MP3: “Te Amo” by Atlas Sound
Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox will release his highly-anticipated third Atlas Sound solo record in November. You can listen to another new track from the album now. Download “Te Amo” by Atlas Sound here or stream it below:
MP3: “Terra Incognita” by Atlas Sound
Just two days after a night out with Deerhunter, we get news of a new Atlas Sound record, Parallax, slated for a November 8 release. Bradford Cox certainly remains one of the more prolific songwriters in today’s indie music scene. If you can’t wait until November to hear the new album, you can check out a new track now. Download “Terra Incognita” by Atlas Sound here or stream it below:
Deerhunter @ Webster Hall
This was my sixth Deerhunter show, and I was curious to see how the Athens-based foursome would present their fuzz-laden pop melodies to a larger NYC venue. Webster Hall is nearly three times the size of the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Brooklyn), where I saw the band twice. Bradford Cox and company had played Webster Hall already last October, but this time it was the first of two sold-out shows. It was immediately obvious that the band was going to play off their recent indie stardom while they could. The band minus Bradford Cox came on stage and were greeted by anxious applause at around 10:30. They began playing an extended intro to “Basement Scene,” as Mr. Cox finally strolled out and caught a mic tossed by one of the stage techs. The crowd showed their appreciation for the frontman’s appearance, and he began humming the opening melody of the Everly Brothers-inspired track.
In the past, Cox tended to take a very reserved approach (post dress-wearing era, of course) to his live performances. Tonight was something different. Bradford appeared to be in full-blown rock star mode, and deservedly so. The singer/guitarist/effects manipulator added new lyrics and energetic sound effects throughout the setlist, and he wore his hair in either a classic or postpunk style (I couldn’t see it that well). All of this was even more impressive considering the band was severely jet-lagged following several international flights over the past week. Cox even admitted halfway through the set he was somewhat delirious, but that the effects were like a drug. Don’t be fooled by Cox’s new-found rock star energy; he is still the most polite and approachable musician working today.
The setlist contained mostly new tracks off of highly-acclaimed Halcyon Digest. Usually, a crowd is not as eager to hear the new stuff, but Deerhunter is just starting to reach a larger audience, and Halcyon is the album that is responsible. Unfortunately, the fairweather fans at last night’s show proved to be such, as many fled to the bars during the band’s more obscure songs like “Little Kids.” Longtime fans, of course, appreciated the balance of the set, and especially the new approaches to several tracks, including 10+ minute jam versions of “Nothing Ever Happened” and instant-classic “He Would Have Laughed.” The latter was one of the most creative variations of an already incredible song I have witnessed, and it was perfectly placed at the end of the band’s encore. Deerhunter announced that it would not return to NYC for some time. Fortunately, this gig will standout in our memories for some time.
Deerhunter – Webster Hall – August 22, 2011
Basement Scene
Desire Lines
Hazel St.
Don’t Cry
Revival
Little Kids
Memory Boy
Nothing Ever Happened
Spring Hall Convert
Cover Me (Slowly)
Agoraphobia
Green Fuzz (by The Cramps)
Encore:
Helicopter
He Would Have Laughed
{Photos by Tom Choi]
Atlas Sound Releases 41 49 Tracks In Three Four Days
Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox is hands down the most prolific songwriter of this generation. In addition to releasing a Deerhunter and Atlas Sound record each year (it’s actually seven albums in less than six years), Cox continues to share additional music on his blog. The only difference between these tracks and what other bands may categorize as demos or leftovers is the fact that most of what he shares is studio-worthy. This week, Bradford was especially generous for the Thanksgiving season, releasing three volumes of Atlas Sound tracks. He’s calling them Bedroom Databank Vol. 1, 2, and 3. The tally so far is 41 songs, and who knows if tomorrow will bring more. All three volumes are worth your time (haven’t skipped one track yet) and can be downloaded for free here. Get a taste of “Mona Lisa” from today’s Vol. 3 below. Enjoy!
