is Lo-Fi Indie Noise Rock the Soundtrack to this Depression?!

America, and the rest of the world, is in the midst of one of the most significant economic recessions of modern times, and I believe the hard times, unemployment, uncertainty, anger, and frustration that is plaguing average citizens of the world, is going to result in a continued growth of lo-fi indie noise rock.  Much like early punk rock represented an anti-establishment DIY aesthetic, lo-fi indie noise rock has the potential to define a currently frustrated indie-youth subculture.

The timing seems perfect, the metaphorical electro bubble, while not necessarily burst, has certainly been deflating.  The vast quantities of DIY electro acts and music blogs to emerge between the release of Justice’s Cross (2007) and Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colors (2008) is impressive, but while a lot of enjoyable dance/party music has came out of the recent electro wave, it has gotten to the point where enough is enough, and a lot of music critics and music fans have found themselves SCREAMING FOR SOMETHING MORE ABRASIVE.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling.  Two easy examples of music publications who clearly share this attitude are Pitchfork Media, and Gorilla vs Bear.  Neither will dismiss great indie-pop/indie-electro/indie-disco (for the most part), but both have been pushing less accessible noise rock over the last 12 months.

Similar to how indie-pop (see Postal Service, The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Super Furry Animals, Stars, The Pipettes, etc.) started loosing its dominance post-2005, electro/disco is starting to become a little less market dominant now (although for me dark-disco – ie. Glass Candy/Chromatics – still feels appropriate).

The bands that I currently have picked out for the “soundtrack to this depression” include No Age, Titus Andronicus, Vivian Girls, Dum Dum Girls, Wavves, and Times New Viking.  These bands are not necessarily my personal favorites – although I love the Wavvves LP (2009) –  but I believe they constitute a genre, a time, and a place in music that we’ll be able to look back at, and say “oh yah, I listened to indie-noise-rock when my Bachelor’s Degree couldn’t even get me a job as a burista, and I couldn’t fucking handle listening to another indie-pop/electro-bloghouse hit on the fucking Hype Machine.”

While the aforementioned noise-rock bands are the type of music that I’m really looking at here, I feel it would be selling this era of music short if I were not to mention indie-popular music from other genres that possess some of the lo-fi, harder to digest, less accessible aesthetics of noise-rock.  Just to note, when I say lo-fi I’m referring more to an audio aesthetic than a recording technique.

Lower-fidelity rock acts like The Dutchess and the Duke gained popularity in 2008 (via Pitchfork’s Best New Music, surprise surprise), and indie-metal acts like Harvey Milk received a little more attention from not-so-metal music publications (but I still can’t relate to any metal, and I have a feeling a lot of indie-nerds feel the same).

Recently garage rock bands like The Strange Boys (a LaCinta favorite), The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (early-Sloan meets Exploding Hearts), and Cymbals Eat Guitars (Built To Spill meets early-Modest Mouse) have been received with excellent reviews.

The Black Lips are set to release their grimy new album 200 Million Thousand (2009), and they kicked off the online media frenzy with a series of bad ass stories from the band’s attempted India tour (which is probably being edited for VBS.tv as you read this).

Lo-fi psychedelic bands like Deerhunter, Atlas Sound, and Black Dice have seen increased attention over the last year, and newcomers like Pit Er Pat, Tickley Feather, and Blind Man’s Color have left strong first impressions.” The Pitchfork Twitter account (via Mark Richardson) recently tweeted, “Are my headphones in worse shape than I thought or did the new black dice come up on shuffle?” – and to me at least, that comes across as a huge compliment.

Even electro has had its share of lo-fi makeovers, with groups like Heartsrevotion and Pictureplane making danceable electro a little less accessible, and a little more noisy.

There have also been 8-bit electronic groups like Truckasauras and Dan Deacon taking the stage, and musicians like Nite Jewel have put a layer of dirty makeup over the typically polished electro/disco model.

