Written by caz4mack on Saturday, 17 of May , 2008 at 11:54 pm
Hour of the Shipwreck is a five member band consisting of RICHIE KOHAN - 12 String Guitar, Vocals, BARBARA GRUSKA - Drums, Vocals (Jenny Lewis, The Watson Twins, Inara George, Mike Andrews), MARCEL CAMARGO - Guitars, Mandolin, Orchestra Bells, Vocals (The Watson Twins, Inara George, Airto Moreira), AARON ARNTZ - Wind Organ, Keyboards, Bells, Orchestra Bells, Vocals (Zappa Plays Zappa), and GABE NOEL - Bass. They play a mix of dreamy pirate rock and Danny Elfman inspired music. Their CD was officially released tonight. They played a show at the party and I was lucky enough to witness one of the greatest rock performances I have ever seen. Not only are they great performers but their new CD rules. “If they don’t get famous off this album there is something wrong with the world”-Sam Kauffman-Skloff. Now I’ll highlight some of my favorite songs on the new album.
This next one does something amazing, they are able to take a heavy solo and put it against a piece of music that is slow and beautiful. Hour Of The Shipwreck-Save The World
These are undoubtedly the hardest rocking songs on the album. I honestly have nothing to say about this album besides it being great. So if your into these tracks you can purchase the album on their myspace.
Written by caz4mack on Monday, 21 of April , 2008 at 2:47 pm
I was able to catch up with Jason Schwartzman, who along with being super busy working two jobs (actor, musician), and the fact that he just finished his second album, he had time to answer a few questions. Here we go.
Jason Schwartzman: let me preface this interview by saying
sorry for the short answers
Tape: Which art do you feel closer to, acting or music?
JS: That’s a tough one… like, what do you like more pasta or pizza?
Tape: We know that you left phantom planet for your acting career. What made you come back to music with this new band (Coconut Records)?
JS: I missed playing music and spending time with other musicians.
Tape: What inspires you, Has your music inspired your acting and writing and vise versa?
JS: I’m sure that it has but unfortunately i can’t come up with any noteworthy examples at this moment
Tape: What’s your view of the music industry today?
JS: I try to keep a “change is good” mentality ….and hopefully it will inspire new avenues for talented artist
Tape: What music do you draw inspiration from?
JS: Uh…. there are so many great bands…. the beatles?! the beach boys?! how’s that for an original answer?
Tape: What new music have you been into?
JS: anything jack white is doing, panda bear, artic monkeys, plus many more that i can’t think of off the top of my head
Tape: Can you explain your role in the She and Him [M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - ed.] album?
JS: I co-wrote a song on the record called “Sweet Darlin”
Tape: Are their any artists you have particularly enjoyed working with or would like to work with in the future
JS: Steven Malkmus
Check out the Coconut record Myspace:
and listen to Some tunes
Written by caz4mack on Sunday, 13 of April , 2008 at 9:55 pm
B.R.A.M. is a very poppy rock band composed of six members (Barbara Gruska: Drums, Marcel Camargo: Guitar, John Kirby: Keys, Aaron Arntz: Keys, Gabe Noel: Bass, and Bram Inscore: vocals). Bram, Aaron, and john all met at USC, Gruska came from cal arts and Marcel completed the group. B.R.A.M. have been playing as a band for four years. Their is something that makes their catchy melodies, different and more interesting, then a lot of the pop music i have been hearing recently. I contacted them as soon as i stumbled across their myspace page. They told me they are working on finishing their first CD, which i am looking forward to reviewing promptly when its released. Be sure to check out their myspace. You’re The Reason-B.R.A.M. Messages-B.R.A.M.
Written by caz4mack on Thursday, 3 of April , 2008 at 1:20 am
I was sitting at home thinking about what would be really sweet and about what every one wants. Then i realized everybody wants a compilation of all the best “Britney Spears” covers. Seeing as how Britney has given so much to the community we at The Tape felt we should give a little back. We are profiling a few artists who have been inspired by this women and who have chosen to cover some of her greatest masterpieces so with no further ado. Metronomy-Toxic (Britney Spears cover)
This is an instrumental of Toxic that has what i would call a polka meets a carnival feel, short sweet and to the point. Tristan Prettyman-Toxic
The Following are My three favorite Britney covers of all time enjoy people, enjoy.
Written by caz4mack on Monday, 24 of March , 2008 at 3:09 pm
First for you, we have the new Panic At the Disco video which is one of the catchiest songs I have ever heard as well as it being an interesting video. It’s this combination of emo-pop, rock, and multi-million dollar music video shoots that makes it a perfect candidate for GMM.
