A music blog dedicated to my ever-expanding tastes. A musical journey with endless pitstops along the way. Bringing you the best of what I see and hear.
When last I heard from Brooklyn experimental chamber pop outfit Friend Roulette earlier this year, they were taking a break from their trademark genre-bending to release an EP of ballads written by their friend, Texas musician Matt Sheffer, in the form of the appropriately titled Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1. It was a far different change of pace from the off-kilter pop fans of the band have come to expect and yet, not without their brand of strange and wonderful whimsy. While the sextet prep a brand new EP to released later this year, they had the chance to participate in ThrdCoast's Blue Room and recorded a live session for a brand new song that'll be on their forthcoming I Want Out EP.
"(This Is Why I Hate) Clocks" finds the band swinging back towards their more characteristic influence in psych rock, art pop, and jazz. Singer Julia Tepper leaves her violin behind in favor of sprinting vocals as the band start at a full on gallop while John Stanesco switches from bass clarinet to EWI (electronic wind instrument). But Friend Roulette has always been a band that favors dynamicism and the track shifts tempos and sections frequently: going from the all out power pop of the introduction into hazy psychedelics for the chorus. As the song proceeds the distinction between the two sections blurs and they blend into each other until the lyrics from the faster section take on the elasticity of the chorus. It's a subversion of typical songcraft as instead of starting slow and picking up speed and ending on a climactic high, the band instead elongate their phrases all the while never dumbing down the instrumentals. Also Friend Roulette are a band that make the most of their time in the studio adding elements that might not necessarily be possible to perform live so it's very likely this version of "(This Is Why I Hate) Clocks" will sound mighty different from its later studio version.
Friend Roulette's I Want Out EP will be out later this year on Pretty Purgatory.
For perhaps as long as I've known about Friend Roulette since I was introduced to them from ARMS, the experimental chamber pop sextet have mentioned a desire to record and release a record of ballads. Considering it was sometime hard to round up their multitude of members, playing their songs as ballads was a tactic the band would often use if they wanted to play out but either drastically change the energy or compensate for a lack of members. They would mention the ballad record occasionally and the some time would pass and nothing came of it. Also many of their records both full length and EP would contain a ballad or two so fans were never particularly suffering from a lack of them. When Friend Roulette announced and actually released said ballad album earlier this year, I was a bit in shock. What with guitarist/singer Matthew Flory Meade starting a new side project and the members' various other commitments, I had never expected the record to take shape or at least not for it to be the next release after their rather downtempo Grow Younger EP. In fact, I essentially assumed Grow Younger was the ballad record even though "I Guess" and album ender "Kitty Song" are very high energy.
The Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1 is a tribute of sorts to their friend Matt Sheffer who is a fellow musician and is ultimately responsible for the Friend Roulette we have today. He was an ardent supporter of their music as well as a sounding bound and helped write "Viva Zyprexa", one of Friend Roulette's first songs, as well as part of "Kitty Song". Though not particularly a fan of the ballad, Friend Roulette have a knack for writing them in a way that has always resonated with me from as far back as "Or Belin" off their self-titled EP and the Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1 is no different.
Album opener "You're A Fox" is a touching love song where Sheffer uses grander and grander metaphors to express his love all the while still elevating the intended and appealing to their strong nature. Where "Joan" is a tribute of sorts to the Golden Age Hollywood actress/dancer Joan Leslie and details her struggle getting the sort of roles she wanted, she's referred to with the sort of absentmindedness you might have for a mundane piece of trivia.
In listening to the Songbook, it occurred to me just how much Friend Roulette gained from Sheffer especially when I heard the newly recorded version of "Viva Zyprexa", as the sense of otherness that Sheffer and Matthew Flory Meade touch on essentially forms the backbone of much of Friend Roulette's output. While "Bacon and Raisins", a tale of being trapped in a would-be fight to the death with a home-invading spider, is not only the most cohesive Friend Roulette have allowed their narratives to be, it contains winsome melodic flourishes that the band often build songs on before drawing them in sharper, more abstract directions.
It's not hard to see why songwriters Julia Tepper and Matthew Flory Meade were drawn to Sheffer's songs, though he's capable of writing straightforward songs, Sheffer is also capable of both non-linear narratives as well as touches of the surreal is his songwriting like "Snow Pea" with its shifting perspectives. The Songbook essentially gives a glimpse into the evolution of the sextet's sound. Stripped back, you can focus on the innovative lyricism and Friend Roulette's arrangements are subtle and sparse enough that they never threaten to obscure the lyrics. Instead they're held with a reverence that's befitting of someone so important to the band's core identity.
Friend Roulette's The Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1 is out now via Pretty Purgatory.
Brooklyn experimental chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette are back after a little bit of a break. Since the release of their very excellent Grow Younger EP in 2014, they've been relatively quiet playing shows in Brooklyn and going on tour in different configurations of their normal six person lineup. "Joan", the first single from their upcoming EP finds the group in repose. It's a rare moment for the band who normally pair moments of tranquility with dynamic tonal shifts. Part of that lies in the fact that the song isn't totally there's. "Joan" and the whole of their upcoming EP are songs written and composed by an old friend of theirs, Matt Sheffer, who wrote and recorded songs ardently and shared them with the band only to decide they weren't worth sharing with the rest of the world. Friend Roulette's history is intrinsically linked with that Sheffer. Take Grow Younger's "Kitty Song", the psychedelic romp is equal parts Friend Roulette's technicolor arrangement and Sheffer's wonderfully weird lyricism. Much like Grow Younger and their sophomore full length I See You. Your Eyes Are Red., Friend Roulette's greatest leaps forward in sound occur when they're mining their rich history and The Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1 aims to be no different.
