Imaginary Insomnia

Sleeping People, Rumah Sakit and Three Mile Pilot are three of Kenseth Thibideau’s more famed projects, but it’s his first solo album that is creating all the excitement right now. Due for release on July 20, Brooklyn Vegan recently previewed a few tracks. The two songs come across shady and skin tight with a thin Krautrock lining; one spelling M-A-T-H rock with a Battles vibe (’Moon 2′) and the other leaning more towards Bauhaus and the rhythmic guitar pop of The Bats (’Black Hole’). Lie back and listen to the music cascade as the repetitive guitar picking bubbles and drops like rain, scattering out into a beautiful pattern like well designed art. If the music could be an image it would be a collage built layer upon layer, becoming a fixture with a dark green fluorescent glow.

Past bands Thibideau has formed himself all have a strong post-rock slant, with a loosely fastened math rock structure. You can hear it coming through in his solo work but it’s dumbed down to a delicate haze, with the crunchy rhythms making way for a smoother, cosier finish. If you’re into bands like The Chills, Foals, The Soft Moon and Talking Heads then you’ll likely dig this.

Repetition, Kenseth Thibideau’s solo debut is out on July 20 via Temporary Residence Limited.  

Kenseth Thibideau- Moon 2: MP3

Kenseth Thibideau- Black Hole: MP3

Kenseth Thibideau- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under California, San Diego, U.S.A
No Comments

Religion 101

Formerly named The Muslims, (the band changed their name in late 2008 because they “were disgusted with and exhausted by all of the ignorant, often racist, bullshit that came out of people’s mouths during shows/interviews/conversations”), San Diego band The Soft Pack has recently released the first single from their upcoming debut album.

Titled ‘Answer To Yourself’, the song will probably leave some fans divided as there’s plenty of reasons to love or hate the song. It is a rather simple indie rock song, it doesn’t push any new boundaries with its rock and roll overture and it doesn’t have any overly enthusiastic guitar hooks, but it does have a crackle and springing quality of days gone by and it has a pretty catchy chorus. Their previous EP (Muslims) was compared a lot to The Strokes, The View and The Virgins, but ‘Answer To Yourself’ takes the band further away from those influences as they start to develop their own unique sound. They’re an easy listen and sometimes that’s all you need, whether they can be more than that will be revealed on February 1, 2010 when the album is officially released. You can pre-order it now from Insound and as a bonus you’ll also receive a free Soft Pack t-shirt. 

If you’re interested in more from The Soft Pack, we recently posted a cover they recorded of Phoenix’s ‘Fences’.

The Soft Pack- Answer To Yourself: MP3

 The Soft Pack- Myspace

Posted by Nick Fulton under San Diego, U.S.A
No Comments

Sea Foam Anemone

Caked in Pacific Ocean foam, sprinkled with gritty sand, swathed in icy, echoey reverb, and swimming with cute melodies, Jeans Wilder is Andrew Caddick’s musical creation. Part of the California scene of exciting experimental pop that includes Best Coast and Wavves, Jeans Wilder has a drudgy, druggy feel to it, with Caddick’s innocent vibes submerged in seaweed, and his tangled, obscure harmonies and shaky keyboard tones backed by primitive beats. His songs are eerie and wonderful, already a few have been released on various splits and he’s even had an album, Antiques, that was discontinued (which ‘Sugar Water’ is off). He has a variety of future releases set to come out soon.

Jeans Wilder- Tough Guys: MP3

 Jeans Wilder- Sugar Water: MP3

Jeans Wilder- Myspace

Posted by Sarah Gooding under California, San Diego, U.S.A
No Comments