Monday, May 07, 2007

The Modern Lovers


Somehow, unbelievably, I missed listening to the Modern Lovers for twenty years up until a couple of weeks ago. All the reading mentions these guys as a pivotal link between what the Velvets were doing and what Punk then became, but for some reason i just blew it off.

In my head they marked the same area as James Chance and the Contortions. Don't ask me why it really makes no sense. Its just that sometimes in my personal cosmology of music there must be a little grease on the lens that allows me to misinterpret one band from another.

Well as I have said before delayed gratification can sometimes make the fruit that much sweeter.
Jonathan Richman (the lead singer) apparently thought of himself as carrying on the spirit of the Velvet Underground whom he adored. To me he seems like a slightly straighter version of Iggy or more precisely a perfect precursor to the three cord English version of punk and its decedent American Hardcore. While the Modern Lovers certainly flirted more with melody than either one of those venerable institutions the energy and force is certainly there.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Odawas

I joined E-Music recently and was pleasantly surprised at their offerings. Being limited to indie music exclusively caused me to go outside of my usual channels and look up new music totally outside of my experience. This in turn led me to Odawas.

Their sound is a lovely combination of many bands I have treasured dearly over the years. OK Computer era Radiohead, Neil Young, Ennio Morricone (can't deny his whistling influence) and the Beach Boys all mixed together in a heady stew. The track I have up is very epic in its sound and just floors me every time.

It is a bit solemn at times, but hey sometimes that is just what is needed.

For your pleasure Odawas (myspace link)