Way Back Wednesday: Ashford & Simpson

Rest In Peace Nick Ashford.

Nick Ashford, the Ashford of Ashford & Simpson, passed away this week of throat cancer.  Very sad.  Ashford & Simpson is the married duo consisting of Nick and his wife Valerie Simpson.  I knew them mostly from their R&B hit "Solid" in the 80's and only just found out that they wrote some of my favorite Motown hits:  "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for Diana Ross and "You're All I Need to Get By" for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.  They also wrote songs for Chaka Khan and Ray Charles.  Pretty impressive.  But what's more impressive is their sweet-ass 80's video for "Solid."  I am loving the Jheri curl and the hot ass leather pants. I also love that the gang of ruffians in the park turn out to just be a rag tag group of sashayers and backup musicians.  Don't we wish that all rainy days in Central Park ended like this?

New Single: Cinema Twin

I've been a fan of Zollie Maynard, one half of The Cinema Twin, since high school.  To be fair, we went to high school in the same town and he had a really great band that played all over.  After high school, he and the band moved to Atlanta where they were known as the Sightseers and signed to Brendan O'Brien's Shotput record label.  The band recorded a few records and then broke up.  Zollie moved to New York, got his degree and landed in Brooklyn.  That was where he reconnected with Jason Chimonides, an acquaintance from home, and The Cinema Twin was born.  When they released their first single "Red Gtr." it caught the ear of Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins (ahem, one of my favorite bands of all time) and Robin liked what he heard so much that he started working with the band.  What resulted is an intricately layered melodic and sweet song that makes me feel happy and warm inside.  The three song single Red Gtr. is available via iTunes and features "Red Gtr.," "Sun Doesn't Know" and "Red Gtr. (Robin Guthrie version)."  Get it now!

The Cinema Twin (Jason and Zollie)

New Music: Cut Off Your Hands

It's hard for me to think of an album that continues to make me smile as much as Cut Off Your Hands 2008 debut You And I.  It is a magical piece of Wall of Sound goodness that is fun and poppy, and still one of my favorite records.  After three long years, I was so excited to hear that the band was finally releasing a new record.  From what I knew, the band had a bit of a rough go of it lately.  They had several line-up changes, had to scrap a version of the record and their drummer lost his hearing.  Uh, that’s pretty shit if you ask me.  So, I can imagine that it probably wasn’t easy to create something as happy peppy as You And I after all that.  Thankfully the band persevered and created a really good sophomore record.  Hollow shows the band progressing into something deeper than its poppier counterpart.  If You And I was an homage to the pop songs of the 60’s, then Hollow is an homage to the dustier rock songs of the 60’s.  Don’t worry, the record’s not all freedom rock, man; it’s more Echo & the Bunnymen meets Ocean Blue meets The Byrds…and it’s awesome.

At its core, Hollow is melancholic and full of raw emotion.  The juxtaposition of pop left over from the first record and the darkness of the new record creates wonderful musical tension.  You can still feel the pop undertone on songs like “Hollowed Out” and “All It Takes,” while the aptly titled “Fooling No One” is a full-on pop assault, proving that it’s not all dark days for these boys.  The best example of this is “Down and Out” which is my favorite song on the record right now.  I definitely like the darker, and somewhat softer, side of Cut Off Your Hands.  “Nausea” is full of sexy pleasantries with singer Nick Johnston giving his best Ian McCulloch.  And then there’s the very sweet love letter in “By Your Side” and the very lush “Oh Hell” which both channel The Byrds. 

Cut Off Your Hands know how to write great songs and are one of my favorite bands that haven’t seen (but deserve) huge success.  As they continue to evolve and mature into something even more great, I can only imagine that this will soon change!

