The Seattle Sound

Top Five Seattle Record Stores

November 17th, 2010 by lbaron

I love my neighborhood. I’ve lived in Greenwood for just over a year now, and I have come to know my local baristas, booksellers, Gyro Guys, and bartenders. The neighbors are friendly, the food is outstanding, but one thing is missing in Greenwood: a record store.

If one existed, I’d be living there. In a dream world, I’d own the place. But for now, I have no problem hopping on the bus and going to Queen Anne, Capitol Hill, or Belltown for my record store shopping needs. What follows is a list of my favorite record stores in Seattle:

1. Everyday Music (Capitol Hill): The store has had to move twice in the last two years, but Everyday Music has been my favorite record store since I moved to Seattle. They have a huge selection, and everything is perfectly organized. They carry lots of old treasures in their used bins as well as even the most obscure new releases. I don’t recall ever running into the problem of not being able to find something I was looking for in this store. They’ve got everything. They’re also open every day of the year until midnight!

1523 10th Avenue

2. Easy Street Records (Queen Anne): My favorite way to spend a day off with my boyfriend is to come here with twenty dollars in my pocket and peruse for a great record or two. I head right for the back and flip through each bin, holding on to a few choices, then agonizing over which ones to choose. The selection is fantastic and similar to what I imagine I would carry in my aforementioned dream world record store. Easy Street tends to have the best in store performances and a friendly and knowledgeable staff. It doesn’t hurt that there are several good bars and restaurants nearby where one can read the liner notes of their new records and have entertaining conversation about their favorite bands.

20 Mercer Street

3. Singles Going Steady (Belltown): This store is rather limited to certain genres, namely punk, but I’ve always come across great finds and never leave empty-handed. The guys here are amazingly friendly and helpful. The prices are reasonable as well. When I was working in Belltown, I was here more often and my record collection grew quite a bit because of that. If you’re into punk, this store is a must.

2219 2nd Ave # C

4. Wall of Sound (Capitol Hill): Another specialty record store but this time it’s in the avant-garde. The selection here is tiny in comparison with its neighbors on the Hill, but it houses innumerable gems. Based on my experience, I recommend picking the brain of the fellow behind the counter, especially if you are in the mood to listen to something new and different.

315 East Pine Street

5. Silver Platters (Northgate). I know, I know. I’m getting some guffaws right now from my friends, but I am always a happy customer at this store. The selection is huge, although maybe not as obscure as the others I’ve mentioned. This is the best place to come for the classics. And it’s a great antidote from the mall, where I loathe shopping. Silver Platters has a well-organized, open layout, which is helpful for those times when you are on a mission to find a particular title.

9560 1st Ave NE

As a newcomer to Seattle, I know I have a lot of catching up to do. There are many legendary establishments I have yet to step foot in, so I know I’m leaving off some great shops. Please recommend your favorites in the comments below!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Top 5: Fall Morning Tracks

October 27th, 2010 by lbaron

Let me start off this blog by confessing that Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity is one of my all-time favorite movies and novels. I’m convinced I share a brain with the main character, Rob Gordon, who is always making “top five” lists for everything from greatest bands to worst personal heartbreaks. While it’s always daunting to designate “favorites,” it is almost a nervous tick and something I find myself compelled to do.
If you’ve been outside this week, you’ve certainly noticed the chilling autumn air and brilliant foliage. There’s something so satisfying about setting that perfect soundtrack to get you going on a crisp fall day. I find myself choosing the following tracks to play on my iPod while on my way to work in the morning:

5. “We’ve Been Had” – The Walkmen (Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone)

On a personal note, this one takes me back to college. It was released during my freshman year, and it embodied the New York sound that was making so much of an imprint at the time. Maybe because it makes me think of New York, or maybe because of its dissonant, atmospheric sound, it’s something I go back to every year during the colder months. It is the perfect song to walk down the street to, with your hands tucked in your pockets and your shoulders hunched up to keep you warm. It makes you feel like a nonchalant observer of the world mocking the hustle and bustle of everybody else’s life. It’s perfect for a morning when I haven’t had enough coffee, and I’m in a snarky mood.

4. “Gobbledigook” – Sigur Ros (Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust)

The opening track for Sigur Ros’ Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, balances beauty and chaos, which offers a fitting soundtrack to Seattle’s fall mornings. While car tires slosh around in the rain and bicyclists squint and shiver through morning traffic, it’s nice to splash through the puddles to the beat of its heavy hitting drums while being comforted by Jónsi Birgisson’s lovely falsetto in a language you’re not likely to understand.

