scissorkick

Been idyll for the last few days because I am in the process of moving to my new digs a few miles down the road. Moving crate after crate of records takes its toll on you, but what a surprise waiting for me in my mailbox today, the final day in my apartment of four years. A mix of fear and melancholy along with promise and optimism fills me as I sit in a near empty room, a few days before this place that has been so good to me turns to memory. I can't think of a better soundtrack for this transition than Metropolis, the newest record from Swords formerly The Swords Project, one of my favorite post-rock ensembles and a band that any fan of orchestral, challenging rock music would be remiss for passing up. Insound does a great job of describing Swords as music "for fans of Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Shadow, Pinback, and King Crimson." And I couldn't agree more. There's electronics peppered within prog moments; thick Sonic Youth-style guitar sludge hidden under classic REM guitar melody. Their newest album (although I have only given it a quick listen) is shaping up to be their best and I think "The Mark" captures all the spatial and experimental qualities that "mark" truly memorable left-field pop classics. Dropping the "Project" suffix was a sensible move because Metropolis marks a good band crystalizing into a potentially great one. This is certainly much more resonant and engaging than the word project connotes. Update: Seems like a motherlode of varied stuff has found its way to the scissorkick queue. Look out in the coming days for new tracks from American Analog Set, ADULT., Kudu, Cities of Foam, Foscil and a track or two from the new comp released by Flameboy Records (ex-Red Snapper). Resources

Posted by Steve at 7/26/2005 12:21:00 AM | Permalink | Comments   

Like many blogs, Scissorkick gets its fair share of daily emails from young bands looking to get posted. For all of you rockers and tweakers out there, trust that I listen to every track that's sent my way. Some however would probably make better posts at more fitting web locales. Here at SK, we've stumbled into this niche where electronic and organic elements coexist nicely within the same space. Sometimes however, that space can be more like a Lower East Side studio occupied by 25 partially shaved, semi-retarded orangutans in adult diapers dancing to Sheena Easton. That's just the image I get when I listened to these 4 tracks from DraculaZombieUSA who appear to be more human beings (barely) than retarded monkeys, but no less primordially moved by the electronic beats and guitar spasms. They seem not to take themselves too seriously, so hopefully I can do my daily good turn by posting these links which the band describes as "aphex twin + lightning bolt + lcd soundsystem." I'd like to think of them instead as the mutant baby of said threesome, which gives them some time to mature and refine and become a truly devastating 3-headed electro-rock hydra. Nonetheless, you heard it here first, just like the old MTV slogan back when you could actually hear things on MTV first. Now go tell your friends and feel cool about something other than Al Pacino's new conquest, Rose McGowan. Fuck. Resources

Posted by Steve at 7/20/2005 03:09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

In preparation for an interview with Brooklyn's Apsci scheduled for tonight, I have spent an inordinate amount of time breaking down their re-release of Thanks for Asking the worldwide debut full-length smartly picked up by the prescient folks over at Quannum. Soon you'll be reading all about the married duo and their global trekking but the bottom line here is a record of shocking individualism. Ra LaMotta was once Ray Heatly, the bass player and vocalist for NYC's shortlived Vitapup. It's obvious now, after listening to his most recent work, that he was responsible for the unique vision that Vitapup brought to the local indie punk. Together with his classicaly trained wife and production partner Dana Diaz-Tutaan who has a simply astonishing vocal range (from The Andrews Sisters to Beth Gibbons, no joke), Apsci drops 16 tracks of out-there, avant hip-hop, pulling from a countless number of influences yet recombining them into a truly unique form. I chose to post "Pep Rally" because I think it most perfectly prepares you for the myriad influences that define the duo's style. Thanks for Asking should be one of the year's most highly regarded recordings. Together with DJ Big Wiz and drummer Guy Licata -- and guest appearances by Mr. Lif, Pigeon John, Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio) and Martin Perna (Antibalas) -- the album breathes new life into the hazy sometimes suffocating swell of forward thinking hip-hop. Listen up Earth people! Resources

Posted by Steve at 7/13/2005 12:10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments   

I'm going to start off the post-Independence day posts by revealing one of my deep, dark secrets. Scissorkick loves prog. There, I said it, and now that half of you have already closed your browsers and headed toward the latest Wonkette gossip, the remaining, truly brave souls who may or may not be fans of prog rock -- Rush, ELP, King Crimson, Genesis, Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, and of course Yes -- get some truly classic nuggets. Look, scissorkick is all about great new music; our commitment to posting new tracks is unflagging and although we've sort of stumbled into this downtempo niche, we really do love so much of everything that it would be treasonous to deny ourselves the occassional trip down memory lane. Plus, as much as I love bands like Jaga and Mars Volta, I am simply growing tired of journalists' lazy associations of these groups and classic prog traditions. They might have some elements but they are certainly not prog bands. Bottom line: You need unicorns and wizards to be prog. Today's Two-for-Tuesday post is a serious double play of classic Yes tracks inspired by a recent viewing of the fantastic Buffalo 66. Vincent Gallo may be a fucking narcissistic asshole but he has undeniably great taste in music and the soundtrack is filled with gems from King Crimson and Yes, especially "Heart of the Sunrise" an epic nearly 12-minute track that jumps from fiery, hellspawn prog-ness to a mellow, deep funk cinematic groove and back again. It's not supposed to work but only musicians as talented as Yes can pull something like this off. I hope you Rare Groove afficianados will be psyched to add this track to your archives if you haven't done so already. The second track is a huge, emotive rock anthem, "Love Will Find A Way" that I just recently rediscovered and am so excited by I simply had to post it. Vintage big 80s sound with just enough time signature complexity and virtuoso playing that its undeniably prog, yet delivered in a vintage pop package. Was a favorite when I was 12 and addicted to bands like Rush. Its pure emotive quality blows away about 99% of your typical alt-folk or indie "Summer Mix" fare. So grab your broadsword, saddle up on your winged steed and get ready to fly toward the sun. The battle for Middle Earth has begun.

Yes :: "Heart of the Sunrise"
Yes :: "Love Will Find a Way"

Posted by Steve at 7/05/2005 10:12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments