Radio IST List: Graham Williams
Book Festival Interview With Jonathan Foer
Fun Fun Fun Fest Previews: Street Dogs and Betaplayer
Wine: Austin Cellar Classic Is Tomorrow
Austinist's Will Mills Gets Dunked For Charity [Video]
This week's band to watch is The M's and their Real Close Ones long-player, out today on Polyvinyl. The Chicago-based quartet's retro psych is garnering lots of attention, and this release is most likely the gate-crasher. Also out this week are Fleet Foxes' self-titled record and Shearwater's Rook (Matador), please check back with us later in the week for reviews.
If you're familiar with Adem's (AH-Dem, he's an Englishman of Turkish descent) work with Fridge, it might (still) surprise you to hear the work that really gets him motivated. His thick sounding bass and frenetic jazz-influenced electronic work with Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) and Sam Jeffers in that outfit take a nap when he suits up for his solo material. Drawing from folk, pop and '70s rock, Adem's solo albums have been glistening, only partially synthesized gems, oozing with the sweetness issued by his gentle, crackling vocals. Takes follows suit, but in an interesting way.
In 2006, when we interviewed him, Adem spoke of "pushing" and the hopes he has for himself as a musician. "If I had to choose one thing that fundamentally drives and defines what I do as a musician, as a producer, as a human being -- it is to do something that is challenging for me as well as the people listening." Some might argue that recording a full album of covers (Yo La Tengo, Smashing Pumpkins, Bjork) isn't quite pushing, but we politely disagree. His rendition of Pinback's "Loro" is especially demonstrative of the power a distinctive artist can have over his object of admiration. All the chosen songs on this album are from the '90s, and they are all songs Adem personally loves -- it's a work of devotion, not a singular effort to revitalize a tune or two that struck a chord. His loving versions pay homage to the original artists while showcasing his unique brand of star-crossed nu-folk (we cringe to type it just like you cringe to read it, but it's fair, in this case, to use it) sap.
Adem MySpace
Adem Official
Austinist Interview w/ Adem (2006)
Belfast-based electro-duo Rocky O’Reilly and Shaun Robinson go by the stage name of Oppenheimer, but not because they love the physicist. Nope, the Moog-obsessed pair simply liked the way it sounded, just like they like the way airhorns, all-the-buttons-being-pushed-at-once and the Album Leaf sound. Their sound is (according to BBC) "blip-tastic", and we can't argue: hard-hitting synths and wall of sound guitars fuel their sound, but not without some glitchy nods and winks. Undeniable pop leanings have made them appealing tour mates for the likes of Architecture in Helsinki, Spinto Band, Regina Spektor and They Might Be Giants, but they aren't afraid to be esoteric when necessary. The album's themes swerve around from politics to Cate Blanchett impersonators, and the title itself holds some hidden meanings that the lyrics help uncover. All in all, the record is a special treat for fans of dense electronica of the M83 variety. Keep your eyes peeled for more They Might Be Giants tour dates in 2008, Oppenheimer will be paired with them for another leg before returning to Ireland to rest and record.
Oppenheimer MySpace
Oppenheimer Official
Daytrotter Session
------------------------------------------------
The Accidental: There Were Wolves
The Accidental: There Were Wolves [vinyl]
Adem: Takes
Aimee Mann: @#%&! Smilers
Aimee Mann: @#%&! Smilers (deluxe edition)
Amy Winehouse: Frank (deluxe edition)
Animal Collective: Water Curses EP
Ashanti: The Declaration (deluxe edition)
Baskervilles: Twilight
Bitter:Sweet: Drama
Bret Michaels: Rock My World
Centro-matic / South San Gabriel: Dual Hawks
Chameleons: Script of the Bridge: 25th Anniversary Edition (remastered)
Coldplay: Violet Hill (import single)
The Cool Kids: Bake Sale
Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles [vinyl]
Disturbed: Indestructible
Dr. John and the Lower 911: City That Care Forgot
Duffy: Warwick Avenue (import single)
Ed Harcourt: Beautiful Lie
Elton John: Elton John (remastered)
Elton John: Tumbleweed Connection (remastered)
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes [vinyl]
The Futureheads: This Is Not The World
Gang: Zero Hits
Gary Numan: Pure (reissue)
Gavin Rossdale: Wanderlust
George Stanford: Big Drop
Great White: Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin
Harvey Milk: Life…The Best Game in Town
HorrorPops: Kiss Kiss Kill Kill [vinyl]
Jakob Dylan: Seeing Things [vinyl]
Jaguar Love: Jaguar Love EP
Jean Grae: Jeanius
Jewel: Perfectly Clear
Joshua James: Sun Is Always Brighter
KMFDM: Extra Volume 1
Ladytron: Velocifero
Lykke Li: I'm Good I'm Gone (import single)
The M's: Real Close Ones
The M's: Real Close Ones [vinyl]
Madonna: 4 Minutes (import single) [vinyl]
Manu Chao: Politik Kills Remix EP
Manu Chao: Politik Kills Remix EP [vinyl]
Matmos: California Rhinoplasty EP
Minus The Bear: They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP (reissue)
Minus The Bear: They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP (reissue) [vinyl]
Opeth: Watershed
Oppenheimer: Take the Whole Midrange and Boost It
Paper Rival: Dialog
Philip Glass: Philip Glass: Waiting for the Barbarians (box set)
Pinetop Perkins & Friends: Pinetop Perkins & Friends
The Pinker Tones: Wild Animals
Radiohead: Radiohead: The Best Of Best (1-CD edition)
Radiohead: Radiohead: The Best Of Best (2-CD edition)
Radiohead: Radiohead: The Best Of Best (4-album edition) [vinyl]
REM: Hollow Man (import single)
Shearwater: Rook
Shearwater: Rook [vinyl]
She & Him: Volume One [vinyl]
Stars Like Fleas: The Ken Burns Effect
Subtle: Exiting Arm
Tea Leaf Green: Taught to Be Proud (reissue)
Thank You: Terrible Two
Ting Tings: We Started Nothing
The Traveling Wilburys: The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 (remastered)
The Traveling Wilburys: The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3 (remastered)
Various Artists: Daptone 7 inch Singles Collection, Vol. 2
Various Artists: The Jewish Songbook: The Heart & Humor of a People
Various Artists: 2008 Warped Tour Compilation
The Virgins: The Virgins
Weezer: Weezer (Red Album)
Weezer: Weezer (Red Album) (deluxe edition with bonus tracks)
William F. Gibbs: My Fellow Sophisticates
Your Highness Electric: The Grand Hooded Phantom
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I'm not a big Adem fan, but I heart that album cover design.