Indie Rock
Review: The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
Released: March 15, 2011
Label: Canvasback/ATL
Purchase: iTunes | Insound | Amazon
Do you remember that feeling you had the first time you heard the explosive chorus of “Adam’s Song”? So much passion and energy was wrought by just a few simple power chords. Although that was years ago and the magic has waned, The Joy Formidable, a three-piece band from Wales seeks to recreate that epic feeling on their debut The Big Roar and succeeds wondrously.
Although Roar is technically their debut, TJF are no strangers on the indie scene. Formed in 2007, they have gained popularity through the release of numerous singles and the mini-album A Balloon Called Moaning, not to mention a moderate amount of notoriety for having a video banned from YouTube. In fact, half of Balloon’s songs have been re-vamped for Roar, and what were good songs before have been turned into near-masterpieces, fitting in with the rest of Roar.
The band jumps right out of the gate with “The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie,” evoking the fuzzy sounds of Silversun Pickups and The Smashing Pumpkins. Upon hitting the chorus, however, The Joy Formidable distinguish themselves from these influences. Where Smashing Pumpkins are brooding and Silversun Pickups are atmospheric, TJF have a constant intensity. The song ends with an instrumental buildup that transcends the sound of headphones or speakers, a sound that demands to be heard live.
This transcendent feeling emerges time and time again on Roar. “Cradle” is pop perfection- clapping along feels mandatory. The chorus of “Chapter 2” is such a simplistic progression, but it feels fresh and huge. “Whirring” also employs a lengthy instrumental breakdown that builds up the sound to epic proportions.
Relying on a huge sound in song after song would make them a one trick pony, but TJF is incredibly creative in their musicianship as well. They don’t write songs based on a variety of riffs, and one would think that their fuzzy sound would grow monotonous quickly, but it doesn’t. They manage to make great songs through the creative use of their simple tools.
For example, “Whirring” uses only three notes in its main line, but different accents on repetitions and the changing backing guitar chords create interesting layers. “Austere” is driven by the drum beat and bass line and has no real chorus. “Llaw=Wall” is a dualistic song, as indicated by the title. The first half is soft and atmospheric, but explodes in a wall of sound halfway through. In the midst of this, there is a beautiful, brief pause to deliver the line, “You’re the ugly truth.” A couple of verses, choruses, and a bridge rarely appease The Joy Formidable.
Another strength of the band is a charismatic, talented frontwoman. The adorable Ritzy Bryan blazes on the guitar, and her vocals are among the best in indie rock. She has a great amount of versatility in terms of both range and in the emotion of her singing.
This isn’t to denigrate the accomplishments of the other band members, though. Bassist Rhydian Dafydd takes center stage and carries songs such as “Austere” and “A Heavy Abacus.” Drummer Matt Thomas provides the consistently impressive backbone to each song and shines through especially in the furious “I Don’t Want to See You Like This” and the double-bass section in “Whirring.”
The lyrics don’t always reach the high bar set by the music and vocals. They often have a certain poetic imagery about them, but while some lines are straightforward, others are moderately baffling (“Abacus, haunting me/Abacus, watching me”).
The only other mild complaint is that a couple of songs don’t have as much strength or lasting power as others. “A Heavy Abacus” is a mid-tempo number that relies on a lot of power chords and lacks the punch of other songs. “Buoy” may have better served as a softer number to come down from the powerhouse “Whirring” right before it, but instead just feels overshadowed as it is.
These are only minor faults with an album great on so many levels. The vocals, musicianship, and big sound make The Big Roar an excellent debut and The Joy Formidable a band to watch in the coming years.
9.1
Standout Tracks: “I Don’t Want to See You Like This,” “Whirring,” “Cradle”
Explosions in the Sky Stream
Post-rock band Explosions in the Sky has just released a stream for their new album in its entirety on their website here. The band is releasing their new album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, on April 26. They will begin a USA/European tour on April 30th and you can read more to see the tour dates.
