Skins on BBC America

Myspace // "Skins" Playlist

I touched on it earlier this week, but forget the illegal downloads and dealing with the poor exchange rates -- "Skins" is finally available in the States on BBC America. The show is airing Sunday nights at 10pm EST/9pm CST. To simplify it, "Skins" is a British teen dramedy focusing on a cast of sixth form college students (ages 16-18) in Bristol that is at times like "Gossip Girl" or "The O.C."


"Skins" trailer

While the first season has just begun to air in the States, two seasons have been shown in the UK with a third slated for early '09, albeit with a different cast. Read more about that here. Not only is acting and writing top notch, but the music is excellent, featuring the likes of Bloc Party, The Decemberists, Cat Stevens and most noticeably, The Gossip, whose "Standing in the Way of Control" has become an unofficial theme song for the show. In season two, a few bands made appearances on the show, including Crystal Castles, Born Ruffians and longtime Exitfare favorites Foals.


The cast talks about music

Munch Munch

Myspace // "Endolphins" [mp3]

Last year, I got hooked on the British teen drama Skins and while I was in the country this May, I picked up both of the series on DVD. It was nice to finally sit down and watch all of the episodes in order, uninterrupted, without trying to track them down in seedy corners of the internet or catching them in ten minute bursts on YouTube.

I hadn't thought about the show in months until last night when I stumbled upon the first series being shown on BBC America, albeit edited for cable television consumption. What am I getting at here? Well, the show is based in Bristol and I started to wonder what good bands were from that city.

Munch Munch are a quartet hailing from Bristol, and they've been a band for roughly two years. The band revolves around Thomas and Richard, who record in their bedroom using whatever they find lying around, creating spectacularly shambolic music that's much like a house of cards. If you touch it, then it just may fall down. They're an excellent outfit that don't deserve to exist in any kind of normal universe -- good time party music for all of you misfits.

Bodies Of Work

[Photo Credit: Mikolai Berg]

Myspace // "Bullets Over My Head" [mp3]

I've got good news and bad news. First, the bad news: The incredible London synth-pop band, The Far Cries, recently announced that they were disbanding. The good news, though, is that they have re-formed as Bodies Of Work and have already recorded their debut full length. Much like the transition of Fear Of Flying --> White Lies, Bodies Of Work shows the band keeping their signature sound (male/female dueling vocals, drum propelled synth rock) but moving into darker, more gothic-inspired territories. They only have one song available currently, "Bullets Over My Head," which feels urgent and maybe even a little sinister but somehow stays totally infectious. Keep your eyes on this one.

Fox Cubs

[Photo Credit: Adam Ososki]

Myspace // "This Is Only The Start" [mp3]

This past weekend was probably the biggest weekend of Fox Cubs' short career, showing the band a bit of the big time with prime slots on the BBC Introducing stage at both the Reading and Leeds Festivals. August has been a busy month for the five-piece, as they've been splitting time between the stage and the studio working on new tracks. "This Is Only The Start" is the result of that hard work, a sensitive stunner that's reminiscent of Apartment and Delorentos' quieter moments. Based on the quality of Fox Cubs' early demos, I really think that this band is on the brink of big, beautiful things.

Gentle Friendly

Myspace // "Five Girl Night" [mp3]

It's hard to put a finger on this duo, which is sort of the best thing in the world because I want a band that sounds like no other. My first thought upon hearing them was Abe Vigoda is they were from DC, which I still sort of agree with, but there is something else brewing here, something quite sinister, sort of like a joke that they are in on that no one else knows about. When I call Gentle Friendly math rock for literature students, I am not trying to be insulting, it's just my way of translating what these are doing. Sometimes it's best to make the music that's in your head rather than the same old tired tunes everyone else cranks out.

Look for the band on tour all over England this fall.

The Clik Clik "Did You Wrong"

Myspace // "Went to a Party" [mp3]

Yet another video I missed when it premiered, perhaps I need to join more mailing lists or something. When I saw these guys play at this year's Great Escape, the most surprisingly thing was how young they looked. I knew they were young and all, but to see it in person was pretty surprising. Regardless, the band knows their stuff and proved it over and over that night. I believe this is the band's second single. Be sure to listen to all of their tunes on Myspace -- they hint at many good things to come.

