Singles.

Last week, I picked up some goodies at Amoeba San Francisco and I got around to listening to them last night. It got me to thinking about 7" records.

You would think that in this day and age, when singles are easily attained as mp3s and you can google a band's new work on your smart phone before you can say "radio play", that these 7" would no longer have a place in the industry. After all, most of the radio stations which used to utilize them to hook the public on a song before a band's album would be released have been digitized, and these singles, alongside full lps, are becoming very much a niche product, for musical nerds and purists alike.

What I really love about singles is the b-sides. A lot of times, you come across things you would have never heard before. My findings last week included Broken Bells' "The High Road",which includes a beautiful instrumental b-side called "An Easy Life". After I heard it, I hopped online to find and post an mp3, but I couldn't find one. The song was a vinyl only release. I also bought The Soft Pack's single collection. They released their fantastic eponymous debut album as a box set of 6 45's as a Record Store Day exclusive--5 singles containing two songs a piece from the album and two extra tracks on the sixth 7". I love things like that. And while the internet and digital media can be wonderful for artistic expression, so can vinyl singles.

Sometimes, I'll spend an entire Sunday afternoon listening to my singles. Because music sounds better on vinyl, because I like the slowed down process of consuming music, but mostly because I have nothing better to do ; )

Broken Bells record a Myspace Transmissions set

head on over to the source to watch the videos and interview, plus, snag the whole session for free!

Broken Bells - Vaporize (myspace transmissions) [mp3]

Broken Bells announce tour with The Morning Benders

holy smokes. two of my favourite records of 2010. at the Regency.
curaaaaaazy.

05-18 San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay *
05-19 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre *
05-21 San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom *
05-24 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *
05-25 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market *
05-26 Vancouver, British Columbia – Commodore Ballroom *
05-29 Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre *
05-31 Chicago, IL – Vic Theater *
06-01 Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall *
06-02 Toronto, Ontario – Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
06-04 Boston, MA – Royale NightClub *
06-05 New York, NY – The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza *
06-06 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory *
06-07 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
06-10 Atlanta, GA – Center Stage *
06-11 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club *

* with the Morning Benders

the morning benders - waiting for a war (daytrotter) [mp3]

band of the week: Broken Bells

Danger Mouse is one of our best modern composers. Although I have never been a huge fan of The Shins, this project showcases James Mercer’s voice perfectly, and I dig it—a whole fucking lot.

Broken Bells sounds like anything but their raucous title, and the debut album is only consistent in the quality of music—that is, excellent. The interplay of Mercer and Brian Burton beautifully melds so many genres: hip hop, folk, electronica. Gorgeous string arrangements seem to pop out of nowhere. It’s hard to believe that these songs derive from the same album, but they form a unity like that of a soundtrack or film score: inconspicuous relationships that make perfect sense once you see them all together, but not immediately noticeable at first. Best of all, the music doesn’t seem to fit any sort of time period (ie 60s psychedelia, 70s punk, 90s restlessness or what have you) and doesn’t have any obvious influences. It’s music for music sake, if you will. Pure artistic expression.

Broken Bells are annoyingly listenable, from start to finish. Go out and pick up the record if you haven’t already.

Broken Bells - The High Road

Broken Bells is the latest from Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley; Dark Night of the Soul; spectacular producer of countless great albums), who chose to abandon his pseudonym and be credited as Brian Burton this time around.

anyhow, it features James Mercer (The Shins) and from what I've heard so far, it's pretty damn spectacular.

the album will drop on March 9th, a review is forthcoming

visit them on MYSPACE