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Centro-matic - "Christmas 83 (Make Fun Of My Sweaters)"
This week's Drop comes from Texas indie rockers Centro-matic. The previously unreleased wintry tune was produced by the band and Matt Pence during sessions for double-LP Dual Hawks, which is composed of half Centro-matic songs and half South San Gabriel songs. Both bands are led by songwriter Will Johnson, who answered our questions about wrapping gifts and donning gay apparel.
This is a bleak look at the holidays. What inspired it? Something about that Christmas was just a little, uh, drab. I remember a particularly attitude-stocked high school kid working at the wrapping table in the local mall. He was almost like a movie character or something. I had to put him in a song.
In general, was '83 a particularly chilly emotional holiday season? Yeah, somewhat. It was the first Christmas my Ma and I spent away from our hometown and family in Missouri. We moved to Texas earlier that year. I was young, and I guess a little homesick.
What's the significant of the sweaters? I had a real thick wool, very constricting, cabled grey sweater I was wearing around that time. I'm not sure why I chose to wear it so much. It looked just as uncomfortable as it felt. Maybe I thought I could somehow break it in to a comfort zone. Or maybe I'm just addicted to strife. Anyway, the memorable discomfort of that sweater is part of what inspired the song.
Premature Evaluation: Beach House - Teen Dream
When we meditated on Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally's gorgeous sophomore album Devotion we had the following to say: [Y]ou can't fall back on Mazzy Star or Galaxie 500 references because they've pushed themselves into their own, unique solar system.... (more)
New Jonathan Boulet Video - "A Community Service Announcement"
This dude's the latest signing to Australia's Modular label, landing with a tidy package of promotional offerings: a catchy, moistly breezy indie-pop debut single that couldn't be better titled for a meet-the-artist track; a subtly arresting/marginally tricked-out video; and a... (more)
New El Guincho - "Antillas (XXXchange Remix)"
When we first heard onetime BTW Pablo Díaz-Reixa, aka El Guincho, we were drawn in by "Antillas," a song we described as "a five-minute bundle of clattering loops and sunny harmonies." It was from the self-released Alegranza!, before he'd signed... (more)
Muse To Headline Coachella 2010?
According to Consequence Of Sound, a previously reliable source pins Muse to the coming year's desert fest headlining slot. Glenn Beck just bought a ticket. The dates are April 16-18. Oh and these Coachella headliner rumors? Needs more Pavement.... (more)
Parents Just Don't Understand Horrorcore
From hardcore to heavy metal to gangsta rap, local TV news teams have long warned parents about the terrifying new sounds rotting teenage brains. This week it's San Fran's KPIX on the horrorcore scene. Not all juggalos are murderers, dad!... (more)
