Fink - Sort of Revolution *FOURSIE Award Winner*

BLUES/FOLK/JAZZ
Artist: Fink
Album: Sort of Revolution
Tracks: “See it All” & “Q & A”
Street Date: March 12, 2009
Label: Ninja Tune






Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Fink!
Awarded by: Chad Raddington

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English singer/songwriter Fin Greenall, a.k.a. Fink, began playing the guitar at a young age. As his musical career began, Greenall was influenced by house, acid jazz, Orbital and the Orb and released his first album Fresh Produce in 2001 on Ninja Tune.

After Greenall’s second record, Biscuits for Breakfast in 2006, he became the label’s first singer/songwriter. The artist continues to record in the electronicless fashion – as evident in Distance and Time. “This is the Thing” was used in various advertisements and television shows.

In addition to recording, Greenall has also produced major record label artists in the past, most notably Amy Winehouse.

Fink’s fourth album, Sort of Revolution, was released in May 2009 and featured collaborations with R&B artist John Legend.

Atlas Sound - Logos *FOURSIE Award Winner*

ALTERNATIVE
Artist: Atlas Sound
Album: Logos
Tracks: “Walkabout” & “Shelia”
Street Date: October 19, 2009
Label: Kranky




Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Atlas Sound!
Awarded by: Layne Fox (Senior Director, Marketing/A&R)

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Bradford Cox’s solo project, Atlas Sound, is yet another means of transmitting his brilliance through music. The artist, who is also a member of Deerhunter, has released a total of ten EPs as Atlas Sound before releasing Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel in 2008 and Logos this year.

The long-time Animal Collective fan had the opportunity to work with the band’s Noah Lennox to record “Walkabout,” a song about questioning our futures and forgetting the past with Lennox repeating “What did you want to see / What did you want to be / When you grew up?” The memory evoking lyrics are matched nicely with a repetitive bed of melodies and rhythm – highlighting the simplicities of youth as well as the mundane repetition of adult life.

The talented artist creates lyrics in a flowing stream-of-consciousness method in the sense that all words are put together on the spot rather than pre-written. In “Shelia,” that seems hard to believe – mainly because these lyrics are well thought out, put together in a structurally concise manner while maintaining an endearing resonance.

“Shelia, you’ll be my wife / You’ll share my life / We will grow old / We will grow old / And when we die we’ll bury ourselves / And when we die we’ll bury ourselves / Because no one wants to die alone”

Read up on Deerhunter/Atlas Sound/ Lotus Plaza ongoings at Bradford’s blog.

The Phantom Band *FOURSIE Award Winner*

ALT ROCK/ ELECTRONIC/ KRAUT
Artist: The Phantom Band
Album: Checkmate Savage
Tracks: “Burial Sounds” & “The Howling”
Street Date: January 20, 2009
Label: Chemikal Underground



Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Phantom Band!
Awarded by: Bryn Boughton (CMO)

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UK-based experimental alt-rock artist, The Phantom Band, mixes psychedelic rock and folk to create an interesting audio amalgam. The artist intertwines pop and rock elements, which possibly appeals to admirers of both genres.

According to cokemachineglow.com, “The Howling” is one of the records “more straightforward of the nine pieces,” and “is old-school Snow Patrol on Viagra.” INTERESTING to say the least.

“Burial Sounds” however, will hook you with climactic rhythms in the beginning and will eventually build up to a folkish rock ending that you probably won’t be able to stop listening to.

If the funky melodies and bass lines don’t hook you, frontman Richard Anthony’s deep Scottish accented vocals will. Checkmate Savage is worth listening to! It’s hard to come by any artist that can properly blend musical genres these days and The Phantom Band does a pretty good job!

Visit their MySpace for more information.

Ape School

Alternative/ Psychedelic/ Rock
Artist: Ape School
Album: Remixes
Tracks: “That’s Ok (Fog Remix),” & “Wail to God (Pollination Remix)”
Street Date: December 8, 2009
Label: Counter Records

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Ape School’s latest album is a collection of impressive remixes of tracks from his self-titled debut album released earlier this year.

