Voxtrot continue their quest toward indie popularity on a good note with this 5 song EP. While this EP doesn't make leaps and bounds improvement over their debut (it would be impossible to do that), it is still a welcome step in the right direction (toward perfection). In reality the songs from the 5 song self-titled Voxtrot EP had been making set lists for 2 or 3 years prior to its release, so with this new EP, Voxtrot was faced with a new challenge of writing new songs in a short amount of time. This thought was especially troubling to me considering Voxtrot only a year earlier had been nothing more than a summer band, taking long breaks in the fall and spring to reunite every summer in Austin for a couple of shows. Only when Ramesh finally decided to put his education on hold and commit himself full time to the band did Voxtrot take off, but in all truth it was only a matter of time given the strength of their arsenal.

Joining Voxtrot this time are a few extra musicians that Ramesh writes "contributed violin, cello, trumpet, and french horn to the new songs." This adds a new complexity to their songs not seen on the debut, and they do an impressive job of keeping everything sounding very natural and unforced. They still have their classic sound which is apparent from the opening title track, but the difference is that it sounds fuller and richer. It's obvious that they spent a little bit more time and money on recording these 5 songs.

As for the quality of the songs, all five are above average with the opener and closer sitting as the standouts of the bunch. The middle tracks take a little listening time before they can properly be understood and appreciated. Rise Up in the Dirt features some Ramesh's most daring vocal work to date, with him almost (yes, almost) yelling such gloomy lyrics as "When you wake from the shell of this body" which leads into something unintelligible or "When you wake up tomorrow my son, you will be the father of something terrible." Yet the song itself is not gloomy. The lyrics tell the story of a man dealing with old age and a feeling of worthlessness and ending on a happy note: "Somewhere in the darkness you will find love, baby you will find love."

Four Long Days, the 4th song on the EP, sounds like it could have come straight off a Belle and Sebastian album, but that's not really a stab at them or criticism. The closer Soft and Warm is my favorite song on the album. This song has been kicking around in set lists for the past 6 months or more, and the first time I heard it in Austin I was instantly addicted. This is pure masterful pop genius, in vain of Raised by Wolves and Start of Something from their debut. I really love the added violin, something that they did not play on stage. The string arrangements add a new depth to Voxtrot's music, and I hope that they continue to experiment with string instruments in the future. So, in short, I love this EP and I can't wait to see what they do on their upcoming full length.

Scorsies: 8/10

buy for only $6.99 + shipping and handling (what a deal!) Voxtrot

Not sure if any of you guys have this or not, but I think it's a pretty good concert. I especially like it for Yorke's acoustic There There (that had yet to be released in 2002). I wish I could play that on guitar and have it sound like that.

Thom Yorke - Intro
Thom Yorke - Everything in it's Right Place
Thom Yorke - I Might be Wrong
Thom Yorke - Sail to the Moon
Thom Yorke - Like Spinning Plates
Thom Yorke - There There
Thom Yorke - Pyramid Song
Thom Yorke - Lucky
Thom Yorke - After the Gold Rush

I also have him playing another solo show at the same place the very next day. I'll put it up if anyone wants it.

Hello hello, just got back from seeing the Tapes N' Tapes at the Super Happy Fun Land in Houston. I was quite surprised to find that not very many people showed up to the show despite Pitchfork recently giving them a 8.4 for The Loon and announcing their tour in the news section. I guess very few people in Houston give a shit about what Pitchfork thinks.

Anyhoo, this gig, I'm guessing, was just a tune up for their multiple show extravaganza at SXSW. Needless to say, they rocked the house, and when I say that I literally mean it. The Super Happy Fun Land venue is nothing more than a house that has been gutted in the middle of a residential neighborhood off the 610 loop. They put a stage inside of it, complete with theater seating and about 10 cozy couches. The seating was nice, but it kind of made the crowd want to sit down rather than stand up. My friend and I had to take a stand against all the sitting and actively lead the crowd into getting closer to the band once the Tapes N' Tapes took stage.

Also at the show were Hudson Bell, Dr. Dog, and The New Flesh. I didn't get to stay to see Dr. Dog or The New Flesh because I'm a big pussy and I have to get a lot of rest before work, or I'll just want to die in the morning.

After the Tapes' set, I was suddenly tempted to buy a Tapes N' Tapes shirt, so I went to the lady at the counter and grabbed a random shirt from a pile of shirts I assumed were all Tapes N' Tapes shirts and asked "So, is this a guys shirt?" She frowned and said "I don't know anything about those shirts." I then noticed I had a Hudson Bell shirt in my hand, and it just so happened that the Hudson Bell's lead singer was right at the table spying me, and he got all excited that I was going to buy a shirt. He eagerly explained to me the prices and the sizes, but I really didn't want a shirt so I was trying to find a way to tell him that I didn't actually want his shirt and that it was a mistake. Ultimately though, I couldn't totally break his heart, so I bought his band's cd for $10. They were pretty good live, he's a definitely a skillful guitarist, but they had a little bit of a miking problem that I felt hindered the overall performance. He would be jamming away at a solo that I could barely make out due to the noise coming from the other guitarist and bassist. Anyway, I'll let you know if the cd is any good. I left the show without a Tapes N' Tapes shirt cause I couldn't see spending another $10 on a shirt.

So end of story = Tapes N' Tapes are great live. GO SEE THEM! If you haven't checked them out yet, do so:

Here's some songs from their website:

Tapes N' Tapes - Insistor
Tapes N' Tapes - Cowbell
Tapes N' Tapes - Omaha

And in honor them playing this song in Houston:
Tapes N' Tapes - In Houston

Website: Tapes N' Tapes

I know, this is not the newest album out there, but it hit 2006 with a resounding quiet thud, making hardly a dent anywhere on the internet. Frankly, it deserves much, much more attention.

Two Gallants, as one might gather from the title, are composed entirely of two young men, drummer and guitarist, and they purvey a rare an exotic blend of literate alt-country, southwestern stylings, and raging noise. When they aren't serenading you with gentle, vaguely southwestern picking and melodic singing, they are bombarding with chaos, all screaming guitarwork and fiery drums, but What The Toll Tells never really grates or loses its grace.

The album is certainly abraisive--both singers posess gritty, dangerous, pissed off yelps, but the singing will potentially draw just as many as it turns away. The backing can be unusually boisterous for the southern brand of rock the band presents, but it is always listeneble and engaging.

This is the modern state of what the Meat Puppets strove for on II, the very definition and pinnacle of country punk.

Highlights: Las Cruces Jail, Long Summer Day, Waves of Grain

Score: 7.8/10

sorry bout the brevity, just go find this album was all I really had to say...

Band Site

Buy

So, I tracked down those Gold Lion songs from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album. It took some hard work, but I finally I pulled through, and I am very proud of myself. Luckily the songs are good, or I'd be pretty pissed that I spent a lot of time for some crappy songs. Check 'em out! The first one is remixed by Diplo and is some groovy party music. The other is the original... for comparison purposes.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (Diplo Mix)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion