makeupbreakup – We Prefer Not To…

As a drummer, I’ve also been that asshole in the back of the venue sporting the “drum machines have no soul” t-shirt. Needless to say, it isn’t an easy task to impress me with electronic music. A majority of the time, in my opinion at least, it all seems to use the same unimpressive, cookie cutter copied blueprints of how to make an album that leaves me wanting to flip the lights in my living room on and off in a mock rave.

Yet, there are also those rare few bands who manage to break the “insert Moog over Casiotone drum tones” mold. makeupbreakup is certainly one of those exception. With a sound that somehow mixes “Golden Years” David Bowie with the best aspects of Depeche Mode, catchy hooks made up of Moog riffs so sweet they should come with a FDA warning for diabetics are just a given.

Lyrically, however, a great deal of unnecessary pressure is placed on the shoulders of the musical composition of the albums songs, as the storytelling is rather simplistic and drab. “Jungle City,” We Prefer Not to…’s third track, seems to be the only cut on the album that sways from this path, attempting an effort at lyrics that go a touch deeper than not. However, these boys never claimed to be writing to please fans of The Beatles, choosing instead to please the masses who swear by She Wants Revenge and New Order.

So, if you find yourself in the latter group, please check out this album, which will be released nationally August 19th, 2008 on S.A.F. Records.

makeupbreakup: website | myspace

Dead Leaf Echo – Pale Fire

The 70s and 80s had a lot of good, innovative music. It only makes sense that modern bands would try to emulate the sounds that skyrocketed groups like The Cure and Depeche Mode to a level of success that allows them to sell out tours even to this day. However, with all the great music ideas, there are also many bad ones and New York indie rock group Dead Leaf Echo comes close to learning what happens when the best and worst ideas are paired together.

Their latest release, Pale Fire, features all the effects and distortions that any shoegaze fan would expect, but the caterwaul vocals are so overly distorted and imbalanced at times that the EP makes a person think this group would have been better off naming themselves Dead Cat Echo instead of Dead Leaf Echo. Dead Leaf Echo constantly teeters between their goal of lush, ethereal vocals and obnoxious, over the top mewling.

If Dead Leaf Echo could have harnessed what they were trying to achieve, this record could have been brilliant. The instrumental explosion found at the end of “Thought Talk” gives a taste of this potential brilliance. The density of the instrumental build carries the listener from track to track, effortlessly using decrescendos and crescendos at the perfect moments.

By the end of the EP, the fluidity of the songs leaves the listener feeling that they took a dark trip through one long, emotional piece. Sure there were ups and downs like the bumps in the road caused by the inconsistent use of vocals, but it was an interesting trip. Although, if this really was a car ride, I doubt many would have the patience to sit through it.

Dead Leaf Echo’s Pale Fire is available now on Year of the Gallon.

Tracklisting:
01. Warm Body
02. Thought Talk
03. Tears
04. Cry the Sea
05. Pale Fire
06. Reflex Motion

Dead Leaf Echo: website | myspace

Written by: Bethany

When Rainbows Changed the World

Though it is very rare, every once in a while a band finds a way to single handedly rewrite the rules of how the music industry is run. Radiohead’s unprecedented internet release of In Rainbows, which shunned label or representation, has seemed to inspire other artists to join the “end of the record label” movement. The following artists have already expressed interest in following Radiohead’s lead towards a different era if music.

Sufjan Stevens:

At the rate that Stevens creates new material, it is without doubt that internet release could be of a great benefit to his career. Since he already possesses a majority of the control over his projects, via his label Asthmatic Kitty, look for him to approach his next record in the way that he does all of his work; however he pleases.

Pearl Jam:

The Seattle band has already released several live recordings to fans, and set up practical means for online distribution and payment. Furthermore, since Pearl Jam remains on a “per-album” record deal with Sony BMG, they have the freedom to venture out on their own at any point.

Depeche Mode:

After releasing eleven studio albums, Depeche Mode feels that their need for label representation has greatly deteriorated due to the fact that they can still sell records and fill venues without regular radio play.

Prince:

Has already proved his success by distributing new music on his website through his music group, NPG music group. He also released his latest album in partnership with a online daily London newspaper. Lastly, Prince’s effort to “gain control of the internet” sheds light on his desire for all Prince related information to come from the man himself. Is something big planned in his future?

Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails:

Following his public split from Interscope and the Universal Music Group, Trent Reznor openly stated his intentions to release the groups next album through his groups website for five dollars. Five dollars! Now that’s a plan that I can get behind.

Courtney Love:

Love, who is not presently signed to a label, recently blogged on her MySpace about how captivated she is by the Radiohead album release path. Don’t be shocked if her newest album, currently titled How Dirty Girls Get Clean follows suit.

Underworld:

The electronica duo launched an online store called the River Run Project which groups MP3s with digital photos. The group sites that “the ability to make music available immediately” remains the most important thing.