Given the notable rise in popularity of noisy indie music, rockers like No Age becoming involved in skate culture and starting their own record label, and teenagers like Nathan from Wavves receiving unbelievable initial attention, it seems that – for the moment anyways – my prophecy of lo-fi indie noise rock becoming the soundtrack to this depression may just become reality.

“Got no car. Got no money.  I got nothing nothing nothing not at all.  Got no bike. Got no girlfriend. Got no time. Got no money. Got no friends. Got no family.” – Wavves

Just you watch, day by day you are going to become more attracted to feedback, and distortion, and emotions other than “let’s dance!”  Times New Viking may sound like a hell-of-a-racket at first, but before long you’re going to be gritting your teeth, and banging your head, while you embrace the noisy racket.  It only makes sense, because you’re probably going to be unemployed, in debt, pissed off, and totally lost any day now.

Here’s some link to MP3’s so you can start building your soundtrack to the depression (if you haven’t started already).  Go ahead, a change in musical pace might be just what you need, and I mean what else are you going to do? Listen to MSTRKRFT’s abomination of a new electro album?!

No Age “My Life’s Alright Without You”

Link To MP3

Titus Andronicus “No Future”

Link to MP3

Titus Andromicus “Arms Against Atrophy”

Link to MP3

Vivian Girls “Second Date”

Link to MP3

Vivian Girls “Where Do You Run To?”

& “Surfing Away (live)”

Link to MP3’s

Dum Dum Girls “Catholicked” ❤

Link to Mp3

Wavves “So Bored” *& “Weed Demon” ❤

Link to MP3’s

Times New Viking “Drop-Out” ❤

& Titus Andronicus “My Time Outside the Womb”

& No Age “Eraser”

Link to MP3’s

If you can think of any other bands I should include in my lo-fi-indie-noise-rock grouping, or have any other thoughts that may be of interest, please leave a comment on the article.  I’m really hoping LaCinta’s readers take more to discussing matters with one another via commenting on the site.

January Recap: Albums, Songs, Videos, Films, etc.

Albums:

Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion:

What would I say if I wanted express my love for MPP?

This album is really great.  It transcends society.  Animal Collective is the future of music.  I knew about AC before you knew about AC.  I’ve been listening to Animal Collective since they wore masks and sat on the floor making weird noises… blah blah blah.

Honestly though, I think my first Animal Collective record was Sung Tongs, back in 2004.  On first listen I thought Sung Tongs was really fucking weird, but I also liked Deerhoof and Fiery Furnaces around the same time, so I had a tolerance for the obscure.  As I dove into Animal Collective’s back catalogue, I had no idea what to think.  Their early music wasn’t exactly accessible.  But after a couple years, and the release of Feels (2005), it became very much apparent that Animal Collective had far more staying power (for me personally) than Deerhoof or Fiery Furnaces.  And every time I listen to an Animal Collective record it gets better.

Today I think Sung Tongs sounds totally like mainstream pop (even though it totally doesn’t).  For some reason Animal Collective seemed to gain a lot of exposure after Strawberry Jam (2007) – which I think is weirder then both Sung Tongs and Feels – but perhaps that’s merely representative of Pitchfork’s ever increasing influence over the indie-market.

Most of my friends still look at me funny when I play Animal Collective, so I guess they still don’t have enough crossover appeal to become intolerably popular, but as far as indie goes, Merriweather Post Pavilion is certainly garnering a hell of a lot of attention.  The album is great though, and I’m thrilled that Animal Collective has made it this far.  I mean how excited were you when you first heard “My Girls” “Summertime Clothes” and “Brothersport” ?  I seriously freaked out, and couldn’t sleep for days.

Fever Ray – Fever Ray

I am growing more and more fond of this album as the weeks pass. Karin Dreijer Andersson (of The Knife) did a wonderful job with this solo project.  The Knife is amazing, and Fever Ray is amazing too, only a lot more melancholy.   I’m sure it’ll get consistent playtime in my music collection for some time to come.

