LAND OF TALK

Pop quiz.

What do ARCADE FIRE, THE DEARS, THE STILLS, STARS, MALAJUBE, and THE HIGH DIALS all have in common?

Yeah, yeah, I know... the smarty-pantsed amongst you won't be challenged by that one at all. But for the dunce-capped amongst you: The groups above all hail from that Paris of North America -- Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mais naturellement, vous peuplez avec dez chapeaux de mutisme!

Next question (en anglais, svp, vous fromage-mangeant singes de reddition): Does still-wet-behind-the-ears trio LAND OF TALK deserve to be mentioned with the rest of that rather estimable list?

According to any number of influential, in-the-know bloggers, the answer is already a decided "Oui!" But I'm reserving judgment, at least for the moment. After all, singer/guitarist ELIZABETH POWELL, bassist CHRIS McCARRON and drummer BUCKY WHEATON have only released one 7-song EP, APPLAUSE CHEER BOO HISS, thus far -- and one 7-song EP does not a legacy make.

That said, the fact that these folks have been drawing comparisons to such unimpeachable underground overlords as SONIC YOUTH, PJ HARVEY, and DINOSAUR JR. certainly bodes well for their eventual entry into the upper rooms of kewldom. And yes, you can ALMOST hear KIM GORDON crawling around the first couple songs below (though I hear more of an EDIE BRICKELL-meets-CAT POWER thing going on there).

You are, as always, free to decide for yourself. Viva la democratie! And: Viva Montreal!

LAND OF TALK on MySPACE.

LAND OF TALK talking to the land >>>

Mar 21 2007 8:00P/Beachland Ballroom/Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 22 2007 8:00P/Lawrenceville Moose/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mar 23 2007 8:00P/El Mocambo/Toronto, Ontario
Mar 24 2007 8:00P/Zaphod Beeblbrox/Ottawa, Ontario
Mar 25 2007 8:00P/Main Hall/Montreal, Quebec
Mar 27 2007 8:00P/Great Scott/Boston, Massachusetts
Mar 28 2007 8:00P/Bowery Ballroom/*SOLD OUT*/New York, New York
Mar 29 2007 8:00P/Princeton University/*STUDENTS ONLY*/Princeton, New Jersey

[MP3] "Summer Special"

[MP3] "Sea Foam"

BONUS TRACK >>>

[MP3] "Monsoon" [w/THE DEARS]

I'M FROM BARCELONA

No, they're not. From Barcelona, that is. They're from Jonkoping. In Sweden. On Lake Vattern. Which is not really close to Barcelona at all. Barcelona is in Spain. Which is between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Different bodies of water altogether than Lake Vattern. So, you see, this is all very confusing....

Oh, and did I mention that there are 29 people in this "band"? No? Well, there are. So then there's THAT to factor in....

Place the blame on EMANUEL LUNDGREN. He's the rather shady-looking character in the picture above that started all this nonsense. I mean, honestly, look at the guy. If he was an American, I would just naturally assume that he has prostitutes of various genders decomposing in his crawlspace. But nooooooo. Because he's Swedish we must give the guy the benefit of the doubt. After all, Swedes don't kill other Swedes: just themselves.

(Also: Swedes don't have crawlspaces. They live in trees. To protect themselves from dragons.)

(Which, come to think of it, makes no sense. But neither does having 29 people in your band and calling yourselves I'M FROM BARCELONA when, in fact, you're from Jonkoping.)

Regardless, these strange, dragon-fearing tree-dwellers released their debut LP, LET ME INTRODUCE MY FRIENDS, last year to most of the world. Not surprisingly, they chose to ignore America -- no doubt because they knew we would peg them (in ascending order of outrageousness) "eccentrics," "serial killers," and "socialists."

Well, it would appear that they don't give a damn WHAT we think of them anymore, seeing as LET ME INTRODUCE MY FRIENDS will be available today in the States for your perusal and purchase. What should you expect? For starters, think THE POLYPHONIC SPREE. (Hey, wait a minute... those kooks have got a ton of people in THEIR band, too. What the hell is going on? Is this that Rapture thing all the Jesus Freaks have been going on about?)

Truth be told, though, I'M FROM BARCELONA isn't nearly as creepy as the Spree. They don't dress like they're in a cult that worships the Wicker Man, for one thing.

(In fact, there ARE no cults in Sweden. Only hockey leagues.)

So expect all things happy, sunny, and go-lucky. Songs about stamp collections and treehouses and chicken poxes. Also, one about "oversleeping," which one wouldn't think would be a problem in Sweden, seeing as they only work three weeks out of the year.

