Category Archives: Releases

New release: “Staysail” by Two If By Sea

Posted on December 27, 2010 | 7 Comments

FEB016P: “Staysail” — Two If By Sea
1. Apron of Flowers
2. Pale as White
3. Unbraided Wind
4. Signal Hill
5. Always

Purchase the 7″ vinyl single (shipping included in prices):
U.S. and Canadian orders:

International orders:

February Records is proud to partner with Two If By Sea to promote the band’s self-released debut 7-inch EP, “Staysail.”

Two If By Sea is the brainchild of London, Ontario, Canada’s Teresa Daniele (formerly of The Haircuts). Also featuring Lisle Mitnik (Fireflies, Very Truly Yours) and Kevin Clark (Homeville Circle, Wooden Owls), the three formed a long-distance songwriting collaboration. The result is nothing short of spectacular. “Staysail” features five pop masterpieces; lush soundscapes brimming with ethereal vocals, swirling strings and jangling guitars. Two If By Sea has been compared to such bands as The Field Mice, The Softies and early Lush.

RIYL: The Cat’s Miaow, The Softies, The Carousel, Blueboy, The Field Mice

Nov. 30, 2010: Two If By Sea previewed on A Layer Of Chips:

So, as the snow weeps down outside, and I wonder how the bloody flip I’m going to get to work tomorrow, Two If By Sea are calming my nerves and ironing out my brow … Influences are a big thing ’round these parts, and easy to hear Field Mice, Slowdive, early Lush (especially around the frst couple of eps) and a dash of Francophilia.

Dec. 10, 2010: Two If By Sea previewed on There And Back Again Lane:

… from time to time there are also some new bands that are suddenly turning the corner and touching my inside in a very particular kind with their surprising facility and warmth — to these belong Two If By Sea … due to Teresa’s seraphic, almost whispered voice and a well-chosen instrumentation with some dashes of electronics, the songs seem to be fallen out of time and leave a calm, honest and deep feeling of serenity — unfortunately this is very scarce in these frantic days.

EDIT: Dec. 27, 2010: “Apron of Flowers” included on Beat The Indie Drum’s Monday Morning Mixtape #82.

EDIT: Dec. 30, 2010: Short review on Beehive Candy:

The music is both charming and soothing without being to laid back, the vocals work so well with the music that at times they almost merge into the instruments.

EDIT: Jan. 7, 2011: “Apron of Flowers” included on Burning World’s Pod Fodder 104.

EDIT: Jan. 11, 2011: Two If By Sea featured on Tweendie webzine.

EDIT: Jan. 18, 2011: Feature on Milk Milk Lemonade blog:

The debut EP offering from this collaboration, Staysail, is made up of 5 tracks pressed for 7″ vinyl and we have quickly grown to appreciate the unique yet classic sound involved. A charming twee backdrop that chimes as a clockwork music box to hold preciously in hand is accented beautifully with the guiding whisper of Teresa Daniele’s vocals. For those who still own just the right type of record player, there will be no greater reward than watching the arm bring another round of either side where this little gem is concerned.

EDIT: Jan. 21, 2011: Interview with Teresa Daniele on There And Back Again Lane blog.

EDIT: Jan. 26, 2011: Feature on GRRRIZZ’LY blog.

EDIT: Jan. 31, 2011: Feature on 360 de Separacion blog.

EDIT: Feb. 5, 2011: Mention on Japanese blog Pense A Moi.

EDIT: Feb. 10, 2011: Review of “Staysail” on Sugarsours blog:

Lush would be a pretty good way to describe the 5 track Staysail. It’s also a pretty good…ehh…what’s that acronym “RIYL?” The Field Mice covering The Softies wouldn’t be a bad summarization either (or maybe the other way around?). If that doesn’t entice you, maybe talk of jangling guitars, swirling soundscapes, and breathy vocals will. If you’re still thinking “eh, not for me,” then you’re a lost cause anyways.

EDIT: Feb. 15, 2011: “Staysail” featured on The Janglebox blog.

EDIT: March 1, 2011: Review of “Apron of Flowers” and “Westbound Train” (from February Records 1-year compilation) on Rawkblog:

Like the Clientele’s early, more whispery work, Two If By Sea’s “Apron of Flowers” jangles under a London fog — though the band hails from London, Ontario. The song’s not much more than a handful of chords and featherweight percussion, but its loveliness belies any considerations of heft. The same is true for compilation single “Westbound Train,” which adds a Yo La Tengo synthesizer and ironic dance groove to the mix to charming, reverb-swaddled effect.