"Joan" is a down tempo number much like "Or Berlin" or "Rocket Dog", and though arranged for the band's diverse instrumentation, Julia Tepper is still given the spotlight soaring easily above the sparse accompaniment. Songwriters Matthew Meade and Julia Tepper have always had an affinity for ballads and through adapting Sheffer's song for their own use, they craft a stunning work of emotional quiet. It's a breath of fresh air from a band who is normally at home mired in relative chaos and by upending pop norms in favor of interesting moments that subvert expectation. "Joan" is as typical as Friend Roulette are probably ever going to get and even in that uncharacteristic restraint, they continue to push their sound forward by stripping it all back and laying it all bare. The Matt Sheffer Songbook is a tribute to a friend that's been a driving force behind the band and by letting "Joan" stand pretty much on its own merits, the band highlight Sheffer in a way they really haven't before.
Friend Roulette's upcoming EP The Matt Sheffer Songbook Vol. 1 is out June 16th on Pretty Purgatory. You can pre-order it now and if you order the cassette you get Matt Sheffer's original demos which have never been released before.
Brooklyn chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette have established themselves as an innovative force in the NYC music scene long before their debut full length I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head even saw the light of day. With their unique instrumentation - violin, EWI, two drum kits in addition to the standard guitar and bass, their approach to songwriting in general - namely contorting their original demos into bizarre forms has led to Friend Roulette being that odd band whose releases I've found anticipating more than those of bigger, more well known acts. With their debut album behind them, Friend Roulette have essentially hit the ground running - turning out their Grow Younger EP and now their sophomore record I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. in about about the same amount of time to it took to successfully complete their debut.
While first single "Strange Girl" would be equally at home on either of their most recent releases for the rest of I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. experimentation seems to be the name of the game. In past releases Friend Roulette have managed to pair their characteristic quirk with infectious pop but for their latest record, the sextet aren't afraid to go full tilt weird. Where "Strange Girl" found Friend Roulette at the peak of narrative cohesiveness - "Dutch Master" with its abrasive jags, revels in the surreal. "Believe me Mister Officer, this cough is not a cold/blood running from my chin leads to my pretty pot of gold" Julia Tepper sings before the track is imbued with a slinky jazz groove. "Dutch Master" buoys between chaotic dissonance and fluid moments of melodic clarity often paired with absurdist lyricism. If Friend Roulette hadn't demonstrated themselves both as able lyricists as well as capable dream logic enthusiasts, "Dutch Master" probably wouldn't go down as easy as it does.
"Stoned Alone" follows and despite its sythy warble, manages to root its referenced drug with emotional resonance. The lyrics build on top of each other like lego blocks - each subsequent lyric revealing more of the adventure, while the band hits a R&B-esque groove not unlike their debut's "Lie". One of Friend Roulette's greatest strengths has always been their genre fluidity and in those little beats that are R&B reminiscent without being a full on deep dive, Friend Roulette manage to both fit in and rapidly distinguish themselves from the ongoing trend of indie R&B inclusion.
Assumed one-off Christmas single "You Drank All the Eggnog" finds its way onto the album to continue the album's many references to pot usage as it details sneaking off to get stoned to deal with your family during the holidays. It's a fun song that fits surprisingly well into an album released in June, as much of a snapshot of life events as a song without explicitly timed lyrics.
If "Up in the Air" continues Friend Roulette's power strutting away from the chamber pop descriptor through balancing its quieter moments with soulful climaxes, album ender "Warm Year" sees them returning to the label to demonstrate their subtle mastery over it. The longest track on the album "Warm Year" shifts between engaging instrumental interludes and less bombastic lyric flourishes while functioning as one of the album's most dynamic compositions.
I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. somehow manages to function as a deconstruction of the band while also highlighting exactly what worked so well for them so far. With this latest album it gets more difficult to actual describe the band and their sound while also cementing many of their growing trademark characteristics. I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. sits at a junction of the sextet's influences - its members' classical and jazz training effortlessly deployed without obscuring the band's love for pop music and uncanny ability to strike the most original path. It's all the more impressive when you take into account that several of the album's tracks ("Strange Girl", "Garden Tidings" "Warm Year") are old, some older than even their debut self-titled EP released it the spring of 2011. And yet, ultimately in returning to those songs are trussing them up just the way they want, Friend Roulette takes chief ownership of its past to define its future. I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. is pivotal. It might be the last album where you can rightfully call Friend Roulette a chamber pop band - if not abandon all labels completely. It opens the band up to a multitude of possibilities that the they might but be canny enough to pursue. No one knows what the next step will look like for Friend Roulette but if their ability to metamorphose remains, I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. demonstrates that it will the the very least be an interesting one.
Friend Roulette's sophomore record I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. is out now on Goodnight Records and available to order here.
