Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Is Is” [EP]
Fontana Interscope
2007

I am not a rocker. I don’t rock out. If anything, I’m pretty much a complete electronic music whore. Or at least was until the not too distant past. So I find it surprising that I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They’re as rock as rock can get.

Or rather, perhaps that’s a testament to how good they are. They’re gritty, they’re visceral, they’re electric (although in a completely organic way, the complete opposite of electronic). These guys are the real deal. And I don’t are that they’re out of some New York scene (these guys certainly seem to embody something quintessentially New York that I just can’t quite define (although Karen O has since relocated to our very own Silverlake! Now if I can only find out where she shops….)).

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Well, the big news if the LA Weekly Detour Festival, downtown. 20+Detour bands and DJs, most of which I’ve never heard of. Although the big name that would get me there is French electro-pop sensation Justice. In fact, most of the acts from their label (to whit: Ed Banger Records) will be playing the show.

Some other shows worth checking out:

• 10/5: Metric @ the Henry Fonda
• 10/6: Detour Fest
• 10/8: Justice @ the Henry Fonda (sold out)
• 10/9: Justice @ the Henry Fonda (sold out)
• 10/10: Tiny Vipers @ the El Rey
• 10/10: Beirut @ The Avalon
• 10/12: Aesop Rock and Blockhead @ The Henry Fonda

Justice’s big summer hit:

Islands – Return to the Sea
“Return to the Sea”
Equator Records
2006

God bless Canadia. Socialized Healthcare, SCTV, Pamela Anderson, and now, Islands. Although their album came out in 2006 and the band has since split, this album is too good to pass up.

This little indie outfit is the byproduct of The Unicorns, as well as the Elephant 6 collective that spawned so many other bands. Consisting of Nick Diamonds and J’Aime Tambeur, the band is a fun, energized romp of a good time… Well, let me qualify that: while their music is incredibly playful and upbeat, a lot of their imagery and lyrics is very bleak. They’ve got a song about death, two songs about the end of civilization / the world, a song seemingly about blood diamonds and a breakup song…

But therein lies the beauty of the Islands: You’ll be driving around, listening to them, bobbing your head along, smiling from the upbeat tune, and it’s not until about the fifth time through that you realize you’re singing along to “drink the tears from those who died”.

As to their sound, it’s hard to qualify: there’s a folksy-ness that prevails, in banjos and beats, but it’s almost ironic (”Swans”, “Humans”, “Don’t Call Me Whitney, Bobby” to name a few); “Where There’s a Will There’s a Whalebone” is an emo/indie/hip-hop hodgepodge that somehow melds into greatness; “Rough Gem” channels a 60s, synth-y playfulness that can’t keep you from smiling (complete with a “Fool On The Hill”-inspired flute).

Overall, the album is a gem: it’s all over the place, and it makes no pretense of their love of music, genres be damned. Imagine if Arcade Fire was inspired by the Beach Boys and Beck instead of Neil Young, and you’re on the right track.

But don’t take my word for it, you can check out the free samples on the iTunes music store and judge for yourself. And for what it’s worth All Music gave the album a 4.5/5.

Destroy All Music: The Masque and Beyond, 1977-1978
Photographs from the Early LA Punk Scene

October 6th – 26th, 2007

Opening Reception Saturday October 6th, 7-10 pm

Those with a penchant for either Los Angeles or music history may want to check this out:

Dawn Wirth started photographing Los Angeles bands while in high school using a camera that she bought with money earned from working at the Hanna-Barbera animation studio. Her teacher apparently thought that Dawn’s work was “crap”, but she continued to follow her muse – punk rock music; unaware that she was one of only five notable photographers to document a local movement that would continue to impact music and culture long after “punk was dead”.
Among the subjects are LA bands The Germs, The Screamers, The Bags, The Mumps, The Zeros and The Wierdos, mostly shot at The Masque and The Whiskey a Go-Go in Hollywood.
Destroy All Music will be the first major body of work shown publicly by Wirth.

Address: DRKRM Gallery
2121 San Fernando Road Suite 3
Los Angeles, CA 90065
www.drkrm.com

Written by Emberly Modine