"Jackie Oh" by Cheap Curls

Damn, I haven't posted in FOREVER. I can't even remember the last time I actually felt motivated to blog, but I was randomly browsing the internet tonight and flipping through some Tumblr accounts dedicated to Dum Dum Girls.... not even necessarily music-related, but for outfit inspirations.

Anyway! Bambi Davies, the former bass player of Dum Dum Girls, left the band a little while back to pursue her own project - Cheap Curls. Her real name is  Katie Serbian-Brouillette, by the way.

The reason I'm posting? I listened to this song - "Jackie Oh," which will be on Cheap Curls' debut 7" - to be released on Art Fag Recordings in May. Garage-y lo-fi rock, girl vocals and catchy. Yeah, that's my sort of music. Check it out!

Still obsessed...

I haven't blogged in forever. I'm not entirely sure why.... I mean, I do know, in that, I haven't been overly inspired to write and it's been hard to find time. But I thought I could just write a quick one, insert a video and call it a day, knowing I've updated my blog.

So yes! Dum Dum Girls' second full-length album, Only In Dreams drops today. I pre-ordered it on Sub Pop the moment I could (on August 8, so says my confirmation email) and with the streaming link provided, I've literally listened to this album HUNDREDS of times since then.

I'm a little bummed that I probably won't get my pre-ordered LP (plus bonus 7" single) today (you know, on album release day), since my order was shipped last Thursday and it takes about a week for packages from the US to get to Canada (if not more). I'm a bit upset by this, Sub Pop, but I will have to deal with it.

Check out the swirling, mesmerizing video for the first single off Only In Dreams, "Bedroom Eyes."

Cover me, obsessed-with-these-bands edition.

Sometimes I get so obsessed with bands that I can't stop playing their music and I worry at some point I'm going to get so sick of them, that I'll never be able to listen to them again.

Two bands I've been super obsessed with lately? Well, you should be able to guess one of them: Dum Dum Girls (obvs!) and the other is the Raveonettes.

I saw the Ravonettes in Toronto last month and reviewed the show for Singing Lamb, a Toronto-based music blog I also write for... the review and photo gallery can be found here. The band also did an in-store performance at Sonic Boom on Bloor (for non-Torontonians - seen Scott Pilgrim? Then you'll know what record store I'm talking about!) and chatted with Sune Rose Wagner afterwards (total SQUEE moment), as well as a photo with him and Sharin (see left). Looking back, I probably should've blogged about it immediately afterwards but oh well.

Anyway, I've been saying for quite awhile now that I would keel over with joy if the Raveonettes toured with Dum Dum Girls. I mean, they both have that amazing, dark retro-vintage-reverb sound and they're already all pals, right? (see previous entry where I already gush about this, haha)

So in my recent search for all things Dum Dum Girls, I found that they actually cover a Raveonettes song! You know me, I love covers and what could be better than a band I love covering another band I love? Also, in watching several interviews with DDG's singer Dee Dee, she stated that she loves thinking of songs the band can cover - hey Dee Dee, I like covers too! Let's be pals!

Okay, okay, enough ramble from me (though I haven't blogged in so long, you can excuse a bit of ramble, right?). Without further ado, here is the Raveonettes' with their song "Heart of Stone" from their 2009 album, In and Out of Control.



And now, with a similar tone but (in my opinion), a totally different approach, Dum Dum Girls' version.



The thing about both songs is that I love both intros - both start out with the single guitar playing - then the Raveonettes' version has that dramatic drum intro, whereas Dum Dum Girls' comes in with that syncopated drum beat.... have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE syncopated drum beats? To me, it's such a throwback to 60's girl groups or just that 60's/Phil Spector/wall of sound type sound. Ahhh. I love it. Can't stop gushing.

Seriously hoping I will be able to see Dum Dum Girls when they do NXNE in June....

On repeat

I know, I know. I never update this thing. No apologies, because I should only do things that I enjoy and inspires me, right?

Anyway, I'm supremely obsessed with Dum Dum Girls lately and I cannot stop listening to this song.

"Pay For Me" apparently appeared on a 7" split with Male Bonding (who I'm pretty sure I saw open for Best Coast at Lee's Palace last year?) and came out for 2010 Record Store Day. Bummer, guess I missed out on that one. Obviously it's no longer available, but here's the product page on Sub Pop.



I think I've already listened to it five times today...

Tennis fever

I'm going to really try to make an effort to get back into the habit of blogging, or at least finish that damn 30-Day Music Meme (does anyone care about it anymore? I just want to complete it just so it's not hanging in my mind as this thing I never finished!).

Anyway, let's talk about stuff I've been digging lately - mostly music-related of course! I haven't been able to stop listening to Cape Dory by Tennis, as recommended to me by Ben at I have 19 voices. I don't think I ever would've discovered this album otherwise! But seriously, when I say "can't stop listening," I mean it - check my Last.fm charts for the past three months.

Clocking in at 29ish minutes, it's the perfect morsel of pop perfection wrapped up in an album. I love the sweet vocals and harmonies, the simplicity of the songs and the entire album's ability to make me smile, want to dance and sing along. As a side note, though, I have to be honest and say that I hate the album cover - it's far too cheesy and 80's looking. I still need to buy this on vinyl, but I don't want to cringe every time I look at the cover, haha.

Preview two songs via their official Facebook page.

When is the next Dum Dum Girls record coming out?? This EP is killing me with anticipation - it contains three new songs and a cover of the classic Smiths' tune, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out." Gahhhhhhhh. I love it.

Preview the title track "He Gets Me High" (and some older songs) via their label Sub Pop.

So of course, while I was away on my Seattle/Portland vacation in February, BOTH Tennis and Dum Dum Girls played in Toronto (I also missed Nicole Atkins, but she played on the same day as Dum Dum Girls... had I been around, I think I would've chosen to see Dum Dum Girls?). Worst timing or what? Really hope these bands come back to Toronto soon....

The EP was co-produced by Sune Rose Wagner of The Raveonettes and I would just like to put this out there - if The Raveonettes and Dum Dum Girls were to tour together (and bring the tour to Toronto, of course), I WOULD DIE OF HAPPINESS. I think they'd be perfect tourmates.

I've also been listening to my usual mix of Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley/Jenny and Johnny, and SHIT, what about the new Radiohead album? I admit, I haven't played the hell out of it, but it's a damn good album. In fact, I might listen to it right now...