Music

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With a heavy dose of cello and harmonized vocals, KRSB (cool little acronym huh?) create a polished gem that certainly lives up to the album’s title “Greatest Hits,” which is in fact not a greatest hits album. Saying exactly why this song captivates the way it does is a bit difficult for me, as nothing really jumps out of the song besides a strong feeling for a good melody and the strong vocals brought by each of the three singing members on this song. This sugary indie-pop song or thrash polka as the band chooses to describe themselves really hits its high points near the end of the song where the lead and harmonies in the vocals separate, providing a pleasant backing for the strong vocals of Evan Tyor which provide the song with an added sense of urgency and emotion that the song otherwise lacks. And they carry this idea through, climaxing in the section where all instruments drop off and the listener is left one on one with Mr. Tyor’s vocals before the band makes it triumphant return.

King Richard’s Sunday Best, an Atlanta based band, is still chugging along today, recording and playing around the distance of the different colleges they all attend. Recently the band graced the stage at a private event, a retirement party which I totally crashed (well sort of).  Luckily for you, word on the street is that these guys are coming to the WUOG lobby in the near future, who knows maybe even January 12th for some quality Live in the Lobby action. In the meantime, enjoy “Chapter 1″ of Greatest Hits which very well might be a fairly accurate collection of their greatest hits.

For listeners of Oryx + Crake and Venice Is Sinking

-Will Guerin

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With Phantogram like trip-hop based rhythm, spacey and ghostly samples and a distinct male vocalist, Vacationer creates a lush, dream pop relaxing environment of neither highs nor lows. While nothing really jumps out at you, no emotional outbursts or building climaxes, “Trip” finds itself a cozy place on the couch and just relaxes there, dwelling on its simple melodic chorus and old-timey intro.

Baltimore based Vacationer is set to open for The Naked and Famous at the 40 Watt on March 31st which should be an exciting night leading up to in and into April Fools Day. It’s only $13 so why wouldn’t you go to see two great bands? In the meantime get pumped with “Trip.”

Listen Here!

There are so many different ways, layers and forms a song can take on as it develops through the creative process. And what makes “The Long Way” shine is the simplicity of the arrangement that stars a guy and his guitar with the bass slightly buried in the mix. While the guitar riff doesn’t necessarily scream a somber, personal suffering, the highs of the “Blood! Blood, blood, blood on the ground” certainly take it in that direction.

I’m not exactly sure what to make off the refrain “Taking the long way home” but its sung with such an importance that it screams a symbolic journey of death or just giving up, like “Everyone has given up on their dreams” seems to imply. And sure this may be reading far too into a simple message but the passion seems to hint at something below the surface.

Grinnin Bear calls Athens home and was recently showcased at this Fall’s WUOG Carnival. Their lovely Americana jams and ballads really shine through, even on the first listen through. And who doesn’t love the name Grinnin Bear even if it does a passing resemblance to the far lesser Grizzly Bear. Word on the street is that they have a CD release coming out early 2012 and when they do hopefully they will be kind of enough to grace WUOG’s Live in the Lobby for a session. Who knows? Untill then enjoy ‘The Long Way.”

P.S. – I was listening to their stuff on Myspace and you know how it will randomly put on songs after you finish with what you want to listen to. Well Hinder came on and I was traumatized. Also they play this live completely different and this just may be an acoustic version. Either way I stand by it.

-Will Guerin

After seeing these guys at Ath Fest last year I was hooked. As they jammed out on the Hull Street Stage, the approaching storm that would briefly drench downtown Athens loomed behind them and their dark, fairly moody hits provided a perfect soundtrack for the coming of a storm. “Fun Funeral” is a perfect example, showcasing an explosive electric guitar, that provides less melody and more feeling, with harsh slashes of emotion that clash stridently with the backing strings and acoustic guitar hidden deep in the mix until it takes over, assuming the melodic lead in a straining guitar solo. All of this goes so well with Ryan Peoples vocals, carrying a twinge of distortion and a heavy spoonful of pained wailing that tests the limits of the recording.

