I was inspired to post this after mentioning one of my favorite LA ("Really? They're from LA? I thought they were British...") bands, The Blood Arm, as being part of the Art Brut/Hold Steady US tour this fall.
They've just released a new album (UK only) called Lie Lover Lie, but they had a fantastic single they released a while back called "Do I Have Your Attention." It's a lovely ditty about movie dates, arson and run of the mill scene gangsters. Tres mignon! I'm going frog on you, because they've recently vamped up the track into a duo, with lead singer/avid set climber Nathaniel sharing vocals with French singer-songwriter Anais.
Check out the champagne 'n brie-soaked cuteness here:
Eddie Argos wins the award for most-blogging musician. After donating his typing and wit duties to the Guardian earlier this summer, he's now part of the NME Rock 'n Roll Riot USA Tour blog, which also features the daily(ish) musings from tourmates 1990s, The Hold Steady and hopefully their US tour support, LA-locals The Blood Arm.
If you live in London, please go to this and then comment on how much fun it was. Regale us with how many times you went up to Carl and asked him to play your request just to smell his sweat (only because you had 6 vodka tonics, of course), how many times Jasper pointed from behind the DJ booth and how many times The Rakes spun Peaches (or perhaps a Steve Aoki Bloc Party remix... Woo! Yeah! Party!)
Hopefully those will be the words coming out of critics (i.e. journos, not bloggers) pens, keyboards and mouths when Art Brut release their new record It's A Bit Complicated. My bet is on the 'Brut.
To aid you in deciding whether or not you think this "joke" band is worth their salt, check out their newest "leaked" song "Direct Hit" from their forthcoming sophomore album:
This should be an obvious statement to all 13 of you who read this blog. Art Brut rule.
Their debut Bang Bang Rock & Roll was a great album that came to my attention via, erm... NME and lead singer/talker Eddie Argos' "feud" with Kele Okereke (I believe the term "fatty" was tossed around). But, I read beyond the trash, and carried onward. I dug up the album and fell in love. May I remind you a little lyric from "Formed A Band": We're going to write the song / That makes Israel and Palestine / Get along.Sheer fucking genius. Eddie, I'm sure Jonathan Richman is proud.
So, fast forward to now. They're Pitchfork darlings, they've played NYC 1,673 times, closed last year's Coachella (in a tent, but hey...) and just finished their second album. It's called It's A Bit Complicated, and it is. Well, moreso than songs like "Little Brother" and "Fight!".
During Summer '06 the band started peddling around new material. One of which was my favorite bootleg of last year: a song called "Nag Nag Nag Nag" (eat that, Cabaret Voltaire). The song is sung by little man lost Eddie Argos with an opening riff stolen right off the Orient Express and lyrics that beg the question, "When will I grow up? And do I really want to?"
Lucky us! They've recorded it. In a studio. Professionally. And here it is, with another gem... "Pump Up The Volume". Eddie, Christian Slateris proud.
The band have a quick US tour that includes these dates:
Art Brut April Mini Tour Apr 17 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom Apr 18 - Brooklyn, NY @ Studio B Apr 19 - Toronto, Ont @ The Mod Club Apr 20 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean Apr 21 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
As if that wasn't enough, band showoff, pointer-extroirdinare and power-chording guitarist Jasper Future shows you 10 Steps to Guitar Genius. Professor?
tips, new music, gentlemen callers, UK citizenship and witty reparte are greatly appreciated. and, you know, free stuff is cool, too.
email us at thelikelybroads at gmail dot com!
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