If you’ve read the review of Ape School written earlier this year by Matthew Perpetua of Pitchfork Music, then you would perhaps agree that the criticism (and rating) is a bit on the harsh side. But remember to take it with a grain of salt seeing as Pitchfork writers have a knack for over-exaggerating – i.e. awarding Animal Collective’s new single off Fall Be Kind EP, “What Would I Want? Sky,” with a perfect ten and claiming that the track “sounds as natural as something that grew out of the earth.” Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy most of what Animal Collective releases but contrary to what Pitchfork believes, natural things that grow from earth have 23085749834 times less reverb than “What Would I Want? Sky.” (Was that an exaggeration?)

With that said, Ape School’s new album entitled Remixes, is worth a few (if not many) listens. Having the advantages of working with the earliest Moog analog synthesizers, Michael Johnson (aka Ape School) creates an airy, mellow atmosphere layered with light beats and free-flowing vocals. The Philadelphia University music professor (yes, professor) performs with students and also incorporates them into his albums as well. Combining a various soundscapes with slinky melodies, Johnson demonstrates his extensive technical and musical abilities and will probably catch the ear of any non-Pitchforker.

Jason Shannon

ALT/ FOLK/ ROCK
Artist: Jason Shannon and the Morning Electric
Album: The EP Collection Volume 1
Tracks: “Chained,” “Judgment Day”
Street Date: December 1, 2009
Label: Wild Horse Records

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After breaking up with his old band in 2003, Minneapolis-native Jason Shannon spent most of his time writing and recording his own music. Shannon’s recently released EP, titled The EP Collection Volume One, combines troubled and heartache themed lyrics with soulful country, folk, and rock undertones – a creative blend to say the least.

Shannon toured with Bob Schneider in mid-2009 and has seen continued momentum on the heels of his debut self-titled album (2009). Will there be a followup to Volume One from the Morning Eclectic? Common sense says yes, but who really knows with singer-songwriters these days. We're pushing for a revitalization of Jason's good ole' days as 'The Jason Shannon Band'.

The Jason Shannon Band consists of Shannon on electric and acoustic guitar, Daryl Bolicek on drums, Nick Johnson on bass guitar, and Wendy Tangen-Foster on violin and vocals.

Judging from his humorously bawdy and amusing lyrics, clearly Jason Shannon is here for business and he only plays for keeps. His lyrics are strikingly relevant to daily life, because this happens to students EVERYDAY:

I showed up to school with a pencil in my hand,
And the schoolteacher said, “Boy don’t you know you can only use a pen,”
Well I screamed at the top of my lungs,
But the screaming didn’t help and I still felt stung.

Stick it to the man, Jason! Also, near the end of the track, there is a woman almost/in the process of gasming in the background… I’m convinced it’s included to prove how hardcore and awesome he is!

To check out some Jason Shannon and the Morning Electric stuff, visit his MySpace!

The Morning Benders

ALT ROCK/ POP
Artist: The Morning Benders
Album: Talking Through Tin Cans
Tracks: “Boarded Doors” & “Patient Patient”
Street Date: May 6, 2008
Label: +1 Records

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The Morning Benders have been delicately raking up “indie” buzz for the past few years. Well duh, of course they are! They sound like an Of Montreal & the Shins sandwich (like PB&J but different). The Berkeley-based trio released Talking Through Tin Cans in May of 2008 and happened to play a show at the UC Davis Coffee House (a lovely makeshift show venue/cafeteria which also sells vegan foods and baked goods – R.I.P. for now) with Social Studies (unsigned) and Love is Chemicals (Three Ring Records) around this time last year.

“Patient Patient” lyrics are as follows:

Doctor, doctor
Won't you give me the cure I'm after
With a slight wave of your hand
I will be reborn a man

All it takes is a little commitment
I'm a patient patient

Doctor, doctor
Don't you give me the pain I'm after
I know I do it to myself
I'm just another book on your shelf

All it takes is a little commitment
I'm a patient patient

Such an endearing song! Christopher’s voice is just… brickshattering (that is the closest word in the English dictionary to describe it).

The Morning Benders finished a mini tour with Grizzly Bear late last month and most likely collected many new fans simply by opening for G-Bear and being the cute little popish youngsters that they are. The band is now getting ready to tour with SF-based band, Girls!, beginning early December and plan to top it all off with a New Year’s Eve party at Bottom of the Hill.

Notable label mates include Eulogies, Editors, Kate Nash, and the Kooks. Chad Raddington recommends Illinois and the Heavy. Do what you will with his advice!

