New Song On Sunday

 

Today’s song is by a band that got together at a university in Manchester just over two years ago. To date, Westside Cowboy have released an EP and recently announced their debut album. Earlier this week, they released the first single from this album, Kick Stones (The Boys). 

Musically, with their jangly guitar sound, brilliant melodies and harmonized vocals, they somehow straddle the genres of surf punk, Americana and early Pavement and The Feelies. I can already tell this is set to be the next big thing, but this four-piece band has much more to offer. As far as I’m concerned, Westside Cowboy aren’t reinventing guitar rock, but they’re adding a brilliant new take on it.

Another highlight is the video for their latest single, in which they feature alongside FC United of Manchester – a football club from their home city of Manchester. The band describes the video as a declaration of love for the football club and its special sense of community. The club was originally founded by disillusioned fans in protest against Malcolm Glazer’s controversial takeover of Manchester United.  The band particularly values the club’s social and community-oriented values. These include affordable ticket prices, events surrounding home matches and close links to social projects.

And as a bonus a song from their last EP

That's What It Sounded Like When They Started

 

While putting together this series, I realized that Interpol had never featured on these pages before. Time to change that.

In 1997, Paul Banks and Daniel Kessler, two students at New York University, formed Interpol, a band which, contrary to the conventions of the time, did not draw on garage and indie rock. Their musical influences are far more evident in the post-punk bands of the early 1980's. They were soon signed to Matator Records, which also had acts such as Pavement and Yo La Tengo on its roster. With their debut LP, Turn On The Bright Lights, they heralded a post-punk revival.

Intense, brooding melancholy hangs over the ruins of British post-punk, clinging enigmatically to the melodies, whilst an Ian Curtis lookalike sings, in a stylishly broken voice, of the tribulations of human relationships. The songs are fully arranged, feature stoic drumming and a solid bass line, whilst the guitars float above all the tracks, which nevertheless have a lo-fi sound. An album that evokes the past yet feels firmly rooted in the here and now, featuring wonderful songs – the only one that comes too close to Johnny Marr and The Smiths is Say Hello To The Angels.

Interpol - Obstacle 1

Interpol - NYC

Interpol - PDA

Interpol - Say Hello To The Angles

That's How It Sounded In Their Beginnings

 

In the early 90's, grunge reached its peak. A lot of new bands appeared and many of them wanted to sound like Nirvana or Pearl Jam. Really good new and innovative bands were hard to find. Fortunately, after releasing a few EP's, Pavement put out their debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, in 1992. 

Originally, Pavement was just another garage band from California, but Stephen Malkmus, the band's frontman, had bigger plans. He had a knack for hiding brilliant melodies behind a massive wall of noise. The guitars cut through the songs, the bass rumbles, and you’d think Moe Tucker was playing the drums. At first listen, it all sounds discordant, and Malkmus’ lyrics are so cryptic that I still don’t understand them to this day. But anyone who gives the music a chance will realize that this is a band that has far more to offer than just noise.

Pavement - Our Singer

Pavement - Zürich Is Stained

Pavement - In The Mouth A Desert

Pavement - Summer Babe

Mantras

 

Manchester's music scene is always good for a surprise. The last band to surprise me with their sound was Shaking Hand, a trio that has developed a fascinating conglomerate from their minimalist guitar sound. I hear echoes of Yo La Tengo, Sonic Youth and Pavement at their best.

They unite unique reduced guitars with a post-punk anthem and some great hooks that I didn't listen to for a long time. I know that they are new with their first self titled album but they close the gap between new wave and 90's American independent. It is retro, fresh and full of energy and a pleasure to listen to. One of the best albums this year so far.

Monday's Long Song

 

A few days back I came back to an album that I didn't listen to without any reason for many years. The Lonesome Crowded West was the second album by Modest Mouse before they signed to a big company. Modest Mouse were at these days an typical American band somewhere between the Pixies, Meat Puppets and early Pavement. Their songs cannot be assigned to any particular style. Too many musical influences can be recognized without any particular one dominating. Trucker Atlas is one of them. A rolling bass and simple drums form the basis for guitar riffs and screamed vocals. The song progresses constantly and inexorably until a break occurs and the speed is suddenly reduced and the focus is on improvisation. Probably one of the songs I would play if I were driving through America's West in a convertible.

Modest Mouse - Truckers Atlas

Teenage Stories

A few weeks ago I owned myself Teens Of Denial the first regular record by Will Toledo aka Car Seat Headrest. I listened to it while I was doing other stuff while playing the record. Last weekend I grabbed out this record again and listened to it in a row also having an ear to the lyrics. And I have to say that I was surprised how good this record is. This 23-years-old dude made his 13th record during the last years and he is able to make songs I never heard in years. He presents us mostly stories about his younger days in school in perfect arrangements. Deep-rooted in American style of music like Steve Malkmus and Guided By Voices he gave us songs in the best tradition  of power-pop. Often you hear guitars and bass you knew from the early 80's. It rumbles and clatters, it is a crash and tugs, and, nevertheless, a melodically stamped, almost quite hymnal atmosphere shines through these rough pieces of this American guy.

Car Seat Headrest - Fill In The Blank
Car Seat Headrest - Connecting The Dots
Car Seat Headrest - Drugs With Friends
Car Seat Headrest - Connect The Dots