recently, au revoir simone kindly contributed to music is art’s song/context/result series.

“tell me about a moment, a song
and what it meant to you”

Song: Out of Gas by Modest Mouse [Lonesome Crowded West, 2002]

Context: I got this song from a much cooler Californian exchange student in college who taped her entire Modest Mouse catalog for me on two 90 minute tapes the night before she moved out of the dorms. These tapes changed all my musical expectations and broadened my tastes into this whole new genre of “indie rock.” At the time I got the tapes I was going through a difficult emotional time, just coping with growing up and all that stuff.

Result: Playing this tape over and over, and this song especially, sent a shock through me that other people really knew how I was feeling and gave me something to emphatically sing along to when I was staying up by myself all night in my dorm room. I don’t know if the end result was positive, because I sure did wallow a lot in late-night self-pity, but it really did feel good at the time. I still get really into it every time I hear it and it remains one of my all-time favorites.

brooklyn’s au revoir simone are three ladies on three keyboards, harmonizing through flirtatious pop melodies and vintage drum machines, creating soft music together. their two intimate albums may be found in the usa on their own private label our secret record company and in the uk on moshi moshi records.

listen:

stay golden
fallen snow {the teenagers remix}

after the jump fest was about being surrounded by amazing writers and artists who are passionate about music, contributing thousands of dollars for public music programs in a city that is loved, and meeting musicians and new friends that were so complimentary, talented and kind, who mutually believed in what each other was creating.

please be sure to enjoy these q&a’s that were answered by half of the after the jump bands that played this year’s brooklyn festival. each shared their own special mixtape along with several different responses to a series of questions including their favorite albums of 2008.

health * pattern is movement * project jenny, project jan * pela * the shackeltons * ponytail * the forms * fiasco * dinowalrus * autodrone * wakey! wakey! * monotract * extra life * brilliant sweaters * the swimmers * papercranes

the shackeltons‘ passion really was quite the highlight during the day of after the jump fest. watching their performance decorated in tree branches, leaves and flowers that singer mark redding peered through, triumphantly held and sang with complete poetic confrontation, making those in attendance feel as if they were cast under the music’s own chaotic spell. as requested and energized by the band, the young children standing in front helped to throw the leaves that fell to the ground back up onto the stage and seemed to love every single minute of it. one of the best shows seen in awhile, all i could truly do was sit under the sun and smile.

listen to :: your movement

the shackeltons’ debut may be found on loveless records.

after the jump fest is organized by ::
themusicslut * batteringroom * ryspace * irockiroll * merryswankster * softcommunication * musicisart * sitdownstandup * watercoolergossip * bumpershine * themodernage * productshopnyc * subinev * punkphoto * poptartssucktoasted * stereoactivenyc * jinners

~*~

thankyou to the sponsors ::
metromix * stereofame * gen art pulse * snoozer loser * brooklyn brewery * vitamin water * uncensored interview * blog fresh radio * cmj music marathon * the musebox

images. bryan bruchman, jackie roman & bob sanderson

see the after the jump flickr set

After the Jump presents HEALTH, this Saturday June 21st, for After the Jump Fest in Brooklyn, NY, performing the evening benefit with Project Jenny Project Jan, Pattern is Movement, XXXchange, Titus Andronicus, and Mixel Pixel at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The show begins at 8:30.

Listen :: Lost Time (PicturePlane Remix)

MIA: What are your recommended records so far of ‘08?

JOHN: Two stand out above all others. Animal Collective – Water Curses EP and Crystal Castles self titled debut record. Water Curses is totally incredible, this is NEW music that could only have been made by one band and it goes down like chocolate milk despite being a total mind-grinder, the title track and “Street Flash” are some of the best AC songs I’ve ever heard. I really have no clue why this release has gotten very lukewarm reviews. Also Crystal Castles debut is the most addicting thing ever, incredible melodies and tones, the newest songs just KILL, tugging at yr heartstrings with so much emotion. Put on courtship dating and try not to respond. You cant.

MIA: The covers for your album are striking and colorful, reminiscent of your music. Where did the idea originally come from?

JOHN: Thank You. The covers were inspired by a lot of old ’60s albums covers, records that were really like “THIS IS AN ALBUM COVER FOR A RECORD”, we were into doing something like that, really having an “album cover” album cover, it fit well with our artwork style.

MIA: Name a visual artist or piece of work that inspires you.

JOHN: I just love Eric Copeland’s artwork, the Black Dice album covers are some of my favorite in the decade. Love the Glass Candy/Chromatics artworks (different artists do each), and I love Seripop (AIDS Wolf artwork). The most influential on my art though is old record covers mostly from the early 60′s or mid ’80s.

MIA: Please share a mixtape with a theme of your choice.

WISTFUL STONED SUMMER

Sketch For Summer : The Durutti Column
Alisa – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffitti
No One Wants An Alien – The Wipers
Expecting To Fly – Buffalo Springfield
Under The Sun – Black Sabbath