New Bloods

New Bloods - The Secret Life (KillRockStars)
www.myspace.com/thenewbloods

I listened to this cassette on my way to work this morning. What a cool, kinda weird album. 3 young ladies from Portland doing awesome guitarless post-punk-y, sing-song-y, something-else-y type of stuff.

I don't know why, but I really dig the bass playing on this album. It's real subdued yet nimble, and since there's no guitar it's forced to fill in a lot of space. Add to that the frenetic drone of a violin, sparse tribal kind of drumming, and alternately yell-y/sing-y vocals and you've got a recipe for some kind of strange upside-down cake.

Frankly I'm not so sure why I like this album. I think if someone had raved about this band and then given me the tape, I wouldn't be as into it. But for some reason (getting older?) I'm really digging this. I imagine that all the cool kids who freak out over Dirty Projectors would be way into New Bloods. Go listen to some songs on their myspace. Try "Oh Deadly Nightshade" on for size.

These ladies are going on tour all summer. I just sent them a message asking them to let me book a show for them here in BR, so let's hope that happens.

2 comments:

  1. Although I don't think either of them are really from New Orleans, both Adee and Cassie spent some time down here. Adee was a resident of Nowe Miasto and played in the short lived Blood Truck with Meredith Stern (Foreheads / Nowe Miasto founder / now up in Providence running AS220). Cassie played keyboard and sang in Tragic Girls End Up Like This. I managed to catch this band play at their house on a Madeline show a few years back, and they killed. Brice White (Nowe Miasto founder) also put out a 7" for them on Raw Sugar.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Where are the punk shows at in Baton Rouge/ New Orleans? I live near Mobile AL and what to come out to a show. Is there Facebook event pages or something? Thanks

    ReplyDelete