EDIT: Cox posted Vol. 4 yesterday. Could there be a Vol. 5?
Deerhunter @ Starlight Ballroom
Although the bathrooms at the Starlight Ballroom were once referred to as “the apocalypse” by Grizzly Bear frontman Ed Droste a few years back, some of my favorite shows have been performed here (TV on the Radio, Girl Talk, etc.). Deerhunter had no issues overcoming the elements of the world’s end and gave the most inspired performance of their four shows I’ve attended. The varied setlist and extended jams were a nice surprise for longtime fans but may have confused new fans looking for only straight performances of new and highly accessible songs like “Revival” and “Helicopter.” Thankfully, Deerhunter aren’t ready for mainstream radio just yet.
Frontman Bradfox Cox was extraordinarily enthusiast most of the night. The usually reserved Cox (at least since the days he wore dresses opening up for Nine Inch Nails during the Cryptograms era) could be found headbanging during guitar solos and adding new vocal melodies to various songs. The energy was appreciated by some in attendance, but Philly proved to be a disappointing crowd. I don’t care if this show was a weekday makeup for a weekend pool party from the summer. I will never be able to understand how lines at the various bars at the Starlight Ballroom could file in during extended jam sessions for “Nothing Ever Happened” and “He Would Have Laughed,” both approaching the 10-minute mark. Shame on you, Philly!
“We need your youth energy and your youth culture so that we can survive. The median age of this band is 87 years old. We’re looking for a new vessel … you know like in Being John Malkovich … it’s a movie.” – Bradford Cox (disappointed by the reaction).
This was the first Deerhunter show I’ve attended where guitarist Lockett Pundt sang live. He’s recorded vocals on several albums, but Cox has usually taken on those duties live (at the previous three shows I’ve attended). Pundt sang lead vocals for two songs, “Desire Lines” and “Fountain Stairs.” He did admirably on the first track, and the band extended the performance of the song into a highlight-worthy jam session, which they did for several songs in the set. His vocals for “Fountain Stairs” were not nearly as impressive.
Another highlight of the set was some kind of live, 80s-style reinterpretation of “Rainwater Cassette Exchange.” The new arrangements were inspired. When the show ended, Cox and company revisited the stage for an encore that included “Memory Boy” and “Fluorescent Grey,” and Cox jokingly introduced each song as the other. Overall, it’s just not possible to get better than this for a $15 ticket. Deerhunter may be the best live band that cannot sell out a small club. Go check them out now before they turn into Arcade Fire.
You can check out a high quality stream of the previous night’s show in Washington, D.C. by NPR’s All Things Considered here.
Album Review: Halcyon Digest
Deerhunter will never again reach the heights of Microcastle in my eyes, not because they suffer from a demise of talent but because of a reinvention of style. Cox has said he’s no longer interested in the sound of Microcastle and Cryptograms. Halcyon Digest is an attempt at a more straightforward approach to paying homage to the band’s influences. Cox seems to be trying too hard at times to conjure up formulas from different eras and genres (“Basement Scene” recalls the best of the Everly Brothers). The layers of fuzz and effects are stripped away to reveal slightly less interesting storytelling. Cox still puts his voice through some filters which adds a welcomed eeriness to tracks like “Don’t Cry.”
None of this should deter you from embracing Halcyon Digest as an impeccable collection of gems from a band that may be as consistent as any active band today. It’s just this author’s personal preferences of style and genre. We have Cox’s Atlas Sound project to cling to for his experimental compositions. Nonetheless, there is a lot to get lost in here, including the dream pop standout “Helecopter,” “Coronado,” which features a 180-degree shift in style featuring saxophone, and the (live) sample- and effects-heavy “He Would Have Laughed.” The latter is my favorite track off the album and the best closing track the band has written to date. Halcyon Digest is certainly on the short list of best albums of 2010.
