I hadn’t intended to write a post on the break up of Nashville garage rockers Be Your Own Pet. In fact, I’ve never been able to make it through either of their albums, the self-titled disc or Get Awkward. The reason I’m writing is because I’ve finally enjoyed one of their songs, “Becky”, but if I showed you the video and didn’t mention the break up, I would appear pathetically misinformed, which at times I am, but not this time.
On August 1, the band posted this announcement on their homepage:
“To all of our fans, we are sad to bring you the news that our upcoming shows in the UK are going to be our last as a band. We thank you for all your love and support these past few years. It’s been a blast, but the time has come for the four of us to go our separate ways.”
For those of you killin’ em in the UK, enjoy the shows. For those of you anywhere else, enjoy this video for “Becky” which wasn’t included on Get Awkward’s North American release because record execs figured the lyrics were too violent (along with a few other songs). And if there’s anything we’ve learned from Hostel, it’s that violence can be cool. But please kids, play safe.
Albert Hammond, Jr. is back with his second solo album since The Strokes farted out First Impressions of Earth in 2006. Not to diminish his credibility, since Yours to Keep was a fantastic record and a true return to Strokes form. And though this second album doesn’t have the fiery punch of guitar pop majesty that his first album had, there are a few songs to write home about, chiefly “GfC”. Don’t ask me what it stands for, maybe you can find it on Wikipedia. It’s not only the best song on the album, but also the first single from ¿Cómo Te Llama?, which comes out tomorrow.
I was recently excited to discover Friends of Pop, a collective that organizes gigs and indie dj nights here in Toulouse, France. As I perused the bands that I’d missed, I found Rodeo Massacre, who have got me thinking that my slim 511s aren’t really enough, and that skinny are the way God intended jeans to be. At least if you’re going to make music this cool.
Clocking in at 2 minutes and 30 seconds, “Brand New Day,” the Massacre’s first single brings me back to the first Ramones album, a time when a good recording only needed some sweaty kids in cool outfits, a few microphones, and a guy in the hall to tell everyone to shut up for a couple of minutes.
I can’t find anything about the band that isn’t on fashion blogs, which is unfortunate because there’s nothing sexier than a chick singer howling like “Harmony in My Head” by Buzzcocks. For now, you’re going to have to settle for the video and a MySpace link.
Toss the drumsticks aside and shake hands. This is rock and roll.
