090311

What's It Called?

Thee Internet - Babe (Soundcloud link)

What's The Story?

Thee Internet feature some of the same crew as Repartee, focused primarily around their bassist Tyler Lovell. I have to admit that I haven't had a chance to get out and see them yet, but I love what I hear on Soundcloud. It's from the Identity Crisis EP.

Who's To Blame?

Women are better at the glam rock look, anyways.

Why ♥ It?

This vocally curious song is worth it just for the surf rock guitar riff. It's one of those hooks (see also: Rebel Rebel) where it can comprise the backdrop for much of the song and it's acceptable because it just doesn't get old.

090211

What's It Called?

Idlers - Jiggerman

What's The Story?

The Idlers are the sort of band that get away with charging $15 cover to one of their shows downtown and still fill the place. They're a reggae outfit with a large cast to keep things interesting and outside of the usual it's-all-the-same-damn-song stereotype about reggae. Jiggerman is from their first full-length album Corner, and you can grab their tunes from their website.

Who's To Blame?

The cooking network's biggest fan?

Why ♥ It?

Like I said above, it's got the grooving feel of a reggae tune with some funked up percussion and an active horn session. Catchy vocal harmonies and great stoned energy. The lyrics offer a small slice of home. If you've ever heard a reggae tune and liked it, this is worth the listen.

090111

What's It Called?

Surgeon - Spectrum (Direct download, posted on their facebook wall)

What's The Story?

Anyone under the age of 30 in St. John's has probably seen Hey Rosetta! more times than they care to count; this is a side project that involves their drummer and bass player. They have a CD offering of some sort that's been in the works for a while, but is yet to have a release date proper.

Trying to pigeonhole the genre that Surgeon fits into is best related through story; at their last show, they were covering King Crimson's Red, and it was then that someone told me it was actually a cover and not one of their songs. It fit in so seamlessly with their instrumental post-rock style that they fooled me.

Who's To Blame?

A bass player whose name is routinely, affectionately and drunkenly shouted at bands he plays in, and occasionally at bands he doesn't.

Why ♥ It?

The song starts mysterious and busy, with the drums sounding like seconds ticking away and the guitar fidgeting in ambiance. This is quickly replaced by a dark, heavy movement reminiscent of Russian Circles or Tool. They play within this framework for a minute or so before a chord at 1:36 that sounds so hateful and cool that it's worth its own sentence. The busy guitar returns, but is now accompanied by an effect-laden bell sound.

The best part of the song is probably the reinduction into heavy at around 2:30, that brings tempo and soaring lead guitar with it. The dynamic between slow/moody and fast/heavy is done impeccably.

The sad thing about a band like Surgeon, though, is that it's hard to capture just how impressive the music is as a recording. What you hear in the track is played effortlessly live, with the only deviations being by design for flair. It's always great to be able to see a band of that quality live so frequently because they're local.

083111

What's It Called?

Mark Bragg - Which Doctor

What's The Story?

Mark Bragg plays an eccentric brand of rock that's strangely appealing. Which Doctor is the ninth track from his album Bear Music, and it can be bought along with his other work (as well as a free preview of his new single) on his website.

Who's To Blame?

While trying to think of a description for the guy to blame, I noticed that I know too many engineers.

Why ♥ It?

Gogol Bordello have a name for themselves as a band playing punk you're not going to hear anywhere else, and for a tremendous live show. Although his music may remind of those crazy old gypsy punks, Mark Bragg can certainly claim these same things about his music and his show. Hell, Which Doctor is an accordion and a few extra string-and-strum instruments short of sounding like something from the same album as Start Wearing Purple, although the organ adds a great mood instead. The vocals and lyrics match this quirky mood perfectly, with lots of background yells, along with the brooding main vocal you might hear from a Matt Bellamy. The best part of this tune, though, is where there aren't any lyrics: the chorus-type part that's carried on oh-ohs and ow-ows. Having words fill those slots would probably ruin just how catchy the track actually is.

The first time I saw this band, this is the only song that I was really coherent enough to remember. It was in my head all week, and remains my favorite tune by Mark Bragg. You can imagine the jumping around and dancing that goes along with this (and most any tune at a Mark Bragg show); it's worth going out of your way to be a part of.

