I'm completely jizzed that I finally get to see the Go-Betweens! They're coming to SF on June 17th (Slim's) to support their new record.They've been around forever and I didn't get into them until late. Every few months I'd go to their webpage to see if they were coming over from Australia, but nada. Until last night.
Happy.
The self-titled album from the Hawthorne, CA band dios is far too good not to plug. Namedroppers unite:
There's a long tradition of soft, sunny California pop, and, at first listen, Hawthorne-based dios (the band's name is never capitalized) appear to fit right into the line that stretches from the Beach Boys to Jackson Browne to Grandaddy. From the slow, keyboard-lit choruses of "Nobody's Perfect" through the whispery harmonies of "All My Life," there's an uneasy pop vibe to the self-titled debut, a bittersweet dalliance between melody and alienation that recalls Elliott Smith, Neil Young and Beck.
A nice long interview/review here. Band website here.
Hightly recommended:
Saturday Looks Good To Me, Every Night [Polyvinyl 2004]
Cut Copy, Bright Like Neon Love [Modular 2005]
Ed Harcourt, Strangers [EMI 2004]
Palomar, Palomar III: Revenge of Palomar [Self-Starter 2004]
