Indie Rock Baseball

M83 Saturdays = Youth Mute	Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell Saddle Creek

Scouting Report: My friend Zachary once called M83 the Worst Band in the Entire World. But, having seen three of four of their videos, i think the whole thing works with the pointedly cheese-ball visual accompaniment they tend to surround it with. You know, the soft focus and the lovely blond girl running through the field of dandelions and the intense beams of sunlight and such, like some sort of hipster tampon ad.

Tokyo Police Club is a spunky, buzz-driven indie group from Canada. And, really, how many bands can you say that about? Apparently, Elephant Shell is their full-length debut, the band having previously made their name on the strength of an EP. Which is how the kids are going about it these days. And, as every band knows, there’s a whole heap of difference between your first 5 songs and your next 12. Pick ‘em is the line on this one.

Having finished a stint on the 30-day DL, i am forced to admit my swing may be a little rusty. In case you couldn’t tell. Okay …

First Up: Saturdays = Youth

1. You, Appearing (3.39) | STEEEERIKE, 0-1
2. Kim & Jessie (5.23) | Yes, young lesbians are pretty neat-o. Good call on that one. | HIT, one on
3. Skin of the Night (6.12) | Gross. | STRIKE, 0-1
4. Graveyard Girl (4.51) | An otherwise terrificly sudsy anthem, nearly ruined by the spoken word part. And i *like* spoken word parts. | BUNT SINGLE, runners on 1st and 2nd
5. Couleurs (8.34) | I just saw “8.34″ and assumed it’s a strike. | STRIKE, 0-1
6. Up! (4.27) | STRIKE, quickly 0-2
7. We Own the Sky (5.02) | This is like being stuck in a French elevator. | STRIKE 3, out

M83 = Bleh. A crass mix of Erasure and My Bloody Valentine made strictly for people who can only appreciate things ironically. Sadly, it occasionally connects, but feel free to openly make fun of their fans. It’s not like they’re gonna fight back. For M83, no runs on 2 hits, 4 left on.

Next Up: Elephant Shell

1. Centennial (1.54) | Hey, did anybody just hear a song go by? | BALL, 1-0
2. In a Cave (2.49) | BALL, 2-0
3. Graves (2.36) | Huh, i almost thought this one was going to have a hook for a second. | STRIKE, 2-1
4. Juno (2.15) | Seriously, this whole album thus far as sounded like one giant Arctic Monkeys outtake. | STRIKE, 2-2
5. Tessellate (2.39) | STRIKE 3, out

So, yeah, this thing would’ve struck out a lot quicker if the songs hadn’t been so short. Upbeat at least, but samey and utterly hook free. For Canadian Indie-Pop Product, no runs, no hits, 6 left on.

Well, that was depressing. Let’s try this again tomorrow. Your suck-shortnened final today, M83 0, Tokyo Police Club 0. Stay tuned for more Indie Rock Baseball.

(jc)
— Learn how Indie Rock Baseball is scored here. —

Black Keys Attack & Release Nonesuch	Clinic Do It Domino

Scouting Report: I’m feeling rusty but I’m ready to rock. This week, I’m going deep: it’s a battle of 5th records pitting the latest from blues-y duo The Black Keys against the latest from Liverpool weirdos Clinic.

The Keys initially hired Ike Turner for the production for Attack and Release [insert controversial ‘beats’ joke here]. But due to Ike’s untimely death, the duo turned to Danger Mouse (?!?!) to finish it up. I’m not too familiar with how Mr. Mouse deals with ‘real’ instruments, other than his work with the Gorillaz (which is still mainly electronic). So, I’m curious to hear how this is going to pan out for a primarily blues/rock act.

Clinic lace their music with acid-tinged vocals, and wear surgical masks both live and in all their press shots. Kitschy - and sterile! - fun. Is it me or does most ‘experimental’ / psychedelic music seems kind of strained these days? Especially five albums ‘worth. Guess I’ll soon find out.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

Yeah yeah yeah, we know we have been lazy. Both founders/contributors of IRB were in Texas for SXSW and while one was on tour, the other was finishing a record and both were just slothy enough to not post anything for the first part of this season. Although, That isn’t to say we weren’t listening though. Before we get back into posting, let’s recap some albums released during this busy 2 months or so we have been absent.

