Come Pick Me Up: March 2009

Gold Teeth

"These words come out so differently."

There's nothing worse than not having a song you love at your beck and call. Such is the case with Gold Teeth's new single "Everybody". Having to jump online every time I wanted to hear the track, a process repeated over months and months, was far too cumbersome. Thanks Puregroove, now I can sleep easy at night. The self described "Tropical/Afro-Beat/Electronica" sound and subsequent track from the young group of suburban south-Londoners (Wimbeldon) is probably going to be on every single mix-"tape" that I make for the next 5 years. RIYL a less fratty Vampire Weekend, I suppose.

Gold Teeth - Everybody

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My First Tooth - Typewriters

My First Tooth

"Now they can really taste this town."

Thanks Alcopop!, because I think My First Tooth (& the Rubies) have flown under the radar for longer than necessary. What started as the small Northampton folk duo of frontman Ross Witt and violinist Sophie Galpin now numbers anywhere from 2 to 8 members when the Rubies play along. The new EP, to be released March 30th, is accompanied by a UK tour that will keep the band happily busy for the next 2 1/2 months. Join them for some merry-making, as we all should.

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Attack In Black - Years (By One Thousand Fingertips)

Attack In Black; Years

"If your songs weren't written, would I still get shivers from the silence...?"

I still listen to Marriage on the bus, in the car, while walking to class - anytime will do. Canadian punks Attack In Black have since changed their tune. Dramatically. Perhaps they've grown up a bit? My tastes aren't oh-so-sensitive, but for those of you who can't say the same - you'll enjoy the band's seeming trip into adulthood. Years (By One Thousand Fingertips) is a generous 16 track helping of well written, genial little folk-pop tunes.

Attack In Black - I'm A Rock

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The Bleeps - These Things Happen

the Bleeps

"No one's set on fire. No one's gonna die."

I usually just happen upon things, without any rhyme or reason. I'm often asked, "Where'd you hear this?" or "How'd you find them?". Don't ask, because I likely don't know. My brain runs a thousand miles a minute. This is one (one of many...) of those instance. The Bleeps, comprised of Remy Lamont and Paul Parker, are kind of inexplicable. They call London home and sing a self-described amalgam of indie and hip-hop. We can only wonder. I was hooked after hearing, even in it's brevity, the new single "These Things Happen".

The Bleeps - Dull Thud

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Cursive - Mama, I'm Satan

Cursive; Mama, I'm Swollen

"I'm at my worst when it's not rehearsed, I don't want to know the goddam words."

Anyone even remotely interested in the late 90's post punk offerings from seminal labels such as Saddle Creek or Deep Elm will have some kind of feelings about Omaha's equally seminal Cursive. Since its first release back in '97, the band has consistently offered up some of the very best indie-rock of its day. They may have softened in their 12+ years of existence, as Mama, I'm Swollen, goes to show, but the change in direction is both welcome and well received. The 7th studio album came out just last week.

Cursive - From the Hips

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Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms Vs. Bad Arms

Frightened Rabbit

"I'm working on my backwards walk."

My ego is a bit wounded as I've jumped on the Frightened Rabbit train long after it rolled through. In my defense, I wasn't even aware there was a train - or I would have been riding a lot sooner. Only in the wake of the band's new Liver! Lung! Fr! live disc did I even know they existed. The Selkirk foursome pens tongue-in-cheek, yet shockingly insightful, tracks about good arms, bad arms, and walking backwards. There's simply nothing not to love. Two tracks from 2008's The Midnight Organ Fight (of which Liver! Lung! Fr! follows verbatim) are included below. The album is an instant favorite...

Frightened Rabbit - My Backwards Walk

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Proud Simon - Clockwork On And On

Proud Simon

"I'm going to be the last one left."

Americana isn't Brooklyn's usual hipster fare. That's what makes Proud Simon a bit noteworthy. Starting as an impromptu jam session between frontman Brian Keenan and his cousin in the garage of a modest Rochester, NY home, Proud Simon has since packed up and taken up residence in Williamsburg. The band has evolved into a group of four who already have two albums under their belt. Two tracks from the band's most recent disc, Night of Criminals, can be previewed below.

Proud Simon - Last One Left

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the High Fives

"Would you make it on the other side?"

I'd love to throw in some silly biographical quip (as per usual) about how remarkably interesting the High Fives are, but my grasp on the Swedish language is non-existent. On top of that, our short one-week listening relationship has left little time to get to know each other. Unfortunately, I can't even provide with a purchase link. They're destined to remain a distant enigma. Quite plainly, they're a good band from Gothenburg with a debut disc, Work of Art, to which you should consider paying some mind.

The High Fives - Duracell
The High Fives - The Show Goes On

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Cherbourg

"We're all governed by time, she rules with an iron fist."

Favorite songs - it's an intuitive thing. You just know. Sure, I probably have a bit too many. And sure, I probably romanticize the whole idea of music listening to unhealthy degree. But why not? My life seems to be a nice mess of idealism, anyway. Forget the whole test of time theory - "Can't Hardly Wait" by the Replacements or U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" will never outwear their welcome, certainly. But I'm more of a fall-fast-after-first-listen type. Cherbourg's "Let You Down" has done big things for me in the past two weeks. It's already timeless. The London alt-folk four-piece just released their The Last Chapter of Dreaming EP. My only complaint is that it's too short. They have a few London shows this month before their Camden Crawl gig in April.

Cherbourg - Let You Down

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Tom Williams & the Boat - 24

Tom Williams & the Boat

"I've got things to do, I've got homework too..."

Out.of.the.woodwork. That's the best way to find music, anyway. This young London sextet epitomizes, to a very precise and meticulously crafted "T", anything and everything that I've ever liked about music - folk, pop, indie or otherwise. Only a week off the release of their new EP, Doing My Best, Tom Williams & the Boat probably has a lot to smile about. Williams has a noticeable penchant for post-irony, and is able to be humorous without being flippant. It's a charming combination. Londoners should pay mind to the band's few upcoming shows. If you like what you hear (surely, you will), the TW&TB official site has a large collection of free tracks - as well as the band's current single, "Mary".

Tom Williams & the Boat - Concentrate (highly rec'd)

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