Finally, this one has been finished for about a month, just haven't had time to produce the huge number of these things that go out in the mail.
1.
GNARLS BARKLEY – CrazyDJ Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green together as
GNARLS BARKLEY?? That’s right, you already like it even if you haven’t played it yet. Then, once you hear it- DAMN! A sure fire hit, I think. So far it’s just been kicking around the blogs plenty and Zane Lowe has played it with frequency on his Radio 1 program, but this combination seems destined for greatness> beats with soul. Street date on this one looks like this spring and will play Coachella.
GNARLS BARKLEY – Crazy Single - Downtown Records.2. SUICIDE SPORTS CLUB – Last Ghost In TownThe story behind London’s
SUICIDE SPORTS CLUB is really just a return to form by two big time club DJ’s: Luke Brancaccio (the man behind LA ‘90’s Starfucker club nights) & Bruce Aisher, this time creating something part clubby-part indie in a KASABIAN kinda way. Released last year in the UK on a full length called ‘
Electric Mistress’ on John Digweed's new imprint B_Rock Records, it seems ripe for discovery here stateside. A dirty club number - “
She Goes Up, she goes down, she goes down...” Great remixes of this song are dance floor scorchers.
SUICIDE SPORTS CLUB – Electric Mistress –B_Rock Records .
3. GUILLEMOTS– Who Left The Lights Off Baby?Now here’s a band that will be a breakout band in 2006:
GUILLEMOTS [pronounced "gullymots"]. They are a four-piece based in London that have all the radio guys (Zane Lowe & Steve Lamacq) behind them, & once you hear singer/keyboardist Fyfe Hutchins' voice, you'll understand completely this support. They've been out with TOM VEK & RUFUS WAINRIGHT recently, turning on these challenging fans to their unique sound. US Management: MCT Management, UK Management: Ed Millett. Agent: Paul Wilson GAA.
GULLIMOTS – Who Left The Lights Off Baby? – Fantastic Plastic.4. STARS OF THE CITY – 128For those that have been
FUTURE SOUNDS subscribers for some time, Dublin’s
STARS OF THE CITY should be very familiar. I love this band! I think they write better songs than SNOW PATROL and have more long-run potential than THE THRILLS. I just heard that they are close on a label/publishing deal that could put a single out soon, EP by summer. Looks from UK majors happening. Management: Joe Grogan, TPS Management. Legal: Gary Mandel. Needs: Booking.
STARS OF THE CITY –128 Single – No label.5. DAVID HOPKINS – Meet Me In The MorningBack-to-back Dublin artists, and another FUTURE SOUNDS regular, here is a track from David’s latest sessions recorded in-between tours in Ireland, where his Christmas single went Top 40 (his second Top 40 notch off his perfect record,
Amber & Green). This one reminds me of Gene Kelly in ‘
Singing In The Rain’, the kinda ‘feelin’ groovy’ gem that is absolutely gorgeous. 2006 looks to have Hopkins showcasing in London and LA while finishing a follow up record. Management: From The Future. Legal: Robert Reynolds.
DAVID HOPKINS – Demo – Reekus Records.6. LEMON SUN – Through These DoorsIf you hang around me at all you should already be fully aware of this Los Angeles act that returns to FUTURE SOUNDS:
LEMON SUN. This band is catching fire, and each new song recorded and written is an improvement on the last. Their star is beginning to rise here in LA, but a Japanese release and plenty of industry eyes appear to have them on track for even larger destinations. As cool a band as you’ll find anywhere – great personnel - great live! Legal: Peter Paterno, KHPB. Needs: Booking.
LEMON SUN – Demos – No label.
7. STYLOFONE – NighttimeIf they were going to make a soundtrack for a film like ‘
Dazed & Confused II’, this song would have to be the theme. The entire EP, ‘
Kings & Queens’, feels like one, continuous rumbling vibe.
STYLOFONE are like your favorite THIN LIZZY cut meets ‘
Fast Times At Ridgemont High’.
From Brooklyn, this is music for summer nights, hot rod cars, and the backseat – you know, some good ‘ol American rock ‘n roll for a change. Pitchfork gave them 4 outta 5. What a guitar hook! Touring regionally this spring. Legal: Saguit Saad. Needs: Management, Booking.