With the release of their Grow Younger EP last year, Brooklyn experimental chamber pop outfit Friend Roulette essentially caught up with themselves. Filled with songs even older than those of their debut self-titled EP as well as ones they've been playing since before their debut full length I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head, Friend Roulette no longer have that daunting chasm of unreleased tracks. Or so I thought.
With Friend Roulette gearing up to release their anticipated sophomore record, they're bringing another older track out to trot in "Strange Girl". And yet, there's no doubt Friend Roulette have trussed it up a bit in what is rapidly becoming their trademark fashion. After a tone-setting instrumental intro, Julia Tepper's vocals are given full freedom to soar in the mid-tempo jam but there's plenty of room for the rest of the band to do their thing; swelling up during the choruses but always clearing up for Tepper's narrative verses. One of the most interesting things about Friend Roulette is not only how they warp typical songwriting conventions but also the interplay between the band's six members. There's melodies and countermelodies and harmonies all happening concurrently and one particular awesome musical moment in "Strange Girl" occurs when a sort of hand-off between Tepper's vocals and John Stanesco' EWI before there's a call and response between Tepper and the rest of band at the song's climax. It's a track with a subtler touch as the track focuses rightfully on its narrative - dark and mysterious and just as inventive if not a bit more forthcoming with its plot elements than the standard Friend Roulette track. With two EPs, a full length and one of the way, Friend Roulette are settling in a sort of groove - their sound uniquely their own but not afraid to fuss around with their own songwriting structure.
Friend Roulette is one of those rare bands that don't have to try to be interesting; they just are. "Strange Girl" is a testament to that - recalling the nonsensical quirk of "Kitty Song", "Just Woke Up", and "Sailing Song" but with the cohesive storytelling of "I Guess" or the winsome "Or, Berlin" for a sort of happy medium.
Friend Roulette's sophomore record I See You. Your Eyes Are Red will be out later this year but you can listen to first single "Strange Girl" now:
Of course after I proclaimed that their previous single "I Guess" was probably the most straight forward of all of their most recent songs, Brooklyn chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette would release a song like "Kitty Song". It's construction and even its presentation almost completely at odds with "I Guess" and yet, still fitting in the wacky psychedelic realm Friend Roulette's songs seem to populate.
Built upon a solid existential question of "Where do I come from?", the narrative power of "I Guess" and the strongest cuts on I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head is seemingly ruminated upon and then toss out of the window for a much more carefree and spirited affair, "Kitty Song" plows forward with the most colorful and loosely ordered chaos. At least in the lyric department. In terms of arrangement, Friend Roulette are in peak form. Offering up not only absolutely infectious musical ideas but the kind of deftly handed precision of layers that Friend Roulette is being more and more known for. And yet there's no denying the confidence required in Julia Tepper's delivery of the track's definitive line "I feel like a magic person" and not have it come off as smarmy but like an utterly serious and sincere thought.
"Kitty Song" is the kind of song that succeeds not through the analysis of its rather piecemeal lyrical approach but based on the total commitment of Friend Roulette's loveable band of weirdos. It's a technicolor pop jam of pure unadulterated fun which shows Friend Roulette know not to take themselves too seriously. It comes off like a truly sincere endeavor but "Kitty Song" contains a couple clues that illustrate the band know exactly what they're doing. Subtle winks and nudges underscored by the a pretty epic lift from "Eye of the Tiger". No doubt the perfect ending to their five song collection Grow Younger.
Friend Roulette's Grow Younger EP is out February 25th on Goodnight Records.
One of my least favorite things about the generic holiday times is how every musician far and wide seems to clamor to make their voice heard in a sea of Christmas song covers and/or holiday albums/EPs, what have you and it seems more than a little pointless. While a good and truly original Christmas song is basically the holy grail of songwriting prowess, few bands seem willing to try aiming for more than just your run of the mill cover that says "We exist and it's Christmastime so why not!?"
Then there's Friend Roulette. Whose ability to churn out new music seems tied to their very existence. For their sojourn into Christmas themed shenanigans, the Brooklyn chamber pop sextet take inspiration from the very real fact that sometimes to spend time with your family around the holidays sobriety might be a painful option. Their tune "You Drank All The Eggnog" details the consequences of that occasionally inescapable option - getting messed up and ruining everything. Similar to their video for "Rocket Dog", "You Drank All the Eggnog" gets a lot of its drama from smashing things. The tune is dark and dreamy, and even manages to slip in a reference to "Sleigh Ride" and a slighter, subtler one to "Deck the Halls" immediately after.
"You Drank All the Eggnog" is a very realistic Christmas carol that acknowledges the occasional unpleasantless of this time of year while also just being kind of really fun. It's essentially trademark Friend Roulette. Enjoy!
With their debut album done and out in the world earlier this year, Brooklyn experimental chamber pop outfit Friend Roulette don't seem to be wasting any time getting their new songs out in the world. Hot on the heels of I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head came tender ballad "Rocket Dog" ahead of a brand new Grow Younger EP out early next year.
