Electric Tickle Machine is the ideal indie band. Cut-off denim shorts, day glow shades, lo-fi mastering, wavey moustaches, frenetic energy, ironic lyrics, an album cover with a nipple on the cover…whoa…what!?Yes, a nipple… but a nice one. How serious can anyone take a first album with the blatant use of a nipple to grab your attention? I suppose it could be viewed as good marketing.
With the hilarious name/exposed mammary one would expect a group of sarcastic misfits informing us not to eat the yellow snow a la Zappa or Ween. But surprise surprise, these unsigned Brooklynites have crafted a mixed bag of rollicking genre-spanning tunes on their first entry: ‘Blew It Again‘. This album is a legitimate contender for one of the top 10 rookie albums of the past year (if I had actually reviewed it when it came out 5 months ago). Their fusion of garage, fuzzed-out scapes and psychedelia, sing/shout vocal progression, acoustic strumming, and always dependable hand claps keeps you on your toes and has you craving for more before immediately shifting to another style altogether.
The undeniably catchy “Part of Me” ironically chimes “everyday we get a little more invisible, no heads are turning when we’re walking down 1st Avenue, buy a puppy it will make you more presentable, buy a dollar for a whisper a man on the moon… part of me dies when you’re not around, part of me comes to life when you’re not around“. the best love songs offer glimpses into the artist’s psyche without beating you over the head with sentimental crap. “Gimme Money“, shouts “Gimme Money… I see something that I want, its nice and shiny shiny shiny… I’ll be a good boy and not lose my new toy, i want to feel strong like every other boy“.
It’s Iggy Pop fronting the Clinic with a deadpan delivery of being owed something grand by society. The entire album is streaming on their website, check it out.
Take an instantly recognizable theme tune from a hugely popular American sitcom, bastardize it with some killer beats and juxtapose the lot with a sneering vocal delivery.
That is exactly what PackFM achieves with his latest offering cunningly titled ‘Happy Days‘. In just over 3 minutes The Brooklyn rapper shows a socially conscious world view arguing that we are settling for mediocrity and labelling it as progress. His tirade is very much against the idea that this upcoming decade will somehow atone for the mess that came before it.
It is not always cheery but PackFM definitely packs a punch!
Get your hands on ‘Happy Days‘ through the QN5 blog.
“un-ironic lite rock sound ala Hall and Oates and Prince…”
Press releases can be misleading and slightly worrying at times; I read the above statement and imagined padded shoulders, dodgy quiffs and endless Dynasty/Magnum P.I. re-runs.
In actual fact Tigercity are more than your average 80′s tribute band. Yes, their sound is more than a little bit indebted to the golden age of spandex. Then again there is more than a knowing wink to recent indie successes from the likes of the Killers, Passion Pit and Yacht both in production and arrangements.
The Brooklyn outfit’s album ‘Ancient Lover’ has been flirting with my Ipod ever since its release back in November. Fish out your legwarmers. wear your Reebok pumps, apply copious amounts of mascara, temporarily put your Gameboy away and and dance to Tigercity.
For a few months I’ve been haunted by the Tim Williams‘ track ‘I Hit Another Wall‘. Its gentle melody possesses a slightly hypnotic quality that allows the Brooklyn troubadour to shine.
The NYC native uprooted to LA in order to find a new perspective. Instead… he found love resulting in a set of introspective songs recorded with the backing of a “proper” band.
The result of his hard labour is the album ‘Careful Love’‘ and is out now on Dovecote Records
Without a doubt this album was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2009. Two years since the release of their debut ‘Bang Bang Boom Cake’Tiny Masters Of Today are back with a matured sound. Of course that line is crazy when you consider that Brooklyn based siblings Ivan and Ada are only 15 and 13 respectively.
Unlike their debut this time they did not feature any famous collaborators or indeed a superstar producer. Instead the band recorded and produced themselves using Garage Band, emerging only for some post production tweaks in a pro studio.
This DIY approach has really paid off as there is a fearlessness in their ideas and a naivety in the lyrics that makes this release so endearing. Of course there are a couple of tracks that betray the bands youthfulness but for the most part ‘Skeletons’ punches above its weight.
Make no mistake, Tiny Masters Of Today are not on this list as a charity case for “the kids“. If anything the band’s tender age has allowed them to push boundaries that mature musicians may have ignored. There are enough hidden melodies and distorted hooks on the album to please fans of leftfield angular alt-rock.
This is the classic “underdog” inclusion to my top albums. Despite not having the same financial backing that other artists on this list had few releases in 2009 could match Yoni Gordon and the Goods for sheer passion. ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ works as an album because it many dynamics yet maintains an an endearing socially conscious lyrical theme.
Back in November I labelled ‘Turning Chaos Into A Career‘ as ‘a rough diamond in amongst 2009 more prominent releases’. It is deservedly included in the Cougar Microbes top albums.
TRACK:
Yoni Gordon and the Goods – Dead But Not Forgotten
Yesterday’s Yoni Gordonpost reminded me I received the video for The So So Glos‘ rather ace ‘My Block‘ track a few weeks ago. Taken from their recent Tourism/Terrorism album, the video follows frontman Alex Levine as he takes a mischievous walk around the block.
to feature an array of amazing releases and artists (past, present, old and new) with the goal of promoting them to anyone interested and anyone who stumbles across this site.
If you like any of the tracks, please go buy the albums and help finance the artists producing this great music.
If there are any issues with the tracks featured do not hesitate to contact: "team (AT) Cougar Microbes (DOT) com and we will happily oblige.
Electric Tickle Machine is the ideal indie band. Cut-off denim shorts, day glow shades, lo-fi mastering, wavey moustaches, frenetic energy, ironic lyrics, an album cover with a nipple on the cover…whoa…what!?Yes, a nipple… but a nice one. How serious can anyone take a first album with the blatant use of a nipple to grab your attention? I suppose it could be viewed as good marketing.
