School Knights Aren't So Lethargic Anymore

I have always been a fan of Colorado boogers School Knights, and their upcoming cassette release Lethargy (out through Bridgetown Records) is no different. In fact - it's the best thing they have put out since their initial Rush SK release when they were just a duo fucking about in 2010, and this supersedes that too. It's sonically brawnier too, straight off the bat - 'Heritage I' doesn't sound like Wavves-lite silliness and skulduggery (not that the now four-piece always did - but the noise pop lived just around the corner). The production on the album is clean and spacious, so that every dip and flow is perfectly rendered, and it really lightens up their sound whilst also accentuating the ever-growing chemistry within the band. 'Low Tide' still holds some of that lo-fi aesthetic, but by actively coming out from behind the (admittedly unnecessary) fuzz and embracing each other's strengths and shortcomings Lethargy sees a strong collection of tracks that bridges the languid pop of Real Estate with energetic noisy breakdowns of the likes of Fang Island or Animal Collective and darker edges of Cursive, sometimes all in the same song ('Silicone Drip') - unexpected, unconventional, and altogether unreal.

You can pre-order Lethargy here. They are apparently working on something else already, can't wait to see what that is. They also have some upcoming shows at South By South West (Austin, Texas) on Thursday March 14th @ the Green Room, Friday March 15th @ Hotel Vegas, and Saturday March 16th @ the Reverb Showcase, whilst they are playing the Treefort Music Festival (Boise Idaho) on Sunday March 24th.

Schooling Knights For Free

We here at Planet Masala have championed School Knights since their Rush SK release came out almost two years ago, and what with the current weight of love being poured over surf garage punks such as Wavves and Bleeding Knees Club, I thought that I was on bridge of a ship that was sailing the highest sea of discovery. As it turns out, the Denver based cats are happy to keep bubbling under the surface, which is why when they couldn't find the right way to release the current crop of tracks they had at their disposal, they put them up for free on Bandcamp under the name Fre(E)P.

That's not to say their 2012 has been quiet - on the contrary, they have supported the likes of Black Lips and Japanther, with shows with Cloud Nothings, White Denim and King Tuff in the works. They just got sick of these songs sitting around and wanted everyone to hear them and love them. As they say themselves, "We want everyone to hear them, so that the next time we release some songs people can go 'Wow, I didn't think it was possible, but this is way better than that free EP they put out.'"


You can (and most definitely should, seeing as it's awesome AND free) grab Fre(E)P here.

School Knights - Powerslut
School Knights - Thanksgiving

Video Vacuum - The Black Keys, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes, The Hickey Underground, School Knights

Man, I hate being ill. But I hate being stuck with nothing to do. Can't go out, can't watch or read anything due to headaches, cant lie still because of a fever that just won't quit...why do hypochondriacs do this to themselves? Anyway, I've dragged myself out of bed despite all of this to at least alleviate the pains of working life. Let's watch some vids together and stave off this cabin fever.

Actually, this may not be the best way to start. The Black Keys have released a second video for their single 'Gold On The Ceiling', directed by none other than Harmony Korine. It looks shoddy and scratch as if re-recorded on a burnt out VHS tape - very Korine - yet it is the willing participation by band members Pat Carney and Dan Auerbach that really sells this slightly disturbing twins-as-memes construction. Pretty awesome.



Those wilfully eclectic paisley warriors Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are launching their next album, Here, and this is the new video for opening track 'Man On Fire'. Directed by Brady Corbett (the actor of Martha Marcy May Marlene, Melancholia, Funny Games (US) and most notably Mysterious Skin fame), it is a great real-life look at achievers, starring the New York City Ballet, NY Cheer Allstars, National Double Dutch League, and Soul Steps & Brooklyn Divas, as well as choreographers, coaches, and relatives of the various performers.



I had never heard of Belgian band The Hickey Underground before they sent me the video for 'The Frog', the first track to come off their second record I'm Under The House, I'm Dying (out in September) which has been mixed by Dave Sardy (LCD Soundsystem, Black Mountain's In The Future) of all people. This song is pretty good. The video on the other hand is off the wall. I can't claim to know what it means, but I do like it a hell of a lot.



