A R I Z O N A - Oceans Away

I never let
My guard go down
But you messed me up
When you came around
When the high wore off
Know you needed space
But I don't wanna wait
I don't wanna mistake

Few thousand miles and an ocean away
But I see the sunrise, oh, just like the other day
Picture your eyes as I fall asleep
Tell myself it's alright, oh-oh, as the tears roll by

Ooh, I wish I could feel your face
Ooh, I'm helpless when I'm oceans away

Three songwriters/producers from the Jersey came together in Boston and decided to make and perform music for themselves. Why they call themselves Arizona is unclear, but the fact remains that forming a band was the right decision. Poppy and current, with thoughtful lyrics set to a danceable background. They were my biggest surprise from Day One of SXSW Music this year and I'm sooo glad to have caught them, as it turns out it was their only Austin show for the entire year. "Oceans Away" is their latest single. Don't be surprised if one of their remixes shows up on our Pleasures list soon, too.

RIYL: Frenship, Postal Service, Islandis

Upcoming Shows

Maximo Park - Risk to Exist

Ever felt like you're going nowhere, and you need a little help
I felt the same way in my life, that's when your friends improve the hand you're dealt
Now if we extend the situation
To a broad one instead of the self
How can we not extend a hand into the perilous waters of hell

The first cut and title track, from the forthcoming Maximo Park album Risk to Exist, is classic Maximo Park. Their brand of sharp, catchy and smart pop never gets old, and with each album they throw in a few exciting twists and turns to keep us on our toes. I'm excited for more new from them and, hopefully, to finally catch them live.

RIYL: The Jam, Futureheads, We Are Scientists, Field Music, The Cribs

Upcoming Shows

The New Pornographers - High Ticket Attractions

You can imagine all the factions
That form around high ticket attractions
High on the spirit, hopped up and mystic
After the flame baptism you’re fearless

You know the science of falling
You have your calling
You know the song

The Magna Carta, it’s underwater
We left it there for the sons and the daughters
One day they’ll find it; they’ll be reminded
When we live undersea like we ought to

Didn’t know flying from falling
Clueless the poor thing
Sad to report
Didn’t know losing from learning
Wheels were turning
You know the song

Something new from Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers! With all the breaks this band takes for their solo projects, I haven't seen them all together performing live yet. Excited they'll be at SXSW coming up quick! (Sorry, Keith. One of the many things you'll miss by having to stay and work in Sydney. Thumbs down for impending separation.) Thumbs up for Whiteout Conditions, the seventh studio album from TNP, out in April.

RIYL: Neko Case, Fleetwood Mac, Broken Social Scene

Upcoming Shows

Funeral Advantage - C.E.O.T.7.K.

 ... gave me nothing
So I gave nothing back

I've been listening to this song for a couple weeks, ahead of the latest record (Please Help Me, released 4 days ago) from Funeral Advantage. Reverb-y, shoegaze-y, kinda Cure-like, but owing a lot to George Harrison (according to Tyler Kershaw, the lead guitar, vocals, and songwriter), they prefer to be simply labeled "pop". If you live in the NE of the U.S. (the band is based in Boston), try to catch their release-party tour this month.

RIYL: Tape Waves, Day Wave, DIIV

Upcoming Shows

Modern Me - Run Away

Will you run away with me?
We could go anywhere
Run away with me
No way for them to find us
We need to get out, get out, of this picture of a city
'Cause the colors never change here
Only the people I keep looking at

Today's Most Important Song was chosen for it's chorus - because tonight Keith & I are boarding a plane to (finally) take us to Australia (together)! Modern Me's sound is reminiscent of so much that is great about indie music right now, yet it combines to be fairly unique, I think. For instance: the first few seconds of this track sound a bit like the opening to "Giant" but then the music goes in a direction much more like something The Neighborhood or The 1975 would do, and then the vocals are akin to Cold War Kids-meets-Warpaint (or, fine, maybe the male-female combo is more like Grouplove). Anyway, their first single ("Waters", released last fall) is finally getting the play it deserves (on their local San Diego radio station), so hopefully this second single means the full EP and a tour are coming soon. 

RIYL: Of Monsters and Men, Finish Ticket, Miniature Tigers, Lemuria

Upcoming Shows