"I Guess", the second peek at the forthcoming EP, is probably the most straightforward lyrically than we've gotten from Friend Roulette in a bit. No space explorations, magical transformations, or even drunken sailing trips. Despite it's militant drums and it's subtle psychedelic haze, "I Guess" is for the most part firmly grounded in reality. About real expectations and wants as Julia Tepper's vocals craft Rapunzel-esque visions of pining loneliness - if Rapunzel was a young twenty-something having a particularly rough night in Brooklyn.
"How long can I last here lonely every day?/How long will I last here wasted in the rain?" Tepper sings and it's a moment that invokes sincere sympathy. We've all probably been there. Waiting by the phone or outside of a house/apartment waiting to be let in for what seems like forever with no idea if there's anyone on the other side. It's a very realistic bit of drama gussied up with Friend Roulette's trademark layering with the EWI doing a considerable amount of heavy lifting to establish the track's dreamy atmosphere and the rest of the band's at times aggressive textural interplay serving as a counterpoint to Tepper's delicate vocals.
Friend Roulette's Grow Younger EP will be out February 6th.
If you follow Brooklyn chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette's career with any kind of consistency, you might remember last year they went into a session at Converse Rubber Tracks studio to recorded a couple songs. While we really only got a sneak peek at what that might entail in Friend Roulette's Rubber Tracks video featuring snipped of "Just Woke Up", we're finally to hear at last one of the songs recorded there in full in "Rocket Dog"
While Friend Roulette are noteable for their psychedelic deviations among brilliant buoyant pop melodies, they are also very skilled balladeers. Look at "Or Berlin" or "Golden" off their recently released debut record I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head and you'll be hard pressed to find more soothing, sincere examples of balladry. Well, enter "Rocket Dog".
The video by Alexander Hunter and Nicolas Cadena features Friend Roulette's Julia Tepper in the video's kind of oddly touching story of quirky friendship. Forced to attend stuffy family shindigs and fancy dinners she would rather not attend, Tepper finds solace in an another attendee who would also rather be elsewhere. There's a sort of dark side to their companionship however with havoc being wreaked as a destructive chicken game emerges and the duo one up each other in feats of rebellion. This being Friend Roulette, the video is not without it's weird twist. The group openly embrace their oddball nature and the video takes its eventual turn from that.
The song is beautiful, the video is beautiful. Another new Friend Roulette song making it's way into the world? Also beautiful. Enjoy their video for "Rocket Dog":
One of my favorite things about Brooklyn chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette is that they seemed to be linked into the very spirit of instant gratification that motivates a lot of my musical discoveries. They're not the kind of band that can just sit around and play the same songs over and over again for years at a time until their next big record release. No, Friend Roulette are a band that are unsurprisingly brimming with new ideas and a need to get them out there. That's resulted in an increasingly larger and larger back catalog of live song staples that have yet to be committed to tape.
Considering that it took the band about three years of actively working on their debut record I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head, that might seem a bit surprising but Friend Roulette are a set of gifted innovators who have a very apparently need to create music. That's rare considering some bands seem content to just muddle around for years playing the same three or four songs until they can drum up enough money to record them before working on anything new.
So when I heard news that Friend Roulette was heading in for a BreakThru Radio session I knew the results would be quite appealing. "I Guess" is a song I've only heard live, the rare time I've been able to catch the band live and it's a definite favorite. Encapsulating everything that band has become in the past year or so, "I Guess" has hard-hitting grooves, relateable memorable lyrics, and plenty of funky EWI action. Since shelving the bass clarinet for the EWI, Friend Roulette have embarked on a far more evidently orchestral pop direction and it's really helped to establish them as unlike any band currently going in the New York music scene.
There's also some peeks of unreleased tracks "The Kitty Song" and "Rocket Dog" which are pretty incredible even in their shorter snippet like featurings.
Since my discovery of Brooklyn avant pop sextet Friend Roulette two years ago, they've consistently and constantly promised their debut full length was on the horizon. Now, after numerous setbacks and pushbacks, I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head is out about 3 years since it's initial recording.
On I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head, it's almost hard to imagine this is the same band that put out their self-titled EP in early 2011. Sure there's still the swirling, dark-reaching textural play and the intricate layers of "Sailing Song" and the emotive starkness of "Or, Berlin" (which is one of the only EP tracks to make it to the album) but I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head takes all of that to a whole new level. Despite their formidable assemblage of diverse instruments, Friend Roulette's greatest strength has always been in its infectious melodies and while there's no shortage of them on the album, the occasionally insistent, frenetic presentation of them (especially on album opener "She's On Her Own Tonight" or manic fever dream-recalling "I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head") makes them take exceptional note. Rather than letting the melodies casually catch your ear, they seem ready to depart at any moment in favor of a newer perhaps better musical idea. While this might appear sloppy in theory, Friend Roulette are talented music-writers able to stitch their abundance of musical ideas together in a cohesive manner. Instead the impermanence give Friend Roulette an unpredictable edge - you're never quite sure where there songs will end up or how long it will take them to get there and thankfully you don't have to be. Friend Roulette's tracks are equally about the journey as they are their complex presentation.