BYO Compilation

PUNK/ ROCK
Artist: Various Artists
Album: Let Them Know: The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Records
Tracks: Pennyise – “We’re Gonna Fight,” 7 Seconds – “Sink With Kalifornia” & Youth Brigade’s original version of “Sink with Kalifornia”
Street Date: September 22, 2009
Label: BYO Records

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For all you hardxcore people out there: in case y’all haven’t heard yet, this week’s Stage 4 Podcast consisted of an interview with the Youth Brigade members and BYO Records founders, Shawn and Mark Stern. The Stern brothers, who founded BYO Records in 1982, have been working with many bands over the past two and a half decades and have promoted the California hardcore scene, released more than 100 records under the “Better Youth Organization” label, and set up numerous tours around the US for many bands. Since its beginnings, BYO Records has become a well-known and highly respected independent label while staying true to their DIY roots.

To celebrate their 25th anniversary (on their 28th birthday, nonetheless; How Punk!) BYO Records curated a 31-track compilation of the BIGGEST Punk staples performing covers form the label's extensive catalogue. We're talkin' Anti-Flag, Dropkick Murphys, Lagwagon, Lower Class Brats, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Pennywise, Subhumans, Youth Brigade, and tons more. The comp is available digitally, and in limited edition hard-copy boxsets with 2x Vinyl, CD, a full-length DVD documentary of BYO Records and Youth Brigade, and a coffee-table book of rare stories, essays, commentary, and photographs. It's beautiful, for reals.

Suffice to say, it's a monster project and we're just happy to be part of it. BYO Records is a testament to the benefits of hard-work and industrious livelihoods. I may not be far enough in years to speak sage-like wisdom, but Shawn and Mark Stern certainly can. And we'll shout it from the rooftops if we have to!


Oh, and here the part you've all been waiting for....


THE CONTEST:
In collaboration with BYO Records, we are giving away the LET THEM KNOW boxset described above + an iPod Shuffle to one very lucky participant. All you need is a twitter account to get started.

1. Register - Register a twitter account with your favorite name. Most of you've already completed this step 2 years ago....
2. Follow - Head to twitter.com/Stage4Podcast and follow us. Once you do, you get the added benefit of exclusive announcements and regular banter from your hosts Sunny D and Chad Raddington.
3. Hash Tag - include the hash tag #letthemknow in any tweet, in the most creative possible context. Added points for comedic, relevant, and otherwise absurd references.
4. Win! - The best use of the #letthemknow hash tag will take home a BYO boxed set AND ipod Shuffle. Really, it's that easy. No emails, no personal information. Just good clean, creative fun!

LAKE

ALT ROCK/ DOWNTEMPO
Artist: LAKE
Album: Let’s Build a Roof
Tracks: "Sing 99&90,” “Don't Give Up”
Street Date: November 10, 2009
Label: K Records

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When LAKE comes to mind, we picture the band members dressed in vintage/shabby chic clothing, fishing on a riverbank, running through woods, or tightly gathered around the fireplace in a small living room while playing each other new songs – you know, stuff indie folks who live in Olympia, Washington probably do on a regular basis.


But LAKE seems to be able to divide up their time pretty well. Since forming around 2005, the band has recorded roughly 12 albums, 3 of which were only properly released. Let’s Build a Roof carefully blends their Belle and Sebastian-esque undertones with Fleetwood Mac-ish lyrics and as a result they’ve successfully churned out another endearing and heartwarming album to add to their list of musical accomplishments.



Other recommended artists on K Records are: The Blow, Julie Doiron, Kimya Dawson, and Mirah.



Check out LAKE’s MySpace to hear some older tracks and their website to hear “Don’t Give Up.”

Scary Beard

ALT/ INDIE ROCK
Artist: Scary Beard
Album: Scary Beard
Tracks: "Rats (What I Can See)," "Weeds Hold the Whole Thing Up"
Street Date: January 5, 2010
Label: Nine Mile Records

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If Bon Iver, Colin Meloy, and Isaac Brock could ever have a love child, he would literally sound like Scary Beard's Mike Wyzik - huskily mellow with a faint lisp.

Scary Beard, based in Northampton, Massachusetts, is a side project for many artists on Nine Mile Records to release new material in between their full-length albums. Wyzik often collaborates with Matt Herbert and Bob Hennessy of Haunt, Thane Thompson of the Figments, Matt Cullen of the Humming Field, Dave Houghton of Fancy Trash, Chris Couchon, Mark Schwaber, and Melissa Nelson.
















