Puddlegum » Reviews http://puddlegum.net indie rock music blog Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:10:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Xylos: Bedrooms EP is a pleasant surprise http://puddlegum.net/xylos-bedrooms-ep-is-a-pleasant-surprise/ http://puddlegum.net/xylos-bedrooms-ep-is-a-pleasant-surprise/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:15:26 +0000 Flick http://puddlegum.net/?p=1343 There is a new Brooklyn band called Xylos who are giving their Bedrooms EP away as a free download. Eric Zeiler wrote and recorded most of the five tracks, with Ira Wolf Tuton and Anand Wilder of Yeasayer offering guest vocals. Xylos is now a five-piece band poised to grab attention in `09.

Bedrooms opens with In The Bedroom, a song about a girl whose life was “left in shambles,” after a stay with a guy she had met earlier that day. Eric Zeiler seems to pull from late `60s early `70s folk-rock (such as Crosy, Stills & Nash), with strong harmonies reflective of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bookends, occasional hints of The Beach Boys (the gentle “oohs” in Testament)  mixed with a blend of The Shins. At times Xylos reminds us of Andrew Bird in his vocal delivery, song structures and acoustic guitar strumming.

Wrapped In A Page showcases Xylos’ eclectic instrumentation. Eric beautifully balances the use of banjo, wooden xylophone, cello and violin, acoustic, hand drums and slight use of analogue synth. The birds chirping in Yellow Flip-Flops add more than just an outdoor element, they help paint bright colors as the song eventually ends with a melody tinged in bluegrass. Testament adds Rhodes, piano, organ, and surprises you with a lead guitar.

Do yourself a favour and download Bedrooms by Xylos from their website or visit them on Myspace/Facebook. If you live in New York, don’t miss them this Saturday (Dec. 20, 2008) at Pianos.

Xylos – In The Bedroom
Xylos – Wrapped In A Page

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]]> http://puddlegum.net/xylos-bedrooms-ep-is-a-pleasant-surprise/feed/ 1 Music Arsenal: new beta version http://puddlegum.net/music-arsenal-new-beta-version/ http://puddlegum.net/music-arsenal-new-beta-version/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 23:06:51 +0000 Flick GoogleMusic Arsenal http://puddlegum.net/music-arsenal-new-beta-version/ Music Arsenal: new beta versionSeveral weeks ago we wrote about ways of using Google Applications for your music endeavor, promising to write about another invaluable tool called Music Arsenal. Music Arsenal have began testing out a beta version that anyone working in the music industry will find useful, especially independent record labels. How exactly will Music Arsenal empower you?

Keeping track of contacts can be an overwhelming task, especially when you have several people working with you. Who contacted whom, when, and what was discussed? Bouncing emails back and forth can fill your inbox quickly, and things are likely to slip by if you don’t have a system of tracking these conversations. Music Arsenal understands the importance of managing contacts, allowing you to mark down when you’ve talked to them, how you communicated, and set up reminders to contact them in the future. Extensive notes can be made, that not only you can see but everyone on your team can as well.

As you develop your list of contacts, you can either add the contact to your directory or to Music Arsenal’s public directory. This is an exciting feature since you’ll be able to contribute to a massive collection of contacts with other Music Arsenal members. Imagine having access to thousands of venues, blogs, radio stations, bands, promoters, booking agents, distributors, producers, and recording studios. Contacts are broken down to five main contact types: General, Venues, Retail, Radio, and Press.

Projects are another key feature in Music Arsenal. Every time you contact someone, you can track the conversation with a project. Money coming in and out of your endeavor can be tracked with each project, allowing you to break down the cost per project. For example, if you’re releasing a CD you can easily figure out how much cost per disc you have tied into a given project.

Artists that you work with can be linked to projects, tasks and concerts. As you tie the artist to the project, you can keep track of the progress you are making. Schedules can be made with tasks, and each task can be appointed to a user. Tasks are fully integrated, creating lists for each user and sending out reminders.

If you’re planning a tour the Concerts feature is a tremendous development. Concert information can be detailed, including time for load in, sound check, and the time doors open, as well as information about the venue and promoter. After you have planned a tour you can print out tour agendas, and embed the tour information on your website.

Instead of pitting Google Applications versus Music Arsenal, we’ve found that utilizing both creates a powerful combination of tools. If your team is disciplined enough to contribute information, you’ll stay organized, focused and informed. Not yet fully functional, the beta version of Music Arsenal will be a tremendous business management tool for anyone looking to make an impact in the music industry.

UPDATE: Music Arsenal has posted information about the new beta version here.

If you are interested in testing out the beta version, here is the Beta Signup form.

We’re promised to expect:

User Messaging – Users will be able to message other users of Music Arsenal to quickly build relationships.
Scene Reports – Easily find out all you need to know about a city or market where you’re looking to tour or promote a product.

