September takes a little turn from August with less funk and more rock. The compilation is dominated by artists that have flavors of the Black Keys, the Flaming Lips, Ben Kweller, Save Ferris, and Ani DiFranco... wait, that's actually her. This CD definitely gives full value to the dollar with all the songs averaging at about 4 minutes and leaving only a few minutes to spare to the disk.
The CD starts out with a rather unusual beginning song for ChipperDemon and then slips in and out of indie rock tracks and kind of lacks the build up that usually occurs at the beginning and instead goes from a constant middle ground beat pace to slowing down in the middle completely changing the feel till it returns again. The CD does run the risk of sounding a little monotonous with all of the indie rock tracks. The bonus tracks are the most fast paced songs and perhaps the best songs on the entire CD... too bad you can't vote for them.
Tracks As Follows:
A Swedish band self proclaimed as "sweeter than honey pie" on their myspace page, Holana, is definitely sweet. Their song Mr. Dancy Pants is probably their best track on the internet. Music blogger Absolute Noise best compared them to the Moldy Peaches to try and explain their simplistic style. Similar to Moldy Peaches, boy and girl duets, even if it's two boys, do have a sweet uniqueness to them that ChipperDemon's friend at OrangeCoat is rightfully growing a love for.
2. Mexico - Beat Radio (lyrics)
The first of Beat Radio's appearances on the CD, Mexico, is a good introduction to the band's instrumental ability. The beginning of the song (deceptively reminiscent of the Counting Crows) brings it right to an image with a simple message, "This morning I woke up, I had a melody in mind. I felt like I should sing it but I wouldn't call it mine. Then I make you coffee, then I make you plans, then the song slips away like water in my hands." The song gives an overall warmth over the complexities of dreams and music.
3. Party's Over - Nicole Atkins & the Sea (lyrics)
This Jersey native, Nicole Atkins, developed her sound working with one of ChipperDemon's favorite artists, Fiery Furnaces (Best of the Rest 07) and then producing albums with the Franz Ferdinand producer. The song has a very familiar pop sound. The heavy bass guitar providing the slow melody is paired with the faster paced lead guitar guiding the verses right where they need to be. It fits a successful song formula all the way through intro, verse, bridge and chorus.
4. World of Machines - Mock Orange (lyrics)
The stronger of the two Mock Orange tracks, World of Machines, is the most reminiscent of the Flaming Lips with the music style and story telling approach especially by revolving around robotic vision. The electric guitar also adds this light funkiness between verses. "I used to be a little bit brighter in the morning until I got tired. That's how it started and now I'm here and I'm gone." Sometimes simple lyrics about robots are just nice.
While the Faint's new album would have fit quite nicely with last month's collection, it also provides the little bit of contrast that September experiences. This song, however, follows the World of Machines perfectly with "watch what the humans ruined with machines." The Faint proves their amazing lyric style with lines like, "I'm in a chainsaw choir." The song is a very typical Faint song informing all that the years of absence from the recording studio has not phased their music approach. The Faint, you have been missed.
6. Waiting for a Crisis - The Fourelles (lyrics)
The Fourelles have a very typical girl indie rock band sound already making them a ChipperDemon favorite. The band is made up of two girls (one from Virginia the other from Massachusetts) and two guys (one from Australia and the other from Texas). Their lyrics and song style are very similar to Rachel Jacobs with embarrassingly true lyrics and simple guitar riffs. Then, the chorus is incredibly catchy, "I'm waiting for a crisis so I can show you how nice I can be" will stick in the head and not leave.
7. The Gentle Charm of the Soviette - The Henry Clay People (lyrics)
One of the two Henry Clay People songs, The Gentle Charm of the Soviette, is a familiar indie beat with a voice similar to Bishop Allen (July 07 CD) and Ben Kweller. The song, however, with a message about a soviette is perhaps the most similar to songs by the Cold War Kids (July 07 and November 07 CDs). Overall, typical indie band that gets the formula right.
