Welcome to the Weekend Popsters! For the last few weeks I've been talking exclusively about indie films on Pop Bitez which is why this week I've decided to put together a special Spring Music Edition for your reading and listening pleasure. In my useless opinion there simply is no better way to shake off the chill of Winter than with a nice, healthy dose of rock and roll!
First up, I've got my exclusive interview with the members of my absolute favorite indie band working today, Gold Motel! Following that I have 17 albums you're probably going to want to add to your music collections this season, ALL of them I should add, are currently rocking on my iPod as I drive through my neighborhood, windows down! It's always a great day in my 'hood if I can get at least one or two dirty looks from the neighbors!
Alright, enough with the yada, yada,yada, we've got a lot to cover today so, without further ado, let's get this party started!
A FEW MINUTES WITH GRETA MORGAN AND DAN DUSZYNSKI OF GOLD MOTEL
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Before you read my interview with Greta and Dan, I think it only makes sense for you to familiarize yourself with their music. If you haven't heard them yet you're in for a real treat Popsters! As always, you're welcome! Turn it up!
Gold Motel's latest album, SUMMER HOUSE, has been playing nearly non-stop on my iPod for the last two months, it's a fast and fun 30 minutes of pop bliss and I just can't get enough of it. The sound is tight, the vocals are hot and, yes, as you might have safely assumed, I've developed a bit of a fan-boy crush on the group's lead singer and main songwriter, Greta Morgan. In all honesty, how could I not?
I do a lot of interviews and, with a few possible exceptions, they are just that, interviews. It's always a pleasant surprise when the people I'm talking with turn out to be so cool that the whole thing becomes more of a conversation than just another by- the- book Q & A. Greta and Dan are definitely those kind of people and I have to thank them both for being so genuine and gracious while we were talking earlier this week. You guys rock, in the best possible way!
Pop Bitez: Gold Motel is a Chicago based band, is that right?
Greta: Yep!
PB: So, as a former Chicagoan myself, I have to ask, what do you miss the most about the Windy City when you're on the road?
Dan: Food.
Greta: Well, I definitely don't miss the weather. We've been on tour for the last two months, through all of January and February so we've been really lucky to miss all of that but I do miss the people, my friends and family.
PB: Your album SUMMER HOUSE really has a very sunny "California" vibe, are there any songs on the record you probably wouldn't have written in Chicago?
Greta: Well, yeah, I'd been living in L.A. for a year and while I was there I wrote "Perfect In My Mind" and "Make Me Stay" and they definitely had a west coast feel to them but, the most "California" song on the album is "Safe In L.A." which our guitar player, Eric Hehr, brought to the band and he actually didn't write it while he was living there, I think it was just more "the vision".
PB: I recently had the video for "We're on the Run" on my Facebook page and one of my friends commented that he thought he heard a Deborah Harry influence in your vocal style.
Greta: Oh that's cool!
Dan: We dig Blondie.
Greta: We actually had a contest recently, to win a copy of our new album on vinyl, and we asked people to describe Gold Motel in a five word phrase and the one we picked was "Beach Blanket Bingo with Blondie", we thought that was kind of cool and there was another we really liked that was "Sunshine Warms the Brill Building" .
PB: Those are both excellent descriptions. When I first heard the album I couldn't help but think it's a really perfect album for a pool party.
Greta: Yeah, it's supposed to be kind of like that careless excitement of summer when you're young.
PB: It feels like indie bands in particular are bringing a sense of fun back into the mix, maybe it's just me but it feels like popular music has been unusually dark for the last few years.
Dan: Yeah, it's been a little weighed down and heavy, with reverb and slower tempos, it's very serious.
PB: So who would you say are some of your biggest influences?
Dan: Motown mixed with Spoon.
Greta: And we reference both Blondie and Fleetwood Mac on our 7 inch record, the first song called "Cold Shoulders" definitely hints at Blondie and then the second track, "Slow Emergency", definitely hints at a slow groove Fleetwood Mac song.
PB: How difficult is it for an indie band not being supported by a major label, is it all about the internet and youtube?