Finally we have School Knights, who regular readers of Sonic Masala will be well versed on. They have just released a somewhat unsettling video for latest track release 'Powerslut'. Not disturbing like The Hickey Underground or Harmony Korine, though - no, it's just that these dudes do not scrub up well in drag. At all. you have been warned...



NOW GET BACK TO WORK (cough cough)

Four Knights Slutting It Up Outside School

A quick post about 'Powerslut', the new track by garage upstarts School Knights. The title pretty much speaks for itself. The Colorado quartet are priming their new release as a four piece (although whether they can get someone to put it out is another thing...come on someone, put up your bloody hand!) and this is pretty indicative of where they are at. 'Present Tense' is a slightly better song in my opinion - why I'm saying that I don't know. But these are some good dudes. That is all.

School Knights - Powerslut

School Knights

Those snotty slackos School Knights have a couple new tunes floating around the ether. After the disappointing news that the fucking rad SK/Night Manager split isn't likely to materialise, it's good to hear these guys are still throwing their shit at their teenage bedroom walls. Take that, MOM! Yeah, these two tracks in particular play the Wavves card, but when the flat-brim cap fits... It's goddamn catchy, a veritable KFC bucketload of fun, plus it's a bit meatier - the duo of Michael Stein and Zack Roif are now a foursome, thanks to Morris Kolontyrsky and Ben Donehower! Radness! And it is honed (as much as this shit can be honed) with some ace tours last year opposite Ty Segall, Black Lips, Cloud Nothings, Vivian Girls and Gauntlet Hair. Yeah, I just came a little too...

School Knights - Present Tense
School Knights - Bender

ART CONTEST - The Chance To Design School Knights/Night Manager Split!!!

Those crazy folks over at Mind Fortress Records have an awesome competition for y'all - and they have asked Sonic Masala to help distribute the love! Two of our most beloved dirty gems, School Knights and Night Manager, are about to release a split release, something Mind Fortress have being trying to coerce out of them for some time now. This is uber exciting news in and of itself, but this is where you - YES, YOU! - come in!

YOU GET THE CHANCE TO DESIGN THE ART!!!!!

Ahem...

All's you need to do is submit your creative masterpieces to Mind Fortress. Submissions end on January 1st 2012 (yes, astute followers, that IS New Year's Day!), with the winner getting a free copy of the split and the multitudes of accolades and sexual trysts that one can handle. Only condition - use the standard CD dimensions when designing and sending in the art, BOTH SIDES. Track names will be added laterz.

Hells a poppin'! This is great news (I'm looking expressly at you A-Rey...), so get crack a lackin. Send your submissions here. And in case you have forgotten, here are some of our posts of the bands and below lies a taste of the bands' nutty goodness...

School Knights - Out Getting Ribs
School Knights - Bullies

Night Manager - Pizza Pasta

School Knights Give Us A Cheeky 666

I know Ive said in the past how much I love Weed Diamond, those Colorado lo-fi slackers who called it a day recently. Thank Jebus then for one of their offshoots, School Knights, who have gone from strength to strength. They are releasing a full length too, All Dawgz Go 2 Heaven, which includes some older tracks off their EP (now with BASS!) plus some great new ones. Sure, there is a lot of Wavves-like sounds here, and sure, its hard to fuck this kind of music up, but these guys do it so damn well that they own it. Get the album here.

School Knights - Prom Queen
School Knights - Jam
School Knights - Bullies

Friday Cover Up - Out Getting Ribs With The One You Love

THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY. Its been a busy week, I can tell you. But two tracks that will surely get us over the line and happily high-fiving our way into the oblivion of the weekend are at hand!