Favorites (that we did review) so far; Helio Sequence and Black Mountain have been my favorite releases, maintaining high rotation in the pod. I know the Dirtbombs record & Dirty on Purpose EP is still sending Jensy. For the record, I reviewed the new “hit” Vampire Weekend record and completely agree with my counterpart, if you like that shit you will not like this site and/or us, get back to your studies.

Here are some other records we have breezed though and won’t make full posts but deserve a mention…

RECAPPERY! >>>>

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Real Emotional Trash Matador	The Dirtbombs We Have You Surrounded In the Red

Scouting Report: I confess, this was originally going to be The Dirtbombs vs. Vampire Weekend. Having thus far been the only music blog in explored space to not review (and subsequently, automatically laud) the wildly misnamed buzz band, i felt at least a tinge of obligation to give them a shot, even if they did enter the contest with a Christian’s chance against the lions. But, in spite of my attempts to squint and pretend this may have been what Talking Heads sounded like to some in ‘78, Vampire Weekend is a travesty, Arcade Fire with a case of cutes. Because giving or not giving “a fuck about an Oxford comma (?)” is something best left to current and future yuppies, that disc got tossed faster than Lastings Milledge during a pennant race. Seriously, if you like that band, please don’t visit our site any more.

Instead, you have this current match-up: The Dirtbombs, who rule, vs. Stephen Malkmus, who at least used to at one point in his career. It’s only fair.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

Dirty on Purpose Like Bees (EP) North Street	Cassettes Won’t Listen Small Time-Machine (EP) self-released

Scouting Report: Like Bees? Only on my report card. This 5-songer from Brooklyn shoe-gazeteers Dirty on Purpose is one among many of a smattering of recent minor releases from the band. There’s also some digital-only hoo-hah, bonus tracks, live tracks and other stuff floating around for you DOP completists out there. Perhaps a bevvy of for-fans-only material, but i’m a fan of the band, so why the heck not. Terrific live act, by the way.

Besides, i gotta have something to match up against this snazzy Cassettes Won’t Listen EP i just got in the mail. I don’t know much of this act, other than Cassettes Won’t Listen is possibly the worst band name possible, and that he was the featured artist on MySpace, like, every other day throughout 2007. So, Tom digs him apparently. Also, the one-man act (alternately known as Jason Drake) is appearing this Saturday on Fox’s Fearless Music television program, where he’ll have a lot to live up to, ha ha ha.

Last time we reviewed EPs, we instated a special rule that puts a runner on 2nd before beginning the reviewing process, to help the reconcile the final score with the marks typically awarded full-length releases. Although i find this rule contrived and more than a little clunky (which i can say because it was my idea), i’m sticking with it. So, both releases begin with a runner in scoring position.

Lastly, a disturbing realization: both acts today have “gang signs.”

Remember, split squad games count in the standings, ties do not.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

Nada Surf Lucky Barsuk	Rogue Wave Asleep at Heaven’s Gate Brushfire

Scouting Report: 2007 was a great year for Nada Surf. Their 5th release The Weight is a Gift, produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s producer/guitarist Chris Walla, was a critical success for a band that has been flying under the radar - although releasing consistently solid pop rocks albums - in the years since their massive hit ‘Popular’. I loved The Weight… and am really looking forward to hearing this new release.

The last time I have saw Rouge Wave, they were opening up for Nada Surf. Their brand of catchy dream pop songs makes for some good snuggle rock. Their “commercial” success thus far has been largely in, well, commercials. By the way, remember Heaven’s Gate? The forgotten cult. Anyway, let’s get the Zune ready and see how this record shapes up.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

Black Mountain In the Future Jagjaguwar	The Helio Sequence Keep Your Eyes Ahead Sub Pop

Scouting Report: Black Mountain’s acid-laced folk lends itself to comparisons to Spaceman 3 and the Stones. They also get likened to heavy stuff like Sabbath, which is a little beyond me (maybe it’s the band name). I have followed the band since their last release 3 years ago, have seen them live with fellow space-rockers The Black Angels, and even got into frontman Stephen McBean’s side project Pink Mountain Tops (I’m a sucker for bands with 2 drummers). So, I’m a ‘fan.’ I am excited to hear the new release and I’m expecting a lot of the same big droney songs in E.