Greta: Yeah, it's definitely about social media and opening for larger artists and that kind of thing, I think the blessing is we own all of our music, we own the master and all of the the publishing and that's the biggest blessing of doing it independently. The biggest curse is the labels have the money to pay for their bands to be on really big tours and they have an advertising budget and that kind of thing, whereas we're personally paying our publicist, we're personally paying for everything.
Dan: We're really lucky that we've found endorsements, we get our guitar strings for free now and when we get our music on a commercial that helps to pay for all of the other stuff. We're lucky our manager could do that for us because if we didn't we'd be screwed.
PB: Are you getting a lot of college radio airplay?
Greta: Yeah, we did a big college campaign and that was purposeful, there's a company called Terrorbird who did all of that for us, essentially we're just hiring the team we'd have at a record label, you know we have someone to do our distribution and our radio campaign and all of that. It's really cool to see a band like Arcade Fire win a Grammy because they own their album, they've owned all of their albums, they've done licensing deals to merge but they own the rights, no one controls the songs but them, it's a very cool thing to see an indie band get a spotlight like that.
PB: Now, Greta, a lot of indie music fans know you best from your previous band, The Hush Sound, are you guys actually still together?
Greta: We are saying we're on indefinite hiatus, pretty much so we don't sound like ass holes if we decide to do one show here and there, we didn't want to say we've broken up, we figured we're too young to close the door forever but Gold Motel really has my full commitment and focus right now.
PB: I like the Hush Sound but I was actually hoping you were going to say that.
Greta: Yeah, we're definitely in this to win it.
PB: And Dan, your previous band This Is Me Smiling, what's the story there?
Dan: Actually myself, the drummer and the bass player are still in that band but it's more of a recording project where we just release music, we don't really tour or anything but it's still on going.
PB: Are you doing any writing for the next Gold Motel record while you're on the road?
Dan: Yeah, we were just in california for a couple weeks, we just hung out and wrote for a little while, we've got about half a record so far...
Greta: We recorded like 7 or 8 ideas and then there's what I put in the folder as "random jams", you know, like all these ideas where we couldn't really tell who started them, it was kind of like we all just got in a room together and just started playing and it was going places that were actually memorable and catchy, we'll probably elaborate on those. It was fun, we were renting a house from the band Dawes while they're on tour, it's situated in the middle of the woods and it was perfect, we could play 24 hours a day.
PB: Now the two of you are the primary songwriters for Gold Motel, is that right?
Greta: Well, Eric Hehr too...
Dan: The last record was primarily written by Greta and I did all the recording and produced it, she came in with all of the ideas, except for Eric's "Safe in L.A.", it's definitely become more of a collective thing now...
Greta: ...Dan and I wrote "Stealing the Moonlight" together.
PB: Collaborative art I think is a lot more difficult than most people realize, it almost requires an accidental synergy, doesn't it?
Greta: Well, this time in L.A. was really cool because I really only had like 4 or 5 songs written when we got there and we worked through them and there was one that I intended to be kind of a slow groove and Adam started playing it like a fast rock and roll song, it's cool to see how something I intended to be a ballad can be changed into a this big anthem like thing, I'm excited to see how the next album comes together.
PB; Writing on the road has to be a little difficult.
Greta: It is but I'm so disciplined when I'm home so, when we're on the road, there's always something to work on, like at home I write everyday and even if some of it is shit I still have something on tour that I can be thinking about like a lyric or "I need one stanza for one piece on that song that's missing and now that I'm in the van I can work on it!"
PB: And discipline for a lot of artists can sometimes be a bit of a speed bump in the road, right?
Greta: Well discipline makes it sound like I don't enjoy it which is definitely not the case, I do, I really enjoy it but it's like "alright I'm home and I've got a piano, if I'm not writing today I'm just a waste of space"
Dan: You gotta try sometimes...
Greta: ...and Dan does that with recording without thinking twice, Dan's constantly recording ideas...
Dan: ... and a lot of it you throw out but it's good to just keep the ball rolling, you know, if you sit around for too long you just start to get stagnent.
PB: So you're not just waiting around for devine inspiration, you're sitting down and saying "I have to try and do SOMETHING"?
Greta: I think it's a combination of both.
Dan: Yeah, I can't work without inspiration sometimes, it doesn't happen that way for me.
Greta: I read this book called THE WAR OF ART and the author talks about how the difference between amateurs and professionals is that amateurs ONLY sit down when they're inspired and that professionals sit down everyday and BECOME inspired and I think it's a balance of that, I think definitely there are those moments of complete genius that just come out of the air around you, you know pop music is such a simple thing that you can write a verse and chorus and then stumble into this like genius idea in a matter of thirty seconds, so there is a certain amount of accidental genius but the more you sit down the more likely you are for that to actually happen.
Dan: For me the best songs always write themselves in like ten minutes, you keep it fresh by working all the time but then all of the sudden, I don't know, just out of nowhere something will hit you.
Greta: I think I literally wrote "Who Will I Be Tonight" in something like ten minutes but then some of the other songs on the record took months and months of slow, inspired revisions.
Dan: (to Greta) And you work on the lyrics over a long period of time, that's what I do too.
Greta: Leonard Cohen talks about that, he said it took him more than five years to write "Hallelujah". The way that he writes is that he'll work on a song again and again and again until the revisions finally get the song to a point where they've reached what he calls their "final inevitability".
PB: So, what current bands are you listening to these days?
Dan: We've been listening to the new Toro Y Moi lately, they're cool...
Greta: ...And a lot of Spoon...
Dan: ...and the new Arcade Fire which is actually probably the least dark of their records, it's definitely my favorite. Then we always go back to the old stuff, 50s stuff, like Sam Cooke.
PB: When do you think you'll get into the studio for the next album?
Greta: We're planning to record this year in the late fall or early winter and then maybe release it early 2012. We're also hoping to release another single this summer, either just one song and a video or maybe a seven inch we're not sure yet.
Seriously Popsters, download this one now, I promise you, your Summer party guests will thank you!
http://amzn.com/B004A2Q7I8
And here's the track Greta and Dan wrote together for SUMMER HOUSE, the infectious pop gem, "Stealing the Moonlight", enjoy!
POP BITEZ MUSIC PICKS FOR SPRING 2011
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When it comes to new and exciting music, you don't need a music convention in Texas to point you in the right direction as long as you've got me in your lives, my pop hungry people!
Today I've put together a list of suggestions for your musical consideration, I'm bound to have a few you haven't heard of yet so, turn it up and surf away!
COURRIER- A VIOLENT FLAME
Courrier's debut album, A VIOLENT FLAME is a solid atmospheric effort from the gifted Austin-based quartet that, at times, seems to be influenced by the best of Coldplay, Switchfoot and even a little Arcade Fire. "For your Sake" and "How Long" are radio-friendly tracks destined to be climbing the charts someday soon but, more than that, A VIOLENT FLAME is one of most accomplished debut albums I've heard in quite awhile. Producer Matt Noveskey clearly understands this band and masterfully weaves a sonic tapestry around the band's solid material, elevating it to a level rarely heard on a first record.
FAMILY OF THE YEAR- SONGBOOK
I was blown away by this band earlier this week when they played before Gold Motel took the stage, Family of the Week's wall of harmony and expert musicianship is a joy and wonder to behold live and their debut album SONGBOOK is a perfect addition to your music mix as temperatures begin to warm up. This album was truly made for flip-flop season and picnics by the river.
Family of the Year is currently based in Los Angeles, California, brothers Joseph and Sebastian Keefe were born in Wales, and moved to Martha's Vineyard. Jamsey Buckey is from Jacksonville, FL, while Christina Schroeter is from Orange County, CA. Prior to forming Family of the Year members Joeseph Keefe, and Sebastian Keefe enjoyed local Boston success in previous bands Unbusted and The Billionaires.
THE CROOKES- CHASING AFTER GHOSTS
The Crookes new album CHASING AFTER GHOSTS is definitely a new favorite of mine. It's a perfect example of jangling pop that doesn't take itself too seriously. Check out the track "Godless Girl".
THIRTEEN SENSES- CRYSTAL SOUNDS
Another excellent import from the U.K., the band was formed in 2004 but still have yet to get much attention in the states, check out the track "The Loneliest Star" and you tell me, are they destined for greatness or what?