In "Rats (What I Can See)," Scary Beard layers upbeat lyrics, refrains, and mini guitar riffs upon a bed of endearing rhythms and beats. It's adorable to the point where we're wondering how this track didn't end up in (500) Days of Summer. Maybe it's the whole befriending rats thing.

In other tracks the band explores their musical range and delves into a "more rock, less pop" sort of sound - giving us an attractive Jelly Bean-like assortment of musical nuances in their songs. Result: awesomeness!

Visit Scary Beard's MySpace or Facebook to hear their tracks!

The Little Heroes

ROCK / INDIE POP
Artist: The Little Heroes
Album: Thank You
Tracks: "Say I'll Be Gone," "Thank You"
Street Date: November 11, 2009
Label: Wednesday Records


Certain thoughts and (harsh) generalizations come to mind when thinking of the city in which The Little Heroes are based. Santa Barbara... where the sun shines bright, college kids pound down BL w/Limes like there's no tomorrow, and SoCal bros run a muck in their Rainbow flip flops, cargo shorts, and wife beaters, yeah?

Somehow members of the Little Heroes were able to avoid that ever so appealing Jack-Johnson-esque path down their musical life - possibly for the better. In past months they've been getting positive reviews from music outlets such as Billboard, Space City Rock, Amplifier Magazine, PopMatters, Allmusic, Lost at Sea, and the Red Alert.

In the title track "Thank You," the band interweaves Lombardo's mellow vocals with dulcet melodies and choruses to create a light-hearted and catchy tune, similar to say... "Boston" by Augustana but with more edginess and testosterone and way less piano, falsetto, and bottled up/passive drama. (Moving to Boston probably won't help your situation at all, what were you thinking?!) Okay, maybe not so similar then.

I had guessed
we'd always be friends and
all the plans that we made
again and again
I had guessed
we'd always be friends
you're an angel and your words
cause little earthquakes
all the world stops everyday when you wake
and we fall down... down at your feet
to say goodnight

The lyrics are extremely multi-faceted. He explains that he and the girl (OR guy!) have made plans together, exchange glances, and read books - all that relationship junk... but we get the sense that the sequence of events doesn't seem to amount to anything romantically significant as he suggests with the continuous series of doubt with phrases such as "I had guessed," "the books we read could not explain our thoughts," "all the glances exchanged wouldn't suggest to the bare remains," etc. Torn and forlorn.

So either the guy has to ignore her weird/dangerous earthquake-making quirks because he loves her OR he can just ditch her because she's psycho and the payoff sucks. Just do what you have to do Little Heroes! We're here to clean up the spill.

The album comes out on Wednesday! Check out their MySpace for more deets.

Mock Orange

ALT / ROCK
Artist: Mock Orange
Album: Live in Brooklyn
Track: “Captain Love”, “World of Machines”
>Street date: September 15, 2009
Label: Wednesday Records

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* Main Entry: mock orange
* Function: noun
* Date: 1731

1: any of a genus (Philadelphus) of ornamental shrubs of which several are widely grown for their showy white flowers and that is either placed in the saxifrage or hydrangea families or in a family (Philadelphaceae) of its own —called also philadelphus, syringa
2: any of several usually shrubby plants considered to resemble the orange



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*Main Entry: Mock Orange
* Function: aural pleasures
* Date: est. 1998

1: classic American indie band founded by four friends based in Evansville, Indiana; immensely popular on college radio stations, receiving critical acclaim with every release
2: band releasing album recorded live, named Live in Brooklyn, featuring music from their past albums, Captain Love and Mind Is Not Brain; a collection of refreshingly optimistic indie anthems
3: simultaneously refined yet edgy vocals by Ryan Grisham; a melting pot of instrumentation
4: happy-go-lucky lyrics (which the world can all use more of)
5: upbeat claps and quirky whistles
6: band whose album is released under Wednesday Records, a label which is also host to Sylvie, Jon McKiel, First to Leave, The Little Heroes, The Orange, Fire in the Radio
7: UTTERLY STAPLE TO ALL SELF-PROCLAIMED INDIE FANS

Other notables from Wednesday Records: Sylvie, Jon McKiel, First to Leave, The Little Heroes, The Orange, Fire in the Radio



www.myspace.com/mockorange

Daniel Johnson (Pre-Podcast - Text Only)

Alt / Rock / Electronic
Artist: Daniel Johnson
Album: Lazrus
Track: “Heart Of A Dog”
Street date: July 21, 2009
Label: Moodgadget

RIP Vanilla Rock. Long Live Daniel Johnson!