Next we have Britney Spears’ “Piece of Me.” Easily one of the best pop songs of 07. It is very catchy and it was made by Britney Spears, therefore it follows a very simple algorithem I have created: Pop Diva + great producer x bass synth = a guilty music monday shoe-in. This song rivals her classic “Toxic” in its guilt level.
Britney Spears-Piece of Me
Next up is Love Song by Sara Bereilles. This song’s peppiness is what makes it so guilty. Its a song that gets stuck in your head and never ever falls out
Lastly We have Yael Naim’s song New Soul, which happens to be a song that, like the rest is very catchy and has very recently appeared in a commercial for the Macbook Air.
Yael Naim-New Soul
and that concludes this weeks addition of GMM.
See you next time
Written by caz4mack on Monday, 17 of March , 2008 at 3:33 pm
One of Daniel Johnston’s many drawings
Daniel Johnston grew up in West Virginia and started recording on a 59$ Sanyo boom box, which gives a lot of his early recordings a really cool aesthetic: you can still here all the scratchiness from the tapes. He was inspired by the likes of John Lennon and The Beatles, although he has really evolved to create his own style of folk rock. He began his career in the late 70’s and continues to work today. His music is inspiring and straight to the point. In his early recordings he has a very high pitched voice, while in his recording during the mid to late nineties he exhibits a very different angle in his voice. Often times he would draw comic books characters to accompany his songs. Recently he has worked on a rock opera called Speeding Motorcycle.
When Johnston was young he was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and now lives in a house adjacent from his parents. This is what may have shaped and inspired his strange and interesting music style. His songs have been praised many times over and been covered by the likes of Bright Eyes, Capitol Years, and The Eels. Here are a few of the covers, and some of my favorite songs from this artist.
Daniel’s original version of this song is much more airy than Bright Eyes, their are no instruments so it gives off a feeling of solitude and emptiness.
also if you have a chance check out my favorite song by him which i was unable to upload today, but will soon called Pothead. It’s one of his early recordings and is amazing.
Written by caz4mack on Wednesday, 5 of March , 2008 at 10:21 pm
An australian musician who mixes a folky rock style with electronic influences. He sounds a lot like Sufjan Stevens. His CD “The Submarine” is a great rainy day album, that has a real feel good vibe. He loops electronic beats and interesting instruments over his popy vocals. I was first unsure about his CD, “The Submarine” but the more i listened the more interesting it got. A few negative points I don’t find anything about the music to particularly stand out. I just although I have a good time listening to it, and don’t get me wrong I think its a good album, but their is something about it that feels a little bit, “disposable.” So just check him out and make your own mind up.
7/10
Two of the most interesting songs on Whiley’s album, “The Submarine.”
Written by caz4mack on Monday, 3 of March , 2008 at 10:37 pm
A New York based folk-rock band that have been playing together for a little over a year. Cheif was started by Even Kooga, Michael Moonves, and Danny & Michael Fugikawa. They take a lot of their influences from people such as CSNY, And Neil Young. TheyhHave some really interesting and rocking instrumentations that definitely give off a very relaxed vibe. I feel they are bringing back a really cool aesthetic that had been lost for a few years in the music seen; something bands like Wilco were able to achieve. I love their melodies and overall their music just makes you feel super good. They told me their songs will be up on iTunes soon so give them a listen, then go out and buy the CD.
I have had this song stuck in my head since this Saturday when I went to see “Be Kind Rewind.” It’s basically the best feel good song ever, which is why it’s my “Tuesdays School Days” pick.
Cheesy rap songs are the new hip thing. What could be cheesier than “The Boss.” He hustles every day, dealing with people of questionable existence, who may or may not owe him 100 favors. In his newest track, he features R. Kelly. R. Kelly’s verse in this song is better than his line, “I be drilling these chicks like major pain, while I make it rain, damn boy do it again.. OH!” in the Fat Joe “Make It Rain” remix. Best part of this song: “Sittin’ in my living room watching the Grammys, wishing it was me that was on the Grammys.”
Stupid fresh keeps his too cool for school vibe strong with his epic introduction of synths. He talks about his eighties life with his members only jacket, he is all about putting you in his world and telling you whats up. I think the real thing to focus on in this song is the beats and the music, it’s got some seriously tight synth lines and a killer beat.
The Pager opens up with a sick arpegiating synth line keeping his eighties vibe strong. Definitely in the background music you get a video game theme song vibe. The Moral of the story is these tracks are some tight tracks, so whether or not your a fan of “LTG” check them out.
The tape is a project conceived by Gabriel Gutierrez (gzabriel), Macklin Casnoff (caz4mack), Tristan Rodman(pistachionut), Asher Kaplan (ashkap) and Willie Schube (lupethefiasco).
All songs featured on this blog are for promotional use only. If you dig a track, go out and buy it! If your song is featured on this blog and you would like it taken down, or if you would like to have your song featured just click the contact form below.
