Here we go again: talking about These Electric Lives.  Before this past Saturday’s show, the band went over to WBER (The only station that matters) for an interview.  While the interview ended up being a bit long for a band that, to this point, has only two EPs to their name, it was still interesting to hear Mark and Gary banter with the DJ about their songwriting process, whether they preferred Ginger or Mary Ann, and how their remixes come about.

And then, about halfway through the interview, the two of them played a previously unreleased song for the masses.  “When the Time Is Right” was written for Mark’s fiancé (if I remember correctly) a couple of Christmases ago, although I’ve heard it a few times since I’ve seen the band play four times this year alone.  And while that night in concert it came off as much larger and anthemic, with a nice crowd sing-along at the end, it’s great in a more intimate setting as well.  It sounds a lot more longing in this version, especially knowing how affable and engaging Mark is as their lead singer.

If you’re around Toronto tomorrow, go and check them out at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern.  You won’t be sorry.

Connect with These Electric Lives :: MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | web

These Electric Lives – When The Time Is Right (Live @ WBER – 9.4.2010) (mp3)

There’s a certain amount of pride that I feel when artists from the Rochester area send us their material.  I like that bands that might not otherwise have an immediate outlet can get my attention with their proximity.  It gives me more of an incentive to listen when I can go and see them 5 minutes from my house whenever I want.  And while we don’t get a lot of local submissions, what I have been hearing lately – from bands like Sports and Walri and The Dads – has all been pretty great.

This past week, we got sent an EP from another local band: Black Elk Speaks.  Hailing from the college town just south of Rochester (Geneseo), Black Elk Speaks makes experimental, kitchen-sink type rock – by which I mean, there isn’t anything that couldn’t be used as a part of it.  (For example, there is clearly a bike bell ringing on the track “Chain Gang,” which could have something to do with the fact that the EP it’s on is named Cycle One) It’s moody, compelling art-rock that gets its swirling tendrils wrapped into your brain and doesn’t let it go.

Black Elk Speaks has released an EP and single to this point, which you can get over at Amazon.  This track, off of their Cycle One EP, is representative of their larger work.  It unfolds at its own pace, combining atmospheric post-rock with dark, sullen vocals.  I’m impressed.

If you’re around Rochester during the upcoming Rochester Indie Fest, come out to Boulder Coffee on Sunday the 19^th to catch the band playing.  It’s where I’ll be.  You should be too.

Connect with Black Elk Speaks: MySpace | Facebook | Twitter | web

Black Elk Speaks – Sympaco Nom (mp3) from Cycle One EP

I have found that, more often than not, when we get emails about bands that the shorter the email is, the more I generally enjoy the bands’ music.  This isn’t always true, but more often than not, the music more than makes up for the lack of words in the email.  It shows a certain confidence about what the band is doing that they don’t need to use an abundance of flowery descriptors to tell me why I’ll like it.  It’s more of a “like it, or don’t” attitude.  I can get behind that.

I bring this up because just yesterday we received an email from Portland, Oregon band Ocean Age about their latest EP.  This is literally the whole of the email:

Hello,

I was reading about wild nothing on your blog (such a good band!) and saw there was a place to submit music, so that’s what this is.

Best,

Gavi + Ocean Age

And then there was a link to the band’s MySpace, and a link to their EP if I was interested.

What I found was this: Ocean Age makes an otherworldly, minimalist electro-folk that doesn’t require any further explanation than that.  It’s good.  It’s quiet enough to float along undetected, but literary enough to feel weighty.

Connect with Ocean Age : MySpace | Facebook

Ocean Age – Dalvik Tide (mp3) from Forest EP

The radio rip of the new track from Kings of Leon is out there, people.  I saw it on the front page of Hype Machine, took some time to listen to it, and then, since it was less than thrilling, I got up to do something else.  When I came back, however, the song had ended, and the track that was playing was far better.

Posted earlier today over at Musigh, the track is from Finnish band Satellite Stories.  “Helsinki Art Scene” is catchy in all the right ways, employing angular riffs alongside an unforgettable chorus.  I don’t know what the deal is with the art scene in Helsinki, but if the songs coming out to rail against it sound this good, then consider me against it as well.

Time will tell if Satellite Stories have any lasting presence on any scene now that they’ve alienated themselves from the largest city in their home country, but for now, I’m happy to have heard this.  It’s making my mid-week a little more easy.

Connect with Satellite Stories : MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

Satellite Stories – Helsinki Art Scene (mp3)

Struggling for some writing inspiration, I located a bit of audio pleasure in Minneapolis’ Bret Rodysill, over on the wonderful blog Sunset In The Rearview. Under the moniker The Record Summer, Rodysill employs a rotating cast of collaborators on his poppy shoegaze-esque tracks. His comparisons include Death Cab and Sufjan Stevens, though I quickly thought more along the lines of a Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Kisses type sound, except stripped down and less electronic. The man knows how to use his evocative voice to convey his emotions; it is a strength. Check out S.I.T.R. for another track if The Record Summer catches your fancy.

