Good morning, waveriders, time for another of my favorite columns, our regular Ripple Round Up of some of the mounds of singles that wander on in through the Ripple doors. Today, however, we're going to do something a little different; we're going to keep the turntable turned off. Instead, we're going to dip into the growing stack of CD singles piled up so high on the Ripple desk, they seem to defy gravity. Let's see what a little digging uncovers.
Red Summer Sun (Formerly quarterlifeCRISiS) - Just a Picture b/w High Fashion/Another Memory
One of the things that makes reviewing singles so much fun is that we expect different things from a single than we do a full album. That's not to say that a great singles band can't also be a great album band, but singles are just inherently more fun. What we want from a single is a melody so infectious they'll never come up with a vaccine to stop it from growing and dividing inside your brain. We want something punchy and poppy and raucous, something to keep you bopping along the freeway as you're heading off on your day. With all that in mind, have I got a band for you.
From Boston, Red Summer Sun (formerly quarterlifeCRISiS) specialize in melody drenched, blisteringly pristine powerpop of the kind that we rarely get the chance to hear anymore. This isn't weighty music, it's bouncy alt pop, and if this can't get your car a bopping then there must be something seriously wrong with your suspension. "Just a Picture," is such a sweet pop confection it could toss a diabetic into a coma. Riding a jaunty, slightly punky powerpop vibe, the craft here is flawless. Complete with "do do do do," vocal hooks, and guitars with enough might to let you know we got some testosterone here. Add a can't miss melody and chorus, and this just may be the "feel good" indy pop song of the summer. "Another Memory," shows another side of the band, a touch more complex in arrangement but borne from that same melody creating womb. This is just a fine, driving song of exceptional craft. "High Fashion," follows along, but doesn't ignite with quite the same intensity. But no matter, there's clearly enough here on display to show that these cats got some serious songwriting skills. Play this one loud and play it often.
www.myspace.com/quarterlifeboston
The Exits - Neon City b/w You Gotta Help Me Out/ Neon City remixes and Live
You wanna talk about bopping? Oh my God, within seconds of popping this 6 song "single" into my car player I nearly had to pull over or risk injuring helpless bystanders on the sidewalks. See, I just can't drive while I'm dancing around in the driver's seat, my hands flailing in the air, and my foot tapping on the accelerator pedal in time to the groove. What we've got here is the first great indy rock rave anthem of the new year. This song positively vibrates with synth rock intensity, so much so that I can't listen to it without seeing swirling lights and lunging bodies in my mind. Strobes flashing. Fancy drinks being spilled. It just begs for the dancefloor.
Starting off with a scintillating wail of distorted synth, 30 seconds in the band drops the bomb; squealing brit-rock guitars tearing through the ecstasy induced beat. The snarl and snot laden vocals add just the perfect amount of attitude to this burner, as does the mean as shit breakdown midway through. A positive dancefloor devastator. And then to show that the boys aren't one shot ponies, the back-up "You Gotta Help Me Out," picks up right where "Neon City," left off, siren wails of synths leading into the driving beat like some bizarre dancefloor distorted Oasis remix by Tall Paul. Damn, this song is just begging to be used in some cool-as-shit disco scene in some cool-as-shit indy film. Yes, it's that good.
The various remixes offer different takes on "Neon City, " and as you'd suspect are a mixed bag depending upon your individual tastes. I prefer the "Daztronik Remix" which manages to pump up the rock elements of the song even while it's boosting the synths and programmed beats. Seems like a contradiction in terms, but trust me it works. The live version recorded at The Wedgewood Room shows that the band aren't a studio manifestation but can rock this shit live. Bodes well for the boys future, which I predict to be as bright as a thousand suns.
www.myspace.com/theexits
Drive A - Are You Blind
Just a one-shot here, a teaser if you will for the soon to be released debut album from these Los Angeles hard-edged pop punk rockers. And let me tell you, if this is what we can expect from the full-length album Loss of Desire (due out 5/19/09) then holy shit, you better carry a sweat rag with you when you play this baby! "Are You Blind," is a scorching assault of pummeling speed chords, and crushing drums with enough vocal sneer to drive the whole kibosh home. This is piledriving pop punk in the vein of the best of the Living Things, a true dashboard beater, that never once loses it's basic structure in damn good melody and a bait shop full of hooks. The mid song break is a terror assault on the guitar strings, the percussion break inspiring, and the chops strong enough to chisel through concrete. One damn fine nitro blast of pure raw energy and a perfect pop punk single!
