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Quick Hits
(Email to a Friend)
Because we love our devoted brigade
of PR flaks with all our hearts (and any other parts of our bodies that
they'll let us expose) - and because they send us so much free shizit now
that it has become virtually impossible to review and interview every band -
we've fallen back on the character trait that landed us at this third-rate
publishing house to begin with: laziness.
Each month, Quick Hits will
give you several bits of data to help your all-important purchase decision:
a photo of the band or album cover to stoke your fantasies; a spot review -- so we feel like
we actually did something; a thumbs up or thumbs down buying guide -- so we
can exert our mighty market power, and an MP3 or WMA sample -- so you can tell us to
go screw and decide if you like the bands yourself.
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De Novo Dahl |
Cats & Kittens |
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Theory 8 Records |
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It usually takes bands a healthy shot of
fame and a brief relationship with Winona Ryder before they settle in to
their identity crisis, but De Novo Dahl does it on their first release.
Is this indie rock? Is it electronic? Cats and Kittens is both,
with a two disc set featuring Cats, and it's dance-remixed
offspring. While Cats is all over the pop-music map, Kittens
may be more approachable for those just getting to know De Novo for the
simple reason that it's thematically steady.
When you're really bored, you can go track to track comparing the
originals with the remixes -- in fact we'll let you do it once for free
with "Be Your Man" and "Wanna Beer Man" here. |
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Be Your
Man
Wanna Beer Man |
May 17th |
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Instant Camera |
Alive on Departure |
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Wall to Wall Records |
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Heavy synths and a lead singer that sounds
like Ric Ocasek; image-on-black album cover reminiscent of Ghost in
the Machine; generously applied distortion... Do you smell 80s Quick
Hits Kangaroo? Yes, you do...
Alive on Departure doesn't sound like anything new, but there's
more here to like than dislike -- especially if you're old enough to
remember the days when the members of the Surreal Life had their
first go 'round with fame. |
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Another Suggestion |
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Tiger Bear Wolf |
Tiger Bear Wolf |
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Hello Sir Records |
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Tiger Bear Wolf will never be called "emo."
They play fast. They play hard. But unlike a lot of garage zoo ax
monkeys, they deliver a reasonable facsimile of melody and structure to
their noise.
Undoubtedly, a lot of what they have to say gets lost in the blitzkrieg
of rock, but if you've ever walked into Boston's Middle East or
Chicago's Double Door, breathed in the smell of stale beer and day-old
sweat, and said "Feels like home," you'll appreciate what TBW is trying
to do. |
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Input, Output |
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Want more free music and
reviews? Check last month's Quick Hits
here! |
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