The Cribs - Last Year’s Snow
The Cribs - You’re Gonna Lose Us

The Cribs tore through a classic energy induced set at The Roxy this past Monday, with new fourth member, legendary guitarsmith Johnny Marr. and while he may be almost old enough to be their pops, the chemistry between marr and the other cribs was no less notable. sporting t-shits, leather biker jackets and early Richard Hell vs. current Kings of Leon butch haircuts, The Cribs wasted no time bashing out some brash gritty rock n roll.

the set was bold, unabashed. there was no banter between songs; aside from a request from Ryan Jarmen, that the lights be turned off in between songs (so the band could “look like rockstars”). and after their full-on feedback masterpiece of an ending to the set, there was no encore. and why should there have been? The Cribs had already put it all out front and on the table, the set being everything rock n roll and right fuckin classy. this was a classy fuckin’ show. fuckin’ class rock and roll.

kicking off on a high note with a new stomping anthem “We Were Aborted” from their latest release Ingnore the Ignorant, The Cribs then rolled straight into fan favorite and a somewhat ironic West LA theme on the night, “Hey Scenesters”. from there things soared, as the 4 piece performed a diversed set from their entire catalogue including favorites as “Men’s Needs,” “What About Me,” “Things Aren’t Gonna Change” and new favorites “Last Year’s Snow” and the single “We Share the Same Skies”. i found myself reflecting on a few things throughout this set:

1. these guys are fucking punk rock
2. this band belongs in clubs absolutely packed with 200 drunks spilling beer, slamming into each other, shouting at the stage and throwing their fists in the air..
3. Marr is a perfect addition, wayyy more appropriate than that Modest Mouse thing.
4. are those two really twins?
5. how do they keep doing that shit with their voice?!

In conclusion, The Cribs are the type of band that is imperfect in all the perfect ways. the groups fourth studio LP Ignore the Ignorant, released yesterday November 10th in the states, has shaped to be one of our favorites of the year. if you haven’t checked it out yet, then get familliar. also, stay tuned to b3science for an exclusive interview with the band..

myspace
buy Ignore the Ignorant

rating: 8.3

how much tail did marty get after this show?

Yourself And The Air - So You’ve Come to Mingle (exclusive download!)

Yourself and The Air - Sick Days (Daytrotter Session) (download here or at Daytrotter.com!)

Yourself and The Air - Stardust Motel (exclusive download!)

Youself and The Air - Lost and Found (exclusive download!)

hot off the heels off their Daytrotter Session, and amidst the preparation of their upcoming tour with Thing One, and Pomegranates, blahblahblahscience caught up with frontman Erick Crosby of Yourself And The Air to talk music, inspiration, el trains and pastry..

b3sci: Erick - as a young band finding their way through the masses, what obstacles have YATA overcome and what have come to be your general feelings about the music industry?
Erick: well. when we first started out, everybody in the whole world was like ‘yeah right, the music industry is one of the most difficult to be successful in, so make sure you have a back up plan’ and i was like what the fuck is this, back up plan? that’s just like telling yourself that you’re gonna loose. we came in with that mentality, swinging pretty hard… and after a lot of really hard work, here we are today with a great team of people… i also really like the uphill battle of the music industry, it makes every time that you actually accomplish something that much better.

b3sci: what’s at the top of the hill?
Erick: building a long steady career and having the ability to travel and play… then living would be pretty solid.

b3sci: let’s talk glockenspiel. how did it become part of your sound?
Erick: we found it on craigslist. i’ve always been a very huge fan of the glock. we had made this plan that every month we would buy a new instrument and bring it into the band. that was the first, and believe or not, i think it was the last? the glock is its own mystery.

b3sci: you seem enchanted with the glock?
Erick: yeah it sits in my room, i write on it.. even eat on it too. it’s become an interesting part of my life.

b3sci: nice. so what influences you in your life? it doesn’t necessarily have to be music, really anything that influences you to do what you love?
Erick: nature. living. hearing stories about people doing extra ordinary things. not being on your death and wishing that you could’ve done this or that. just everything man, there are always down times, but then you can just see something, anything, and that can change your life.

b3sci: right, think about how many people live their lives wishing they could’ve done this or that? think of all the “greats” and how they lived their lives..
Erick: yeah and even when they (the “greats”) are doing it, they are just human beings. they are no different then you or me. ANYBODY can do something, they just made up their mind and decided to do it… it’s about doing stuff. doing what you want to do and going through it.

b3sci: what other than music must you do during your life?
Erick: i want to ride my bike, from here to all over the continent. and i’d like hitchhike across the country too. haha i’m gonna videotape it and then sell it to the travel channel. i have it all made up too.. it’s called “the fat of the land”.

b3sci: haha hell yes! you will inspire sooo many hitchhikers.
Erick: haha. man, they’ve inspired me!

b3sci: dig it. so Chicago’s in the house. which el train wins in a race? blue, orange, brown??
Erick: i think, would the brown? i dunno, i think. honestly i never take the el. i’m like bicycle man.

b3sci: when people hear Yourself and The Air for the first time, what do you guys want them to walk away thinking?
Erick: hmm, i’d want them to walk away thinking ‘wow, i didn’t expect that’. i don’t want them to walk away thinking ‘oh these guys sound like them‘ which is hard because that’s why we know music, because of what’s been done before. but to be surprised and have someone appreciate it, even if they don’t like the music, if they can appreciate it still, that’s always the best.

b3sci: what makes a great song?
Erick: movement man. it’s gotta give you the chills. you know, those songs. songs that can make you forget where you are. they take you on their ride, be in their world for that moment in time.

b3sci: what songs do you come back to that have that effect?
Erick: “Thru the Eyes of Ruby” Smashing Pumpkins. being from Chicago I have so much love for them, what they used to be and what they’ve done. “Space Oddity” is my all time favorite song of forever. and all The Beatles, it’s all like that you know?.

b3sci: what’s your fav numetal group
Erick: what is that?

b3sci: haha you know, like your linkin parks, limp bizkets, blahblah late mid-nineties radio. that’s all i got, I was hoping you’d know…
Erick: umm shit man, i have no.. i don’t know.. i don’t rock that way dude. ask my bassist and you’ll get a legitimate answer.

b3sci: what’s your favorite italian pastry
Erick: hmm, i only know the one, it’s the one that i eat. its got a cream in it..

b3sci: is it a cannoli??
Erick: yeah that the one. that’s pretty good. i dig that. i feel bad, i don’t know any italian pastries..

b3sci:it’s cool man, you, me, Major Tom - we’ll grab a beer sometime and talk italian pastries. i’ve got the book on it.
Erick: oohhhoooo, it’s on! i need the education.

b3sci: so Daytrotter = new music?
Erick: yeah it was a great experience, i’m a big fan of the site. we decided to track a few of the new songs that we’ll be recording for our new album in November.

b3sci: they sound great man! we’ll be looking forward to the record. bowie and pumpkins going out to YATA. keep it real.
Erick: peace!

myspace buy

The Smashing Pumpkins - “Thru the Eyes of Ruby”

David Bowie - “Space Oddity”

Arctic Monkeys - “Crying Lightening”

Arctic Monkeys new single “Crying Lightening” is familiar and different in all the right ways. it’s a departure from there more “pop” single predecessors, and builds to be a solid track. off there upcoming LP Humbug to be released in late August, with several tracks produce by Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age.

purchase here

rating: 7.6

Art Brut - Slap Dash For No Cash

Art Brut - Formed A Band

Art Brut - Moving To LA

Art Brut’s performance at Echo this past Friday was the final of 4 small Los Angeles club dates in support of their new third album Art Brut vs. Satan, which was produced by some Charles dude. The record title as front man Eddie Argos explains, “Satan is everybody that’s against us. If you are not for us, then you are Satan, and I am against you.” Well said Eddie.

