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What’s the Deal: There’s one main, overwhelming reason why The Blow made it into this week’s Le Diamant, and that’s because of their song “Parenthesis.” It’s the kind of cute and quirky pop tune that made the songs off the Juno soundtrack so viral. The Blow is the devious and rascally spawn from the mind of musician, visual artist and performer Khaela Maricich. The other half of the creative team that is The Blow is (or was) Jona Bechtolt. According to the group’s MySpace, Bechtolt has left the band, most likely to further his singing and programming in his solo project, YACHT. The Blow have this whole middle school crush ‘Do you like me? Check yes, no or maybe’ thing going on that sinks its teeth in all the way to the gums with a swirling mixture of video game-style electronics and poppy folk.
The digital tones, beats and pulses of “Parenthesis” really help support Maricich’s vocals to make this track the perfect soundtrack to a pixilated romance. This track off The Blow’s Paper Television released in 2006 on K Records is built around the utterly adorable chorus, “when you’re holding me, we make a pair of parenthesis.” Then, on “True Affection” Maricich sings “I was out of your league and you were twenty thousand underneath the sea.” And, There’s something about this track that feels a little like a Sean Na Na song, which is a good thing. It could be the hook. Long live Sean Tillmann!
Something Interesting: They’ll be at South By this year. Khaela Maricich is also a former member of The Microphones.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Hey Boy”
What’s the Deal: With a strange, weeping sound coming out of the saxophone, synth and glockenspiel chiming in the background and high pitched Bloc Party-esque vocals (without the British accent), Austin’s The Laughing have a curious sound that makes hips shake and tigers cry. Comparisons have circled the group likening them to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Wolf Parade, among others. The band – Logan, Abram and Grant – are releasing their new EP, Jungle, sometime this year. And, according to their MySpace, we can expect a “smuttier” full-length also in 2008.
Amidst an eerily honking sax and ringing keys on “Canopy” off the upcoming EP you’ll find a flurry of other sounds like jangly guitars and snappy drums making for a curious cocktail that sometimes works for the club and other times feels like a gloomy evening at home. “Wait Until He Roars” from their debut EP Tiger Cry features some quick guitar jabs, speedy high hat play and howls over the ringing glockenspiel.
Something Interesting: They’re often seen on stage in white outfits wearing either face paint or Zorro-type masks.
Other Tracks Worth Checking Out: “Paradise” and “Wearing the Colors”
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The Blow is great. I think the "Poor Aim: Love Songs" EP (which "Hey Boy" is from) is even catchier than the stuff on Paper Television.