STYLOFONE – Kings & Queens EP - No label.8. GOLDSPOT – RewindLos Angeles’
GOLDSPOT are getting those underground tailwinds that generally lead to bigger things. Their Union Records CD, ‘
Tally Of Yes Men’ was named by NPR as on of the "The Best CD's You Didn't Hear This Year”. For fans of COLDPLAY, ELBOW, STEREOPHONICS, and KEANE, these guys have the likes of KEXP and KCRW in their corner. They were also just featured on ‘The OC’. Booking: Melissa Aubert, WMA. Legal: John Freund Management: Needs: Publishing.
GOLDSPOT – Tally Of Yes Men – Union Records.9. JONT – You Can Be The StarsFrom London England comes this singer songwriter known as
JONT. At first, I thought it was Chris Martin of COLDPLAY, but then I realized that they stopped writing interesting lyrics after the second record (come on, ‘
Let’s Talk’???). ‘You
Can Be The Stars’ begs for a movie placement, where we all end up empowered and inspired, this guy has tons of potential! Management: Tony Dimitriades, East End Management. Booking: Angus Baskerville, 13 Artists.
JONT – One Long Song - No label.10. MOVING UNITS – Dark WallsWait! I thought they broke up?? Not the case at all, as you can clearly tell. Los Angeles’
MOVING UNITS have some new label plans (goodbye to Palm) and some new demos – this being a track off of the 3 song I was handed. Like a fresh sounding NEW ORDER, sounds like they’ve made the switch from ‘angular’ to more lush and dreamy and dancey. Management: Blaine Kaplan, Taboo Management. Booking: Marc Geiger, WMA.
MOVING UNITS – Demos – No label.11. VOXTROT – The Start Of SomethingHere’s another band I simply LOVE – Austin, Texas’
VOXTROT! For any fan of THE SMITHS, THE HOUSEMARTINS, or early BELLE & SEBASTIAN, this band is another one that has a big upside in 2006. This song is off their EP, ‘
Raised By Wolves’, however their new ‘
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP’ will be in stores on April 4th or if you catch them out on the road with WE ARE WOLVES, CONTROLLER CONTROLLER & IRVING. Management: James Minor. Booking: Christian Bernhardt, Kork Agency.
VOXTROT – Raised By Wolves EP – No label.12. THE FRANK & WALTERS – Fashion Crisis Hits New YorkSometimes you simply completely miss a band altogether, and that is the case for me with this Irish band,
THE FRANK & WALTERS. I not only missed them, I missed them by a decade! Here is a band that once sold 500,000 copies of their album worldwide,
Trains, Boats And Planes in 1992, and their recent ‘we’re back’ CD (‘
Souvenirs’) sold around the 10,000 mark in Europe and was nominated for 'Best Irish Album' at the 2005 Meteor Awards, up against U2 and Damien Dempsey. Sounding like ADORABLE meets THE JAM at times, you may already know them, but the point is, they’re back! Management: Cillin O’Flynn. Needs: Label, US booking, publishing.
THE FRANK & WALTERS – The Frank & Walters - FIFA Records.13. ILLINOIS – NosebleedIllinois? What? These guys are from Pennsylvania. Their entire record,
The Revenge of Some Kid, has this kind of quirkiness and warmth, almost like older BECK but with a mix of PAVEMENT. I don’t have much information on them, haven’t seen them live yet, but this disc is one I play all the time. Order it off their website, beginning to appear on people’s radar, probably won’t stay in the shadows long.
ILLINOIS – The Revenge Of Some Kid – No label.14. THE BLACK ANGELS – Black GreaseAnother Austin, Texas act this month;
THE BLACK ANGELS - a band some of you should know if you listen to KEXP often or Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show. Taking their name and inspiration from The Velvet Underground's "
The Black Angel's Death Song", sounding like they’ve picked up where SPACEMEN 3, TBJM and THE WARLOCKS left off on that path. Their first full length, ‘
Passover’, will be released on March 28th on Light In The Attic Records. Manager: Brian Jones. Needs: Booking, legal.