EDIT: March 1, 2011: Review of “Westbound Train” (from February Records 1-year compilation) on HeadNodz.fm blog:

I’m seriously in love with all that is simple right now. Westbound Train is nothing short of that. A very simple melody (on an organ–hell yes) that carries throughout the song accompanied by a very simple vocal melody and a consistent drum beat makes for a very simple awesome lo-fi pop track. … I’ll be keeping tabs on this band, you should, too.

EDIT: March 7, 2011: “Apron of Flowers” reviewed on mp3hugger:

‘Apron of Flowers’ is the promo tune and proves to be a prime candidate for Sarah Records new compilation were such a thing ever to happen. Funny too that the duo come from London (Ontario, that is), surely the original hub of lo-fi skirmishes and DIY indie aesthetics. Of course they could just as well be Scandinavian. Looks like the future is bright …

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New release: Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart by The Cavemen Go

Posted on October 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

FEB011: Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart — The Cavemen Go
a1. Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart
b1. Andrea
b2. Bonus track

Buy the CD single:

$4 each (including shipping). Digital version available via Bandcamp.

Hailing from New Haven, Conn., Boston, Mass. and Brooklyn, NY, The Cavemen Go have kept going through more than a half decade; through countless shows at clubs, bars, cafes and festivals. Through it all, they’ve come to be recognized as one of the finest pop bands in the Northeastern United States, consistently solid in songcraft and performance, constantly growing and honing their sound to an ever-sharper point.

Even from the time The Cavemen Go first emerged as a duo (singer/guitarist Jeremy Sage and drummer Bob Breychak) in 2003 during the fertile days of the New Haven garage-pop mini-explosion, the band was markedly distinct from their peers. Sage’s songwriting channeled the no-frills, hook-heavy sounds of early rock’n’roll without coming off as self-consciously retro. His lyrics and singing conveyed an unabashedly-hopeful romanticism, but the kind tempered with dry wit and emotional ambiguity. Those creative tendencies have remained as The Cavemen Go have pushed forward, adding keyboardist/vocalist Emily McMinn and bassist/vocalist Brian LaRue.

The Brill Building/British Invasion/Motown influences are still there, as are nods to the poppier end of contemporary indie rock, and even shades of country and folk-rock. Their songs are simultaneously modern and classic, nuanced and efficient. They don’t play throwback pop — what they play is timeless.

In July 2009, The Cavemen Go released their first full length record, “New Lives,” showcasing the band’s punchiest, most urgent melodies to date. Now, it is happening
again. With the opening line to their new single, “Someone’s Always Dying to Break My Heart,” The Cavemen Go announce their intention to continue where they left off: Writing and performing with an attitude that great songs matter.

RIYL: Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Ben Lee, The Cars, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

From Beehive Candy blog:

Reminds us of listening to British sixties offshore radio stations like Radio Caroline (yes of course we were to young – obviously hmmm) and yet it switches to a modern feel so I guess in some ways that makes it kind of timeless, enjoy these people, they are good!”

From Beer and Bands blog:

… the bottom line is this, if you like artists like Elvis Costello (lyrics and music), and The Kinks, ’60s pop, harmonies and modern indie rock, and you’d like all this to also sound like something new, then this is definitely a record that would only enhance your record shelf.

EDIT: Nov. 3, 2010: Short review on Hartford Courant’s Sound Check blog:

New Haven(/Boston/New York) trio the Cavemen Go is ready with “Someone’s Always Dying to Break My Heart,” a bouncy, uptempo song with jangling guitar and an urgent bass line. The band officially releases the song, b/w the slower, slinkier tune “Andrea,” when it performs Nov. 20 at Cafe Nine. The single will also be available via Bandcamp Nov. 21, or you can pre-order it here.

EDIT: Nov. 4, 2010: Short review on Surviving The Golden Age:

The singles a-side is “Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart”. The energetic pop song screams summer day even though the weather here in CT has taken a turn for the winter.

