WEEKENDER: Real Estate play Bottletree Sunday night

If you’ve kept up at all with indie music during the past 8-10 years you know it’s changing rapidly. There’s not a particular sound you can pinpoint and call “indie” anymore. So many new indie acts have adapted and recycled sounds from the past and pushed the limits into more of a pop sound. But there are, of course, the bands that have stuck around over the years with minimal change to their sound. Bands like Modest Mouse, Spoon, Wilco, and Arcade Fire and more recently Vampire Weekend are examples. Those bands have found a niche market, so to speak, and have grown into adult-friendly music. Or maybe their listeners have just grown into adults. Either way, those bands are still, for all intents and purposes, “indie rock” bands.

In the past five years, one band has stuck out amongst its peers as a true American “indie rock” band. That band consists of guys who grew up in the suburbs of northeastern America in New Jersey. That band is Real Estate.

Their first self-titled album came out in 2009 and featured “Beach Comber” a track that propelled them into the music atmosphere as a hazy, beachy, (also pinned as “lo-fi) surf-rock style band. Also on that debut, a song that absolutely floored me, “Suburban Dogs.” With the snare drum on the up beat and bass drum on the down keeping time throughout the song, and the phase shifting guitar noodling, “Suburban Dogs” sets the stage for a summer evening riding your skateboard home from your friend’s house as the sun sets on the paved road in front of you and you feel absolutely carefree. Let’s get this right, this album is perfect for summer weather.

In 2011, they released their second album Days on a bigger indie label, Domino Recording Company. This record had a bit more polish and sheen but still they stuck with their formula for writing and composing music. Still keeping with the theme of the previous record and the underlying idea of nostalgia, they turned out songs like “Green Aisles,” which is one of the prettiest songs I’ve ever heard, and “Out of Tune.” But this time, the band notched up the BPMs on tracks like “Easy” and the now crowd-pleasing “It’s Real,” the song everyone sings along with at shows. The band even had some minor chart success, reaching number 52. With this record, Real Estate was beginning to carve out a space in indie rock and get comfortable for the long term.

This year they’ve released yet another critically acclaimed record Atlas, again on Domino. They are embarking on another major tour, more promotional marketing, and even had a spot on “The Late Show with David Letterman” back in April. “Atlas” could be their most successful album to date, this time reaching number 34 on the charts, so far. By now you’ve probably read that they used Wilco’s studio space in Chicago with lots of instruments at their disposal to record “Atlas,” also garnering comparisons to Wilco. “Talking Backwards,” “Had to Hear” and “Crime” stick out as the most popular and catchiest songs on the album, and this time main songwriter and singer Martin Courtney tackles more recent topics and focuses on the future rather than reflecting on the past as he did so often on the previous albums’ songs.

On this record you begin to recognize songs as “Real Estate” songs. Not so much because they are on the album, but because of the instantly recognizable guitar stylings of one Matt Mondanile and the vocals of Martin Courtney you’ve grown accustomed to. You pick up pretty quickly on Matt’s style particularly on “Crime” in the same way you would pick out Britt’s voice on a Spoon song, or the instrumentation of a Vampire Weekend song. You don’t have to know it’s a Real Estate song to know that it’s a Real Estate song. This is a sure sign of a band making an impact in music.

Real Estate is quickly becoming a mainstay in American indie rock like the bands I mentioned above. They will be one of the bands that will hopefully have a long career and grow a larger and larger fanbase. I’ve met the lead singer, Martin twice now: once in Nashville a few years ago and earlier this year in Austin, and I can tell you that he is a driven and professional musician, not a guy looking to make noise on social media or soak up the hype or fame. The guys in Real Estate just want to make great guitar music. This is a great band, so pay attention!

When I heard they were finally coming to Birmingham, I was totally excited. Hopefully, you were able to pick up tickets for the now SOLD OUT show at Bottletree THIS WEEKEND,  but if you weren’t able to get tickets please make sure you find a tour date near by you and go see Real Estate. If you do have a ticket to Sunday’s show, I’ll see you there.

Everyone loves Freedom

You may have heard this before, but there’s a new football team and a new league setting  up shop in Birmingham. Maybe you are jaded about such an event. Maybe you remember all the failed attempts at establishing a competitor to the NFL in a meaningful way. Did you go to Stallions games like I did? Birmingham Fire (the CFL)? The infamous Birmingham Blast (changed to Bolts)? Steeldawgs? Americans? AAFL team that never actually played a game?

I was down with all of them, except Americans because I wasn’t alive. I’m all for football in my city. I don’t care. You want to go in motion before the snap? Great. A league run by Vince McMahon? I guess. Some weird abomination in the BJCC with nets? Uh. Kinda hate it, but I will allow it.

I remember, quite clearly sitting next to my father seeing Joe Cribbs run for the Stallions when I was very young. I love football. I would like more of it.

Today, I see some people mentioning the new team on Twitter.

The Birmingham Freedom.

According to the NAFL website, this name was chosen to reflect Birmingham’s rich history in the civil rights movement. That’s an unassailable stance (which al.com commenters will probably assail and bum me out).