THE DAMNWELLS- NO ONE LISTENS TO THE BAND ANYMORE
The only real problem I have with this band is the title of their new album, I'm listening guys and I'm loving it! (Here's hoping they can get together enough cash for their next video because, as much as I'm a fan of many Apple products, the company's Photo Booth program isn't one of Mac's finest hours.)
WE ARE ENFANT TERRIBLE-EXPLICIT PICTURES
New wave pop for nerds that almost sounds like a trip to the arcade circa 1983, only the arcades I played in never really sounded this cool.
FOO FIGHTERS- WASTING LIGHT
Man, I've been waiting for this one for what seems like an eternity, it's finally out next month! This is the band I can never play loud enough. Sure, the last time I saw them live I may have been a little too close to the speakers and, yes, my ears rang for a solid 48 hours after the show but, you can bet your ass I was smiling the whole time.
LYKKE LI- WOUNDED RHYMES
You can keep Lady Gaga, I'll take Lykke over almost any other video diva working today, love her, love the new album. So very nasty, makes me want to jump in a convertible with Charlie Sheen and a few of his Porn star lady friends for a lost weekend in Lala land. Don't be surprised if I'm calling you for bail money come Monday morning, I'm blaming it all on you Lykke!
THE LILIES- WE ARE THE LILIES
A dizzying outburst of experimental rococo pop, every track on this album is a surprise and a revelation, even after repeated plays. Check out the tune "Why", which features a perfectly odd guest appearance from Iggy Pop that truly warms the cockles of my twisted heart!
GRUFF RHYS-HOTEL SHAMPOO
Gruff is a Welshman who was obviously raised on a steady diet of Burt Bacharach, everything old is new again as Rhys reinvents Burt's wheel. HOTEL SHAMPOO is grooooooovy baby, yeah!
KURT VILE- SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO
You see the name and you immediately think you know the sound, but you're wrong. Yes, it's true, Kurt Vile sounds like the name of someone who might have been seen hanging out at CBGB'S with Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious in 1979 but, much to my surprise, this singer/ songwriter from Philadelphia has much more in common with Bob Seger, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen than he does the Sex Pistols.
SILVER PESOS- BORN AT MIDNIGHT
Smart and smooth pan-global, atmospheric and sensual pop. A South American version of Sade', bambino making musica.
PANIC! AT THE DISCO- VICES & VIRTUES
This is going to be a very big album for these guys, I hope you dig it as much as I do, you're going to be hearing A LOT from this one in 2011.
They get bonus points from me for their Steampunk inspired video for their first single off the new album! Love it!
ROBBIE ROBERTSON- HOW TO BECOME CLAIRVOYANT
The last time Robbie Robertson released an album of original songs, Justin Bieber was just completing his potty training. I've always been a big fan of Robertson's work, it's nice to see him take a break from composing film scores and return to his songwriting roots. Will this album be worth the 13 year wait? We'll know for sure next month!
JAMES WALBOURNE- THE HILL
This is the debut release from James Walbourne, former sideman for acts as varied as The Pretenders, The Pogues and Death in Vegas. Best-selling novelist and part-time music critic Nick Hornby once described James Walbourne's guitar work as "an unearthly cross between James Burton, Peter Green, and Richard Thompson," and went on to add "Walbourne's fluid, tasteful, beautiful solos drop the jaw, stop the heart, and smack the gob, all at the same time." Nick and I are in total agreement and this is an album you will definitely want to check out when you get a chance.
THE PRIMITIVES- NEVER KILL A SECRET EP
The Primitives emerged from the independent scene of the mid-Eighties that gave us, amongst others, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, the Soup Dragons and the Wedding Present. They shared a love of melody, the sixties and fast Ramones-influenced guitars. With their latest EP release they seem to have mellowed a bit but, if you ask me, it's definitely a change for the better. Fun stuff!
