So this was announced on Friday and I never got around to sharing the details of the 4th proper record from Local Natives, Violet Street, coming out on April 26th.
The 1st single "Cafe Amarillo" I shared a little while ago, and the 2nd single/video "When am I Gonna Lose You" is below.
I'm kind of indifferent to both of those tunes. Not bad, a little more funky/groove-oriented. Some nice vocal parts, but I'm not fully attached.
But these guys have yet to release an album I was disappointed with, so I'm not assuming anything based on those 1st 2 tracks. Sunlit Youth, Hummingbird, Gorilla Manor are all among the best record over the last decade.
1. Vogue
2. When am I Gonna Lose You
3. Cafe Amarillo
4. Munich II
5. Megaton Mile
6. Someday Now
7. Shy
8. Garden of Elysian
9. Gulf Shores
10. Tap Dancer
This album has a release date of September 9th, 2016. Both Gorilla Manor and their last record Hummingbird I rate rather high, and especially the 1st single "Past Lives" adds to my optimism about this new record from Local Natives.
1 Villainy 3:43
2 Past Lives 3:43
3 Dark Days 3:01
4 Fountain of Youth 3:53
5 Masters 4:24
6 Jellyfish 2:50
7 Coins 3:58
8 Mother Emanuel 3:44
9 Ellie Alice2:56
10 Psycho Lovers 3:54
11 Everything All at Once 4:10
12 Sea of Years 5:10
Well Well Well. The band, who early in 2008, released an EP I liked Sun Giant and reminded me of my beloved (and almost entirely unknown) Cavil at Rest, and then went on to release their self-titled full-length record a few months later and became the hipster-est of all hipster bands in a few short months. And I went on to realize the album had 1 or 2 good songs on it, with the rest basically using the exact same idea, on every song.
Okay, fine. But of course the praise I never felt was deserved. But that's the way the Hipfork machine works, right? as I came to learn. And Cavil at Rest went on to become even less like this band, even with their name change to Local Natives and their debut album in late 2009 Gorilla Manor.
That all being said, the Fleet Kittens, could be worthy of their real name (or better) if they would evolve and change their style, even the slightest amount. First off, on Sun Giant they had drums and more electric guitar, than on the lp that followed. They need to do more of that.
But they also need to get away from the same formula of Accapella Folk Music with a bit of acoustic guitar. Change it. Add piano, horns, tom drums, xylophone, even a fucking FEMALE SINGER might help. Just stop writing music as a bloody one-trick-pony as their debut album is/was.
And this new song of theirs, after hearing it once, really doesn't sound much different. 5+ minutes in, there finally is a little bit of drum work and electric guitar. But it's so stripped down and in the background, it may as well not even be there.
Maybe they need a different producer or something. Get Rick Rubin or David Botrill to have them use more loudness, more range, more color. ANYTHING frankly. Get them to show some fucking balls! lol.
But basically, I will check this record out, and if it's basically Fleet Kittens Part 2.0. It's sayonara to this band. But by some miracle they do something new and different, I'll be at least close to back where I was after enjoying Sun Giant.
Eating Crow? no. The mere fact I'm even giving them mention and actually going to listen to this album, more or less doesn't warrant that at this point. The sad thing is, they could be good, if they modified and evolved their sound enough. Could they be even close to as good as Local Natives? fat chance. But unlike some of the other Hipfork groups (Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer), I suppose they at least could climb out of the style-with-no-substance category with the right changes.
I guess we'll find out on May 3rd (or around that time).
I just got back from an epic show tonight in Minneapolis. They did the entire Gorilla Manor save for "Sticky Thread" (ironically, the song I probably wanted to see most. Good things come to those who wait?) And had it not been for some power issues, they probably would have included that in the set. That was definitely the most memorable of the 4 times I've seen them. The 400 Bar only holds a couple hundred people, their next show here they will definitely be playing at a larger venue.
The 400 Bar either doesn't have AC, or theirs broke. It was comparable to Station 4. Like a sauna as they said throughout their set. But regardless, they had their normal high-energy set.
Some 275 tickets were sold I guess.
I got to chat with some of the guys afterward as well. Taylor, Matt, Andy and Kelcey even. Ryan I don't think I even saw after the show.
I encounter many new fans of course, although some old ones. The *originals*..this guy John and his wife brother I think who know the band like me, going back to that 1st show in St.Paul in 2007.
1st Ave is the word on where they'll likely play. Mute Math did. Fair to Midland may as well. I guess it's a little like my feeling on all the reviews. I'd rather see them at the Varsity or even The Cedar, but I know 1st Ave would benefit them the most. Necessary Evil. Just hopefully it won't fall on a Friday or Saturday night. They mentioned probably in October.
The opener, "Suckers" who actually did a cool remix recently of LN's song "Wide Eyes" actually weren't bad. I'll probably check out their full-length when it drops next month.
