With friends like these #9
May 01, 07
We all get them. The MySpace "friend" requests that are never preceded by anything. No hello's. No nothing. Just simple requests from bands/musicians that somehow want another digit added to their Tila Tequila-obsessed egos. Here's a part of the culture of me where I give you a first impression of the potential "friend", so you don't have to bother.
Perpetrator: The Negatones
What their bio says: 2005 was a busy year for NYC's uncalssifiable 4-piece, the Negatones. In addition to producing a track for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, remixing Chuck D / JSBX, recording the Fiery Furnaces, and supporting the reprint of their e.p. 'Snacktronica' (CMJ #2 most added / top 100 for 6 weeks), the Negatones managed to sneak in enough time to record their self-titled debut LP out this fall on Skylab. In doing so they came to the attention of producer Josh Wilbur (Busta Rhymes) and mixer Ted Young (Ween). Together they set out to make an album to be reckoned with, and the result is a full-frequency indie-rock distorto-pop-progsploitation soundtrack for a party that you'd only want to throw in someone else's apartment. Before all this, the Negatones were formed long ago out of siblings Jay (gtr) and Justin (bass) Braun's teenage basement jams and home recordings. After several national and European tours playing in other bands (namely Mooney Suzuki and Band of Susans) they decided to do their own band full-time. Soon they were joined by former high school classmate Jun Takeshta (gtr) who moved from Tokyo to join the band after getting a Braun Brothers cassette tape in the mail. In 2002, these three met Jesse Wallace (drums) who joined the band after he saw them cover Van Halen's 'Hot for Teacher' at a local club. Their previously self-released EPs received substantial CMJ airplay and kudos from national press. Additionally, the Negatones the main feature of a front page New York Times article on home recording (as well as receiving the NY Times quote of the day!!!) and an animated thug wears a Negatones t-shirt in a long lost episode of 'Dr. Katz.'
What that dude jeff says: If you like/know anything about pop music that may have been released sometime in the last 40 years, you'll find (at least) something to instantly like about The Negatones' sound. And because these kids have a lot of fucking production background, every note is premeditated and clean. It's fun and synthy without sounding too ridiculous and more than poppy enough to sound like they mean it. If you get a chance to see them at a show (and since the culture of me is based out of their hometown in Brooklyn...that dude jeff will for sure), you'll get a firsthand look at some of the most promising underground sounds this writer has come across in recent memory. Give it a little time and The Negatones will be the darlings of hipsters and "Common People" alike. Start sketching out your patents for Moog Hero for Playstation IX. The time is now. APPROVE!!!
Godspeed!
