D.V.O.’s Neighborhood

Such a nice night for mid-November at the 400 Bar. Athletes in Slacks (myspace) warmed up the crowd with their laidback loungey harmonizing sound that only two keyboarders and a guitarist can produce. The band claims all their songs are about love, except later on their hour-long set, they introduced a song about hating two guys from New York. They did finish strong with a cover of INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", and that's what really matter.

The first time I heard about Swedish band Little Dragon, was in January. Ceji was really into them. Since we generally like Swedish bands here, I did try and keep up with their whereabouts. As it turns out, they're in the middle of their tour through the US to promote their sophomore album, Machine Dreams. Although the band's been here already, they confessed last night that this was their first time in Minneapolis.

They didn't do Ceji's favorite "Recommendation" song, but I though hands-down their best song played was "After The Rain", complete with an amazing ending.

From what I heard from their live set, their new songs seems to drifts from the R&B and Jazz influence to more electro and beats. I think the combination works well for them, especially since I like their big beats/electronica sound.

Little Dragon

So one thing I should point out is that singer Yukimi Nagano's dance moves looks very martial and yoga-like. She's often doing this tough smirk and her fists in boxing stance. It's as if she's saying, "bring it on". The way she dances and handles herself, she seems like she was born to be an entertainer.

I've been to a lot of shows lately, and I can tell you that this was one of the best shows yet. They're heading their way to the East Coast, so definitely check them out. If they're not heading through your city, you should check out Machine Dreams, out now on Peacefrog Records.

The Maladies

The Maladies - Album Launch - Oxford Art Factory

It was a dark and stormy night.... well, less stormy and more irritatingly rainy.... anyway it was a night to venture out for the purpose of viewing the album launch show of Sydney boys, The Maladies. 

Playing a bunch of songs from their debut album, With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down, it was a pretty fine show, I must say. Loud, dirty, bluesy rock, from foot tap inducing tunes to slow, sullen mini-epic songs, but still not quiet. I'd never actually been to a Maladies show before so I was not sure what to expect. Thankfully, it wasn't disappointing in the slightest. I can only assume that the horn section and the back-up lady singers might have been a special occasion for album launching purposes, possibly not the correct sized stage for so many people to squish on to, but you really can't go wrong with a very large saxophone. All the same, quite impressive musicality, the entire band (including back-up musicians on this particular occasion) didn't put a foot wrong. Nice.

Ask me to name a track. Well no, I can't because I am yet to acquire a copy of the album, but i can assure you, that either catching a Maladies show and/or purchasing your very own copy of With You Right By My Side, Baby The Deal Just Can’t Go Down is quite a good idea.

If you are in Brisbane or Melbourne you are in luck because there's more shows to be played:

19 Nov - The Step Inn Fortitude Valley, Queensland w Mexico City & Sue Ray           

27 Nov - The Tote Melbourne, Victoria. w James McCann’s Dirty Skirt Band, Black Pony Express & Little John.           

 

An honourable mention also has to go to Jamie Hutchings. I'm sure he's being playing shows in some form or another since before the dawn of time. Always enjoyable.... and, it seems, about to embark on a tour of europe, so if you're over that way, be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled. Or maybe just look at his website for tour dates (might be easier).

The Maladies - http://www.myspace.com/themaladiesband

Jamie Hutchings - http://www.myspace.com/jamiehutchings

The Rocketsmiths

The Rocketsmiths

The Rocketsmiths.... brought to me by facestalk.... but really.... considering the vast volumes of bands that pop up via the internet I must admit this offering from The Rocketsmiths is not too shabby at all. Not what i'd usually admit to listen to. 

Anyway, a neat little tune named Doctor has landed on my earpod, and i must say I like it. It's simple, it's pounding, straight down the line. Punk pop, short and sweet. A five piece from Brisbane, The Rocketsmiths have been around for some time (well, since 2006 at least) and released a handfull of EP's. Well worth further investigation.

Tour dates for the Doctor tour... here:

20 Nov 2009 - MUM at World Bar, Kings Cross, Sydney,

21 Nov 2009 - The Clubhouse (formerly Empire Corner Bar), Fortitude Valley

The Rocketsmiths -http://www.rocketsmiths.com/

Fan Death

Fan Death

Well, according to Wikipedia (an obvious reliable source) Fan Death is "a South Korean urban legend which states that an electric fan, if left running overnight in a closed room, can cause the death of those inside (by suffocation, poisoning, or hypothermia)." 

