Here’s a really good cover of The Lemonheads’ song “Paid to Smile” by a guy named Jeremy Sparrow.
I wouldn’t say that it’s better than the original, but it does offer more layered and textured guitar work than the original. This cover also lacks Juliana Hatfield’s backing vocals, which are a bit too shrill in the original song.
Daytrotter announced that it’s changing from a free site to a paid membership site.
It will only cost $2 a month, and you’ll get member benefits like no more ads and live streaming sessions as the bands play.
I think another benefit of membership should be more accurate artwork. Daytrotter’s artwork always manages to make the band members look extremely ugly.
See examples of Daytrotter’s depiction vs. real photograph below:
Pete Yorn:
Pete Yorn does not really have strange facial rashes and a lopsided face:
Best Coast:
Beth of Best Coast is not really an angry Native American with blood stains on her cheeks:
Juliette Lewis:
Juliette Lewis doesn’t really look like a frumpy cat-lady:
Rural Alberta Advantage:
The band is not really that plain/ugly-looking:
Holly Miranda:
Holly Miranda is not, and has never been, an obese redhead, as Daytrotter’s image implies:
Last night, I discovered a spectacular new band called Milo Greene. Composed of 5 members, the band sounded polished and seasoned despite being relatively new (they haven’t yet released their first record).
Each of the 5 members could easily have fronted his/her own band, but instead they came together to create a powerhouse/supergroup.
I noticed the band’s use of percussive instruments, the drummer’s decision to use mallets which created a full, orchestral sound, and how the band members switched instruments between themselves, playing guitar, bass, and even banjo for different songs in their set.
I’ve never seen a band where all 4 members up front could sing so well, harmonize together, and switch off vocals for different songs.
Check out video clips of “1957” and “Silent Way” that I took from last night’s show at the Mercury Lounge, along with a special video “hello” to YOU – readers of After The Show — from 2 members of Milo Greene, Robbie and Andrew.
“Windstorm,” a song on School of Seven Bells’ sophomore album, is one of the most unique-sounding songs in my iTunes library.
The distorted melody that begins the song announces immediately that this song is different — it’s unrecognizable and hard to tell if a machine, guitar on overdrive, or human voice is producing this hook.
The vocals initially sound like they’re not in English but in some other more ethereal and musical language.
Entering the song unexpectedly in the first verse (0:35), the drums are heavy on the snare and sound like they could be played on a drum machine.
The chorus’s lyrical repetition and sparse instrumentation contributes to the song’s ethereal, chant-like feeling.
Sonically, the zenith of the song for me is at 2:35, when two separate vocal arrangements overlap (chorus + verse) creating a musical round that evokes feelings of prayer and meditation.