3. “Sprout and the Bean” – Joanna Newsom (The Milk-Eyed Mender)

For a morning when I’m too tired to open my eyes and too lethargic to move, this track pretends to meet me at that level, but Joanna Newsom’s strange but stunning voice has just enough of a jarring effect to stir me without being too much to take. It’s a song that is gentle enough to hold your hand through the cold while being odd enough to remind you to stay on guard. There are some abrupt rise-and-falls of both discord and volume, and Joanna Newsom’s extraordinarily beautiful harp skills offer a striking soundtrack to Seattle’s ugliest days.

2. “The Prisoner” – The Dutchess and The Duke (She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke)

My second favorite autumn track comes from Seattle’s own The Dutchess and The Duke (who unfortunately just played their last show at the Tractor in Ballard). “The Prisoner” is one of those melancholy, haunting folk songs you can’t get out of your head. I have a tendency to put this song on repeat, and it’s especially perfect for those mornings where you just don’t feel right, you’d rather stay in bed, and contemplate the things in your life that you both hate and love. Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison evenly share vocals throughout the track, but most delectable is the trade off of their pained wails during the chorus. I’ll admit this song almost makes me cry for no reason, but it’s so undeniably gratifying.

1. “Landscape” – The Candy Bars (On Cutting Ti-gers in Half and Understanding Narravation)

By far my favorite. I immediately put this track on at the first sign of the leaves falling. Not only is it one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, but it is simply… cinematic. I just imagine the opening credits of a film every time I listen to it. “Landscape” juxtaposes sublime beauty and ugliness in a most perfect package, and it’s all due to Daniel Martinez’s absolutely haunting vocals over such a gorgeous arrangement. If you have never heard the Candy Bars, I urge you to look into them immediately (after leaving a your own top 5 in the comment section below, that is…)

Tags: best songs, fall music, Indie, Seattle, Top 5
Posted in Music, Seattle Bands, Top 5 | 6 Comments »

The Death of Plastic?

October 13th, 2010 by lbaron

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been preoccupied with preparing to record an album with my band Sigourney Reverb. Also, after having in-depth conversations with local musicians about touring and music distribution, it became clear that the subject of music sales in general is weighing heavily on all of our minds.
As a consumer, I admit I can’t remember the last time I bought a new CD. Occasionally, I’ll look through the skuff bins at music stores to see if there isn’t some guilty pleasure from high school available for $1. Other than a few scratched up CDs from the 90s, my disc-buying days seem to be over. And, that seems to be typical of the 21st century music consumer.

It isn’t a shock to anyone that CD sales are down. The colossal megastores we all used to flock to are now in ruins, and according to the IFPI Digital Music Report for 2010, more than a quarter of the music industry’s revenue for the year 2009 came through digital channels, and in the US online revenues now account for about 40% of music sales.

Sadly, music revenues were down 7% in 2009, and that figure has been on the decline for some time. Many music industry reports point to piracy as the cause, but consumers who admit to pirating music defend their actions saying they have had access to music they would never have paid for in the first place, and as a result, purchase those artist’s merchandise, concert tickets, and sometimes even the album itself in the end. I feel conflicted over the issue of piracy: on one hand, it promotes exposure to new and obscure music, and on the other hand, it leaves artists struggling to pay their bills. It’s an issue I will return to, and as I work on recording an album over the coming weeks, I’m sure it is an issue about which I will grow to feel more strongly.

A hopeful note for both the recorded music industry and music enthusiasts is the resurgence of vinyl. Vinyl record sales increased a whopping 30% last year, and at further examination, it’s clear why that is. For audiophiles, nothing beats the warmth and fullness of vinyl. Also, one of the casualties of the digital age – the tangible album – is bigger and better than ever. Millennials (those born between 1980 and 1995) have almost only owned cassettes, CDs, or downloaded music. For us, a record is huge and the album art is worthy of display. Also, new records are being sold with a download code so that the consumer is able to have the album in both analog and digital formats. In this way, vinyl truly offers the best of both worlds. The quality of a CD is nothing special to a consumer who listens to MP3s, and at such a high price, it’s no wonder the recordings are either purchased online or even pirated.

As these are subjects I will continue to discuss, please leave me a comment below on how you feel about the state of the music industry, piracy, and the sonic battle du jour: analog vs. digital.

