Let It Sway by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Released by Polyvinyl Records

Finally, the wait for a new Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin album is over! And the wait was well worth it. SSLYBY cranks out another rock pop golden album full of hooks, pops and kicks. Don’t be afraid to shake and clap and sing along  because anything less and you just aren’t really listening.

Follow up to their polished (and yet lovable) sophomore effort, Pershing, SSLYBY is giving fans what they need and want. They have brought Broom and Pershing together and created an album worthy enough to put in a category with the likes of Sloan’s Twice Removed and Material Issue’s International Pop Overthrow. Sure, these albums are from the 90′s but that’s not to say that Let It Sway sounds like yet another band trying to exist in another era. It just means that Let It Sway is one of the best rock pop albums recorded. You think I’m overstating? Take a listen for yourself. Try to remain motionless, try not to snap your fingers and clap your hands. Try not to smile. It’s impossible.

Don’t get me wrong, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin isn’t changing the world with Let It Sway and they’re not breaking any musical boundaries. They aren’t trying to be the darlings of anyone’s world. They’re just doing what they do best and one of the reasons I turned into such insane fan of music – they make you feel something -  incite some sort of emotion – and for once, it’s not tears or sadness. Because sometimes you just have to say “Fuck it” and just dance. You know?

Check out Someone Still Loves Your Boris Yeltsin here

Pick up Let It Sway and check out Polyvinyl Records here

]]> http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?feed=rss2&p=1729 0 http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1674 http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1674#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:36:18 +0000 Xtine http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1674

Serotonin by Mystery Jets
Released by Rough Trade Records

Normally when I review an album of a band I’m not familiar I don’t research the band or what other people have to say. I try to keep all bad and good influences out and just base my opinion on what I hear.
And the first impulse was that this band was English – English and grabbing influences from all the great brit-pop bands, yet adding in their own tone of epic-pop-rock. The album starts with “Alice Springs” a song that reminds you of many bands from the past and then leads into “Too Late to Talk” a lovely number that will get stuck in the back of your mind. And like most bands of today they have added in that synth sound you can’t seem to get away from, yet in their title track “Serotonin” the synth seems to have found it’s place in today’s music. In fact just about the entire album will have you humming in the oddest of moments and places.
Serotonin is just one of those great pop albums that yes, has it’s downs as well (towards the end of the album it seems to fall a little), but is worth the purchase as a whole. It’s all things that great pop should be: Well produced, catchy, clappable and makes you want to sing-a-long.

Check out Mystery Jets here

Chicago’s very own Mannequin Men right here with their video for the song ‘Cream Rises’ off their latest release “Lose Your Illusion, Too” on Flameshovel Records.

I can only recommend that you should lay down your hard earned money on this album if you fit into one of two catagories:

1) You are a die-hard fan of the band and you have to add this to your collection or you would feel like you’re missing a chapter of your life in Arcade Fireness.

2) You are tone-deaf hipster from hipsterville needing to pick up the latest verbal blowjob given to you from the amazing writers at Pitchfork.

Download Size (21.3 MB) | Duration: 46:12

OK… Back by popular demand… here is my second John Mix For you of  some of my favorite Chicago Punk that I’ve been listening to over the past couple months… and even some that I started playing over ten years ago when I started OKR. Since I have way too many tunes to play here from my favorite bands.. I will be having a Part II to this mix coming up soon enough. Until then… sharpen your teeth on these choice cuts.

Click here to check out our friends Underground Communique to get good music!

88 Fingers Louie – Drunk & Ugly
Off the album “Back On The Streets”

The Methadones – Say Goodbye To Your Generation
Off the album “Career Objective”

The Arrivals – I Got Bit
Off the album “Marvels Of Industry”

The Neutron Bombs – Not Listening
Off the 7″ Comp. “Sea Creatures #1″

The Lawrence Arms – Chicago Is Burning
Off the album “Ghost Stories”

Sass Dragons – Why Don’t You Fuck Her On The Ground
Off the album “New Kids On The Bong”

Shot Baker – Falling Apart
Off the album “Take Control”

The Broadways – Lake Michigan
Off the album “Big City”

Apocalypse Hoboken – Little Fingers
Off the album “Microstars”

The Brokedowns – Year Of The Hydra
Off the album “New Brains For Everyone”

Street Brats – Destination Nowhere
Off the album “See You At The Bottom”

The Bomb – The Kids
Off the album “Speed Is Everything”

Rule 22 – Made Anywhere But Here
Off the Split 7″ w/ Dun Bin Had

Naked Raygun – Wonder Beer
Off the album “Understand?”

