Pisces - Flower Toes EP

So last week Pisces put out an EP. If you didn't know Pisces is the solo project of the Happy Hollows lead singer and guitarist Sarah Negahdari which I blogged about their music video a lil bit ago. Pisces is some odd hybrid of sounds that creates a unique experiance that can only be described as artsy-psychedelic-folk-rock and still not truly capture the unique vision that is produced on this EP. Even though this isn't as straight rock oriented as The Happy Hollows sound is doesn't mean this is just quiet and stripped down music. The title track "Flower Toes" is an uptempo rocker that is reminiscent of the indie artist Marnie Stern. Plus on the track "Paint A Rocket" Sarah showcases some hauntingly beautiful guitar playing that is just damn impressive and shows why she is one of the most talented guitarist in the LA music scene. What ties these four tracks together is Sarah's wonderful harmonies while singing and just her spirit that shines through on everything she creates. I cannot listen to Sarah's music without smiling and having a good time.

I think the worst part of this release is that it is only 4 songs long. Especially knowing that after seeing Sarah play "Solo" live in the past year you know she has more than enough amazing songs that deserve to be recorded to fit on a full length release and be listened to over and over again. You can even go over to Recording LA where the have a post featuring a great recording of Pisces EP release show(Also check out Little Red Lung's set from that same night).I can't wait to hear more finished recordings of Pisces songs like "Driver" but until then go to Pisces bandcamp to listen or buy the debut Flower Toes EP.

I am going to leave you with the ultrafun number that is the opening track for your listening pleasure because I can't get it out of my head so I hope it gets stuck in your noggin as well...

Bright Beast - Bright Beast EP

This came out about a month ago and I have loved it ever since I got it right when it came out. So why did it take me so long to get a post up about it, well go back to my post about the MMM show at Burger Records the other night to find out. Bright Beast is somewhat of a local band super group consisting of Christian Biel of The Transmissions, Nicholas Ceglio of George Glass, Chris Hernandez of The Happy Hollows, Christopher King of The Composers, Chris Rock of Lost Libraries, and Randolph Williams III of One Trick Pony.

This release is a strangley hypnoticly addicting six songs that won't get out of your head. Forgoing the usual guitar driven sound of the Silverlake/Echo Park music scene. Their sound has a more electronic feel to it even if all the sound is coming from a groovy bass line, a little guitar lick, solid drumming, and layered vocal track. The easiest bands to compare Bright Beast too is some early Tv on the Radio/Interpol hybrid with a touch of the catchiness/dance-vibe of She Wants Revenge. When I first heard some of these songs they seemed a little off-putting and not what I was exactly expecting but the more time I invested with their music the more it just attached to my psyche and I couldn't stop listening to the EP over and over again. Case in point the final track Short Pockets has such a crazy heavy dirty bass line that I am an absolute love with, and the track Camera might just be the most single ready song. But I am going to leave you with the opening track, Blood Secrets, because I think it captures perfectly what Bright Beast is trying to do on their debut EP with it's odd macabre lyrics on top of the perfectly polished unique sound they created.



In conclusion I agree with the in-studio dialogue by Christian Beil at the end of the track Allergy "I think that this was genius, think that this was amazing, I think we nailed it...". Because for a debut EP featuring a collection of friends from multiple bands they really fucking NAILED IT and I can't wait to hear what else this group can create.

The Henry Clay People - Twenty-Five For The Rest Of Our Lives

Wait I have yet to really talk about The Henry Clay People on this here old blog. This is something that is going to be quickly remedied with review of their latest release that came out today and you can pick it up from most digital retailers like where I just picked it up on Amazon or even quite possibly in your local record store(what a novel concept). You can even go listen to it first on spotify before being compelled to buy this music.

So "Twenty-Five For The Rest Of Our Lives" is an album whose songs punch you right in the mouth. After a short odd intro track it bursts right into the title track and barely gives you time to breath through it's raucuas 31:22 of run time with the average track coming in at just under 2:40. Their is a real punk rock spirit that bleeds through on this album and all of the trademarks of a Henry Clay people songs are present including writing songs about living everyday life and the struggles withing, a preference to “we / us” over “I / me” in the lyrics, lots of shouted vocals and fun guitar licks. This album really builds of the promise of last years "This is Desert EP" that showed a real growth and confidence in their sound.

It is hard to pick out any single track as a highlight off of Twenty-Five as from beginning to end this album just rocks your socks off and is just made to have fun and sing along with. With every release The Henry Clay People just keep making greater and greater records, but this one really seems to be a pinnacle of their 8ish years together as a band. I can't wait to get to see them perform live again and sing along and have fun with all these songs because at a Henry Clay People show you always feel like you are Twenty-Five for the Rest of your life...

Little Red Lung "50 Fingers" music video

So one of my favorite LA acts put out a music video for their beautiful song "50 Fingers", and it is a mind trip in a half with all it's amazing imagery that perfectly coincides with the haunting sounds of the song. I gave Little Red Lung's EP a glowing review a bit ago if you want to check that out as the whole thing is worth and a listen and a buy. So here is the video below, a warning if watching this video right before sleep some images might seep into your dreams to make which might or might not be what you want...

MMM vs Burger Records 7/23/12

Hey a post back from the dead. So I haven't been able to get out to LA and have been in a malaise and really a serious lack of motivation to write about music since being stuck in the OC for the past few months. Luckily the perfect band brought LA to me and played Burger Records in Fullerton an easy 5 minutes from my house. So like most small shows it says it starts at 9 but the first band didn't go on til nearly 10. They were a decent enough indie punk band which my friend said reminded her of Sex Bob-Omb from Scott Pilgrim and felt that was pretty apt way to describe their sound, simple and fun and a little catchy. I never caught their name so they will be forever lost to the shuffle.

The next band, Feeding People, was a real surprise and a local OC band that I know I am going to want to try and catch again plus hear what they sound like in recorded format. I think what I like most about them is that I cannot easily define their sound. You can definitely hear some garage punk/rock influence in there especially when they are rocking out but I think my favorite if their stuff was when they slowed it down and featured keyboards and the amazing etheral voice of lead singer Jessie who had such a sweet and inviting and loving stage presence that had your eyes locked on her through their whole set.

Next a band called Haunted Tiger played but I never heard them as I was busy conversing with some LA friends that I had not seen in a minute plus so new friends from the band Feeding People.

And then Manhattan Murder Mystery came on and did what they always do. I am not sure what else I can say about this band that I haven't already stated ad nauseum in past blog posts. I don't know if I can state it enough times how much I love that Todd McLaughlin has become a permanent member of MMM. I don't think MMM can put on a bad show, they are playing with such a confidence that comes through while harnassing frontman Matthew Teardrop's reckless abandon that if this doesn't get your feet moving and wanting to rock the fuck out then something must be wrong with you. And they just played a blistering set that seemed like it was over as soon as it started even though it was nearly 50 minutes later where they played 3 songs I have yet to hear one of them being a cover of a 90's song that while I knew it while I heard it the rest of the night makes me not be able to recall what song that was. As after the show the afterparty went back to Laura's apartment that kept the night going til 5 in the morning. What a great night and a great way to rejuvenate my spirit. Expect some blog poasts about some newish albums I have been listening to coming this week...