Tags: cds, millennials, Music, music sales, piracy, recording, vinyl
Posted in Music Industry | 5 Comments »

DIY Touring: He Whose Ox is Gored

September 15th, 2010 by lbaron

Brian McClelland beams with joy as he tells me, “touring is the best thing you can do to get your band out there.” He frequently tours with his band He Whose Ox is Gored, a sludgy yet energetic Seattle band on the heavier end of the city’s musical spectrum. McClelland has what sounds like a military strategy when it comes to booking successful tour: He explains, “We’re always pushing new territory.” And when it comes to “maintaining territory,” he holds to their “two month rule.” The band believes in making their presence felt in a particular city, then returning within two months as a way of reinforcing both their sound as well as their existence to the local crowds.

When it comes to finances, McClelland explains, “You have to run your band like a business.” He tells me about the crucial investment period required prior to touring as well as the band’s “advertising campaign.” On their first tour, Ox broke even, which McClelland remembers as a “great surprise” as dividing the cost of gas and food between band members is always more costly than one anticipates. McClelland’s advice for this issue is to “always overshoot.” You never know when the van will require costly repairs while on the road or when you may encounter problems (or theft) when it comes to band equipment.

The next time He Whose Ox is Gored goes on tour, they will be supporting their new EP Op Amps II, which features Seattle grunge icon Tad Doyle on their first track. The legendary Tad also produced the EP.

Those in Seattle can see He Whose Ox is Gored on Thursday, September 23rd at the Comet Tavern in Capitol Hill.

Tags: DIY, He Whose Ox is Gored, Music, Seattle, Tad, Touring
Posted in Seattle Bands | 8 Comments »

DIY Music Distribution in the Digital Age: By Sunlight

September 1st, 2010 by lbaron

Sunday night I caught Seattle’s By Sunlight at the Sunset Tavern with guests Manuok (San Diego) and Summer Darling (Los Angeles). I spoke with Mike Sparks of By Sunlight about their innovative method of distributing music.

“We do it all digitally,” says Sparks. He hands me what looks like a credit card with a code on the back that allows the user to download their full length album from the band’s website. By Sunlight’s merchandise table looks remarkably different from the usual: several $5 download cards are displayed in lieu of CDs, there is a poster with a code on the back available for sale, along with t-shirts and a 7” vinyl split with the band Silian Rail. Looking at the display, it is obvious that By Sunlight is a forward-thinking band of the digital era.

I ask Sparks about the role that social media plays in their band, and I am rather surprised by his response. By Sunlight’s Myspace page does feature four songs, but the site has become little more than a means of communication with other bands. Facebook, on the other hand, is a different sort of tool altogether and more for communication with friends and fans.

Sparks informs me that the band has had over 14 thousand downloads, and the accessibility of their music has helped the band tremendously. Sparks tells me they are entirely “self sufficient” and not just in distributing their music, but also recording (By Sunlight guitarist Robert Cheek engineered, produced, and mixed their album) and touring, which they book and finance independently.

Sparks goes on to describe some serious drawbacks of 21^st century DIY. We’ve experienced what Sparks describes as “the death of manufactured media.” It is much harder for bands to earn money with digital media, and while accessibility may be a great promotional factor, the bottom line is that “we have been hung out to dry.”

Finally, I ask Sparks where he saw music distribution heading in the next decade. “I’d like to see CDs become obsolete,” he responds. As for the resurgence of vinyl, Sparks sees it as more “memorabilia” and a tangible piece of art for the fan. He describes difference in sound as “organic and bizarre” as opposed to the clarity of digital music.

Instead of curmudgeonly grumbling about what was lost and what music distribution once was, By Sunlight charges forward utilizing social media, downloads, and innovative promotional techniques to make their music heard. The band is finding a light instead of cursing the darkness. Sparks asserts, “We are embracing the future.”

For more information on By Sunlight visit http://www.bysunlight.com.

Tags: By Sunlight, Digital Media, Distribution, DIY, Indie, Music
Posted in Seattle Bands | No Comments »

DIY Touring: Noise-A-Tron

August 23rd, 2010 by lbaron

When bands decide to go on tour without the backing of a record company, they embark on a tremendous financial and emotional undertaking. I recently sat down at a neighborhood coffee shop with the members of Noise-a-tron, a husband and wife duo whose Myspace page describes their sound as “a digital chainsaw.”

Jason and Lea Bledsoe met in 2001 and played together in the bands Bullhead and the Human Echo before starting Noise-a-tron in 2008. After touring several times with the Human Echo, Jason confidently offers a few gems of wisdom regarding DIY (Do-It-Yourself) touring: “Don’t book a two month tour if no one knows who you are,” and “try not to have longer than a six hour drive between shows.” The Human Echo were initially based out of Tampa, Florida and moved to Seattle in 2006. One challenge Jason and Lea note is that the West Coast has big gaps between cities unlike out East. Jason tells me that they never had much luck in Olympia or Southern Oregon, and last year they had a “good plan of attack,” touring through Portland, Eugene and Northern California on a short tour.

