Hangin' Out In 100b

Bringing some of the music sent to the 100b HQ mailbox to the attention of the music-loving public has been something on my To Do List for a while. One thing I used to love as a radio DJ – in college (at university to those from the U.K.) and two stations in The Netherlands – was all the free crap you get. This happens the longer you write about music on the Intertubes, too. So, if you like what you hear jumping out of the 100(mail)b(ox), do some searching, visit the links or head to your favorite musix supplier.

Without further delay, the inaugural edition of From The 100(mail)b(ox).

Monday, 12 May 2008

Patrick Pleau, Simon Bolvin and Paco Laviolette are Plajia, a Quebec-based mellow trip-rock (as they bill themselves) outfit. UK-indie meets Coldplay while sippin’ sizzurp (not necessarily a bad thing). Definitely a niche-filler. Check out the sound of their Beautiful Explosion on the Plajia site.

   »»» Hear: Plajia (Official Site)

Tuesday, 13 May 2008

“So Much More” is an immersively haunting song from Swedish duo Strangers In Wonderland. This is the soundtrack that carries us toward lands we have yet to explore and people we have yet to meet.

   Strangers In Wonderland – So Much More
   »»» Hear More: Strangers In Wonderland (Official Site)

Thursday, 15 May 2008

I have jumped up-and-down on the Iller Than Theirs bandwagon for a year. Now, Tone Tank, one half of Iller Than Theirs, has released The Black Six Sessions, a free solo EP with Doc Strange, J. Howells Werthman and Scott Thorough contributing on the boards. If you dig underground hip-hop, then head over to Scum Life and dig around for the drop.

   Tone Tank – Ain’t Shit Changed

I have to admit the other two self-released MP3s sent by Zak Smith didn’t completely catch, let alone hold, my attention. (A track usually has about 30 seconds to make an impact on me.) But, “Minstrel Show” made me sit up and listen. Put it on loop and run through the song a few times. Seems Mr. Smith is getting in a few well-timed jabs in this short-but-sweet track. A thumbs up.

   Zak Smith – Minstrel Show
   »»» Hear More: Zak Smith (Official Site)

Friday, 16 May 2008

I’m not sure if I was supposed to start laughing while “Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley” by The Chap was playing, but I did. Hell, I can think of worse reactions than busting out a wide grin. The Chap is bizarrely fascinating. If the rest of their work is as entertainingly goofy as this, then I’ll be keeping an eye out for their album Mega Breakfast soon.

   The Chap – Carlos Walter Wendy Stanley

Saturday, 17 May 2008

Reminiscent of the old school flag hoisted by Slick Rick and held high by Joe Budden, this is the first single from Holliewood. There is tons of room for growth. That said, if he fills it Holliewood may make a name for himself if he builds on this mininalist East Coast foundation.

   Holliewood – Brooklyn Keeps On Takin It

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Tamboosh raised awareness of the Voluntary Butler Scheme back in March. If you enjoyed the ‘shorter than short EP’ back then, here’s another fun one from VBS.

   Voluntary Butler Scheme – Laundry

Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Ponytail is The Arcade Fire on acid. Seriously. This is some powerfully unusual stuff. And I don’t mean unusual like Porn Sword Tobacco. I mean all up-in-your-face electro-blasty-unusual. Word.

   Ponytail – Celebrate The Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)
   »»» Hear More: TheirPonySpace

Thursday, 29 May 2008

“Pop is not a dirty word,” says The Takeover UK guitarist Mark Solomich. “We love the art form. We are chasing the perfect pop single.” Amen, my brother. We hangin’ out in 100b salute you. Pop does not equate to boring, bad or behind us in our books.

When I saw The Takeover UK were from my native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I had to give their full five-track EP, It’s All Happening, a listen. They’re certainly influenced by the barrage of U.K. indie bands out there, as well as some of those that loom large in the U.S. (The Strokes, to name one). Out of these influences, they manage to combine the drive and quirkyness of the U.K. genre with the twang of the good ol’ U.S. of A.

As a band still finding their feet in the dangerous waters of indie pop they have a solid starting point in It’s All Happening. There are key parts of the elusive indie pop formula floating around in there. All of which makes me look forward to hearing what develops further in their debut album, Running With The Wasters, coming out in September.

   The Takeover UK – Ah La La
   »»» Hear More: TheTakeoverUKSpace

Friday, 30 May 2008

“Father Feed Me” is a no-frills story-laden track from Calico Horse (the reincarnation of A Clock Work Army and calling Southern California home). Not having heard anything else from them, I have no idea if “Father Feed Me” is indicative of their overall sound. Nonetheless, this one is definitely interesting.

   Calico Horse – Father Feed Me