EDIT: Nov. 18, 2010: The Cavemen Go make a mix for The New Haven Register:

The Cavemen Go are no strangers to the fertile music scene here in New Haven. Emerging as a two-man band in 2003, the group has grown up and established themselves as one of the most memorable rock groups in New England thanks to their glowing perfection of pop hooks and indie soul. With a handful of excellent releases under the belt, their latest single “Someone’s Always Dying To Break My Heart” comes out Nov. 20.

EDIT: Dec. 7, 2010: Mention on Fighting Tinnitus: “… garage-pop gem …”

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New release: Paw Meds/Mary, All The Time by The Inclined Plane

Posted on October 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

FEB012: Paw Meds/Mary, All The Time — The Inclined Plane
a1. Paw Meds [mp3]
b1. Mary, All The Time [mp3]

Buy the 7″ vinyl single:

Limited run of 200. 1-100 on orange vinyl, 101-200 on black.
$6 each/$8 for orders outside U.S. (includes shipping).

February Records and Popular Wallpaper Recordings announce the co-release of a limited-edition 7” vinyl single, “Paw Meds/Mary, All The Time” (FEB012/PWR008), from Hartford, Conn., psych-pop outfit, The Inclined Plane.

The Inclined Plane continues to believe that age-old diet of vacuum tubes and mondegreens is the secret to writing classic psych-pop. Their lo-fi carousel of catchy hooks and melodic fun is a dizzy joyride spinning on the circle of fifths. From noisy ’60s psychedelia and harmony-rich folk, to kraut drones and detuned ’90s guitar jangles, a carefully-selected rack of spices finds its way into The Inclined Plane’s confections.

They have self-released three EPs — “Gestalt Pump” (2006), “The Bit Intuit” (2007) and “Nonpareils” (2007) — each in limited runs in handmade packaging (featuring the artwork of John Tieman) on their own Popular Wallpaper Recordings label. In 2009 came the proper full-length, “I Am Pants,” which found them expanding their songwriting palette and distilling their unique brand of ambitious home recording into 10 golden, mixtape-ready pop singles. Now comes the “Paw Meds/Mary, All the Time” 7-inch single. Co-released with Popular Wallpaper Recordings, this hand-numbered, limited-run of 200 records contains two more brand new reverb-soaked nuggets.

RIYL: Sonic Youth, Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Galaxie 500, The Clean, The Zombies

From the New Haven Advocate:

Sometimes delicate, sometimes assertively pounding, the band grabs hold of so many classic indie-pop signposts (jangly guitars, buzzing organs, white noise, and, most importantly, catchy melodies that shine through it all), it’s clear they understand the ’80s progenitors of the subgenre and also the early ’60s records those bands were referencing.

From IndiePages.com:

… even though their sound is tamer, their songwriting is definitely much better now; the most appropriate (albeit obscure) comparison is the Mezzanines, but other obvious reference points include the Gerbils, the Velvet Underground and Pavement’s slower moments.

From BeatTheIndieDrum.com:

Hartford, CT’s The Inclined Plane aren’t necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel nor are they pretending to write the future with their debut effort “I Am Pants.” They are, however, very interested in staking their claim as New England’s most promising psyche-pop outfit.

From Sugar Sours blog:

… if you’re looking to fill that slower-tempo lo-fi hole in your life, I’d recommend checking [The Inclined Plane] out. From the sounds of it, “I Am Pants” is going to be what you want to listen to late at night when the party’s dwindling but no one wants to go home, so you sit on the couch and look through old photo albums.

EDIT: Nov. 1, 2010: Review on A Layer of Chips blog:

The new single ‘Paw Meds’/'Mary all the Time’ is the very essence of autumn; it’s a warm, fuzzy slice of pop that instantly banishes any blues you might have about Things and Stuff in a huge pop explosion. And that’s hyperbole! You might want to compare Inclined Plane to bands such as Specific Heats, who also make this kind of pop music seem so effortless. You might, because the two bands seem to share a sense of the ridiculousness of pop, and what makes it bright and sparkly when everything else around you is the most beige.

EDIT: Nov. 3, 2010: Short review on Hartford Courant’s Sound Check blog:

“Paw Meds” is a stately vintage-style rocker awash in lo-fi guitar and murky vocals, as if you’re hearing the whole thing blaring out of an apartment down the hall. “Mary, All the Time” puts that same murky vocal sound atop crisp acoustic guitar and chiming glockenspiel.