But the Brooklyn sextet rely on far more than drive-by type tactics, while thriving on manic energy, they are equally f not more impressive when able to slow down. Just look at "Golden" or "Hi, Hello", these rather balladic tracks are able to pack a wallop without moving a mile a minute. There's still an abundance of musical ideas of them, that's for sure, but they develop at similarly organic albeit slower fashion. "Lie" split into two parts, is perhaps the group's biggest departure from what you might've come to expect from them if you haven't seen their live show. It's a tableau that highlights possibly all of the band's strengths, able to take the R&B-esque vibe in a way that seems very much their own. It's the most dressed up of their tracks, ruggedly experimental is sheer amount of things the band have going on, subtly achieved by a climatic, gliding build. After the intense expanses of "Lie (Part 1)", "Lie (Part 2)", and nearly 8 minute shapeshifter "Earthrise", "Or, Berlin" appears to offer a much needed cool down and mellow album closer.
I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head traverses more musical landscapes in one song than most bands do in a whole album if not career. At no point on the album do Friend Roulette ever appear to play it safe or take it easy. It's an album of astounding effort that while not grandstanding enough to attempt to change the way music is made or perceived, is sure to effect any/all of its listeners in a remarkable way. It's an album with a wast array of happenings that are sure to be discovered listen after listen. I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head is a complex and quirky but not inaccessible work of art. It's a labor of love that took three years to properly realize and hopefully comes across. It's a brilliant album from a truly talented group of artists. Here's hoping it properly finds it way out into the world.
You can stream/download the album via Friend Roulette's Bandcamp and order physical copies from Goodnight Records.
In a completely fair and just world, this year should be Brooklyn chamber pop sextet Friend Roulette's year. Each release since their debut self-titled EP has expanded on their brilliant pairing of lush, occasional dark-dwelling textures; their excellently plotted knowledgeable take on pop; their beguilingly unique instrumentals. And as we get more peeks at their sextet's upcoming debut full length, it's clear that Friend Roulette has grown exponentially over a rather short period of time. Which is even more of an achievement for a band that started out so creatively structured.
In their brand new video for "On Her Own Tonight", directors pair Jordan Doig and Stephanie Gould pair the tumultuous track with stunning nature visuals as well as stunning modern dance fragments. As the track swells aggressively, the graceful, languid movements act as a rather appealing juxtaposition. There's occasional instances where the dancers mimic the track's mounting restrained chaos that really makes the pairing function well and not seem like a disjointed combination.
Their upcoming record I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head will be out April on Goodnight Records.
After what seems like ages of Friend Roulette quietly working on special something somethings and proving to be one of the hardest working Brooklyn bands (they played what some could only describe as an utterly ridiculous amount of CMJ shows...), the Brooklyn chamber pop sextet are just about ready to drop their debut full length record. Scoring a premiere on USA Today, it's hard not to be thrilled for the not so little band that definitely will as they drop its first real single from the upcoming I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head.
Golden, a svelte lullaby tucked in layers of cozy harmonies, marks one of the Friend Roulette's more linear songwriting efforts. Trading in their characteristic quirk and intensely fun production ideas for a shimmer ballad filled with nature-imagery that both highlights Julia Tepper's vocals as well as features Friend Roulette for what they do so well: providing an insanely involved driving accompaniment that doesn't distract from the lyrics but highlights and accentuates its curves and subtly changing shapes. Ballads can easily become throwaway fair especially if you're not particularly in the mood to be serenaded in any particular instance but with "Golden", Friend Roulette make sure you're engaged stocking what would already be a lovely vocal showcasing track with swoops and bends and a sort of relaxed big-beat attack that oddly enough inspires foot-tapping. It's an interesting gambit but if there's one thing we've learned from Friend Roulette it's that they have gobs of interesting left to spare.
Friend Roulette's debut full length I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head is out in April on Goodnight Records.
It's a whole new year which means a whole new release calendar to look forward to! A handful of bands have recently started unearthing album details and waking up each day to a new announcement is the bee's knees. It's still rather early in the year meaning more are sure to roll in as well as more details and previews but until then these are the releases I'm most juiced for based not on mere speculation but an announcement of some kind. Because if it was based on who I thought was releasing an album this year, this playlist would be hours long.
The Acorn
This year will see the end of Canadian band The Acorn's hibernation. Brought to my attention a mere couple months ago by my friend Corey it was the perfect time to get into them it seems. Without having to wait the three years since the release of No Ghost while also having enough time to explore their discography, I'm excited at what the new album Vieux Loup will sound like. No release date at present but a working title is a step in the right direction. Here's hoping more details are on the horizon.
ARMS
If you've been to any of their shows, this won't come as particularly shocking news to you but if you haven't, you might want to brace yourself. Maybe take a seat. After 2011's incredible underrated and criminally ignored sophomore record Summer Skills, ARMS are releasing an EP. When? The verdict is soon and for all intents and purposes it could drop any day now but a release is nigh. Any live show attendees might have heard a track or two or three or four from the upcoming five-song EP and well, I'm be straight with you: They're pretty damn great. Capturing the dramatic literary lyricism that drew me to them to the first place and pairing it with some absolutely astounding musical moment of the powerpop persuasion, I couldn't speak more highly of the forthcoming EP if I tried. And I haven't even heard it yet. But based off the 3 or 4 songs I've been lucky enough to hear, I'm willing to stake my reputation of it being one of the best releases slated for release this year. Get ready because you might never love another band more ever again. Until we can hear anything from it, here's the last song ARMS dropped - a self-remix of the title track from their sophomore record Summer Skills:
Brazos
One of my favorite new music discoveries last year was Texan turned native New Yorker Brazos aka singer/songwriter Martin Crane. His lyrics were poetic, his music full, ear-catching, and downright rocking. The strength of the introductory concert was enough to have me kicking myself for not having discovered Crane and his band all that much sooner. And yet with the release of his sophomore follow up to 2009's Phosphorescent Blues on the horizon for this year, maybe it's a good thing I didn't? I couldn't imagine being a long time fan that long having to wait nearly 4 years for new music. For those holding out that long, you have my most heartfelt sympathies. According to all the rave reviews I heard from those lucky enough to have it in their ears, the new record should be well worth the wait and makes me all that more anxious to get it in my own.
