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 ; )

photos: BFD 2010

The Soft Pack:













The Temper Trap:





The Gaslight Anthem:







Spoon:

the following photos are courtesy of my good friend Anita Wagner, who took over the digital memory making whilst I was busy dancing/crowd surfing/nursing my ankle (incurred while I was moshing in the Against Me! pit...yep that was me in the red dress amongst all the boys)

The Soft Pack:

Against Me!




The Gaslight Anthem:






Spoon:

hope everyone had fun!

new video: The Soft Pack - "Answer to Yourself"

my favourite song on The Soft Pack's fantastic album now has a visual accompaniment. it's Mclovin!

MTV Shows

The Soft Pack bring "Answer To Yourself" to Letterman

when did this happen?! last night, apparently. I was listening to their album when I was running yesterday. it gets me pumped XD



so solid.

new video: The Soft Pack - C'mon

you know you have it bad for a band when you can't hear a single without hearing the next track upon its final seconds

when this finished playing, my mind started singing "Down on Loving"



read what I had to say about the fantastic debut LP from this band HERE

record review: The Soft Pack - s/t

A lot of new music falls into one of two categories:
80’s revival (especially post-punk, think all of those bands influenced by Joy Division and MBV)
or
surf tinged garage punk

There are very few bands who manage to execute the latter well. It’s too easy for them to sound cheesy, insincere, or some horrid combination of both. Call me biased, but a driving factor behind this is the fact that most of these bands are not very well acquainted with the California sun.

That being said, the San Diego based band The Soft Pack reigns supreme—not only in their signature brand of garage rock, but in the general world of indie music. I have been salivating over this band since the very beginning (when they were known as The Muslims); there is something about them that I just adore. I was scared that this magic might fade over time, but, having heard their first full length album, I am reassured of their purity of sound.

They take tried and true hooks and make them their own. The album is insufferably listenable. Every track is vital. It’s 32 minutes of unbridled hyperactivity packed into delectable bite sized pieces. They sing about preachers on crack (“Pull Out”) and metaphorical oceans (“Tides of Time”) and manage to create exact musical parallels to their lyrics. The self titled debut is a return to basics—no synths, no instrumental tracks—just good, gritty fun doused with Pacific waves.

4.8/5
This is the best album I’ve heard so far in the year and I am sure that I’ll continue loving it well into the months (and years) to come. highly.fucking.recommended.

it will drop in your local indie record shop next TUESDAY (2nd February), please do us both a favour and pick it up. really, this album is A MUST-LISTEN.

The Soft Pack – Answer to Yourself [mp3]
I heard this song for the first time a while ago but I still love it because it really is the perfect microcosm of this album. and it makes me wanna dance.

The Soft Pack will play RICKSHAW STOP on Thursday at 10PM. You better bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be there. they will also play a free instore at Amoeba Berkeley on Wednesday at 6PM, which I wish I could attend but, you know, work sucks.



visit them on MYSPACE

The Soft Pack want to hang out with YOU

from their website:

"Hey there – So, we have a record coming out February 2nd and to celebrate we want to throw a show at YOUR house. We’re not out to thrash your place or anything – we’d come, play, hang out and have a couple of beers. All your friends plus a few of ours = guaranteed good times. If you’re interested, just respond to thesoftpack@gmail.com in 50 words or less and let us know why we should play your house! Ideally, your house will be in the Los Angeles area, anywhere between Long Beach to Downtown LA to Santa Monica."



The Soft Pack - Fences (Phoenix cover) [mp3]

I've been listening to the debut non-stop the last couple of days, expect a review a few days before the February 2nd release date.

new song: The Soft Pack - Mexico

The Soft Pack - Mexico [mp3]

they're singing about Mexico. how very San Diegan of them.
this track is just easy breezy lemon peazy and I love it.

you know what band I don't like? Surfer Blood. you know what band I do like? The Soft Pack. California bands just do it better. and you definitely can't pull of surf infused garage rock if you're from Brooklyn.

The Soft Pack - C'mon

ok, so I have officially forgiven the band for changing their name from The Muslims

this new single is off the hook.

The Soft Pack - C'mon [mp3]

and really, how can any of us refuse the potential of TWO debut albums from one great band? because debut albums are so often my favourite.

the song itself just makes you pity the band for having to have had recorded this in studio because it just SCREAMS "play me live play me live play me live"
I love how fast everything is, and this song really does encapsulate the whole California-has-the-best-VU-type-bands-thing.

The Softpack on DAYTROTTER

part of the SXSW sessions

head on over for the free mp3s and article

also part of the sessions:
The Hold Steady
Glasvegas
and Dawes

The Soft Pack: Euro tour dates (opening for Franz Ferdinand)

according to NME,

the band will play:

London Carling Academy Islington (Shockwaves NME Awards Show supporting Black Lips) (February 15)
London Madame Jo Jo's (17)
London Rough Trade East (19)
London Old Blue Last (19)
London Hoxton Bar & Grill (26)
Minehead All Tomorrow's Parties (May 17)

The Soft Pack support Franz Ferdinand on the following dates:

Glasgow Barrowlands (March 4, 5)
Manchester Academy (6)
Birmingham Academy (8)
London Hammersmith Apollo (9)
Southampton Guildhall (10)

The Soft Pack - Walking with Jesus [mp3]

The Muslims change their name...

the San Diego based band is now called THE SOFT PACK.

ugh. how very uncontroversial. I am a tad bit disappointed but I love them all the same.

visit the band on their new MYSPACE page

The Soft Pack - Extinction [mp3]