EDIT: Nov. 7, 2010: Review on Spacerockmountain blog:

The Inclined Plane makes some remarkably flexible sound that fluxes between their undoubtedly diverse influences. Certainly a healthy dose of Elephant 6 style psychedelic experimentation can be heard, as well as underpinning informed by the Beach Boys and the Velvet Underground.

EDIT: Nov. 8, 2010: The Inclined Plane on Beehive Candy blog.

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New release: These Are Dark Times by The Tyler Trudeau Attempt

Posted on August 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

FEB008: These Are Dark Times – The Tyler Trudeau Attempt
a1. These Are Dark Times
b1. We’ll Win This One Yet

Purchase the 7″ vinyl single:

Purchase the single in digital format through Bandcamp.

February Records and fromage-cinq records announce the co-release of a limited-edition 7” vinyl single, “These Are Dark Times,” from New Haven/Brooklyn powerpop outfit The Tyler Trudeau Attempt.

If the fruits of Tyler Trudeau’s recent unemployment are records such as the ones he’s been turning out, then may he never find work. It hasn’t been long since we last heard from the Brooklyn-via-New Haven songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist — the debut album by his pure-pop one-man band, Women’s Basketball, the acclaimed An Octopus, but Like, an Octopus with Massive Wings, and Junk, was one of February Records’ inaugural releases in January of this year. And this spring, his career-spanning compilation CD-R Hey Turdo! unearthed some surprising stuff, out-of-print or previously unreleased tracks that would’ve counted as album highlights for a lesser songwriter.
 
Now Trudeau’s firing another salvo with his main band, the wide-ranging pop group The Tyler Trudeau Attempt. “These Are Dark Times” is the lead single from the Attempt’s upcoming album, Something, Anything Else (label and release date to be determined). The album stands as a handy summary of the band’s garage-rocking pan-pop, which pinches ideas from early punk rock, Brill Building pop, surf rock, jangle-pop, post-punk, the British Invasion and whatever else catches their restless fancy. Trudeau has often claimed, somewhat disingenuously, “I write three-minute pop songs about feeling bad.” Add 10 seconds to that statement, though, and that’s “These Are Dark Times.” The record is backed with backed with “We’ll Win This One Yet.”
 
Originally a solo home recording project commenced during Trudeau’s high school years, The Tyler Trudeau Attempt has been a gigging live band for over half a decade. Today’s incarnation of the band includes current and former members of the bands Apse, The Cavemen Go, Shark and FayRey. They are Tyler Trudeau (vocals, guitars), John Mordecai (keyboards, vocals), Alex Larson (bass) and Bob Breychak (drumkit).

RIYL: Elvis Costello, Richard Hell, Billy Bragg, The Ramones, Modern Lovers, The Knack, The Romantics

From the New Haven Register:

Tyler Trudeau Attempt, a band that makes pop music the way it should be: with garage-like guitars and quality hooks.

From the Hartford Advocate:

I was reminded of all manner of awesome late punk and new wave bands. The Tyler Trudeau Attempt specialize not only in evoking the sounds of that time, but also the stubborn awkwardness, the diffculty of interpretation. … Trudeau’s musical vision may seem to call upon cultural moments too disparate to make sense — but the thing is, his music makes it gel.

The single is also available through these Connecticut independent record stores:
Redscroll Records (24 N. Colony Rd., Wallingford, 203-265-7013)
Exile on Main Street (265 E. Main St., Branford, 203-483-6228)
The Telegraph (19 Golden St., New London, 860-701-0506)
Brass City Records (489 Meadow St., Waterbury, 203-574-7805)
Cutler’s Records & Tapes (27 Broadway, New Haven, 203-777-6271)

EDIT: Aug. 17, 2010: “These Are Dark Times” reviewed on Surviving The Golden Age:

Connecticut indie label, February Records, seems to always be releasing great music and being from CT, I try to hold it down for them. Their latest release is a seven inch record by The Tyler Trudeau Attempt. “These Are Dark Times” is the a-side of the single. The track mixes surf rock guitars with strong power pop hooks. The track is pretty irresistible. Check it out.

EDIT: Aug. 27, 2010: “We’ll Win This One Yet” featured on Burning World’s Pod Fodder.

