MUSIC
BEVERLY
COUSINS
Frankie Rose is back on the drums again after a few years playing guitar and fronting Frankie Rose and the Outs. In her newest band, Beverly, she collaborates with guitarist/vocalist Drew Citron who plays in Rose’s backing band and the pop group Avan Lava. Rose has consistently shown herself to have a keen ear for arrangements and this time she and Citron draw upon ’90s bands like the Amps and early Weezer, with more than a pinch of Stereolab. They’re at their best when they stay at least mid-tempo like the two opening tracks, “Madora” and “Honey Do.” Some of the slower tracks seemed to drag, although I must say, “Yale’s Life” did make me nostalgic for the Twin Peaks theme song.
Somewhere between washed out and punk, Cousins are releasing The Halls of Wickwire on Ba Da Bing this May, which will fill the bill for their US tour with Chad Van Gaalen. The Halifax duo created a punk album that we yearn for this decade, with its pop undertones, sharp drumming, and reverb soaked vocals. The stand-out tracks are “Death Man” which starts slow but begs you to stay for a classic punk (and almost ’80s) feel and “Mess” which comes with an off-color video from Canadian filmmaker, Neal Moignard. The album weaves in and out of your emotions with its hard guitar and lyrics that ask you simply “What’s your name, what’s your name?”
Careers Kanine Records / July 2014
While Rose’s drumming is very pared down (think Moe Tucker) she shines at the center of any band she is in. She’s finishing up a solo record, so unfortunately, she won’t be joining Citron on tour for this album.
The Halls of Wickwire Ba Da Bing Records / Hand Drawn Dracula May 2014
Listen to this: to get pumped for your first drum lesson. —Attia Taylor
DESPICABLE ZEE
Despicable Zee BG Records / September 2013 I took a public speaking course once. The most memorable exercise required us to eat while reading aloud. Who knew chewing a Rolo would make me a better speaker? But something about having too many things going on makes you take nothing for granted. I talked pretty and had a blood-sugar spike to boot. The same can be said of Despicable Zee (Zahra Tehrani): the beat-maker out of Oxford does her best when she’s doing too much. The strongest songs of her five-song self-titled record are the first, “Introduction,” a densely layered beat-andvoice mash up, and her melody-synced collaboration with Stray Dog, “Give Up.” Stray Dog must have the same voice coach as me: the video shows her staring at the audience, chewing up a few days worth of food and belting her heart out, DZ’s steady beats pushing her on. Listen to this: when you want a beat-y snack. —Emily Nemens
Listen to this: On the way home from the beach with sand stuck to your skin and salt water in your hair. —Rebecca DeRosa
CHAIN & THE GANG
DEX ROMWEBER DUO
THE COLOURIST
K Records knows their stuff. Their passion for minimalistic, bass fuzz, funky, post-pop “little” bands has been tried and true since Calvin Johnson was a DJ at the indie radio station KAOS-FM when he was fifteen. Chain & the Gang is that quintessential lo-fi band; jangling over-driven guitars, shouts, and shudders, all topped with a middle finger to the listener, Chain & the Gang demands musically: ‘like us or go home.’ Their new record Minimum Rock and Roll drips with sarcastic, self-aware tracks (“I’m a choice/ not a child/ you’ve got the choice/ to drive me wild/ make the choice to stay/ with me a little while”). Chain & the Gang is Gene Vincent on acid meets X-Ray Spex.
Jack White is already on record saying that Dex Romweber and his Flat Duo Jets were a major influence on his music, both for Romweber’s rockabilly swagger and wild man blues. In Romweber’s massive oeuvre, the Dex Romweber Duo (with his sister Sara pounding on the drums) newest release, Image 13, is no different—chalk full of crunchy, Danelectro riffs, sparse and bone crunching drums, and Romweber’s distinct whiskey soaked vocals. Tracks like “Beyond The Moonlight,” with its hand-clapping, story telling jive to the Zombies inspired “So Sad About Us,” Dex Romweber Duo’s latest addition reminds what exactly good old fashioned rock ’n’ roll really is in this sea of laptops and 808s.
Life is not a box of chocolates, it’s a box of crayons, according to the world of The Colourist, an Orange County based band delivering us their recent self-titled new release of infectious dance beats and good spirited harmonies. The brainchild of Adam Castilla and drummer Maya Tuttle, The Colourist are a candy coated pop gum ball machine, rolling out head-bopping tunes for a penny. “Say What You Need” is a notable stand out amongst the other sparking gems, landing stylistically somewhere between Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah and Metric. It is nearly impossible not to smile and start dancing the moment the first track booms out from your bedazzled speakers.
Listen to this: to fit in perfectly into no-wave history.
Listen to this: when you want to grab your partner, spin them around, and pound down some moonshine in the Spring rain.
Minimum Rock and Roll K Records / May 13
—Matthew D’Abate
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TO M TO M M A G A Z I N E
Images 13 Bloodshot Records / March 2014
—Matthew D’Abate
The Colourist Republic Records / March 2014
Listen to this: if the doctor says you’re depressed and dancing is the only cure. —Matthew D’Abate