The Helio Sequence is a rock/electro duo hailing from Portland. Turns out the lead singer blew out his voice with his over-the-top performances from the last tour and now, and could only record after months of rehabbing, and toning down on the shrieking. The resulting disc Keep Your Eyes Ahead is being advertised as a more refined version of the band. Doctor’s orders? Let’s get started…

PLAY BALL! >>>>

Beach House Devotion Carpark	The Magnetic Fields Distortion Nonesuch

Scouting Report: I first heard Baltimore twosome Beach House a couple of years ago when two tracks from their debut (including the sublime “Master of None”) wormed their way onto my playlist. Featuring singer-organist Victoria Legrand’s expressive, but not overwrought, voice, the songs were infused with an eerie, dreamy sense of distance, chilling and evocative. I never followed up on Beach House, though, and assumed these tracks would just remain some surreal curios in my collection, so i’m glad to see this band dropped a follow-up.

However, they are facing a formidable opponent. Hell, the new one from The Magnetic Fields even got a full-page feature in the freakin’ New York Times. Rock and roll. And, impressive, especially considering that, unlike their previous two efforts - i and 69 Love Songs - Distortion’s backstory is pretty much gimmick-free. Or, more accurately, the gimmick at work - each track involves at least one distorted instrument - is so slight and obscure, that it’s (theoretically) a non-factor. Besides, if contrivances are what Stephin Merritt and his squad of co-conspiritors need to crank out the volume of material that they do, well, if it ain’t broken …

Plus, Devotion vs. Distortion kinda has a nice ring to it.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

British Sea Power Do You Like Rock Music? Rough Trade	Dead Meadow Old Growth Matador

Scouting Report: Do You Like Rock Music? is the latest from British Sea Power, a four-piece Brit-pop band, blah blah blah. I’d much rather talk about that album title. First off, i deplore questions. My main man John Cale had a great quote about why he hated folk music, and his response was (approximately) “every song’s a fucking question.” I especially hate questions in headlines. Like “ARE YOUR CHILDREN SAFE?” Questions, especially these sorts of horseshit rhetorical-esque questions, are an effective way to make it sound like you are making a bold, attention-grabbing statement when really you are doing is covering your ass. Pretty much any act in the world could release a record called Do You Like Rock Music? and be perfectly equipped for any response. “No, you don’t? Hey, this number has a harp on it!” Or, worse, “you do? Us too! Otherwise we’d be paralegals.”

Not to come down so hard, because British Sea Power seems like a pretty likable band. But, to answer their question, yes, yes i do. Quite a lot actually. Here’s hoping they have some to offer, because they’re in deep shit if they don’t.

Speaking of Rock Music, British Sea Power matches up against Old Growth, the sixth record from Dead Meadow, a van-rock power trio of some renown. I don’t have much to contribute in regards of a musical overview here either, but if you wanna see the funniest flash-page opening to a band website possibly ever, here you go.

PLAY BALL! >>>>

The Grand Archives The Grand Archives Sub Pop	Drive-By Truckers Brighter Than Creation’s Dark New West

Scouting Report: Batting lead-off today is the first offering from The Grand Archives, one half of the original Band of Horses. Mat Brooke left the BOH tour off of their successful first album to (I assume) put his own band together and gear up for their first release, while Band of Horses have been tearing up the charts and top 100 lists over the last 2 years. But the follow-up record really didn’t float me too much; I’m really looking forward to to seeing if Mat’s contributions were the missing ingredient.

Drive-By Truckers is a southern rock fixture hailing from Athens, GA. They’re coming off a rough year, losing one of their main songwriters, Jason Isbell (thankfully they have 2 others) right after getting off tour for the solid release A Blessing and a Curse. Isbell is also now divorced from bass player Shonna Tucker, who is now a contributing songwriter, as well. I’ll bet there is some juicy breakup jams. The band also added John Neff (slide guitar, guitar, keys) to their recording and touring unit. I know John from high school in Savannah, he very well might remember me, considering I was the only guy in the state of Georgia named Hans. Anyway, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark is the culmination of all of these changes.

PLAY BALL! >>>>