Me and My DC Street Cred (if such a thing exists)
3 Comments Published by Kate on Wednesday at 9/24/2008 03:27:00 PM.
Bellman Barker - Top of the StairsBellman Barker are these five guys living in DC whose goal in band-life seems to be to get an Exit Clov-like following. Maybe they're on the way, maybe not, but one thing's for sure...I'm kind of starting to like their EP. The music's high on the melodrama, but I won't hold that against them... (Also, their bassist looks EXACTLY like my friend Chris, who's in Argentina right now.) Kudos to these guys for touring with Mugison.
Bellman Barker's website/myspace
Jukebox the Ghost are three guys who were too cool for DC, so they had to move to Philly (it hurts!). They released a full length album in April, and of course I missed it, because that's what I do best. "Victoria" is stuck in my head lately, which is why I'm posting.Jukebox the Ghost - Victoria [highly rec'd!]
Buy JTG merchadise (iTunes has the newish album)
Jukebox the Ghost's myspace
Labels: bellman barker, DC street cred, jukebox the ghost
If there's any band who can get away with telling you that "happiness is all right," I guess it's Church. They're from Portland, and they play electronica that ranges from catchy to...strange. They've been getting a bit of hype since their label e-mailed me, so I guess I'm a little late to be hopping on the bandwagon.Recommended for: fans of MGMT and The Octopus Project.
Church - Happiness [highly rec'd!]
Stream the entire EP
Church's myspace
Labels: Church (the band)
Jay Nemeyer - Hold Your Hand [download or die!]Remember the Black Keys' music video for "Just Got To Be" that led me to ask: "If the Black Keys rock an empty room and no one hears it, are they still rockin'?" The answer was YES.
It's with that idea in mind that I write about Jay Nemeyer, who's just released his first EP, 903. He's from DC, of course. The guy can rock an empty room all bit himself. He occasionally plays in the Engine Room, and The Cherry Flavored Elevator.
Jay Nemeyer's myspace
Labels: DC street cred, Jay Nemeyer
I'm sure you know by now that I have a soft spot for indie pop, and this time it's of the Icelandic variety. Lately, Sprengjuhöllin has reminded me just why this is. "Worry Til' Spring" (the only song of theirs I can understand) is a sweet number about unrequited love to a girl named Melinda. "Keyrum Yfir Ísland," which means "Driving Over Iceland," is super catchy, it's too bad I can't sing along...Sprengjuhöllin - Worry Til' Spring [highly rec'd]
Sprengjuhöllin - Keyrum Yfir Ísland [download or die!]
Buy Sprengjuhöllin from eMusic
Sprengjuhöllin's myspace
Labels: Icelandic bliss, Sprengjuhollin
The Spectacles - Slow Down Csilla [highly rec'd!]The Spectacles - Outdated Model
A few months ago I got a sweet e-mail from these kids from Chicago, the Spectacles. They play really cute indie pop of the early Camera Obscura variety. "Slow Down Csilla" is a song that sounds like it could be written by a friend - you know, the kind of friend who helps you out when things get rough and doesn't judge too much. The Spectacles are Jody Weinmann and Benjamin Fong, who also plays in the Prairie Spies (I've written about them before). They released their debut album on August 2nd, so I'm a bit behind the game.
The Spectacle's website/myspace
Buy Home directly from the band (for a mere $9)
Labels: the spectacles
Give TGH a thumbs up!
