Cover Overshadows Original

     Sometimes mood and music come together purely by chance. Typically, it works the opposite direction: you recognize you’re in a particular mood (such as energetic or reflective) and music is selected to fit that frame of mind. But there are other times that are always a treat: when a song hits the radio speakers and seems perfect for the time, causing you to realize that you’re in a particular mood.

     Yesterday, the Silversun Pickups’ cover of Bob Dylan’s “Not Dark Yet” seemed perfect for the time. It is a shoegaze-heavy cover of the song. Covers fight an uphill battle, because music listeners are conditioned by the familiarity that comes with listening to the original a number of times before hearing the cover. Additionally, originality is encouraged.  Still, their are those occasion when Indie Obsessive enjoys the original, but prefers the cover.

       "Not Dark Yet" by Silversun Pickups (covering Dylan with shoegaze)

     We love the cover of "Tugboat" by Meursault. It gives that Scottish feel to the Galaxie 500 song. Currently, this is a free download - CLICK HERE.

     No offense Bob (Mr. Dylan), we love your stuff. Honest! Nonetheless, here’s “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” by Phosphorescent. It's the small swell at the 2:50 mark that grabs us. The song is from Sweetheart 2014, a compilation of love song covers from Starbucks.

     This one is even more difficult, because the original by Little Dragon is very strong. But the Waterstrider version of “Twice” is vocally superior.

Birds of Tokyo – A Band Review and Concert Opportunity

     The album “March Fires” was released by Birds of Tokyo about a year ago. So, that’s not news (although the contents of the album remain relevant). The news is that Birds of Tokyo will visit the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco on March 27, 2014.

     Birds of Tokyo are based in Perth, Australia. The members are Ian Kenny (vocals), Adam Spark (guitar), Ian Berney (bass), Adam Weston (drums), and Glenn Sarangapany (keys). “March Fires” is the fifth album of the band, but it is easily our favorite.

     The "song of preference" on the album is "Liquid Arms." The song is not available on Soundcloud, so the Youtube version is embedded below. However, earmilk.com has the song as a free download (we presume it's at the approval of the band) - CLICK HERE.

     "Lanterns" by Birds of Tokyo

     "This Fire" by Birds of Tokyo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birdsoftokyomusic

Website: http://www.birdsoftokyo.com/

      Echosmith will open for Birds of Tokyo at Rickshaw Stop. This a Los Angeles-based band formed of three brothers and one sister - Jamie Sierota, Noah Sierota, Sydney Sierota, and Graham Sierota.
    "Come Together" by Echosmith

    "Talking Dreams" by Echosmith

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Echosmith

Website: http://www.echosmith.com/

The Mispers – A Band Review

      It’s very easy to make the statement that a band is poised for a breakout. Conversely, it is near impossible to be consistently correct in predicting breakout bands, since there are so many variables. But we have never been more confident in the prediction of a breakout by a band that is yet to release an album. In fact, this band hasn’t released an EP, but that will change next month when The Mispers release their self-titled four-track EP.

     Yes, it’s easy to predict a breakout, just as it’s easy for some sports fan to make a call to a sports talk show and predict that “Team X” will smash “Team Y.” The prediction of the “smashing” isn’t interesting. Instead, the interest resides in the basis for the conclusion, assuming the basis is not pure emotional support for “Team X.” If the caller gives his reasoning, it allows listeners to agree or disagree with the different factors and the final conclusion.

       The factors which contribute to the prediction of a breakout are:

     1. The Mispers already have a track (“Brother”) that is strong enough to draw attention to the band. When a band has a "hit” song, attention expands to the other songs from the band.

     2. The Mispers are not a one-and-done band. Within the last few days, the song “Trading Cards” hit Soundcloud. The song has much going for it. And the other two tracks (“Coasts” and "Emilie”) on the upcoming EP are solid.

     3. The lead vocals (Jack Balfour Scott) are distinctive enough to attract music lovers who are always looking for something fresh, but not so different to discourage individuals who prefer that their music fit neatly within a particular mold.

     4. The band includes a non-standard instrument, the violin of Hannah Van Den Brul, which sets the band apart from the norm. We enjoy the violin intro in “Brother."

     5. Hannah also sings, so there is a male/female vocal blend that gives the music more depth.

     6. The guitar work (Diego Porto Belmonte and Joey Arnold Zapata) is quick and clean, such as the guitar that enters at the 0:15 mark in “Brother.” This is a band that forces difficult choices as to who to watch if there is the opportunity to see a live performance.

     7. The percussion (Jordan Grispino) is allowed to regularly show itself in ways involving more than drumsticks against drumheads, such as the wood-to-metal sound of the drumstick against rim.

     8. The songs of The Mispers feature “energy shifts” that maintain the interest of the listener, such as the shifts within “Trading Cards.”

      The only factor that works against the prediction of a breakout is the limited number of songs by The Mispers. Let’s hope that changes as the year progresses.

      "Brother" by The Mispers

      "Trading Cards" by The Mispers

      "Coasts" by The Mispers

      "Emilie" by The Mispers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMispers

Website: http://themispers.com/