But what bothers me is the language. “First Down, Freedom!” “Freedom’s backfield is deep this year”. “Freedom comes out ahead of the Sentinels, 21-7.”

I hate things that are vague concepts as team mascots, like the Jazz or Heat. It’s just unwieldy and very, very unSouthern. We have Tigers, Blazers and uhh Crimson Tide. Hm, maybe this is because I’m an Auburn fan. Anyways, it’s a terrible name. A well done logo, for sure. All of the NAFL graphics are pretty good, for what it is. Some of the logos have some janky text on them, but it’s clear they actually hired a graphic designer.

So the name makes me cringe a little. I was ready to be mad about it, but then I saw this.

That’s a bird wearing a hat.

I repeat, that’s a bird wearing a hat.

BIRD. HAT.

I can’t stop looking at it. It’s mesmerizing. I joked, sort of, that I wanted a hat with a bird wearing a hat on it. But I kind of do. I want to go to these games. I want to celebrate the fact that we are the most American of all teams, and that everyone else we play, whether it be the Memphis Kings or the North Carolina Red Wolves,  hates Freedom. Dirty Communists, how dare you even lift one finger to stop Freedom.

If they have any sense, they’ll have Auburn bring up an eagle for the pregame festivities. Everyone loves it when the eagle flies. But with one addition. Can you guess what it would be?

THAT EAGLE WILL DON A HAT BEFORE IT FLIES.

To satiate Alabama fans, I am perfectly OK with an elephant wearing a Ben Franklin costume.

To those wondering what I would choose for a mascot, it would be a Yellow Hammer. The Alabama Yellow Hammers. It would not be a bird. It would be a yellow hammer. Everyone in attendance would have hammers and every night is dollar beer night.

If that’s not freedom, I don’t know what is.

In lieu of that, I’ll take some Freedom please. I declare our rival to be Memphis, and we will destroy them.

Album Review: Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires – Dereconstructed

Nowadays, it seems pretty easy to reduce Southern culture to a few reality TV stars with beards and a duck call business. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires are here to remind the world about the complexity and vitality of this

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blessed patch of dirt.

On their previous album, There Is a Bomb In Gilead, the band cautiously belted out a fine mix of country, southern rock, and soul music. Dereconstructed is their first album for the venerable Sub Pop label,and builds on the successes of their first record while backing them up with increased confidence and volume.

Lead off single and album opener, “The Company Man” serves as a statement of intent and an introduction to the current, road-tested lineup of The Glory Fires. The ragged opening riff propels the song forward into an onslaught of guitars pushed into the red by Bains and new addition, Eric Wallace. It’s a classic Southern Rock anthem that’s built to be catchy, but offers surprising

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lyrical depth. Lee has a knack for examining social issue particular to the South. The title track turns the fire and brimstone of a Southern Baptist preacher on its head and begins to spell out a new way of thinking for a generation of Southerners that are smart, tolerant, and equal.

The thematically related, “The Kudzu and The Concrete” and “The Weeds Downtown” take a

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look at living in the a post white flight Birmingham. Both songs touch on the realities of growing up at the foot of a bustling Southern city, but also identifying with your country roots. “The Weeds Downtown” in particular is an anthem for the revitalization and rebranding of downtown Birmingham. Where our parents generation saw danger, Bains and the rest of us see opportunity.

The second side of the record sees the band continuing in the politically minded vein of the first side with the one-two punch of “We Dare Defend Our Rights!”, and “Flags”. In previous generations, Alabama’s state motto was used as a symbol for defending the racist status quo, but Baines takes a look at the motto and turns it around by making it a rallying cry for a new generation of proud, progressive citizens.

To finish up the record, Bains delivers what I think is the best song of the album. “Dirt Track”, like all great southern food and art, works on several levels. The song relates Alabama’s history in stock car racing to DIY punk rock; the dirt track of the music business. The song’s late break and triumphant finish offers a capstone for the record, bringing everything full circle.

Bains and Co. offer the next logical step beyond the storytelling of bands like the Drive By Truckers, by getting down into the nitty gritty of living in a rapidly evolving South. There’s a sense of wrestling and reckoning with our shared past, but an unending faith and hope in our shared future. Dereconstructed offers an alternative to the duck call Disney World South that’s presented on TV and gives an authentic look into being an intelligent, proud southerner.

FLASHBACK FRIDAY!

Well, this week in the Magic City, we had some more insane weather events which caused major problems for some people in the area and, perhaps, smaller problems for others. Monday night was supposed to be the big Vampire Weekend indie rock concert event at Sloss Furnace but due to unforeseen, but somewhat predicted, inclement weather the show was moved to the BJCC and, ultimately, postponed (insert sad emoji or cucumber emoji or some other emoji, I don’t really know).

 

Due to severe weather, Vampire Weekend’s show tonight in Birmingham, AL has been POSTPONED. More info coming soon.

— Vampire Weekend (@vampireweekend) April 28, 2014

So, now ticket holders will wait and see when the band will come back and play a make-up show. Personally, I was looking forward to seeing Vampire Weekend but also looking forward to going to a venue I still have not been to, Sloss Furnace. Anyway, since it’s Friday and we are all still kind of bummed about missing the show I thought I’d remind everyone how we fell in love with these New York prepsters (How’s that for a typical blogger description of the band?). Here’s there 2008 breakout single “A-Punk”.