MP3: “Attic Lights (Live @ Bell House, Brooklyn)” by Atlas Sound
Courtesy of our good friend nyctaper, we’re able to share a great live performance of the track “Attic Lights” by Bradford Cox’s (Deerhunter) solo moniker, Atlas Sound. The early part of the show was hampered by a failing looping sampler, but Cox continued on in gracious fashion to play a stunning version of this song from his 2009 Logos album (#6 on Fishpork’s “favorite albums of 2009″ list). Download “Attic Lights (Live @ Bell House, Brooklyn)” by Atlas Sound here or stream it below:
MP3: “When I Get Home” by Vic Chesnutt (Bradford Cox tribute)
For the second year in a row, Bradford Cox played a New Year’s Eve show as Atlas Sound in his hometown of Atlanta. This year he played mostly off of his excellent Logos release. The set started off with a tribute to Vic Chesnutt who passed away on Christmas after a successful suicide attempt. Bradford apologized for not being the guitarist that Vic was and admitted he couldn’t learn the song because it was too complex, so he just played the original for the audience. You can download Cox’s Vic Chesnutt tribute here or stream it below:
Download or stream the entire New Year’s Eve performance via Southern Shelter here.
MP3s: “Doctor” and “The Screens” by Atlas Sound
Bradford Cox continues his generosity by posting his 7th Virtual EP to his blog. You can download “Doctor” and “The Screens” or stream them below:
“Doctor”
“The Screens”
Album Review: Atlas Sound’s Logos
Fuck this shit. I can just make another album. [Logos is] not finished and now it never will be. It was also going to have a rad cover. I would describe it to you but that would be stupid. P.S. there are no vocals on “Quick Canal.” I never got the chance to record them. This record was not free to record, so if you’d like to pay for hearing it send a paypal donation to lastdeerhunteronearth@yahoo.com. I am not a fucking opportunist so don’t think I expect it.
And so goes the complicated and extroverted personality of Bradford Cox. Lucky for us, the Deerhunter frontman had second thoughts after fans begged and pleaded. He posted a follow-up with new intentions:
I have no idea what people want me to do. I’m not trying to be a cunt to anyone. I will finish the fucking album and stop bitching. I honestly really truly do not want attention from this. Sincerely. I wish none of this shit would have happened. I was just trying to give away another virtual 7″. Now everyone that reads this thing is going to think i’m a fucking lunatic. I just have nothing to do. I guess I’ll go clean my room.
But enough drama queen gossip. Is the album any good or what? No, it’s not. It’s incredible and well worth the wait (if you consider 20 months between albums a long wait). Our first taste of finished tracks beyond the original leak was the Noah Lennox supported “Walkabout,” which immediately raised the legitimacy of our BBQ playlists exponentially. Apparently, Panda Bear provided Cox with sampling lessons during their European tour together. The result was nothing short of a perfect, blissed-out homage to nostalgic summer jams. Surprisingly, “Walkabout” is not the best track on the album. It barely squeezes into the top 5.
Other standouts include the album’s centerpiece, “Attic Lights.” Here Bradford Cox is at his best with just an acoustic guitar and some minimalist percussion. The addictive chorus slowly builds into a payoff featuring a string section. Although Logos is much more accessible than 2008′s Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Hear, “Sheila” is a radio-friendly 60′s-style pop song featuring the juxtaposing lyrics, “Cause no one wants to die alone,” and “We’ll die alone together.” In the middle of this “pop” album is the eight and half minute ambient gem “Quick Canal.” When the unfinished version of the album leaked months ago, “Quick Canal” didn’t have lyrics. Here the song is polished with accompanying vocals by Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. The song is an atmospheric and moody intermission that explores new ground for Atlas Sound. It certainly leads one to question where Bradford Cox will lead his Deerhunter alter ego next time around. Until then, Logos has provided us with one of the best albums of 2009.