Lo-Fi On My Hi-Fi
Posted by: nick
Lo-fi is so hot right now! What is lo-fi? Good point. The dictionary says: lo-fidelity (lo-fi) 1. (adj.) of or employing sound reproduction of a lower quality than hi-fi. 2. (of popular music) recorded and produced with basic equipment and thus having a raw and unsophisticated sound. So there you have it. Lovers of sophistication turn back here. The rest of you can explore some of our favourite new bands. Download all the tracks as a playlist at the bottom.
The Smith Westerns – Chicago, Illinois.
The Smith Westerns have made one of the most enjoyable albums of 2009 in the form of their self-titled debut LP out on HoZac Records. It’s a gorgeously lo-fi (box ticked!) affair with cassette hiss and muffled bass aplenty but the songs are out of this world. A ramshackle mix of folk, glam and rock ‘n’ roll from a bunch of Chicago teens who we hope will go far. You need this album!
For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, T-Rex, Harlem.
buy: The Smith Westerns CD/LP / iTunes / eMusic
mp3: The Smith Westerns – Dreams
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mp3: The Smith Westerns – Boys Are Fine
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Crystal Stilts – Brooklyn, New York.
Crystal Stilts‘ debut album ‘Alight of Night’ has been floating about since 2008 but only got it’s official UK release this year through Angular Records. It is a phenomenal album. Surf tinged guitars, psychedelic keys and front man Brad Hargett’s cool-fuck vocal style reminiscent of a cross between Ian Curtis and a laid back Jim Morrisson. Oh and it all sounds like it was recorded in a well of course.
For Fans Of: Joy Division, Deerhunter, Jesus and Mary Chain.
buy: Crystal Stilts – Alight Of Night CD / mp3 / iTunes
mp3: Crystal Stilts – The Dazzled
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Harlem – Austin, Texas.
Harlem have at long last got a record deal and with the excellent Matador Records no less. The band self-released their debut album ‘Free Drugs’ last year but having only made it into our hands this year we decided to make it one of our albums of the year so far back in June. It’s raw punk fuelled rock’n'roll and we love it. They were great live at SXSW too. Look out for a new album in 2010.
For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, The Clash, The Ramones.
buy: Harlem – Free Drugs mp3 / iTunes
mp3: Harlem – Witchgreens
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mp3: Harlem – Psychedelic Tits
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The Strange Boys – Austin, Texas.
The Strange Boys are one of our favourite new bands. Their official debut (they’ve recorded albums previously and sold them at gigs) ‘…And Girls Club’ was out earlier this year on In The Red records and it also made our half-time top 10. Since then we’ve seen them live twice and they blew our socks off on both occassions with their blues fuelled rock’n'roll jams. They’ve recently signed to Rough Trade Records so expect to see a lot more of them over here. Check out our interview with front man Ryan.
For Fans Of: Early Rolling Stones, Black Lips, The White Stripes.
buy: The Strange Boys – And Girls Club CD / LP / mp3 / iTunes
mp3: The Strange Boys – Probation Blues
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Thee Oh Sees – San Francisco, California.
Thee Oh Sees are fronted by John Dwyer who is a bit of a veteran of the San Fran’ scene. He’s been in or associated with Lightning Bolt, Pink and Brown, fronted Coachwhips, and played guitar in the Dysfunctional Hospitals. Now Thee Oh Sees are his main band and have been so for a good six albums with various minor name changes along the way. Noisy but melodic rock’n'roll with some sweet boy-girl vocals is the order of the day and it works exquisitely on their latest album ‘Help’, also out on Into The Red.
For Fans Of: The Strange Boys, Harlem, The Smith Westerns.
buy: Thee Oh Sees – Help mp3 / cd/lp / iTunes
mp3: Thee Oh Sees – Ruby Go Home
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mp3: Thee Oh Sees – A Flag In The Court
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Wavves – San Diego, California.
Although not strictly one of our favourites, a feature on lo-fi wouldn’t be right without including Wavves who have been responsible for throwing this sort of music into the limelight in 2009.
Wavves is bedroom songsmith Nathan Williams who crafts lo-fi surf-punk anthems supposedly for the bored generation. The past year has seen him become one of the most blogged/written about musicians in the indie world. This lead to his signing for indie label of the moment, Bella Union, who released his self-titled debut in the UK.
Since then Williams has had a much publicised breakdown on stage at the Primavera festival in Barcelona where he took a cocktail of ecstasy and valium, was unable to play properly and began abusing the audience and fighting with his drummer! This and then a broken wrist has led to the cancellation of a large number of European dates but we’re assured he’s on the mend and will be back. Read our old review here.
