Daytrotter a Day #48: W. C. Lindsay

Daytrotter a Day #48: W. C. Lindsay (Released 04.17.14)

I liked the color palette used in the illustration, so I gave this a try.  There's a lot going on in "Tree," where Lindsay tosses in every sound but the kitchen sink.  He ends up with something close to that cluttered, loud indie pop that Grouplove has been able to exploit so well.  I did like it better than Grouplove, however.  Then he started rapping a little on "Kids These Days."  Any respect I had was lost by the time I got to "Little Ghost," a blatant attempt to cash in on the success of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Daytrotter a Day #47: Arlo Aldo

Daytrotter a Day #47: Arlo Aldo (Released 04.17.14)

On "Highway," Pittsburgh's Arlo Aldo create a strange, dark country mood with David Manchester's deep voice, some not-particularly-accomplished guitar-playing, and eerie organ tones.  "House & Home" is slightly brighter, but David's baritone is still at the forefront.  It feels like he's leading the backing female vocalists wherever he wants them to go.  I'm not saying this band is a cult or out to commit mass-murder, but I get a Charles Manson vibe from them.  Hey, Manson did write "Look at Your Game, Girl."  I'm not really into it, but I'll give them credit for being unique.

Daytrotter a Day #46: Thomas Function

Daytrotter a Day #46: Thomas Function (Released 10.28.09)

Ever wonder what the Rolling Stones would sound like if they couldn't play guitar, and Mick Jagger had no low-range?  Probably not, but here it is.  The coolest thing about this band is the little face on the guy's arm in the illustration.  In "Picking Scabs," Joshua Macero squeals, "Are you gonna buy a record or what?"  I think we all know the answer to that one, Josh.

Daytrotter a Day #45: Thomas J. Speight

Daytrotter a Day #45: Thomas J. Speight (Released 01.30.14)

Dear aspiring singer-songwriters, how many goddamn songs do we need about willow trees?  His guitar-playing is fine.  His voice is okay.  But willow trees?  Really?  The woman accompanying Speight has a better voice than he does.  I'd rather listen to her, expecting that she'd write better lyrics.  In "Better Off Without You," Thomas finally realizes he's better off without his ex.  I guarantee she's better off without you too, buddy.

Daytrotter a Day #44: We All Have Hooks for Hands

Daytrotter a Day #44: We All Have Hooks for Hands (Released 09.07.12)

They sound a lot like Page France.  I'd rather listen to Page France.  Unless they actually did all have hooks for hands.  That'd be impressive.  Wait, the singing is getting much worse.  Like grating.  I'm gonna rescind the Page France comparison.  They're more like cats in heat.  My ears!  My fucking ears!

Daytrotter a Day #43: Ocote Soul Sounds

Daytrotter a Day #43: Ocote Soul Sounds (Released 12.03.11)

As soon as I pressed play on "Pirata," I got an Antibalas/Budos Band vibe.  Which totally made sense when I googled the band and found out it's the brainchild of Martín Perna, Antibalas member and Budos collaborator.  So it's good.  Definitely more Latin-sounding than Afrobeat, but if you dig Daptone, give this a spin.  The sax in "Primavera" is wicked.

Daytrotter a Day #42: Old Lights

Daytrotter a Day #42: Old Lights (Released 06.28.13)

Different band than Old Light.  Better band than Old Light.  While they're not really breaking any new ground, they do what they do well.  David Beeman's voice sounds very familiar, but that just means you don't have to spend any time getting used to it.  "It Was You" is a nice slice of '70s guitar pop before "Pretender" chugs forward with jittery energy.  "We Laid Down" mixes things up with its insistent piano and "Cable Cars" will get your head nodding.  Download this one.

Daytrotter a Day #41: Old Light

Daytrotter a Day #41: Old Light (Released 06.04.13)

I can't tell if this band is a joke or not.  All the members wear eyeglasses and most pair that with some sort of strange facial hair.  They pretty much only release albums on cassette.  The vocals are reminiscent of Mike Gordon, but with even more warble.  Old Light's saving grace is their understanding of simple guitar grooves.  "Bait & Switch" has a proto-punk flavor and "All Over" is total jangle pop.  If they are a joke, they're not that funny.  If they are a band, they're not that great.  But at least they weren't painful.

Daytrotter a Day #40: Citizen

Daytrotter a Day #40: Citizen (Released 04.10.14)

Emo garbage.  On "Figure You Out," singer Mat Kerekes insists, "It's not so bad."  Sorry, Mat, it is.  If you had another t in your name, maybe the girls wouldn't walk all over you.

Daytrotter a Day #39: Mister Suit

Daytrotter a Day #39: Mister Suit (Released 04.01.14)

I know why this was released on April Fool's Day.  This has to be a joke.  It sounds like a tone-deaf guy making demos for Lady Gaga with a broken guitar.  I've never had an ear infection in my life, but I imagine this is what it's like.

Daytrotter a Day #38: The Pizza Underground

Daytrotter a Day #38: The Pizza Underground (Released 04.08.14)

I like the Velvet Underground.  I like pizza even more.  But two good things does not a great thing make.  As their name suggests, the Pizza Underground is a VU cover band that only sings about pizza.  "Sticking to You" is obviously about cheese and "Pizza Hours" is about keeping the pizza box closed.  By the second song, the concept is thinner than a New York slice.  What makes "Weird Al" Yankovic such a talented parody songwriter is that he lampoons a variety of topics.  He knew that after "My Bologna," he didn't need to get right to work on a follow-up about the same processed meat.  So the Pizza Underground end up confined to lyrics about crust, toppings, sauce, cheese, and temperature.  The most inspired pun resides in their parody of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" with the line: "You just keep the oven on."  Oh, and Macaulay Culkin is in the band, inevitable proof that it's all gone downhill since Richie Rich.

