mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Tribes

Eric Quist — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:04 +0000

Driven by nostalgia, 90’s guitar rock revivalists Tribes carve up a decade known for sarcasm and slack and kick over the stoic pillars of irony that punctured my coming-of-age. Tribes is a polished affair that trades in your hand-me-down flannel and caustic sludge for an easy to swallow blend of Britpop produced by the same man responsible for Arctic Monkeys and the Kooks.

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December Band Of The Month Winner: Taxes

Dawson Ludwig — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:00:33 +0000

December Band Of The Month Winner: Taxes

Taxes - Advertising

mySpoonful is very excited to announce Taxes as the winner of the December Band of the Month poll as chosen by you! Check them out again below and get another chance to download a brand new track “Advertising”! Thank you to everyone who participated. The January poll is already heating up so make sure to check out all this months bands and ‘like’ the ones you like best!

For more music and info on Taxes, please see their original spoonful.

hometown: San Francisco, Ca

categories: Indie Rock

for fans of: Jimmy Eat World, Sunny Day Real Estate, Manchester Orchestra

background check:
Here’s an exclusive interview with Robby from Taxes:

Dawson from mySpoonful (mS): Your lyrics are very personal, obviously, but sometimes they go deeper than that; sometimes they feel like a therapy session. Do you ever use songwriting as therapy? Have you ever sat down to write a song with the intention to work through something? Have you ever written a song that changed your perspective on something?

Robby from Taxes (T): Very perceptive. My therapist will be thrilled to read this. There are so many parallels between songwriting and therapy. It's also less expensive. It's like writing a letter, saying all of the things you couldn't quite say to someone directly and then never sending the letter. The songs that simply spill out and, in a sense, write themselves are fascinating because they shed a light on issues that may not have been brought up otherwise.

mS: There are sonic moments on It's Always Something that are sweeping and emotional, specifically with the string arrangements, did you have that lush sound in mind when you wrote the songs or was it something that came after the fact?

T: A lush sound? Are you suggesting that our producer was an alcoholic? Regardless, yes, we did approach this record wanting an epic sound. We aimed for hi-fi. Tristan Eckerson, our keyboardist, beautifully wrote and arranged the strings which in turn were played to perfection by Magik*Magik Orchestra. John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone told me I simply had to use them and I couldn't be happier that I listened to him.

mS: What artists inspire you most from a songwriting perspective? From a sonic perspective?

T: It's no secret that I am obsessed with Stephen Patrick Morrissey. The Smiths' remastered albums were just released and they are gorgeous. There are countless others.

mS: Do you prefer being in the recording studio or performing live? Which one is more challenging? Which one is more rewarding?

T: Ooh, that's like being asked to choose a favorite child (if you ask my parents, it's my sister) The studio indulges the part of me that likes to tinker and nerd-out. Playing live is pugilistic and very physical. It's a catharsis of sorts every night.

mS: What type of radio station do you think Taxes' music would sound the most natural on? There are clear elements of alternative/commercial rock in your sound, however your lyrics have the type of candor and wit that are associated with artists indie artists like Death Cab for Cutie or Elliot Smith. What are the qualities do you expect, or appreciate, in a Taxes fan?

T: Well, we're still trying to write that perfect, undeniable pop song without losing our way completely. It's a fine line. I'd love a spin on Live 105, but my radio in the car is constantly set to NPR. My dream is to be interviewed by Terry Gross and I consider this a step in the right direction, so thanks for that. I've played a bunch with DCFC back in the day and I adore them. Mr. Smith is also a favorite. Again, very perceptive.

mS: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

T: ‘I'm sorry, you're not on the list.’ OR ‘Morrissey will see you now.’

See more December Band Of The Month Winner: Taxes on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

PAPA

Mitch Kocen — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:00:47 +0000

Careful readers of mySpoonful may have noticed the “Musical Style” section at the top of every article. This is typically an easy section for us to fill out, as the hyper-specificity of musical genres makes it easy for me to describe that hot new industrial alt. country shoegaze act by writing “Industrial” “Alt. Country” and “Shoegaze” in the field above. However, every so often a band comes along that defies categorization, not by cluttering their sound with so many different styles that it’s impossible to pick out one, but by maintaining a sense of self so powerful that everything they do feels brand new and impossibly old at the same time. Around the time I found myself attempting to describe PAPA as “New-wave” and “Lo-fi”, I realized that I had stumbled onto something special. At once gritty and poppy, PAPA’s sound is simply too delightful to pigeonhole, a product of the sheer fun the band is clearly having. With hooks so catchy that, should someone find a way to weaponize them, it would bring society to its knees, you’d be remiss to pass PAPA up.

