NEWS: The Next Big Things

MUSIC: The Next Big Things

In the interest of keeping you, the reader, abreast (I love that word) of the latest music, here's a bit of a spotlight on three bands you might be hearing a lot about in the near future.

First we have Art Brut. Formed in South London, their name comes from "French painter Jean Debuffet's definition of outsider art -- art by prisoners, loners, the mentally ill, and other marginalized people, and made without thought to imitation or presentation." Their music is, as you'd expect, a bit on the arty side of punk, but also clever, funny, and accessible. Singer Eddie Argos delivers wry lyrics in a song-speak fashion and with quite a knack for making lyrics like "I can't stand the sound of the Velvet Undergound" and "I've seen her naked, twice!" sound both sincere and sardonic. Fluxblog just posted an MP3 of their song "Good Weekend", so go check it out. Their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll, is due out in the States June 21st. Also look for an interview with them on SG in a few weeks.

Next are The Hold Steady, whose major claim to fame at the moment seems to be landing the first cover of the Village Voice for a rock band in about a decade with the headline "We Believe In One Band". The article describes them thus:

I'm just about the biggest Springsteen fan you can find in the 20-25 demographic, and The Voice are right, there is a hint of the E Street Band's wall-of-sound here, but the vocals remind me of something else I can't quite recall at the moment. You can download a couple of MP3s from The Hold Steady at their official site. Their second album, Seperation Sunday, is in stores now.

Last but not least, The Fame, who also a landed a major magazine cover this month: the June 1st edition of The New York Press. In spite of the unfortunately trendy 80s cheap new wave art style adorning the band's site and album cover, the Fame seem to have more in common with the sort of pop-rock heard on 80s' movie soundtracks than, say, Joy Division or Depeche Mode, as lead singer Reno Bo tells the Press:

One full track, "Lost In You", and a handful of samples are available for download from their site's music section. Their first EP, Get On the Beat, is also out now. I didn't want to like them, but I did. You might too.

I love Art Brut. Love love love.

seperation sunday isn't the hold steady's first album. almost killed me was their first album, but the hold steady are amazing.

Eddie Argos is in a band. Look at him! He's in a band!

Other band members include Dave Tesco, Johnny HMV and Sammy Specsavers.

Sorted. Thanks.

Art Brut is fucking awesome.

Oh great, now you've made me obliged to avoid these bands like the plague.

Oh don't worry, as soon as everyone else likes it, I'll quickly change my opinion. Then you're good to go.

Sounds like a plan.

Incidentally, I watched Sin City on DVD the other night. What's you take on it at this point? Not sure if I should like it or not.

I saw the Fame in a little tiny venue here in Philly. Myself and all of my friends agreed that they were absoultely DREADFUL. Monotonous, boring, dickish music with the lead singer trying SO HARD to be Carlos D. Although, there was many a 15 year old girl in the crowd cheering.

I don't know, how many copies has it sold so far?

Ew. Well, I had only heard the one song when I wrote this.