City & Colour - Waiting City & Colour - Constant Knot City & Colour - Hello, I’m in Delaware

Today, when I opened up my Myspace (evil, evil myspace), they had an advertisement for City & Colour. Seems they’ve started up a new section of the social networking system called ‘Transmissions’ which features some bands that are really under the radar, and some that aren’t. (James Blunt, Nada Surf)

Having fallen in love w/ Dallas Green about a year ago, I was happy to see that they (the evil evil Myspace) covered someone who isn’t very popular, but still extremely talented. Green was the lead singer of emo/punk/indie Canadian band, Alexisonfire. Even though Alexis found some success with their music, it seems that Green had to do some recording of his own, to get it out of his system. He thus formed a solo act, City & Colour.

His first album ‘Sometimes’ became quite the hit, even with Alexis fans, despite it’s melodic acoustic nature. It is a tremendous album that bleeds passion and honesty. If you should so happen to be a fan of Bon Iver, Damien Rice, or Iron & Wine - this is your guy, if you didn’t know already.

In January, he released ‘Bring Me Your Love,’ which I just got my hands on, and I must say, is a little more mature than ‘Sometimes’ was. If you haven’t picked it up yet, you really should, if acoustic singer songwriters that have tremendous voices is your thing. Make sure you also check out the ‘Transmissions’ section of the evil myspace as well. He has a few songs, and answers a few questions. It’s good stuff. Even if it is on Myspace.

Grand National Vs. The Bee Gees - Dancing in the Distance

Possibly one of the finer things in life that I’m beginning to enjoy. Mashups. This is where a DJ or just a music maniac will take two tracks of incredible music, and mash them together creating one massive, this is too good for radio - track. Today, in lieu of Grand Nationals 2nd album release, ‘A drink & A quick decision’ I’ve found a mashup of their first hit single ‘Playing in the Distance’ mashed w/ The Bee Gees ‘You should be dancing.’

Check it out, love it, live it, etc.

The Cool Kids - Miami Beach

Why we like it: The Cool Kids are bringing back Old School rap with a new flavor. Just a couple of guys out of Chicago, their debut release is fresh and as one of the emcees, Mikey, repeatedly says - our sound is dope and ill. Their beats are simple and don’t overpower the the effectiveness of a slick rhyme.

Why we don’t: Some of the tracks can sound like some of the other tracks when it comes to the music, as they keep within a very tight BPM all over the record. It doesn’t sound like anything that is out currently, which is a good thing, and these guys are getting A LOT of attention for that. If you don’t like rap/hip-hop or old school rap, then this isn’t for you.

Like Artists: Slick Rick, The Pack, Neptunes

Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop, Old School

Death Cab For Cutie - Bixby Canyon Bridge

Normally I would try and follow my format of “Why I like it, and why I don’t” when reviewing any album. Problem is, Death Cab For Cutie haven’t put out just any old album. After thinking they couldn’t get any better after ‘Transatlanticism’ they followed with ‘Plans” and within the first 30 seconds of Narrow Stairs, I am wrong. Completely wrong.

This record is good. Seriously good. Even though I’m only 4 songs into it as I write this, I would venture to say that it’s the best record DCFC has put out, ever. And I wasn’t a ‘Cutie’ fan always. I still can’t understand ‘The Photo Album’ or ‘You can learn to play these songs with chords.’ The vibe isn’t there for me in past records, even though Ben Gibbards most distinctive voice is.

The production is super simple, and the songs are well written. Where as previously within a Death Cab record, you might be searching for poetic meaning, and trying to figure out what Ben was getting at, now he seems a little more up front, and honest with his lyrics. If you are a Death Cab fan, you probably have this record, and if you don’t, go get it. You can also catch them on tour all over the country this summer with Rogue Wave, or Tegan and Sara. Can’t wait til they come to Berkley, CA in June. Yay!

Get Death Cab Tickets!
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

It’s extremely hard to categorize the 28 year old Andrew Heine (pronounced ‘high-nuh’). As a San Diego resident who served in the first days of this Iraq war, you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. A Jack Daniels baseball cap, Dickie shorts, and worn out Chuck Taylors, he barely dresses the part of a soldier. And don’t ask him about it - rather, you can read an article the San Diego Union Tribune wrote a few weeks ago.

What Heine will tell you, is that he loves art. Whether it be making his own music, playing in one of 3 bands, drawing, painting, or writing, Andrew lives art. When he’s not doing these things, he actually teaches the youth of tomorrow. Maybe he just can’t stop himself from being creative - all the time.

Recently, Andrew teamed up with a few other guys to form Dogcatcher, a new jazz/acoustic/folk act, that is slowly but surely gaining some attention amongst the San Diego indies. I was given their first release ‘Feudalism’ about 6 months ago, and fell in love with it. Here are a two tracks from that album.

Dogcatcher - A Good Idea
Dogcatcher - Wish You Well

And if that isn’t enough, Heine also took some time out to record some electronica/break beat sort of tunes under the pen name ‘Fortune Cat.’ Here’s SRM - break out your dance moves.
Fortunecat - SRM

To reach Heine, you can find him on Myspace, where you can download all these tracks for free. Don’t say I never gave ya nothin.
(photo courtesy of Jim Hughes)