For Fans Of: Vivian Girls, Times New Viking, Pens.
buy: Wavves – Wavves mp3 / cd / iTunes
mp3: Wavves – So Bored
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Kurt Vile – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Kurt Vile is the self proclaimed ‘Constant Hitmaker’ (the title of his debut) from Philly. He’s also (see Harlem above) recently been snapped up by Matador Records for the release of his second long player ‘Childish Prodigy’ due out October 5th. ‘Freeway’ is taken from his debut and is as sun kissed a piece of lo-fi as you’re likely to hear. Bring on album number two.
For Fans Of: Real Estate, Animal Collective, Here We Go Magic.
buy: Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker iTunes
pre-order: Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy cd
mp3: Kurt Vile – Freeway
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Lovvers – London, UK.
Lovvers are one of a few UK bands that can really give their US counterparts a real run for their lo-fi buck. Signed to the wonderful Witchita Recordings for the release of their latest album ‘OCD Go Go Go Girls’. Not to be confused with their single and featured track below, ‘OCD Go Go Girls’! They impressed while supporting The Strange Boys in Dalston recently and have been causing a stir the other side of the pond too which is always good to see. Look out for some live dates coming soon.
For Fans Of: Germs, Nodzzz, The Shitty Limits.
buy: Lovvers – OCD Go Go Go Girls cd / Lp/ mp3
mp3: Lovvers – Ocd Go Go Girls
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Crocodiles – San Diego, California.
Crocodiles main men Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell lifted their name from Echo & The Bunnymen’s first album and the 80s British influence is there for all to hear in the spiky drumming, delayed guitar and sweet vocal effects. Their album ‘Summer Of Hate’ out through Fat Possom (who also picked up Wavves debut a while back) is a shimmering delight.
For Fans Of: Jesus and Mary Chain, Suicide, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
buy: Crocodiles – Summer Of Hate cd / lp / mp3 / iTunes
live: Crocodiles @ The Victoria, Oct 23rd.
mp3: Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill
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mp3: Crocodiles – Soft Skull (In My Room)
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Grass Widow – San Francisco, California.
Recommended to Music Mule by Ryan Sambol, The Strange Boys front man. Grass Widow are a female 3-piece with a taste for clattering drums, spiky guitar and sweet female vocal harmonies. It’s not all La La Las though, we sense a bit of a dark side to these girls. They remind us a bit of a lo-fi Electrelane. Anyone else? Their debut LP is out in the States now on Make A Mess records. Better than Vivian Girls?
For Fans Of: Vivian Girls, Urinals, Neo Boys.
buy: Grass Widow – Grass Widow LP
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Nodzzz – San Francisco, California.
Nodzzz is a San Francisco 3-piece whose 10 track debut self titled album, released on What’s Your Rupture in 2008, clocked in at a whopping 16 minutes! Needless to say then that short and snappy is the way they play the game. It’s un life changing, endearing pop-punk. ‘True To Life’ is the lead track off their new 7 inch while ‘Is She There’ is one of their album highlights.
For Fans Of: Thee Oh Sees, Dum Dum Girls, The Fresh and Onlys.
buy: Nodzzz – Nodzzz cd / lp / mp3
live: Nodzzz @ Old Blue Last, Aug 29th.
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Beach Fossils – Brooklyn, New York.
Beach Fossils is Dustin Payseur a Brooklyn resident who plays simple, blissed out guitar pop with some heavy effects on his vocals (think vibrrrrrrrrato). He’s not currently got any official releases out but he’s associated with Woodsist (who also released Fresh and Onlys debut Stateside – see below) and Captured Tracks so should have some records out soon. This is milk and honey sweet guitar pop perfect for kicking back in the sun to or wherever else you may wish to kick back. We’re pretty hooked on ‘Daydream’ at the moment. Get it below.
For Fans Of: Kurt Vile, (early) REM, The Clean.
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The Fresh & Onlys – San Francisco, California.
Last but in no freaking way least is The Fresh and Onlys who are Tim Cohen, Shayde Sartin, Kyle Gibson, Wymond Miles and Heidi Alexander. Garage rock meets brit pop perhaps? ‘Peacock & Wing’ sounds a bit Pulp like at times. Another recommendation from The Strange Boys’ Ryan Sambol so thanks for that Ryan.
For Fans Of: Thee Oh Sees, Skygreen Leopards, Pulp.
buy: The Fresh and Onlys – The Fresh and Onlys mp3 / iTunes
mp3: The Fresh & Onlys – Peacock and Wing
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Great list, especially liking the Grass Widow track