Yes, this music is twee -- with SUFJAN-goes-to-the-carnival instrumentation, handclaps, and "[We'd] Like to Teach the World to Sing" vocal explosions. But if you can keep your gag-reflex in-check after experiencing the sheer EXUBERANCE of it all, then you just might find yourself thoroughly cheered and charmed.

So, my fellow Americans, I beseech you: Put that carpet-knife down. Crawl out from that crawlspace. The sun is shining, the dragons are banished, and the Swedes are here to infuse you with their inimitable mish-mash of stoic hopefulness and Absolut-fueled tomfoolery.

But better get it from them quick.

Before they kill themselves.

I'M FROM BARCELONA on MySPACE.

I'M FROM BARCELONA & where you can see them live & in-person >>>

Mar 24 2007 8:00P/Botanique/Bruxells
Mar 25 2007 8:00P/Melkweg Max/Amsterdam
Mar 26 2007 8:00P/La Cigale/Paris
Mar 27 2007 8:00P/Koko/London
Apr 28 2007 8:00P/Bergenfest/Bergen

[MP3] [VID] "We're from Barcelona"

[MP3] "Rec & Play"

THE DOLLYROTS

Golden-State-by-way-of-Sunshine-State trio THE DOLLYROTS released their second long-player, BECAUSE I'M AWESOME, on Blackheart Records last week. (And yes, that would be JOAN JETT's joint.)

As their name might suggest, these two boys and one girl (LUIS CABEZAS, CHRIS BLACK, and sex-kitten (in a good way!) frontwoman KELLY OGDEN) straddle the line between pop and punk. They cite influences from BIKINI KILL to THE PIXIES; THE RAMONES to THE RONETTES (see: "This Crush" below, which also evokes THE GO GO's and late-period LUSH).

This is straightforward, infectious stuff, and one can understand why Ms. Jett would be a mark for their mojo. (You also have to appreciate a group that found the cajones to make a go of it after watching George W.'s victory in Florida in November 2000. Their reasoning? "If the world's going to end anyway, why not start a band?" Indeed.)

THE DOLLYROTS on MySPACE.

THE DOLLYROTS on parade >>>

Mar 24 2007 9:00P/CD RELEASE-THE AIRLINER-W/GOBETTYGO & Special Guest DJs THE DONNAS!/Los Angeles, California
Apr 26 2007 8:00P/BURTS TIKI LOUNGE/Salt Lake City, Utah
Apr 27 2007 8:00P/BLUEBIRD THEATER/Denver, Colorado
Apr 28 2007 8:00P/THE WAITING ROOM/Omaha, Nebraska
May 3 2007 8:00P/TRIPLE ROCK/MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota
May 5 2007 8:00P/OTTOS/DEKALB, Illinois
May 6 2007 8:00P/THE NOTE/CHICAGO, Illinois
May 9 2007 8:00P/GARFIELD ARTWORKS/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 11 2007 8:00P/KNITTING FACTORY/New York, New York

[MP3] "Brand New Key" [MELANIE cover]

[MP3] "This Crush"

MODEST MOUSE

When it comes to MODEST MOUSE, I will readily admit to possessing no street-cred whatsoever. Till now, the only song of theirs that interested me in the least was "Float On."

"Blasphemy!" cry the diehards.

"Lick me!" cry I. "Go listen to your vinyl copy of 'Broke' for the 889th time, why dont'cha?"

(That'll tell 'em.)

As pretty much everybody already knows, the eclectic collective from Washington state has roped the guitarist that is MARR into their sad-clowns-on-crystal-meth rodeo show for the upcoming WE WERE DEAD BEFORE THE SHIP EVEN SANK. Tomorrow, the normal among you can pick up the CD. The diehards, their vinyl.

MODEST MOUSE on MySPACE.

MODEST MOUSE from Fargo [d. Joel & Ethan Cohen, 1996] to Barcelona [d. Whit Stillman, 1994] >>>

Mar 19 2007 8:00P/Play Maker's Pavilion/Fargo, North Dakota
May 20 2007 8:00P/ATP vs the Fans/Somerset
May 23 2007 8:00P/Royal Albert Hall/London
Jun 1 2007 8:00P/Primavera Sound/Barcelona

[MP3] "People as Places as People"

[MP3] "Missed the Boat"

THE ROSEBUDS

What in the world's come over THE ROSEBUDS? Just two years ago I was praising the boy/girl vocal interplay and "charmingly chimey" ways of BIRDS MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS (an album that ultimately landed itself in my Top 10 album list for 2005).

