Something Borrowed Something New

Somehow I have been only able to achieve a work-work-work/life imbalance in the month+ since my last post. It's been pretty rough. At my most demoralized, having deafened all sounding boards - seriously, your family & friends need you to fulfill your role and get the fuck over it - I, as always, leaned heavily on music for cope. In my few times of raw, broken-spoked emotional need, I have never sought miserable company. I have always been selfish enough to prefer my own anguish. Though I love Chris Bell and Elliott Smith, when I am low, I don't drop the needle on needle in the hay. Back when I got dumped by my first girlfriend, a former pal (though not former directly as a result of this recommendation, it would prove a harbinger) suggested I borrow Springsteen's Tunnel of Love. Besides the sorta stupid title, it's kinda sappy and unBoss. Thank God for Pleased to Meet Me.

To date in 2012, there have been a couple of titanic and a few really great records jumping up to be heard - the Dinosaurs and Tuffs and GBVs - that I've written about and the cinchy greatness of the Divine Fits debut rocked socks. But two records I loved this summer by virtually new bands have come back to front of playlist in my neediest recent hours. From the just can't shake them file, here are two 5* efforts that have soothed my pain like a gingerale rain:

Nude Beach II Finally, Brooklyn (home to the most per capita critically acclaimed musical artists in the world, a decent brewery, one mediocre basketball team and soon one shitty hockey team) has a full-custom, crackin power pop outfit - Nude Beach is kicking some funemployed ass! On their second LP, the virgin release from NYC indie record store/now label Outside Music, Nude Beach II, this power trio brings the heart-sleeved passion of late 70's rave-up bands like The Real Kids and The Nerves to a superb 12-song set. The songs are hooky, rowdy and pleasingly referential without being tribute night obvious. The band shakes like a looser, party-vibing Attractions. Crackling opener "Radio" sets the tone: a favourite t-shirt of tumbling drums and chiming guitars and Chuck Betz singing his heart out. Throughout II, Betz brings a well schooled and earnest vocal performance. Whether its the stand-out rocker "Some Kinda Love" where he really-really-means it like vintage Joel Plaskett or lonely boy lament "Loser In The Game" where he summons Clive Gregson from classic sad poppers Any Trouble, his voice is the winningest element in a superb set of songs. There is lots of stuff to like here for fans of the classics: "Cathedral Echoes" kicks out The Jam with hyper, giddy up Ted Leo style guitar strumming and propulsive drum fills, Tom Petty pops up on "Love Can't Wait" and standout  "Walking Down Your Street" deftly cops a feel off the real Boss's  "Sherry Darling". NB II touches some classic bases on its way around, but it's a legit homerun.

Swearin' Swearin' Another band created just for me. And another band while not exclusively based there, at least with time served in, Brooklyn. Where NBII fixes my need for the swooners & spooners of classic power pop, Swearin's proper debut LP patches hot into my deep love of vintage 90's American indie rock, caking superchunks of noise onto a kill the chorus pop template. These kids have won my ears' heart: the melodies are immediate and catchy and the band rares back and deals. Allison Crutchfield (bass, vocs) writes pissed off, hate-how-I-love-you love songs about the struggle to maintain a sense of self in a relationship. Speaking of the big R, her boyfriend Kyle Gilbride (guitar, vocs) takes vocal turns beside her and is all self-doubt and rocking out. It's a successful union so far. Gilbride's "Here to Hear" is a careening burner the Chapel Hill gang (small ball legends Archers of Loaf, aforementioned Superchunk) would surely sign off on with its insistent guitar chug and screeching stops and starts. Allison's anger turns to an almost convincing plea on the instantly memorable "Kenosha" where she likens her love to a tumor: "you’re damn near malignant, a dog tracking mud on the floor" and hammers home the protests too much chorus "I hope you like Kenosha so much you stay there". It's a great song and don't-let-the-door-hit-you declaration of independence, but really what are the chances he's gunna like Kenosha, Wisconsin so much he stays there?  It's not like he's off to Frisco for a couple of months. The point is that she wants to mean it and her heavy hearted attempts to convince herself well represent the young passion that permeates through the entire album. Other highlights include the effectively moody Breeders' turn "Fat Chance" where Allison reminds herself that "forever is a long time" and superb Weezer-esque "Movie Star" where she admits that "no one likes you when you’re as old as we are". Hold on a minute, Ms. Crutchfield, you guys are okay by me. And thanks for the support. 

__________________________________________________________

Bandcamp is awesome. You can get Swearin's debut EP there, download Gilbride's Big Soda 2011 demos for free, check out cool shit like this awesome Burger Records sampler and even grab this power pop classic for nothing. Enjoy!