 

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No News Is Good News: Is Our City For Sale?

Ahhhhh! Cold! Refreshing! Corporate!

Yes, who doesn’t enjoy a cold, fizzy soda pop on a hot summer day? From the Jack and Cokes we guzzle at The Nick to the cold Mountain Dews we down in Railroad Park, there’s no doubt our city – like almost every developed city/country in the world – is hopelessly addicted to sweet, sticky sodas. Hell, if health and surviving past the ripe old age of 50 weren’t concerns, I would mainline mounds of sugar via soda on a daily basis. And I’m considered a reserved soda drinker.

So, when the mammoth Pepsi sign atop the Two North Twenty building was quickly announced, installed and settled (according to local government entities, anyway) what right did we, Birmingham area residents, have to get mad? Sure, The Birmingham dot al dot News dot com newspaper website thingy reported eight months earlier that the Birmingham Design Review Committee had flat-out refused the idea more than once. Heck, they even called it a “glorified billboard.” Sick burn, dude!

Yet, like mammoth companies with tons of money and microns of community respect, concern or class commonly do, Pepsi worked and wiggled until their precious (and precocious) sign was “unstoppable.” Our slowly resurging downtown got a shiny new blue rectangle of cockamamie corporate propaganda. SUGAR GODS BE PRAISED! DEATH TO ALL PANCREAS!

I say, good work, city council and mayor! There’s now little doubt that various Birmingham structures are for sell if any impolite but persistent company shows up with enough scratch to keep our local politicians happy. As a concerned citizen (and a proud graduate of Birmingham City Schools), I wanted to do my part and throw out a few more genius advertising ideas.

How about slapping some Depends Undergarments on Vulcan? Imagine the revenue streams (ha…streams!) this could generate. With the aging Baby Boomer population, we need to throw this idea on the anvil and strike while the iron is hot. Let’s be honest, Vulcan’s high, round, firm buttocks have long been an embarrassment. This genius idea could actually kill two birds with one stone. It would protect Birmingham’s puritanical reputation and generate clouds of copious cash for local politicians. BUTTCHEEK BOOYAHH!

Next, let’s paint the exterior of the half-empty Cooper-Green Hospital bright blue and make it a museum. The Blue Cross/Blue Shield Museum presents – The Denied Coverage Hall of Fame! See patients suffer! Watch children weep! Track the history of financially decimated families! Yeah, pretty dark, I know. To boost attendance, they’d have to appeal to typical Alabama voters by adding on a special wing – The Horrors of Obamacare! See the death panels in action! Watch as your money is flushed down a toilet! See poor people who might have a different skin color than you receive medical care! OH NO, THE HUMANITY! They could offer a guarantee with admission: “We guarantee local visitors won’t sleep for a week!”

The possibilities are endless. Heck, these are just two ideas I thought up one Saturday morning with a hangover. Imagine the damage a motivated PR firm with pockets full of payoff cash could do to downtown Birmingham. Sell BET the Civil Rights Museum. Attach Larry the Cable Guy billboards to every downtown church. Tear down the Alabama Theater and build another Wal-Mart. Vivid Video presents: Lynn Park. Think of all that sweet revenue potential.

Seriously though, we have all got to wonder how much of Birmingham is for sale? After local leaders smiled and shook hands as these international money makers moved in with impunity, maybe we should all be a bit skeptical. What do local officials define as sacred? What would they turn down? There’s little doubt that downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods are on the verge of dynamite growth. Untouched and pretty much forgotten for many decades, the area now has the potential to become a unique, funky, fun and affordable area. Yet, only if the powers that be make decisions with their heads AND their hearts. For me and many others, Pepsi’s blue monstrosity appears to be the first troubling sign.

 

PHIL’S ALBUM OF THE WEEK

ASG – ‘Blood Drive’

Melodic, punchy rock that avoids all the embarrassing cliches. Having first caught ASG in all their glory opening up for Weedeater at the Bottletree, I didn’t immediately trust them. In the metal world, anyone singing at the top of their ability over catchy riffs is disturbing and suspicious. (Cut to me sipping a PBR: “What are these guys trying to do … become the next Nickelback?) Now, after having seen them live three times and following their last few releases, I get the feeling these guys are sincere. If they were looking for the cash grab, would they still be playing places like Zydeco?

Anyway, iTunes says “Avalanche” is my favorite track from this album, but I think “Day’s Work” is the jewel. Give it a listen:

EDITOR’S NOTE: Phil has been a huge part of our site since 2008. His unique perspective on all things Birmingham make him the perfect sounding board for a regular BHAMFM feature. Like what you’ve read? Send us a shout on Twitter (@bhamfmdotcom) and check back in a few days for more from Phil.

