mp3: The Fresh & Onlys "Peacock & Wing"

"Smile For A While"
If you've seen a young man schizo-dance-walking down Nassau Ave every morning for the last week or two, there is a good chance said young gentleman is been listening to the Fresh & Onlys "Peacock & Wing." Opening like a New Order track shot through 20 years of dirty needles and falling in love with every cute girl on the subway, "Peacock & Wing" is the snuff tobacco of the melodic garage revival. It's dirty and sweet, pungent and makes your face rattle like bobblehead addicted to benzedrine. "You should really be my fresh and only, you got a smile on your face that I can always see only."

The Fresh & Onlys- Peacock & Wing

"Peacock & Wing" Live at the Market Hotel shot by Bill.

video: new Girls "Ghostmouth"

"And Get To Heaven"

In my excitement that Bill captured Girls covering Vivian Girls "Wild Eyes" at Cake Shop the night after they played it at Monster Island, I failed to notice that he also shot video of Girls performing "Ghostmouth," a new personal fav in the Girls repertoire. "Ghostmouth" is a woozy, narcotic ballad similar to "Solitude," but slightly more hopeful, as Christopher Owens pines over a chance to pick up all the pieces and head toward salvation. I should also note that Girls 10" should be available for purchase today, although I've yet to see where. (True Panther? Matador? Bueller?)

BTW, if you don't follow SoundBites on YouTube, now may be the time to rectify that situation, as Bill has been consistently posting video of the some pretty fresh acts.

Girls "Ghostmouth" at Cake Shop

covers: Vashti Bunyan "Martha My Dear"

"Hold Your Head Up You Silly Girl"

Bill posted this incredible cover of the "typecasted eternal hippie" Vashti Bunyan re-imagining the Beatles White Album classic "Martha My Dear." Bunyan's hushed vocal, coupled with the songs lo-fi production and the majestic harp, really lend this cover a woolly, winter mornings feel. Sort of the musical equivalent of taking a really hot shower after riding your bike home through the chilly Autumn air. To be greatly enjoyed while cocooned in a blanket, starring at the looming dawn and drinking hot tea. 

Vashti Bunyan & Max Richter- Martha My Dear (courtesy of SoundBites)

we saw: The Muslims

"I Got News For You"
We saw The Muslims Friday night at Union Pool and the verdict is in: they're bad ass. But not in a stereotypically snotty, metal grinding way either, but in a we-don't-give-a-fuck-how-we're-suppose-to-dress- in-Williamsburg way. The Muslims simply play their songs and their songs are powerful enough to will children to bash broken car radios and steal prescription chemicals from pharmacies the world wide. Bill was there and he agrees The Muslims got a helluva lot of attitude. The band played a solid set of songs from their EP, as well as a cover of Arthur Lee's "My Flash On You." However, the undisputed highlight of their set is the slo-punk sing-a-long "Brightside," which is quickly becoming one of my favorite songs of the year. If "Brightside" is any indication of what The Muslims have up their sleeves, then get ready for a full on assault.

Their infamous EP (above), which sports genuine bullet holes from a real live gun, is a must have and will be re-released in July. Luckily, 2/4 of the Bobka crew got lucky and were able to pick up copies of the bullet ridden EP on vinyl (and the 7"). Besides being a great record, the EP comes with a CD of all the songs and a few extra. Incentives, incentives, incentives. Between Dirt Dress and The Muslims, 2008 could see the full fledged recurrence of shabby, opiated lo-fi garage punk in the vein of VU and early Modern Lovers stuff. Ok, now I must return to moshing in my kitchen.

Get the Extinction b/w My Flash On You 7" here.

The Muslims- Brightside

The Muslims "Extinction"

Port O'Brien/ Blog Fresh Radio/ Bobka

"Exxon, Exxon, Clean It Up"

The other day our good friends at Blog Fresh Radio rang us for a tea-time chat about our favorite ramshackle sea-faring obsession of the moment, Port O'Brien. Coincidently, Port O'Brien will release its debut studio record, All We Could Do Was Sing, today. We pre-ordered ours from the kind folks at CD Baby and they had it in our hands late last week. Needless to say it's an invigorating folk record, just in time for summer road trips, perfect for camping trips in the Pac-Nor or the Northern Rockies. The band is currently touring the left coast with Bobka-interviewees Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.


Listen to the latest episode of Blog Fresh Radio HERE.

Port O'Brien- I Woke Up Today

ha: Wild Knights "Beaver Patrol"

"I hustle chicks"

We've been on a bit of a garage psych kick the past few weeks. So much so that our friend Bill at Sound Bites is waiting for a post on the Count Five (Bill, see below). While they say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, I simply couldn't pass thing one up on title alone. Truth is there are no shortage of aptly titled obscure garage psych compilations out there (Nuggets being the most famous), however, this one really caught my eye: Acid Dreams Epitaph- 75 Minutes of Green Fuz. How 'bout that, eh? Not only does this mix essentially define punk before punk was even a notion in a pissed of kids head, but it includes one of the most absurd songs I've ever heard (and yes I'm factoring in the entire R. Kelly catalog). The song in question, The Wild Knights "Beaver Patrol." Yeah, maybe its a bit dated, sorta sexist and flat out, um, in your face, but hey, who says music shouldn't make you laugh, cry and rock out at the same time?

My favorite way of getting kicks/ I go down town, I hustle chicks/ Beaver Patrol! (Beaver Patrol!)/ One good thing that's on my side/ It's a big bad car, it's out of sight/ Beaver Patrol!

The Wild Knights, indeed. In all fairness, "Beaver Patrol" is far from an accurate depiction of the Acid Dreams Epitaph comp, which is way better than this novelty sex song. But I'll prove that some other time. If "Beaver Patrol" isn't exactly "your thing", and maybe it's best that way, then check out The Count Five's "Pyschotic Reaction", a jangly rave up with a classic garage rhythm sure to bring you back to Kevin Arnold's world, or something like that.

The Wild Knights- Beaver Patrol
The Count Five- Psychotic Reaction