Today's Three for Two is going to focus on Bay Area bands that focus broadly on garage rock. There's so much good music in the Bay Area. Sure, we took a hit when Ty Segall moved back to SoCal, but we snatched up his music buddy, Mikal Cronin, so it's all good. The Bay Area has amazing music and a there's an awesome bunch of artists making super fun rock.
Two of these bands have new albums out this spring; Burnt Ones and Warm Soda. The 'throwback' band, Thee Oh Sees, might be the band that best anchors the whole Bay Area scene and they've been doing that for over 10 years. Thee Oh Sees are skillful at pumping out new albums. For the foreseeable future, there won't be new album, however, they do have three singles compilations that would be a great starting off point for new fans.
Burnt Ones - Gift
This music is a burn of hazy psych rock. Melodic harmonies that meld into swirling guitars and bangin' drums. The lead singer hits some great high notes and the delay on the guitar keeps things rolling along. The 60s rock influence is definitely here, but then there's something fresh, too. I want to say it's the influence of a grunge and punk that's littered throughout, like when the guitar and drums go into overdrive in the middle of a song. I haven't seen Burnt Ones live, but I'm guessing that this is one of those bands where the vocals are increased on the recording, but the guitars and drums take front stage at the live show. It's California, baby, let's get stoned and rock it!
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video of anything off the new album, but here's one off their 2011 album, if the video has the feel of a wonky VHS, that's prolly because that's exactly what it was recorded on.
Warm Soda - Young Reckless Hearts
This album is so good for spring. It's slightly gritty pop-rock. The songs on this album are crafted to be crazy catchy. They are structured to build and build up into the verses, choruses, and breaks. There are even classic guitar and bass solos thrown into the mix here and there. In my opinion, guitar solos are absolutely due a comeback. They were overused in the 80s and 90s and got the reputation for being cheesy, but if the sax solo can make a comeback!! The voice of lead singer, Matthew Malton, has a mild but intense classic rock sound that I totally dig. The use of harmonies in the choruses, on top of energetic drums and guitars keep me smiling. In the end, that's what one wants when the days are getting longer and the weather warmer. This album is a perfect pop rock album to get you pumped for summer. And did I mention guitar solos?
Thee Oh Sees - Singles Collection Volumes 1, 2, & 3
I'm gonna admit that I came late to Thee Oh Sees party. I got there through Ty Segall who is one of my all time favs. Which makes sense since there's a lot Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees have in common. Both have spent recent time producing music in SF, they are two of the most prolific musicians out at the moment; often with multiple albums in a year. Both are both known for stellar, raucous live shows and fuzz the shit out of their guitars but they use effects to form great garage rock songs as opposed to using effects as something to hide poor songs behind. Lastly, both Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees get some inspiration from 60s psychedelic rock.
I recently played Thee Oh Sees' song 'I Come From The Mountain' for my Dad to show him how much their song structure and use of effects amaze me, and he brought up one of his favorite bands, Cream. I can totally see why he made that comparison, but this band is so much more than a callback band. Putting them in the psychedelic or garage rock category doesn't do justice to all the styles they've fused together to create something all their own. The shared vocals between John Dwyer and Brigid Dawson, and the choice of lead and harmonies, just like the choice of pedals, means this band comes at you--and boy to they come at you!--with so many different sounds it's impossible for you to get musically complacent while listening to them. Head banging one moment, dancing around the next, and then slow swaying on a somewhat less common slow track. Maybe that's why the band is so prolific, they're up or down for pretty much everything and that means the possibilities for new songs are endless. It's a shame the band announced an indefinite hiatus at the end of last year, though Dwyer has referred to this only as a 'well deserved break.' Here's hoping they don't stay away too long. But in the meantime, this break gives new listeners plenty of time to catch up on their past work before the next album drops.
Two of these bands have new albums out this spring; Burnt Ones and Warm Soda. The 'throwback' band, Thee Oh Sees, might be the band that best anchors the whole Bay Area scene and they've been doing that for over 10 years. Thee Oh Sees are skillful at pumping out new albums. For the foreseeable future, there won't be new album, however, they do have three singles compilations that would be a great starting off point for new fans.
Burnt Ones - Gift
This music is a burn of hazy psych rock. Melodic harmonies that meld into swirling guitars and bangin' drums. The lead singer hits some great high notes and the delay on the guitar keeps things rolling along. The 60s rock influence is definitely here, but then there's something fresh, too. I want to say it's the influence of a grunge and punk that's littered throughout, like when the guitar and drums go into overdrive in the middle of a song. I haven't seen Burnt Ones live, but I'm guessing that this is one of those bands where the vocals are increased on the recording, but the guitars and drums take front stage at the live show. It's California, baby, let's get stoned and rock it!
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a video of anything off the new album, but here's one off their 2011 album, if the video has the feel of a wonky VHS, that's prolly because that's exactly what it was recorded on.
Warm Soda - Young Reckless Hearts
This album is so good for spring. It's slightly gritty pop-rock. The songs on this album are crafted to be crazy catchy. They are structured to build and build up into the verses, choruses, and breaks. There are even classic guitar and bass solos thrown into the mix here and there. In my opinion, guitar solos are absolutely due a comeback. They were overused in the 80s and 90s and got the reputation for being cheesy, but if the sax solo can make a comeback!! The voice of lead singer, Matthew Malton, has a mild but intense classic rock sound that I totally dig. The use of harmonies in the choruses, on top of energetic drums and guitars keep me smiling. In the end, that's what one wants when the days are getting longer and the weather warmer. This album is a perfect pop rock album to get you pumped for summer. And did I mention guitar solos?
Thee Oh Sees - Singles Collection Volumes 1, 2, & 3
I'm gonna admit that I came late to Thee Oh Sees party. I got there through Ty Segall who is one of my all time favs. Which makes sense since there's a lot Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees have in common. Both have spent recent time producing music in SF, they are two of the most prolific musicians out at the moment; often with multiple albums in a year. Both are both known for stellar, raucous live shows and fuzz the shit out of their guitars but they use effects to form great garage rock songs as opposed to using effects as something to hide poor songs behind. Lastly, both Ty Segall and Thee Oh Sees get some inspiration from 60s psychedelic rock.
I recently played Thee Oh Sees' song 'I Come From The Mountain' for my Dad to show him how much their song structure and use of effects amaze me, and he brought up one of his favorite bands, Cream. I can totally see why he made that comparison, but this band is so much more than a callback band. Putting them in the psychedelic or garage rock category doesn't do justice to all the styles they've fused together to create something all their own. The shared vocals between John Dwyer and Brigid Dawson, and the choice of lead and harmonies, just like the choice of pedals, means this band comes at you--and boy to they come at you!--with so many different sounds it's impossible for you to get musically complacent while listening to them. Head banging one moment, dancing around the next, and then slow swaying on a somewhat less common slow track. Maybe that's why the band is so prolific, they're up or down for pretty much everything and that means the possibilities for new songs are endless. It's a shame the band announced an indefinite hiatus at the end of last year, though Dwyer has referred to this only as a 'well deserved break.' Here's hoping they don't stay away too long. But in the meantime, this break gives new listeners plenty of time to catch up on their past work before the next album drops.
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