a u t o p i a

Frankel releases the Chatterbox EP.

Frankel is Michael Orendy from Los Angeles. He produces a combination of smooth-driven, heavy pop songs sprinkled with electronic flair. The melodies and vocals combined with the experienced use of effects give it such a modern feel. The Chatterbox EP is dynamite and brings to mind the delivery of Elliott Smith, Autolux, and even a little Pink Floyd. It's available via Three Ring Records and Amazon.

Richard Swift & The Sons of National Freedom at Spaceland tonight.

There's a rumor that this might be Richard Swift's last L.A. gig for a long while before he sets out on a tour for SXSW. But don't worry, R. Swift has scheduled another great year of music with a new record to be released on Secretly Canadian this March and the re-release of The Richard Swift Collection Vol. 1 this September. The show is at Spaceland tonight with Becky, Kissing Cousins, and Silver Cities.

Photo courtesy of Lance Alton Troxel

Recording Diaries & Midnight Movies.

First there was TV On The Radio, then Polyphonic Spree, and now Midnight Movies. Recording, and sometimes touring, diaries are becoming a mainstay for bands who wish to keep you updated on their musical lives at all times. It can be an interesting process to read exactly what the artist is trying to accomplish in the studio and compare those experiences to the final results when the record is done. I think this is a cool trend to keep the fans on the inside track, as long as they don't give away all their secrets. Every band has got to have a bit of mystery in them. L.A.'s own Midnight Movies have started a tour diary while they record their second album with Steve Fisk in Seattle. Take a look here.

Photo courtesy of Corey Petrick.

Don Knotts (1924-2006)

Don Knotts could make people laugh without saying a word. The man is a legend.

Mouse On Mars play Torino, ready new LP.

The Winter Olympics are done and gone but thanks to German experimentalists Mouse on Mars some lucky folks in the city of Torino got to hear them play a set at club hiroshima mom amour last Friday. The new album is scheduled for release this summer on the American label Ipecac Records. More news as it develops.

Mojave 3, new album.

Mojave 3 have a new album coming to a online retailer/shop nearest you. It's entitled Puzzles Like You and will be released on March 21st (Beggars Banquet). The album is reportedly more upbeat and poppier than previous albums. I'm seriously looking forward to this record. I have some peeps who've told me that the record "rocks" and sounds like a cross between Belle & Sebastian and 70's pop icons The Association, whoa.

The Tyde, last minute gig announcement.

The Tyde have announced a last minute show this week. It will take place at Avalon Bar/Mower Shop in Costa Mesa with The Japanese Motors, Geisha Girls, and Smiling Face Down this Friday, March 3rd. The show is 18+ and only 5 dollars!

The Avalon Bar is located at: 760 19th street, Costa Mesa CA. 92627

Languis tour dates.

A few weeks ago I promised a list of confirmed tour dates for Languis. Go to there myspace site for the full list. The first gig starts off at Spaceland on Sunday, March 26th for the CD release party of Other Desert Cities (Pehr Records), support from shoegaze rockers Helen Stellar.

BRMC "Howl" Sessions.

If you already found these songs on ebay you probably paid way to much. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are releasing a cd of tracks from the Howl sessions that didn't make the final cut. They are selling the cd at their shows and will make it available online very soon. And speaking of shows, in two weeks BRMC are headlining 2 gigs at the Henry Fonda Theatre (3/13 & 3/14) w/Elefant & The Morning After Girls.

Red eyes and beers:

1. Grind My Bones

2. Mercy

3. Wishing Well

4. Steal A Ride

5. Feel It Now

6. Pretend

Lilys: Everything Wrong Is Imaginary (Manifesto, 2006)

Everything Wrong Is Imaginary features some great guitar-infused elements of Wire and pop-era Brian Eno while still sounding like a genuine Lilys record. All of Kurt Heasley's past recordings and singles pay homage to some band or era (MBV, Pink Floyd, Kinks), this is not one of those records. The Lilys have completed quite a few albums that many fans regard as timeless classics (Eccsame The Photon Band & Better Can't Make Your Life Better), but this is the first full-length where the Lilys sound like they're actually maturing into their own band, taking cues from themselves instead of other albums or artists. It's brighter, cleaner and emphasizes vocals way more than you'd expect, maybe Kurt's got something he really wants to tell us?

Highlights on the album are the straight-ahead bangers like "A Diana's Diana" and "The Moon Over San Juan". Many of the songs are fairly repetitive and simple while Kurt Heasley explores the space with keyboards and more guitar effects that will bring to mind the crunch of In The Presence Of Nothing. "Everything Wrong Is Imaginary" is the danciest track on the record. It's a tribute to 80's school dances in the vein of Haircut 100's "Love Plus One". The album has some shoegazey elements with the dense, broken-up wash on "Knocked On The Fortune Teller's Door". What really got stuck in my head is the mellow "Scott Free". It's basically an acoustic serenade with big pianos that I wish would have come in earlier and stayed for the entire song.

Every Lilys record is a departure from the last, but on this disc I can see Kurt Heasley veering a bit toward the golden age of his Slumberland Records days with the heavier guitars and busy chord progressions. For many years and releases I believed Kurt Heasley didn't really know who he was or what he wanted from music. He always continued to make tribute-style albums that were reliable, strong, and catchy. In my opinion this has to be his honest and most personal sounding material to date. Recommended.