gigi

genre: indie-pop, showtunes
artist: Gigi
album: The Hundredth Time b/w Some Second Best
tracks: The Hundredth Time, Some Second Best
label: K Records

According to the band's myspace, over forty artists collaborated on the original release from which these two tracks have been selected (average that number over fifteen tracks, and you get about three guest artists per track! That's almost as many guests as your modern day, run-of-the mill rap single. Just saying). A quick listen will fill your eardrums with a symphony of sounds that surely requires all of those guest artists. On their debut album (Maintenent), Gigi aimed to replicate 50's & 60's classic pop by utilizing some recently acquired vintage plate reverbs, and a full collection of strings, brass, and harmonies. What's more interesting is the fact that the singers and musicians (yes, all of them at once) crammed themselves into the studio to run through the songs "just a couple of times" before recording-- and there was no re-recording. Consequently, the tracks have retained the qualities that let us know music is still made by real people (i.e., an occasional missed cue...although... I certainly didn't hear any).

Bottom line: If you're in the mood for some tight harmonies and perfectly timed crescendos, Gigi is what needs to be coming through your speakers. The lyrics in both tracks carry an element of wistfulness, but the drumline and brass section forces your lips to curl upward and elicits an overall hopeful sentiment. Gigi has certainly succeeded in transporting me back to the 50's... what's this thing I'm typing on?!

Jeremy Jay

genre: pop/alternative

artist: jeremy jay

album: splash
track(s): just dial my number; this is our time
street date: may 25th 2010
label: k records


The reviews have him pegged perfectly. He's cute, romantic, sweet, a dreamer, a deep thinker. Jeremy matches his poetic thoughts with upbeat riffs and subtle but emphatic drumming to create a symphony of awesome that might remind listeners of Bloc Party, Elefant, or the Arcade Fire. Listening to this album is kind of like drinking Sangria on a hot day-- it just works.

stream the featured tracks on the myspace
like him on facebook
check out his youtube channel

Angelo Spencer

ALTERNATIVE/FOLK/ROCK
Artist: Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets
Album: Angelo Spenver et les Hauts Sommets
Tracks: “Estonia” & “Northwest”
Street Date: February 16, 2010
Label: K Records

Singer/Songwriter Angelo Spencer has made quite a few "anti-folk" records in his day, one of our personal favorites being "Love my Friends." But take a way the singing part, and add "Les Hauts Sommets" (translation: The Peaks) and you get the soundtrack to the best roadtrip of your life. Cue Music Video:



(Sunny is pretty sure the snowy road leads you directly to her hometown)

After moving away from the French Alps to the Northwestern states, Angelo Spencer released a few solo contributions on his own before ending up in the hands of K Records. There, he recorded "Music is My Sweat," before getting the help of Karl Blau, Arrington De Dionyso and Clyde Petersen to record "Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets."

Although the absence of lyrics is certainly what makes this group interesting, it is the upbeat instrumentation that keeps the listener from "changing the dial." Its sweeping melodies mixed with a various - and often untimely - grouping of guitars make this group something that the directors of Garden State missed out on.

Angelo Spencer has done a split 7" with K Records Band, Tender Lovers, in the past. But his most well known collaboration is definitely with Kimya Dawson (yes, of Juno Soundtrack Fame) to make this little gem:



Yes, that's their daughter, Panda Delilah, looking cuter than ever.

So make your life the story you want it to be, and play some Angelo Spencer to really bring out the moving moments.