review// four year strong “enemy of the world”

cj mckinney — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:52:37 +0000

artist// four year strong
album// enemy of the world
label// universal motown
release date// march 9, 2010

Over the past two years of running things here at BWC, I’ve been subjected to more music than I can handle most of the time. It’s a constant struggle trying to find a balance between delving through the constant stream of new releases and sitting down to actually enjoy the albums that catch on. However, every once in a while a band drops something on your ears that is so undeniably catchy and immediate that you have to shun everything else away in favor of it. That’s what Four Year Strong did to me with their latest release Enemy Of The World.

Enter in the lead track “It Must Really Suck to be Four Year Strong Right Now” a hard hitting and tantalizing preview of all the goodies that lie ahead, featuring one of the most infectious breakdowns throughout the whole disc. EOTW waste no space pummeling through the subsequent 10 songs, accelerating at an exhausting pace full of jabbing hooks and knobbed-up production that take it a step above any previous work from the bands catalog

Whether it’s the riot inciting chorus of “Wasting Time (Eternal Summer)” or the perfected building into maniacal shouts of “The Body That Pays The Bill$”, Four Year Strong prove that they already know what they do well, and with EOTW they have taken that formula and simply turned up the knobs beyond their breaking point. The combination of co-vocalists Dan O’Connor and Alan Day complement each other throughout, displayed beyond perfection during the call and return shouts of “Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride”.

While EOTW contains some of the most “brutal” moments in Four Year Strong’s catalog (see the raucous ending of “What The Hell Is A Gigawatt?”) it also contains some of the more poppier productions the band have put to disc. “Find My Way Back” and “One Step At A Time” both find the band restraining themselves (i use that term VERY lightly) to create immediate pop that still carries the band’s trademarked bite.

By the end of your first listen through Enemy Of The World, you may very well feel like you’ve just been hit by a truck, and trust me that feeling doesn’t let up any through repeated listens. Enemy Of The World is a defining album in the staling genre that it represents, and deserves to be treated as such. I’ve had many awkward moments sitting at red-lights while blaring these songs out my window, probably looking like a madman or somebody having a seizure to nervous onlookers, but I could care less because I love this album SO MUCH, and that’s the beauty of discovering these rarities. So join along with me, roll your windows down, turn it up, and sing along.

mp3// wasting time (eternal summer)
mp3// what the hell is a gigawatt?
purchase// enemy of the world
myspace// four year strong

new// the black keys “tighten up”

cj mckinney — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:06:20 +0000

got damn, this song KILLS. unless i’m mistaken “tighten up” is the first track that’s been publicly released off of the keys forthcoming full-length, brothers. dan auerbach recently let BBC’s zane lowe in on the first listen of the catchy-as-hell danger mouse produced track. i see big things on the horizon for these guys if this is how the rest of brothers sounds. listen below

mp3// tighten up

video// arctic monkeys “my propeller”

cj mckinney — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:28:19 +0000

im a bit at odds with the arctic monkeys choice for their next single off of humbug. the video doesn’t do much for the already lully-gaggin song but check it above to see if you feel any different

new// freelance whales “generator ^ 1st floor” (aislyn remix)

cj mckinney — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:23:36 +0000

im a few days behind on this (apologies) but aislyn (featuring passion pit’s ian hultquist + girlfriend sofia) recently dropped a fresh remix of the opener to freelance whales fantastic debut. the group bring a wall of analog underlying the already infectious “generator ^ 1st floor” that giving it a refreshing spin. hit it below

mp3// generator ^ 1st floor (aislyn remix)

video// lykke li “possibility”

cj mckinney — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:14:53 +0000

when the new moon soundtrack came out last year, i felt only a few select tracks garnered any replay factor despite the compilations powerhouse lineup. lykke li’s somber and sedated piano ballad “possibility” was amongst the few that impressed me. the black and white simplistic video, which was released today in celebration of her birthday (have a good one!) perfectly complements lykke li’s gorgeous swoon.

mp3// possibility

video// hot chip “i feel better”

cj mckinney — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:49:46 +0000

Hot Chip – I Feel Better

Hot Chip | MySpace Music Videos
since i’ve always been a pretty casual hot chip fan, i wasn’t going to post their newest video for “i feel better” until i actually took the time to watch it… most LOL-worthy video I’ve seen this year.

new// republic of wolves :: “wood/bricks”

cj mckinney — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:46:14 +0000

if you recall correctly, the republic of wolves are putting out a 7″ single for the terrific track cardinals off of their for his old branches EP. now you can hear the unreleased b-side “wood/bricks” over at the band’s myspace. head over there and give it a go, then make sure to get your pre-order on

stream// wood/bricks
pre-order// cardinals 7″

the dillinger escape plan post full stream of new album

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:50:56 +0000

you’ve already been pummeled senseless by option paralysis’ lead single, farewell mona lisa, now hear the rest of what many are calling DEP’s hardest hitting and most expansive work to date. stream option paralysis at myspace.

stream// OPTION PARALYSIS

video// envy on the coast :: “head first in the river”

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:45:57 +0000

envy on the coast just dropped their first video from the forthcoming lowcountry for their lead single “head first in the river”. read up on my intro post to the track here, then hit the clip for the video. fast-forward to the 2:50 mark. if you blindfolded me and made me listen to the next 10-15 seconds on, i’d swear it was a glassjaw demo.