As for the band, Fan Death is a couple of ladies who make a brand of discotheque pop stylings of the type that I have never heard before. It's like modern disco, really. Very simple standard disco backing with two female voices singing over the top. Enough to drive you nuts if disco isn't your thing, but i have a little soft spot for disco music....(thanks mum), but not so much for this tune (bring on the Walter Murphy Band... ahem). 

There's not a lot of obvious information available as to where these ladies are from, so I can only assume that they are american and it appears there are no live shows on the horizon. Maybe they've gone to Korea to dispel the rumours.

Fan Death -http://www.myspace.com/fandeath

Sally

sally@weheartmusic.com

Today~ a gift♥ from Paul-kun arrived~!。。。o(*´∀｀)o゛when I was unable to attend the Anime Expo held earlier this year in L.A. (;_;) he was so *thoughtful* as he was thinking about sending me some items from the event...before we even spoke~ (*´∀｀*)！Hmm..there's sort of a story of how these became delayed but it was so much my fault (ノロ≦。)！A~h! so many items that Paul-kun sent and I want to say *thank you*~! so much!! you're such a wonderful friend~ o(*´∀｀)o゛ ！W~ah! I really can't say *thank you* enough~!! ＾　＾！

The two Momusu photo sets are absolutely gorgeous~ and I especially love Gakki and Kamei's! and Junjun's and Aichan's and Reinachan's and....hm I love~ them all。。。(。ーωー。)♪♪～ *Thank you* so much for my very first Hangry & Angry photo set~ ＼(^o^)／☆。。Yossi and Rikachan look so wickedly great~! A~h the Momusu in USA event shirt might appear a bit strange above but it's because it's folded over in one corner and I'm really hesitant to actually wear it as I'm thinking of it as more of a collector's item~ (^-^*)。I love the mirrored logo...so *pretty* ne~!

I imagine that everyone who attended the expo must own these but I scanned them anyway just below...just click on any individual photo card image for a larger image size~.....




Paul-kun was so *sweet* to also include the CD of a Chinese artist that he's really fallen in love with recently~ as he's always experiencing so much new music♪♪～ I think~! (￣▽￣)♥ I've been listening♪～♪♪～♪♪～一日中～！ヽ(。´▽`。)ノ。。！I only own one other Chinese pop album from awhile back by Sandy Lam although she's singing in mostly English so today's listening♪ was so much a new experience for me~....the artist is "Rainie" pronounced ”レイにー。ヤン” as her full name~. This is a Japanese release but all tracks are sung in Chinese which is really so sweet♥ with it's softness and *swishy*♥ pronunciations ＾　＾。

Rainie's album is titled "Dokodemo Door" (as translated into Japanese~) and includes 10 tracks and an additional DVD with seven of her music♥videos~!! It's sometimes a bit rare when an entire album plays through so catchy~ and "Dokodemo Door" does just that so much~!!

Rainie's vocals encompasses such natural vocal control and elegant nuances~ with a most *sweet* falsetto~♪♪ and yet she projects powerfully when the melody calls for it~! Such amazing range and *feel* in her voice~ and it translates so well to this album's collection of beautiful contemporary ballads to a most lively side of pop~ which delves into an almost nostalgic retro early 90's sound at times...all the while keeping its modern edge~.

Below I've chosen two very different music videos which have nearly polar opposite musical arrangements to accompany them in hopes of *sharing* a wider scope of her music both visually/musically and both are from the included DVD~ which is purely awesome~!!! One is a most sweet♥ contemporary pop ballad while the second pv has a so awesome break in the middle sandwiched between all of the high energy *cuteness*!!! Both pvs have an amazing production behind them and they're so truly unique and so so creative....you'll see what I'm speaking of when you click below to play~! ↓↓

At first I was thinking I would include my most favorite♥ songs here but then her entire album is so *amazing*!! so instead I included the first eight tracks of "Dokodemo Door" and they're just below the pvs~....kiite ne~! o(*´∀｀)o゛ (all song titles are in their Japanese translated forms~)

Rainie Yang's CD+DVD release album can be ordered here at Cdjapan.

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ps~ Paul..I ♥ your meishi~ ＾　＾！