Local Love: Zach and Cheyloe

Occasionally people suggest bands or artists for me to listen to or go see. This past Saturday my father-in-law suggested my wife and I meet he and my mother-in-law at a bar on one of the busiest thoroughfares in Birmingham, Highway 280. One of his cohorts he regularly plays pool with has a son who plays music and would be playing at this bar that afternoon. So, paw-in-law suggested we go check it out and maybe have a beer or two. He knows that I am a music fan, and he thought maybe I would dig it. We obliged because who would turn down a free beer? I expected a decent acoustic guitar player churning out cover upon cover of all the crowd-pleasing hit songs from yesteryear. I figured it would be fine for a Saturday afternoon. When we arrived I was

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totally surprised.

There were two people on stage one female, playing a 12-string acoustic and singing, the other, a male, banging out percussion on a “cajon” which is basically a wooden box you sit on and play drum patterns. We walked in and sat down with our beers, and I found myself enamored with these two musicians. Each switched instruments and sang and played off each other like two old pros. I would find out later that the guys name is Zach Austin and the girl, Cheyloe Martin. They were on stage playing original tunes from both artists’ repertoires. A lot of the songs and lyrics to the songs sound like they could be instant hits. Most people would probably put them in the category of Americana. I wouldn’t disagree, but I would maybe add the Alt-Country tag. As I was sitting there watching these two I felt like I could see them on a bigger stage, playing to a large crowd at the Ryman in Nashville. They sounded honest to me.

When they took their first break, I walked up and spoke with Zach and Cheyloe briefly. Both seemed eager to get their music out and make a go of this thing. I told them how much I liked their stuff, and both were cool enough to hand me some music to take home, Cheyloe’s demo and a disc of music from Zach’s other band Calling Station. Both artists have pages I’ve linked below.

Zach Austin – http://www.reverbnation.com/zachaustin

Cheyloe – http://www.reverbnation.com/cheyloe

I didn’t expect what I got when I walked into that bar, and I was more than pleasantly surprised to hear something different. If you live in the Birmingham metro area and are looking for a place to have an afternoon brewski (or 4), check out Courtyard 280 and see if you can catch Zach and Cheyloe. They might surprise you too.

Weekend Show Lineup – 1/10-1/12

For those of you who survived the Polar Vortex, go celebrate your survival this weekend with some live tunes!! Stay warm, stay drunk, stay in the groove.

                                          FRIDAY(1/10)

Birmingham/Tuscaloosa:

·   Bottletree – Cate Le Bon / Drew Price’s Bermuda Triangle / Kevin Morby

·   The Nick – Dirty Mike and the Boy / Economy Cartel

·   Zydeco – Same As It Ever Was(Talking Heads Tribute Band)

·   Jupiter (ttown) – CBDB

Atlanta/Athens:

·   Fox Theatre – John Hiatt / Robert Randolph / Gregg Allman

·   Georgia Theatre (athens) – The Infamous Stringdusters

·   Center Stage – Queensryche

Nashville/Huntsville/Shoals:

·   Foobar – Rearview Ghost

·   3rd & Lindsley – Russell Howard

·   High Watt – Lobo / Voodoo Prophet / Enormity / Call Me Savage

·   Mercy Lounge – Johnette Napolitano / Jim Bianco

·   The Basement – Patrick Sweaney / Corey Chisel

Louisville/Lexington:

·   Headliners – The Del McCoury Band

·   Zanzabar – Junk Yard Dogs

Knoxville/Chattanooga/Asheville(NC):

·   Barley’s Taproom – Dylan Leblanc

·   Bijou Theatre – Iris Dement

·   Rhythm & Brews (nooga) – Machines Are People Too

·   Orange Peel(ash) – Steep Canyon Rangers / Sam Bush

Auburn/Montgomery/Mobile:

·   Moe’s BBQ (au) – The Bama Gamblers

                                            SATURDAY(1/11)

Birmingham/Tuscaloosa:

·         Black Market – Zach Doss

·         The Nick – Skeptic? / Cancerslug / Justify these Scars

·         Bottletree – Shaheed & DJ Supreme / Great American Breakdown / Agent Cooper / Dirty Lungs

·         Zydeco – Sundy Best

• Innisfree (ttown) – The Bama Gamblers

 

Atlanta/Athens:

·   Georgia Theatre (athens) – The Infamous Stringdusters

·   Red Light Café – Kevin Kinney

Nashville/Huntsville/Shoals:

·   High Watt – Dylan Leblanc / Grayson Capps

·   Cannery – Crosses

·   Exit/In – Same As It Ever Was (Talking Heads Tribute Band)

·   Ryman – Erich Church / Will Hoge

·   VBC (hsv) – Bela Fleck

Knoxville/Chattanooga/Asheville(NC):

·         Orange Peel(ash) – Steep Canyon Rangers

·         Grey Eagle(ash) – St Paul and the Broken Bones / Patrick Sweaney

                                          SUNDAY(1/12)

Birmingham/Tuscaloosa:

·   Bottletree – Shaheed & DJ Supreme / Agent Cooper / Great American Breakdown

Atlanta/Athens:

·         Wonderroot – Speedy Ortiz

Nashville/Huntsville/Shoals:

·   Exit/In – Glossary / Self

Knoxville/Chattanooga:

·   Track 29 (nooga) – Pop Evil / Within Reason

 

***If you see someone(s) I missed, let me know.  My Twitter is @jtid82. See you at the rock show!*** – JT

A.R. TALLO brings you his 2013 faves

It’s been another banner year for music. There’s been some amazing and memorable records and songs, and some absolute kitsch as well. 2013 brought us some new, exciting artists like Lorde, Haim, and Chvrches. We’ve also seen, for the first time in 22 years, new music from My Bloody Valentine. Who could forget all of the over-hyped albums from the likes of Arcade Fire, Jay-Z, and Daft Punk? We’ve seen Miley twerk more times then we wanted to, we’ve heard Kanye complain more times than we’ve wanted to, but outside of those atrocities, not a bad year.