This Atlanta based act is a nine member bonanza of fun, that, if my memory serves me right, features at least one saw-player amongst the whole bunch. “Fun Funeral” is off their self-titled LP, a solid first release that showcases their Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens-esque jams. In the meantime, feel free to jam out to “Fun Funeral” which is pretty much what I would expect a fun funeral to be. Sure its sort of depressing, but these jams are too awesome to cry about, as they slowly build up from the bottom, cascading into a climax at the end of the song.

Also, feel free to check these guys at an upcoming show they have going on in Atlanta on the 29th at the Moreland Avenue Star Community Bar. And how could you not really, its a free show. Sure it may be annoying to Google their name and have everything come up about the novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood that shares the same name, but push through! As far as I can tell there aren’t any age restrictions either so get pumped and listen to “Fun Funeral” in preparation for the night of your life.

For listeners of Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens and Venice Is Sinking

- Will Guerin

A live version at SXSW was the best I could do for audio.

You know that reliable show closer that evokes a drunken arm in arm swaying amongst the audience, a “Jackie Wants A Black Eye-esque” tune with a familiar anthemic hook that gets everyone singing by the end of the song. Well “Bardstown Road” certainly fits the bill, ending in repetitions of the refrain “We’re not alone, waiting at home, for all the bars to close.”

Now you may be thinking, does this Song of the Day decision come from the fact that you were recently asked to sing this song live with the band? Perhaps, but also because the song nails that “Closing Time” feel so well. Instead of tiring of the same, the repetitions build on each other, layering in harmonies and gaining emotion with each go round.

Venice Is Sinking is locally grown and recently celebrated their 8th Band-aversary, a really fun group of people that seem to really enjoy what they do. Their recent release Sands & Lines, which features “Bardstown Road” is solid throughout and worth a listen to.

Recommended for listeners of Head and the Heart, Arcade Fire, Dr. Dog and if you like good music.

-Will Guerin

Listen to “Breaks” here because the blog is struggling

So what do you think of that Rick Perry character? Jeez, that wasn’t an invitation to pull out all of your Perry-phenalia, I know he is the greatest but resist the urge to prove your ardent admiration of this America hero and just chill out for a second. And what better way than with some soulful, bluesy rock courtesy of some home-grown heroes. Sure they might be some crazy left-wing liberals from Atlanta but what they lack in political vision is overcame by swelling guitar solos, soothing vocals and lyrics that refer to a “broken mind,” something that one Perry-fect candidate is far too “strong” to succumb to.

Rick Perry aside, Highway is the real deal, a fact boldly stated with the catchy vocal ‘oohs” that set the tone for the rest of the song and immediately your grab your attention like a egotistical megalomaniac. Combining beautifully layered melodies with the rough vocals of Alex Lotito, Highway builds a compelling sound scape that builds and builds until a furied, ending featuring a passionate call and response section between the guitar and the rhythm section. And before you know it, it’s over, a short jaunt into the world of Highway that ends fairly abruptly and deserves a couple of listen throughs.

An extended hiatus might be a optimistic phrase to describe this young Atlanta band’s current state. The real world ran its course, separating members Alex Lotito (vocals), Casey Williams (guitar), Drew Hart (bass) and Joey Zeigler (drums) through the throwaway that college is. And while Highway may never put out another album, there is nothing stopping you from checking out their magnus opus, King Capicorn, featuring a slew of great tracks that any Rick Perry aficionado would be sure to dive right into.

-Will Guerin

Sure, Dark Dark Dark could probably pass for a Regina Spektor cover band but “Daydreaming” is just too good of a song too pass up despite its unoriginality. The piano melody is brilliant and the clear, cutting vocals are a showcase of Nona Marie Invie’s of perfect, piercing vocals. And the song is so beautifully structured, perfectly building and adding till a crescendo and then slowly tearing down the empire built over the course of the song. Not much needs to be said when it comes to “Daydreaming” a transparent tune that a quick listen through will expose, but it is the effortless emotion poured into the song that makes it stand out in a crowded field of that Spektoresque female singer.