First we have La Sera, Katy Goodman of the Vivian Girls' side project. Ive slowly been warming to this act, moreso than even the "day" band, and this Devil Hearts Grows Gold 7" continues that love. Not half because the B-side is an eggsellent cover of The Shirelles' 1961 hit 'Dedicated To The One I Love." Im also more than a little in love with the fiery-headed Katy, so it's win-win for me. Hear both tracks from the 7" below...

La Sera - Devil Hearts Grows Gold
La Sera - Dedicated To The One I Love (Shirelles cover)

Ah, School Knights, you are doing all the right things by me at the moment! That 'Fuck The Beach' track was killer, now this irreverent throwaway cover of Zoo Kid's "Out Getting Ribs". Now Im not familiar with the original - or that band - but I love me some School Knights, don't you?

School Knights - Out Getting Ribs (Zoo Kid cover)

And you know what? The original is pretty tasty in itself, much more gloomy Midlands indie crooner, but pretty cool, check it out below...

HA0004 - Zoo Kid - "Out Getting Ribs" from House Anxiety on Vimeo.

Video Vacuum - School Knights, The Grates, Civil Civic, Ty Segall

Ive been a bit lax on the video front in the past weeks, and we all need some musically-minded procrastination from time to time, am I right? Yeah of course I am. Uncle Braedog is always right... So here is what you've all been praying for...

I love Ty Segall. No seriously. This guy is one of my faves right now. And the fact that in a month's time he's going to be tearing Woodland apart is more than a little exciting. His new album Goodbye Bread is amazing, already a contender for favourite album of 2011. Here's a track off it, the title one even, in what appears to be a toilet...



It was sad when Denver's Weed Diamond called it a day despite hinting at their potential brilliance when they released Carry On + Sweater Kids last year. Still, all is not lost. Offshoot duo School Knights are out and about, and their little release of last year Rush SK was also killer (and you can download it for free at their Bandcamp - do it!). Here is their track 'Fuck The Beach' - its great. Now who wants to see these guys beat the piss out of Nathan Williams? Or at least distract him whilst I snatch Bethany Cosentino off him - that shit still baffles me...



Now this one kicks arse. SM faves Civil Civic are preparing to release their debut LP later this year, and have released an 80s-tastic video for their first track off it, 'Airspray'. If you pick every show/film used in this mashup...well, you won't win a prize, cos I have nothing other than dirty jocks to give away, but you win nonetheless...



lastly is Brisbane based indie confectionary The Grates, whose video for 'Turn Me On' is fucking rad. Its not the kind of music we normally have here, but Im biased as I know these guys and its a fucking rad video. Oh yeah - AND ITS MY BLOG! Ahem. Sorry. Just watch, even if with the sound down - you will enjoy it.



NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

Weed Diamond RIP

Last year I got pretty excited about a release out of Bridgetown Records by Denver band Weed Diamond called Carry On + Sweater Kids, an amalgamation of their last two EPS. I even included it in my personal top ten albums for 2010. However things have been ultra quiet on their front, and I have recently got the news - Weed Diamond are no more, burning out ultra fast in less than two years. Bridgetown Records founder Kevin Greenspon received the affirmative on this when talking to Tim from the band earlier this month. Whilst this is sad news for lovers of no-fi garage popsters everywhere, not all is lost. Two projects that were borne outside of Weed Diamond - guitarist JT's solo stuff as Junior Low, and Michael's band School Knights- are still about, making music. In fact this may be a godsend - with both of these acts showing as much if not more promise than their predecessor, we might see a more concerted effort to produce material from this end.

Weed Diamond - RIP.

Weed Diamond - All Of Denver Is Wasted
Weed Diamond - Mint In My Mouth

School Knights - Bullies
Junior Low - Bloodlust

Junior Low, Senior Hit

Sorry to post another Weed Diamond/Bridgetown Records post again (3 in 24 hours... - and there is so much more to offer there! Seriously, check the label site out now...or at least after you've read/listened to the following!), but just heard a track by Junior Low, who is Weed Diamond's guitarist Justin Schweitzer. Now I really like Weed Diamond. I really, really like School Knights. But after hearing 'Kimberly', I think Junior Low are top of the pops here. Its an amazing guitar do-wop wall of sound, dreamy and warped and amazingly textured, with Schweitzer showing an interesting pair of lungs on him. A little reminiscent of Japandroids' Post Nothing closer, 'I Quit Girls', but possibly better. It actually would seem that this guy is using Weed Diamond as his side project, not the other way around. This here is the real deal. Love it.