And so, how was it? Well.. was their hour and a half set of 2-3 minute songs nice, tight and pollished? Fuck no, well it was kind of tight, but for the most part blaring guitars complimented everything genuinely dirty, loud, obnoxious and brilliant that is Art Brut. And aside from their self-righteous commentary “we are Art Brut” before, during and after almost every song, which had me laughing for the the first 40 minutes before I realised they might be serious, the British/German hybrid found themselves extra enthusiastic about their week’s LA theme. Guitarist Jasper “Jeff” Future’s white Telecaster sported a classy Amoeba Music sticker (although most likely from their recent San Francisco in-store..), and Eddie Argos wasn’t shy to let everyone know how he felt about their city “…move to la you know every body hates you… I bought all my clothing within two blocks of here [and] Paris and LA are my favorite places in the world”. All appropriate before their fine rendition of “Moving To LA”.

When Eddie wasn’t jumping in the crowd for poetic monologues, he was doing some standard band slagging. “My sex is on fire?” “Are we human or are we dancer?” … “I don’t need to tell you what’s wrong with those bands”. A personal favorite off the new record “Slap Dash For No Cash,” closed the set beckoning “Why is everyone trying to sound like U2? It’s not a very cool thing to do. Why would you want to sound like U2?”. A song calling out all that is wrong with contrived music. His passion for honest music continued, before “Formed A Band” he rallied “we need more records in record shops, start a band…start a band”. Agreed.

Other highlights from the set included new single and set opener “Alchoholics Unanimous,” another newbie “DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake” and quite a few from their debut Bang Bang Rock and Roll, like “Emily Kane” and “Good Weekend”.

The night proved many things are admirable about Art Brut… the fact their drummer plays his full kit standing up, in what looked like boxer shorts, that they preferred to play a string of nights in packed intimate venues rather than 1 night at a less personable one, Eddie Argos will shamelessly throw handfuls of Planned Parenthood’s condoms into a crowd of horny youngins shouting “these wont work,” and most importantly that they are a no bullshit rock and roll band.. As they say “here’s one chord, here’s two more, now form a band”. If punk still exists, it exists in Art Brut.

get art brut vs satan

Death Cab For Cutie - I Wanna Be Adored (Stone Roses Cover)

don’t think the mp3 is from the same show..

“have we got any nickelback fans in portugal”… portugal?

and we love stevie wonder! woooooo! “if you really love me” is no doubt one of the greatest pop songs ever written.

fucking legendary, this is how its done, how sick is that jacket he’s wearing

Katy Perry - Electric Feel (MGMT Cover @ Radio 1 Live Lounge)

why not right? see there’s enough mgmt for everyone!

The Doves four album career has been a solid one that not many bands can boast… especially bands from the last 10 years. Droning melodic pleasure, this trio’s sonic atmosphere is comprised of a distinctive and soulful rock and roll that tugs at your ears the way your favorite food tugs at your taste buds.

The Williams brothers, Jez and Andy, Jimi Goodwin, and their unofficial fourth member keyboardist Martin Rebelski, induced a packed house at the Wiltern Theater this past Friday in LA. They kicked off their set with the steady crescendo of their single “Jetstream”, hinting their set may be heavy with songs off their new ‘return to their roots’esque’ release Kingdom Of Rust. Luckily it was, and favorites included the albums title track and single potential rocker “Winter Hill”.

Other highlights… “Catch the Sun” still sounded as good as the first day I heard it and they nailed “The Outsiders” and “Snowden” with particularly spot on vocals. In between jokes about sexy “slap bass” and our beloved James Brown, Doves delivered their set in fine tune.

The critically acclaimed trio has scored 2 #1 albums in the UK with The Last Broadcast and Some Cities, and their new release Kingdom Of Rust has reached number 2. They’ve shared bills with the likes of New Order, Travis, Muse, Roger Daltry, Suede, Low, Oasis, Elbow, The Strokes, Coldplay and U2. Still with this track record, in the US Doves find themselves in the same unfortunate rut of limited commercial success that befalls so many great British bands. It’s not their fault though, it’s no secret that the States are the bermuda triangle of British rock and roll. Freak phenomena aside music enthusiasts everywhere will continue to optimistically anticipate whatever the consistantly great Doves have to offer..

Doves - The Last Broadcast
Doves - The Man Who Told Everything

buy DOVES

you can really feel the thickness of the air/atmosphere and how the music just sits in it. just awesome.

holy shit, this is awesome. badu just kills it.

jim james, paul & tyrone @ bonnaroo:

but you don’t know how to act: