivery and their lyrics." "Organized madness" is how Taj sums up The Pack's instantly spellbinding 'hyphy' assault.
The Pack’s self-titled album is highly anticipated featuring the likes of Too $hort, Keak da Sneak, Mr. F.A.B., Jody Breeze of Boyz N Da Hood, and The Team. Complete with hits such as "Vans" (already creating a strong buzz on the Left Coast with stations in California, Portland, and Washington all following the Bay Area's KMEL lead and quickly expanding to Miami and Atlanta), "Ice Cream”, " Dum Diddy Dum " and "Booty Bounce Bopper".
No strangers to controversy, their video for “Vans” was banned by MTV for apparently being a commercial for the shoe. For more on this go here.
"It’s a punk rock shoe so they get real dirty/Sole kinda thick like a big booty chick"
Watch the video:


Discovered by Too Short and now signed to his label Up All Nite/Jive, The Pack (formerly The Wolfpack) is on the fast track to Berkeley, California rappers stars. When they signed to Up All Nite Music they also officially became a part of the Up All Nite crew along with Too $hort and Atlanta's up-and-coming Murda Mob (comprised of freestyle master Booski, female emcee Lil Red, and Young Bay who was formerly known as Baby DC).
Here are some songs:
The Pack - Vans.mp3
The Pack - Dum Didi Dum Dum ft. Mr.FAB & Too Short.mp3

News and shit

*Ok so I'm obsessed with how weird this girl, Teyana from StarTrak who was on My Super Sweet Sixteen.... Fader wrote this funny blog entry about her here
*Madvilan has AN ACTION FIGURE OMG I WANT THIS
*Anything about Dick Manitoba is newsworthy to me... I love his bar, and have had many amazing nights getting fucked there and fighting about jewish/catholic raisings
*A touching tribute to the travel mixtape... I totally agree
*Callmemickey has a good post re: a new hip hop artist that played a Fader party earlier this week I think, named Tabi Bonney... for more info, go to catchdubs


This is my new favorite SONG for the WEEK... I love the line "i dont gotta rap i can sell a mill sayin nothin on a track"

MIMS - This Is Why Im Hot (Dirty).mp3



Oh,

P.S. I'm going here tonight

British Neo-New Soul in JOSS STONE

So I was sent this mp3 of Joss Stone's new single off her third record-"Introducing Joss Stone" coming out March 20, 2007 AND I must admit, its pretty dope. The reason why-other than her amazing voice-Raphael Saadiq, her producer and one of my favorite music creators from Tony! Toni! Toné!, to Lucy Pearl (with Dawn Robinson from En Vogue and Ali Shaheed Muhammad from A Tribe Called Quest) to his solo record "Instant Vintage". Check this out for all his other productions..his discography is pretty amazing.
Stone credits him as her main musical collaborator and producer, spending two months recording in the Bahamas together (not such a bad place to be), and then mixed it at Electric Lady across street from the Greya Papaya on 8th st.

Here's the track listing:
1. Change (Vinnie Jones Intro)
2. Girl They Won't Believe It
3. Headturner
4. Joss Stone - Tell Me Bout It.mp3
5. Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now feat. Common
6. Joss Stone - Put Your Hands On Me (Clean).mp3 [produced by Raphael Saadiq]
7. Music feat. Lauryn Hill
8. Arms Of My Baby
9. Bad Habit
10. Proper Nice
11. Bruised But Not Broken
12. Baby Baby Baby
13. What Were We Thinking
14. Music Outro

I've been seeing this trend to Doo-Wop and Motown which I LOVE being heralded in by British artists (mostly by American producers)...spitting it back at us nearly half a century later, adding to elements of modern funk, hip hop syncopating beats... Notables include The Pipettes, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, and most recently Joss Stone.
This is not to say that Joss Stone wasn't always thought of as the little white British girl with the big soulful pipes.. but up until this album, its been covers of other artists songs translated into her creamy, vanilla type pop aka "Fell In Love With A Boy" "Some Kind of Wonderful" etc with Ms Betty Wright at the helm shaping her vocal arrangements etc... Only difference is now I hear a little more of that NEW NEW old school R&B cropping up in the past 5 months (if that makes any sense to you).

Listen to her new tracks above to give you a feel for what I am talking about.

From Saadiq's solo record: Raphael Saadiq - Faithful.mp3

The Pierces are anything BUT boring

Alabama-born-neo-New Yorkers The Pierces (sisters Catherine and Allison) launched their new album by supporting Albert Hammond, Jr., whose solo excursion from The Strokes is getting great reaction in the UK with their sold-out tour.

The Pierces new album “Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge” was produced by Roger Grenawalt (Ben Kweller, Adam Green) and will be released in February/March (I'm not sure of the official release date). The Pierces used their network of friends in New York to assemble a live band for the UK tour. Lending their talents for this short tour were Russell Simins of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Shannon Ferguson of Longwave, Sammy James Jr. of Mooney Suzuki and Ben Bromley of Fischerspooner.

“The Pierces are perfectly in keeping with the Bright Eyes-led folking up of New York...
Disturbingly attractive sisters, Catherine and Allison are genuinely talented.” - NME

These girls are at first glance, just pretty singers, but when you listen to their music you find out how intelligent, bold and witty these girls are...

I just recently had their song "Boring" featured in a runway show for fashion week! Everyone who hears it, loves it and I know you will too... esp with the music video they did for it!

The Pierces - Boring.mp3

The Pierces - Lights On.mp3