04/30/11 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Forever Cemetery
05/01/11 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre
05/03/11 – Austin, TX – The Backyard*
05/04/11 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Pavillion*
05/15/11 – Edinburgh, UK – HMV Picture House
05/16/11 – Dublin, IRL – Vicar St
05/17/11 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy
05/19/11 – London, UK – Roundhouse
05/20/11 – Paris, France – Bataclan
05/22/11 – Berlin, DEU – Postbahnhof
05/23/11 – Koln, DEU – Essigfabrik
05/24/11 – Brussels, BEL – Ancienne Belgique
05/25/11 – Amsterdam, NLD – Paradiso
05/27/11 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Festival
06/09-12/11 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
06/17/11 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
08/11/11 – Olso, Norway – Oya Festival
08/12-13/11 – Gothenburg, SWE – Way Out West Festival
08/19/11 – Brecon Beacons, UK – Green Man Festival
Twin Atlantic Announces Release Date
Twin Atlantic has announced that they will release their new album, Free, on Red Bull Records on May 3rd. Free was recorded at Red Bull Studios with legendary producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies, Jimmy Eat World). The band will also begin a European tour on April 27th. Read more to see the tour dates.
Upcoming Twin Atlantic Tour Dates
4/27 Belfast, UK Speakeasy Bar
4/28 Dublin, Ireland Academy 2
4/30 Aberdeen, SCT Lemon Tree
5/1 Inverness, UK Ironworks
5/3 Newcastle, UK Academy 2
5/5 Manchester, UK Academy 3
5/6 Glasgow, UK Barrowlands
5/7 Leeds, UK Cockpit
5/8 Nottingham, UK Rock City
5/10 Birmingham, UK Academy 3
5/11 Bristol, UK Fleece
5/12 Southampton, UK Joiners
5/13 London, UK Kings College
5/16 Tilburg, NL 013
5/17 Cologne, DE Blue Shell
5/18 Hamburg, DE Molotow
5/21 Stuttgart, DE Zwoelfzehn
5/22 Berlin, DE Comet Club
5/23 Munich, DE 59:1
5/24 Prateeln, SUI Gallery Music Club
5/26 Vienna, Austria Vienna Arena
5/31 Frankfurt, DE Das Bett
6/3 Copenhagen, DK KB18
6/4 Hasselholm, SE Siesta Festival
6/5 Oslo, NO John Dee
Wilco Announce Single “I Might” Via dBpm Records
Wilco announced via their Facebook page that the first release from their new record label, dBpm Records, will be a new single from the band. The 7″ will feature “I Might” and a cover of Nick Lowe’s “I Love My Label”. How fitting!
You’ll be able to purchase the single at the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival during June 24 through June 26 in North Adams, Massachusetts. Wilco will be headlining the first two dates of the festival. It will then be available for purchase everywhere in July.
No dates have been announced for the band’s follow up to 2009’s Wilco (The Album), but as Spin reports, the band has already laid down twenty tracks. Frontman Jeff Tweedy says, “I do think it’s a little bit more obnoxious and irreverent of a pop record than people have heard from us, maybe, ever. And that’s exciting. But I have no doubt that the second this record becomes available there’s somebody sitting in a basement at their computer with the word ‘meh’ already typed up, waiting to post a review.”
We’ll keep you updated as more details arise.
Review: ‘Sucker Punch’ Soundtrack
Sucker Punch Soundtrack
Released: March 22nd, 2011
Label: WaterTower Music
Purchase: iTunes | Amazon
The Sucker Punch soundtrack was released about a month ago and has generated a large amount of buzz — and has brought itself to last week’s #1 spot on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart. It doesn’t surprise me that it climbed its way there in such a short amount of time; it is genius in the fact that the soundtrack is comprised of uniquely revamped classic covers. It is true that any artist can cover a song and put some of their own flavor into it, but the cover soundtrack made for Sucker Punch is filled with amazing new renditions of songs like, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This),” by Eurythmics and “Tomorrow Never Knows,” by The Beatles.
The soundtrack opens with film-star Emily Browning and her lullaby version of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”. Right away, I was immediately impressed with her vocal talent. How many times do you find that you have the main character of a film featured in various songs on the film’s soundtrack that can actually sing them well?
Then comes, “Army of Me (Sucker Punch Remix),” with Björk featuring Skunk Anansie, remade from her 1995 hit single off the album Post that seems to be mellow throughout but ends in shrills, heavy guitar and drums.
“White Rabbit,” covered by Emiliana Torrini, seems to describe being in a surreal universe similar to the plot of Alice In Wonderland; it’s no coincidence that critics describe Sucker Punch as similar to “Alice In Wonderland, but with machine guns.”
The fourth track is one of my favorites — a high-intensity mash-up of “I Want It All”/”We Will Rock You”, featuring the rock music staple Queen with Armageddon Aka Geddy. It is a great balance of hip-hop and rock that anyone could enjoy dancing to.
“Search and Destroy” brings back Skunk Anansie in this solo track with sweet guitar riffs and more of a late ‘80s, early ‘90s punk rock feel.
