From the Files of our Bloodiest London

Correspondent

A Scene Report on the Most Obvious Brit Bands Out There.

-Rachel Gottschalk-

Easy, mates! Ok. Let me start off by saying that I have not gotten into the “indie” scene here in London. I don’t know where it’s hiding. Maybe it’s literally underground in the dark corner of the tube station. The bands I’m going to enlighten you on now have all been featured in magazines like Q, the equivalent to the magazine line in the US… I mean the magazine Blender (you might not get that joke, it’s so very British). So, while this look at cutting-edge Brit rock might not require a Travelcard, it’s at least whiny.

First on the schedule (pronounced sans ‘c’) is O by Damien Rice, an Irish bloke who fancies imitating every emo singer/songwriter you’ve ever heard. Only problem is, his repetitive acoustic strumming and quivering falsetto crying out rejected Matchbox 20 lyrics are so bad you would think you were listening to a parody album. The schmaltzy strings section that accompanies him only makes the experience more painfully contrived. To be fair, there are a few good songs, but don’t bother with this album. You already have it, minus the crappy strings.

While we’re on the subject of the Irish, how ‘bout them Thrills? No, not the ones I get when I’m snogging, mates, but the extraordinarily talented ones who have produced some of the chillest Summer music this side of California with So Much for the City. Actually, the album was recorded in California, but that’s neither here nor there--unless you’re in California. The Thrills are a joy to listen to, with great vocal harmonies and smooth

Panama. What exactly is Panama? Is it a country in Central America? Is it a city in Florida where the girls are notoriously easy and inebriated during that one lovely week in March? Is it home to one of the greatest canals of the early twentieth century? I suppose that you could say it is all of these things, yet you must realize that it is so much more. “Panama” is perhaps THE GREATEST Van Halen song ever written. I mean sure, you can argue for “Jump,” but at the end of the day “Panama” will always be there for you.

Think about it for a second. You hear part of “Panama” once, and it’s worked its way into your head for the next week. This is because it keyboards. Great tunes for laying around, and I love laying around. Next on my list to buy. rules so much. You could lock me in a room for three days with just “Panama” on repeat, and at the end of it I’d be fine and have no problem listening to “Panama” some more. You know you feel the exact same way. So what makes “Panama” the masterpiece that it is? I’m not sure exactly. It just fits. You’ve got the 80’s rock being brought hard by the band, and then, just when you think it can’t get any better you’ve got Diamond David Lee Roth letting you know what’s up. What is up?

If you’re a Radioplay/Coldhead kinda lad (or lass), you’ll love (or hate) Muse’s new Absolution. The cheeky album title and the most unoriginal sound since the Strokes ripped off the Strokes might make you want to avoid this one, but it’s really not all that bad. They actually pull off the tried and true sound pretty well, and craft a few great sounding songs. The “trying-too-hard” vocals can be tough to listen to sometimes, but if you can get past that and their other inadequacies, it’s not a bad spin. I bought it. Next we have Starsailor, a 4 piece from England. First, let me say, all of the music in this article is a little more polished and popped out than I would like it to be. Not to be a snob about that, I think Silence is Easy is very beautiful and tender album. The vocals/lyrics can sound a bit manufactured at times…and are definitely highly repetitive, but it doesn’t take away too much from the intense melodies. It’s almost charming. I can best describe is as the kind of music you sing aloud to with your eyes closed. Bottom of my list of things to buy.

Tired of weepy sissy music? Do you want guitar smashing, big hair, and rock and roll? The Darkness is here. I’m sure many of you have heard of them since “On to America” seems to a very popular phrase in many reviews of Permission to Land (as if they have just conquered England?). These guys are a mix between 70’s pomp-rock and 80’s metal. They run around in open chested cat suits and appear to be having quite a time. Its really not my thing, but they are good at what they do. So, have a listen and don’t brush them off because they aren’t playing the tortured artist card.

I’ll tell you what’s up. “Panama, Panama, uh Panama, Panama, uh! “ Oh, and no, it’s not about any of those other subjects listed above. Well, maybe the second one to an extent. ROCK AND ROLL.

For the first time in my recent memory, Grandaddy, on Monday, September 29, headlined a show at the Roxy. To Jim Fairchild, bass guitarist, it was a welcomed change.

“Well, it definitely feels good to be headliner. When we opened a show for another band, we feel like they (the audiences) are not as informed on the details and things... and are not as musical as people who would typically come to our show,” he said.

Grandaddy has opened for Coldplay and Pete Yorn in the past. The performance that night was invigorating but mediocre. Many critics complain that Grandaddy’s new CD Sumday was a regression from their previous album, Sophtware Slump; a change from stellar to awesome (hehe). But equaling this regression was the band’s on-stage performance during the show.

With animated film projected illuminating the background of the stage, it seemed the band ultimately reverted the audience’s attention from their music to what was playing on the screen. It was unusual, but maybe the band was going for that appeal. Certainly, at this show, I felt they O.D.ed on the animatics, which theyve used sparingly in the previous shows, but as the headliner, I guess you get to do whatever you want.

Some of Grandaddy’s whimsical touches didnt change, however. Lead singer Jason Lytle’s beard was back (after he shaved it over the summer), trucker hats were still donned, and the porcelain cat tour mascot still perched on the edge of Lytle’s rickety keyboard.

The audience was treated to an hour and a half performance of songs from Sumday, Sophtware Slump, and Under the Western Freeway. The band’s childlike and light-hearted behavior made it hard for anyone in the audience to hate them. They have retained their nature-rules, woodsmen appeal. Grandaddy performed classic Sophtware Slump hits like “Broken Household Appliance… ” and “Crystal Lake.” Especially touching were Jason’s emotive vocals during “Hewlett’s Daughter,” paired with the home video of the band.

As Grandaddy’s favorite band to tour with ought to, the Super Furry Animals lit up the stage with their synthetic rockin’ sounds and their innovative approach to music. Lights were flashing and swirling about with big fog machines adding to the man-made ambience, creating the ultimate SFA-friendly atmosphere. Afterall, if you can’t enjoy the Super Furries during a chemically-induced allergy attack, when can you?

From the new CD, Sumday, the band performed hauntingly sad songs masked in upbeat tempos like “Im on Stand-by” and “O.K. With My Decay.” Fairchild said that Lytle had intended to write “happy” songs for the CD, but inadvertently slipped into his usual reflective mode, producing the bittersweet melodies coated in candy pop goodness.

Overall, the show was an enjoyable one. It’s always nice to see fans lip excitedly singing along to the songs. It definitely reflects the band’s high caliber and enormous popularity. Next time Grandaddy headlines another tour, perhaps they should dress in furry animal costumes so that I can be entertained more than I was at the Roxy.

-Lillian Lee-