Observation (by fellow coworker): There are very few radio stations out there nowadays that exclusively feature simple, modern rock—it’s all either classic rock, hip hop, pop, or oldies. Apparently in New York, there are no more modern rock stations left ever since K-Rock 92.3 went under! Now while we may all take a moment of silence and prepare for the seemingly global domination of Lady Gaga and other Lady Gaga wannabes (and an ensuing army of Kermit the Frog capes), maybe Rock’s temporary, self-imposed leave isn’t entirely a bad thing…


Maybe Rock has gone into rehab (the glamorous kind), only to reemerge from its musical cocoon—edgier and sexier with an electronic twist—in the form of such likes as Daniel Johnson*. The track, “Heart Of A Dog”, from his debut full-length, Lazrus, is the perfect illustration of how rock can be bettered; this bluesy electro-rock track almost sounds like something of Beck’s, but younger and hipper (and less trippy lyrics). His own stylistic vocals in tow, Daniel Johnson offers the listener no remorse regarding the alternative / rock genre—his electronic production is just so tasty!

Seriously, anyone can rock out to this album.

Go check out his MySpace.

*Not to be confused with cult favorite singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston, who has produced over 30 albums, is bipolar, and draws the weirdest little pictures.

Other notables at Moodgadget: Mux Mool, The Synchronicity Suite, and Machinedrum.

Lord Cut-Glass (Pre-Podcast - Text Only)

It’s a small world after all…
Alt / rock
Artist: Lord-Cut Glass
Album: Lord-Cut Glass
Track: “Look After Your Wife”
Street date: June 23, 2009
Label: Chemikal Underground Records


From across the pond in Scotland, one band has been seriously taking off since the release of their first, self-titled album late June. Lord-Cut Glass is the moniker for former Delgados band member Alun Woodward, and let us just say, his stuff is proving to be truly interesting. The songs are all incredibly catchy, and some tracks—like “Look After Your Wife”—definitely have a smoldering vintage feel - marching drums and mini-fanfare paint a picture of colonialized past. Instead of sounding pretentious, however, the instrumentation of Lord-Cut Glass is refreshing—quirky, yet timeless, as suggested by Woodward’s 1800s Scottish garb on his MySpace page:

His music is cleverly insightful, and his Scottish accent balances the occasional bite of his words:


Look after your wife, you've got her for life
When it's rung you cannot unring the bell
Keep her from spills, keep her from pills
Be a lover and companion as well
If she's a hell bat, free-thinker
Or an all-time bad drinker
'Cause in the morning I'll see her
Look defeated on her way to work
And wishing that you loved her...


Either Woodward is trying to prove that chivalry isn’t dead, or he’s just preparing to be the biggest ladies’ man. Tellin’ gents to look after their women in the first single? Smooth. And totally right!

Other notables at Chemikal Underground: Mogwai, The Phantom Band, Aidan Moffat, De Rosa.

The Beginnings... INTRO to Stage 4

Memo from the Surgeon General

Prescription of Stage Four powered by BlinkerActive to be administered in weekly doses to listeners with the following symptoms:

1. Unexplained urges to escape the monotony of mainstream music
2. Desire to impress all those surrounding listeners with his or her impeccable taste and exclusive access to the best alt/rock or electronica
3. Desire to make fun of people while they make fools of themselves and to win truly random/ridiculous prizes with each podcast release
4. Uncontrollable tendency to indulge in freshest sounds around.

Side effects include an overall sense of euphoria and urgency, sex appeal, and a greater appreciation for addiction to the best new music out there, hands down. Welcome to the Insanity! Greetings to all of our listeners! Pat yourself on the back—you’re making history. This is Stage Four’s very first podcast, powered by Iris! Stage Four will be regularly combing through millions of tracks (that’s an exaggeration) that come our way (fate) for the best alt/rock and electronica—all 100% certified indie, delivered straight to your headphones. Each podcast will highlight an artist yours truly believes to be strongly buzz-worthy. And who knows? Maybe you too will discover that this—steady eye contact here, don’t break away—is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.