tenement halls

tenement halls released the unappealingly titled "Knitting Needles and Bicycle Bells" last year and I guess I was a little late catching on to it. tenement halls is, from what I gather, essentially Chris Lopez who used to be in the Rock*A*Teens, which I never really listened to but I did like the few songs I heard and I was always going to check them out. Anyhow, for those of you in the know, tenement halls sounds a bit like the Rock*A*Teens (or at least how I remembered them sounding). There is something very likeable about that sound - somehow I always picture tenement halls playing small sleazy dark clubs with everyone sitting at the bar paying little attention to the band. Don't ask me why. tenement halls would also be a good for a David Lynch movie. If you like the song above you can check out a few more here.

beirut

beirut's first album has been getting quite a lot of attention and there are probably good reasons for that. or least a good reason - it sound quite a bit like the legendary Neutral Milk Hotel, which is probably not a coincidence since Jeremy Barnes of NMH assisted with the making. but basically this is the work of a yet another 19 year old wunderkind. at any rate, it sounds pretty nice but it is also a little restrained and, as a consequence, it feels a little bit gimmicky. i mean, if I was 19 and could make music like this i can't help but feel that there should be a greater sense of urgency. but still, a perfectly enjoyable album. Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)