it's not like anyone reads this anyway

this is an entirely self-serving post, brought to you by my frenzied excitement for the potential new Velvet Teen album. a few days ago they played their first show in a year (at an arcade no less, in a room painted with balloons and cupcakes and "Happy Birthday" streamers) with Judah Nagler in top form and Josh Staples dutifully at his side once more. Josh's presence is notable because after the release of Cum Laude! in 2006, he left the Velvet Teen to focus on his own band with his wife, the fantastic New Trust. however, he recently rejoined, and this show marked his triumphant return. this was also TVT's first show as a four-piece rather than a trio. I know, it's all so new and exciting.

TVT debuted some new songs during that set, one of which was particularly awesome and badass and makes me fart sparkles. some internet nerd captured all of this gloriousness on video and uploaded it to youtube, which means now it's time for me to share it with you. this video prominently features terrible lighting, poor audio, and Judah & Josh yelling whoa-oh! at each other. fantastic.



and as a bonus, here is an awesome clip of the New Trust performing at the same show, but with pretty acoustic guitars and annoying mic feedback. also Josh's beard? impeccable.



myspace.com/thevelvetteen
myspace.com/thenewtrust

The Velvet Teen - Elysium

so if you know me at all, you are probably well aware that I love the velvet teen. this is just a fact that cannot be ignored, because I will not fucking shut up about it, ever. so it's really not a surprise that I am posting yet another one of their records and then uncontrollably fangirling about it for 3 hours.

Elysium is the Velvet Teen's second album. aside from being a beautiful record that ~*~changed my life~*~ and deserves lavish praise, it has a distinguishing factor: not wanting to pigeonholed as another standard boring indie rock band from california, the band members decided to eschew guitars entirely (well, except bass guitars). instead they use piano, synths, layered vocals and an entire string section. I suppose this album could be referred to as "baroque," but my preferred adjective for it is "delicious."

many of the songs are quietly melancholy and then they slowly build to a violin-drenched climax, with judah nagler's gorgeous soaring vocals at the forefront, telling cryptic stories about failed love and frustration. the remarkable exception to this is the 13-minute epic "chimaera obscurant," which changes tack halfway through and works itself into a contained frenzy, with poetically acidic lyrics of political disenfranchisement.

the version of Elysium I have for download here includes the song "no one gets the best of me," which was available only on the vinyl release of Elysium and doesn't quite fit with the rest of the record. it's much noisier and more indicative of the electronic-infused direction the band takes on Cum Laude!, their subsequent album. it's also totally awesome.

in conclusion: DOWNLOAD THIS ALBUM MOTHERFUCKERS YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.


The Velvet Teen - Elysium
download it
buy it

thevelvetteen.com
myspace.com/thevelvetteen

THE MAIDEN VOYAGE.

the first post on a new blog is uniformly retarded, no matter what. so, in keeping with that trend, I'm christening my lovely new music blog with possibly my favorite album, Cum Laude!, from my current favorite band, the Velvet Teen.

this band has had a vise-grip on my heart for about 8 months now, but I still can't quite figure out how to categorize or explain them to the uninitiated listener. the Velvet Teen has reinvented themselves and their sound with each new album (literally - currently the only original member of the band is the singer, but it's okay because he's goddamn adorable).

a couple of phrases that come to mind for Cum Laude! are raw synth fuckery, flawless pop hooks, and a drummer that completely fucking slays. there are mild indie pop gems ("False Profits," "Bloom") sandwiched in between brain-exploding synth-drenched freakouts ("333," "Tokyoto") and topped off with a truly beautiful indie rock anthem, complete with soaring chorus ("Gyzmkid"). I really can't say enough good things about this album.


The Velvet Teen - Cum Laude!
download it
buy it

thevelvetteen.com
myspace.com/thevelvetteen