lowcountry drops march 30th, pre orders are here

wild orchid children announce debut full-length

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:54 +0000

it seems like i’ve been posting in anticipation for wild orchid children’s rumored full-length for EVER. FINALLY some concrete information has surfaced, unfortunately none of that includes a release date. that’ll probably surface shortly, in the meantime the band have announced that their full-length debut will be entitled Wild Orchid Children Are Alexander Supertramp. album art is above, tracklisting below. attentive persons will notice that 4 of the new songs were featured on the band’s debut EP. regardless, i’m still stoked.

tracklisting
1. We Are Alexander Supertramp…
2. Black Shiny FBI Shoes
3. Gasoline Rainbows (Jesus Is A Black Man)
4. Peyote Coyote
5. Ahead of Us The Secret
6. Lazers In The Jungle
7. Martha Washington Goes To War
8. Birth of a Cabin
9. Where the Mexican Boys Go
10. Tree Of Knowledge

mp3// ahead of us the secret
more// 2010 release news

the republic of wolves announce 7″ release

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:14:24 +0000

the republic of wolves had a hell of a 2009, going from virtual obscurity to one of the most lauded and talked about young bands out there. looking to capitalize on that, the band are putting out a 7″ for “cardinals” off of the fantastic for his old branches EP. the release will also feature a brand new track only available through the single’s release. these guys are BWC approved and highly recommended from yours truly, so go support (good) independent music

cardinals 7″ tracklisting
SIDE A: Cardinals
SIDE B: Wood/Bricks (Previously Unreleased)
DOWNLOADABLE BONUS TRACKS
For His Old Branches (Alternate Version)
For His Old Branches (Stripped Alternate Version)

preorder cardinals
mp3// cardinals (demo version)

video// devendra banhart :: “baby”

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:11:54 +0000

devendra banhart’s what will we be has been out for a while now. today banhart dropped his first video from the said disc for the albums lead single “baby”.

the single’s relaxed and breezy attitude give proper treatment to the sunny sidewalks banhart and friends (including half of little joy and mgmt stroll down before the album takes a psychedelic twist and meet up with wu-tang clan’s gza.

don’t know what else to say, be forewarned, the WTF factor is pretty high on this one.

mp3// baby

video// manchester orchestra :: “50 cent is my favorite rapper”

cj mckinney — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:20 +0000

apparently andy hull is not only one of the best songwriters out hustlin streets today, but also possesses an almost conan-esque comedic genius.

video// the lonely island “boombox” ft. julian casablancas

cj mckinney — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:29:09 +0000

i swear to god, julian could sing the old testament, put it on record and still move copies. for proof, look no further than to the ridiculous premise behind last years epic “boombox” featuring adam samberg which just got it’s visuals released this past week

video// port o’brien :: “leap year”

cj mckinney — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:35:04 +0000

port o’brien drop the knowledge with their second video for last years lush and swooning threadbare. not sure what kind of knowledge they be droppin though, as the premise of the whole thing is a little bit over my head. someone help me

video// black rebel motorcycle club :: “beat the devil’s tattoo”

cj mckinney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:59:13 +0000

excessive leather, cigarettes (say that in this kids voice), and dark shades are something that i feel i’ve been missing out on a bit too much recently. black rebel motorcycle club got me covered, though. i’ve had this track on repeat over the past few weeks, so i don’t know why i haven’t gotten around to posting it, but the band just released their new video for their new album’s title track and disc opener.

“beat the devil’s tattoo” features some of the most hypnotic and slowly building, tambourine filled, gritty blues i’ve heard since the black keys put out their last album. hit the cut for proof and thank me later.

beat the devil’s tattoo is out now

mp3// beat the devil’s tattoo

video// manchester orchestra on kimmel :: “in my teeth”

cj mckinney — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:41:38 +0000

i had to be at work an hour earlier than usual today, and needing my usual beauty sleep, couldn’t stay up to catch my as-of-right now favorite band out there DO IT LIVE on Jimmy Kimmel.

Andy Hull. & Co. had me covered, however as they went brought the raucous (and personal METN favorite) “In My Teeth” to the late night show, and they brought it HARD. this was also my first real chance to catch the dude from colour revolt rock it behind the drum kit, and i gotta say, he filled in quite nicely along with the rest of the orchestra which seemed to display a comfortable late night performance, something that was a far cry from their late night tv debut (check the cut below to see what i mean)

video// four year strong in studio

cj mckinney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:49:56 +0000

i’m pretty much ready to crown enemy of the world as the best of 2010, thus far. i’ll probably have a review up soon (it’s been too long since i’ve reviewed anything). in the meantime, enjoy this video of the band straight up killin’ it in studio.

enemy of the world is out now

video// beach house :: la blogotheque sessions

cj mckinney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:30:20 +0000

la blogotheque are starting to become the french equivalent to daytrotter. you can always count on them to bring the goods, as they prove with this beautifully shot 5 song set for the always-good beach house.

new neon indian// sleep paralysist

cj mckinney — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:24:22 +0000

grizzly bear’s chris taylor has been a busy body as of late, whether it’s creating noise under his solo moniker CANT, producing the new full-length for the morning benders, or turning the knobs for neon indian’s brand new single “sleep paralysist”. while taylor may have lent his name to the producing credits for neon indians first material of 2010, it’s still got the vintage electronic haze that has made this guy such a success. hit the download for proof.

mp3// sleep paralysist