Vacation Bible School – Battalion
Off the album “Unlucky”

The Effigies – Body Bag
Off the album “Remains Nonviewable”

American Gong by Quasi
Released by Kill Rock Stars

For most bands, 10 albums over 17 years is an achievement. For Quasi, it is more of a toss off—something to do in between the real gigs. Their 10^th album, “American Gong,” has a feel of a band that is sticking around just for the sake of longevity. Missing are any driving forces and what is left is a plodding, straightforward album that sounds as if what recorded solely out of commitment. For a band that has been together since 1993, Quasi doesn’t display any cohesiveness or passion but yet demonstrates all the trademarks of a band burning out.

The main duo—Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss—play with other bands full time and only occasionally play as Quasi, which may explain some of the scattered feel of this album. With more dedication to backing other people rather than forging an identity of its own, there is a lack of drive behind this album and nothing that defines it cohesively as a record. It comes across as a well-played album cobbled together with originally home-recorded tracks meant more for personal enjoyment than anything to engage the listener. In a way, it represents the apex of musician for the musician’s sake rather than the listener, complete with in-house references and first-person point of view lyrics that are only accessible and meaningful to the writer.

There is something that is just generally inane about the lyrics. On the first track “Repulsion,” the singers sings, “I didn’t mean to make you snore/I went out and got a whore/I had to run when I could not come/I bang on the drum like a dumb dumb-dumb.” The sloppy harmonies make the chorus nearly unbearable. It’s about as far as you can get from clever sexually fueled lyrics anyone can get. Instead opening about naturally about sexual liaisons, the lyrics sound forced and almost like someone imaging what a song with double-entendre lyrics should sound like.

Even though multilayered sounds can add texture to a song, the sound effects on the second track are the hallmark of an immature album written by over enthused songwriters still toying with well-tread electronic sounds. The composition of the track is also scattered and lacks a certain level of coherence with abrupt musical shifts that seem more haphazard and placed from a feeling of anxiety than well-crafted songwriting. “Grow up/settle down/make payments on a home/leave little messages on someone or another’s phone/if it’s not too loud/then you’re not too old/trust in your grup on you may never have to fold.” It sounds as if it is someone ralling against the middle class, office, suburban lifestyle with never experiencing it first hand. Where the Animals sang “We need to get out of the place” to escape the harsh realities of working in the mines in England, Quasi sounds like a passionateless observer toying with the idea of a lifestyle that doesn’t fit in with partying and late-night antics as opposed to a real philosophical difference in modern-day white-collar living.

The album sounds unfinished. The band might have been going for a more roughhewn sound, but it comes off as a first draft: thrown together without much thought. From the lyrics to the singing to the playing, everything sounds rushed and scattered. Sloppy playing is covered by nonsensical sound effects that really add nothing to the songs. The lyrics sound like they were quickly written on a notepad during someone’s 25-minute commute to work and never given a second thought. The guitar playing sounds like the pointless noodling of a high school quasi-metal band. Songs drag on for no particular reason, as if no one real understands their structure.

If more time and attention was given to the material and music, this album could have been much better. Considering that this is the band’s 10^th album in nearly 17 years, it might show that there isn’t much of a commitment to recording as Quasi. The members are spread among other projects, and here it shows. This sounds like a record that was created in the diminishing time busy musicians have with little thought about the actual making of the record.

]]> http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?feed=rss2&p=1623 0 http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1634 http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1634#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 04:17:18 +0000 johnb http://www.onekindradio.com/home/?p=1634

This is Chicago’s very own Hollows with their song ‘Bobby Blueheart’ Live at The Empty Bottle at the Chirp Radio Launch Party on January 16, 2010 courtesy of  High Frequency Media. Hollows are one of the most fun bands I’ve heard in a while with female vocal harmonies and their 60′s style rock party going strong. You can pick their music up through Addenda Records or their latest 7″ at Trouble In Mind Records today!