Way Back Wednesday: The Go-Go's

When I was growing up, I was OBSESSED with The Go-Go's.  From the first time I heard "Our Lips Are Sealed" and won the album from D-103 (the radio station), I was hooked.  I was so excited when, in seventh grade, my friend Sharla's mom hooked us up with a chaperone to go see the Go-Go's live in concert.  It was probably one of the most exciting things to happen to me.  I remember buying a concert t-shirt. It was jersey style and it went down to my ankles, it was so big (and I was so small).  Cut to:  1986.  That same shirt now fit perfectly (either it shrunk or I had a massive growth spurt) and Talk Show was out and it was the JAM.  I was turning sixteen and about to get my drivers license.  My friends threw me a surprise birthday party at our friend Kyan's house and we were all doing "air" performances of "Head Over Heels" in his living room.  We took turns at who would be Belinda, and swapped the instrumentals.  I think we fought over the who would do the keyboard on this song (better than air guitar on this one).  We probably had one Busch beer and were "wasted."  I mean, we were 16. 

Tonight, I'm going with my BFF Michele to see The Go-Go's at The Greek.  Not only was she at the 16th birthday party, but she organized it.  First of all, I think it's so awesome that twenty-five years later we are still friends and are going to see the Go-Go's, but I also can't wait to be transported back to the old days and hear all my old favorite songs (I can't remember shit anymore, but I still remember the all words to their songs).  I wish I could say that things were much simpler back then, but it was high school and, as I'm sure you can imagine, there was a lot of trivial drama.  At least now we're old enough to buy our own booze!

New Single: Cymbals Eat Guitars

 
Cymbals Eat Guitars might win the contest this month for the band not named Pavement, but most inspired by Pavement.  Pavement's one of my favorite bands, so while hesitant, I do appreciate the homage.  Cymbals Eat Guitars have a new record Lenses Alien out on August 30th through Barsuk Records and they've released two singles for download on the internets.  "Definite Darkness" is probably my favorite of the two.  It's full of indie noodling, experimental loopiness and lush melodies.  You can download it from Pitchfork here.  If you're into the eight minute jam, you will probably like "Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name)" and can download it here.

Cymbals Eat Guitars are hitting the road in September for a US tour with Hooray for the Earth and Beige on select dates:

09/20/11 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall*#
09/21/11 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg*#
09/22/11 - Hamden, CT - The Space*#
09/24/11 - Washington, DC - Black Cat*#
09/26/11 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506*
09/27/11 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl    *
09/29/11 - New Orleans LA - One Eyed Jacks    *
09/30/11 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's (Upstairs)*
10/01/11 - Austin, TX  - Emos*
10/02/11 - Denton, TX - Dan's Silverleaf    *
10/04/11 - Tucson, AZ - Hotel Congress    *
10/05/11 -  San Diego, CA - Casbah    *
10/06/11 - Long Beach, CA - Alex's Bar    *
10/07/11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo    *
10/08/11 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill*
10/10/11 -  Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios*
10/11/11 -  Seattle, WA - Crocodile    *
10/13/11 - Boise, ID - Neurolux    *
10/14/11 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby    *
10/15/11 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive    *
10/17/11 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr*
10/19/11 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street    *
10/20/11 - Madison, WI - High Noon    *
10/21/11 - Chicago, IL  - Lincoln Hall*
10/22/11 - MOKB Presents: White Rabbit Cabaret Indianapolis, IN*
10/23/11 - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern*
10/25/11 - First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA *#
10/27/11 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom*#

* With Hooray For Earth
# With Beige

Video: Islands in the Stream

As some of you may already know, I am absolutely fascinated by Jim James from My Morning Jacket and his fancy fashion sense.  I found this video on Stereogum of him performing one of my favorite songs from 8th grade "Islands in the Stream" with the adorable Neko Case as an encore for their Pittsburgh show on August 10th.  Naturally, Jim is wearing his fave trench coat in the middle of August and during the first part of the song he has a towel draped over his head.  Love this guy. 

Move over Kenny and Dolly, I want more from these two!!

New Single: Feist

How Come You Never Go There by Feist

Feist is back with a new single and a new full length album Metals, due October 4th.  "How Come You Never Go There" makes me feel like I am listening to her perform in a smoky lounge.  Feist is laying on a piano in a full length black cocktail dress, mesmerizing the crowd with her sultry vocals.  I'm drinking a Manhattan or a Pink Lady at the bar, swaying to the music while guys that call me "Dame" hit on me.  Not complaining...the song is pretty wicked and guys are hitting on me.  Sounds like a fine night to me.