Death Cab for Cutie have come a long way from their low-fi Bellingham, WA origins. They gained mega fame with Plans in 2005 with hits Soul Meets Body and I Will Follow You into the Dark, and have been pushing their sound away from the homegrown indie and towards the high-polish mainstream ever since. Although progress for a band is always encouraged, with their new album, Codes and Keys, there comes a nostalgia for the older, rawer Death Cab and the days of Something About Airplanes and The Photo Album. And even direct, more mainstream songs akin to Soul Meets Body are rare on this new record. However, familiarity isn’t completely lost on Codes & Keys. Stay Young Go Dancing, Monday Morning and the single You Are Tourist have more of what’s expected from the group, more of their signature sound and have some very catchy hooks. But it’s lost again with muffled beats and rumbling introductions like on Unobstructed Views. The record is definitely worth a listen for the highlight tracks, but there’s something missing on the album as a whole. But through it all, lovers of the band still get 11 new tracks of Ben Gibbard’s unmistakable voice and some gems that stay true to what’s lovable about Death Cab. Check out Monday Morning from the new record.
The Coathangers Album Release & Speakeasy Party
with Sealions, Predator, & Husseins
$10/ $5 with costume / 21+
Appearance by A League of Disingenuous Ladies/
Photobooth/ICE COLD PABST BLUE RIBBON/and More
Larceny & Old Lace is available now on CD, LP and at all DSPs. The album was produced, recorded & engineered by Ed Rawls and Justin McNeight at Living Room Studios in Atlanta, GA and features 11 tracks.
The Coathangers released their new album today, Larceny & Old Lace, out on Seattle’s Suicide Squeeze label. We get a first look at their new video for the album’s first single, Hurricane, where the girls engage in questionable medical practice and rock through a dilapidated building. Video production by Studio 8.
Demun Jones of Rehab unveils his debut solo single “Get Better” featuring 8Ball from the group 8Ball & MJG.
“‘Get Better’ is all about how if you get your nose to the grindstone and do the right thing life, it will take care of itself and things will get better,” says Demun.
The collaboration with 8Ball came about in 2009 when Rehab and 8ball & MJG performed together in Atlanta. 8Ball and Demun hit it off at the show and the creative collaborations started to align. Demun stayed in touch over the years, “When we were finishing my solo album, there was one song that seemed to be missing something. That ‘something’ was the voice of the southern hip-hop pioneer 8ball,” says Demun. “I called to ask 8ball to be involved, and when Ball heard the positive message and family orientation of the song, he agreed to jump on it. Within a week or two 8ball made it to Atlanta, the Zone Studios, to lay his verse on what would become the lead single of the project.”
Written by Demun Jones and 8Ball, Get Better was produced by Billy Hume with Rehab front man Danny Boone serving as the Executive Producer. The music video was directed by David Poag and features several familiar faces & some brand identity by EC Design Co. & We Are the Process gear.
The swiftly rising Manhattan group Cults entered the music scene in 2010, when they posted a three song EP online so their friends could hear the music they were making. But within a few weeks, the songs recorded just for friends had gathered the blogs attention, and even earned them a “Best New Music” title from Pitchfork Media. Now Cults, consisting of the couple/music duo Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion, have arrived with their first, full-length record, Cults. The duo achieves a unique, nostalgic sound, echoing pop songs from decades past. And the couple’s tinny, distant voices match the tone perfectly. The album, Abducted, releasing on June 7th, contains the song that got them recognized, Go Outside, and lovers of the first three tracks released will not be disappointed; the lo-fi, headbobbing tunes continue for the duration of the record. Enjoy Bad Things from the new record while you wait.
The homie, @StrangerDay, just sent over this awesome rap edit of Gold Panda’s Marriage. The track itself is an awesome instrumental that sets the perfect table for some lyrics. And now for a few words from the man himself, “hope all is well…. Something to jam poolside over the weekend: holler!!”
Bon Iver entered the indie-folk scene with its first album, For Emma, Forever Ago in 2007. That first record, written by lead singer and songwriter Justin Vernon alone in a cabin in Wisconsin, was featured on several network television shows and garnered massive success for the group. Although the circumstances have changed for Bon Iver’s second effort, Vernon has delivered another wonderfully original, quality collection of songs.
The majority of the tracks are slow-paced and soothing, but the album is still energetic and engaging, never leaving you bored. According to Vernon, each song on the newly, self-titled album, Bon Iver, represents a different place; and this artistic choice is apparent in the unique tone and style of each track. The variation makes for a surprising and interesting listen, with unexpected instruments like synthesizers and banjos making appearences. The new album lacks the solemn unity of Vernon’s first record, but his signature tones and collections of voices remain. Bon Iver releases on June 21st, but for now enjoy the track, Minnesota, WI.
Even before releasing their first record, Lafayette, Louisiana band GIVERS has received an impressive amount of recognition. GIVERS has been praised by PASTE magazine, Stereogum, and was even named one of the “Ten Bands that Rocked South by Southwest” by TIME magazine. GIVERS just released Up Up Up, the first single off their upcoming debut, In Light, which comes out in early June.
Listening to this track it’s easy to see what all of the buzz is about. Up Up Up is a great song to kick off your summer, with an amazingly catchy chorus, homegrown guitar, tinkling piano, and a signature indie hand-clap beat that can’t get out of your head. It’s a feel good song with just the right combination of folk and pop. The song escalates from vocals and simple drums to an energetic indie-pop chorus, and definitely makes GIVERS a band to keep an eye on.
Yelawolf is one of the biggest artists to come out of Atlanta in recent years and we’re proud to see that he’s not only down with We Are the Process, but that he takes his own initiative in customizing our shirts in his personal way. Thanks to PJ for sending this over!
Last Friday I caught my first show at the Graveyard’s new concert venue, The Basement. They’ve been talking about expanding into this venue for a long time and now I see why it took them so long. Everything about this new place was executed flawlessly. The furnishings are on point, and the soundsystem is amazing. The band of the evening, U.S. Royalty, blew my ears back! I’ve been listening to them for a few years now, but hadn’t seen them live until this point. The band rocks so damn hard, and lead singer John Thornley, has a voice that gives you chills. Do yourself a favor and go see USR live.