Dark Dark Dark hails from Minneapolis, MN where they obviously worked hard to come out with their EP’s name “Bright Bright Bright.” While the creative process behind the etymology of the album remains shrouded in the dark, dark, dark, feel free to check out the rest of the EP, there is nothing stopping you from checking out this wonderful EP. And now that I have written this article I have found that this song was featured in Grey’s Anatomy and American Idol. Disappointing? Yes.

Upon further investigation this song is really popular. What was I thinking, I think its time to hang up the plaid flannel and ironic glasses. Oh well, its still good.

-Will Guerin

You know from Braveheart when all-around good guy, universally liked Mel Gibson yells out “They can take our lives but they can never take our freedom.” Well that quote is “Shirt” in song form, a slow building anthem akin to the Cold War Kids “Hang Me Out To Dry” in which an overarching metaphor about what else than shirts plays into a universal human theme. Sure it may be a little cheesy (wearing your heart on your sleeve, hardy har har) but the message is presented in such a satisfying way that overcomes this “you probably heard it on Arthur when you were in 1st grade” message.

In essence. the song speaks to that friend that always gets screwed over, bullied or what may have you (maybe even Mel Gibson’s wife). Sure the “shirt” has been hung out to dry, stained and treated all-together like crap but that is far from the end of the story. Rather than passively getting yelled at on the phone by an overzealous anti-semite, the “shirt” takes action, guns a blazing, call in the cavalry style, reflected in the song’s movement from a calming, acoustic riff with subdued vocals, to all out hell with electric guitars and vocals wailing raw emotion with the drums beating on someone’s head. And accompanied by this fire storm is the perfect refrain of “No one is gonna wear me out.” If you are actually a shirt reading this review then the figurative language here will be lost on you, but the meaning here is a somewhat clichéd (everytime I type clichéd is a trip to Word for the appropriate accent if you were wondering) message give life by such an honest and enthusiastic song.

Belle Brigade’s self titled album is the first LP from Barbara and Ethan Gruska, a solid effort that can be found in Paste’s Top 50 albums of the year. “Where Not To Look For Freedom” is another cheesy, yet solid release from this album, which might be one day known as the “pear album” another cheery anthem that seemingly talks about places like North Korea and Mel Gibson’s dictatorial household (or maybe not, you will have to listen yourself).

For listeners of Fleetwood Mac, Grouplove and Buried Beds

-Will Guerin

Combining bobby dark synths with clear, pristine, high bubble gum vocals, Grimes emerges with perfect pop sensibilities. While the intro bears resemblance to a video game soundtrack set in a creepy dungeon full of ghouls and monsters, the emergence of the vocals immediately gives it a special duality of the ethereal and Blondie mashed together. What best defines the song is the ability to present such a catchy melodic line and danceable beat in such a fresh and unique way, through almost every means imaginable. You will be hitting the repeat button after your first run through and bobbing your head and singing along with the precious “la la las” with every repeat.

Claire Boucher is Grimes, a Montreal native is set to release her first LP “Visions” in the near future. On first look this will be quite the treat, with the shockingly cool cover art seen above and the perfection that is “Oblivion.” Stay tuned for more by Grimes and think of your best Canadian jokes in the meantime, eh?

For listeners of Class Actress, Cults and maybe St. Vincent?

THE BEETS: Friends of Friends 

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The Beets: Let the Poison Out

Records: Hardly Art

A collection of 13 songs about letting the poison out of your system.

The Beets, not to be confused with, The Beets (from Nickelodeon’s show: Doug). This once duo, now trio band from Queens knows how to make lively lo-fi garage rock. They draw lots of inspiration from their idles The Ramones (guitar riffs and simple drums) and encompass an overall attitude of awesome-ness.

-Robyn Johnson