Maybe they didn’t get enough sleep. Maybe the airline lost their luggage. Maybe someone forgot to clear the backstage area of brown M&Ms. Whatever happened, The Cribs arrived at San Francisco’s Popscene in some kind of mood. The Wakefield, England band of brothers–guitar playing twins Ryan and Gary Jarman, 26, and little brother Ross, 22, on drums–quickly blasted through the highlights from last year’s fantastic Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever album, pausing only to snarl at the crowd through indecipherable accents.
The greasy trio’s third release and major label debut was produced by Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos, who managed to give its shouty choruses and spiky punk riffs a sleek pop sheen that brought on comparisons to everyone from the Buzzcocks to the Strokes. In recent months The Cribs have been recruited to tour with the reunited Sex Pistols and were joined onstage by Sonic Youth’s Lee Renaldo, who also appears on the album, as well as former Smiths/current Modest Mouse guitarist Johnny Marr, who has been collaborating with them on material for their next album.
For a group with such unbelievable ambition, the Popscene set felt like it could have been derailed at any moment by stupid adolescent attitude. “Our Bovine Public” got two half-hearted attempts before it was finally allowed to die under a barrage of hoarse wailing, “Girls Like Mystery” was rendered largely tuneless and “Mirror Kisses” was preceded with some mighty cynical banter.
But as soon as the band finished rolling through a sloppy cover of The Replacements’ “Bastards of Young” they suddenly snapped out of it. Latest single “I’m a Realist” saw the twins brilliantly trading off vocal duties, as the rest of the songs fell back into proper speed and the mood on the stage visibly lightened. The perfunctory high-speed yelps were replaced by actual singing and actual riffs, while Ryan–the one that looks a bit like a chubby Jeremy Piven–victoriously ended the night by launching himself into the crowd.
Don’t have time to search out this week’s essential MP3s, streams and viral videos? That’s why we’re here.
Ladytron “Black Cat”
As if the matching black turtlenecks and eerie Vulcan features weren’t intimidating enough, the Liverpudlian electro-pop quartet returns after a four year sabbatical with a cold glam racket that features vocalist Mira Aroyo rapping in her native Portuguese. We’ll never be cool enough to listen to them now.
(via Done Waiting)
MP3: black-cat.mp3
Beyonce “Beautiful Nitemare”
The chartbusting R&B singer goes underground on this streamlined attempt at reconnecting with the dancefloor. It’s not up to her usual platinum standards but an exciting break from routine nonetheless.
(Mixtape Maestro)
Mystery Jets “Young Love (Shoes Remix)”
If you can tolerate the tie-dye and deliberately messy hair, this group presents a respectable substitute to Vampire Weekend’s sea breeze pop.
(Be Kind and Remind)
Peter Moren “Social Competence”
There’s a bit of early Robyn Hitchcock in this clever Swedish singer-songwriter, especially in this song’s heartbreaking kicker: “Leave me out of it.”
(via The Line of Best Fit)
Hot Chip “Sensual Seduction (Snoop Dogg Cover)”
The bookish men of Hot Chip are serious about their slow-jams, giving this Snoop Dogg hit a sexy yet tranquil dance-pop remake.
(Mixtape Maestro)
Neon Neon “Raquel”
Cowbells, synthesizers, oozing soul vocals. How can so many wrong things fit together so right?
(via The Line of Best Fit)
MP3: 03 Raquel.mp3
Stereogum Presents Enjoyed: A Tribute To Bjork’s Post
These leftfield takes on the songs from Bjork’s second album are so strange we’re not sure whether they’re amazing or amazingly awful. Start with Bell’s “It’s Oh So Quiet” and Xiu Xiu’s “Isobel” to find out for yourself.
(Stereogum)