One of the central philosophies that drives Control+Alt+Delight is that there is merit in all (or most) music. That being said, as I scourge the internet on a daily basis for new music, I naturally stumble upon a lot bands worth knowing about and a lot of bands that probably won’t ever wriggle their way into your iPod. Yet many of these not-so-note-worthy bands release at least one track worth knowing. This isn’t to say that these bands aren’t any good, it’s just that you might not necessarily want to spend a lot of time on their music. Hence, I am introducing my monthly one-hit wonder playlist in which I will shift the focus of my posts from a band or an album that you should know about to center solely on the music, cause that’s what we ultimately care about in the first place.
*Disclaimer: this is not to say that all of these bands are “one-hit wonders” per se, but maybe just that their music tends to be samey; one or two songs might stand out but the rest from the album sound eerily similar. It could also be the case of a good band releasing a blah album. Por ejemplo: this playlist includes a song off of Cut Copy’s most recent release Zonoscope. Cut Copy is a favorite of mine but I tend to disregard most of Zonoscope because it was a slump (except this song cause it’s a jam and a half). Enough of my rambling. Enjoy the music.
One of the central philosophies that drives Control+Alt+Delight is that there is merit in all (or most) music. That being said, as I scourge the internet on a daily basis for new music, I naturally stumble upon a lot bands worth knowing about and a lot of bands that probably won’t ever wriggle their way into your iPod. Yet many of these not-so-note-worthy bands release at least one track worth knowing. This isn’t to say that these bands aren’t any good, it’s just that you might not necessarily want to spend a lot of time on their music. Hence, I am introducing my monthly one-hit wonder playlist in which I will shift the focus of my posts from a band or an album that you should know about to center solely on the music, cause that’s what we ultimately care about in the first place.
*Disclaimer: this is not to say that all of these bands are “one-hit wonders” per se, but maybe just that their music tends to be samey; one or two songs might stand out but the rest from the album sound eerily similar. It could also be the case of a good band releasing a blah album. Por ejemplo: this playlist includes a song off of Cut Copy’s most recent release Zonoscope. Cut Copy is a favorite of mine but I tend to disregard most of Zonoscope because it was a slump (except this song cause it’s a jam and a half). Enough of my rambling. Enjoy the music.
This song has been stuck in my head for about a month now so I figured it was time to post it. It’s an awesome song by an awesome band (and I need to invest in a thesaurus). It kind of makes me want to vandalize something. Watch the video and see if you don’t feel the same way.
Hot off the Portland press is electro-pop duo Wampire. They’re pumping out the kind of jams you have no choice but to dance to, wedging their way into a playlist with Starfucker and Casiokids. Yet they have a unique sound, blending the catchy pop appeal of electronic music with a lo-fi angst. They’ve only released a few tracks but what they have put out is pure, unadulterated fun. Check it out and keep your eyes peeled for these guys in the future.
It’s been only a few months since the release of London-Tokyo-and-Jersey-based four-piece-but-sometimes-five-piece Yuck’s debut album hit the scenes and frontman Daniel Blumberg has already begun a side project of his own. This bitch-on-the-side, dubbed Oupa, is quite different from 90’s rock-inspired jams that Yuck pumps out though. Which I guess just goes to show what a musician Blumberg is. His debut, Forget, was released by Fat Possum Records three days ago. There’s something delicate and longing about it, like he’s been holding onto a secret pain for some time. It makes you want to stretch out the knots in your muscles, yet at the same retreat into some dark cave of solitude and feel bad for yourself. His voice and the soft piano that accompany it elicit emotion without even needing to pay attention to what he’s actually saying. It has a way of hollowing you out, making you wish for a catharsis. It’s a complete sensory experience that makes you feel vulnerable, like you’ve been stripped bare, curled on the floor of a glass mansion enshrouded by a winter landscape. I think maybe Blumberg took a load of sleep medication and contemplated everything shitty in the world and turned it into music. Yet there’s something pretty about it that could numb your brain and aching muscles and steadily lull you to sleep. This is definitely music for a mood. Give it a listen, take it in. It just might be something you’ll want to come back to someday soon.
