Cymbals Eat Guitars - Have a Heart

Sweet drip
We get a little lifted
Need this
We never sleep for long
Stop me if I'm wrong

But I'm so out of sync
And you're out of sync with me

Get off on memories of
Things we did when we were young and evil
And I have a heart I want to put to use
Empathy, it never came so naturally 'til I met you

I think it's safe to say that NYC rockers Cymbals Eat Guitars have changed since their math-prog-rock release Why There Are Mountains, which I quite liked, by-the-by. Their second album, Lense Alien, totally lost me, right off the bat, and Lose, while good, never really captured my attention. But it was clear there was something there that wasn't quite resonating. I'm happy to say I think they found how best to share that something. Big time.

Their latest, Pretty Years, is a hit. It's unique, powerful, catchy, and covers a lot of fun ground. It was difficult, at best, to choose which song to feature. I could have gone with "Close" which has an upbeat, almost happy Cure-ish vibe. Or "Wish" whose killer horn-play evokes the best of Morphine. If Morphine was fronted by Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs. Or maybe the "Finally" which feels like a more polished call back to their original sound from …Mountains.

I decided on super and sweet love song "Have a Heart" because it's a fantastic song. 

And I know it's what Kerri would have chosen from this must-listen-to album. <3

HUNNY - Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me)

Man is crippled and dead and
Meek and eager in his sin
Turn around, say you love the way I
Hang around, you miss the spark in my eyes

I was a queen last night
I said "Take to the water"
And let you drink my lies
Like, "Okay, you're right"

You can't spell pain or kiss
Or run away or little mistake
Without me, or A, E, I, O, U

You may not have heard of SoCal synth-rockers HUNNY yet, as they've only released one EP and a couple additional singles (such as this one, "Vowels") in their year-or-so existence. But they are so good!! And currently touring with Bleached and Beach Slang, and hand-picked for inclusion at The Growlers' upcoming Beach Goth Fest. So pretty much you should go see them live asap because you are guaranteed a great show. (Excuse me while I throw a pity party because I can't be in Orange County in two weeks. I know, I know, ACL just ended, and SOS is coming up. I'm a spoiled rotten music lover...) Anyway, hope you enjoy getting to know HUNNY as much as I have!

Upcoming Shows

The Wombats - Your Body Is A Weapon

Sometimes I like to go uptown
Where flashy people flash around
It's extortionate and I don't care
You can taste the pretense in the air

And I wonder what you'll wear tonight
The shiny black dress with the slit at the thigh
Is this such fantasy that I should think
Someone like you could love a creep like me

I had a terrible time picking a Most Important Song from The Wombats! So many favorites, starting in 2006 - and I've played last year's Glitterbug so often that I have no idea what might sound fresh and fun to followers of this blog. BUT, the Liverpoolian marsupials played ACL yesterday, and I couldn't let the opportunity to highlight them pass. For those of us who missed them this weekend (and/or this whole current tour, *sob*) here's a live vid featuring their current backdrop. 

Upcoming Shows

Bear Hands - Boss

Oh child I'll take all you got
All your friends and all their moms
All the lessons that they've been taught
Comin' back for them tomorrow

If I told you where I bang, you wouldn't believe me
If you taught me how to fish, I would sweep the sea clean
If I had the privilege, how would you treat me
Like I'm a rare flower, cracks in the concrete
If I told you where I bang, you wouldn't believe me
If you taught me how to fish, I would never stop eating
If I had the privilege, how would you treat me
If only, if only

Sadly, Bear Hands didn't play during weekend one of ACL, and it just wasn't realistic for us to go again this weekend.  They played first thing Friday morning (same spot as VHS Collection last week).  Anyway, you probably already know all about this solid indie quartet, as they've been releasing catchy, heartfelt tunes since 2007, but did you know this latests album You'll Pay For This was released on their own label? Look for more good music coming soon from Spensive Sounds.

Upcoming Shows

Cold War Kids - Saint John

Supper time in the hole
Supper time in the hole
I shame my family, shame my home
Supper time

Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting for a pardon
Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting for a pardon

Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting for a pardon
Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting

All the white boys in the stay pressed slacks
They're home for the summer from college
Staying out late, getting rowdy at the bar
And looking for trouble uptown

They come up my block, 'bout 5 or 6 of them
Smashing their bottles in the gutter
Yelling all kinds of obscenities
About woman and God and law

Another supper time in the hole
Supper time
I shame my family, shame my home
Supper time

A young girl turned the corner with a clerk dress on
That girl was my sister
Just got off the night shift at Pennington's Place
Just wanna go home and get some sleep

Butch grabbed her by the waist with the caffeine eyes
The hands all figity, electric
I picked up a brick from my papa's front yard
And threw it at the tallest boy's face

Well, blood was streaming like a well that sprung
I couldn't believe what I had just done
Well, the other boy ran and this one stayed
On the ground and he would never move again

Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting for a pardon
Old Saint John on death row
He's just waiting for a pardon

All us boys on death row
We're just waiting for a pardon
All us boys on death row

Yours truly on trial, I testify
I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry
Yours truly on trial, I testify
I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs

Yours truly on trial, I testify
I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry
Yours truly on trial, I testify
I gotta keep on running 'til the well runs dry

We saw Cold War Kids the other night at one of the ACL night shows and, damn, they're good. I've seen them a few times and can't think of many acts that are as consistently awesome as they are. Solid, tight and just, well, really entertaining. If you've not seen them, you should.

I included the full lyrics for "Saint John" because it's one of my all-time favorite songs and so well written. That's true of most of their work; Cold War Kids know how to tell a story. If it's new to you, give a listen. Robbers & Cowards is an essential album in my book, so if you like what you hear, check that out too. Oh! Bonus points: Bassist Matt Maust makes cool art while on tour, check his work out here.

Upcoming Shows