I, personally, had a great year of music discovery. Although my year has centered on rediscovering and discovering for the first time some electronica, dance, vintage Italo-disco, and new wave music of yesteryear, I’ve also heard some fantastic new music too. I’ve put together a list of my very favorite albums of 2013 and I’d like to share that list with you today. These are the albums I spent the most time with this year and the ones I believe are the best of the best.

I can’t believe the year is already over. In the words of the great Rich Homie Quan, “Got me feelin’ some type of way…”

These are my Top 10 Albums of 2013.

1. DISCLOSURE :: SETTLE

This year we’ve seen a reemergence of the EDM genre. Every pop artist out there is using hard, electronic dance music as the backdrop for sugary pop nuggets but Guy and Lawrence Howard of Disclsoure took us back to the UK style two-step and Detroit house music of the 1990s with this outstanding record. The lads used some little known artists to sing on the tracks with vocals and also used some amazing sampling and production techniques to churn out deliciously danceable song after song. I’ve listened to something off of this album almost every day this year since it came out. To me, this was the very best album of the year because there is not one bad song and it is truly a very unique piece of music. I’m going go ahead and say this: “Settle” is a better album then Daft Punk’s “Random Access Memories”. Sorry, not sorry.

 

2. DUCKTAILS :: THE FLOWER LANE

Matt Mondanile is the brains behind Ducktails and the guitarist from the amazing band Real Estate. On his second full length album “The Flower Lane”, Matt found his way out of the bedroom and into a studio to polish up his sound and write some of his best music. The title track sounds like a Steely Dan b-side while the hit single “Letter of Intent” is smooth and groovy like a late ‘70s yacht rock song. Matt’s influences shine through on this great record. This is another one I wore the grooves out of this year.

 

3. TORO Y MOI :: ANYTHING IN RETURN

Another of the great dance records of 2013. Chaz Bundick went back to the dance vibe of his early record “Causers of This” but maybe added a few more beats per minute. This album is filled with familiar sounds of the days of Italo-disco and funk music. Not to mention Toro puts on one of the bangingest live sets around. I’m always excited about a new piece of music from Chaz and Toro y Moi and this year they did not disappoint. Put this one on your turntable at a party and watch people start moving.

 

4. WHITE FENCE :: CYCLOPS REAP

After only really discovering White Fence in 2012 and wearing down my copy of “Family Perfume, Vol. 1 and 2”, White Fence dropped another amazing collection of psych-rock songs this year. Influences like The Kinks, The Byrds, T. Rex, and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd shine through this freaked out record. Tim Presley, man behind the band, legitimately writes and plays like its still 1969 which is totally amazing.

 

5. WILD NOTHING :: EMPTY ESTATE (EP)

I wrote a bigger piece on this album when I first started writing for Bhamfm.com and you can go back in the archives and read that. Although this is only an EP and I’m slightly cheating, I don’t care. I loved this record. New wave genius all the way around.

 

6. JON HOPKINS :: IMMUNITY

If Disclosure put out the best EDM record year, the Mercury-prize winning producer Jon Hopkins put out the best electronica record of the year and he’s up for another Mercury this year too. I saw a tweet from Purity Ring that mentioned Jon’s name and album earlier this year and I looked it up. I was captivated by the heavy base lines and static synth sounds. This album is intense, dark, and eerie at times but beautifully produced. I put the opening song “We Disappear” on one of our Mixtapes this year and that song is easily one of my favorite songs of the year.

 

7. UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA :: II

UMO’s 2011 self-titled debut had everyone on the internet scratching their heads and wondering who this band was. After some major buzz grew around that first album, UMO picked right back up where they left off with “II”. Psychedelic guitar, funky drums and bass lines, and that high falsetto voice are etched into the signature sound of UMO. My favorite song of off

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this album, “So Good At Being In Trouble”, is a majorly sexy R&B song that sounds like it was ripped right out of Stevie Wonder’s playbook.

 

8. MAJICAL CLOUDZ :: IMPERSONATOR

Majical Cloudz is the best opening band I discovered this year. I walked into Bottletree early on the night of the Youth Lagoon show in April and saw a medium statured bald guy with a white t shirt tucked into black jeans and another guy behind a grouping of keyboards standing on stage. The crowd was slightly chatty through the opening minutes of the first song, and then everyone got really quiet. Devon, the tucked in lead singer, belted out the songs from this record in the most beautifully haunting way and in between each song bantered and made jokes. Majical Cloudz’ songs are very serious and not terribly humorous so Devon’s stage banter made everyone even more comfortable with the ideals of the music. People were stunned and watched intently as the duo eased through their album and even played some newer songs. After they finished their set I fully expected people to talk about how weird what they just witnessed was, instead they were talking about how amazing. Just listen to this album.

