Band to Watch: Roommates
The story is too good to not be shared with the loyal readers of Thought on Tracks. I also think it might be fair to say that the music is even better. A rich, illicit tale of how a mix of substance, shared living space, and musical talent can lead to a blog post. Step inside and meet Roommates.
Ben Cook (Fucked Up, Marvelous Darlings, The Bitters) had been sharing the same apartment with friend Mark Fosco (Marvelous Darlings) for nearly four years when one exchange occurred that brings us all together to today. Fosco was working a deli job when he traded a sandwich (not sure the cut of meat) for an illicit substance from a customer. Being a good friend, Fosco offered the drugs to Cook and the rest is history. Two mind erasing sessions lead to release of 7” Winnifred by Oakland label Slumberland Records.
Roommates did not originally intend to release these experiences or even be considered a band. The duo has played a hand full of shows in a Toronto coffee shop called “One Stop Sandwich & Coffee” and it is tough to say if we will ever hear anything more from this project. A powerful mix of heavy guitar and great pop lyrics has me hoping that there is more to come. If the music slows then it might be time to start interviewing hungry Canadian drug addicts with negotiating skills.
Listen to the front side of Winnifred and enjoy “Back to the Sun / Girlfriend Swamp”. Grab your copy for $4.75.
Written by Brett McGrath
Band to Watch: Sherpa
Here’s one for all the analogy lovers out there:
Pop music: Sweden, Psych Rock: __?__
You could guess San Francisco, but you’d be wrong. Not that our friends on Haight-Ashbury aren’t completely versed in psychedelia, but Sweden didn’t create pop music, it’s just taken over as a hot bed recently. So what prestigious place is given the rod in my riddle? None other than the lands down under, and no, I’m not kidding. Over the past 2 years a slew of great sounding rock music has come out of Australia and New Zealand, and it’s about time we start taking better notice. I’ll admit, my knowledge of these foreign lands is limited. Kangaroos, counter clockwise flushing toilets, being founded as a British prison colony, the fact that I think Frodo and Sam walked around there for days to get to that god damn volcano…yep that’s about it. But then again, that’s more than I know about Sweden, which is they have a hell of a bobsled team and Jamaicans idolize them for it. So why not the lands down under as a hot bed of psych rock?
In 2011, we were given Tame Impala as well as Unknown Mortal Orchestra and their fantastic self-titled debut that still is in my rotation. Earlier this year Pond released a completely underrated album entitled Beard, Wives, Denim that seems to have skipped over the majority of the indiesphere for whatever reason. And now I present to you Sherpa, a five-piece featuring of Earl Ho, Vince McMillan, Sam Cussen, Benjamin Jack, and Daniel Barrett hailing from Auckland, New Zealand.
With 2 EPs, I’m Sparklers (2009) and Pretty Cool Illusions (2011), under their belt, the band released their first full length album entitled Lesser Flamingo in early April headlined by the lead single “Lunar Bats” which is featured above. Describing their sound as “power pop”, they guys play loud and hard with an intricate guitar dancing up and down the scale. Throw in some fun synthy action at times and some wild drums, and all I want is to be standing front and center for a live show with about 1,2,3, 6 beers in me. The group also just dropped a video for “In Dolphins He Trusts” on YouTube that features some absolutely absurd super 8 film of a family vacation in the 1970s. Clocking in at only 1:54, it’s a quick hitter, but it certainly packs a punch of fun as highlighted by this video below.
Not much else to say other than these guys get an enthusiastic two thumbs up from me. As always, listen, enjoy, and share.
Connect with Sherpa via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Greg Dahman
Band to Watch: Haim
Since I began contributing to Thought on Tracks, I have not been scared to wear my musical tastes on my sleeve. It is no surprise that I have a knee trembling weakness for all things that might brush up against 90’s female R&B as an influence. Songs like Jade’s “Don’t Walk Away” and Zhane’s “Hey Mr. DJ” still remain relevant to me as I creep into the adult years of my life. The infectious flavor of female 90’s R&B has got me caught up in discovering current artists that pull from this era of music that I adore. R&B legends like TLC and Aaliyah were able to change my perspective on what good Pop music should sound like as my musical tastes took shape. Their albums are timeless and still get a reaction when played at gatherings with others that grew up with it. As I continue to play the b-sides of Crazy.Sexy.Cool. on the regular, I search to find groups that share in my fierce female fondness of the 90’s.
My weekly scour comes to an abrupt end this week as I stumble across L.A. sister trio Haim. The family group consists of early indie pop divas Alana (19), Danielle (22), and Este (24) Haim. This sisterhood of indie soul provides bloggers with an easy sell to their readers. On paper it looks like the total package: good storyline, good looks, and terrific sound. The fact that they list TLC, En Vogue, Brandy, and Monica as their influencers has got me hanging on tightly.
This family project evolved from early Billy Joel covers into great indie pop with a touch of R&B. Alana Haim summed up their sound in an interview with Vogue Magazine by saying “I think we still have the structure of old-school rock, but the R&B adds the spice.” For me, the R&B influence comes off as a larger ingredient then described. Track, “Forever” is able to produce that catchy enthusiasm that sounds like it could have been introduced by Bill Bellamy sitting regular on the MTV Jamz rotation.
Haim’s debut EP, Forever is a mere three songs, but enough to get the listener interested from the beginning. If you still have a soft part in your heart for 90s R&B then head on over to their site where you can download their EP for free.
Connect with Haim via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Brett McGrath
Thought on Tracks 