Kings of Convenience

Ok so thanks to the genius that is Pandora, I have discovered the Kings of Convenience. Really dig these guys. Norwegian band with a smooth sound that is just all around chill. Reminds me of listening to Simon and Garfunkel records with my parents when I was a kid. Stranger still they both kinda look like them...



The real question is which one is the Art of the group?

In any case, I've picked up their '04 release Riot on an Empty Street and their '09 album Declaration of Dependance.

If I were to buy one album it would be Riot on an Empty Street. Its got a pretty nice flow for the first 2/3's of the album (before petering out) and a bunch of tracks that are going to immediately get stuck in your head. I hate to admit it I even totally dig their poppy departure "I'd Rather Dance With You" who's video screams Napolean Dynamite rippoff... Although... Not sure which came first, as they were released around the same time.



Declaration is pretty good too and I really like "Boat Behind." The song reminds me heavily of Badly Drawn Boy's "Once around the Block" both sonically and in the style of video. The problem with this album is it mellows out too much after the fifth track and just never seems to recover.

Really these guys just need to work on how to sequence an album better, because the individual tracks are golden. The good news is you can always burn your own mix!

The Dodos @ The Casbah San Diego (4.9.11)

Went and saw The Dodos last night (4/9/11) at the Casbah. The Casbah is the coolest divebar club I've seen a band play in SoCal. Random pool table rooms off to the side and back pasageways makes it feel like a place that expanded organically. You really dont see to many genuine places like that in CA... its all cookie cutter stucco chains...

I got really excited about the opening band "Reading Rainbow" when they opened up. Great sound full of vocal harmonies, driving beats and a cute girl drummer to boot. To be honest though, the use of a floor tom for a kick got kind of annoying after a while and she wasnt able to mix it up enough to keep it interesting. Overall I think they're getting close to something, but she needs to step up the size of her kit or get some more beats under her belt. Maybe a few other layers of bass guitars or keys too...

The Dodos were pretty good, but I was so out of it from the events the previous evening I couldn't quite get into it. Meric used a looping pedal heavily on both his voice and guitar while playing. Not really sure I get why he had a backing guitar, he was so tight with the looping/layering that there wasn't any need. Speaking of which, the backing guitar guy just didnt seem to give a crap last night. He was playing the parts, but any time it seemed there was a bit of improv going on he totally checked out... Logan was pretty nuts and awesome... I couldnt see his entire kit from where I was standing, but I'm pretty sure he didnt have a snare drum, cause I didnt hear one all night.

Even with a massive hangover I was glad I went.