Nite Jewel – Good Evening

I’ve been following Nite Jewel for a while now (which means like 4 months of so), and I really enjoy the music.  I don’t find it particularly exciting, but it hits the spot late at night.  You could say it’s the jewel of my nights.  Good Evening features a lot of tracks that have appeared elsewhere in Nite Jewel’s small collection of released music.  But it’s nice to have 10 songs in once place now.

Worth a Listen:

Matt & Kim – Grand

I was thinking about calling this album overrated.  But I mean realistically, it’s a decent indie pop album.  Nothing special, but it has a lot of crossover appeal and will probably get a lot more play time on some people’s stereos then others – which is fine.

Lemonade – Lemonade

This album is OK.  It’s kind of like !!! – which is probably going to be a common reference point.  And much like !!! it’s decent music, but not really amazing.  I’m sure I will play it sometimes (like when I need an energetic electro rock kick) but I’ll probably never really love this album.

Muséé Méchanique – Hold This Ghost

I’m only on my second listen right now, but I’m enjoying this.  It doesn’t sound like something that will likely have much staying power for me.  But it’s mellow, and pretty, and acoustic, and peaceful.

MV & EE with the Golden Road – Drone Trailer What

I’ve listened to this thrice now, and it sort of makes me feel like I’m somewhere in between Black Mountain and The Flaming Lips.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

I think this album just hits a soft spot for me, because it reminds me a lot of early Sloan.  Like, some of the songs might as well just be Sloan cover songs.  I guess if TPOBPAH follow in Sloan’s steps they’ll hit their golden age in a couple years, and spend the next 20+ years producing consistently decent power pop.

Disappointments:

The Von Bondies – Love Hate and Then There’s You

I guess I shouldn’t call this a disappointment, because my expectations were incredibly low, and The Von Bondies weren’t all that great in the first place.  But I did enjoy them circa 2004 for a couple months; probably until I decided that Fever To Tell (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) was a way better way to get my energetic rock fix.  I just always have a little hope for new albums from bands I used to like, thanks to my strong sense of nostalgia.

Overrated:

Bon Iver – Blood Bank EP

I have some friends that love Bon Iver.  And I get it, but it just doesn’t really do it for me.  I’m sure I’ll listen to it occasionally, but my brain just doesn’t have a huge demand for Bon Iver’s sad acoustic melodies.

Antony & The Johnsons – The Crying Light

Again, I see the appeal, but I just don’t think this is all that great.  For me, I’m just not too interested in it, at least not yet.

Songs:

Royksopp “Happy Up Here”

This song is fun!

MF Doom “Ballskin”

This song makes me so frustrated that MF DOOM is waiting 10 million years to release a new LP.  It’s getting to the point where I expect him to release a new LP under every single one of his aliases in the next 12 months.

Thunderheist “Sweet 16”

“Lets talk that dirty talk, dirty dance, dirty walk, dirty hands, dirty saw, bend her over dirty ohhhh!”

“You can’t, can’t can’t go do this, tap tap tap tap tap the booty!”

Notice how the lyrics that stuck in my mind are the ones endorsing fun, and not the ones warning against it?

This is a song about illegal temptations, but the funny thing is I’m pretty sure the age of consent in Canada is actually 16, and Thunderheist is Canadian.

Guys/girls are going to be so proud if they grind a 16 year old while this song is playing.

Blind Man’s Colour “The Warm Current’s Pill”

MP3: Blind Man’s Colour – The Warm Current’s Pull

I actually thought this was an Animal Collective and/or Panda Bear song when I first heard it.  I blogged about BMC recently, and I really hope they can follow through on the hope I have for them.

Discoveries:

Deerhunter – s/t

I’ve had this album for a while, but for some reason I hadn’t listened to it before.  I’m only a couple listens in but so far I enjoy it.  It’s definitely more punk than Deerhunter’s newer music, but I’m not much of a punk so I prefer the newer music.

