Vibrations 2.5

Okay ... I've got a mish-mash of stuff here. Maybe it's just me, but there seems to be a pretty substantial wave of new bands that are really digging 60s beachy, surfy, poppy sounds. (Re: my previous "Vibrations" posts). So with this post, I'm trying to go in a different direction. Faunts is a "hauntingly beautiful and definitely hopeful" Canadian group whose music is full of "high expectations/low results" (I'm quoting them right now). That's a good way to put it, though ... they certainly have an ambitious sound ... one that mimics shoegaze and atmospheric rock, but doesn't quite pull it off, giving their style a special place in my heart.

Faunts - Memories of Places We've Never Been
Faunts - What I'd Love To Hear You Say

The Wet Secrets is another Canadian group. I like them a lot. Their singer has a voice similar to the Hot Hot Heat guy's voice, but it's more passionate ... more convincing, with a twinge of spite in it. Or something. This is a good description of their style: "The Wet Secrets are what would come if the B-52s had sex with Broken Social Scene, with Lil' John as the midwife!"

the Wet Secrets - Half Whale Half Cow
the Wet Secrets - Boat Gas Death Train
the Wet Secrets - Mr Rimjob 1999
the Wet Secrets - Karate Space Tiger

Now for a complete departure: Calvoon: a light-weight goofy dancey rock group from the UK. I like them because they don't seem to take themselves too seriously and they play dancey music that isn't necessarily inspired by Gang of Four (the most inspirational band for many dance/punk groups), and that is just ... fun! Calvoon's music is like the Blues Brothers stuff mixed with new wave of the 80s. Cute harmonies, but rough voices make for an interesting and never-done-before sound. Good.

Calvoon's Myspace page