It’s been only a few months since the release of London-Tokyo-and-Jersey-based four-piece-but-sometimes-five-piece Yuck’s debut album hit the scenes and frontman Daniel Blumberg has already begun a side project of his own. This bitch-on-the-side, dubbed Oupa, is quite different from 90’s rock-inspired jams that Yuck pumps out though. Which I guess just goes to show what a musician Blumberg is. His debut, Forget, was released by Fat Possum Records three days ago. There’s something delicate and longing about it, like he’s been holding onto a secret pain for some time. It makes you want to stretch out the knots in your muscles, yet at the same retreat into some dark cave of solitude and feel bad for yourself. His voice and the soft piano that accompany it elicit emotion without even needing to pay attention to what he’s actually saying. It has a way of hollowing you out, making you wish for a catharsis. It’s a complete sensory experience that makes you feel vulnerable, like you’ve been stripped bare, curled on the floor of a glass mansion enshrouded by a winter landscape. I think maybe Blumberg took a load of sleep medication and contemplated everything shitty in the world and turned it into music. Yet there’s something pretty about it that could numb your brain and aching muscles and steadily lull you to sleep. This is definitely music for a mood. Give it a listen, take it in. It just might be something you’ll want to come back to someday soon.
When listening to tUnE-yArDs it’s not necessarily the boom-snare drums and loop pedals that stand out and make it so experimental and edgy and inexplicably awesome. Merrill Garbus’s voice is androgynous to say the least and to be honest, I couldn’t figure out if the brainchild was he or a she (she’s a she). She has such incredible vocal range that makes the music not only really fun to listen to but powerful. She’s got some serious pipes so it doesn’t come as a huge shock that she taught voice lessons in Kenya for some time. Her second album was released this year and really explores the bounds of music in the way that many experimental indie bands attempt to (but often fail). She creates this alternate reality out of cardboard and confetti that could make you forget just where you are in time and space. It’s not nearly as pretentious as I’ve made it sound, though. She’s managed to forge her own kind of cool, which is what experimental music is all about, right? Keep a look out for her live shows, they’re supposed to be amazing.
Portland-based synth-pop trio Starfucker is one of those bands you develop a relationship with just listening to over the years. They’re one of those rare bands on the indie scene that you could live off of if their music was converted into a food stuff. And everything they’ve made up this point has been absolutely delicious. Initially formed as frontman Josh Hodges’ solo project, their self-titled debut was released in 2008, with a follow-up Reptilians that was officially released in March of this year. Reptilians remains one of C+A+D’s favorite albums of the year so naturally we jumped at opportunity to interview them. See what Josh had to say:
C+A+D: I’ve noticed a lot of great indie comes from Portland. Is there something in the water or what? Josh: It rains a lot. So there is a lot of time to spend indoors making music.
C+A+D: I know Ryan Dobrowski of Blind Pilot used to play with you in Sexton Blake. Do you know a lot of other Portland bands? How do you learn from each other? Josh: Ya, it’s pretty incestuous here. I feel like everybody kind of knows everybody.
C+A+D: How did you guys meet? What music/bands do you usually listen to or get inspiration from? Josh: We all met different ways. Some of us through what we were just talking about, seeing each other in our different bands and deciding to make music together. We listen to the southern hip hop station on pandora for that motivational vibe.
C+A+D:Your music has a very unique, dreamlike quality. How have you developed your sound over the years? Josh: I have no idea. I just keep striving to make an album I’m totally happy with. I think I’m getting closer with each one…maybe.
C+A+D: You’ve changed your title several times over the past three years. Who came up with “Starfucker” and what made you settle on that as your official title? Josh: We didn’t really change it. It’s always been starfucker. That other shit was a prank. I was on tour with another band and some weird LA music “biz” girl who was doing something or other on the tour, with much pride, called herself a starfucker for fucking some old ass famous dude, and it just really stuck with me. It’s impressive what people do to be associated with fame.