 

9. YOUTH LAGOON :: WONDROUS BUGHOUSE

The most whimsical of my favorite albums, “Wondrous Bughouse” came out in the perfect time of year, spring. Trevor Powers’ boyish vocals and the amazing keyboards and pianos throughout this album make it seem youthful and fresh yet the lyrics are deep and thoughtful. Trevor used every possible inch of room on each song for the listener to explore. So many different sounds throughout the songs, each time you listen you find something new. I would probably describe it as what the Beatles would have recorded if they’d expanded an entire album off of the song “Tomorrow Never Knows”.

 

10. WASHED OUT :: PARACOSM

Washed Out is one of those bands that, for me, haven’t put out a bad piece of music yet. Each record has its own identity but you recognize the sound right away. I also wrote an extensive review of this album on this website that you can read as well. This was also one of my favorite shows I went to this year. Chillwave isn’t dead yet and that is just fine with me.

I could have probably put down more words for 10 more albums I loved this year but instead I’ll just list out my other favorites in no particular order. You could call these “honorable mention” but I won’t do that because they need to be mentioned no matter what.

I just can’t help myself.

Here are 10 more albums I loved this year:

Vampire Weekend :: Modern Vampires of the City

Free Time :: Free Time

Dent May :: Warm Blanket

Jonathan Rado :: Law and Order

Ducktails :: Wish Hotel (EP)

Earl Sweatshirt :: Doris

Jacco Gardner :: Cabinet of Curiosities

James Blake :: Overgrown

Ty Segall :: Sleeper

Beach Fossils :: Clash the Truth

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see what happens next year.

Love Won a War in Birmingham

Two different times in 1991, I stood in a Birmingham, Alabama, concert arena and watched as Public Enemy acted out hanging a KKK member.

Think about that for a minute. Less than 30 years after four little girls lost their lives in ‘Bombingham,’ young people in Birmingham stood and cheered as members of Public Enemy lynched and hung a KKK member on stage.

Yet, one year later, HBO’s America Undercover documentary featuring Birmingham skinheads debuted. At best it revealed an honest threat to the area. At worst it was sensationalist trash that fed on the horrific history and reputation of our fair city. Created with no time stamp, and frequently replayed on cable channels over the next two decades, it would unfortunately help reinforce the nation’s view of Birmingham for years.

Black and white; love and hate; history and reputation. It’s no stretch to say that true legends walked the streets of Birmingham. Before Vietnam and before Iraq, a real war was fought here in our city. The weapons were unconventional, the generals were preachers and politicians and the soldiers were often young children … but it was a real war none the less. And real wars always leave scars.

As (almost) a lifetime Birmingham resident, sometimes it seems these scars will take forever to fade. Only decades of rain can hope to wash the blood from the streets where I grew up. Only lasting sunlight will fade the memories of those violent scenes. The actions that played out in our streets – the great words written and spoken by legends here – still have the power to transform this area, and further, our entire country.

That is, if we let them.

 

In 1991, as I stood starry-eyed watching Chuck and Flav tear ’em down, I truly believed the world had changed. My generation would be different. Like many people my age in Alabama, I had a couple of grandparents that were true racists. Even though their public behavior had changed between 1963 and my birth, their language and beliefs were still the same behind closed doors. Exposed to this behavior frequently as a young child, my parents thankfully took the time to teach me different.

We lived in poor neighborhoods, I had friends of almost every color and I eventually graduated from a Birmingham City School. Exposed to rap, heavy metal, punk and hardcore, I had fallen in love with all types revolutionary music. Music and lyrics not only challenged the beliefs of my family and friends, they pushed me to question my own prejudices, my own reality. As silly as it always sounds, these musicians forced me to search for my own truth.

But now, 20 years later, I sometimes feel more calloused, skeptical and brokenhearted than ever before. It’s hard to put the exact idea into words, but it feels like we have regressed as a culture. In the darkest times, it seems as if the struggles here were all pointless. As part of our society continues pushing forward, looking to the future, trying to make things better, there seems to be an equal force that is staunchly opposed to change.

I guess aging is one issue. Remembering the open and loving things my parents taught me as a child, it’s hard to hear some of my grandparents’ ideals now come from their mouths. A family member who told me the story of crying when JFK was killed now quotes inaccurate “news” reports with regularity and blames immigrants for our country’s problems. Further, classmates who seemed progressive, independent and open-minded 20 years ago now go out of their way to preach the opposite.

Honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around it. My thoughts and opinions on a million issues have changed, often more than once, but how can anyone turn back to hatred and prejudice and promote it as “family values?”

Another particularly disgusting Birmingham example, to me anyway, can be blamed on the Internet. I know I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but the comments section of al.com regularly fills me with real anger and rage … especially as a previous employee of The Birmingham News. I hate to think that my career in any way supported the filth and hatred being propagated daily on the area’s most prominent website. I’m not sure who these people are, where they come from or how they get access to the Internet, but I do have a message for them.