8. Lord - Sleepy Sun (lyics)
Aside from having a band name that would be good inspiration for a ChipperDemon CD cover, Sleepy Sun is a blues/jam band band from California. Their new album, Embrace, is available to download completely free from their website, and is worth the extra click. Their blues and funk style is smooth and great wind down music. Now as for the song, it's the longest on the CD and shows it. The song sets up to be fantastic but drags just a little.
9. Come Save Us - The Warlocks (lyrics)
Similar to Sleepy Sun in that Come Save Us has a fantastic start but ends up dissapointing just a little. The song isn't too long by any means, the chorus just repeats a few too many times. The seven piece unit that is The Warlocks comprises is obviously a family of talent and sure to make it somewhere, starting with a fairly well done website.
10. Extinction - The Muslims (lyrics)
The rawness of the this guitar heavy, vocal led song does have a nice simpleness to it that also brings the CD back to more of a rock base. Music reviewer Stereogum gives the band a thumbs up with stating them as a band to be on the lookout for. They just have a nice and simple way about them, song message and all.
11. Marathon Not a Sprint - Camera Obscura (lyrics)
A female track, Marathon Not a Sprint, starts off with a harmonica heavy introduction into a pleasant lady voice. The song is lovely and simple, "who do I love the most?" The band, Camera Obscura, starting in 1996 is Scottish based with three albums under their belts.
12. Star Matter - Ani DiFranco (lyrics)
Star Matter is a typical guitar, cello, and trumpet trio under Ani DiFranco's infamous voice. The song, as expected, is lyrically heavy but surprisingly very simple. It contrasts with a good deal of the songs on the CD with it's instrumental style. The song, of course, had to appear on a ChipperDemon CD out of respect for Ani's relentless years of achievement. "Love ain't far behind." Also, her entire new album, Red Letter Year, is fully listenable off of her label's website, Righteous Babe.
13. Death - White Lies (lyrics)
Between the song title and band name the track does not let up for a bright song and a repeated message of, "this fear has got a hold on me" doesn't really try dispel the assumption. The song, however, has this overall upbeat sound while the lyrics are a little conflicted pronouncing, "I live of the right side, I sleep on the left, that's why everything has got to be love or death." The music build up, though, makes one completely forget the message behind the lyrics and let the drum beat keep the excitement.
14. Golden - Bear Hands (lyrics)
A now two year old band, Bear Hands, has obviously been working hard. The song has a great simple guitar riff over a steady and sweet drum beat. The lead singer's voice is typical for an indie band a little screamy but it flows so easily over the simple music. The lyrics are little random, "brown bunny the murder cereal" but the ending crescendo ties the whole song together just before it returns to the simple sound and finishes.
The Swear is a very Save Ferris girl indie rock band. They've got the catchy chorus, even if it is, "I don't believe in suicide." The band, however, is very emo looking based on their banner photo of the website, which explains the chorus line.
16. Bandage on the Blood Clot - The Henry Clay People (lyrics)
A little slower than their previous song on the compilation, Bandage on the Blood Clot, continues the indie sound of the CD. Their drum build up is nice to tap to against a good hard surface right up until it lets go and the head bobs right into it. It is probably the most overkill song of the indie sound on the CD though.
17. Another Loveless Anthem - Beat Radio (lyrics)
The last Beat Radio song on the CD, Another Loveless Anthem, is a great long yet not song. It has a simple and sweet sound that is quite common among this entire CD. The instrumental complexity of it carries it through and captivates interest. The lyrics as well keep attention, "I'm another loveless anthem playing on your top 40 station."
18. Supergang - Mock Orange (lyrics)
Because ChipperDemon can't finish a compilation on a slow note, again, Mock Orange finishes the CD up with a nice steady head bobbing track. "It's a miracle, musical, lyrical... we've got time to swim forever." They again have a bit of Flaming Lips sound and somehow maintain energy while keeping a steady pace. A good finish to a good CD compilation.
Bonus Tracks
Trunk Fulla Amps - Self
Super Freak - Fetchin' Bones
ChipperDemon would also like to apologize for not all of the songs being available at Amazon for previewing.
