Friday, November 20, 2009

Friday Five: Surf Songs

Simple-sounding song structures always impress me. I believe it's quite difficult to write a good "pop" song. A song that everyone likes without losing an element of credibility. The legends of surf-rock definitely had that ability and I'm glad to see surf making a resurgence. I've been listening to a lot of this surf-inspired garage/indie rock and here are some of my choice selections.
Girls have received a lot of press lately for their very-NSFW video for "Lust for Life", but this is a band I just can't get out of my head, pun intended.
Girls - Summertime
BTA's own G.R.O. gave me the tip about The Drums and their style fell right into what I've been listening to for a while.
Now, Surfer Blood is an "inbox gem", I got word about this group sifting through the many emails we receive daily. I'm not ashamed to admit that the name caught my attention. Think surf-rock meets BRMC.
I am embarrassed to admit that up until two weeks ago I was barely aware of The White Wires. They're based in Ottawa and run a label, Going Gaga Records, specializing in punk rock and all things non-commercial. Their brand of garage rock is dirty and simple. Most tracks have that familiarity that any good pop song should, not that these guys are in any way pop. I'm excited to have discovered another exciting band in the area. They're excellent 45 on Trouble in Mind Records called "Pretty Girl" is worth the six bucks, check 'em out.
Vampire Weekend needs no introduction. They are simply great. This is their great new single.
Vampire Weekend - Cousins (Track removed by request of XL and Web Sheriff)

3 comments:

WEB SHERIFF said...

WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com

Hi Marc.E.B,

On behalf of XL Recordings and Vampire Weekend, we would kindly ask you not to post copies of "Contra" on your site (or any non-preview tracks from Vampire Weekend's new album - street date 11th Jan UK & 12th Jan US).

We do appreciate that you are fans of / are promoting Vampire Weekend, but the label and artist would greatly appreciate your co-operation in removing your links to the pirate files in question.

Thank you for respecting the artist's and label’s wishes and, if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, then a full length version of "Horchata" is available for fans and bloggers to link to / post / host etc at www.vampireweekend.com ... .. for further details of the new album, on-line promotions, videos and 2009 / 2010 shows, check-out the official site, as well as the band’s Myspace at www.myspace.com/vampireweekend and XL’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/XLRecordings http://www.youtube.com/user/XLRecordings .. .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news, preview material and on-line promotions.

With Thanks & Regards,

WEB SHERIFF

Unknown said...

We also received this kind message in our inbox, but it was marked
STRICTLY PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
ATTENTION ADDRESSEES ONLY
COPYRIGHT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION
& WITHOUT PREJUDICE (SAVE AS TO COSTS)
We respect the request of XL and have taken down Vampire Weekend's "Cousins".

Anonymous said...

you missed Sex Beet off the list!