The Cave Singers
When I say that Seattle's folk rock trio The Cave Singers were one of the best opening bands I have ever seen, I hope you don't immediately accuse me of hyperbole. Opening for Fleet Foxes back in 2011, they were a very special kind of opening band. I had heard whispers of their existence before then sure but nothing cemented my interest in them as much as seeing them rock out live. To say that I've been biding my time until they saw fit to return isn't an exaggeration. I have been and I assume when they return their set will be just as fun if not more so than what I experienced. Maybe then I can right the wrongs of a whole sold out seated venue full of people refusing to get up and dance to "Black Leaf" when asked. Maybe.
Friend Roulette
They may have retired one of my favorite songs in their catalog indefinitely (I'm talking about the Friend Roulette EP's "Sailing Song" by the way) but the songs they've replaced it with are too incredible for me to get sore. The quirky Brooklyn chamber pop sextet has talent bubbling out it's pores and each song they write is pretty darn original and that's cause for excitement. This year, their debut full length I'm Sorry You Hit Your Head should get out of development hell and then the band can get all the praise and accolades they deserve. Seriously. For all the scores of Brooklyn bands there's few with as much originality and vision and passion as Friend Roulette. From Casablanca recalling "Or Berlin" to R&B-esque "Lie", Friend Roulette seem willing to try anything and that versatility and openness is sure to benefit them in the long run.
Guards
In case you couldn't tell due to my incessant posting about them but I really like Guards. They take what so many bands are trying to do in the nostalgia-fueled rock vein and do so in a way that leaves very little yo be desired. It's almost impossible to explain what makes Guards work so well. Each tune we see from their upcoming debut In Guards We Trust just establishes what we already knew and why we so desperately wanted an album from the New York based trio: they're a damn good band. They manage to be both pleasant and intricate and jammy and simple without falling prey to any of the negative tendencies those involving while giving listeners and fans what they want while not being predictable about it. Guards are kind of an enigma, really but they're a rather friendly, pop song crafting one and that works just fine.
Little Tybee
It was supposed to come out last year but due to a series of remarkably unfortunate events and the band deciding to take some extra time to make sure it was really offering up gold star material 2013 is the year of Little Tybee's For Distant Viewing. Rather nervous when they announced the album's release right after Humorous to Bees came out in 2011, I'm a little glad they took time to prioritize a stellar release over just another release in general. Especially considering the break between albums is crucial for not burning yoursef out. The few tracks we've been treated to are certainly strong enough but that extra bit of care will undoubtedly result in a far more album than anyone could possibly imagine. I'm rightfully pumped as should you be. Little Tybee - Mind Grenade from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
Local Natives
I didn't really realize how much I missed Local Natives until the emerged triumphant from their latest bout of album recording. I've been a bit careless with my love for Local Natives, I'll confess. Never pouncing on opportunities to see them when I should and as the band seems poised to rocket up to bigger and bigger things, I might've missed my chance. At least without having to hardcore duke it out for my place in the Local Natives lovefest that's sure to follow after the release of their sophomore record Hummingbird. Why? After a remarkable debut, their next offering seems to be (as far as the two singles we've heard thus far will attest to) far better. Which is saying something. It's an album that's on everyone's must-have list and for good reason.
Pattern is Movement
I'm rather late to Pattern is Movement party but better than never I say. Thanks to a sound guy at Cameo Gallery I heard and fell in love with the incredible All Together and so the news that Pattern is Movement are about to put out a new album this year is simply the best new. No idea when it'll be other than soon or what it'll be because a band like Pattern is Movement is rarely to do the same thing twice, I'm full of excitement just thinking about all the things that could be. Until details emerge this is one thing you can do to find out what you're in for: go see Pattern is Movement live. They're playing a handful of shows and have promised to play some new songs then.
Secret Mountains
A couple years of plying their trade, two EPs and one cassette of new, original material later, Baltimore psychedelic rock outfit Secret Mountains are just about ready to put their debut full length out into the world. It should be cause for excitement. Though a pretty great band from the get-go, Rainer sees Secret Mountains truly coming into their own - exploring emotional depths not yet plumped, tightening up their band sound, and making their jams that much more undeniable. If there's any justice in the world, 2013 will be a big year for Secret Mountains. The progress and sheer strength of their debut makes anything else absolutely unfair. Rainer will be out February 26th on Friends Records.