The only sour note I guess is the fact I purchased 2 new tee-shirts from them, and could only find one, when I got home. Maybe someone turned it in there, but otherwise I donated an extra $15 to them, which I don't mind, but it sort of sucks because I really liked the way that new white t-shirt looked.
I say that for what it is actually worth. Dream Theater just last year found their new record "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" at #6, and it was more successfull sales-wise I guess than any of their other albums the year it was released, but how long did it remain even in the BB 200? maybe a month? I dunno.
Even The Dear Hunter's "Act III" cracked the BB 200 its 1st week. If Gorilla Manor is still in there or going up say in May or this Summer, it'll mean a fair amount more than it's 1st week.
I may just come to expect it every fucking time. I mean there ya go, more or less PROOF of the naivete of the hipster.
But while Fleet Foxes gravitate towards more rootsy, Crosby, Stills and Nash-style harmonics, Local Natives draw on the Talking Heads’ brand of Afro-pop (Gorilla Manor actually features a cover of Talking Heads’ “Warning Sign”).
uhh, Local Natives are influenced by CSN&Y. As much if not MORE than FFs.
One of the 1st interviews I saw with Cavil at Rest they MENTIONED Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Buddy, what fucking color is the sky in your world?
Not to mention the video there is a verbatim read of what is written (or transcribed?) in print. Also the guy sounds rather nervous and rushed as he's talking; which honestly makes him sound quite insincere and SCRIPTED.
But it's Rolling-Shit, basically the grandfather to Pukefork, and father to eMpTv. But the pathetic thing is, far too many people will see/read this and immediately think Local Natives are just like Fleet Foxes.
=/= but >
by the way, the bonus DVD on the UK Edition from 2009 of Gorilla Manor is pretty boss. 6 tracks, acoustic, shot in various sites on tour. Some outdoors, some indoors. Some B&W.
Camera Talk
Airplanes
Cards & Quarters
Warning Sign
World News
Stranger Things
Some of it may surface on yewtewb and maybe I'll post it in here.
fuck it. A whole meltdown was just lost. It's probably better this way.
The 8.4/10 might be a bad sign as a lot of the best, loved music ends up much lower than that. And the review is embarassingly difficult to understand, like more or less all pukefork reviews.
They gave Apes and Androids Blood Moon 7/3/10. That sure helped them, huh.
Cavil at Rest - Orion Way Reviewed June 23, 2007
rateyourmusic review A California-based band I was introduced to at the very start of the year and I never tired of their music. This EP or really a combination of previously released EPs on one disc, is without a bad song. A group which excels at writing happy, poppy, catchy songs. "Who's There" they actually made a video for, but they are as far as I am aware, an unsigned talent. They certainly have the potential to catch-on big if given the right exposure. I love the barbershop type vocal-harmonies they do especially. The track "Let Down Your Guard" has this great echoing chorus There's-no-decide-ing-which-side to-air-on" which gets in your head. "It's Still Not as Bad" has a great upbeat crescendo. repeated phrase "It's alright...Standing next to you."
"Sun Hands" and "We Could Love" are classics. The latter having this gorgeous piano melody with vocal-chanting that is highly goose-bump worthy and maybe their greatest moment. "The Flower of Rhodes" has an awesome melody which reminds me of Happy- Kaddisfly. "Tidal Killer" and "All Is Well and Good" you can notice some great elements of Jeff Buckley and Phish. The closer "House on Stilts" has this warm, fun, happy, like Jellyfish vibe. It's a cliché to say, but they really are greater than the sum of all their parts. Their songwriting is just so strong and positive, I can't say enough good things about this band. Why their 1st full-length LP is quite high on my list of upcoming records. If it's anything like this full-EP, no doubt it'll be something I'll (and hopefully many others) will be into.
maybe some of the indie lemmings will check this equally impressive collection of songs.
I'm starting to turn out to be right. 89.3, Sound Opinions, Radio K, Citypages..ya'll can't ignore that. Now ya'll should listen to me about dozens more artists who I am right about as well. In a FAIR WORLD THEY WOULD.
Bend Sinister for example, just won $50,000 in a contest in Canada. Gee, was I not right about them too? I believe I was ahead of the curve with them as well. Perhaps in a year or 2, they'll be at least a percentage closer to where Local Natives are about to be, visibility-wise.
they're playing Bonnaroo which is great for them. I'm a little worn out by all the online mention of them. I know it shouldn't matter, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how well their album Gorilla Manor does when it finally drops next Tuesday. Which by the way, is a pretty busy day for new releases, although beyond LN's the Water & Bodies Ep is the only real significant thing.
The Unwinding Hours - "The Unwinding Hours"
Water & Bodies - "The Rain City Sessions Part 2"
Karnivool - "Sound Awake" (American)
Local Natives - "Gorilla Manor" (American)
Field Music - "Measure"
Eluveitie - "Everything Remains as It Never Was"
oh and the entire Gorilla Manor album can now be streamed on NPR's site