White Lies New Video

Myspace // "Unfinished Business" [mp3]

Here's the new video for the great White Lies song "Death." Other than the fact that the blurred out faces gave me the creeps, I don't really have anything interesting to say about it. White Lies are currently on a buzz building tour of the UK and should have an album for us sometime in the near future.

Johnny Foreigner

Myspace // "Salt, Pepper And Spinderella" [mp3]

We've been playing the new Johnny Foreigner album Waited Up Til It Was Light on repeat for a couple of months now, but somehow forgot to write about it. Opps. Easily one of my favorites of the year (not to mention a highlight set from The Great Escape), Johnny Foreigner play a spastic brand of noisy pop that basically sounds like a kid with ADHD. Think turbo charged music with blistering tempos, frenzied guitar and pounding drums that's complicated by competing male and female vocals. It's energetic and fun, the type of punk rock that could get you out of bed in the morning or keep you dancing late at night. And it's just really, really good.

Johnny Foreigner are doing a few festival shows over the next few weeks, before gearing up for a full UK tour with Dananananaykroyd in September and October. Waited Up Til It Was Light is currently available for purchase at record stores in the UK (with seven different covers) and online for people living everywhere else. The album should see a physical release in the US on Nettwerk in October.

Noah & the Whale Tour the States

Myspace // "5 Years Time (Sun Sun Sun)" [Steam] // "5 Years Time (Sun Sun Sun)" [Video]

London's Noah & the Whale will embark on their first full-fledged US tour in about one month with their debut album Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down landing at about the same time on Interscope. While the band isn't a good fit for the label, it's nice that someone is putting it out here and getting the band to do some dates, and even better, they'll be playing a few free gigs, all of which are noted below.

All tickets on sale this Friday, August 15th!!
September 16- Union Pool- Brooklyn, NY
September 18- Sidewalk Cafe- New York, NY
September 19- Mercury Lounge- New York, NY
September 20- TOAD- Boston, MA**
September 22- The Saints- Montreal**
September 23- Horseshoe Tavern- Toronto, ONT**
September 25- TBA- Chicago, IL
September 26- Empty Bottle- Chicago, IL
September 29- Chop Suey- Seattle, WA**
September 30- Doug Fir Lounge- Portland, OR**
October 02- Pop Scene @ 330 Ritch- San Francisco, CA
October 04- Detour Festival- Los Angeles, CA
October 06- Spaceland- Los Angeles, CA**
**notes a FREE show!

Guildean Gang

Myspace // "London Road" [mp3] // "Swirls" [Video]

Guildean Gang are a four piece from Bedford and Biggleswade who all met while studying at The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. Since I like you guys, I should probably be upfront and tell you that the wheel is not being reinvented here, but if you're into Larrikin Love, The Holloways or The Pigeon Detectives, then these guys are for you. Like most young bands, they are working through their influences and while it may not be the freshest thing in the world, I'm having fun with it. Look for the band on the road in England throughout this month and September -- dates are on their Myspace.

Jay Jay Pistolet

[Photo Credit: Max Knight]

Myspace // "We Are Free" [mp3] // "Bags of Gold" [Video]

I can't quite put my finger on where and when I found out about Mr. Pistolet, perhaps it was The Great Escape? I don't really know. There was quite a good gig there that featured Noah & the Whale (I still have like 3 of those whale cut-outs from that night!), Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling, and feel like Jay Jay played that as well. Or not. I could be wrong. But regardless, even if he did not play that gig, he fits in with that whole scene, excellently fusing British folk with a wash of Americana. The man has released just one single -- "We Are Free" on Chess Club, but if dig in the right places, you'll be able to uncover a wealth of demos from this very promising young artist.

The Streets: New Video

Let's just say that things have been insane around these parts lately. If it weren't for Joey, things may have been dead around here for well over two weeks. Beth and I are now settled in LA and I am taking a little break from work to at least get something going here. Once we get the internet hooked up at home, things will be back to normal.