Jason and Lea explain all of the work that goes into booking their own tour. “Research, research, and more research” is the key, and nearly everything is done over the internet: sending hundreds of e-mails to bands and promoters and only getting a few responses.

Noise-a-tron had planned for another tour this summer, but ran into “the biggest downward spiral of horsesh** that ever happened in one week.” Shows were cancelled and bookers were not able to fill the bill. On top of everything else, their van needed expensive repairs. Lea made the point, “If the van breaks down on the road, we’re set back six months instead of a few weeks.” Paying bills and dealing with the stressors of daily life added to the mix. “Real life gets in the way all the time,” says Jason.

The pair were heartbroken in August when they realized they had no choice but to cancel their plans. Jason and Lea had spent months juggling the tasks of contacting bands, networking with peers, and buying and repairing a used van for their tour. They had also sacrificed their time for months, saving every penny to cover the costs of going on the road.

Not to be discouraged, the two started booking a tour for October of 2010. Jason realizes, “We have to have a back-up plan.” They’ve finished their record and are making progress with shows in Portland, Oakland, and San Francisco confirmed so far. Lea reveals to me how emotionally taxing the ordeal was: “In August, we had to pretend that we didn’t spend the last couple of months working for this and not have it pay off. We couldn’t go, and time was lost.”

Noise-a-tron has certainly picked up the pieces and started pushing forward with their plans to tour. Lea says, “We appreciate the fact that we’re still healthy and young enough to have the energy for all of this. And we’re happy to be pursuing our dream.”

You can catch Noise-a-tron this Friday, August 27^th at the Josephine with Wehrwolve, Physical Demon, and Gentle. The Joesphine is located at 608 NW 65^th Street in Ballard.

For more information, visit http://www.myspace.com/noiseatron.

Tags: DIY, Independent Music, Music, Noise, Noise-a-tron, Seattle, Touring
Posted in Seattle Bands | 3 Comments »

The “DIY” / Independent Musician – Part 1

August 14th, 2010 by lbaron

There’s no debating whether or not the music industry has changed dramatically since Seattle’s heyday in the 1990s when the Puget Sound region was more synonymous with “grunge” than Starbucks. Even in the 1990s the record business was an entirely different species from what it had been decades prior. Record companies once put a great deal of effort in finding acts that promised something distinctive and exceptional, and once those A & R (Artists and Repertoire) representatives found those artists, the company threw loads of money at the band to cover everything necessary for recording, touring, and everything else imaginable. By the 1990s, the industry had changed. Record companies had seen tremendous success and wanted more and more profitable musicians on their repertoire. Eventually, the record companies were signing so many bands, and many of them were imitations of earlier, more groundbreaking artists. This, combined with some other factors including the Telecommunications Act of 1996, led to mainstream music nearly completely losing its spark, leaving listeners bored and looking elsewhere. Some just looked backwards, taking comfort in the strong acts of the past, and others looked to the underground.

Musicians who stray from the safe formula and create something more original are either picked up by independent labels or left on their own. It’s become entirely commonplace for bands to either pay for their own recordings or completely do it themselves with programs such as Pro-Tools. And many bands book and finance their own tours – a tough feat for struggling artists. When bands do it themselves (“DIY” or Do It Yourself), they take the responsibilities that once rested on the record companies to produce, market, and distribute their music.

Over the coming weeks, I will be speaking with Seattle bands about the issue of DIY, independent music, and the changing industry. I’ll take a look at their ambitions, obstacles, and overall feelings on being an independent artist in Seattle in 2010.

Tags: DIY, Independent, Indie, Music, Music Industry, Record Companies, Seattle
Posted in Seattle Bands | 1 Comment »

You Can Dance If You Want To: The 21st Century Crowd

August 6th, 2010 by lbaron

Something I’ve noticed over the past couple of years is a lack of enthusiasm at live shows. Regardless of genre, it seems the audience of live music tends to stays virtually motionless during a band’s performance. The usual stance is very stoic, arms crossed – and if the band is exceptionally good – a nodding head in rhythm. Sometimes, after a song, the crowd may yell “Woooohoo!” Other times, it’s more like a polite golf clap.

This astounds me.