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]]> http://puddlegum.net/music-arsenal-new-beta-version/feed/ 1 Annuals and Sunfold: Wet Zoo split EP http://puddlegum.net/annuals-and-sunfold-wet-zoo-split-ep/ http://puddlegum.net/annuals-and-sunfold-wet-zoo-split-ep/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:54:43 +0000 Flick AnnualsSunfold http://puddlegum.net/annuals-and-sunfold-wet-zoo-split-ep/ Several days ago I had a conversation with a friend over whether or not split EPs are effective in promoting both artists. I argued that I tend to listen to one artist and ignore the other. My friend responded with, “but split EPs are a great way to share costs between two artists.”

This morning while checking my mail I found a package for the new Annuals and Sunfold split EP called Wet Zoo. While I normally am distracted by two bands on one album, I found myself intrigued by Wet Zoo, in part because I appreciated Annuals’ debut, Be He Me.

What really grabbed me about this split EP was that Annuals and Sunfold are the same band, plus and minus an artist; Nick Radford of Annuals is replaced by Donzel Redford in Sunfold. Another distinction between the two bands is that Kenny Florence of Annuals writes the songs for Sunfold and Adam Baker writes for Annuals, a brilliant way to avoid a Simon and Garfunkel melt down.

Annuals take the first three tracks, and they are quite honestly some of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard so far this year. Wet Zoo is rich with a string section and wisely uses reversed reverberation in attractive ways. The remaining two tracks are by Sunfold, are a bit more stripped down rock songs, but just as sensibly engineered. So I’m forced to eat my words after listening to Wet Zoo: split EPs can be effective.

Annuals and Sunfold – Wet Zoo tracklisting:
01 Sore (Annuals)
02 Around Your Neck (Annuals)
03 Just Stay In (Annuals)
04 Between the Worlds (Sunfold)
05 Watering Pail (Sunfold)

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]]> http://puddlegum.net/annuals-and-sunfold-wet-zoo-split-ep/feed/ 0 Borko: Celebrating Life http://puddlegum.net/borko-celebrating-life/ http://puddlegum.net/borko-celebrating-life/#comments Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:38:07 +0000 Flick Benni Hemm HemmKimi RecordsMorr MusicMumSeabear http://puddlegum.net/borko-celebrating-life/ I’m a sucker for Icelandic post-rock, and Morr Music is scratching this itch by bringing us bands like Seabear, Múm, and Benni Hemm Hemm. Borko is their latest offering, with the release of Celebrating Life.

Borko, whose actual name is Björn Kristjánsson, began writing Celebrating Life six years ago. During this lapse of time, Borko wrote music for theatre, film and modern dance, and taught in a primary school.

Largely instrumental, Borko layers simple guitar tracks with electronic experimentation, horns, bells, samples and strings. The eight tracks on Celebrating Life are full of color, dynamic and explosive. The electronic tones are intriguing, reminding me at times of old sci-fi sounds effects.

Borko spoke about the elements of life he is celebrating in his album:

“I’m very influenced by loads of great musicians in the music scene here in Iceland. I’m inspired by the kids in the school where I work. I’m inspired by good people, I’m inspired by bad people. I’m inspired by crazy after-parties. I’m inspired by good food. I’m inspired by alcohol. I’m inspired by mirror balls. I’m inspired by noises.”

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]]> http://puddlegum.net/borko-celebrating-life/feed/ 0 Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Possess Your Heart http://puddlegum.net/death-cab-for-cutie-i-will-possess-your-heart/ http://puddlegum.net/death-cab-for-cutie-i-will-possess-your-heart/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:05:32 +0000 Flick Ben GibbardDeath Cab for Cutie http://puddlegum.net/death-cab-for-cutie-i-will-possess-your-heart/ Death Cab for Cutie: I Will Possess Your HeartDeath Cab for Cutie has released the first track from their new album, Narrow Stairs. I Will Possess Your Heart clocks in at eight minutes, thirty-six seconds, one of their longest songs to date.

Overall, I Will Possess Your Heart has a jam quality to it by well seasoned musicians that have spent years performing together. The song opens with a picked bass line for nearly a minute before tight sounding drums accompany the groove, staying mainly in the center. Layer by layer the band comes in, next with piano and experimental guitar sounds, and an occasional xylophone that completes the piano’s melody.

Ben Gibbard begins to sing at 4:34:

How I wish you could see the potential
The potential of you and me
It’s like a book elegantly bound, but
In a language that you can’t read just yet

You’ve gotta spend some time, love
You’ve gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you’ll find love
I will possess your heart

There are days when outside your window
I see my reflection as I slowly pass
And I long for this mirrored perspective
When we’ll be lovers, lovers at last

You’ve gotta spend some time, love
You’ve gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you’ll find love
I will possess your heart

You reject my advances
And desperate pleas
I won’t let you let me down so easily
So easily

You’ve gotta spend some time, love
You’ve gotta spend some time with me
And I know that you’ll find love
I will possess your heart

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