Mark Lanegan

Gravediggers Song Video

Directed by Alistair Legrand

Produced by Jack Richardson

The clip for this wonderfully bluesy, creepy song evokes a feeling of dread. Was someone killed? How? What about the animals? And the house? Answers are found in Alistair Legrand’s fascinating direction and unsettling production by Jack Richardson (The Masses). http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/01/video-mark-lanegan-band-the-gravediggers-song-cos-premiere/

Andrea Weiss

Howler

America Give Up

Rough Trade

Howler plays fast, noisy, brash power pop that is equal parts early Jesus and Mary Chain guitar fuzz, and a lo-fi version of the Strokes. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jordan Gatesmith’s rueful relationship songs, delivered with a sheepish smile, point a way forward for power pop, since the songs are also tight and compressed for maximum impact. It’s a great debut from this Minneapolis band that surely has a bright future in front of them. [www.facebook.com/howlerband]

Andrea Weiss

The Big Pink

Future This

4AD

The Big Pink’s name is a tribute to The Band’s Music From Big Pink. They ‘re an electro-pop duo, Robbie Furze and Milo Cordell, and are from England. Future This is the band’s second album.

The lyrics are positive, especially the opening track “Stay Gold” and “Hit the Ground Running (Superman)” with its terrific Laurie Anderson sample from her song “O Superman.” The music is seamless, polished, and goes down easy. Maybe a little too smooth and easy, which is the album’s main flaw. The rough edges that made the band’s debut A Brief History of Love, so appealing are absent here. Which is a shame, because the song quality over all is as great as on the first. The lyrics are wonderful, and Robbie is a good singer. So call this album very good light entertainment if you need a pick me up. [http://musicfromthebigpink.com]

Andrea Weiss