So, October has been an extremely light month in regards to posts. In fact, I’ve been so busy with covering shows for BeatCrave during October that you guys were lucky enough to get a mixtape and show calendar during the beginning of the month! Once again, I apologize and I plan on making it all up to you (for those of you who still care enough to come back) by posting music – new and old. I’m not one to think of other music blogs I admire as competitors by posting the newest stuff the fastest. As I’ve said before, if I’m still digging the music, I’ll still post it.
First up? Warpaint.
Gleefully clap or groan of exasperation. Once you go past the fact that these ladies are drop dead gorgeous, it’s not abnormal to get one of these reactions every time one mentions this band. There’s no doubt that they have been quite the hyped up band during the last two months, but I remember hearing them for the first time a couple of years ago when they were only three girls in the band. Josh Klinghoffer hadn’t left for Red Hot Chilli Peppers yet but Shannyn Sossaman was no longer in the group. This was also around the time they released their EP, Exquisite Corpse, (via Manimal Vinyl).
A lot of things have changed since then. Stella Mozgawa (from Australian band Andy Clockwise) has joined them as their official drummer making them a powerful all-female quartet again. Their sound has also dropped a bit of the drone elements which is what drew me to their experimental sound in the first place. Songs such as “Elephants” have been incredibly sped up with Stella’s drive, and tunes like “Undertow” – which is considerably lighter and brighter than any of their older songs (for example, “Billie Holiday”) – have shown up on their full-length The Fool (via Rough Trade).
The album was released in October much like this video for “Undertow” was. If you haven’t seen the warm, breezy, clip directed by bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg’s very own sister (Shannyn Sossamon), check it out below and grab the mp3 as well.
Oh, and as for gleefully clapping or groaning of exasperation in regards to this band? I have always been a fan and will continue to be a fan even though I do miss that dissonant yet charming quality of theirs from the earlier days. Also, for those of you who saw them play with The xx? I would take Warpaint over The xx any day. Hands down.
WILD TONIC 