Everyone had a time in their youth where the only thing that mattered was the five seconds in front of their face, and how fun they could possibly make that exact moment. Nice Purse is the epitome of that time of your life, because they’re living it right now. Their album Black Medal (not Metal, sorry Norway), is a half hour of what sounds like lighthearted, innocent 50’s pop, but proves to be much more when it delves into the darker aspects of young love, young lust, and acid trips. These kids, headed by France Camp and Ian Davis, make you reminisce so hard during Black Medal that you won’t know whether you were day dreaming or if you were awake at the end (Inception? eh forget it). This album would be a guilty pleasure if it wasn’t so well crafted. Whether you go back to school in the fall or not, get these summer-friendly tunes (out tomorrow) and let this album ride you through the Fall and beyond.
If Gayngs were a baseball team, they would be the New York Yankees. And Ryan Olson would be the General Manager. Olson, the top producer on the group’s debut album, spared nothing when he collected the who’s who of Minneapolis musical talent and plopped them in the center of the coolest/weirdest collaboration this city has possibly ever seen.
Gayngs’ debut album is a collection of eleven songs encapsulated in an overall air of nostalgic sexiness. I see this album as a crossing that links different characters, telling their story with their own brand of music, to an overall idea that it’s all somehow Relayted. Whether you’re in a New Orleans Jazz Club, the First Avenue Mainroom, or backwoods Wisconsin all eleven songs on this album sound like they were made to be listened to in that particular setting.
The album’s lead track and first single starts this “journey” on The Gaudy Side of Town, which shows off Solid Gold’s Zach Coulter’s take on a cool jazz/Phil Collins sound. From there we start to travel with The Walker, who is set to declare that “Baby I’m On My Way.” The end of the track takes a turn from droning mystery to a glitter-pop lick that sounds like it could’ve been used on an early Mariah Carey album.
While the talent of the songwriters included on Relayted is of no question, there are times where this album seems a bit forced. False Bottom seemed to be a filler track that didn’t add much substance other than a decent transition between the full-blown jazz horn/dark soul vocals of No Sweat and the obscurity from The Beatdown, which proclaims, “I will die young.” In the spirit of the 80’s influence throughout this album, could that be a subtle wink at Billy Joel?
Relayted reaches it’s highest points of musicality and sexuality with stand-out track Faded High, which starts with a basic synth and click track that sounds like it’s straight off a Dr. Beat. It pulls you in when the female vocals kick in about 30 seconds. In this track, we’ve moved away from the pornish sounds of Crystal Rope and gone straight into sexual tension. The line “I want you on me” says just about all of it, but the R&B vocals halfway through add another layer that show us sex is not the only desire here.
“The Last Prom on Earth” is the final track on the album, and may be my favorite only because of the tugging keyboard opening mixed with the sounds of what I can only picture as a Blue-leisure-suit-wearing Ivan Howard at an 80’s prom. If there was ever a song where you asked your prom date if tonight was “the night,” this is it. It’s the image of Napoleon Dynamite at the dance meets a kid who plays Kenny G and lights candles for his girlfriend the weekend his parents are away. “Last Prom” comes right up to the cusp of cheesy, but shies away and ends up landing on somewhere on sentimental.
Relayted is, at best, the music you want to hear when the future is so uncertain it has you looking to the past for reassurance. At worst, the music you want to look back on and laugh at. While this album lies closer to the former it needs to tip toe around the cheese to be the piece of work it became. What works best is Ryan Olson’s ability to take these talented musicians and put them in a new element. Gayngs has made an album that might not feed into your every desire, but will certainly keep you listening, if for no other reason than to imagine a romantic night, a lustful night, or a lonely night.
And if the sexual context of this album teaches us anything, you can’t get ‘layt’ without being ‘Relayted.’ Wait. That came out wrong.
Minneapolis duo Ten Centuries has released their newest single “Ice Age” off of the debut LP White Pines (Afternoon records). You can check out the track below along with the video for “Fallen Trees” above.
Alan Palomo, widely known as VEGA, has stepped into a new guise as Neon Indian and, in collaboration with Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, has released the newest single “Sleep Paralysist” (via Green Label Sound). Palomo is a real deal synth genius, rehoming a wide range of textures in a soundscape previously unheard as VEGA. Neon Indian, in full (live band) force, will also be sharing the stage with Minneapolis’ Solid Gold at the GLS SXSW showcase. More dates after the jump.
ATF’s friend Big Cats! and The Tribe released a new mixtape today called Let’s Be Professional. It features beats from Big Cats! and DJ Pete with TruthBeTold holding down the MC duties. The tape also features the likes of Big Zach, Baby Gracious, Franz Diego, Guante, Chantz and Claire Taubenhaus.
Just announced today, Flying Lotus will be doing a quick run of tour dates a month in advance of his new album Cossmogramma and Minneapolis is lucky enough to be on the list! The California-based musician, who in my mind might be one of the most talented musicians in the world right now, will be playing The Loft at Barfly on April 3. His new album will drop on May 4. Check out the first single below:
MPLS’ up and coming MC Mike Dreams released his new mixtape Dreamer’s Poetry via DJ Booth. Download the entire tape HERE Check out one of the tracks below:
Doug Benson, the star of the comedy documentary Super High Me, announced this week that he will be performing at Minneapolis’ Acme Comedy Club on April 20. With his track record of being the most stoned comedian in America, you can only guess what he has in store for the highest day of the year. Reservations available soon.
MPLS’ Total Babe is playing a show at Seattle Grace Hospital tonight, which is being broadcast live on ABC. Ok, maybe not, but their song Shape Up will be featured on everyone’s favorite medical comedy drama Grey’s Anatomy. Don’t miss one of MPLS’ favorite bands getting some much deserved national/international exposure!