In a public venue, I want to clearly say: If you don’t like Birmingham, then get the fuck out.

No, seriously, leave. If you are a sniveling al.com poster that cheers after every violent crime, that searches for different ways to spout the same old racist bullshit 40 years after they put Bull in the ground … leave now and don’t come back. We don’t want you in our parks, in our sports venues, in our breweries or near our homes.

This isn’t your city anymore. That war ended decades ago, and you lost. Old George surrendered. You may not believe it, you may not be able to accept it, but this isn’t your home anymore. Things are changing. Things are different. Things are better.

Just know, those hateful, spiteful, disgusting words you post on al.com are real things. They have real consequences. They give real people real opinions about our evolving and growing city that just aren’t true.

When Birmingham’s supporters of all ages gather for public events, celebrations and concerts, we don’t think about you. You aren’t scaring us and you aren’t changing our love for this city.

New business are interested, new opportunities for this city are out there.

And as I look to the future and (dear God) think about where I want to retire, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather live than this city … the city that helped raise me … the city that broke my heart then helped mend it time and time again.

I guess I said all that to say this: I believe we can build a vibrant, successful city … even with small-minded people doing their best to hold us back. I just hope we can create a city that is equal parts compassion and commerce.

It was here, in Birmingham, that love won an actual war. I promise now to my child and my future grandchildren, I won’t forget that. None of us can afford to forget that. Though there will be frequent struggles and setbacks, though we are surrounded by painful, lasting scars, we owe it to ourselves, our families and the world to remember. We must remember the sacrifices, and we must try to create something better.

Now and forever, I love you Birmingham.

BHAMFM MIXTAPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

It’s that time again! This go round we’ve added some of our other contributors to help out with our mixtape and we’ve got a wide array of tunes to share with our readers. Blast this mixtape as you drive home for Thanksgiving or, better yet, AT Thanksgiving. You know you want to tune out that weird Uncle that asks you about your love life!

Thanks to Joshua Matthews, Whitney & Chris, Culture Czar, Artallo and Adam for sharing five great songs a piece.

Some of our writers were nice enough to even add a few words about each song they chose.

CULTURE CZAR::

I went with three 2013 songs and two older songs this month.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “Stranger Than Kindness”: Surprisingly, Nick Cave recently announced another US tour in the summer of 2014 after completing one in the spring of 2013. Great news for what is often a deprived American fanbase. I’m super psyched and have been listening to all of his incredibly deep catalog. This is off of his 1986 album, “Your Funeral…My Trial.”

Anna Calvi – “Eliza”: This is off of Calvi’s 2013 sophomore effort “One Breath.” She gets a lot of comparisons to PJ Harvey because of her voice and stellar guitar playing, but she’s definitely got her own thing going. Nick Cave took her out on tour in Europe when her first record came out and Brian Eno also sings her praises. She seems to be a European phenomenon so far as I literally know no one that listens to her.

Wovehand – “Dirty Blue”: The other older song from me this month (from 2006…sooo old!) Wovenhand is the project of David Eugene Edwards of Denver, CO. Though he’s American, all of his success is in Europe. He plays to half empty, tiny bars in America and packs out theaters and concert halls in Europe. Maybe I just need to move.

TV on the Radio – “Mercy.” A 2013 single from Brooklyn’s finest. TVOTR has expressed reluctance in going into the studio for a full length any time soon, but has said they’ll get together periodically and release a song or two or three. This is the fruit of that mindset and it is mighty fine. I just hope they keep touring.

M.I.A. – “Bad Girls” This is technically a 2012 song, but it came out as a digital single and now it’s appeared on her late 2013 release “Matangi.” Forget the Super Bowl nonsense, she puts out hard hitting dance music that makes you think as much as it makes you want to shake your ass.

WHITNEY::

My list is based on “big sounds”, so obviously a few Jon Brion-produced tracks. Also, some new songs from the Saint Heron compilation, its curator Solange & that powerful wall of sound from the British supergroup The Last Shadow Puppets that all fit the mold nicely.

ADAM:: 

CHVRCHES “Science/Visions” – It took me a while to admit that this band was more than just a guilty pleasure, more than just a poppy version of Purity Ring, and more than the one song Sirius XMU played nearly every hour. What’s exciting about the album as a whole is the juxtaposition of that poppy sound–courtesy of Lauren Mayberry’s sweet vocals–with the darkness of the lyrics behind those melodies [The very bouncy “Gun” has this chorus: “You’d better run, you’d better run and/Hide, hide, I have burned your bridges/I will be a gun, and it’s you I’ll come for”]. Buried deep in the tracklist of their debut album “The Bones of What You Believe” at track 9 (past singles “The Mother We Share”, “We Sink”, “Gun”, and “Recover”), “Science/Visions” is decidedly darker in tone musically than the rest of the album. An arpeggiated synth beat pulls you into the song, and the haunting echoing pre-chorus “I (I) hear (hear) your (your) breathing/I (I) feel (feel) you (you) leaving” keeps you there waiting for the climax.

