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ENTERTAINMENT
November 21, 2008 • THE ARROW
Two Westlake Bands Prepare to Join Other Local Favorites in competition... 12/06/08 7-11 P.M.
Battle of the Bands BY WAYNE HUANG
The Violet Hour
Deerhunter Achieves Royalty with Microcastle JIMMY MOORE EDITOR IN CHIEF
The date is May 31, 2008, and Bradford Cox, vocalist and frontman for the popular art-punk ensemble Deerhunter, is furious. Microcastle, the band’s third full length album, has just been leaked on the internet six months before its release date and is now available to anyone by means of illegal downloading. Fast forward to Aug. 16; Cox, while uploading a free EP to the Deerhunter blog, unintentionally allows public access to an entirely new album, Weird Era Cont., intended to be Microcastle’s surprise bonus disc. As if this is not enough, the bonus disc is in its unmastered state, meaning that he has unwittingly pulled the tarp off of a largely unfinished project. Cox will learn this same day that he has also inadvertently leaked Logos, an unfinished album by his solo project Atlas Sound. He now can do little but watch in horror as thousands of Deerhunter fans flock to illegally download his incomplete masterpieces. In an angry online letter to fans, he wrote, “If you have no respect for my privacy I will no longer be giving music away on this blog… The biggest irony is that those who distribute my demos and unreleased material are stealing from me when I was trying to give away something else for free.” Why is all of the controversy regarding Microcastle significant? The answer is simple: it happens to be one of the best albums of 2008. The album’s graceful opener, “Cover Me Slowly,” is hazy and blissful; as lush layers of effects-laden guitars mingle with Cox’s echoed vocal melodies, the band conjures a sense of serenity and elegance that is a noticeable departure from its usual abrasive, experimental punk music. Equal parts 90s alternative and 60s pop, Microcastle is a much more acces-
sible affair than the band’s previous album, the critically acclaimed Cryptograms. Whereas Cryptograms relied heavily on ambient, droning interludes and massive amounts of reverb, Microcastle oozes with beguiling melodies and catchy hooks while managing to maintain the airy, narcotic charm that brought the band to relative fame. Long prior to its release, Cox said of the new album, “I want things to be a lot shorter, I don’t want there to be as much long-windedness to it.” The album’s centerpiece, the wonderful “Nothing Ever Happened,” is a mesmerizing pop song; the tight drums beats, driving basslines, and wistful guitar riffs that dominate its first half eventually dissolve to reveal what could be the year’s most memorable melody. Weird Era Cont., packaged with Microcastle, provides fans of Deerhunter’s less straightforward work with an entire album more in-line with the band’s earlier material. Full of gauzy, psychedelic swirls and more raw production than its companion disc, Weird Era is buried under the familiar layers of reverb that brought Cryptograms to the tops of many yearend lists in 2007. This delightful, ethereal journey, spanning across both discs, is punctuated by “Cavalry Scars II/Aux Out,” a song that encapsulates and expands upon each element of Deerhunter’s trademark sound. At over ten minutes long, the song begins slowly before spiraling into a vibrant and shimmering climax. After the explosion abruptly stops and the song melts into its ambient closing stages, the listener may be sure that Bradford Cox and Co. have created something magical and career-defining with Microcastle and Weird Era Cont., and have proven Deerhunter to be one of the most important indie bands of the new millennium.
Growing Feathers
PHOTO BY WAYNE HUANG
PHOTO BY WAYNE HUANG
ALTERNATIVE FOR THE MASSES: The Violet Hour poses before their first show backstage at Rock City Studios.
As a mob of frenzied fans stormed the stage at the climax of The Violet Hour’s first concert at Rock City Studios in Camarillo, the band’s enormous potential became extraordinarily clear. On Dec. 6, the band will compete against six other local groups in the annual Battle of the Bands competition at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center. The Violet Hour has five original compositions so far (three on Myspace), and is comprised of lead guitarist Michael Topper ‘11, bassist Ryan Brown ‘11, drummer Josh Pearlman ‘11, rhythm guitarist Sawyer Fox ‘11, and vocalist Alex Macat, who attended WHS last year. With intense vocals and blistering progressions, they masterfully combine elements from alternative bands like My Chemical Romance and Brand New. “I’m looking forward to our band’s future,” said Fox of his band’s newfound success. For a band that has played only one official show, The Violet Hour has already gained a loyal fan base and high expectations for success in the competition. The Violet Hour can be found online at www.myspace.com/theviolethourband.
at the Thousand Oaks Teen Center
A GROWING MOVEMENT: Growing Feathers flaunts its talent at a concert in Camarillo.
Rising from the proverbial ashes of Waltz Reprise, Growing Feathers is guaranteed to shake up the local music scene with their unique blend of power and accessible melodies. The band features ex-Waltz members Juan Uribe ‘09, Travis Meador, and Ray Libby, as well as Michael Sadighian ‘09 and Joey Anderson. Each member of Growing Feathers has incredible skill in his respective instrument, and their unique style creates ambience without sacrificing tempo. The resulting effect is a fluid and cohesive sound that many groups have difficulty reaching even after several years and
records together. Their line-up, featuring three vocalists, exceeds expectations for a local band and complements the band’s intense instrumental layering. Despite the band’s relative youth, Growing Feathers is definitely a heavyweight in this year’s Battle of the Bands. Their talent and undeniable chemistry makes for an incredible live experience While the band has yet to record their songs, their performances are still wellattended. With their catchy and melodic sound, Growing Feathers has a bright future. The band may be found online at www.myspace.com/growingfeathers.