Typhoon
After what seemed like a whole year of talking it up, it's finally 2013 and Typhoon's follow up to Hunger and Thirst and A New Kind of House EP is so close you can almost hear it. Actually a couple months ago, the Portland folk orchestra gave us a taste of what to expect from White Lighter with single "Common Sentiments" and while no details have really emerged since then, it's really only a matter of time. And then the massive sensemble will tour and all will be as it should until they disappear to record a new album. Luckily we have some time with them before that's even an option.
The Voluntary Butler Scheme
The music of English multi-instrumentalist Rob Jones is a bit of conundrum. Reading about it or even seeing it, it's a process that's shocking creative and far more complex than it's sound will have you believe. Jones crafts music very much like those of the most radical experimentalists - relying far more heavily on the precise combination of sounds and a deft hand at detail than what you'd think necessary and yet that's all part of the appeal. For the complexity and innovative forethought Jones' process possess, the sound is clear, simple, and most importantly, enjoyable. It's a sound steeped in those of old despite Jones' very current approach. The third album from The Voluntary Butler Scheme A Million Ways to Make Gold seems (at least from its first single) to be a return to form from the futuristic leaning The Grandad Galaxy but rather than be some sort of backpedal just highlights Jones' ability to create smooth, svelte pop from an arduously complex process.
Wildlife
It's the moment I've been waiting for ever since the Toronto rockers released their debut album Strike Hard, Young Diamond. Wildlife have been hard at work on their sophomore record spiriting away to a cabin to work on songs before splitting their time between Brooklyn and Connecticut to record the thing. Meanwhile they've been keeping us informed on all the update taking wacky pictures, writing blogs, and giving hints at what to come without actually giving us anything substantial to go off of. Not yet anyway. But yesterday the Canadian quintet revealed the title and cover art for their upcoming record ...On The Heart and I am pumped. The album will be out in the world February 26th and words don't exist to describe my excitement.
Young Dreams
After three absolutely incredible singles, the debut full length Norwegian orchestral pop collective Young Dreams is almost within reach. We've heard the grandiose gladiator-themed first single "Fog of War" and we can probably something equally as majestic, as musical, as excellent of Between Places. What's more the good news is their new album might actually bring the band stateside and that's the only thing I want right now. Between Places will be out March 5th in the states on Modular Recordings.
Young Man
I know what you're thinking: didn't Young Man just release a new album a couple months ago? Yes, yes they did. And piggybacking an album release right on the heels of an album release is normally very very risky for fear of the songs not being as developed as they should be but if there's anyone that could put out teo amazing albums close together it's most likely Colin Caulfield. He's got such a thoughtful way with words and songwriting that you just know he took time to let the songs gestate naturally. I have complete and utter faith in Young Man that their new record Beyond Was All Around Me out April 9th is going to be super. No word yet on what it'll actually sound like but any news is good news in this case. Due to the lack of a single, I'll just post a track from Young Man's brilliant Vol. 1.
Have you ever wondered what quirky Brooklyn chamber pop outfit Friend Roulette sound like stripped down? Of course you have. While part of their impressive talents and endearing charm is the various moving parts they have going on at the same time, it's refreshing to see that they don't need to resort to the many spinning plates tactic if they don't want to. During CMJ, Friend Roulette performed an intimate little session for Last.fm solely composed of Matt Meade who traded in his guitar for piano, Julia Tepper remaining on violin/vocals, and Tlacael Esparza on drums.
The additional treat was that they broke out some new old songs that we've yet to hear alongside some of their glowing list of standards. And Last.fm filmed it. So if you missed it, you're in luck. And if you were there, you can relive it. Things don't get much better.
There's a certain weight of expectation that comes when one of your favorite bands/artists shares one of their favorite band with you. Especially if they don't have already established and understood greatness. You're at once expected them to be similar enough to create a sort of connect the dots of musical influence while also expecting them to exponentially greater than your wildest dreams. That's more or less how I felt when Matt of Friend Roulette labelled Brooklyn trio DT ROTBOT as his favorite band.
Luckily the Brooklyn psychedelic rockers live up to the oppressive weight. There's a wide multitude of bands doing the psychedelic/experimental thing, that's certainly true. But DT ROTBOT do so in a remarkably stylistic manner. Not overly conceptualized but there's a certain artiness to their quirky brand of experimental rock. The brainchild of Akiva Zamcheck with assistance from Patrick Monte and the later inclusion of Allan Mednard on drums, DT ROTBOT create a type of rock that's beguiling not just in its ability to groove but in its use of intensely memorable and as result highly enjoyable melodic-writing.
In a way DT ROTBOT is Brooklyn's answer to Detroit's Prussia as Zamcheck waves intricate, exciting narratives in which he seems to serves as both storyteller as well as a character of his own design (much like Prussia's Ryan Spencer does on Poor English). All the while, the music around him takes unpredictable twists and turns even as they become familiar through extended listening. DT ROTBOT is also a band that uses its talents effectively. Where you might normally associate their psychedelic influence with that of the jam band variety, the trio make extensive of silence, space, and breath. Even at its most frenetic, it never manages to fill in all the cracks and that's what makes them all the more intriguing. What's more is that it seems almost totally at odds with the bands ability to progress through such a wide variety of ideas and musical moments while still somehow coming off cohesive and highly sensible.
Get a taste of DT ROTBOT with their incredible new self-titled EP:
Remember Brooklyn sextet Friend Roulette? The chamber pop rockers are currently among my favorite people making music right now so each time they reveal a little bit of enigmatic puzzle that is their incredible tunes and debut full length information I leap a little with joy.
Unbeknownst to pretty much anyone besides the band themselves, Friend Roulette recently went in and recorded some tracks at Converse Rubber Tracks and well, like anything the two individually crank out the results are pretty extraordinary.
In the latest Track of the Week from Converse Rubber Tracks you can hear bits of Friend Roulette's latest single "Just Woke Up" and it's pure amazingness. Taking a similar melodic page from arguable my favorite Friend Roulette song "Sailing Song", it once again pairs quirkiness with the band's intense, awe-inspiringly precise musicianship. In a word: Amazing.
The video features just enough of the brand new single to have you jonesing for more. No news yet when the single proper will go live but I hope it's soon.
Well this is news to me. Sometime after the release of their excellent Hi, Hello EP on beautiful 10" dual-image vinyl, Friend Roulette dropped their debut music video for the EP's (or a double single if you really think about it) eponymous track. And while the places they go to and the sounds they wield are otherworldly and fantastical, the video directed by Duncan Bindbeutel, is anything but. A good old fashioned gathering of friends with a trace amount of Gatsby era decadence as they sip champagne and converse in evening dress, the cocktail party scene unfolds rather normally and pretty much without incident.
But it's more than just stock footage - there's a layer of foggy sheen and smokey glow you see what wouldn't be out of place in Mad Men's bars. Except it's a rather small house party in Brooklyn where the angelic strains of "Hi, Hello" soundtrack their night of merriment. A properly arty debut video from the artsy chamber pop quintet. One you're sure to watch again and again wishing you had received an invite to Friend Roulette's swanky champagne party.
Watch Friend Roulette's video for "Hi, Hello" here.
Friend Roulette's limited edition 10" picture disc vinyl is still available from Goodnight Records so order it here if you haven't already.
While gearing up for the upcoming release of their debut full length which is my most anticipated album in life, if not solely the year. Brooklyn chamber pop ensemble Friend Roulette have decided to ease the wait with a less life-consuming release, their tragically short Hi, Hello EP released on Goodnight Records. Now if you were at their double release show with Matty Fasano last month, the May release date might seem a bit of a surprise for you, especially if you snagged one of their fancy limited edition 10" picture discs designed by the group's violinist/vocalist Julia Tepper, and yet here we are. Earlier this week marked the official release date of the EP and Goodnight Records certain makes it worth your while even if you've already gotten your hands on the EP.
If you've heard the group's self-titled debut EP, "Hi, Hello" shouldn't be too much of a shock for you. While wholly new, the track inhabits the same lush cinematic realm of "Or Berlin" or so it seems. The group's embrace of dark textures are checked so that the tune is teased just enough with them to give the barest hint of a nightmarish turn in the dreamy, picturesque opening track. Brilliant bolstered by heavenly harmonies and more or less grounded by resonant bass clarinet, "Hi, Hello" shows a side of Friend Roulette I wasn't sure existed, at least from their energetic live show. Thoughtful in composition and restrained in the use of its multitude of members. Friend Roulette has always been impressive for its diverse lineup but their ability to employ them all in a way that's not too overwhelming is the far more impressive feat here. "Hi, Hello" is a track that reveals more of itself listen after listen as quaint little moments establish themselves swiftly and seems to flitter away almost as rapidly. Just enough to make you want to hear them again and again.
Whereas opener "Hi, Hello" is light and dreamy, b-side "On Her Own Tonight" is very much its opposite. An airy yet spacey opening before the vocals enter, a busy-ness that never seems to stop whether in the oscillating bass line provided by John Stanesco on bass clarinet or the careful pitter-pat of Kyle Olson and Tlacael Esparza's percussion. "On Her Own Tonight" has random bursts of brightness among its sea of frenetic dark landscapes - even as the track's rising, frantic pacing takes an abrupt stop for a virtually a capella moment before building and breaking into its previous tempo and reestablishing its unceasing forward momentum as the track swirls, glides, and otherwise gracefully reaches its end.
The digital version of the EP (which is really more of a double A side or something because it's only two songs) has two bonus tracks demo versions of "Dog Tambourine" (which I have never heard before) and "Or Berlin" so if you like what you hear make sure to buy either the vinyl picture disc or digital version (or BOTH!) via Goodnight Records here. The band's also hosting a second, more official record release party at Pianos in NYC on Saturday May 19th so if you're in the mood for something astonishingly wonderful make sure to drop by. (Tickets/Info)
Next month New York's chamber-pop outfit to the end all chamber-pop outfits, Friend Roulette, is playing a release show with Matty Fasano. Matty Fasano's got an EP he's pushing and it turns out the delightful collective have their own release to be proud about - a 10" picture disc featuring some spiffy new tracks not available on that great EP they put out last year. One you might have heard here recently through an acoustic video ("Hi, Hello"), the other is live-song staple "On Her Own Tonight". That's some thrilling news if you, like me, are eagerly awaiting that full length album the group have been hard at work on. There's no word on that yet but this picture disc new helps ease the wait a bit.