EDIT: Sept. 21, 2010: Review on Sugarsours blog:

So hey! The Tyler Trudeau Attempt have a 7″ out on February Records RIGHT NOW! Sometimes you need a little kick-start in the morning (or morning, evening, and then morning again in my case), and These Are Dark Times is like a powerpop-punt. The surf inspired riffs mixed with a heavy dose of reverb and distortion get “The Are Dark Times”‘ proverbial foot in the door of the reverb-drenched garage scene that’s so hot right now, but make no mistake, this is solid power pop. Flip it over for “We’ll Win This One Yet,” and wind things down as Tyler winds things up, doubling the tempo before just drifting off.

EDIT: October 9, 2010: Review on Milk Milk Lemonade blog:

For those already listening and angling for a specific influence, genre or time period to pinpoint, your finger might not find a proper resting place and the beauty of this sound might be overlooked entirely. Although any ridiculous comparison on our behalf might include classic artists Dick Dale and/or Joe Jackson, please take time for listening to this infectious blend of energetic guitar-driven pop guided, if not tempered, by accenting waves of surf-goodness.

EDIT: December 3, 2010: Feature on The Deli NYC.

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New release: Ghost of Chance

Posted on August 3, 2010 | 1 Comment

FEB006: Ghost of Chance – Ghost of Chance
1. Sir
2. Strangled In The Meadow [mp3]
3. Jennifer [mp3]
4. The Breath
5. Don’t Change
6. Livin’ Life To The Fullest [mp3]
7. Spandex
8. Dreams [mp3]
9. Vaporized Philanthropic Autopilot
10. Quasar
11. You’re Welcome

New Haven, Conn.’s Ghost of Chance channels elements from the past in a way that keeps the music sounding fresh and relevant. The group’s distinctive style is characterized by subtle time signature changes and sonically-open experimentation set to surrealist lyrics.

Ghost of Chance’s sound takes its influence from ’60s psychedelia and ’90s indie and alternative. The band hints at math rock and post punk while maintaining the shimmer of classic pop sensibilities.

The band’s self-titled debut album is the brainchild of Jayson Munro and George Moore, who crafted and recorded the music in the sweltering confines of an attic apartment during the summer of 2009. The live set consists of Moore on guitar, Munro on vocals and guitar, David Corsak on bass and Mark Niciu on drums.

RIYL: Built To Spill, Modest Mouse, The Zombies, The Appleseed Cast, Guided By Voices, Explosions In The Sky, Electric Prunes

June 21, 2010: Track reviews on CT Indie blog:

… Jayson Munro does some solid early ’90s guitar work that could be bookended by anything from the Lilys to Teenage Fanclub. … ‘Sir’ is definitely my favorite of these two preview tracks. … The track closes by going outdoors with found sounds, including some summery chirping. Makes me think the song just floated off out of the careless hand of a little girl like a birthday balloon.

EDIT: Aug. 3, 2010: Review on Hartford Courant’s SoundCheck blog by rock critic Eric Danton:

The quartet says it draws from ” ’60s psychedelia and ’90s indie and alternative,” with “hints at math rock and post-punk while maintaining the shimmer of classic pop sensibilities.” Although all of that is certainly true, it’s really just a complicated way of saying the band plays catchy rock ‘n’ roll with some unexpected twists and turns. … the group delivers a bracing blend of well-constructed songs on what is certainly a welcome introduction.

EDIT: Aug. 16, 2010: “Strangled In The Meadow” included on Beat The Indie Drum Monday Morning Tape #63.

EDIT: Sept. 25, 2010: Review on One Base On An Overthrow blog:

February’s most recent CD is from New Haven’s Ghost of Chance, and even though the vocals at times veer a bit too close to Smashing Pumpkins to be considered safe, the CD on the whole is an impressive bit of work. I think CT Indie nailed it with their Lilys/Teenage Fanclub comparison, so I won’t bother going any further. The opening track I’ve posted below, “Sir” (not to be confused with another fine opening track, Lotion’s “Dear Sir”, I guess), starts out quietly and ends quietly, but there’s a fairly messy ride in between. Word is that Ghost of Chance are on one of the final bills next month at the soon-to-be-shuttered Popeye’s Garage, along with The Field Recordings, so you know I’m planning on checking that one out.

EDIT: November 22, 2010: Ghost of Chance named as one of CT Indie’s “12 Local Bands To Be Thankful For” on The New Haven Register.

