WTMD is listener-supported radio from the campus of Towson University.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A "Case" for Killer Whales

Hopefully, you've had a chance to hear the new Neko Case single, "People Got a Lotta Nerve" from her album due out March 3rd, Middle Cyclone.

Typical Neko song: short, unconventional song structure, she says what she has to say and exits the song quickly- in this case, the "man, man, man, man, man, man, man-eater" refers to cases of humans getting too close to creatures such as tigers and killer whales and losing a limb, or worse, and the unjust fates of those who simply act naturally.

The charity that's benefiting from the sales of the single rescued Michael Vick's dogs.

Animals have shown up subjects/metaphors in Neko's music for awhile and with her recent move to a Vermont farm, that's likely to continue.

Can't wait for the new record, being the Neko nut that I am- in fact, she bought a bunch of old pianos and set them up in an abandoned barn and had friends play simultaneous notes- should create quite a wall of sound.

Neko plays the 930 Club for 2 shows in April (the 8th and 9th.)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Animal Collective: Pet Sounds on Acid

The Baltimore boys with the strange monikers (Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist) make music worthy of being played.....loud.....at the venue that makes up the title of their eighth album (Merriweather Post Pavilion).

Avant-garde harmonies, psychedelic keyboards, hand-claps- it's a total mind-bend, but with a heart and a point.

I must say: haven't heard anything like these guys in a long time, but they certainly would fit nicely with same Merriweather subscription series (remember them?) that would have included, say, the Moody Blues and Yes.

Animal Collective has THAT kind of spirit, but make no mistake, it's not just some throwback, this is innovative music for 2009.