As you might already have noticed, I'm a huge fan of Underwater Peoples Records. I first heard Real Estate last winter, which was my first winter here in Sweden and their debut album will always remind me of the orange tinted snow from the streetlights and the part-time job I had opening up a tent that housed Father Christmas. For most people, Underwater Peoples symbolizes summer and the beach, but for me it's always going to be cosy music for autumn/winter and with winter fast approaching and the upcoming release of Family Portrait's debut, it looks like they may be 2010s cosiness.
If Guided by Voices’ “Motor Away” was the ’70s GTO of lo-fi driving metaphors, then Alex Bleeker & Evan Brody’s equally scrappy cover is a tandem bicycle. Or maybe a razor scooter? Recorded for an upcoming GBV cover album called Guided by Guided by Voices (cute), the duo translates all of Bob Pollard’s brolic energy into a breezy, laidback stroll—a chiller’s anthem bound by nothing but the Hawaiian shirts on their backs. Trying to imagine Pollard with a tan right now is pretty funny. Even funnier is how a song originally recorded in 1995 could be so relevant now—guess that band had influence, huh?
These guys really can't do anything wrong in my eyes! Alex Bleeker, Ducktails, Real Estate, Julian Lynch...such a talented group of guys! Plus now we have a Seinfeld reference thrown in! It doesn't get any better! An alternate version of 'Art Vandelay' will appear on his upcoming release, 'Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics', this autumn. Click the album link to listen to the title track off this 7".
As you may have already noticed, I'm quite a fan of Alex Bleeker and pretty much anything on Underwater Peoples. Anyway, I just came across this awesome 10min video of an acoustic Alex Bleeker over on the excellent Chocolate Bobka. Alex is due to play at the Way Out West festival over here in Sweden with Real Estate next month and if I a) had the money and b) had a video camera I would be there in a flash and film something similar, but alas I don't have either, so videos like this are gold to me! Also, may I add that the colours in the video are particularly nice/vivid!
"A few weeks back, in the midst of the World Cup, we rangled a few friends over to view the semi-finals while broadcasting Sunday Brunch on Newtown Radio live from Bobka HQ. It was hot. Very hot. Especialy since our Comfort Zone had just perished. It didn't matter much though, as Budweiser's popped and friends played songs while footballers scored 'sick' goals. The word 'sick' was thrown around a lot. It was a grand afternoon, captured by Ray Concepcion. Take a peek at Alex Bleeker's performance, with more to come very soon."
You can listen to two of the new songs below. I've also posted a couple of videos of songs off his previous effort ('Seed') and one off the Ducktails/Julian Lynch split 7" ('Garden 2').
One of my songs of the year so far! AMAZING! A perfect song. The song is off Alex Bleeker's 'These Days' 7" and the Freaks join him here in this performance.
I know I already posted about this album a couple of months back, but I hadn't heard the album then. I've been listening to the album the last few days and I just had to tell you all how GOOD it is! A few reviews I've read refer to this album as classic rock for our generation and it's pretty much bang on! This is a talented bunch of guys! I don't think I've heard an album involving any of these New Jerseyers that I haven't liked. Be it Real Estate, Julian Lynch, Ducktails or Alex Bleeker's recent solo 7", 'These Days'. All the albums have a similar sort of vibe, but sound quite different at the same time. Alex Bleeker and the Freaks have a really loose, jam style quality to them, complete with wailing guitar licks and Neil Youngesque melodies that are perfect this time of the year. The album plays works best as just that, an album. The whole thing blends into 26 minutes of carefree good times that always has me hitting play again as soon as it stops. The longer instrumental passages combine perfectly with the more 'song' based material, such as their cover of Mountain Man's 'Animal Tracks' and the transition from 'Summer' into 'Epilogue' is incredible. Although this was released last year, this is definitely going to be one of my most listened to albums of the year and I look forward to more releases from Bleeker & co.
Next on my list of bands to listen to are all the other artists on Under Water Peoples Records, which is home to Real Estate, Bleeker and company!
Alex Bleeker has just released a 7". You can download the A-side, 'Getting By', over at Chocolate Bobka or listen to it on his Myspace. I've only heard 'Getting By', but the song is really very nice! You can pick it up over at Group Tightener.
"We’re extremely happy to announce the release of our third 7-inch with Alex Bleeker, who you may also know from Real Estate and Alex Bleeker and the Freaks. You may also know him as an awesome dude. Whatever the case, this record is perfect to jam out in the early days of Summer (or any other season you might feel like putting it on). Download the A-side, “Getting By” over at Chocolate Bobka, and purchase the record (shipping included in the prices below) to hear “These Days” and “Never Going Back.”
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