Zeahorse Pooling Their Brutal Strengths

I have to say that the success of a couple of my favourite Sydney bands recently have really surprised me. First seeing Yes I'm Leaving on Stereogum, now Zeahorse embarking on their US tour. Not that either of these bands don't deserve it - they are two of the heaviest, brutal and rad bands in Australia - but they have been bands slaving away in an environment that has never seemed to suit them. But then again, with the rise of likeminded creeps like Narrow Lands, Tanned Christ and Sour Cream in the city, the world is becoming a much more accepting place for festering scuzz. Now we see Zeahorse are releasing their Pools EP Stateside too (through Dine Alone Records). Zeahorse's sound is a bit easier to palate I suspect - their hardened riffs are given a shoegaze wash, softening the blows in just the right way - but a song like 'Pool' still maintains the power - it's a great song. And then 'Career' - well, that just rips in and doesn't really let up.





Zeahorse will be doing the US rounds in October. Good luck lads.

Avoiding the wrath of Superchunk fans - and my sister...

If I thought I would get hung for admitting to 'not getting' Black Lips' Good Bad Not Evil, Id be hung drawn and quartered, plus being repeatedly cut then having someone piss in my wounds, if I didn't mention Superchunk. Yep - my sister is that sadistic...

The 90s guitar pop wizards are back together, playing blistering and yet fun as fudge shows, and are also recording. New album Majesty Shredding is out soon, and the first track to be heard from it is 'Digging For Something' over at Stereogum. John Darnielle from The Mountain Goats provides backing vocals, but this is no doubt a Superchunk track - chirpy, energetic power pop, all the way.

So are you appeased Sara? Have I? Sardine? Cool beans.

Nothing wrong with being the black sheep

Ive had to frantically surf the blogosphere the past few days, as the glut of new music/news/gigs/albums that sits on my desk threatens to envelop my house, and my life. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind - and the fact that I no longer have a phone has allowed for uninterrupted immersion, and definitely to give all and sundry the undivided attention it deserves.

Suckers isnt necessarily a 'new' band - they have been championed by the likes of Pitchfork, and were Stereogum's 'band to watch' back this time last year - but they are about to make an impact with the release of their debut album, Wild Smile, on June 8 via Frenchkiss, home of the likes of The Hold Steady, Cut Off Your Hands, Freelance Whales and Ex Models. They have borne references to the likes of Yeasayer, but I think that is pretty disparaging - especially as I think Yeasayer are grossly overrated. Be that as it may, I really enjoyed their EP of last year, and if 'Black Sheep' is anything to go by (and apparently it is - many comments on this track is that its far from the best on the album), Suckers is something you should not miss out on. The track reminds me hugely of Wolf Parade at their skewed best, with more danceable accessibility, hence their support slots for MGMT last year.

And lastly - the boys did a mega rad of death cover of Raveonette's anti-rape song 'Boys Who Rape (Deserve To Be Destroyed)', which firmly entrenches Suckers as poll position holders for band to watch this year.

Suckers - Black Sheep

Suckers - Boys Who Rape (Deserve To Be Destroyed)

Friday cover up #8

Stop the presses! I know Im not Johnny-on-the-spot with this one, as its now Sunday - but Ive just got off a plane from Australia, and am still somewhat jetlagged, so cut me some freakin slack! Still, ill make it up to yall by offering up not just a cover, but an album of covers! Those masters over at Stereogum put out a tribute album to Bjork's incendiary album of 1995, Post. Thetribute album is called Covered. The artists doing the covering include Liars, Xiu Xiu, No Age, Atlas Sound, Winter Hinterland, Dirty Projectors... It is a masterstroke. Hunt it down, for the love of God! Im pretty sure Stereogum still offer it as a zip file on their site somewhere. And in the meantime, here is a taste by one of my favourite bands, Liars...

Liars - Army of Me (Bjork cover)