EDIT: December 14, 2010: Review in New Haven Advocate:

Records RIYL list includes Modest Mouse and Built to Spill and, maybe, live with a bassist and drummer, those comparisons might ring true. But this record, with drum and bass low in the mix, quirky time changes, big, wide reverb-wash and Mellotron patches aplenty sounds more like late-era, John Lennon Beatles. “Dreams” and “The Breath” are sonic reminders of “Julia” and “Across the Universe.” There’s a quote of the crazy guitar line from “She’s So Heavy” on “Vaporized Philanthropic Autopilot,” and “Livin’ Life to the Fullest” delights in mixing three- and four-beat bars. Random sounds, handclaps, pre-recorded voices, odd percussion and backwards tape sounds pop in and out. In short, it sounds sort of like The White Album, and that’s not a bad thing.

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New release: New Lives – The Cavemen Go

Posted on June 5, 2010 | 1 Comment


FEB003: New Lives – The Cavemen Go
1. Forget It Claudia [mp3]
2. Angular Momentum
3. Thirty-six
4. We’re Not That Different
5. Get Back To Me
6. Come At Me With A Knife
7. Hey, At Least I Tried [mp3]
8. The Saddest Affair
9. Frequency Modulation
10. Tell Me Something Shallow, Dilettante
11. There Is No Sense In It
12. Somebody’s Gone

Digital album available for purchase from iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and more from TheCavemenGo.com

The Cavemen Go. Yes, they do. Hailing from New Haven, Conn., Boston, Mass. and Brooklyn, NY, The Cavemen Go have kept going through more than a half decade; through two EPs (2003′s The Cavemen Go and 2005′s Never Part Again) and a full-length; through countless shows at clubs, bars, cafes and festivals. Through it all, they’ve come to be recognized as one of the finest pop bands in the Northeastern United States, consistently solid in songcraft and performance, constantly growing and honing their sound to an ever-sharper point.

From the time The Cavemen Go first emerged as a duo (singer/guitarist Jeremy Sage and drummer Bob Rock) in 2003, the band was markedly distinct from their Connecticut peers. Sage’s songwriting channels the no-frills, hook-heavy sounds of early rock’n'roll without coming off as self-consciously retro. His lyrics and singing convey an unabashedly-hopeful romanticism, but the kind tempered with dry wit and emotional ambiguity. Those creative tendencies have continued.

New Lives, recorded by the members of the band (Jeremy, Bob, keyboardist/singer Emily Hamar-McMinn and former bassist John Varrone) in an empty apartment above a lawyer’s office sees The Cavemen Go further fusing the past and the present. The Brill Building/British Invasion/Motown influences are still there, as are nods to the poppier end of contemporary indie rock. There are even shades of country and folk-rock. Simultaneously modern and classic, nuanced and efficient, New Lives showcases the band’s punchiest, most urgent melodies yet. With the arrival of new bassist/vocalist Brian LaRue, The Cavemen Go are poised for yet another exciting chapter.

RIYL: Elvis Costello, The Kinks, Ben Lee, The Cars, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

July 8, 2009: Review on Metromix Connecticut blog:

For more than half a decade, the Cavemen Go have been churning out some of the finest no-frills pop-rock in the Northeast.

July 10, 2009: Review in New Haven Register:

I’ve received a couple EPs from the band over the years, but “New Lives” is the first LP. And it’s worth the wait. It’s a timeless set of 12 songs that really will turn out to be one of the finest releases of the year, local or national. Sage just has a way with making tunes that are instantly hummable, but also intelligent and surprising. There’s no denying a strong Costello and early Ben Lee connection, but the band also breaks out some Motown and indie influences.

November 8, 2009: Review in New Haven Advocate:

Think about the Kinks and Elvis Costello, and if you smile, you’ll probably be into The Cavemen Go. Following the requisite series of EPs, TCG finally released their debut full-length New Lives earlier this year, solidifying their place as one of the top bands in the state. They’ve got jangly guitars, oohs and ahs, playful melodies, truly thoughtful lyrics and just a touch of punk rock attitude.

January 8, 2010: Included on New Haven Register’s “Best Local Music of ’09″ list:

There’s not much that can be said about singer/songwriter Jeremy Sage and the rest of The Cavemen Go that hasn’t already be said. Pitch-perfect pop that combines The Kinks and Elvis Costello? Yep. A modernized ’60s garage rock sound? Absolutely. “The New Lives” a great album? You know it.

