The Naked and Famous-Passive Me, Aggresive You and Rooney-Eureka

So you know what sucks? That we all don't live in New Zealand (which could really use your help and money btw)  In New Zealand, this band is so popular that is pisses people off because they've gone mainstream.  New Zealand has enough incredible music to choke some sort of large-throated mammal.  Plus I think the eighties are still happening there, but with the internet going on at the same time!  Which means that everyone dresses like a hipster but has no idea what that means and they write eighties music but with absolute sincerity.
    Oh... I was talking about the band The Naked & Famous.  Passive Me, Aggressive You, their debut album,  basically swathes together all of my favorite musical sounds and spreads them out evenly over a record.  Totally personal preference but fuzzy background drone mixed with electro beats and synth, male and female vocals singing driving, clear melodies. Sha-bam! That's me to a T. If you mashed Mates of State and Shiny Toy Guns (when they are being good) into one group and relocated 'em, that would be The Naked & Famous.
     This is one of those records with a really even sound, so it's hard to remember which song is which.  Either that is because they are a little limited in their scope or each song is so good that you forget about the other songs by the time it ends.  Or both. I say a little of both. I've listened to it about 4-5 times now, almost back to back and by far the stand out song is 'Young Blood', the single.  But the opening track 'All of This' is a great cut, as is 'The Sun' with it's Nine Inch Nails spare piano opening.  The more I revisit the more I cut out some of the inconsequential songs and what started as a 13 track album ends at about 9 or 10.  But 9 out of 13 good songs is a damn good percentage, so they are still winning.  I can tell you right now this isn't my Album of the Year or anything, but a really strong release nonetheless.
     I don't really know Rooney, though in my mind they sit right below Motion City Soundtrack on the popularity scale and compare with The Cribs for sound.  And Phantom Planet. If I were going to take a whack-stab at where this newest record-'Eureka'-stands in the world of Rooney, I would say about the same.  Which doesn't seem to be a bad thing, since about the same for Rooney means very solid and very very safe.  Straightforward as a pop punk influenced rock record can get.  The first track "Holdin' On" grew on me big-time after a couple listens, very hooky and maybe smidge introspective on the lyrical end? If the album was a 5 song EP I think it would be perfect, because "Into the Blue" grabs my attention right at the front and then as soon as the chorus hits it sort of loses me.  By then end of the song I am ready to let the whole album go. But it just keeps going on! I bet most people have a hard time getting to the back half of the record listening straight through, because something very decisively stops at the 5th track
    Ultimately I am surprised because over the past couple of days/week I have kept coming back to it, just to try and figure out exactly what it is, who it sounds like, what works and what doesn't.  I really just want to say 'Eh, it's ok' and toss it aside but for some reason I feel like that isn't giving it the fair shake it deserves.  Maybe I will listen more and do another write up later on down the road.

Anyways! That is what I've been listening to, there is a Laura Marling EP sitting in my collection that I really want to hear, so I feel like that might be the next project. And maybe the Oh Land EP.........Ep's are going to be the end of me, there are so many! Today's bands were The Naked & Famous from New Zealand and Rooney from LA. Go forth!

Tropical Punk& Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion

The Tropical Punk album and the Guthrie-Irion EP both have the same problem.  I hear the instrumentation, little snatches of melody and I am so ready for these to be very different but very good releases.  And then something just doesn't quite click in and they both end up in the "I probably won't revisit" pile.  Tropical Punk's Sweetheart isn't too bad though, individual songs were endearing.  'Summer on the Rocks' had a little more kick to it the second time around and some earlier Weezer fans will recognize the vibe on 'Old Rebel'.  I think on both of these its a taste thing more than objectively being good or bad.  I want Tropical Punk to have a stronger melody, sound a little more like Conshafter out of Virginia but that's really just my preference.  Oh, 'Take Me To The Party Baby' is pretty fun too.  So three solid songs right in the middle of the record, Tropical Punk bears a couple listens.  The Guthrie-Irion EP; Bright Examples just doesn't do much for me.  I feel like they were trying to write folk-pop songs but quite nailing the hook.  The potential is all there but then it just sorta washes away cause they thought of something new so that is where the song went. Jenny and Johnny with ADD.


Anyways those were my two albums for this post.  I think Rooney's new record is next, but there is a new Asobi Seksu album floating around and 2 Dntel EP's so who knows.  The bands were Tropical Punk from Ithaca, New York and wife-husband duo Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion from South Carolina and Massachusetts.  Click the links, listen up.

Testin'

Woah! It's a first post on a new blog.  Honestly, I am a terrible blogger but this year I was inspired by All Songs Considered to keep a running tab on what I listen to this year and how much I like it.  It is so easy to get swamped in new music, lost in old music, or forget about music you loved in January come December.  So I am keeping track this year with quick posts about what I heard, what I liked and didn't like, and what I can't wait for. Kach-ow.