Thurdeen

For as long as he can remember, Thurdeen’s life has been filled with music. His earliest memories were trips in the car while AM radio played. A few years later he began waking up early on Sunday mornings to fill out the music club insert in the paper, praying his parents would let him join. “Twelve albums for a penny! That’s a good deal!” Never happened. His neighborhood friends and he would have rock quizzes – first one to ten was the winner. Sample question: Name seven songs from The Rolling Stones “Tattoo You.” Any money he had was spent on music and he spent hours dubbing tapes from friends. Aside from the dubbing tapes part, not much has changed. Having progressed from 8 Tracks to vinyl to tapes to cds to downloads, music remains Thurdeen’s passion and he’s thrilled to be part of Froglix.

Thurdeen Digz Kidneythieves

alt-rock, alternative, California, featured artists, indie, industrial, Kidneythieves, Los Angeles, reviews, rock, unsigned 5 Responses »

Feb 162011

artist: Kidneythieves
genre: alternative, industrial, rock
label: unsigned

Some things just work well together. Peanut butter and jelly, waffles and ice cream, Goobers and popcorn. Perhaps I shouldn’t have skipped dinner. Regardless, listening to Kidneythieves (one word, thank you), makes me think of successful combos. Kidneythieves write loud and pulsing songs, but songs that, at their heart, are simple sing-a-longs. They are songs you take with you on road trips or to the gym, songs you scream along with and quickly learn the words to. Hearing Kidneythieves is like walking through a driving rainstorm with a giant umbrella. There’s chaos all around, but it’s exciting, refreshing and, yes, likeable.

Lead singer Free Dominguez sings with an intensity reminiscent of Pat Benatar and the best parts of Veruca Salt. The music, thanks mostly to guitarist Bruce Somers, grinds along with cool dashes of industrial guitar and a steady pounding. Songs from their latest album, Trypt0fanatic, include ‘Lick U Clean’ (oooh, randy! I like it), ‘Jude (Be Somebody)’ and ‘Freeky People’. Their music takes you to the edge of the cliff and the choruses push you over that edge.

Check out their MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/kidneythieves) and their site (www.kidneythieves.com) to learn more. Kidneythieves – I love the name. Check it out.

- Thurdeen

The Perfect Day

alt-rock, alternative, Brooklyn, featured artists, indie pop, new release, New York, reviews, rock, The Canon Logic, unsigned 9 Responses »

Aug 202010

artist: The Canon Logic | genre: alternative, rock | label: unsigned

Hearing “Avenue of Criminals,” the free single download from The Canon Logic, reminds me of those perfect days in life. You wake up, get dressed for work and remember it’s Saturday, so you head back to bed for another three hours. Later, you head to the store for some grub and get the last glazed donut and the coffee’s fresh. The cashier you’ve been secretly lusting after for months finally smiles and says hello and when you rummage for the $5 you left the house with, you find a washed and tightly folded $20 in your back pocket.

How great would any one of those be? But all of them, in one day? Yes, yes, yes, and YES. If every day was like that, I’d have to start a blog and take pictures, because no one would believe me.

But believe me now when I say “Avenue of Criminals” is worth your time. It has a chorus The Killers would, uh, kill for, and it breezes along with sweet interplay between guitar and piano. I love how the guitar falls away at the 2:20 mark, leaving the piano and the drums and singer Tim Kiely’s voice. There’s an urgency and a passion in its structure and, at less than four minutes, it leaves me wanting more.

I’ve had it on repeat for an hour and I must say, I’m feeling good about the rest of my day.

Thanks, The Canon Logic, it’s just what I needed.

- Thurdeen

Goldrat = Duncan

England, featured artists, GoldRat, London, new release, punk, reviews, rock, United Kingdom, unsigned 3 Responses »

Jul 262010

artist: GoldRat
genre: punk | rock
label: unsigned

listen now…
The Judas Cow :: Insert Name Here :: Supply, Demand, Entertain

There’s a scene in the John Hughes classic “Some Kind of Wonderful,” where wannabe-artist Eric Stoltz (Keith) purposely puts himself in detention in a misguided attempt to bag Lea Thompson (Amanda). Rather than canoodling with her, Stoltz finds he’s been thrown in with the unruliest element in school. “Is this…detention?” He asks upon arrival. “Actually, it’s your mother’s house…and we’re all having a party,” replies head goon, Elias Koteas (Duncan). Not the best of starts, but the boys soon bond over art, as it turns out Duncan has some sketching mojo. They become friends and eventually Duncan rides in and saves the day. Order is restored; Keith ends up with the much hotter drummer girl, the music swells and…scene.

