OURS TO ALIBI

What’s the Deal: They’re a five-man mostly-instrumental indie rock group from Atlanta. Their atmospheric sounds and tri-force of guitar experimentalism is at times reminiscent to Texas favorite Explosions in the Sky, only with a little Sigur Rós-style guitar bowing. With no label support yet, they just released their second full-length, Beacons. Sometimes on the record, the group needs more than a few minutes to get across what they’re trying to say, or play. Occasionally, they need 15 minutes or more. Guitars layer and intertwine like a thick rope made of smaller cords wrapping around each other and extending up, straight up.

“These Roots are Anchors” off the latest recording is one of those rare tracks on the record that features vocals. The words are wispy and smokey and are completely overshadowed by the rising wail of guitar bowing and picks. The somber sound turns triumphant, and at this point the distant yells are barely audible over the resonating guitars. “The Dirt is a Womb” brings an ethereal feeling via guitar hums and twinkles, drum taps, and xylophone. Ours to Alibi’s skillful sculpting of layered instrumental ambience is perfect for daily life soundtracks or losing yourself in the absence of syntax.

Something Interesting: The fact that they’ve been around since 2004 and there is virtually nothing written about them is surprising. Also, there is a button on their MySpace where people can “make a donation,” which could make them smart, destitute or greedy.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “From the Depths I Cry Out”

Ours to Alibi MySpace

FOOT PATROL

What’s the Deal: There are far too few musicians out there who aim to make you laugh. There are plenty of super serious, overly-emotional songwriters who just want you to be in awe of their poetry and chic fashion, but there are not nearly enough bands who aim to amuse, make people snicker uncontrollably and generally have a good time. Why not mix comedy and music? Why must life be so serious? That’s where Foot Patrol comes in.

Their music is a steamy sweat sock full of quirky foot humor put to the sound of funk, hip hop and new wavey keys. Not only is every song about an unnatural foot fetish with lyrics that will make your face purse up like you just stuck it in Sun Mingming’s 19-foot sneaker, but the group also takes the time to add a little flare to their performance. The members dress as policemen, a judge and a convict while hype girls called the Toe Deputy Dance Squad in sexy cop uniforms dance through the crowd waving flashlights spreading the vibe. They frequently drop puns like “I toe the line” throughout their songs, and “Such a Pity” has Ghostbusters-esque synthesizers that dance around playful verses such as “your golden arches, they are so slender/ you are so cruel, to tease my member.” They’ve released two albums, Toetry In Motion and Smellabration, which have helped build their reputation around town as a band offering a quick breath of fresh air between indie ‘it’ bands.

Something Interesting: TJ Wade and Hung Nguyen of Foot Patrol also have a ‘hardcore rock’ group called Terroristic and a ‘hardcore rap’ group called MC Terroristic, but Foot Patrol is certainly their musical flagship.

Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Smellabration”

Foot Patrol MySpace

Image of Ours to Alibi courtesy of their MySpace
Image of Foot Patrol courtesy of their MySpace