Under the radar #47
Marina and the Diamonds; Paul and the Patients; Frank Turner; Middle Class Rut
Posted June 16, 2009
Metromix
Marina and the Diamonds, "The Crown Jewels EP" (Neon Gold)
Hyped on: Welikeit.indie; Sheena Beaston; Breaking More Waves
MySpace
Who: Yet another member of what might be termed Britain’s Hot Young Synth-Pop Set, Marina and the Diamonds join the likes of Little Boots, La Roux, Bat for Lashes and co. as members of that trendy genre’s latest wave. Despite the name, MATD are really one woman, Welsh singer-keyboardist Marina Diamandis, and these so-called “Diamonds” are a play on her last name, or as she would have it, an appreciative reference to her fan base. For live shows, though, MATD often sports a full-band lineup with drums, keyboards and bass.
What: Marina just dropped her second single/EP on the Neon Gold label, which was an early home to hot-band-of-the-moment Passion Pit. Entitled “The Crown Jewels EP,” the set’s lead single, “I Am Not a Robot,” has been quickly bouncing around the music blogs thanks to a fetching video by renowned British photographer-director Rankin. Not as strictly edgy as her contemporaries, what Marina lacks in innovation she makes up for in catchy accessibility. “Seventeen” threads a pleasant line between Regina Spektor’s quirky delivery, Imogen Heap’s vocals/technology marriage and Chairlift’s iPod commercial sheen—all with a synthy assist, of course.
Made for: Fans of the rest of Britain’s Hot Young Synth-Pop Set. Topshop devotees. Girls who wear colored sunglasses. Boys who wear colored sunglasses. Music magazine editors.
X-Factor: Marina says her heroes are Distillers/Spinnerette frontwoman Brody Dalle and Britney Spears—which actually says quite a lot about her music. – KND
Paul and the Patients, "To the Lions" (American Myth)
Hyped on: Ryan's Smashing Life; sarah's so boring ever since she stopped drinking; ElectricMustache
MySpace
Who: Paul Holmes is the leader of this Brooklyn quintet that teeters between upbeat guitar pop (super tight and clean) and Southern jangle. The group has only released a five-song EP—and surprisingly, the buzz machine has been slow, steady and pretty honest (blog-buzz-to-flameout has been an all-too-common reality of late; just ask the dude from Wavves).
What: Opening waltz “Complaint 15” leans more pop, flowing with Holmes’ deep confidence, while the following track “Well Done You World” distinctly resembles Wolf Parade, with echoey guitar lines and rhythmic switches. Two very different songs, with stadium-ready rocker “The Other Side” adding a third layer (it’s loud and falls somewhere between Pavement and Supergrass). The style hopping is a classic debut EP move—maybe they are hedging? Nah, that word shouldn’t be used in music reviews. We’ll color it youth.
Made for: Bloggers—acoustic number “Blogspot” doesn’t seem to address its titular topic, but the cheeky name and sunny chorus has gotten some attention from the, you guessed (see links above).
X-Factor: Paul and the Patients is the second release from upstart indie American Myth Recordings, which also introduced the world to Lissy Trullie—speaking of blog buzz. – MR
Frank Turner, "Love Ire & Song" (Epitaph)
Hyped on: Twangville; Cougar Microbes; A Free Man
MySpace
Who: Although popular in England, Turner’s old punk-emo group Million Dead never made a splash on this side of the pond. But after that band’s breakup in 2006, the U.K. singer’s solo folk-rock recordings started creating some buzz here in the States, starting with some South by Southwest appearances and culminating in a record deal with Epitaph. Turner was recently selected as the opening act for the Offspring on their summer tour and the Gaslight Anthem for their fall gigs.
What: The punk band to singer-songwriter route isn’t uncommon—Jonah Matranga (Far) and Chris Carrabba (Further Seems Forever, Dashboard Confessional) have both found various levels of success trading in hardcore noise for acoustic guitars. Turner, however, brings a personal and a political bent to his lyrics, as well as a decidedly English viewpoint (see “Thatcher F---ed the Kids” and “Long Live the Queen”). It’s punk rage disguised by gentle strumming, fiddles and harmonica solos—although the shout-along chorus of “Photosynthesis” betrays Turner’s hardcore roots.
Made for: Billy Bragg fans looking for a younger POV. Dashboard Confessional fans dipping their toes into politics. English ex-pats with a chip on their shoulder about the homeland.
X-Factor: Turner recently played 24 shows in 24 hours around London. He followed that by playing another show in Helsinki hours after his last U.K. gig. – KM
Middle Class Rut, "25 Years" (Bright Antenna)
Hyped on: The Fire Note; No More Loud Music; Atlas and the Anchor
MySpace
Who: Sacramento-based guitarist Zack Lopez and drummer Sean Stockham had a brush with major-label success in the early ‘00s when their band Leisure got signed to DreamWorks Records. Two unreleased albums later, the pair left L.A. and returned to Sactown, disillusioned but determined to make music on their own terms. The result: MC Rut, a guitar/drums duo unlike anything you’ve ever heard.
What: On the “25 Years” EP, you’ll find echoes of any number of other bands: Fugazi, Jane’s Addiction (especially in Lopez’s Farrell-esque wail), even the late lamented Death From Above 1979, another muscular duo who used primal rock riffs and oceans of reverb to create a larger-than-life sound. But whatever special sauce a band needs to transcend its influences, Lopez and Stockham have it in spades; snarling mission statements like “I Guess You Could Say” fairly leap out of the speakers with their originality and conviction. The duo’s neatest trick is their uncanny ability to take the massive dynamics of stadium rock and compress them down to something dank, sweaty and close enough to slip a shiv between your ribs. It’s hard to pick a highlight, but try starting with “Dead Set,” one of the EP’s best showcases for Lopez’s throat-shredding vocals and Godzilla-like guitar riffs.
Made for: Testing the limits of your local all-ages club’s “no moshing” policy. Your Warped Tour-attending kid brother who thinks your White Stripes records suck except for a few songs on “White Blood Cells.” Anyone who saw that last Jane’s Addiction tour and got nostalgic for the days when they were young and sloppy and a little more dangerous.
X-Factor: Stockham, who often plays shirtless, has a great trademark: the words “For Sale” tattooed across his chest in big red letters. Name your price, guys! – AH
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