The Pelican's Perch » Perch Exclusive

Perch Exclusive – New Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s Songs

Kevin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:15:33 +0000

I doubt this is much of an exclusive, but I always enjoy having Perch Exclusive in my post title to build excitement. I received in my inbox today a much anticipated email from Sony Epic, Margot’s new label, giving me a peek at the new album and confirming that my copy is in the mail for review. Oh the excitement. I immediately listened to the two tracks they’re letting us bloggers share, and while I’ve heard them live, they still sound amazing.

Most of you know the back story of this new double album, where Margot and their label feuded about which songs to release on the album. Margot wanting a certain set of songs, the label wanting the other set. And, as rumor has it, Margot’s lead singer Richard Edwards flew up to NYC and talked to the heads themselves, and after a few threats to leak the album, they came to an agreement (again, might just be pure rumor). Margot’s album choice, Animal!, will be released October 7th on Vinyl, and the label’s choice, Not Animal, will be released digitally and on CD. So, these songs are from Not Animal and you’ll hear most the press from the label being related to this release. I talked to their horn player not too long ago at a show here in town and he didn’t know what was going to happen with the dispute, which was full on at that time. Luckily for all of us, it got resolved and we get two new albums of Margot music to enjoy next month. That, my friends, is a very good thing. Here’s two new songs from Not Animal. Let me know what you think.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
Not Animal
Release: Oct. 7th, 2008

1. A Children’s Crusade On Acid [mp3]

2. German Motor Car
3. Broadripple Is Burning!
4. Real Naked Girls.
5. Holy Cow!
6. Cold, Kind, and Lemon Eyes
7. Hello Vagina
8. As Tall As Cliffs [mp3]

9. Pages Written On The Wall
10. The Shivers (I’ve Got ‘Em)
11. The Ocean (Is Bleeding Salt)
12. Hip, Hip Hooray
13. Jesus Christ Blues.

Official Site / Myspace

Perch Exclusive! – New Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s Songs Live at Randy Bacon’s

Kevin — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:37:35 +0000

And in terrible audio too! I doubt this is too much of an exclusive, since they’ve gone on a stop or two since I saw them live last Tuesday, but if you can decipher the song from the bass filled crappy audio, then you’ll have an idea of what some of the new songs from the upcoming Margot cd are going to sound like. I should’ve moved back some, but I’d rather trade off getting bad audio on the video in order to be in the front row watching Margot do their usual amazing live set. The new songs are pretty rockin, no doubt about that, but I got a few of my favorites from the debut album filmed too, so enjoy those as well. I’ll get the other new song up as soon as it gets done processing on youtube. Also, Cameron McGill and What Army, look them up, because they were just as good, maybe even better than Margot opening for them that night. Three part harmonies that were spot on, crazy fun energy, and a lead singer in McGill that you couldn’t help but laugh at as he hopped back and forth from the guitar to the piano like a madman. Loved it.

New Song
[youtube C8TGaiaH9lA]

Perch Exclusive! – Stream Stark Raving Calm’s New Album

Kevin — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:59:53 +0000

The guys in Stark Raving Calm have been good friends of mine for years now, having met them all in the dorms. They lived a floor above me and there were plenty of great memories that came with those days. Back in the early dorm days, I was just beginning my songwriting career with a lack of any real vocal talent and cheesy love songs. I still write cheesy love songs, but four years of practicing my singing and songwriting and I’ve turned out alright. But back then these guys were already established, playing around town, and had chemistry that any band would love to have. Add to that the fact that each of the four members were some of the best musicians at their particular instrument I’d seen locally.

So, they released two albums in between then and now, both being ambient, Tool sounding affairs that everyone loved, but I always knew they had some pent up energy in them that if they’d just release it, the music they’d create would be something special. Well, with this new album they did exactly that. The album, entitled Flesh_Nectar_Asphalt_Adrenaline, is Stark Raving Calm at their best, and more importantly, it’s them having the most fun playing music they’ve ever had, and you can hear it on the album, and it’s especially see it when they play the songs live.

The stand-out track in my mind is “Systematic Collapse”, which is a showcase of everything new with Stark Raving Calm’s music. Brad and Prater’s Morello-esque toggle switching, Keith’s phenomenal drumming, Nick’s driving bass, and Brad’s improved vocals. “Glitch” and “Shine in the Evolution” are probably my other top songs on the album. Even though the new album is only seven songs, it’s still their best yet. Most my regular readers might find this music a bit out of the norm for me, but I’ve always been a fan of good hard rock music. I just don’t find much out there I truly like, so most times I stick to the melodic indie rock. But every now and then a hard rock album comes along that I simply can’t ignore and end up loving. Stark Raving Calm’s new one is just that.

I couldn’t be more proud of the guys in SRC and wish them the best of luck in the future. A few of them are moving to Seattle, so who knows what’ll come of the band, but whatever happens, I hope they get the attention they deserve with this new album. Way to go guys.

Glitch
Shine in the Evolution
Post Millennium Tension
Flesh_Nectar_Asphalt_Adrenaline
Untitled
A Systematic Collapse
Into the Bloodrush

SRC Myspace