See more PAPA on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

A Lull

Dylan Macturk — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:00:22 +0000

The irony involved with naming a band that thrives on a multi-layered, percussion-thick sound after a noun meaning a period of inactivity is perhaps the only obvious thing you will get from A Lull, who appear ready to carry the torch as the next great Chicago band. The lyrics and overall feel are lonely and triumphant at times, like listening to a man bragging about his sexual prowess to his cat, but perched atop the dense, gliding beats of debut album Confetti, they are never out of place, like the perpetually disinterested look of that very same cat. Saying a band produces a “wall of sound” is a tired cliché to be sure, but it truly is an apt description of the meticulously-designed work A Lull produces. In a time wrought with interchangeable indie groups, it is beyond refreshing to hear a band strive for something unique and hit their mark as impressively as they do.

See more A Lull on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Yellowbirds

Andrew Bangs — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:00:19 +0000

Why fight it? Admit it: the Yellowbirds track that you’re obviously, and should be, most curious about is their cover of Coolio’s “Gangstas Paradise.” So let’s get that out of the way: it’s good. In fact, with a creepy backup chorus and quietly intoned lyrics, the Yellowbirds have found something darker and more gothic in the song that notably accompanied the Michelle Pfeiffer vehicle Dangerous Minds, in which a weathered, lipstick-donning ex-Marine played by the bony Pfeiffer struggles to connect with ghetto youth in a dilapidated inner city high school. In the same way that Pfeiffer ultimately wins over those would-be gangbanging brothers and coke-slinging vatos with her big heart, inherent toughness and unconventional methods, Yellowbirds may grab your spirit. While the Coolio cover is fun and revealing of their range and ambition, “The Rest Of My Life” and “Beneath The Reach Of Light” from their excellent 2011 album The Color are perhaps more emblematic of the Yellowbirds musical home base. Each reside in that nifty space where contemporary indie rock and classic country & western aren’t just friends, but brothers: pitch-perfect harmonized lyrics intertwined with echo-y, jangly guitar-based 60s rock, tinged with slide guitar and a harmonica played in the opposite corner of the barn. Ideal accompaniment to drinking American beer whilst watching a Midwest sunset. If all you want is rap covers, though, dig up their version of “Lord Knows” by 2-Pac: it’s dope.

See more Yellowbirds on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Devon Williams

Anne Ostrowski — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:00:13 +0000

Los Angeles based, Devon Williams has been writing and playing music since the early days of high school, when his first band Osker signed to Epitaph in '98. Drawing attention for his brutally honest criticisms of the punk scene, Williams has been speaking his mind and playing a mean guitar ever since he was in bands such as Lavender Diamond, Fingers Cut Megamachine, and most recently - backed by fellow musicians under his own name - Devon Williams.
See more Devon Williams on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Trash Talk

Dawson Ludwig — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:00:24 +0000

Hardcore isn’t for everyone; it’s abrasive, discordant, and it demands a certain amount of aggression from the listener. It’s no surprise that it’s a subculture. Every once in a while though, a band breaks free from that subculture and demands that the mainstream acknowledge and appreciate the genre. Fucked Up did it in 2009 with Chemistry of Common Life and the next band to demand that type of attention will be Trash Talk. Their music is equal parts chaos and structure, they deliver sonic punches that are admirable and surprisingly accessible, that’s part of the reason for their crossover success. Their latest EP Awake was either reviewed or featured by all the prominent indie music websites (including this one) and they’ve played enough festivals to be a staple of any buzz-follower’s diet.
See more Trash Talk on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

November Band of the Month Winner: My Goodness

Anne Ostrowski — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:14 +0000

November Band of the Month Winner: My Goodness
My Goodness - C'mon Doll
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mySpoonful is very excited to announce My Goodness as the winner of the November Band of the Month poll as chosen by you! Check them out again below and get another chance to download “C’Mon Doll”! Thank you to everyone who participated. The December poll is already heating up so make sure to check out all this months bands and ‘like’ the ones you like best!
hometown: Seattle, WA
categories: Grunge, Indie Rock
for fans of: The Black Keys, White Stripes, Pearl Jam
background check:
Here's an exclusive interview with My Goodness:

Anne from mySpoonful (mS): So we, like many others, are totally guilty of comparing you guys to fellow rock duos The Black Keys and The White Stripes, have you gotten to the point where you just accept those comparisons?

