Band To Watch: Land Of Talk
We hope you've all spent some time with Land Of Talk's seven-song EP Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, on our very short list for best debut record of the year. We've seen 'em no less than four times in the past few months and, if iTunes playcounts don't lie (they don't), Applause is one of our most-played recordings of '06. They've been afforded heaps of blog love but, with an upcoming tour opening for The Stills, now's a great time to peel your eyes and watch out for 'em.
The three-piece is led by Lizzie Powell's piercing, pristine voice, sailing over fuzzy guitar riffs, suspended chordal tones and the band's chunky grooves. Her PJ Harvey-honed fretwork reveals countless Rid Of Me spins but, unlike Polly Jean's venomous histrionics, Lizzie pleads her case in ever-pleasant tones -- even when she's torn to shreds. LoT give us something distinct from other Montreal groups worth watching; stripped of layered arrangements, blending immediately appealing vocals, bass-drum atmospherics, and chordal complexity. And the hooks! They won't leave you. Consider the Talk one of our favorite new acts this year.
Land Of Talk - "Speak To Me Bones" (MP3 Link Expired)
Land Of Talk - "Breaxxbaxx" (MP3 Link Expired)
We know you have your thoughts on the matter, so cast your vote for best debut of '06. (No votes for Ashlee's new nose, please.)
Posted at 12:06 PM in Band To Watch, MP3
Tags: Land Of Talk
My vote for best dbut of the year goes to:
Oh, Beatrice by Tacks, the Boy Disaster
www.myspace.com/tackstheboydisaster
And in second place, how about this up and coming guy Bob Dylan?
Posted by: Josh at August 30, 2006 1:19 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I think it would have to be Gnarles Barkley this year. Unless Guillemots are new this year, I'm not sure of that though...
But yeah Bob Dylan too that fresh young face.
Posted by: kenny at August 30, 2006 1:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Ladyhawk!
Posted by: pinder at August 30, 2006 1:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Totally forgot about Guillemots!!! I LOVE them!
Posted by: Josh at August 30, 2006 2:09 PM | ReplyScore = 0
The Psychic Ills
Posted by: sean at August 30, 2006 2:11 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Love these tracks! Don't love The Stills. Maybe I'll go anyway.
My votes for best act of 2006 are Oh No! Oh My! and Snowden's "Anti-Anti."
Posted by: jeezy at August 30, 2006 2:21 PM | ReplyScore = 0
do side projects count? because if so, sunset rubdown's "shut up i am dreaming" has to be the best full-length debut so far this year.
also, land of talk is basically metric (her inflections are very emily haines) plus garage guitars. good, not great.
Posted by: sarah at August 30, 2006 2:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I'm with Guillemots..."Through the Window Pane" is amazing. Also, The Extraordinaires, "Ribbons of War" knocked my freakin' socks off!
Posted by: Harry at August 30, 2006 2:36 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Listed below is a list of gear that was stolen out of the Dinosaur Jr trailer last night (Tuesday 8.29.06) outside of their hotel in Long Island City, NY. We would appreciate spreading the word and passing this list around in hopes of recovering their gear. Feel free to send this list to any and all band, tour and production managers, guitar freaks, touring personnel, venues, musicians and or thieves that you think could help us.
If anyone has any information about this gear, please call Brian Schwartz at the number below or on his cell at 303.956.9671 or Bart Dahl at 212.777.0922 or on his cell at 720.331.1836.
Thanks.
Guitars:
1959 Fender Jazzmaster SN# 38927.
-decal coming off. cracked headstock at top near low E peg. color black with purple/bluish sparkle coming through. adonized pick guard gold metal. tuneomatic bridge gold, tuning pegs gold.
1961-3 Fender Jazzmaster SN# 62012.
-purple sparkle, black pickup covers. headstock repaired, a whole new piece of wood was glued on for the top part of the headstock under the tuners and up a 1/2” , along the whole top of the headstock. gold tuneomatic bridge, gold tuners
1964-5 Fender Jazzmaster SN# L21581.
-orange, white pearl pickguard, stickers we're all over it, original tuners.
Fender Purple Jazzmaster new SN# R074329.
-purple sparkle with matching headstock gold adonized guard tuneomatic bridge.
Rory Gallagher Stratocaster new SN# R25507.
-has a big gold grover tuning peg on low E
Rickenbacker 197? Fireglo Bass SN# 4001.
-checker-board binding.
B.C. Rich Warlock Bass SN# 4242413
Custom pedal board with custom audio electronics RS-10 foot controller, Teese RNC2 wah pedal, boss stage tuner, mute box, and cables.
