Indie Rock

Memorable TV Performances: Interpol- PDA on Letterman 2002

There are a lot of bands out there that I enjoy that would probably surprise a bunch of you that read Audioeclectica. One of which is Interpol. Now, when they first arrived on the scene I was not into it and I wrote them off as a Joy Division wannabe type band but, then I saw them around the time of their first album and my attitude about them changed. Yes, they have some very similar moments that you would find in a Joy Division song but, Interpol brought something more to it. Their debut album, Turn On The Bright Lights is a terrific debut album and the song “PDA” to this day always seems to perk me up. Which now brings me to Interpol’s late night TV performance debut on the Late Show with David Letterman back in 2002. It’s crazy to think that this song and performance is over 20 years old now and the song still sounds great! Enjoy!

Interpol- PDA (Live on the Late Show with David Letterman- 2002):

Anticipated Albums: Powder Pink & Sweet- Little Stories

I remember the first time I heard the term shoegaze. It was around the time that The Smashing Pumpkins released Siamese Dream and all these reviews I read and interviews kept referring to this new sub-genre called “shoegaze.” I thought what a strange term for a genre of music. Then it was explained to me (keep in mind I was only 7 or 8 when Siamese came out) and it made sense. Then later on I was exposed to the great My Bloody Valentine album, Loveless, and that’s when I truly found my deep fondness for shoegaze. Over the years the sub-genre has grown to include other elements from different genre’s making it quite a trip to listen to. There is one band that has combined shoegaze with dream pop, indie rock and a tinge of 90’s alternative rock that has captivated me. Allow me to introduce you to Powder Pink and Sweet. The band was formed in 2016 by the eclectic Cris Verso. And through the years since, Powder Pink and Sweet have carefully crafted a batch of hypnotic, dreamy and lush songs. Their upcoming EP, Little Stories, captures all the above and then some. The first single “Slightly Hopefull” is a dreamy and contemplative tune that provides quite the escape from the harsh realities of the COVID lockdown. Little Stories will be released Friday November 4th.

Powder Pink & Sweet- Slightly Hopeful:

PRE-ORDER THE EP Via BANDCAMP:

Unsung Masterpieces: Sunny Day Real Estate- Diary
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Music will always stand the test of time. Certain albums will forever be revered as timeless. Some albums though don’t get the recognition they deserve. Which brings me to Sunny Day Real Estate’s debut album Diary. The album is considered by many to be a defining emo album. It has also been called the bridge between post hardcore and the emo genre. Listening to this album you can tell where Brand New gets a lot of their influence from. Lyrically there is a sense of realism throughout the album. Jeremy Enigk has a real knack for creating vocal melodies that compliments his softer voice and the words. Dan Hoerner’s guitar tone is heavy yet crisp and bright, which accents the soft vocals and the delicate nature in which Jeremy plays. Nate Mendel’s bass has a nice dirty tinge to it, adding just the right amount of distortion to balance with William Goldsmith’s heavy hitting drums. Songs like “Seven,” “In Circles,” “47,” “Grendel,” and “48” are all stand out tracks. Diary was different from those released by all the other Seattle bands at the time. It’s melodic but has a slightly heavy sound that has had a clear impact on future emo groups. It is the seventh best selling album released on Sub Pop Records, having sold more than 231,000 copies. In 2013, Diary took the first place in LA Weekly’s  list of the “Top 20 Emo Albums in History”

 Diary:

 

By: Brian Lacy

Unsung Masterpieces: Brand New- The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me
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Often times when a band makes the jump from indie label to a major label, there is something in the music that is lost. Perhaps it’s the pressure or the fact that the label itself is trying to make the band something else. That was not the case in 2006 when Brand New released their spectacular album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. This album offered more in the way of contributions from the other members of the band. The title of the album was inspired by a friend of singer/guitarist Jesse Lacey who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This album also contains no filler. Starting off the album is “Sowing Season” which captures a raw emotional feel from the band. There is a definitely a 90’s feel to this song. “Millstone” is a song that continues the same raw emotion and also has very catchy sing a long type of chorus. The second single released was “Jesus Christ” is a mellow and quaint song. “Degausser” is another song that cradles the quiet/loud structure. The vocals on this song are powerful and pure. “Limousine” is nice mid tempo jam that features a very cool guitar solo. “You Won’t Know” is a true highlight of the album. The riff is punching and heavy. The vocal melody is aggressive without losing the melodic nature. “Welcome To Bangkok” is a great middle of the album segue. “Not The Sun” has a bit of a pop vibe to it but doesn’t lose their integrity that Brand New is known for. “Luca” has a similar vibe to The Mars Volta. This song is one of my personal favorites that the band has ever come up with. “The Archers Bows Have Broken” carries a melody that is akin to The Cure, and continues on with a pop vibe but adds an element of shoe gaze and feedback to dirty it up. Closing out the album is “Handcuffs” a very solemn and moody song that sums up the album in a great way.

Brand New are a very underrated band and great songwriters. They have the ability to connect with their personal attributes and storytelling. Musically they took many parts of the 90’s and mixed them with a sort of post hardcore structure. The Devil and God Are Raging Inside me is one of the best albums to come out in the last 10 years.

 The Devil AndGod Are Raging Inside Me:

 

By: Brian Lacy