But with their upcoming third record, NIGHT OF THE FURIES (April 10; Merge Records), IVAN HOWARD and KELLY CRISP want to take us dancing -- '80s and early-'90s style. Thus, if you've been jonesing for a bit of vintage NEW ORDER or EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL, you're in luck. If you're pining for a return to the more lo-fi, charming chiminess of their debut, you're shit out of it.

Me... I'm going along for the ride. But that lopsided smile on my face can't decide if it wants to be quiescently content or quizzically concerned. To paraphrase LEONARD COHEN, I sure hope the Rosebuds aren't on the verge of dancing me to the end of love.

THE ROSEBUDS on MySPACE.

[MP3] "Get Up Get Out"

"Cemetary Lawns" [REMOVED AT ARTISTS' REQUEST]

"Hold on to This Coat" [REMOVED AT ARTISTS' REQUEST]

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

[Didn't mean to, but ended up giving myself a little vacation from the blog last week. Binges are fun... till the inevitable crash and comedown. So... next week should be relatively stable around here....]

What with my great love for THE CARS back in the '80s, it's probably no wonder that I find myself fond of FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE. These guys (centrally: ADAM SCHLESINGER and CHRIS COLLINGWOOD) have been crafting impeccable pop songs for over ten years now, and they'll be entering their second decade with the April 3 release of TRAFFIC AND WEATHER.

There might not be any "Stacy's Mom"-styled breakout here (first single "Someone to Love" probably comes closest), but, as always, there are at least a handful of hyper-hooky pop tunes here just waiting to burrow into your brain and stay lodged there. And just in time for summer, too. How thoughtful of the boys.



FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE on MySPACE.

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE out-and-about >>>

Apr 20 2007 7:30P/Apple Store - SoHo/New York, New York
Apr 21 2007 8:00P/Pearl Street/Northampton, Massachusetts
Apr 22 2007 8:00P/Paradise Rock Club/Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 24 2007 8:00P/Webster Hall/New York, New York
Apr 25 2007 8:00P/Trocadero/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 28 2007 8:00P/Coachella Music and Arts Festival/Indio, California
Apr 30 2007 8:00P/Great American Music Hall/San Francisco, California
Jun 17 2007 8:00P/Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival/Manchester, Tennessee
Jul 27 2007 8:00P/Fuji Rock Festival/Naeba

[MP3] "Hotel Majestic"

[MP3] "Fire in the Canyon"

LEIGH NASH

Imagine my horror. Here I was inspired... (uh, no... bad choice of words...) Here I was COMPELLED BY DEMONIC FORCES to post on former SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER lead singer LEIGH NASH, when I suddenly became reacquainted with the fact that said band and said singer are self-professed "Christian" artists. Good God. (Uh, no... yet another bad choice of words.)

Now, it's one thing to be an artist and a Christian; that probably describes most artists in the Western world. But to wear it on your sleeve... to pronounce it so proudly... to make it such an integral part of your persona.... Argh! Shiver me timbers! It just plain gives me the heebie jeebies. That is, when it's not giving me the screaming meemies.

But... I'd already committed to this post, and Ms. Nash's voice is so goshdarned pleasant and innocent.... Just chalk it up to this: The devil made me do it.

LEIGH NASH on MySPACE.

LEIGH NASH preaching to the choir, in church and elsewhere (though mainly in church) >>>

Mar 16 2007 8:00P/SXSW/Austin, Texas
Mar 30 2007 8:00P/Central Gospel Temple/St. Catherines, Ontario
Mar 31 2007 8:00P/Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship/Toronto, Ontario
Apr 2 2007 8:00P/Dominion Chalmers Church/Ottawa, Ontario
Apr 3 2007 8:00P/Reedemer University/Hamilton, Ontario
Apr 4 2007 8:00P/Forward Baptist Church/Cambridge, Ontario

From the LEIGH NASH LP BLUE ON BLUE, 2006 >>>

[MP3] [VID] "My Idea of Heaven"
[MP3] "Ocean Size Love"

With SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER >>>

From the LP DIVINE DISCONTENT, 2002 >>>
[MP3] "Tonight"
[MP3] "Melody of You"

From their self-titled LP, 1997 >>>
[MP3] [VID] "Kiss Me"
[MP3] [VID] "There She Goes" [THE LA'S cover]

[MP3] "I Need Love" [SAM PHILLIPS cover]

WITH DELERIUM >>>

From the LP POEM, 2001 >>>
[MP3] "Innocente"