Invisible Songs vol. 18

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

It’s your lucky day.
Some excellent music for your enjoyment…

1. Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Wind Phoenix“

2. The Thermals – “Now We Can See“
(Kill Rock Stars)

3. Bon Iver – “Blood Bank“
(Jagjaguwar Records)

4. Vetiver – “Everyday“
(Subpop Records)

5. Say Hi – “November was White, December was Grey“
(Barsuk Records)

6. M Ward – “Never Had Nobody Like You“
(Merge Records)

7. Mt St. Helens Vietnam Band – “Anchors Dropped“
(Dead Oceans)

8. Throw Me The Statue – “Purpleface“
(Secretly Canadian)

9. Crooked Fingers – “Phony Revolutions“
(Constant Artists Inc./Red Pig)

10. Antony and the Johnsons – “Epilepsy is Dancing“
(Secretly Canadian)

Gil Scott-Heron

The influential poet-musician, Gil Scott-Heron, performed updated versions of his now classic repertoire before an eclectic and enthused crowd Wednesday night at New York’s S.O.B’s. Mr. Scott-Heron is perhaps best known for his ground-breaking spoken-word, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” which ignited a generation (or two) of aspiring slam-poets, and continues to inform the best music of the current hip-hop literati, such as Common Sense, Mos Def and Kanye West.

The evening began with Mr. Scott-Heron opening with a monologue about Black History month and his efforts to move the month to May, due to several comical complaints in dealing with February. Perhaps this was a light counter to his more somber lyrical content, though nothing can be taken too lightly coming from a man who, with Stevie Wonder, helped advance the creation of the national Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

Musically, Mr. Scott-Heron sounded a bit more gruff, (we might call this older and wiser) and has thusly surrounded himself with an array of top-notch performers as his band (particularly on keys and bass). His songs retained all of the potency and relevance as when they were written, their lyrical content ranging from war to substance abuse to being down across this country.

Despite the dark topics touched on by Mr. Scott-Heron’s set, which included new takes on the popular, “Home Is Where the Hatred Is,” “Winter in America,” and “The Bottle,” each of these songs were presented with a more positive swing, perhaps owing a faster more up-beat tempo. The latter song, which closed the set, was even referred to as a celebration. Mr. Scott-Heron, who is well known for infusing his music with a political edge, reinforced the feel-good atmosphere with comments alluding to the change of seasons in America, though never mentioning our newly elected President by name.

Gil Scott-Heron and his band play S.O.B.’s again tonight. He reports having negotiated a new record deal with XL Recordings, which will feature both new and updated older songs.

The Bottle

Los Campesinos!

Not sure how the Welsh infiltrated my high school diary, but these fine young folks have made the emo album that played in my head through much of 1997. Who needs a Cap’n Jazz reunion, when you’ve got We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed? Los Campesinos! have the unique ability to make me feel vibrantly young and violently old at the same time.
(Er, thanks?)

Los Campesinos! – “International TweeXcore Underground”

Listen: “Miserabilia” from the new Los Campesinos! album, We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed, is out now on Arts and Crafts.

The Muslims

June 16th, The Mercury Lounge (w/ Miss Derringer)

San Diego’s The Muslims might pass as any four random guys wandering the Lower East Side and Brooklyn, and very well may have during their recent trip out East. From afar, they could be… Vampire Weekend, let’s say. But on stage, The Muslims are no-frills, straight-shooting rock and roll. No coordinated wardrobes, no cute dance moves (see the prior post, Miss Derringer).

From the opener, “Beside Myself,” The Muslims immediately owned the stage. It was as if you found those four random dudes wandering on Houston, put them on stage, and nonchalantly ended up with The Velvet Underground. But the usual comparisons, including my own (see the Invisible Friend’s original post on The Muslims here), had little relevance during their set. Lamkin et al were noisy, energetic and brilliant to watch in their own right. Highlights included “Right ad Wrong,” “Bright Side,” and “Nightlife.”

Apart from their much talked about name, The Muslims have started to attract some more national admiration, like the distinction as a “Band to Watch” from blogger heavyweight Stereogum. The debut record is out on 1928 Recordings, and will be available again in July according to the band’s Myspace page. Along with the vinyl and bullet-beaten jacket, 1928 conveniently provides your iTunes with a CD version of the record plus several no-filler bonus tracks (new versions of some of the band’s best songs from their 2007 Demo). It’s a definite must have.

The Muslims – “Call It A Day”

A single of “Extinction” has been released on Sweet Tooth Records.

Listen: The Muslims – “Right and Wrong” and “Beside Myself” and “On My Time” available from their self-titled debut on 1928 Recordings.

http://www.myspace.com/themuslims