C+A+D: You generated a lot of buzz in the press for having an explicative in your title. What do your parents think about the name of your band? Josh: My mom loves it, but she is a hippy.
C+A+D: You’ve been known to occasionally wear women’s clothing at shows. Is there a particular reason for this or are you simply trying to see how far you can push the envelope? Josh: we all grew up around it. my uncle is a liza minnelli impersonator at Darcelle’s XV, the longest running female impersonator club in the universe.
C+A+D: What’s your reaction to comparisons made between you and bands like MGMT and Passion Pit? Josh: I’d rather be compared to my little pony-boy, but what can you do…i like MGMT a lot.
C+A+D: Whose idea was it to include Alan Watts’ philosophical quotes throughout the album? Is there a particular philosophy that drives your music? Josh: A few years ago I started having these weird reoccurring dreams where Alan Watts was like a guide or friend, trying to free me from the shackles of this strange existence. Every time I’d get close he’d be there encouraging me, saying all I needed to do was let go of everything and basically let my ego die. At the last second, I’d see an ex of mine who I was particularly sexually attached to. I couldn’t help my self, I’d just go there and end up staying in this form. Even though I’m not ready to let go I appreciate his effort.
C+A+D: You guys have been pretty busy touring recently. What’s the best part about being on tour? The worst? Is there a particular show that stands out in your mind as particularly awesome? Josh: The best part for me is that it feels like recess, like I don’t have to think about the rest of my life. Just music- simple.
C+A+D: What happened at that show where Shawn broke his teeth on the cymbal? Hahah How did you go about taking care of that? Josh: It was the last show of a really long tour and Shawn and Keil were kicking over all the drums during our last song and a cymbal basically just sliced through his teeth. He was able to find some cheap local place to fix it up for him. his new teeth are better than his old ones.
C+A+D: Do you guys have any big plans or desires for the future? Anywhere you want to be? Josh: We have the same desire we had when we started out: to travel and play music. So, we hope to be getting over to Europe this fall and anywhere else that will have us. We’d really love to head to South America, Columbia, Brazil.
C+A+D: If you weren’t musicians what would be your career of choice? Josh: Keil would be a high school teacher, Shawn would probably still be doing something in music, I’d probably be homeless.
C+A+D: If you could only play one of your songs for the rest of your career which would it be and why? Josh: Haha, wow. Sounds like a torture scenario..like “no exit” or something. That would be really hard to answer. Maybe “Hard smart beta” cause I get to play drums on that one and it’s instrumental so would take longer to induce suicide.
Here’s a video we got of “Hard Smart Beta” from Outside Lands:
C+A+D: Finally: you’re stranded on an island with only one album and one bottle of alcohol. What would you guys choose? Josh: I’d choose red wine, a big ass box of it if i only get 1, and this awesome mix cd a friend made for me. I know the mix is kind of cheating, but it’s honest.
Thanks!!!!
FULL POST
Josh Hodges (Middle)
Portland-based synth-pop trio Starfucker is one of those bands you develop a relationship with just listening to over the years. They’re one of those rare bands on the indie scene that you could live off of if their music was converted into a food stuff. And everything they’ve made up this point has been absolutely delicious. Initially formed as frontman Josh Hodges’ solo project, their self-titled debut was released in 2008, with a follow-up Reptilians that was officially released in March of this year. Reptilians remains one of C+A+D’s favorite albums of the year so naturally we jumped at opportunity to interview them. See what Josh had to say:
C+A+D: I’ve noticed a lot of great indie comes from Portland. Is there something in the water or what? Josh: It rains a lot. So there is a lot of time to spend indoors making music.
C+A+D: I know Ryan Dobrowski of Blind Pilot used to play with you in Sexton Blake. Do you know a lot of other Portland bands? How do you learn from each other? Josh: Ya, it’s pretty incestuous here. I feel like everybody kind of knows everybody.
C+A+D: How did you guys meet? What music/bands do you usually listen to or get inspiration from? Josh: We all met different ways. Some of us through what we were just talking about, seeing each other in our different bands and deciding to make music together. We listen to the southern hip hop station on pandora for that motivational vibe.
