We Were Promised Jetpacks

So over Spring Break I drove from Boulder, Colorado back down to Tucson with some of my buddies. With about 12-15 hours to kill in the car we obviously listened to massive amounts of music. My buddy Ryan put in the CD titled These Four Walls by We Were Promised Jetpacks (probably one of the coolest band names ever). This indie-rock four-piece hails from Edinburg, Scotland and is signed with Fat Cat Records. As soon as my buddy started blasting the record I was instantly hooked. With driving riffs and drum beats this band definitely brings a lot to the alternative rock table. With singles such as “Quiet Little Voices” (my personal favorite on the album) and “It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning” it’s not only the lashing riffs and drum beats but it’s the melodies of these songs that shine through. Adam Thompson (vocals, guitar) brings a heavenly tone with his guitar and voice. His Scottish accent is also noticeable which in my opinion makes this band unique and creates a different style that they can call their own. These guys have radio appeal as well as some good old-fashioned post-punk material. This album really was one of the best albums to have on a road trip. With poppy melodies alongside driving and heavy riffs this band is without a doubt one of my newer favorites. I wouldn’t be surprised if these guys hit it big in the indie/alternative scene soon. If you’re bored and looking for some new tunes, please check out We Were Promised Jetpacks.

MGMT New Album- Congratulations leaked

The long anticipated follow up album, “Congratulations”, from the duo that makes up MGMT, has been leaked onto the Internet. On their website, www.whoismgmt.com, reads this statement, “Hey everybody, the album leaked, and we wanted you to be able to hear it from us. We wanted to offer it as a free download but that didn't make sense to anyone but us.” You can listen to the whole album on the band’s website listed above. I’ve only listened to the album one time through but I’ve like what I’ve heard. This album definitely has taken a different turn than their first album. The psychedelic-pop sound is obviously still there, but with their second installment I feel they have drifted to more of a surf-pop kind of sound in some songs. This album doesn’t have the mainstream feel to it quite as much as “Oracular Spectacular” but I don’t think that to be a bad thing. The album title song, “Congratulations”, is one of my favorites on the album. It has catchy guitar riffs with a melodic chorus, which blends well with the guitar part. The song has such a chill vibe to it I was drawn to it automatically. I’ve been waiting for this album ever since I first listened to their 1st album in the radio station 2 years ago. I think this duo is bringing a cool style to the music business, which is refreshing to see. Being a rather big psychedelic music fan, I think it’s great that in this modern day bands still can come up with creative psychedelic tunes. If you’re reading this, please go to the band’s website and check out the album for free, you won’t regret it.

Pitchfork Music Festival 2010

The 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival is officially set to go down in Chicago’s Union Park on July 16-18. They have recently added more bands to the initial lineup. So far some of the big names in the lineup goes as follows: Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Panda Bear, and Raekwon. Being from Chicago it’s always nice to know there are going to be days in the summer where I can catch some quality live tunes. Ever since Coachella’s lineup was released I have been thinking about seeing LCD Soundsystem live, plus Pavement is also headlining. With 2 of the Coachella headliners at the Pitchfork Festival, in my hometown, looks like I’m not going to be in Indio, Ca this April. Modest Mouse is also a band I’ve been itching to see for the past 5 or so years. I’ve never gotten an opportunity to see them and I have been a fan since The Moon & Antarctica. I saw Broken Social Scene two years ago at Lollapalooza. It was awesome, saw them during the day, laying in the grass with my buddies hanging out and listening to them. They have so many different instruments during there live set it’s really special to see them. I still can’t believe Pavement is having some shows this summer. Cannot wait to have the lake breeze and Pavement tunes collide this summer at Union Park. Also, me turning the magical age of 21 at the end of the month will also help any of my concert journeys this year.

Portugal. The Man- American Ghetto

I have heard of these guys since I saw them my freshman year, which was two years ago. I saw them at the Rialto Theatre here in Tucson, AZ, while they were on tour opening for Minus the Bear. I only had a couple of their songs when I saw them so I didn’t know much about them, but their live performance completely blew me away. I have been an avid listener ever since and have been religiously listening to some of their records for the past year and a half or so. With their latest installment, American Ghetto, was released on March 2nd, 2010. They have leaked the complete album online for fans to listen to it before they decide to buy it. I haven’t gotten a chance to go out and purchase this album yet but I plan on doing it this week. I haven listened to some of the songs online (only some because I like to save some new ones for when I buy the album), but from what I hear am I enjoying. They have gone to more of an electronic feel, much like their first release, Waiter: “You Vultures”, with the same melodic choruses as The Satanic Satanist. I love how each record of theirs is different than the previous, without completely straying away from their roots. They have such a unique sound to me because they draw from so many various genres of music. There is so much soul in their songs it’s hard to replicate. It’s as if John Gourley (lead vocalist) is preaching you the words he sings. I recommend people who read this check out their music if you haven’t already, and pick up a copy of American Ghetto and support some quality music.