THE BLACK ANGELS – The Black Angels EP – Light In The Attic Records.15. BIRDMONSTER – All The Holes In The WallsFew San Francisco bands have had more local chatter during the back half of 2005 as
BIRDMONSTER. Right away you love them for the name alone. This four piece gets lots of MODEST MOUSE comparisons, but that’s just lazy journalism, for it’s early days here and they’ve only recorded three tracks – this EP. They are currently down in LA recording their first full length. Everyone is onto this band now, won’t be long…Needs: Booking, legal.
BIRDMONSTER – EP – No label.16. STREET TO NOWHERE – They’re Not Like UsThanks to acts like THE ARCADE FIRE & CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH, everyone is scurrying around, desperate to find THE next phenomenon. Recently, this Bay Area band has received a lot of attention, blogs, and for good reason. Based around singer Dave Smallen’s BRIGHT EYES-like vocals, this young band is getting looks from everyone and is already getting plays at KITS in San Francisco. Will be at the Knitting Factory in LA on January 27th. Legal: Dave Kostiner, DSLMH Needs: Booking, management.
STREET TO NOWHERE – Charmingly Awkward – No label.17. THIS EPISODE – The MoviesTHIS EPISODE appeared previously on FUTURE SOUNDS 20, but has since recorded new material with producer Rick Parker (BRMC, THE SHORE) and then moved to Los Angeles to make it happen. This song is so damn catchy I have to tell you in that fantastic pop kinda way, like BERLIN or BANNANARAMA, with Desi Blondell sounding like a young BELINDA CARLISLE. Not for snobs, so get over yourself. Needs: Management, legal, booking.
THIS EPISODE – New Demos – No label.18. DAPPLED CITIES FLY – PeachHailing from Sydney, Australia, here is
DAPPLED CITIES FLY, a four piece as precious as say the GO-BETWEENS, FELT, or THE CLIENTELE. They’ve got a big following down under, having toured plenty and played the likes of the Falls Festival in Tasmania. Look for them in America at this year’s SXSW festival. Management: Troy Barrot, Hub Management. Needs: Booking, legal, US & UK partners.
DAPPLED CITIES FLY – A Smile – Smash Records.19. MASON PROPER – Life’s CornucopiaAnn Arbor, Michigan’s
MASON PROPER got my attention immediately upon hearing that memorable piano tinkle and those soaring vocals from Jon Visger. Their first full length, "
There is a Moth in Your Chest", will be released online on March 7th and they look to expand their footprint beyond the Great Lakes in 2006. Needs: Management, booking, legal.
MASON PROPER – There Is A Moth In Your Chest – No label.20. THE RUBY TAILIGHTS – SwitchI had this demo CD handed to me while visiting Ireland at the end of last year, and I was quickly taken by something gentle and low-fi and fuzzy. Formed in 2003 by Martain Kelly, former frontman of Dublin band SUNBEAR, this is Dublin, Ireland’s THE
RUBY TAILIGHTS. Thrift store-indie rocker types and fans of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, SUFJAN STEVENS, and BRIGHT EYES should warm up to this one. It just feels good. Needs: Management, legal, booking.
THE RUBY TAILIGHTS – Demos – No label.****************************************************
NEWS FROM THE FUTURE…THE POSIES – Having just finished their third leg of a European tour, they have it all happening in 2006 > BIG STAR dates in Europe,
KEN STRINGFELLOW solo dates,
ORANGER shows-SXSW, and a spring solo release and tour by
JON AUER (
Songs From The Years Of Our Demise – Pattern 25 Records). Look for a live concert DVD shot in Helsinki, Finland due out later this year.
FILM SCHOOL – Finally, the record dropped on January 24th – Film School - on Beggars Banquet. The band finished up their European tour with THE NATIONAL and will be touring the US with THE CLOUD ROOM, SXSW and EUROPE again before summer. This story is just beginning….
HABITFORMING – My favorite Bay Area freaks have been keeping plenty busy sharpening up the live act and creating a reputation for over the top performances in their hometown. Word has it a UK deal is on its way that might bring this arena rock ready foursome over to London for shows and a special UK tour before long. A remix of ‘
Intermingle’ is also getting tightened up and new songs are being introduced into the set with each new show.
