Although their latest album Cum Laude has only been out for a week, it is fast becoming one of my favorites of 2006. The aforementioned band is California’s The Velvet Teen. I blame (in part) my newfound infatuation with their album on Bethanne from CTASLS and her chatter about them.
Musically the band brings a lot to the table. Cum Laude is essentially a pop record that has been fucked with and twisted around. Howling guitars stand along side broken electronics. Keys and synths mingle with furious pounding drums and crackling distortion. And somewhere in there are singer Judah Nagler’s soaring vocals. I like them, my wife not so much.
I’m not terribly familiar with their earlier material, but very soon I will be. This record (however) is a mess of sound that is catchy and noisy, but downright beautiful. It is equal parts of The Smiths, Parts & Labor, Squarepusher, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Rogue Wave. The cacophony that is Cum Laude is out now on Slowdance Records.
MP3 | The Velvet Teen – In A Steadman Spray Cum Laude
MP3 | The Velvet Teen – Tokyoto Cum Laude
*hugshugshugshugshugshugshugs*
you’re welcome!
by the way, it took me forever to find this post through my technorati links (little radio picked it up and it was on my technorati page and i was like “who wanted to blame me for loving such a wonderful band like the velvet teen?!?!” and now i know!
)
and i love judah’s vocals. they’re so great. (i only wish he would finish up his electronic solo debut that i’ve been waiting forever to hear.
)
Great find, especially “Tokyoto.”
I’m actually a bit disapointed by this record. If you listen to their last pop record ” Into the Fierce Parade” or the guitarless brilliance that is their last record “Elyseum” you’ll see why this record is very lack luster.
I do intend to give it every chance, though, that’s just who I am.