083011

What's It Called?

Repartee - Brother (Link is to their MySpace, you can find it there)

What's The Story?

Repartee were named the Newfoundland Herald's band to watch in 2011. They play an unabashed breed of power pop, and are more than just another Metric or New Pornographers-style band. They have an EP out, with an LP release coming up in September.

Who's To Blame?

A guy who, on an 8000km+ road trip, we affectionately nicknamed "Piss Break".

Why ♥ It?

Here is a short list of things that are really catchy about this heartfelt-yet-dance-rock-y song:

• The main guitar riff during the verses.
• The percussion during the verse; starting with a series of determined hits, and growing into a quick-paced beat and back again.
• The crunchy guitar riff during the pre-chorus.
• The silky high vocal parts in the pre-chorus and chorus.
• The vocal harmony found in the second half of each chorus.
• The bass guitar at... well, pretty much any time, but especially during the breakdown just after 3:00.
• Everything else in the breakdown. It probably doesn't actually sound like it, but I always file it next to the Peanuts theme in my head.

I could continue, but if seven parts of one song that will get stuck in your head aren't enough, then I give up. Seriously, if you want to hear something that sounds like some of the bands mentioned earlier with a bit more emphasis on instrumentation, all while keeping a foot-movin' hustle in mind, these guys are worth a listen or nine.

082911

What's It Called?

Pathological Lovers - Best Served

What's The Story?

The Pathological Lovers are a new-ish band that have a large following in the city of St. John's, probably based at least somewhat on the renown of longtime local musician Jody Richardson. Best Served is the lead single from their debut album Calling All Favours, and it has a frigging hilarious music video. I think you can find their album on some online vendors, and if interested, their site is here. If you want a genre, they labels themselves as "Melodramatic popular song/other rock".

Who's To Blame?

A waiter who loves the word easement, and parking his jeep on whatever ones he can find.

Why ♥ It?

This song seems a bit long for a radio-ready single at 5 minutes plus tax, but it actually works to keep the novelty for that long while having all the choruses and hooks you'd expect of a single.

I'd be remiss not to mention the lyrics to this song up front. They're easy to miss, but clever as hell and a lot of fun. For a long time, the only line I ever noticed was No one gets laid lying on the couch, get out and lower your standards for a little while, but there are plenty more where that came from.

When I hum this (and most Lovers songs), I often catch myself humming along to the keys. The effect that Grant King uses on this (and most Lovers songs) is bright and stands out while still complementing the guitar perfectly.

The breakdown at 3:00 that moves into a slow dance bit at 3:25 is cool. No fancy adjectives here, it's just cool.

If Kings of Leon had a great keys player, a different singer, wrote clever lyrics and were more upbeat, Sex on Fire may have come out sounding like this. Or maybe not, but fuck it--I really haven't heard many/any big label bands up this alley, and this tune is a great radio-ready showcase of that.

082811

What's It Called?

Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds - Khaki Dodgers

What's The Story?

This quartet of cool cats are a folk rock unit that you can party to and/or listen to at a family affair. They've got one album out (which can be acquired on the band's site), and another is anticipated. Khaki Dodgers is the fifth track on that first, self-titled album.

Who's To Blame?

The only other ginger in sight at the show last night.

Why ♥ It?

When I think of the folk rock I love the most, it's the ability to enrich a song with more than just a guitar and poetry. Johnny Cash livened his tunes up with some of the best stories you'll hear musically, and bands like Mumford & Sons have a large cast to have a big sound. This song represents a hardworking intersection of those two strategies.

The song tells the story of Hornell's own grandparents and how they met, and of a hockey team in a nearly-dead industrial mining town in Central Newfoundland. The song starts slow and styles almost like a hearthside story, with the guitar-and-poetry already discussed. However, after a verse or so, the rest of the band joins, and as the song rolls along from verse to chorus to verse to chorus, it gets more and more intense. They keep this momentum until, by the end, it's used for a couple breakdowns with mandolin solos and heavily strummed instruments that really put the rock in folk rock.

These guys had a show last night that stated that they weren't breaking up; they were friends with benefits. It's this kind of character that runs through their songs and performances, and it attracts bars full of twenty-somethings routinely whenever they play.