EDIT: June 21, 2010: Review on Beerandbands:

New Lives by The Cavemen Go, is the latest release from February Records (formerly Tweefort) so it probably won’t be a suprise to regular readers that although I’m not sure about the bands name, I do know that I like this record quite a lot. I don’t know how February do it, they just seem to have a knack for finding great bands. … I could write reams about this album but the bottom line is this, if you like artists like Elvis Costello (lyrics and music), and The Kinks, 60′s pop, harmonies and modern indie rock, and you’d like all this to also sound like something new, then this is definitely a record that would only enhance your record shelf.

EDIT: July 1, 2010: Review on Side Ponytail:

New Lives is a rock/pop album that reminds of music I grew up listening to: Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Squeeze. Songs like “Forget it Claudia” and “We’re Not That Different” have that vibe especially. The piano in “We’re Not That Different” really reminds me of something you might hear on an Elvis Costello record. … I’ve been listening to songs like “Less Than Zero” by Elvis Costello and “So It Goes” by Nick Lowe on an endless loop lately. New Lives fits neatly into that pattern while offering something new.

EDIT: July 18, 2010: Short review on Beehive Candy:

Reminds us of listening to British sixties offshore radio stations like Radio Caroline (yes of course we were to young – obviously hmmm) and yet it switches to a modern feel so I guess in some ways that makes it kind of timeless, enjoy these people, they are good!

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New promotion: Musical Postcards – Bourgeois Heroes

Posted on May 18, 2010 | 1 Comment

FEB004P: Musical Postcards – Bourgeois Heroes
1. The Boy At The Record Store [mp3]
2. I Wanna Be Nice To You
3. The Postcard Collector [mp3]
4. Rosamonde
5. Rosie
6. Holly

Elise and Jason are Bourgeois Heroes. The band began in the spring of 2002 on a roadtrip to Memphis. Once they arrived in Tennessee, they purchased a drum kit and an electric guitar and out to record their frst ramshackle single the following evening at Sun Studio.

Since, the duo has released several handmade EPs that celebrate Friends-era Beach Boys production, an often Rhythm & Blues leaning and various “weird” sounds.

Bourgeois Heroes is currently in a long distance relationship, communicating musical ideas between Austin, Tex., and Northampton, Mass. Their latest effort, the Musical Postcards EP, is a document of this arrangement. Demos and versions of songs at various stages were mailed by the post and feedback was often returned over the telephone or on the back of a postcard.

The recording began at Jason’s home on a four-track tape cassette machine. Justin Pizzoferrato (Dinosaur Jr., Hush Arbors, Sonic Youth) engineered much of the rest of the work at Bank For Recording. Henning Ohlenbusch provided the baroque string arrangements at Rub Wrongways Studio. After these elements came together, everything was mixed down to a 2-track stereo tape, creating a homemade feel that contains both hi-f and lo-f sounds.

RIYL: Wings, Harry Nilsson, Lee Hazlewood, The Monkees, Serge Gainsbourg, Robyn Hitchcock, The Ladybug Transistor, Apples in Stereo, Van Dyke Parks

April 30, 2010: Review on Brill Dream:

Right, lets not mess around, Bourgeois Heroes are brilliant … ‘Musical Postcards’ is a bloody waltz. A lovely, string embedded baroque number with china fragile vocals and a pretty, ’60s-ish chorus. Really interesting, ambitious stuff.

May 11, 2010: Feature on Fensepost:

The deep, mystical vocals of Bourgeois Heroes would ft in very well next to a band like The Church or Echo & The Bunnymen or another similar melodramatic 80s group. While the Heroes hint occasionally at that sound on their release Musical Postcards, it also possesses the instrumentation of modern pop bands like Belle & Sebastian. And you can hear select other influences, as wide-ranging as The Pastels and The Zombies.