My Goodness(MG):We are both big fans of The White Stripes and The Black Keys. Being compared to great musicians is always flattering. But we have created our own unique sound, and in the end, we want to be recognized for staying true to what makes us My Goodness.

mS: You both had been playing in bands before My Goodness formed, what was it about playing together those first few times that made you so excited about this project?

MG:Ethan and I met at the music venue/bar that we were both working at. We jammed a few times for fun, and decided to play for our employee jam night (most of our coworkers are musicians as well). The reaction was so positive and ecstatic, we decided to invest in what we had already started to create, and see where it led us. Thus far, it has been quite the exciting journey.

mS: You have mentioned in previous interviews that you both didn't grow up with a lot of music in your homes, do you remember the first time that playing music really clicked for you?

MG:I (Joel) was not exposed to popular music growing up, but I would sneak a little am/fm radio under my pillow and listen to the local rock station. Alice and Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana were all on constant rotation, and something in me was completely enveloped in the local music scene.

mS: What impact has living in Seattle had on shaping your sound?

MG:Growing up in Seattle you couldn't turn on a local rock station for more than a few minutes without hearing a Seattle band. Even though I was just a kid in the early 90's this was my first exposure to Seattle music and really set the blueprint for my future taste in music. In high school (99-03) we had a fantastic hardcore scene in the city. I was constantly going to shows at local teen centers and all ages venues to see bands such as Botch, Murder City Devils, Blood Brothers and many more. Although I listened to other music in high school, I was always most excited about Seattle music. It always seemed a little heavier and more heartfelt than most of the other bands I listened to at the time.

mS: Any fellow Seattle artists that people should know about?

MG:Constant Lovers, The First Times, Helms Alee and Strong Killings are all making their mark on the hard rock music scene. Their collective passion is infectious, and in my opinion, is reminiscent of the early 90's scene that put Seattle on the map.

mS: You released your self-titled debut album this year, what have been the highlights as a band thus far?

MG:Of course all the local Seattle love has been more than appreciated. Opening for We Are Augustines, who had the #1 alternative record on iTunes this year, was a real pleasure. Meeting people as passionate as we are about music is always the ultimate gratification.

mS: Your album has been popping up on some Best Of 2011 lists so far, were you prepared for such an immediate positive response having only been a band for a short time?

MG:We are forever humbled by the public reaction to our music, especially from our very own local heroes (KEXP, Seattle Weekly). Our goal for the year ahead to is expose the rest of the world to our music, and hope it resonates in the same way that is has here in Seattle.

mS: Your debut is coming out on vinyl this January, did you always intend on releasing this album on vinyl as well? How did it come about?

MG:We are both big fans of vinyl. The artistic aspect of holding a 12x10 vinyl record cover is timeless. We enjoyed being apart of the creative process and can't wait to release the finished product to our fans.

mS: What plans are in the works for My Goodness in 2012?

MG:2012 is going to be a big year for My Goodness. We plan on being on the road more than ever, and are in the process of writing new songs. Seattle has been a huge part of our baby steps, but we are ready to make an impact on the rest of the world. So watch out!

mS: What's the best part about playing as a duo?

MG:We feed off of each others' energy. Its all real, all raw, and 100% authentic. Our live shows are always when we feel completely comfortable and at home.
See more November Band of the Month Winner: My Goodness on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Grace Woodroofe

Marshall Leroy Smith — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:00:17 +0000

Grace Woodroofe’s number was called at the early age of 16 when she was singled out as a raw but burgeoning talent, ultimately resulting in the recording of a full-length album after grabbing the attention of some high-profile entertainers. Four years later she has a slew of touring appearances and live shows under her belt, a soulful, introspective wisdom that reaches well beyond her 20 years, and the tools and trappings of potential stardom.
See more Grace Woodroofe on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Cosmic Suckerpunch

Charles Swanson — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:00:28 +0000

When your band is called Cosmic Suckerpunch, you had better be prepared to back that name up with some pounding, stellar rock and roll. Good thing songwriter Ari Welkom and company deliver on spacey licks and heady songs, rooted in blues and funk, and indebted to imaginative fantasy rock music in the spirit of Led Zeppelin. With a driving rhythm, Cosmic Suckerpunch has invaded the L.A. scene, and with their self-released debut, Good Morning, the band plans on waking up the rest of us with a primal scream.
See more Cosmic Suckerpunch on mySpoonful - a taste of new music