ELBOW- BUILD A ROCKET BOYS
Elbow's sonic landscapes often stir something in my gut and make my heart and soul ache, in the same way Peter Gabriel once did, (and hopefully will again...someday). This month they've released their highly anticipated follow up to the award winning THE SELDOM SEEN KID, arguably the best album I've heard in a decade. No surprise, BUILD A ROCKET BOYS doesn't quite reach the same heights as their previous effort but, really, only a fool with very unreasonable expectations would expect that. That's not to say this album is without it's profound pleasures, this first single is just one of many highlights.
MOVIE MUSIC NEWS!
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SUCKER PUNCH SOUNDTRACK PREVIEW
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to checking out SUCKER PUNCH when it opens on the big screen next week and I'm equally intrigued by the soundtrack, which appears to be an odd and varied mix of covers. Here's a brief preview for you!
FOO FIGHTERS- BACK AND FORTH
As you read earlier, I'm a huge Foo Fighters fan so, obviously, I'm super anxious to see this documentary. Watch the trailer for Dave's quote at the end....priceless and hilarious.
DAVID LYNCH MEETS DURAN DURAN
What? Surely my headline must be another one of my weak attempts at humor, right? Wrong!
With the recent earthquake in Japan, the civil unrest in the Middle East and the recent announcement that famed experimental director David Lynch has agreed to direct a concert film of Duran Duran, the 2012 believers, understandably, feel their fears are justified these days.
“I am very excited about this opportunity to experiment with the band, Duran Duran, at the Mayan Theater on March 23rd,” said filmmaker David Lynch. “The idea is to try and create on the fly, layers of images permeating Duran Duran on the stage. A world of experimentation and hopefully some happy accidents.”
Speaking from a rehearsal studio in London where they are preparing for the UNSTAGED show, lead singer Simon Le Bon said: “We are all beyond delighted that David Lynch has agreed to direct this show for us. It’s a dream come true quite frankly. We are all such fans of his work and think he has a creative vision like no other. In talking to him about what he is planning, we all believe this live-streamed performance is going to look nothing like anyone has ever seen before. We can’t wait.”
The truth is Popsters, this is probably going to be much better than any of us are expecting. I can tell you I've been playing the new Duran Duran album, ALL YOU NEED IS NOW, a lot lately and, I must confess, I think it's pretty damn awesome.
I will definitely be tuning in for this show!
HANNA
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If you thought Trent Reznor's work on THE SOCIAL NETWORK was impressive, (it's actually the only thing I liked about that movie), wait until you hear The Chemical Brother's soundtrack for the new film HANNA, it truly kicks ass and the movie looks like it might be a lot of rockin' good fun as well, check it out!
THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED
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This movie actually opened today, though I believe it's in limited release. The New York Post recently reviewed the film and described it as "Unpretentious and unexpectedly moving". Though I've never personally been much of a Grateful Dead fan, this flick definitely looks like it might be worth a couple hours of my time. What say you?
100 BANDS IN 100 DAYS
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Here's another documentary that looks pretty intriguing, I love the concept, it makes so much more sense than eating at McDonald's for 30 days, ( Suck it Spurlock, I still think you're a total douche')
THE METAL SHOW RETURNS TO VH-1 THIS WEEKEND!
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One of my favorite VH-1 shows is back this weekend with new episodes, here's a quick taste for you!
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME 2011 AIRING THIS WEEKEND ON FUSE
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Last but not least, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2011 Inductions Ceremony is airing on Fuse this weekend, featuring two of my all time favorites, Tom Waits and Neil Diamond. What's that you say, you don't have Fuse? Yeah, me neither. It really sucks that VH-1 no longer airs this ceremony. Ah well, I'm sure we'll all be able to find it somewhere online next week, if you know where to look...which I do...but I can't tell you. You're on your own with this one Popsters, I take full responsibility for my own delinquency but I am not willing to encourage or assist you with yours.
Here's a brief preview for you, check it out!
Alright Folks, anyone still here? Did you actually read and watch it all today or are you just skimming again? Alright, quick quiz: what city is the band Gold Motel based? Who do I consider the "Welsh Bacharach"? Does anyone listen to the Damnwells anymore? Uh huh, that's what I thought....get on with your weekend Popsters, let the spring thaw begin and watch out for that Super-moon! See you next week! Cheers!- Scott
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