C+A+D:Your music has a very unique, dreamlike quality. How have you developed your sound over the years? Josh: I have no idea. I just keep striving to make an album I’m totally happy with. I think I’m getting closer with each one…maybe.
C+A+D: You’ve changed your title several times over the past three years. Who came up with “Starfucker” and what made you settle on that as your official title? Josh: We didn’t really change it. It’s always been starfucker. That other shit was a prank. I was on tour with another band and some weird LA music “biz” girl who was doing something or other on the tour, with much pride, called herself a starfucker for fucking some old ass famous dude, and it just really stuck with me. It’s impressive what people do to be associated with fame.
C+A+D: You generated a lot of buzz in the press for having an explicative in your title. What do your parents think about the name of your band? Josh: My mom loves it, but she is a hippy.
C+A+D: You’ve been known to occasionally wear women’s clothing at shows. Is there a particular reason for this or are you simply trying to see how far you can push the envelope? Josh: we all grew up around it. my uncle is a liza minnelli impersonator at Darcelle’s XV, the longest running female impersonator club in the universe.
C+A+D: What’s your reaction to comparisons made between you and bands like MGMT and Passion Pit? Josh: I’d rather be compared to my little pony-boy, but what can you do…i like MGMT a lot.
C+A+D: Whose idea was it to include Alan Watts’ philosophical quotes throughout the album? Is there a particular philosophy that drives your music? Josh: A few years ago I started having these weird reoccurring dreams where Alan Watts was like a guide or friend, trying to free me from the shackles of this strange existence. Every time I’d get close he’d be there encouraging me, saying all I needed to do was let go of everything and basically let my ego die. At the last second, I’d see an ex of mine who I was particularly sexually attached to. I couldn’t help my self, I’d just go there and end up staying in this form. Even though I’m not ready to let go I appreciate his effort.
C+A+D: You guys have been pretty busy touring recently. What’s the best part about being on tour? The worst? Is there a particular show that stands out in your mind as particularly awesome? Josh: The best part for me is that it feels like recess, like I don’t have to think about the rest of my life. Just music- simple.
C+A+D: What happened at that show where Shawn broke his teeth on the cymbal? Hahah How did you go about taking care of that? Josh: It was the last show of a really long tour and Shawn and Keil were kicking over all the drums during our last song and a cymbal basically just sliced through his teeth. He was able to find some cheap local place to fix it up for him. his new teeth are better than his old ones.
C+A+D: Do you guys have any big plans or desires for the future? Anywhere you want to be? Josh: We have the same desire we had when we started out: to travel and play music. So, we hope to be getting over to Europe this fall and anywhere else that will have us. We’d really love to head to South America, Columbia, Brazil.
C+A+D: If you weren’t musicians what would be your career of choice? Josh: Keil would be a high school teacher, Shawn would probably still be doing something in music, I’d probably be homeless.
C+A+D: If you could only play one of your songs for the rest of your career which would it be and why? Josh: Haha, wow. Sounds like a torture scenario..like “no exit” or something. That would be really hard to answer. Maybe “Hard smart beta” cause I get to play drums on that one and it’s instrumental so would take longer to induce suicide.
Here’s a video we got of “Hard Smart Beta” from Outside Lands:
C+A+D: Finally: you’re stranded on an island with only one album and one bottle of alcohol. What would you guys choose? Josh: I’d choose red wine, a big ass box of it if i only get 1, and this awesome mix cd a friend made for me. I know the mix is kind of cheating, but it’s honest.
Thanks!!!!
One-man show Absofacto, a favorite of mine, recently bestowed upon us two new singles and a remastering of eight of his older songs. I’ve yet to hear an Absofacto song I didn’t like and these are solid gold. Check ’em out. He offers free downloads on his website, but please, pay for the music.
FULL POST
One-man show Absofacto, a favorite of mine, recently bestowed upon us two new singles and a remastering of eight of his older songs. I’ve yet to hear an Absofacto song I didn’t like and these are solid gold. Check ’em out. He offers free downloads on his website, but please, pay for the music.
