Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ’08

While there are pop artists that are bringing sexy back, Jay Reatard may quite possibly be the man to bring punk back from the dead to the ears of the living.

Jay Reatard is a punk-garage band from Memphis, Tennessee with a new album that came out October 7. The music on this album, which is titled Matador Singles ’08, is short, but most defiantly not sweet. This is true, because punk is calcified as anything but sweet, and in most cases it is sour. This album’s sound is a very raw recorded album, which gives off the same kind of vibe that you would get from playing old punk records like Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols, or any of the early Clash records.

Jay Reatard’s vocals in his album have some what of a grunge version of the vocals from Cheap Trick in a few of the songs off this new album, such as the song “Always Wanting More.” The music in every song on this album has a fast paced, up beat tempo and is full of energy, which I can imagine, is transferred from sound and the movement of the people.

If you are a lover of punk, defiantly check this man’s music out.

Tracklisting:
01. See Saw
02. Screaming Hand
03. Painted Shut
04. An Ugly Death
05. Always Wanting More
06. You Mean Nothing to Me
07. Flourescent Grey
08. Trapped Here
09. Hiding Hole
10. D.O.A.
11. No Time
12. You Were Sleeping
13. I’m Watching You

Jay Reatard: website | myspace

Written by: Kyle Thurin

Interview with: Kyle Dee of the Frantic

Chicago group The Frantic is getting people in a frenzy for their delectable pop punk songs, but lead singer Kyle Dee took a little break from their busy schedule to speak with Hanna Marie Pageau about what it is like to gain success fresh out of high school. Due to some technical difficulties, the interview was conducted via email.

by Kevin Knight

Hanna Marie Pageau, Popwreckoning: How did your band get started? How did you guys meet and all that good stuff?
Kyle Dee, The Frantic: Ian [Farnesi], Chris [Farnesi] and I have known each other since kindergarten. We’ve grown up playing music together, always trying to start a band and playing at our friends birthday parties.
Brett [Hartwell] happened to be at one of those parties in 8th grade. He filled the drums for us and we knew right away that it was a special connection.

PW: Where did your band get it’s name?
KD: It’s a Metallica song.

PW: How did it feel to get signed being so young?
KD: Getting signed is the goal that every band strives for. It’s not usually something that just happens. We’ve worked very hard to get where we are and we’re very thankful for the opportunities that we have.

PW: Do you think the fact that you were so young will have an effect on anything?
KD: I don’t. Some people may think what they want about our age, but we’re no different. We wouldn’t be doing anything else right now, which is why we chose to do this at a young age. We have plenty of things to experience and plenty of time to learn.

PW: How would you describe your sound?
KD: We play fast, energetic, punk rock. It’s catchy pop songs, with punk edge and punk roots. I think Chicago’s music scene seems to have a distinct sound. My dad raised me always listening to bands like Material Issue and Cheap Trick, so that rubbed off on the way I write music. We’re young guys going through what teenagers go through, and I think that comes out in our sound.

PW: Who are your biggest influences?
KD: Personally, my biggest influences are bands that I grew up admiring like Green Day or Rancid. The other guys have totally different taste than I do and when you put it together, we make The Frantic.

PW: How did it feel to be listed as one of the 100 bands to know in 2008 by Alternative Press?
KD: AP is awesome and we’ve been reading it for years! To be grouped with so many great bands and to belong in that same category was very exciting for us. It’s something we are proud to be able to tag to our name.

PW: How did it feel to get to play both SXSW and Warped this year?
KD: Both festivals are completely different from each other. They are both a lot of hard work, but are both great opportunities at the same time. Being surrounded by such talented people kind of makes everyone step it up to their best ability and that’s awesome to see. It’s not all work and no play though. We had a lot of fun at both. You never know what you may run into at those shows.

PW: What are your band plans for the rest of 2008 and for 2009?
KD: We’ve been home now for a few weeks dedicating ourselves to writing the next record. It’s cool to work out some new stuff, but we’ve almost become attached to being on the road. We plan to get back into the studio over the winter and then we are aching to get back on tour all through spring, release a new record come summer time, and tour with that all summer.