Daytrotter a Day #37: The Tambo Rays

Daytrotter a Day #37: The Tambo Rays (Released 03.27.14)

The Tambo Rays may sound exactly like the Drums, the Blank Tapes, or anyone else in the tide of sunkissed, jangly indie rockers out there right now, but it's sunny outside, so they get a pass today.  If I was at a party on a Brooklyn rooftop and someone put this on, I'd drink my beer and be totally fine with it.  But then if they were like, "We should go see these guys tonight!" I'd say, "Let's just chill here."

Daytrotter a Day #36: Pup

Daytrotter a Day #36: Pup (Released 04.03.14)

Apparently Daytrotter has opened up its network of recording studios to include a place in Brooklyn dubbed the Rat Cave.  I'm not sure if it's just the noise created by the punks of Toronto's Pup, but the quality of this first session blows.  Pup aren't too bad, but they're fairly generic.  They sound a bit like Bomb the Music Industry! but without the charm lent by that band's amusing choices in instrumentation.

Daytrotter a Day #35: Sam Goodwill

Daytrotter a Day #35: Sam Goodwill (Released 11.29.13)

When I pressed play on "Hand to the Good Book," Sam's lilting falsetto reminded me of Bon Iver.  Once the piano entered the mix, I started getting a Coldplay vibe.  Then some background vocals reminiscent of Ben Bridwell showed up.  By the time I got to the scuzzy bass towards the song's end, I realized I should stop trying to compare and just listen.  This served me well on "Facing the Music," which detonates at its midpoint and gets grooving like a motherfucker.  "Hanging Heads" wasn't my cup of tea, but "Bullets," a somber acoustic tune that references Kurt Cobain, was alright.

Daytrotter a Day #34: Quieting Syrup

Daytrotter a Day #34: Quieting Syrup (Released 02.06.10)

Stephen Howard has spent most of his life battling illnesses, and he eventually chronicled these experiences and emotions in a solo album, Songs About a Sick Boy.  His vocals are what you'd expect: untrained, weak, and sad.  But the mix on this session is awesome.  The guitars sound fucking perfect.  Kudos to engineer Mike Gentry for expertly capturing the smidgen of hope that otherwise would make this too depressing to listen to.

Daytrotter a Day #33: White Violet

Daytrotter a Day #33: White Violet (Released 02.17.14)

File this under "OK."  This Georgian indie rock group is pleasant enough, especially on the head-nodding first track "Autumn Grove."  And I'd probably enjoy them as an opening act, but they never really make an attempt to stand apart from the hundreds of other indie rock bands out there with bored vocals backed by alternating jangly and atmospheric guitars.  That's a problem when there are thousands of Daytrotter sessions to listen to… and when you're based out of Athens.

Daytrotter a Day #32: Jared & the Mill

Daytrotter a Day #32: Jared & the Mill (Released 04.02.14)

Do you like Mumford & Sons?  I enjoyed "Little Lion Man" the first few times I listened to it.  Then I heard their album.  Every song followed the exact same structure, building to that final shouting crescendo.  I can only assume that's why everyone jizzes over their live show.  Jared & the Mill sound like a M&S knockoff, even cribbing a bit of the accent, despite hailing from Tempe, AZ.  They're not horrible lyricists, so it's a little disappointing to hear their words set to the aped arrangements.  The band is obviously at their best on "Confessions of an Outlaw" when they trade the Mumford sound for a twangy alt-country growl.


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Daytrotter a Day #31: Barnaby

Last April, I embarked on a journey called Daytrotter a Day, where I listened to a Daytrotter session each day of a band I had never heard of.  Some were horrible.  Some were okay.  And some made me go out and buy albums.  So why not do it again?

Daytrotter a Day #31: Barnaby (Released 04.01.14)

"Bored" is a good name for Barnaby's new single.  But I don't think he knows that maybe she got bored because of his generic lyrics.  Or his Justin Vernon impression over gentle electric strums.  Barnaby moves to the piano for "Things We Could Do," where he compares his present relationship to a past one.  Unfortunately, he never explains what ended the first one or the things he could do to make this one last.







Okay, we're off to a shitty start, but things are bound to improve.  Get your Daytrotter membership (with free vinyl!) here.

Daytrotter a Day #30: H.D. Harmsen & the Electrophones

So this is it.  The final day of my Daytrotter a Day series.  It's been fun, both discovering great new bands... and bashing awful ones.  Hope you've enjoyed the journey.

Daytrotter a Day #30: H.D. Harmsen & the Electrophones (Released 04.30.13)

Harmsen's nasal voice takes away from his fairly standard pop/rock songs.  "Strawberries & Milk" is the best one here because he splits vocal duties with a woman that sounds like Zooey Deschanel.  He has a decent band, but I wouldn't bother.  You don't have time to read a long review anyway.  You only have a few more hours to get a free vinyl when you sign up for Daytrotter!

Daytrotter a Day #29: Story Books

Daytrotter a Day #29: Story Books (Released 04.29.13)

Story Books sound a little like Brett Dennen fronting Coldplay.  But even if you hate Coldplay, which I do, you have to admit that they are able to write a hook.  Story Books aren't.  "Glory & Growth" is the closest they come, but close doesn't cut it when there are thousands of other sessions to try.







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