Failure “Heliotropic” – Since my fanboy post about the band reunion, Failure have very strongly hinted at doing a tour and even making new music. I said before that “Fantastic Planet” very rarely leaves my car CD wallet anyway, but this past week, it’s barely left the CD player at all. Rounding out the back end of the album, where singles “The Nurse Who Loved Me” and “Stuck on You” hang out, at track 16 (!!!) “Heliotropic” screams with feedback then pounds away with a heavy and heavily distorted bass riff coupled with a furious barrage of tom runs that drive the song while the guitar slowly builds from ambient “space noise” to octave runs dripping with chorus and delay.

Miike Snow “Silvia” – What do Madonna, Britney Spears, Kelis, and Kylie Minogue have in common? Besides massive pop exposure and success, they all worked with the music producers Bloodshy & Avant who comprise 2/3 of Miike Snow (yeah, it turns out that’s not the guy’s name: the Swedish group is Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, and American Andrew Wyatt). When they aren’t winning awards for “Toxic”, they’re making beautiful, catchy, and emotional electropop. Get ready to shed a tear while you dance to this tale of unrequited love: “And your voice cries out for the coup de grace/when the lights go out, will there be a trace?/I don’t know Silvia/That I loved Silvia”.

My Bloody Valentine “In Another Way” – ICYMI, MBV released their first album of new material in over 20 years earlier this year, and then totally trolled the US by announcing a “tour” that was six dates on the west coast and in Texas. They later tacked on some dates to make sure and hit NYC, but still didn’t come within driving distance of Birmingham. So it goes. Anyway, this is my favorite track from the simply titled “mbv”, an album that makes the 20 year gap seem to be completely nonexistent: every track (well, except “Nothing Is” that’s just a heavy looping riff, and “Wonder 2” with the weird filter drumming sample thing…and what happened to “Wonder 1” anyway?). (Not on Spotify, but we tried y’all!)

Wild Nothing “The Blue Dress” – If you were at Iron City when Wild Nothing opened for Local Natives, I was the guy jumping around going crazy when they launched into the opening riff for this song. Not to be confused with “Blue Dress” by Depeche Mode (which is INCREDIBLE, by the way), this song continues the tradition of catchy single note guitar riffs that Wild Nothing has perfected (see “Shadow”, “Midnight Song”, and “Nocturne”). Even more forlorn lyrics: “Falling through your songs/my desires come undone/Though I looked for you all night/The words were never heard/When I dreamt of you so sweet/In the garden of my touch/Drowning into sheets/Imaginary love”.

CHRIS::

I decided to go in cold and find some new music. I started with Related Artists of Titus Andronicus, because that’s the kind of thing I would do.

First up, a home run. PAWS out of Glasgow from their 2012 epically-named album Cokefloat.
Paws – Sore Tummy

After some Inceptioning through Related Artists, I end up on Milwaukee’s Jaill. Described as jangly, and I think accurately so. Would love to see these guys live. Based on past experience they probably played Bottletree last week.
Jaill – Beggar Sincere

And then I end up down under with Royal Headache, which sounds like Husker Du. I’m totally OK with that. Also, the lead singer’s name is Shogun.
Royal Headache – Psychotic Episode

After this I went down what could best be described as a Husker Du-shaped noise hole. I re-emerge with the tamer, but nice and fuzzy California X, from Massachusetts, of course.
California X – Mummy

We need to calm down. Take us home, Sonny & The Sunsets. Sonny made 100 fictional bands for an art project. This is a good palate cleanser.
Sonny & The Sunsets – path of orbit

A. R. Tallo::

Brenda and the Big Dudes – It’s Nice to Be with People :: I found this song while listening to a DJ set from the great Awesome Tapes from Africa and I cannot stop listening to it. Its a fun track to incorporate into a party mix or a DJ set, if one is so inclined. If you are interested in international music (specifically African) or just like music at all you need to check out awesometapes.com. This song is also perfect for Holiday gatherings because it really IS nice to be with people.

The Who – Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand :: I love The Who. Especially the record “The Who Sell Out”. This song is super catchy and it will just get stuck in your head in the most fun way. I think it’s about a girl that Pete knew who was extremely “friendly” with the boys but no one really knows.

White Fence – Mr. Adams/Who Feels Right? (Live in San Francisco) :: White Fence is part of the current movement of 1960s sounding psych/garage rock bands and they recently released a live show on vinyl, cassette, and CD on Castle Face Records, the imprint run by John from Thee Oh Sees. I fell in love with WF from the recorded version of “Who Feels Right?” and this is just an onslaught of rock and roll music in your face. Tim Presley’s whiney vocals and crunchy guitar, and that British invasion style drumming make you want to shimmy and shake all night long.

White Denim – A Place to Start :: White Denim (different band with “white” in their name) just released their new album “Corisicana Lemonade”. This is a band that should be way bigger then they are. I loved their last two albums and this one is quickly becoming another favorite of mine. They will be in Birmingham at Bottletree next year and you don’t want to miss it. They could blow up soon.

The Beach Boys – You’re Welcome :: I just love this song and this is one of my favorite bands of all time. This one is a B side to the brilliant “Heroes and Villains” single from 1967. It’s also a perfect way to end this mixtape. You’re welcome.