GoldRat are Duncan. The UK band might lead with fast, pulsing guitars and barbed lyrics, but they’re not only about rage, chaos and disenchantment. Hearing the trio of offerings on their myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/goldrat, each has a great melody and a relentless, yet relaxed vibe that took me by surprise. “Insert Name Here” pounds along until about the two minute mark, where there’s a momentary time change before retreating back to the original melody. My favorite is “The Judas Cow,” with its mantra of “you say it’s nothing personal, but it’s always personal” that gives way to the chorus. “Supply, Demand, Entertain” starts with a clip of Jack Nicholson as The Joker in Batman and goes into a guitar and drum interplay and a demand of “I want entertainment.”

Give a listen to GoldRat and remember, like our hero Keith discovered, there’s more to life than what’s on the surface.

- Thurdeen

52 Songs of Sacha Sacket

featured artists, Golden Sphinx Records, indie pop, reviews, Sacha Sacket, singer/songwriter No Responses »

Jun 252010

artist: Sacha Sacket
genre: singer/songwriter | indie-pop
label: Golden Sphinx Records

listen now…
Breed :: Colin :: Chalk

Sacha Sacket has launched a most ambitious venture entitled The Viscera Project. The plan is to release one new song every week for 52 weeks. The project commenced June 1 with “Breed” and the most recent song, “Colin” dropped this week. Four weeks, four songs = kudos, well done, etc. But really, how’s it going?

This guy writes sneaky good songs, like “Colin,” which showcases Sacket’s strong voice, complete with falsetto flourishes and a piano accompaniment. The songs are sneaky because I thought, guy with a piano and a great vocal range, I’ve heard this before, a bunch of times. But “Colin” grabbed me right away and when it ended, I wished it was a bit longer.

Last week’s offering, “Chalk,” starts slowly and quietly but soon takes off, building in intensity before gliding to a quiet finish. The celesta makes the song as great as it is. Yeah, I didn’t know what a celesta was either when I read Sacha’s notes. It’s a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard.

Dear Mr. Sacket:

More celesta, please.

Keep track of this LA boy’s progress at sachasacket.com. I can’t wait to hear what comes next.

- Thurdeen

Brooklyn’s Mobile Wash Unit Joins the Broadcast

alternative, ambient, Astrea, Brooklyn, electronica, featured artists, Mobile Wash Unit, New York, reviews 2 Responses »

Jun 232010

artist: Mobile Wash Unit
genre: electronica | alternative
label: Astrea

listen now…
Jump Down :: September Was Winter

Mobile Wash Unit, currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, have issued their debut album, Tent, on Astrea Records. While nearly everything on it clicks, I strongly recommend two songs, “Jump Down” and “September Was Winter.” There’s nothing terribly complicated happening, but both songs are super catchy and go down easily.

“Jump Down” offers a pulsing, reggae-tinged electro-beat with a megaphone-effect vocal. “September Was Winter” has chiming guitars and an Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark feel especially when the chorus rolls around. “How can we convince you to stay?” implores singer Andy Snyder. Since you asked, I’ll tell you – create some more songs like these and I’m liable to ask if I can sleep on your couch for a week or two.

Check out Mobile Wash Unit – because every summer needs a soundtrack.

- Thurdeen

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens

alt-rock, England, indie, London, reviews, The Boxer Rebellion, United Kingdom, unsigned, videos No Responses »

May 212010

artist: The Boxer Rebellion
album: Union

It’s the type of advice grandmothers give, the type of advice that doesn’t seem to make much sense when you receive it. It mostly sounds like someone trying to soften the damage after you’ve had your ass handed to you. Perhaps that’s how London’s The Boxer Rebellion felt when Poptones, the label that carried their selectively searing debut, Exits, folded in 2005. Since then, The Boxer Rebellion have remained unsigned, but in 2009 they self-released their second album, Union, only on iTunes. Union has garnered a good amount of buzz and guess what? Physical copies are now available and include the exclusive bonus track, Broken Glass. How’s that for incentive?

The Boxer Rebellion are Nathan Nicholson (from Tennessee, if you can believe it) (vocals), Todd Howe (lead guitar), Adam Harrison (bass) and Piers Hewitt (drums). A bit cleaner than Exits, Union retains the intensity and magnitude of their sound. They’ve been compared to Bends-era Radiohead, which I don’t see, and it seems like each time a band releases an album of big tunes that would sound great in concert, the U2 comparisons arise. I don’t see that, either. The sound is tight, the pace is varied and the drumming is fairly primal and booming. Nicholson’s voice often soars high above the noise and always keeps things anchored. Union commences with the excellent Flashing Red Light Means Go and from there it’s mid-tempo sweepers and straight ahead rockers like Move On, Misplaced and Forces. There is even a bit of electronics tossed in, but nothing sounds dated or out of place.

Work has begun on a third album. In the meantime, check out both Exits and Union. Oh, another thing – Union was named Best Alternative Album of 2009 by the US version of ITunes. The guys also played SXSW this year. Seems like the best days lie ahead for The Boxer Rebellion.

Grandma would be proud. She’d probably also say, “Told you so.”

- Thurdeen

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