Songs for Tuesdays

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:43:00 +0000

As their name implies, Australia’s Summer Cats' new full length Songs for Tuesdays is full of catchy, sweet melodies that are reminiscent of beach weather. Thankfully, however, the Summer Cats are not too sweet for their own good and the record packs a pleasantly noisy punch and showcases occasional fuzzed-out feedback squeak.

With their chirpy vocal lines, crunchy rhythm guitars, melodies full of jangle, and pounding drums the Summer Cats recall the hey-day of 1990s indie pop. Outfits such as Talulah Gosh, Black Tambourine, and Henry’s Dress immediately come to mind, especially on tracks such as “Let’s Go!,” “Fulton Gurls,” “In June,” and “Paperweight.” It’s fitting, then, that Songs for Tuesdays is released on the newly revived Slumberland, which released similar bands in the 1990s.

Like many indie bands with similar tastes, the Summer Cats’ sound also reaches further back. Careful listeners can pick out references to sound and scene defining bands from Australia and New Zealand, such as The Go-Betweens and The Chills. The Summer Cats lyrics relish life’s simple pleasures, a tendency particularly evident on songs such as “Waking Up.” They also revel in the tendency of modern young people to travel, or dream of traveling, singing “I could be anywhere, anywhere but here,” on “St. Tropez.”

With a full sound that bounces and bubbles along and never looses energy, Songs for Tuesdays is a solid pop record and a pleasure to listen to. In addition, Summer Cats paid close attention to the album’s design. The cover is wallpapered with images of hand-painted birds. In an age of digital downloads, this is a record worth buying.

Written by: Eleanor Whitney, October 13th 2009

Survival Strategies in a Modern World

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:12:00 +0000

By Liechtenstein

Slumberland Records

There are many things to like about the county of Liechtenstein: its tax haven status, its unusually small size, its ski slopes, and its firm resolve to stay out of the European Union. I happen to love the EU in principle, but have an equal amount of respect for wealthy countries that opt to steer clear of large political unions. Did you know that the EU anthem is “Ode to Joy?” Would Beethoven approve?

To me, the ideals of a tiny nation like Liechtenstein could easily be represented in a rock band. Landlocked and fiercely independent, it would be easy to like the namesake even more than the band. Thing is, Liechtenstein the band makes lovely Swedish indie pop that puts the two name sharers in tough competition. Even the album title, Survival Strategies in a Modern World, seems to pay homage to the idea of existing as an autonomous entity, surrounded by a collectively organized body. I hear individuality is the new conformity.

Naemi, Renée, and Elin have been playing together for several years, touring the Nordic countries and finally releasing their first LP this year. With an impressively feminist track record on their singles, the gals previously carved an important space by calling out gossip, Barbie dolls, skinny models, and ten-year-old girls who diet—and more importantly, the culture that supports them. On their full length release, the Swedes sing about everything from shiny shoes to reputations. Their melodies are catchy without being weighed down by their subject matter. You don’t have to care what they’re saying, but you can also find full lyrics online if their accents confuse your ears. I think they’re charming, but then, I live a short one-hour flight from their home base in Göteborg. My whole life has become everyone else’s English as a second (or third) language.

I have been told that when crossing the Liechtenstein border, your passport will not be stamped. While I have yet to test this theory, a concert ticket stub seems a better souvenir.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, August 6th 2009