SECRETS – The FROM THE FUTURE team has a number of ‘secrets’ up their sleeves for 2006; so pay attention while we announce some new signings and side projects.
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FINAL THOUGHTS… ROLL CALL: Some former FUTURE SOUNDS acts that have closed deals recently:
THE SPINTO BAND – V2 RECORDS
WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT – DIM MAK RECORDS
SCISSORS FOR LEFTY – ROUGH TRADE
THE DECEMBERISTS – CAPITOL RECORDS
WILLIE MASON – ASTRALWERKS
MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO & SO’S – ARTEMIS RECORDS
SPARTA – HOLLYWOOD RECORDS
THE HOURLY RADIO – KIRTLAND RECORDSNEW STUFF: Hardly anything really amazing, this whole holiday stretch has been a big yawn! The new releases have been less than insane, but I think it’s because we’re gearing up for some big things. ****
WE ARE SCIENTISTS (FS19) released their Virgin Records debut, 'With
Love And Squalor' - a long time coming and worth the wait. ***
THE BURNSIDE PROJECT. They've just released a gorgeous record on Bar None Records called
'The Finest Example Is You'- which was produced and mixed by Paul Mahjan of YEAH YEAH YEAHS/TV ON THE RADIO/THE NATIONAL fame. You may also remember this band from the Rolling Stone "Hot List" or for the theme song to Queer As Folk. Like an American NEW ORDER but with indie rock sensibilities. Fans of POSTAL SERVICE will love this cd. *** Dave Einmo, the guy behind
PATTERN 25 RECORDS has released an amazingly enjoyable record under the name
HEAD LIKE A KITE – ‘
Random Portraits Of The Home Movie’, which includes members of SMOOSH, KINSKI, THE POSIES, CROOKED FINGERS & SUSHIROBO. This concept record is built around sounscapes inspired by Super 8 home movies. *** Really enjoying the new release by
THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO, ‘
The Best Party Ever’ (Too Young To Die Records). This UK duo has touches of THE BEACH BOYS and even a bouncier OF MONTREAL. Innocent, childish, refreshing – check out ‘
Be Gentle With Me’. *** I secretly got a copy of the new
GRAHAM COXON album, ‘
Love Travels At Illegal Speeds’ that is due out in March on Parlophone, and it’s brilliant. This thing kicks the ass off ARCTIC MONKEYS, and you’ll agree. Track, ‘
I Don't Wanna Go Out’ – rocks! *** I LOVE the single, ‘
Be Without You’ by
MARY J. BLIGE *** The track available for download by San Francisco’s
KELLY STOLTZ called ‘
Memory Collector’ off his soon to be released Sub Pop debut ‘
Below The Branches’, is everything I enjoy in this incredible artist *** Looking forward to the solo effort coming up by
DONALD FAGEN of STEELY DAN named ‘
Morph The Cat’ due out March 7 on Reprise. He will also be doing a first time ever, solo tour that I’ll be attending. *** I heard a very, very interesting advance for the band,
PORTUGAL. THE MAN, called ‘
Waiter: “You Vultures!” (Fearless Records). Kinda like prog-indie rock, good stuff! *** San Francisco’s
THE OTHERSIDE have finished their self-released debut, ‘
Dead Trees’ for fans of THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN. *** I’m excited to get my hands on the new
SEAN HAYES cd, ‘
Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star’- he’s a longtime FUTURE SOUNDS favorite.***I LOVE the
JIM NOIR album,
Tower Of Love (No label). ***
**** Other names to watch: Tapes N Tapes, Bella, The Perishers, Aberdeen City, Protokoll, Bright Light Fever, The Ark, The Rinse, The Rumble Strips, Howling Bells, Rabbit Fighter, Cute Phase, Dust & Blood, Rock Kills Kid, & Fallout Trust.*****************************************************
*** FUTURE SOUNDS IS NOW A PODCAST THAT CAN BE FOUND ON ITUNES VIA ‘ON THE PULSE’- SUBSCRIBE TO NEW SHOWS TODAY.
