What's new this week in music from the folks at KWLC
Date 4/22/2004 12:00 AM | Topic: Arts & CultureYou won't be embarrased to listen to this pop music
Sam DrongIn the past I've stayed away from reviewing albums oozing with pop-sensibilities, but this week, I'll make an exception.
Why make the exception? Well, it's because Paris Texas is, in some senses, local. Living in rural Iowa, we try to associate ourselves with any city harboring a substantial population, so why not associate ourselves with Madison, Wis., which is only 156.68 miles away (thanks, mapquest.com).
Madison locals, Paris Texas is the next band to sport the emo-punk moniker (see ).
The group makes some subtle tweaks on what I will call the 'Foo Fighters Style.'
Paris Texas shouldn't be considered a Foo Fighters-hack by any means. The five-piece band adds vocal harmonies, guitar complexity and most importantly lyrical depth to the already well-established sound.
Like You Like an Arsonist is written entirely in free association poetry and covers subject material ranging from death of friends to the corporate takeover of radio. The lyrical content is easy to overlook given the energetic and rambunctious nature of the music, but the more you listen to lyrics, the more you will appreciate Paris Texas.
To help give them a little extra credibility in a veritable sea of weakly talented pop-punk bands, it should be known that their 1998 debut demo was recorded with Rainer Maria's Kyle Fischer.
If that doesn't mean anything to you, don't worry. But, there is a good chance Paris Texas could have some commercial success. So if you want to say you heard it first, you better start listening.
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Minneapolis super-group creates medal-worthy music
Lindsay KimballFive track suites and infectious, poppy indie rock are the ingredients to the latest super-group to come out of the Minneapolis area.
The Olympic Hopefuls draw from an athletic theme with an all-star team made up of Darren Jackson of Kid Dakota on guitar and vocals, Erik Appelwick of Vicious Vicious on guitar and vocals, John Hermanson of Alva Star and Storyhill on keys, Heath Henjum of The Beatifics on bass, and Matt O'Laughlin of Friends Like These on drums to release their album, The Fuses Refuse to Burn.
Starting as a side project between Jackson and Appelwick, who called themselves Camero, the duo played a few shows to the praise of attendees. They decided to pursue the project more seriously and thus began Olympic Hopefuls.
"Imaginary" kicks off the album with more rock and less pop, but is catchy nonetheless.
Contagious choruses and rhythms are signature for songs like sugar sweet "Holiday" and bitter "Whisper."
My favorite song on the album, "Motobike," is a humorous version of heartbreak when Appelwick sings, "and it breaks my girl's heart/every time I crash my motorbike."
With its bright, shiny indie pop, the Olympic Hopefuls have crafted a gold medal-winning album.
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