Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Science Teacher - Free EP

Ryan Coseboom of Stripmall Architecture has released a couple of songs on the side under the moniker The Science Teacher while the band works on their next full-length. If you enjoy the soundtracks to "Blade Runner" or the original "Tron", or just good indie electronic instrumentals, then go grab the 2-song freebie here.

If you like what you hear, check out SA's Kickstarter page, for info on their next project, and how they succeeded in getting it funded. Very cool stuff for fans of the shoegaze genre.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Friday Music Slate

If you are looking for something to do tonight, and you live in the eastern part of New England, why not check out an unusually-packed list of local music performances?
  • Abbie Barrett is in week two of her month long Friday night residency at Bull McCabe's in Somerville. She goes onstage at 10 pm. Check out her great voice, and while you're there, why not try the best burger in town? And if you can't get there this week, you still have two other chances to head on over: on the 19th and the 26th...
  • Also in Somerville, Endless Wave is taking part in the two-day Deep Heaven Now 2- Ambient/Psych Rock Festival. They go onstage just after midnight, but for your ten bucks, you get admission to two venues (Precinct and P.A.'s Lounge) and TEN bands! Show up at 8 pm if you want to maximize your evening. Or if you so choose, go tomorrow instead (beginning at 3 pm), and get a mind-boggling 18 bands for that day's ten bucks (may we recommend Dirty Dishes @ 7 pm and 28 Degrees Taurus @ 12:30 am, both at Precinct).
  • Elizabeth Lorrey is sharing the bill with Ocean Born Muse and Daniel Ouellette at Speakeasy Under 121 in Providence, RI. Three sets for five bucks. And whether you can make it there or not, grab Elizabeth's song demo "Eleanor" for free here!
  • And last (but never least), old pal Christopher Cote is hosting the fourth in a series of his Goodnight, John Boy shows at The New Studio up in Rollinsford, NH. There is a $5 suggested donation, and it is BYOB. head on over and check out Dover, NH's own Winterstar in this intimate venue.
And as always, we'd love to hear where you went, who you saw, how the food was, and which songs are your favorites...

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Almanac Mountain - So Many Seas

Seacoast NH's one-man outfit Almanac Mountain has released his first full-length album "So Many Seas" today, to much anticipation. You can get it at the artist's page here. For $9.99 you get an immediate digital download of 11 songs and a high-quality 13-page PDF of photos (they are spectacular), lyrics, and more. Later on (early December), a physical copy of the music will arrive at your door.

After a first listen (and having heard a few of the songs in raw form during live shows and in other places), here is a song-by-song set of initial impressions (note: I did not read through any lyrics before writing this):
  1. "Rapunzel by the Sea" starts the music off well featuring the familiar Cote sound, along with a great story, and well-timed falsettos sprinkled throughout to good effect.
  2. "Boris & Natasha" is an old song that appears to have been freshened up for this disc. It tells an interesting tale, and the new coat of varnish allows it to fit in with AM's current style.
  3. "Thomas & Ursula" is a sad and thoughtful piano tune.
  4. "Battery Park" is overpowered by the synthesizer and the other tech effects, and feels a bit out of place on this album. I was too distracted to listen to the lyrics properly. That being said, after a few listens, it is definitely an interesting song. It could drop rather seamlessly into a mix of Flock of Seagulls and Psychedelic Furs tunes.
  5. "My Girl" reminds me of early Liz Phair in meter and tone. A silly little sing-a-long that is well-suited for fireside gatherings.
  6. "Eurydice" is a haunting piano song with some interesting background effects. Very heartfelt and moody.
  7. "Manzanita" is a carryover that links this summer's EP with the new album. It sounds like a pretty upbeat song by the music, but it is deceptively dark. Dig those harmonies!
  8. "Lessons in Laughing" is an epic that wanders all over, but in a pleasing way. It is very ambitious, is interspersed with odd instrumentation, features an interlude with the vocal stylings of one Hannah Bailey, and yet it all meshes together to form an unforgettable song. After several listens I still can't pin down the tale being told, but the images of a frantic cross-country horse race haven't left my mind.
  9. "An Emerald Parisian Evening" is perfect for watching the sun set, or for drifting off to sleep on a cold winter's night. Still my favorite after several hours of listening to the album.
  10. "Hans & Ursula" - Boy that gal Ursula gets around! A moody piano & organ song that spirals downward a bit melodramatically, and then inexplicably reaches for cacophony. I didn't quite get it the first time through, but it actually works.
  11. "My Love is a Lighting Rod" ends the album with a sweet melancholy ditty.
If you enjoy singer/songwriters, you will enjoy this album. There are definite Simon & Garfunkle vibes (without being derivative) on a few tunes, and interesting quirks throughout. You won't be disappointed. And if you missed Almanac Mountain's earlier June EP release "When in Nature", you can get that fantastic five song set here, in either digital form, or a limited edition (only 100 made!) CD-R.

Let us know which songs you like best and why!