New Music Monday #42

Sacrilege

by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Album: Mosquito (April 2013)

 

It's been over ten years since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs first formed and in that time, I've loved a lot of their music. What that means is that it's a big call to say that this is my favourite Yeah Yeah Yeahs so far. Considering it's only just been released, I know I've called it early, but some songs are just so awesome from first listen, there's no point in denying their magnificence, which is a good word to describe how this song ends, which is partly why I think I love it so much. It starts quietly, for a Yeah Yeah Yeahs track; that is, Karen O's distinctive sweet and screaming vocal is as strong as ever, a solid bassline and scratchy rock guitars giving the impression this is familiar territory but two minutes later it ends with a rich, fabulous choir appearing from nowhere, singing "sacrilege, sacrilege you say" over and over; I can't possibly not love this song. It's epic in the true sense of the word, not in the "that's epic" sense, but the actual "it is epic" way and yes, it's amazingly magnificent. I'm totally in love.

Jo Michelmore gives 'Sacrilege' five Nick Cave's out of five.

Like A Kid

by The Trouble With Templeton

Album: June 2013

 

I'm going to be honest, which is to say, I've had an up and down relationship with The Trouble With Templeton. I kind of liked them to start, but I jumped off the bandwagon after seeing a gig I wasn't overly impressed with. I have some friends who love them, so was open to giving them another chance with their latest single and clip; Like A Kid and admittedly, I'm glad I did because I genuinely like this TTWT, which is a new direction for what I would have previously called an indie-folksy-pop-band. While the indie pop sensibilities are still present, there's a nice amount of rock thrown in, layered sounds and rich vocals, which give an energy not explored in their previous work. The black and white clip is a little bit crazy and a heap of fun; maybe it's because I have a soft spot for the macabre or maybe it's my soft spot for any vintage film styling's, but either way, I really like it. If this is the direction The Trouble With Templeton are taking, I might think about jumping back on the bandwagon, because it's heading in a direction I'd like to go.

Jo Michelmore gives Like A Kid four Shirley Manson's out of five.

Don't Fuck With Joe

by The Blackwater Fever

Album: The Depths (March 2013)

 

Filthy, dirty, garage rock blues, a pounding solid bass line, muddy rough guitars, a delicious coarse vocal and lyrics full of spite which tell a story you can't help but follow; this is exactly how rock and roll should sound. Brisbane's The Blackwater Fever make the kind of sounds that remind me of the first time I fell in love with blues and the kind that I can't help but tap along to. This is the kind of music that reminds me why I love rock music so much and this is the kind of band that makes me proud to come from a city that produces musicians that that make such incredible sounds.

Jo Michelmore gives Don't Fuck With Joe four Kurt Cobains out of five

NEW MUSIC VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Why Am I The One

by Fun

Album: Some Nights

 

I've a soft spot for inanimate objects with accidental faces. I also have a soft spot for that scene in Mary Poppins where she takes all sorts of large things like a hatstand out of her never ending small carpet bag. This clip contains references to both of those things. That doesn't mean I love it, it doesn't mean I hate it, it's just an observation; like this is just a clip.

Jo Michelmore gives Why Am I The One two Taylor Swift's out of five