San Diego’s Barbarian are winding up their month-long Soda Bar residency. Continue reading…
Poetic Memory: Barbarian (List)
Tag Archives: the smiths
Poetic Memory: Alex Kemp (List)
Up and comer Alex Kemp has been in three bands — The Godrays, Small Factory, and Assassins — that have taken him from New York City to Rhode Island to Chicago and everywhere in between. Now, the nomadic Kemp has set up shop in Los Angeles — this time to pursue a solo career.
In a short period of time, Kemp has raised eyebrows with his smooth, breezy grooves and heart-on-sleeve lyrics. He is currently preparing a series of limited edition, hand-screen-printed EPs for release over the next year, to be followed by a debut LP. Kemp was kind enough to take some time out from all that recording to share a Poetic Memory with us:
There’s a lot songs, tied to a lot of moments, that make up a sort of weird musical mosaic of our own personal histories. Everybody’s is so different though, so I don’t expect that anyone would see these song/moments of mine and relate, necessarily. But maybe they’ll go listen to the songs again, which would be fine, because they’re pretty fucking great songs. And we would have that in common — I’ll go listen to them again too.
Alex Kemp’s list of songs that have inspired his love for music is below. Continue reading…
The Cribs Won’t Be Ignored
Hey scenesters! Post-punk sibling act The Cribs have formally announced the impending release of their fourth album, titled Ignore The Ignorant. The album marks their first release since adding a guitarist by the name of Johnny Marr to their ranks, and was produced and mixed by Nick Launay of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, and Nick Cave fame.
Set for release through Wichita Recordings on September 7th, the album will be available in limited edition CD/DVD, CD, download, and sweet sweet vinyl format. For the impatient, the band will also be releasing a single for the new song “Cheat On Me” on August 30th.
We’ve got a track list for you after the jump, as well as the hilariously NSFW video for “Men’s Needs” off their endlessly listenable 2007 album Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever, which proves the group is capable of ignoring way more than just the ignorant. Continue reading
How to Hug Your Independent Record Store
“Indie record stores,†says Chrys Hansen of Modern Music, the Caribbean’s most visited record store, “are where you go when you first realize there’s a whole new world of music for you to explore.†The Internet notwithstanding as perhaps one’s first stop when searching out what the world has to offer musically, Hansen’s words ring sentimental and otherwise true.
Independent record stores, unlike the CD sections of Wal-Mart and Best Buy, often feature carefully procured selections of good popular music and local and alternative groups that are either too vulgar or not Hoobastank-y enough for other outlets. The quality of independent record stores is only enhanced by the personal touch offered by the staff.
Win ‘The Sound of the Smiths’ (Contest)
Owl&Bear is giving away a copy of the 2CD deluxe edition of The Sound of the Smiths!