Smile Smile

It's another edition of local thursday, and today we are focusing on the Dallas boy girl duo of Smile Smile. On the same label as the Toadies, these guys have gained some national appeal with their latest album, Blue Roses. They have a folk indie pop sound... pretty mellow most of the time... if I had to categorize them as satellite channels, they are walking a fine line between XMU, the Pulse, and The Coffeehouse... Look for them in movie soundtracks at a theater (or Josh Schwartz TV Show) near you. And They should have a New CD coming soon, so look out for that too

here's a taste.

Smile Smile - Waving the White Flag

Broken Social Scene presents....

Wednesday is usually Boon's pick, and since he's gone 2 weeks without a pick, he's back with a vengeance. I'm sure you made of heard of The Broken Social Scene... but did you know that they are a veritable supergroup? Originally Formed by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, they've had a who's who of canadian musicians backing them up in the group as well as appearing on Kevin and Brendan's solo albums. Among them we Have Emily Haines from Metric, Leslie Feist, and Amy Milan from Stars. Although Lisa Lobsinger handles the backup vocals officially now, any one of these girls could show up at any show to perform.

First something from their breakout 2002 album You Forgot it in People (with Feist on Backup vocals I think... Feist or Haines)

Broken Social Scene - Cause = Time




Today Boon wanted me to post a song from last years Brendan Canning Solo project Something for all of us...

Brendan Canning - Hit the Wall




and Kevin Drew from 2007's Spirit If...

Kevin Drew - Safety Bricks

They both have great beards... but as an added Bonus... I've got a Kevin Drew Song from the Dark was the Night compilation that just came out not too long ago

Kevin Drew - Love vs. Porn




AND... if you call right now, you will receive a new Metric song from the album Fantasies, just released yesterday, absolutely FREE.

Metric - Sick Muse

what a deal. I think the ShamWow dude should stick to beating up hookers. I'm the new kid in town.

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers

I'm a sucker for a good band name, and I think the name Shilpa Ray and Her happy hookers is fabulous... first off... its ironic because all the rest of the band members are guys. Secondly,every body wants to keep their hookers happy.. its just common courtesy.... well unless of course you are Eliott Spitzer, then you pretend to clean up the streets while getting busted with a high dollar hooker. But I'm sure Shipla Ray are familiar with how much Spitzer sucks... they are from Brooklyn After all.

OK, I love that this band sounds different on almost every song... there can be elements, of blues, rock, folk, rockabilly... its basically pot luck. And Shipla's voice changes with the mood... from a Jolie Holland type feel to an Emily Haynes (Metric) feel... with a touch of a PJ harvey, Rachel Nagy(Detroit Cobras) and Brody Dalle (Distillers,Spinnerettes) for the heavier licks.

Here take a listen.
Mp3:

Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers - Filthy and Free

Japanther Why can't there be a resurgence of punk

So yeah, Japanther out of New York may not have a traditional punk sound in the vein of the sex pistols or Black Flag, but they do have a bit of the Misfits in them... you can totally here it in the opening guitar riff in the song I'm posting... but I digress... they are punk because they have a message... not because they play music that your mom tells you to turn down all the time. New Found Glory... Not punk. its loud pop. So sit back and listen to what Punk means to Japanther....My favorite line "Find the Clear Channel Billboards.. Tear them Down". That makes me so happy. Lowry Mays is the devil and might have single handedly destroyed radio... and this is a fellow Aggie talking.

Damn the man. Save the empire.

Mp3:
Japanther - Um Like Yer Smile Is Totally Ruling Me Right Now

Covers Friday - Nirvana Edition

So there was talk on Ron and Fez last week of Pearl Jam being the greatest band to come out of the Seattle Grunge scene, however there would be no grunge scene.. at least not worldwide, without Nirvana. So today we pay tribute to Kurt,Dave, and Chris as only we can... by posting songs of other bands covering them.


I think we'll take a little trip around the world...
First off, we will start out with Cibo Mato, those wacky japanese girls doing "About a Girl".

Cibo Mato - About A Girl

Then we travel to Scotland to hear Glasvegas do "Come As You Are".

Glasvegas - Come As you Are

We'll stop off in Belgium, to here the Scala And Kolacny Brothers Choir do "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

Scala - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Next Stop... Syberia... nothing like a little Tuvan Throat Singing covers... We Have Bugotak doing "Kaar Mege (Rape Me)".

Bugotak - Kaar Mege (Rape Me)

Back in the USA... to hear Port O'Brian do "Something in The Way"

Port O'Brian - Something In the Way

Now that we are in the states, we head deep in the heart of Texas. First Dallas to hear The Polyphonic Spree do "Lithium".

The Polyphonic Spree - Lithium

Down 35 to Austin to hear The Asylum Street Spankers do "Sliver". For their children's album.

Asylum Street Spankers - Sliver

Still on Southbond 35, taking Loop 1604 to Bandera, to heare Steve Earle Do "Breed"

Steve Earle - Breed

But Wait.. there is more... I got a few live recordings.

Ben Gibbard - All Apologies

Of Montreal/Mgmt - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Rogue Wave - On a Plain

and, just for shits and giggles, its not nirvana, but it is still a dave Grohl band cover, and its awesome. Petra Haden is fabulous.

Petra Haden and Bill Frisell - Floaty (Foo Fighers Cover)

Dust Congress ...they are in a dirty session

So Guy tells me that you don't here about local bands that much, and since Wednesdays belong to Boon recommended picks (usually) I'm gonna try and do a feature on some thursdays with a little local flava. Today, it is Dust Congress... they are from Denton, and they have a new EP coming out next month called Regurgitate Sunshine State. Here they are with an Ode to Televangelism... oh and BTW, tney are playing Saturday Night at Rubber Gloves in Denton at 10pm.

BTW, sorry I've been late on a few posts. stupid work. I need to blog full time I think.


Dust Congress - Sow a $58 Seed

Fever Ray When I grow Up

This song has been seriously growing on me... I'm a huge fan of The Knife, which is Karin Dreijer Andersson's other project (with her brother Olof, and quite honestly, I'm liking everything from Sweden..Peter Bjorn and John, Robyn, Teddybears,Lykke Li... it's all great stuff. Regardless, it's off her self titled debut album, Fever Ray... and its brilliant in it's simplicity. Her voice has a Santogold/Tegan and Sara vibe, and the music is pure sythpop... it could easily be a don henley, duran duran, or phil collins song from the 80s. I know... that probably doesn't sound cutting edge to you hipsters out there, but like I've said many times before 80s are the new black.



Listen: Fever Ray - "When I grow Up"