Cymbals:
[1] Paiste 20" 2002 medium
[1] Paiste 20" giant beat
[1] Paiste 20" 2002 crash
[2] Paiste 19" 2002 crash
[2] Paiste 15" 2002 sound edge top hi-hats
[1] 15" 2002 sound edge bottom hi-hats
One Black backpack with Sony headphones, tools, etc.
Posted by: Swen at August 30, 2006 2:45 PM | ReplyScore = 0
saw them on metric's dog day afternoon last month in toronto. they were the best by far out of the six that performed before metric. great ep too.
Posted by: b-rad at August 30, 2006 3:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Love Is All
They didn't form in '06 but their first full-length came out, and it's still my most played record.
Posted by: Patrik at August 30, 2006 3:30 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Sunset Rubdown, and if that doesn't count then Cold War Kids.
Posted by: yeehaw at August 30, 2006 3:40 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Hm...how about 'Beams' from the Presets? I want to say Portugal. The Man's "Waiter: You Vultures!" but that's not their debut...
Posted by: a is for applebits at August 30, 2006 3:46 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I vote for Sonno - 'Rumpelstiltskin Stuck In A K-Hole'
http://www.myspace.com/sonno
One of my favorite discoveries of '06.
Posted by: Sara at August 30, 2006 3:47 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Sunset rubdown... you motherfucking hipsters. So predictable.
Posted by: Jack at August 30, 2006 4:13 PM | ReplyScore = 0
kamikaze hearts, hands down best unknown at the moment
Posted by: an-on at August 30, 2006 5:05 PM | ReplyScore = 0
re: kamikaze hearts....alt-country belle and sebastian with terrible, fake-southern accented singers?
seriously. shitty.
scott - do you realize this is like, the 19th band this year that's "one of your favorites of 2006" and "one of your most played on itunes"
make a pick and stick with it, man!
while i was typing this i kept listening to kamikaze hearts... barenaked ladies anyone?
but! to contribute something to the thread, best debut of 06? going to be the annuals record if those mp3's floating around blogland are indication.
Posted by: nick at August 30, 2006 6:25 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Wolfmother!
close - Raconteurs, Chad VanGaalen, Islands
Sunset Rubdown??? I'm sorry, I think Sunset Rubdown was a Pitchfork hoax.
Posted by: Luc at August 30, 2006 6:27 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I like Spencer Krug a lot, but Sunset Rubdown isn't nearly as good as his work with Wolf Parade (except for "Stadiums & Shrines II" "They Took a Vote and Said No" and "The Men Are Called Horsemen There"). I think he needs Boeckner and Bakara to keep his cheesy 80's tendencies in check. As for lyrics, you can just sub the word "Ghost" in all of Wolf Parade's songs with "Snake" and you'll get pretty much the same thing.
Besides, didn't they have an EP in 2005?
I do second the Love Is All nod. The Figurines album is alright too. (Is that their debut?)
Posted by: fido at August 30, 2006 6:53 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Tacks the Boy Disaster for sure.
Hometown boys.
Posted by: erik at August 30, 2006 8:26 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I've listened to that Sunset Rubdown album about a thousand times. I love it. I like it more than the Wolf Parade album actually. Its been on top rotation for about 4 months, through 2 countries and about a dozen cities. As for his "80's tendencies" someone mentioned I actually here a lot of 70's...like bowie, eno, and even bits of Floyd. The album has both caused and resolved existential crises in me. Sounds totally lame I know, but throws my fear of death right in my face, fills me with hopeless sadness, and makes me so happy I smile and cry. I'm totally being lame, I know, but its one of those albums that has profoundly affected me.
I'm old and thought music couldn't do that to me anymore. I hate 99% of albums, including that annoying Guillemots album (which does have like 2 good songs), so maybe its not your cup of tea, but I recommend everyone give it a listen and decide for yourself.
To me, it was like the first time I heard the Velvets or the Beatles, or let it bleed, or led zep III, Entertainment!, the clash's first album, Electric Warrior, Turn on the Bright Lights, OK Computer, or any of the other albums that have treated me well over the years.
Posted by: Nylund at August 30, 2006 10:08 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I love love love Land of Talk. Listen to them constantly. It's actually one of my favorite past times to hang out on other peoples' computers and jack up their Land of Talk play counts. Mu ha ha ha!
Posted by: ness at August 30, 2006 11:44 PM | ReplyScore = 0
what rock have i been under? this stuff is awesome!
Posted by: julio at August 31, 2006 12:54 AM | ReplyScore = 0
www.anaura.com
different kind of rock... good lyrics too.
Posted by: Chris at October 2, 2006 4:57 PM | ReplyScore = 0