EDIT: May 20, 2010: Review in the Valley Advocate (Northampton):

The Valley’s mod tendencies may have started with The Aloha Steamtrain, but at this point it’s hard to top Jason Bourgeois as “mod supreme” among the many Valley musicians who aspire to the jangly, ’60s pop aesthetic best exemplified by The Beatles or The Kinks (though also including The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Hollies, The Zombies and so on). His voice is uncannily suited to the task. He sounds like a working class English teenager—sometimes like George Harrison, sometimes like Syd Barrett …

EDIT: May 26, 2010: Review on Powerpopaholic:

The orchestral pop and wide ranging influences are a treat for the pop fan looking for clever melodies with whimsical character. The easy going strum of “The Boy At The Record Store” could be a theme of my childhood (sigh). The elaborate baroque “I Wanna Be Nice To You” is a period gem that fans of sunshine pop and The Kinks will be thrilled with. Overall an excellent EP that will brighten your day, so when is that full length comin’?

EDIT: June 28, 2010: Review on CT Indie blog:

It’s a collection of songs that have been worked on through the mail, through demos and postcards sent back and forth. It’s a very interesting concept, and the results are a bunch of shimmering 60s pop gems that make you feel good about your day. The album was recorded by Justin Pizzoferrato (Dinosaur Jr., Hush Arbors, Sonic Youth) at Bank Row Recording, which is probably why the sound quality is so great. Anyway, these are beautifully written tunes that wear The Kinks, Beach Boys and Beatles influences on their sleeve; which is a very welcome thing in my book.

EDIT: July 1, 2010: Review on Side Ponytail:

Musical Postcards, the new EP from Bourgeois Heroes, has a loping, melodic pop sound that reminds me of a combination of certain Belle and Sebastian singles, The Monkees, The Beach Boys (for me, the Beach Boys influence is especially strong on the last track, “Holly”), and Harry Nilsson’s songs for The Point (see this video for “Think About Your Troubles” or this one for “Me and My Arrow.”) … Elise and Jason’s collaboration is seamless & the vast geographical distance that shaped Musical Postcards leads to a gorgeous, intimate closeness. Listening to Musical Postcards feels like being very near to someone.

EDIT: July 18, 2010: Short review on Beehive Candy:

Love a band that can sound retro sixties whilst clearly having their own original monicker, this is really charming music that will lift you up for the day.

EDIT: July 23, 2010: Bourgeois Heroes interviewed by Brill Dream.

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Home & Abroad Songs Vol. 2

Posted on January 20, 2010 | 1 Comment

TFR006: Home & Abroad Songs Vol. 2 – V.A.

Mark your calendars. February 19 we’ll be releasing our second compilation in our Home & Abroad Songs series. Volume 2 is a massive, bloated double disc comp with one CD of Connecticut bands (Home) and one CD of national and international bands (Abroad … for our purposes “abroad” is anything not in Conn.).

We’ve got heavy New Haven representation on the Home disc, but also tracks from bands from Hartford, Westbrook, Bridgeport, Monroe and Middletown. And the Abroad CD has bands from as close as New York and as far away as Sweden and Denmark. Check out the complete list of bands below.

We’ll be releasing the comp Friday, Feb. 19 with a show at Cafe Nine in New Haven. Headlining will be NYC’s very cool pop band The Ballet. Also playing will be FayRey and Slam Donahue. And be sure to get there on time to catch one of the area’s newest pop bands, DayPape.

CONTRIBUTING BANDS:
Home:
The Fictional West (New Haven)
Mixtape (New York/New Haven)
The Tyler Trudeau Attempt (New Haven)
Sewing Machines (Middletown)
The Inclined Plane (Hartford)
Titles (New Haven)
The Dayzies (Middletown)
The Jackies (New Haven)
Saint Bernadette (Bridgeport)
DayPape (Westbrook)
Women’s Basketball (New Haven)
Think Quick (Monroe)
Slam Donahue (CT)
Shark (New Haven/Boston)
Love and Hymen (Milford/New York)
Fay Rey (New Haven/New York)

Abroad:
Gustav and The Seasick Sailors (Sweden)
The Postcards (England)
The Ballet (New York)
Oberhofer (Wash./New York)
The Upstairs! (Penn.)
Ex Norwegian (Florida)
The Mother Z’s (Illinois)
Robert Church & The Holy Community (Sweden)
Mammoth Life (Kansas)
Fairmont (New Jersey)
The Adventures Of (New York)
Poland (Seattle)
Cleemann (Denmark)
Sunset Soundtrack (Georgia)
Sunshower Orphans (New York)
The Susan Constant (Mass.)

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