Don't Stop City

So after Friday night's show, my life has done a complete 180. I'm bored. Very bored. I don't have any stress, which I think I need to keep myself going. So luckily Underrated is planning some more shows in the very near future (perhaps even outside NYC look out!) which will undoubtedly keep me busy. We'll have Issue 8 out before you can say fiveoclockheroeswho. But I've had an ever-increasing pile of CDs collecting on my desk that have been untouched for weeks now. I sat down on Sunday, instead of doing any schoolwork (one more semester, I've given up), and gave most a listen. (Still trucking through.) There were some good, some bad, and some ugly. It felt nice to listen to some new tunes. It's been awhile. So I'll try and share some with you guys over the next week or two, before I start plugging our show at Pianos on December 3 every single day. Hey if I got Ralph Feinnes and Gina Gershon to the last one that way, I might as well keep doing what I do best.

The Walkup
I first saw these guys when they opened up for The GoStation earlier this year, and I liked what I heard. The past two times they have played I've always been at the venue, but easily distracted by the wonder that is alcohol. Their new EP had been sitting on my desk for far too long, so it was the first one I popped in. It’s much better than I ever anticipated, with some real stellar songs. I don't know if I just forgot what they sounded like, but it was a real curve ball for me. It's a lot more Brit dance rock then classic rock. I'm totally into it. They play Mercury Lounge tomorrow (November 23) and if I weren't already leaving for Turkey Day, you best bet I'd be there. Next time, I'll put down the drink and listen.

The Walkup - Run And Hide

The Walkup - Apathy

The Bleedin Bleedins
I hope you can understand my concerns from the name. I was expecting some Jersey boy screaming in my ear for exactly .2 seconds before I turned it off. Luckily, I was quite wrong. This is quite an unusual band. They are from Boston but are Irish, but don't sound like either of those two things. I am having a hard time classifying the music (don't I always) because the press release sites The Killers and Franz as well as The Who and U2. I don't know about any of those. I just like it. It's catchy but nostalgic. It's good. Listen. They play Rothko TONIGHT. Again, if it weren't for the early vacay back to Jersey I'd be there.

The Bleedin Bleedins - Don't Stop City

The Bleedin Bleedins - Darkest Day

The Teenage Prayers
My first though after I finished listening to this album from the NYC based band was: why have I not heard of them before? I'd like to think of myself as pretty NYC band savvy, but somehow these guys have fallen through, and I may not be the only one. But not for long. I've listened to this album at least 3 times now and it gets better every time. It's incredibly inviting, quirky, soulful and danceable, all at same time. These two songs are just a snippet of what this whole album does to you. If these guys started their own religion, it would get you to stand up and sing. Trust me. I did it.

The Teenage Prayers - Brown Bottle

The Teenage Prayers - Center of the World

The Diggs
Have I mentioned The Diggs before? Oh yeah, just a couple times. As aforementioned, they gave me an advance of their debut album Commute on Friday. I had to do a lot of schleping around on Saturday and luckily this CD was in my car. It's epic. The songs that I have been listening to for months now sound completely fresh in its context. From start to beginning, it's a complete work. New songs like "Massachusetts" and "Everyone's Starting Over" have become instant favorites. It's an incredibly sad album lyrically, but somewhat at the end you are hopeful -- because you get to listen to it again.

Go listen to three tracks from Commute here. Make sure you come to Sin-E on Dec 9 for their album release party. You'll want to pick yourself up a copy.