PW: Who would you most like to tour with in the future?
KD: The Blink reunion tour would be cool. Or the Foo Fighters or Green Day. Nah, maybe Slayer.

PW: What’s the craziest thing that’s happened at one of your shows?
KD: We’re always doing stupid, crazy stuff. The adrenaline kicks in and you forget what you’re doing sometimes. One time I did a stage dive that failed. Haha.

PW: What’s your favorite song to play live?
KD: I really like the fast songs that can get the crowd jumping around and sweaty. We’re really enjoying playing some of our new stuff too.

PW: What song gets the best reaction live?
KD: “Audio & Murder” was our single so people seem to like that. We do a cover of the song “Build Me Up, Buttercup” and it’s cool seeing everyone from the youngest kid in the crowd to the adults in the back of the room all singing along.

PW: What do you hope people who come to one of your shows or buy one of your CDs get out of listening to your band?
KD: I want our music to take people somewhere that they enjoy being. Music tends to go the same direction nowadays and we want to surprise people with something refreshing that makes them say “I needed that.”

The Frantic: website | myspace

My Top Five: Covers

In no certain order:

1. “Across the Universe” by Rufus Wainwright (The Beatles): As a PopWreck writer and person of remote musical knowledge, I comprehend that no one can orchestrate the Beatles music the same way that John, George, Paul and Ringo did. While many have tried, all have failed and few were even in the same league. Wainwright’s cover of “Across the Universe” remains one of those few. Rufus has always been known for having more of a voice suited for show tunes rather than pop songs. This aspect alone gives him a substantial advantage over other Beatles balladeer hopefuls. His voice remains tender in all the spots that John intended, leaving the vocals as timeless and poetic as they were the day they were recorded in Abbey Road studios 37 years ago. In his 1970 interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Lennon referred to the song as perhaps the best, most poetic lyric he ever wrote. Wainwright’s ability to keep “Across the Universe” vintage and historical while updating it with his signature crooner sound is a true testament to his brilliance and beauty.

2. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinéad O’Connor (Prince): Few people actually realize that in 1985, The Family, a funk band created as another excuse to release Prince’s music, released a self-titled album. While “Nothing Compares 2 U” was a product of that album, it was never released as a single and received little recognition. Sinéad O’Connor’s version of the song, from the 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got, highlighted a passion and depth that Prince couldn’t bring in The Family’s version, garnering worldwide exposure for the song. The most moving part of the song comes with the lyric, “All the flowers that you planted, Mama” in which you can hear the struggle in the her powerful and heartfelt voice. It is rumored that this is because Sinéad had a very complex relationship with her late mother whom she claims abused her. It is my belief that her use of person heartache is what make this song so timeless.

3. “Ain’t That a Shame” by Cheap Trick (Fats Domino): There is just something about listening to the hordes of screaming Japanese girls drowning out the band. This song has the same way of moving me that “I Want You (To Want Me)” does; It gives me goosebumps and makes me want to dust off my gear, get my ass back in shape, and go back on tour. This song is an endless reminder of why there is no place better than the stage. And for that, I love it.

4. “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen): “Hallelujah” was first born on Leonard Cohen’s 1984 album Various Positions. However, if you name a band chances are they have either recorded or performed “Hallelujah” live. The best known version of this song, however, is easily the Jeff Buckley cover.

5. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding” by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (Nick Lowe): The song was originally released in 1974 on the album The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz by Lowe’s band Brinsley Schwarz. It was then the B-side of Lowe’s “American Squirm” and was credited to Nick Lowe and His Sound. At the time Lowe was Elvis Costello’s producer, and he produced this track as well. When the song became a hit, it was quickly appended as the last track to the U.S. edition of Costello’s album Armed Forces.
Also, Elvis Costello is God. Period.

Also worth mentioning:
“Respect” by Aretha Franklin (Otis Redding)
“Boys of Summer” by the Ataris (Don Henley)
“Against All Odds” by the Postal Service (Phil Collins)
“I Fought the Law” by the Clash (Bobby Fuller Four)