One of the more noted tracks comes next — a cover of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows,” by Alison Mosshard and Carla Azar, that sort of reminds me of “Army of Me”. This is because both tracks clock in at almost seven minutes long and have a more melodic, relaxing feel, but the tracks contrast because of the ending. Five minutes into “Tomorrow Never Knows”, the piano chimes in and then the break-down begins with heavy synths and drums.
Next, my personal favorite track of the album sweeps through. “Where Is My Mind?” by Yoav featuring Emily Browning begins the first verse and chorus with Yoav’s soft voice and then chimes with Browning for the second verse. For the second chorus, they harmonize together to produce a beautiful version of Eurythmics’ hit, and just when you think the track is over, everything speeds up to surprise the listener again; one thing this soundtrack does well.
Track eight, “Asleep,” is again performed by Browning; “Asleep” is another ‘lullaby,’ similar in style to her rendition of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”. Ballads are her strength because of her calming voice and she nails this track for sure.
The soundtrack closes with “Love Is the Drug” by Carla Gugino and Oscar Isaac, originally by Roxy Music, bringing a sexy vibe to Sucker Punch. Isaac throws soul into the track like it’s no task and Gugino reinforces that this is no ordinary cover.
8.0
Standout Tracks: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Emily Browning, “I Want It All”/”We Will Rock You” Mash-Up by Queen with Armageddon Aka Geddy and “Where Is My Mind?” by Yoav featuring Emily Browning
Lost In The Sound Sessions: Hailey, It Happens – “Brighter”
Chris Cleary and Bobby DiBari, the duo behind eletropop band Hailey, It Happens, performed their single “Brighter” acoustically in our newest Lost In The Sound Session. Their album Aurora (read our review here) was released independently on April 5, 2011 and was mixed by Paul Levitt (The Dangerous Summer, All Time Low). You can stream the entire album over at the band’s Purevolume page.
Coachella 2011: Arcade Fire – “Wake Up”
Arcade Fire‘s Saturday night set at Coachella was widely appreciated by fans, with the Canadian indie-rock band returning to the stage that helped launch them into the limelight way back in 2005. As they closed their main set with “Wake Up”, hundreds of giant, glowing beach balls floated down on the crowd from above the stage, changing colors from blue to red to green.
Check out the performance and the band’s setlist below.
Setlist:
Month of May
Rebellion (Lies)
No Cars Go
Haïti
City With No Children
The Suburbs
The Suburbs (Continued)
Crown of Love
Rococo
Intervention
Neighborhood #2 (Laika)
We Used to Wait
Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Keep the Car Running
Wake Up
Encore:
Ready to Start
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Arcade Fire Announce Deluxe Version of The Suburbs With Two New Songs
BBC Radio 1 revealed earlier today that Arcade Fire will be releasing a new deluxe edition of The Suburbs, the band’s Grammy Award-winning album, on June 27. The album’s re-release will feature two unreleased songs from The Suburbs studio sessions (“Speaking in Tongues” and “Culture War”), a DVD of the Spike-Jonze directed film Scenes From The Suburbs, and a making-of documentary. According to BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, the songs will premiere on BBC Radio on May 23rd.
Free State Radio Live Album; Chad Announces Solo Record
Boston indie rock band State Radio just completed their State Of Troy Tour and as a thank you to fans, are giving away a new live album. The live recording is from the band’s performance at the Boston Pavilion. You can download the seventeen-track live album for free here.
The band also announced that frontman Chadwick Stokes (also widely known for his time with Dispatch) will be releasing a solo record later this year. Details have yet to be revealed.
Radiohead Denies King of Limbs, Part 2
Radiohead are a band known for their antics, surprising fans earlier this year with the release of eighth studio album The King of Limbs. Almost as soon as the album was released, rumors began to spread indicating that perhaps the album was not finished and that the band would be releasing a second album.
Two months of silence later, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien confirmed to BBC 6 Music that the rumors are untrue and no King of Limbs, Part 2 will be released. The band, however, will still be releasing two previously unreleased songs (“The Butcher” and “Supercollider”) on Record Store Day (April 16th). Ed O’Brien stated to BBC, “’The Butcher’ is from the King Of Limbs sessions. ‘Supercollider’ was recorded during that period and finished off after the album came out”.
He added, “There are [other] songs that we have started, that we never finished, but there’s not like seven or eight finished songs waiting in the wings to be released now, or in the autumn, or something. When we start a new record, we tend to start afresh. It’s kind of an evolutionary thing – only the fittest survive.”
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