When my friend Kelli Becker contacted me about her involvement with The Arts of Life, she caught my attention about how this non-profit was making a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities with the use of creativity… or in other words… ART!! Here are the details people… get your ass out to it.

Chicago’s Most Unique Artists’ Community launches their second studio with a 10-year exhibit and celebration.

The Arts of Life is having a giant birthday party on June 19^th from 6 to 9 pm at their new studio and you’re invited! Marking their 10^th anniversary of bringing people with and without disabilities together in creativity, The Arts of Life opened its second studio on January 4, 2010 in the North Shore of Chicago.  Through the very generous support of Progressive Services Network (PSN), The Arts of Life was able to expand its unique and empowering model of community art to work with some very talented artists in the North Shore.  The North Shore studio currently has twelve artists and hopes to grow into a vibrant artistic community similar to their Chicago branch.

The birthday celebration is being held as part of the Arts of Life’s annual summer exhibit. Keeping with the birthday theme, the event will not only unveil over 60 new works from more than 30 Arts of Life artists, it comes complete with a community play put on by the music and performance programs, lawn party games, as well as an old school cookout. The event, which opens its doors at 6PM, is a chance for The Arts of Life community to share their passion for art, music and performance with the public. Many Chicago and North Suburban businesses and art institutions will also be supporting the event, including Windy City Flyers, Wine Styles, Chicago Children’s Museum, Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, MCA, Goodman Theatre and Cubs rooftop tickets.

The Arts of Life is artists with and without disabilities creating an artistic culture to realize their full potential.  The 501©3 non-profit is committed to providing high quality, innovative services for developmentally disabled adults. The studio focuses on its artists’ needs and strives to exceed expectations.

Chicago’s Power Poppin and Glam Rockin’ majestic within this four-piece of three girls and a panda has released their latest recording ‘Big Bang’ which is chalk full of vocal harmonies, riffs, and some straight forward rock songs. ‘Big Bang’ is a fun EP for all of you whom like the sounds of Veruca Salt, Heart, or even Pat Benatar… and this is much due to the strong vocal stylings of front-woman Leilani Frey. Although ‘Big Bang’ is a short intro to the Maybenauts… the best way to capture the band in their element is LIVE on stage! Panda aside… this group has the capabilities far beyond these 5 songs, and will be something to look forward to on a stage near you.

You can pick up this disc online at their official website – click here or pick it up like I did at Lauries Planet of Sound at 4639 N Lincoln – Chicago, IL 60625

Avi Buffalo self-titled
Released from Subpop Records 4/27/2010

You’ll hear a lot about Avi Buffalo and it seems that a lot of reviews mention their ages – fuck their ages. The quality of Avi Buffalo’s self-titled album has nothing to do with how old or young they are. It’s simply a great album.

Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg leads this band (along with Sheridan Riley on drums, Rebecca Coleman on keys and piano and Arin Fazio on bass) with lovely lyrics and beautiful music to match. I love how as each song begins and ends I’m reminded of different genres, eras and feelings. At times I want to say Avi Buffalo is similar to E6 bands with their 60′s nostalgia and other times it’s similar to modern indie pop with vocals like arcade fire and The Shins. And most of the time it’s nothing but simply Avi Buffalo, which is pretty grand in itself.

Avi Buffalo’s self-titled album is the perfect spring/summer album. Not the one you put on when BBQing on a Sunday afternoon drinking too much whiskey – no, this album is perfect for going to the park, putting on your headphones and laying down in the grass and wasting the day away doing absolutely nothing. Though the album can get pretty dark, it’s light and poppy enough to put on a summer dress and drown out the voices and car horns and walk the streets of your neighborhood with a cup of coffee and a cigarette letting the sun shine on you hoping winter never comes back.

CHECK OUT THE NEW SINGLE “What’s In It For?” DOWN BELOW FOR FREE!(it’s a pretty sweet song and well worth it!)

Check out Avi Buffalo here

Check out Subpop Records here and pick up the album