Sounding at times like psychedelic pop geniuses The Flaming Lips and at other times like dance pop heroes The Postal Service and even at times like Belle and Sebastian, without ever really any of those trademark sounds, is the best way to describe what I hear when I listen to Oppenheimer. They haven’t ‘made it’ yet but that’s not for lack of trying their asses off. You should take a minute a read the ordeals that he has gone through to keep the band/music/dream that is Oppenheimer alive over in this post on his personal blog. It might be the best overview of what it takes to finally break even in the music scene and should be a must read for any aspiring artist.
mp3 : Oppenheimer - Saturday Looks Bad To Me
mp3 : Oppenheimer - This Is Not A Test
Both of these tracks are available on the Oppenheimer self titled debut, Oppenheimer (iTunes) which was released in June of 2006, and I’m excited to say that their new album is done and awaiting a proper release date. I also would like to add that I would love to hear a killer remix of the track Saturday Looks Bad To Me that could be called the Saturday Looks Fine Remix. Or something. I personally love the eclectic mix of sounds that Oppenheimer has found and I’m anticipating the sophomore effort.
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Broadcast 2000 is the creative fruit of a very talented multi-instrumentalist named Joe Steer. He creates, records, and masters all of his own music in his very own flat/studio in north London and I must say that this boy has the touch. I would easily list him alongside acts like Beirut, Sufjan Stevens, DeVotchKa, and the more folksy {not so tribal} days of Paul Simon. And I put him up with these artist not simply because he shares a similar folk infused theme in his music, but because the raw and unabashed talent is so apparent on every single track of his debut EP, Building Blocks (iTunes), which is set to be released soon although it is already digitally available on iTunes. Listening to each of the tracks makes you feel as if Joe had the most amazing amount of fun recording it, and ultimately that’s the mark of great music, when you can pass on emotions that transcend mere lyrics and melodies.
mp3 : Broadcast 2000 - Pep Talk
mp3 : Broadcast 2000 - The View
This little outfit easily tracks as one of the artists that I’m most interested in hearing from in the future. I get this euphoric feeling of fun when I listen to his music and I only cringe when I think how long it could be before a proper full length can be recorded. As a last note I would like to point out that on this debut EP Joe Steer combines cello, double bass, guitar, ukelele, glockenspiel, banjo, various percussive items, and a lot of layered vocals {all tracks and instruments are his work} to make this little marvel of an EP.
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I first heard of this delicious group when, believe it of not, I saw The Thrills, Phantom Planet, and Stereogram play a little show north of Indy. For some reason they were handing out little Franz Ferdinand flyers at the door and it served to pique my interest a bit.
Now that was all years ago. Before the ‘nand hit it big both in the states and elsewhere. Before they sold out shows and jet setted around the globe, buying pints of milk and going out for a smoke every now and then. That was also years before they took a Gwen Stefani staple dance tune and made it their own. Pay special attention to the way they incorporate some brilliant Billy Idol lyrics into the end of the song. It’s glorious.
mp3 : Franz Ferdinand - What You Waiting For (Gwen Stefani Cover)
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