It’s been bubbling awhile, but the anticipation for Iceage‘s sold-out American live debut boiled-over in the weeks leading up to the Stereogum/Sacred Bones Northside Showcase at Public Assembly. The underground excitement for co-headliner Prurient is always there — especially considering Friday’s set was his first in 2 years — but excitement was also ratcheted up recently with the announcement of a new album Bermuda Drain and a new direction. Both delivered: If you left disappointed at 2AM, it’s because you couldn’t get into the venue. The Danish teens offered exactly what they needed to via a an expertly sloppy/angry/cynical/nervous/cocky/unhinged/buttoned-down 20-minute set crammed with New Brigade highlights and an appropriately punk, anti-climactic into-the-crowd exit. (As I said before SXSW, Iceage are my Odd Future.) The more experienced Dominick Fernow, joined by Cold Cave bandmate Wes Eisold, followed Iceage with exceedingly precise power-electronic catharsis — it was violent, crisp, spastic, and, as mentioned, romantic. Sure, he wears a nice leather jacket now instead of ripping off his shirt like the old days and the Bermuda Drain material can be full-on danceable, but you won’t find a more compelling or uncompromising noisemaker — anywhere. I could go on about both sets for pages, but Ryan Muir‘s photos are more interesting: In addition to Iceage and Prurient, he snapped pictures of BTW Cult Of Youth and The Men, whose Leave Home is a surprise favorite of 2011. We also have video clips of Iceage (note audience response to “New Brigade,” “You’re Blessed,” etc.) and Prurient’s “A Meal Can Be Made” shot by Todd Pendu of Pendu NYC.

Read More...

Not all of Stereogum’s favorite sounds conform to what folks expect us to cover. In this space, resident Bananafish fetishist Brandon Stosuy focuses on bands, albums, singles, and villages in Sweden that may otherwise pass by unnoticed. This installment’s virtual milk crate contains The Best Albums Of 2008.

In 2008 I spent more time listening to metal than anything else. (Note: To that top 20 I would currently find a way to squeeze in Nox Inferi’s Adverse Spheres, Aura Noir’s Hades Rise, and Mitochondrion’s Archaeaeon. Plus, Darkthrone jumps about five points.) That said, these are a few of the other albums I returned to frequently. It’s hard labeling them as “Outsider” because they’re very much in heavy rotation, and it’s the sort of music I’m most drawn to (i.e. I don’t find it at all inaccessible), but they’re also albums that didn’t receive as much mainstream indie hype as, say, Fleet Foxes or TV On The Radio. That’s sort of the guiding principle. As far as their link to heavier tastes, I think most of these releases touch upon a certain sonic/aesthetic darkness. Except when noted, the list is in no particular order.

[Liz Harris/Grouper]

Read More...

Not all of Stereogum’s favorite sounds conform to what folks expect us to cover. In this space, resident Bananafish fetishist Brandon Stosuy focuses on bands, albums, singles, and villages in Sweden that may otherwise pass by unnoticed. This installment’s virtual milk crate contains No Neck Blues Band, Xela, and Yellow Tears.

Last installment I got nostalgic about Harry Pussy. Posting an MP3 from No Neck Blues Band could come off as digging into the back of the record collection and reminiscing, but “Ministry Of Voices” is from Clomeim, an extended collagist collection of new material from the Harlem septet. Not that this is surprising: NNCK haven’t slowed down since their formation circa 1992 when they started surfacing (at least for those of us in NJ) via hand-screened/painted/etc. LPs and, later, loft shows. In 2006, Qvaris reminded me to keep listening to them; two years later, the invigorating, in-your-face Clomeim gives me reason to run out and see them perform again.

Read More...