Flashback Friday: James Freud - Modern Girl



"There she stood, this fancy fashion creature"

I love it when I discover older songs that sound to me like direct precursors to some of my favorite music of today. Take James Freud (a glam-pop artist popular in Australia in the 80's). I can completely see Melody Club singing this song, Modern Girl. It's got that great, glossy, synthy sound and it's ridiculously catchy. Unfortunately, I haven't found another song by him that's this good. It's a shame, because if all of his stuff was this perfect, he might almost be as good as Melody Club! As it stands, for me he's a one hit wonder. The video is quite entertaining as well. Campy as hell, of course, but that makes it all the better... a perfect representation of videos in 1980.

James Freud - Modern Girl (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Download the long out of print album here.)

Danger Radio - Broken Man

"I had a feeling it would end up like this"

I appreciate what Seattle's Danger Radio is trying to do, namely a harder edged Under The Influence Of The Giants disco/rock/funk sound. The album itself (which came out yesterday) is a little too heavy on the trend-following "emo" aesthetics and too light on the great songwriting, but it is a first effort so there's a lot of potential here. Especially on songs like Broken Man, which ups the synth quotient. Frontman Andrew DeTorres potentially has a very unique voice, but I feel like he's dressing it up too much to sound like bands-of-the-moment Metro Station and Panic At The Disco. Still, I do like their single Party Foul and I appreciate their ambitions. I'd much rather embrace the popularity of something like this instead of something like Lil' Wayne.

Danger Radio - Broken Man (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)

X-Queen Of The Astronauts - Space Gymnastics

"If you want to be elastic you must do your space gymnastics"

X-Queen Of The Astronauts is a very strange Norwegian band. They've taken their 60's and 70's influences and created ultra-catchy, ultra-silly tracks. I'm a sucker for a good novelty track, though, and Space Gymnastics fits the bill. The song is utterly ridiculous, but the chorus is so perfectly singalong that I can't resist. Some of you are probably gonna hate this, but I can also think of a few readers who will totally dig it. One thing's for sure... It's definitely not the type of music floating around the top of the charts right now!

X-Queen Of The Astronauts - Space Gymnastics (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)

Black Kids - Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)

"I say baby, you say bump it"

It's what I've been waiting for: my favorite album of the summer so far. And it came from a very unlikely source. I've admired Black Kids' music this year, but I've always felt the hype outweighed the actual tunes. I was wrong, because their new album, Partie Traumatic (released today in the UK), is amazing. A lot of critics have remarked that the new songs (aka: the songs not already on their EP) are somehow deficient and not as inventive. I actually like them more. Partie Traumatic is that rare record where every song is great and the momentum keeps up from beginning to end. I can't stop listening. Right now I'm especially digging closer track Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo). Forgetting its silly title, the song displays everything I am in love with about these guys. Van Halen Jump-era synths, shouty Go-Team style chants, and catchy as hell melodies. It is perfection.

Black Kids - Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) (zshare)

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists! Buy the album here.)