Music Videos:

Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart

I love the creepy low light footage.

Blind Man’s Colour – Never Hope For Treasure

Definitely “artsy” – but it totally fits the post-AC DIY spirit that BMC seem to posses.

Lykke Li – Tonight

Recorded live in one take.  I can respect that.

Animal Collective – My Girls

I’ve heard people complain about this video, but I actually think it does an excellent job of what it’s going for.  And I’d LOVE to see the green screen version!

Films:

(not necessarily released this month)

Let the Right One In

I have a weakness for vampires.  I hadn’t really contemplated the angle this vampire story takes, but it’s definitely worth watching.  It’s a Norwegian film.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

Newest Woody Allen film, and for me it’s like a lot of Woody Allen, definitely entertaining, but by no means priceless.  Although Scarlet Johanson and Penelope Cruz do make out, and I found that I could relate to Scarlett’s character, is that OK?

Good Dick

I actually haven’t finished watching this yet, so hopefully the ending doesn’t suck.  The first half was very entertaining though – much better than expected.  I’ll probably finish it tonight.

Does Weezer + Spike Jonze = Publicity????????? Long Long Long Long Long Long Long Long Gone Are The Matt Sharp Powered Glory Days of The Weeze.

It’s been 12 years since Weezer released an album actually worth listening to.

Now – after 14 years – it is time to create some nostalgia about the nostalgia that originally popularized that Weezer/Buddy Holly/Happy Days/Spike Jonze blissful glee that took the MTV Music Video Awards/the early 90s alt/indie crowd by storm.

I once saw Weezer open for No Doubt, I think that was in ’95… oh the good ‘ol 90s.

So the new Spike Jonze/Weezer video will be to some song called “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived.” I haven’t heard the song before but I presume it is a story about Rivers Cuomo – although it would seem a lot more fitting for Rivers to be writing the song about Matt Sharp.

Anyhow, just can’t wait to watch Spike’s new video on mute – it’s like that time when I was a teen and my BFF hosted a Grade 7 News Year’s Party where we put MTV/MUCH MUSIC on mute, played our own music, and got our adolescent freak on with the images of a young unadulterated Britney Spears running through our minds.

Listening to Now:

Conor Oberst Gentleman’s Pact EP (2008). Has anyone started to notice the Emo World growing more and more alt country alongside Conor Oberst???  Don’t you just love watching an emo/alt country kid’s dye-stained-bangs flap up and down in rhythm with a stomping foot, clapping hands, and bandana-neck-tie?

Deerhunter Weird Era Cont (2008).  I wonder if this bonus Deerhunter album would have been included in the physical release had Microcastle not been leaked over 6 months before release???

La ¡Cinta! discover technology upgrade fantastic! Listen to the music we talk about while reading about the music we talk about! Still too scared of the RIAA to give you the MP3s for free (unless we have permission, barf) and remember kids, supporting musicians, labels, and publicists by buying their music makes Johny a good boy (unless you’re buying from Wal-Mart & The Big Four, in which case it makes Johny stress about his new found inner moral debate).

But paying hard earned $$$ to see live music is so much more rewarding.

Drum roll please! La ¡Cinta! can now stream music!!! (Oh me! Oh my!)

And, in celebration of our new found technology, listen to one of our favorite split 7″s this year:

The 4th 7″ in Jay Reatard’s Single Series for Matador Records:

Jay Reatard Fluorescent Grey | Oh, It’s Such A Shame (2008):

A1 Jay Reatard “Flourescent Grey” (Deerhunter Cover)

B1: Deerhunter “Oh, it’s Such a Shame” (Jay Reatard Cover)

Jay & Brad cover eachother’s songs, how cute : )

Buy the record here from Matador Records. Vinyl is sold out, but the MP3 & FLAC downloads are available for a very affordable price (not being sarcastic).

Listening to Now: Jay Reatard Fluorescent Grey | Oh, It’s Such A Shame (2008).