It seemed when I was younger, the crowd went crazy at any good show. Crowd-surfing, stage diving, moshing, and singing along were as commonplace at concerts as merch tables and over priced drinks. This wasn’t limited to punk or metal shows, either. Some of the craziest crowds from my memory were for run of the mill “alternative” bands. I remember crowd-surfing during the Toadies’ song “Tyler,” one of their slowest songs. That’s what happened during a slow song – crowd surfing.

Such a thing now would seem completely out of place. While it was never pleasant getting kicked in the head with someone’s Doc Martens or having to steer clear of the mosh pit to avoid injury, the craziness made it memorable – and a lot more exciting. It seems incredibly strange to me that patrons of rock music are so refined and tranquil at live shows. For instance, when I saw the Pixies last year, nearly everyone in the balcony stayed seated and silent throughout the entire performance. Only during the encore did people stand up and (sort of) sway or nod in rhythm. I would find such behavior completely normal for Norah Jones, but certainly not for “Crackity Jones.”

Wouldn’t it be more fun to move about, to dance, and go a little crazy for live music? Remember how it felt to leave a concert sweaty and wound up? For the last two years, I’ve been trying to figure out why this change occurred, why the crowd lacks excitement, and what happened. Is it something that only happens in Seattle? Is it the result of music being so accessible now? Or is it just that it went out of fashion and it’s going to take some brave – and possibly impolite – individual to stir it up again and start dancing?

Wouldn’t you rather have some fun and dance than stand perfectly still with your arms crossed? I would!

Posted in Live Music | 4 Comments »

Three Amazing Local Bands You’ve Never Heard

July 29th, 2010 by lbaron

By Sunlight

By Sunlight was the first band I wrote home about when I moved to Seattle in 2008. Coincidentally, By Sunlight (formerly known as Bridges) had only recently moved to Seattle from Sacramento, California a few months prior. Their seamless live performance and shimmering, dynamic sound caught my attention immediately. By Sunlight consistently performs a delicate balancing act between impressive musicianship and melodious beauty. Last month the band released a 7” split with Oakland’s Silian Rail on Side With Us Records. One of By Sunlight’s tracks off of the EP is “No More Miracles,” a graceful and delightfully meandering song that proves the band far transcends the typical math pop formula.

The unfortunate side of a band who tours frequently (the band tours the West coast several times a year) is that By Sunlight sneaks under the radar of the Seattle scene. Upon listening, you’ll no doubt wonder why you don’t see their name perennially plastered on flyers throughout Seattle. By Sunlight does, however, manage to sneak in a local show from time to time. Do yourself a favor and drop by the Josephine in Ballard this Saturday, July 31^st to hear them with Wax Fingers, Austenitic (see below), and C’est La Mort.

For more information on By Sunlight visit http://www.bysunlight.com.

Jason Clackley

I guarantee you will be hearing more from Jason Clackley in the future. His music is simply too good to go unnoticed. A friend recently recommended him to me, and I then realized I had played a house party with Clackley last year. I remember his larger than life voice (no recording could do justice to his live performance) and how he stunned the room into silence as we watched in awe. Listen to the tracks he has available on www.myspace.com/jasonclackley, and you will hear a wide spectrum of emotion: “I Can See” is forceful and hard-hitting with compelling, desperate bellows, while “Stubborn One” is sweet and mournful, at times flirting with the pace and tone of Jeff Buckley’s “Lover You Should Have Come Over.” In the end, regardless of position on the emotional scale of his songs, Jason Clackley delivers a rare strength in his vocal capacity and promises quite the cathartic response from his listener.

For more information and to purchase his LP To the Few and Far Between, visit www.greatplainsrecords.com and www.mountainmanrecords.com.

Austenitic

Austenitic are a drum and bass duo from Seattle who sound like they hail from D.C. (think Fugazi, Faraquet, or Medications – after twelve cups of coffee). Ross Martin (bass, vocals) and Kelly Mynes (drums) are two extraordinary musicians who aren’t afraid to break the rules. Their songs are speedy and complex yet accessible. Last year Austenitic released a 4 song EP titled Number 4, which will stop you in your tracks and demand your attention.

Live, the boys are absolutely amazing. Keep your eye on Kelly Mynes on drums; he is a dynamic drummer who will simply blow your mind. Check out Austenitic at the Josephine with By Sunlight, Wax Fingers, and C’est La Mort on July 31^st.

For more, visit www.myspace.com/austenitic.

Narrowing this list down to three was tough. If you feel I’ve missed anyone, please leave me a comment!

Tags: Austenitic, By Sunlight, Indie, Jason Clackley, Local Music, Music, Seattle
Posted in Seattle Bands | 4 Comments »

Lori Baron