Nashville based Black Magic produce some indielicious bizarre music – and have a sweet story to boot. They first met in 2006 and exchanged only brief words, but in 2007, one half of the future band, Chris, found a song on MySpace and ended up listening to it over and over – and has luck would have it, it was from Dexy, the other half of the future band. They exchanged lots of packages and gifts – and one of Dexy’s favourites was a magic wand. When Dexy moved to Nashville with the help of Chris, they picked the appropriate name of Magic Wands. And further more appropriately, recorded a song “Black Magic” which is today’s track:
The Spill Canvas, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and formed in 2002, are oft regarded as an “emo” band (but once again, who listens to genres) but are probably closer to alternative rock. The band started as a side project for lead singer Nick Thomas, and was quite a departure from playing guitar in metalcore band “Nodes of Ranvier”. After four fairly successful albums, 2007’s “No Really, I’m Fine” reached #143 in the American Billboard 200 charts. Andrew McMahon of the band Something Corporate (and his own side project Jack’s Mannequin) guests on the album with his piano playing, and Anthony Green of experimental rock band “Circa Survive” also does guest backing vocals on another track “Bleed, Everybody’s Doing It”. A similarly titled EP, “Honestly, I’m Doing Okay” was released earlier this year and features bonus and acoustic tracks. Today’s track however is one of my favourites from the album, with a nice bit of trumpeting and sax going on in the background: enjoy “Low Fidelity”:
Eheheh… okay, so I got completely snowed under on Wednesday, then Thursday was of course busy (and by busy, I mean, I went to Manchester to see The Dark Knight on an IMAX cinema - and that does count as very important in my books!) and now it’s Friday and I’m completely snowed under again. Joy! Time for another Best Of to keep you satiated whilst I try my best to catch up on work? I think so! Today’s track is one of my favourite ever songs, and from the minute I first heard the shortened 1m30 used as a theme tune, I couldn’t wait for the full song. From the Japanese band Monoral, and on their latest album Turbulence, we have again "Kiri":
Formed in London in 2001 by a chance meeting of its founding band members, The Boxer Rebellion grouped together to make music, in their own style, epic and escapist. Their first album was released in 2005, and the band also toured extensively throughout Europe. I first heard them on the excellent series Long Way Down (starring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman) on a soundtrack handpicked and on Peter Gabriel’s “world music” label, Real World Records. Their latest single (at the time), Broken Glass, was used as the opening music to each episode, and along with the rest of the soundtrack, really set the scene. Their description of epic and escapist music definitely fits their style, and this song is no exception to their excellent repertoire. So, enjoy today’s track, “Broken Glass”:
Because it’s been a while since we last featured any moody, atmospheric progressive rock, today’s track comes from British progressive rock band, Porcupine Tree. Some people I’ve given tracks of theirs to, often find it depressing music – but I think if you really get wrapped up into, the music is quite uplifting. Maybe not quite as much as the previously featured bonus track, Drown with Me. (How’s that for a depressingly-titled song with an uplifting tune?) In any case, I hope you’ll enjoy it. As always with the music on Something Chewie, I hope that you might from time to time peruse music from genres you wouldn’t usually frequent. On with the show, here’s today’s track “Glass Arm Shattering”:
British five-piece band, Ben’s Brother, so named after lead singer Jamie Hartman’s bigger brother Ben, released their first album “Beta Male Fairytales” in July last year. A typically British alternative rock/pop band, the album included some great songs, quite often in the key of Keane, but that’s no bad thing. When it was released in the US later, a bonus track was included, that strikes me as even better. It was released in the UK, but just missed the top 40, reaching #41 in the charts. Apparently the band has another single on the horizon, but it might not see a release until 2009, when I guess its fairly likely another album will follow closely behind! For now, enjoy today’s track, “Stuttering”:
Formed in 1997, Love Pyschadelico is Kumi and Naoki, and a massive band in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan. After four successful albums, the band began to expand its fanbase, touring across Asia, and now 11 years on, they’re now trying to break through into America. I won’t attempt and fail to place their music in genres, although they’ve been described as having “big Brit-pop choruses” with “super-catchy guitar and keyboard buzzing-rock”. Vocalist Kumi often switches between Japanese and English, often completely without you noticing. All in all, good listenings, so enjoy today’s track, Love Pyschadelico’s “Standing Bird”:
You didn’t think I was just going to forget about you did I? Here’s the deal, interspersed with our three times a week schedule, I might sometimes do some "Best Of" posts. And I’ll leave those to the days when I’m completely snowed under, like today, of all days! The first "Best Of" is one of the most popular posts on the Chewie, and for good reason: Clint Mansell’s epic "Lux Aeterna" is an astonishing piece of music. It’s been used for hundreds of film trailers because although it builds up from something so quiet, the entire track is supremely powerful at the beginning, meaning the ending in all of its ferocity is simply amazing.
A far gentler track, at least to start with, in today’s “Existentialism on Prom Night”. You’ve already heard the backstory for Straylight Run, so it won’t be repeated today. Instead we’ll focus on the music. This is my personal favourite track from their entire repertoire, a brilliantly powerful piece of music that really builds up its momentum. The song is from their first album, which also has a few other spectacular tracks, as already featured, way back when. Last month, on June 10th to be precise, the band reportedly went into the studio to begin work on their third album – which is always exciting news when there’s new music about! For now, I hope you will enjoy today’s track:
Alternative Pop Rock Electro Indie (phew!) act Fresh Body Shop from Paris gives a awesomely rocking ensemble in their 2007 album, “Tasteless”. Whilst researching the band from their Jamendo profile, my limited French understanding made me think I had gone completely insane… but let’s not consider that for too long, and get on with the music. Lyrics, helpfully for the uninitiated in English, their album is an awesome mix of both ambient music and heavy hitting tunes, like the second track, “The Game” (which can be heard on their MySpace) Although slightly jarring, the jolt it gives you is a bizarre feeling, and creates an excellent atmosphere for the entire set of music. Today’s track, “Mr. Weirdo” is an example of the… weird music they produce. And, hey, eclectic music is what we’re all about here on Something Chewie! Enjoy today’s track!
Nashville based Black Magic produce some indielicious bizarre music – and have a sweet story to boot. They first met in 2006 and exchanged only brief words, but in 2007, one half of the future band, Chris, found a song on MySpace and ended up listening to it over and over – and has luck would have it, it was from Dexy, the other half of the future band. They exchanged lots of packages and gifts – and one of Dexy’s favourites was a magic wand. When Dexy moved to Nashville with the help of Chris, they picked the appropriate name of Magic Wands. And further more appropriately, recorded a song “Black Magic” which is today’s track:
A far gentler track, at least to start with, in today’s “Existentialism on Prom Night”. You’ve 
Alternative Pop Rock Electro Indie (phew!) act Fresh Body Shop from Paris gives a awesomely rocking ensemble in their 2007 album, “Tasteless”. Whilst researching the band from their