Junior Low's Heavy LP is available through Bridgetown Records here (click and scroll down...) - hurry, there are only 5 copies left! And check out his other work on his myspace page - it shows a much darker, dronier edge, still with that distinctive guitar noodling - this guy could be onto something, keep your eyes glued on him.

Junior Low - Kimberly

Junior Low - Smokes

Weeding Out The Diamonds

So I started off the Bridgetown Records love with Colorado's School Knights, which may have seemed pre-emptive considering that their primo signing as far as blog lovers are concerned is Weed Diamond. Whilst now a 5 piece band, also holding School Knights' Michael, Weed Diamond started as a one man project in noising up the pop, or popping up the noise, a la Wavves' Nathan Williams. The man with the plan here is Tim Perry. He's put out a gamut of releases, mainly splits and 7" on labels as diverse as Bathetic, Transparent, and Half Machine, as well as Bridgehouse. Now, as the 5 piece, Weed Diamond are ready to blossom into the contenders that Perry has always hinted he could be. Using that most loved of the 21st century's effects pedals, the reverb here is wielded with expert abandon, therefore not overstaying its welcome at any given turn. This is most evident in most current release, Carry On + Sweater Kids, which is an amalgam of a new EP and a reissuing of an older cassette recording. There are serious pop sensibilities here, and the beautiful aspect of this release is that it is heightened rather than hindered by its lo fi approach (although the opening track, 'Mint In My Mouth', takes a while to distance itself from its myriad lo-fi brethren...). It reminds me in some parts of Meth Teeth, who I am a massive fan of. Its pretty, and rockin, and amazing. Its pretty rockin amazing.

Weed Diamond - All Of Denver Is Wasted
Weed Diamond - Mint In My Mouth

And an older release from a split 7" with another rad Bridgetown export, Ancient Crux...

Weed Diamond - Nothing To Write Home About

And its a rainy Saturday afternoon, so Ill continue the love - here's a vid!

Weed Diamond - "Carry On" from moogie on Vimeo.

Knights of the Round School Table

Got flung an email by School Knights last night. Never heard of em. Hail from Colorado, around abouts the same area as Weed Diamond who are clogging up the veins of blogland right now (and here - see post tomorrow...) Was a bit tired though, so watched some Michael Douglas/Demi Moore trysting in that 90s 'classic' Disclosure and went to bed...

Woke up this morning. Listened to Quest For Fire. Liked it a little more. Reread email. Had some butter on toast. Drank some cordial. Put towels and shit in washing machine. Answered some emails. Posted some job applications. Watched some Robot Chicken. Reread School Knights post. Went over to the FMLY post about em. Interest piques a little. Listen to some tracks. Like a lot. Compare opening riff of 'Prom Queen' to Fang Island in its innate sense of flippant fun and popcorn rock with 8-bit sensibilities. Listen to 'Bullies' and reminded of Japandroids if they weren't steering away from their high school dreamscapes and nightmares, and had dipped Post-Nothing into a deep frier, making their distorted noise doubly crispy. Post about them. Fin...

Well not quite. School Knights (not to be confused with Knight School, the Brooklyn band I posted about back in the early months of the year - 'Meathead Hurricane' is still a nice indie pop rock track - check out Make A Mess Records for their shit...) are bringing out an EP, Rush SK, through Bridgetown Records soon - which is also a pretty sweet label, check it out, they feature Cloud Nothings too. Oh, and Michael from School Knights is also in Weed Diamond. The circle is complete.

School Knights - Bullies
Schooli Knights - Prom Queen
School Knights - Recess