Buy here: Are You Blind?
www.myspace.com/drivea
Red Summer Sun (Formerly quarterlifeCRISiS) - Just a Picture b/w High Fashion/Another MemoryOne of the things that makes reviewing singles so much fun is that we expect different things from a single than we do a full album. That's not to say that a great singles band can't also be a great album band, but singles are just inherently more fun. What we want from a single is a melody so infectious they'll never come up with a vaccine to stop it from growing and dividing inside your brain. We want something punchy and poppy and raucous, something to keep you bopping along the freeway as you're heading off on your day. With all that in mind, have I got a band for you.
From Boston, Red Summer Sun (formerly quarterlifeCRISiS) specialize in melody drenched, blisteringly pristine powerpop of the kind that we rarely get the chance to hear anymore. This isn't weighty music, it's bouncy alt pop, and if this can't get your car a bopping then there must be something seriously wrong with your suspension. "Just a Picture," is such a sweet pop confection it could toss a diabetic into a coma. Riding a jaunty, slightly punky powerpop vibe, the craft here is flawless. Complete with "do do do do," vocal hooks, and guitars with enough might to let you know we got some testosterone here. Add a can't miss melody and chorus, and this just may be the "feel good" indy pop song of the summer. "Another Memory," shows another side of the band, a touch more complex in arrangement but borne from that same melody creating womb. This is just a fine, driving song of exceptional craft. "High Fashion," follows along, but doesn't ignite with quite the same intensity. But no matter, there's clearly enough here on display to show that these cats got some serious songwriting skills. Play this one loud and play it often.
www.myspace.com/quarterlifeboston
The Exits - Neon City b/w You Gotta Help Me Out/ Neon City remixes and LiveYou wanna talk about bopping? Oh my God, within seconds of popping this 6 song "single" into my car player I nearly had to pull over or risk injuring helpless bystanders on the sidewalks. See, I just can't drive while I'm dancing around in the driver's seat, my hands flailing in the air, and my foot tapping on the accelerator pedal in time to the groove. What we've got here is the first great indy rock rave anthem of the new year. This song positively vibrates with synth rock intensity, so much so that I can't listen to it without seeing swirling lights and lunging bodies in my mind. Strobes flashing. Fancy drinks being spilled. It just begs for the dancefloor.
Starting off with a scintillating wail of distorted synth, 30 seconds in the band drops the bomb; squealing brit-rock guitars tearing through the ecstasy induced beat. The snarl and snot laden vocals add just the perfect amount of attitude to this burner, as does the mean as shit breakdown midway through. A positive dancefloor devastator. And then to show that the boys aren't one shot ponies, the back-up "You Gotta Help Me Out," picks up right where "Neon City," left off, siren wails of synths leading into the driving beat like some bizarre dancefloor distorted Oasis remix by Tall Paul. Damn, this song is just begging to be used in some cool-as-shit disco scene in some cool-as-shit indy film. Yes, it's that good.
The various remixes offer different takes on "Neon City, " and as you'd suspect are a mixed bag depending upon your individual tastes. I prefer the "Daztronik Remix" which manages to pump up the rock elements of the song even while it's boosting the synths and programmed beats. Seems like a contradiction in terms, but trust me it works. The live version recorded at The Wedgewood Room shows that the band aren't a studio manifestation but can rock this shit live. Bodes well for the boys future, which I predict to be as bright as a thousand suns.
www.myspace.com/theexits
Drive A - Are You BlindJust a one-shot here, a teaser if you will for the soon to be released debut album from these Los Angeles hard-edged pop punk rockers. And let me tell you, if this is what we can expect from the full-length album Loss of Desire (due out 5/19/09) then holy shit, you better carry a sweat rag with you when you play this baby! "Are You Blind," is a scorching assault of pummeling speed chords, and crushing drums with enough vocal sneer to drive the whole kibosh home. This is piledriving pop punk in the vein of the best of the Living Things, a true dashboard beater, that never once loses it's basic structure in damn good melody and a bait shop full of hooks. The mid song break is a terror assault on the guitar strings, the percussion break inspiring, and the chops strong enough to chisel through concrete. One damn fine nitro blast of pure raw energy and a perfect pop punk single!
Buy here: Are You Blind?
www.myspace.com/drivea
Comments