After years of battery-powered four track releases CFTPA rebirths with the more electric than electronic Etiquette. Flutes, organs, strings and pedal steel fit perfectly over the drum machine and superbly appropriate lo-fi recording. Taking a more stripped down Postal Service approach coupled with a Lambchopish spoken baritone the album feels like an old pal recounting his woes. (read more…)

Hundreds of Nashvillians braved the coldest night of the season last Saturday to head out to the Mercy Lounge for a triple shot of local rock. Despite the icy road conditions and the extreme, bitter cold, the turnout was very good. It had been quite a while since The Features had graced the Nashville stage, and it looked like Nashville was ready for their fix.

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Sighted at the Early Man/Preistess/The Sword show at The End.

A Venom back-patch on a jean jacket
More than one Flying V
Four sets of double stacked amps
Cheesy hot rocker chicks
Free Early Man branded condoms
Early Man skateboard deck
More hair and beards on stage than at Burning Man
Lots of references to Satan
Metal horns (of course)
Five minute drum solo, from the opening band nonetheless!

Things I didn’t see which I’m OK with

Pentagrams
Leather Pants
Fake Blood
Spandex
Aquanet

Rolling Stone’s David Fricke on the Clutters‘ T&C:

The debut blast from this Nashville anomaly, a straight-ahead garage-rock band complete with Farfisa organ, [has] a push and punch back-dated to Fifties Memphis and Hamburg’s Star Club in the mid-Sixties . . .

Read the brief but glowing review here.

The Foxymorons Hesitation Eyes is reviewed by Pitchfork and receives a respectable 7.3. Welcome to the big leagues. Check it.

Last night was one of those classic evenings at The End. The first openers, Oblio, actually started fairly early around 9.40. And then they played for more than an hour. If you haven’t heard them, they’re a poppy, jammy sort of band. They don’t rip out too many extended solos, but the “groovy” rhythms and overall aesthetics scream jam band. Two words: bare feet. ‘Nuff said.

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Kurt Wagner, the mastermind behind the gang of rotating musicians know as Lambchop, is not afraid of difficult collaborations. From the unnerving Josh Rouse collaboration, Chester, to a guest spot on Morcheeba’s “What New York Couples Fight About� which brilliantly showcased Wagner’s monotonous controlled baritone to perfect effect within a lyrical context, Lambchop’s associations are meant to push not pull. Now they’ve teamed up with the new laptop duo Hands Off Cuba, Scott Martin and Ryan Norris either both part of or singularly members of The Privates, Character, Lone Official, and the under looked precursor to this project ¡Slow Down Hero!.

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Jason Wilkins reviews the latest Be Your Own Pet single in his column for All the Rage:

No one doubts the manic energy of the band’s stage show, or the jarring charisma of lead singer Jemina Abegg. We have yet to see whether she can sing, or just yell her way through a tune. And after only one full single and some B-sides, we still don’t know if the group can produce a song as strong as their live show. Their latest single, Extra Extra, doesn’t really answer either of those questions.

There must be a something about familial bonds that the standard “four friends in a rock band” bond doesn’t have. See The Beach Boys, The Mamas and The Papas, The Pernice Brothers and, um, The Everly Brothers. Unfortunately the media has a tendency to prey on these relations because there has to be something vital to the songwriting process that those who can’t stand their family don’t understand. Britain’s The Magic Numbers follow suit as two pairs of a brother-sister team, complete with a “Theâ€Â? in the name. (read more…)

Most of you missed post-punk legends Gang of Four when they passed through Atlanta recently. Earthlink Live wasn’t even filled to capacity. Nashville was represented, at least, by a member each from The Features, The Bang Up, and A Poet Named Revolver. Those who did catch the show were rewarded with a solid performance from the original lineup of the vastly influential band. (read more…)