Myspace // "The Escapist" [mp3]

The fourth album from The Streets (aka Mike Skinner) is set for release on September 15th in the UK. Entitled Everything is Borrowed, the album is being billed as "charming, thoughtful and incisive, melding the very best components of the first three albums while managing to, as ever, sound refreshingly new."

In non-press release speak, it sounds like it's going to be more of the same from Skinner -- folks electronica meets hip hop that's filtered through the eyes of a modern day British poet. It seems like it's been too long since the (at times) disappointing third album, but in the meantime, I have an mp3 and video for the album's first single, "The Escapist." The video sees Mike walking across France and was shot by Beat Stevie cohort Ted Mayhem. Look for Mike on tour in England this October.

October
04 - Barrowlands, Glasgow
05 - Academy, Manchester
06 - Plug, Sheffield
09 - Academy, Birmingham
10 - Academy, Newcastle
11 - Academy, Oxford
13 - Guildhall, Southampton
14 - 53 Degrees, Preston
16 - UEA, Norwich
17 - Academy, Bristol
18 - Rock City, Nottingham
19 - Academy, Leeds

Kaiser Chiefs - New Album Details

Myspace

Reigning kings of the Leeds scene, Kaiser Chiefs just released some details about their highly anticipated third album Off With Their Heads. Set to be released on October 13th worldwide and the 14th in the US, the record is said to be their strongest yet--which is funny, since the band initially intended to take the year off after releasing Yours Truly, Angry Mob last year and supposedly only entered the studio on a whim. The disc was produced by super producers Mark Ronson and Eliot James and mixed by super mixers Andy Wallace and Cenzo Townshend, so expect big things.

Tracklisting:

1. Spanish Metal
2. Never Miss A Beat *
3. Like It Too Much
4. You Want History
5. Can't Say What I Mean
6. Good Days Bad Days
7. Tomato In The Rain
8. Half The Truth +
9. Always Happens Like That *
10. Addicted To Drugs
11. Remember You're A Girl

* Features backing vocals from Lily Allen.
+ Features a contribution from UK rapper, Sway.

Georgie James

Myspace // "Need Your Needs" [mp3]

Bad news, kids. Both Georgie James and Playgirl Magazine called it quits today. That's right, DC's best indie pop band and the country's best sausage magazine will no longer release new and inspiring material to the masses. As a fan of Georgie James from day one, I am definitely bummed. Luckily, both John Davis and Laura Burhenn are currently holed up in the studio working on solo releases that should be released early next year.

[As a completely personal aside, I wanted to say "thank you" to Joey for taking care of Exitfare over the past two weeks. Dany and I have been utterly consumed by our move to Los Angeles and just haven't had the time to do anything fun like writing about music. We'll hopefully be settled into our new home, set up the internet, and get back to the swing of things soon.]

Q-Tip

Myspace // "Scenario" (Unreleased Version) [stream]

Let's talk about Q-Tip, everyone else is.

The former A Tribe Called Quest rapper has a solo album in the works. Hip Hop Galaxy reports that the album is to be titled The Renaissance and should be available late summer/early fall. Look forward to it, and if you forgot about Q-Tip, watch the video for "Vivrant Thing" here.

This J. Dilla produced track from '99 more than hints at Justin Timberlake's take on soulfunk filtered through hip hop lovesounds. "Vivrant Thing" is JT minus the falsetto thing.

Previously, Unkut had the lead on alternate versions of the hip hop classic "Scenario." Think of it as a detour down memory lane.

And finally, go to Diplo's Myspace page to hear "Work Brew," a tribute to A Tribe Called Quest. On "Work Brew," Diplo mixes in various Tribe beats and samples creating a work that is not so much cohesive as it is unconsciously whole.

Lions Are The New Wolves

Has anyone heard about Andrew W.K. producing Lee Scratch Perry's new record? Pitchfork has.

It's one of the more interesting pair-ups I've heard about in a while.

Perry will be at L.A.'s El Rey Theater on September 6. Opening the show is local reggae soul band The Lions. The Lions should make an excellent warm up band for Perry. It's refreshing to hear any reggae band that doesn't have a teleological interest in Bob Marley.

In 2008 have Lions become the new wolves?

The Lions, Wounded Lion, As Tall As Lions, One Day As A Lion, Like Lions

Think about it.