The Record Summer – An Enormous Anger Grows in Brooklyn (mp3)

This past Saturday evening These Electric Lives once again made the short trip south from Toronto to play a show in Rochester. It was their third time in Rochester this year and second at the Bug Jar. My recap will be brief (it’s not even really much of a recap) because I rather unfortunately got a bit too silly to recall most of the evening. It’s also a bit of an apology to the band since I regret my choice of imbibing several drinks on the evening to excess. I hope the band does not think me a lush. I say this because for their previous Bug Jar appearance I was also far too silly. I can count on one hand how many times in the last few years I’ve gotten as inebriated as I did those two evenings, and I could do so just as well if I lost three fingers. I suppose These Electric Lives bring out the crazy in me.

The band members Gary, Mark, Charles and Bryan, are four of the coolest, nicest young gentleman you could ever hope to meet. I just wish I wasn’t apparently so excited every time they come that I drink far too quickly and get crazy. I would really like to catch another full set sometime soon. I only hope they can take this unfortunate recurrence as an odd compliment. The brief bits of the show I do recall are of enjoyment, and I know the band put on an excellent set once again. Thanks to the guys, I hope we can do it again soon.

P.S. Next time they come, I’ll be your D.D. if you need a ride, because you should certainly go check them out.

These Electric Lives – Called It Off (mp3) mastered version on We See Light…

These Electric Lives – We Should Be Believing (Sta Remix) (mp3) from TEL Remixed

Andy usually does the new releases list, though he hasn’t done it quite so often lately. I can see why; it’s a laborious job sorting through much of the dregs released in a particular week to find something, nay, sometimes anything, that would be of interest. As such, please forgive me if I’ve missed anything near and dear to your heart. It isn’t personal.

Luckily this week there is the new Interpol, though I’ve heard it isn’t much good, and then there is The Thermals new record, so there are some things I know I will likely get. Besides that you would be hard pressed to find me getting anything else off this week’s list other than perhaps the new Jukebox the Ghost. Then again I didn’t scour the entire list, so there may be a gem in there somewhere I missed. There are also new records from Sara Bareilles and Robyn, as well as from some artists I have never, nor will ever, listen to.

Interpol – Interpol
The Thermals – Personal Life
Jukebox the Ghost – Everything Under the Sun
Sara Bareilles – Kaleidoscope Heart
Robyn – Body Talk Pt. 2
Stone Sour – Audio Secrecy
Bachman & Turner – Bachman & Turner
Young Buck – The Rehab

Robyn – Include Me Out (mp3) from Body Talk Pt. 2

Interpol – Barricade (mp3) from Interpol

The other morning I was flipping through channels and came across the movie Dan In Real Life. I had watched the film a few years prior, but literally remembered nothing about it. And so I watched it for a while, flipping back and forth between the film and something else unmemorable during the commercials. This time I came across something I’m sure to remember another time around.

Sondre Lerche is a name I’m familiar with, yet haven’t explored further. His song “Modern Nature,” that adorns the final segment of the movie, is a light and rather catchy duet by Lerche along with a sultry vocalist by the name of Lillian Samdal. It’s a conversational back and forth trying to ground this love they’re both feeling in some sense of reality. The song was excellently chosen for the closing portion of the film; it accompanies a wedding scene with familial dancing and has the appropriate emotional weight for what should be a happy occasion.

Unfortunately, it seems the female vocalist Samdal hasn’t done much else in the way of singing besides this song that I was able to locate.  As for Lerche, I haven’t explored much else as of yet, but the only other song I do have is not nearly as good in my estimation. I imagine I’m fine with “Modern Nature” for the time being.

Sondre Lerche – Modern Nature (mp3) from Faces Down

Well that didn’t take long. Brooklyn’s indie pop band du jour, The Drums, recently covered Arcade Fire’s minty fresh “We Used To Wait” while performing live at BBC Three Live Lounge. The Drums don’t take the song in much of a different direction, but the original is rather good, so the cover doesn’t have to alter much to make a decent sounding song. Andy and I still haven’t gotten their debut album for some reason, though I’m sure that will change before the year closes.

The Drums – We Used To Wait (mp3)

Does It Offend You, Yeah? reportedly derived their name from a quote in the British version of the television show The Office, made by the character David Brent, as played by Ricky Gervais. Despite that show being a seminal comedic force, the quote used as a band is pretty terrible. The band itself is not pretty terrible; they author an extremely catchy variety of dance rock that many would recognize from trailers for one of those faster-and-more-furiouser-times-infinity movies.

The band has some new material making the rounds in anticipation of a forthcoming release that is to be titled Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You, due some time next year. The track “We Are The Dead” and is in the same vein as their previous work, and fans should be pleased.

Does It Offend You, Yeah? – We Are The Dead (mp3)