Artist of the Week Archive

Artist of the Week (Legend Series)-Elvis Costello

– March 2, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

February has come to a close and with it our unofficial theme is ending as well. While the rest of the month we have been highlighting power-pop artists, our legend this month, while not a power-pop artist definitively, I regard with having aided the genre by setting the bar of intellectual lyrics with the self-aware styling that makes power-pop so accessible. Ladies and gentlemen, this month Enter the Shell brings you the man that has helped innumerable people deal with growing pains and the frustrations of life and love. We welcome Elvis Costello as our Legendary Artist of the Week.

Last week we spoke about the ability of a power-pop musician to not only write great lyrics, but their talents in drawing from their emotions and personal experiences in order to convey to others the meaning and feeling that they have felt. In this blogger’s eyes there are few who match Elvis Costello’s honesty and strength as a song-writer and musician. Dealing particularly with Costello’s first few albums, the bitterness of rejection and the difficulties of wooing a partner are laid thick as listeners can relate to Costello’s own struggles, summoning forth the pain and frustration that the want of a significant other can cause. Through Costello’s talents as a writer and passion as a musician, it’s no surprise that friend and inspiration (and former AotW Legend) Nick Lowe would want to produce such an incredible wordsmith on the Stiff label, home to other great musicians like Graham Parker, and Huey Lewis and the News (before they were Huey Lewis and the News).

Costello’s work showcases extremely well the range of human emotion. Whether he is singing about divorce, politics, road life, substance abuse, or just playing good old fashioned rock and roll, Costello is able to captivate an audience and draw images that help listeners to sit back and say something in the likeness of “yeah, this guy knows exactly what I’m going through right now…and he can rock my socks off, too!” While Costello has such a broad array of musical styles and sounds, he has a little something for everybody.

With 35 years and 30 albums under the moniker of Elvis Costello, the man has certainly made a name for himself in the world of music. Not only has he put out a phenomenal amount of his own music (his most recent being 2010’s National Ransom), he has also collaborated extensively with seemingly just about everyone in existence. A few years ago he and Elton John produced their own television show, Spectacle which ran for two seasons and had Costello interviewing various musicians (and one president) where in between questions they would play music together. Costello has produced bands such as the Specials and the Pogues and has collaborated with the likes of Paul McCartney and Sesame Street, and has even appeared in a few movies (by the way, Costello is the original Napoleon Dynamite).

While the life of Elvis Costello may be too much to track in a brief AotW segment, the man has certainly accomplished a great amount and, with his track record, does not appear to be slowing down. The 57 year old musician still tours regularly, tends to his side-projects, and writes captivating new music. While not all of his albums have been stellar, throughout the 30 albums released his gems do stand out and you’ll never be lacking a new avenue of Elvis to explore. Get your fix below and enjoy!

Useful Links

Spectacle episodes on Sundance

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Artist of the Week-Mike Viola

Andy

– February 24, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

Given our pseudo-theme of the month, I felt it was only appropriate that we carried on for a couple more weeks. This month has all been centered around power-pop artists and this week is yet another artist who has the ability to belt out catchy, meaningful, and often playful tunes. While power-pop may not be everyone’s favorite style of music, this blogger finds that it is an often underappreciated style of play and one that contains some of the brightest lyrical minds in the music world. This week we recognize an artist who just nearly made legendary status. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Mike Viola to Enter the Shell’s Artist of the week.

When you bring up the name Mike Viola, not many people are going to jump up and say “yeah, I know that guy, he’s a great musician!” And while he is certainly a great musician, the reason most people won’t jump and hoot in support of Mr. Viola is that they probably haven’t heard of him…that is until you tell them what he’s worked on. Much like last week’s Fountains of Wayne (who Mike Viola is close friends with), our artist has been a part of film and has collaborated with other artists who seem to get more attention than he himself does. Mike Viola co-wrote with Adam Schlesinger the title song for That Thing You Do! (he performed it, too) as well as many of the songs for 2007’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Aside from those movie initiatives, he has also been Mandy Moore’s musical director, and toured with acts like They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, and Robyn Hitchcock.

Mike Viola is an artist who has been in the game for many years. He’s played in various bands, collaborations, and teamed up with others to help add to their music (or just to have fun). A Massachusetts native, Viola had been in the music scene since the 80’s, but it wasn’t until his mid-90’s band, the Candy Butchers, that his music really began gaining attention. It was during this time that he and Schlesinger penned the title track for That Thing You Do! that reached number 41 in Billboard’s Hot 100 songs of 1996. The Candy Butchers demonstrated Viola’s exquisite writing abilities, which often focused on the eternally relatable subject of failing and functioning love lives. The Candy Butchers were excellent at writing songs that you could tap your toes and sing-along to all without getting embarrassed about what it was you were listening to.

While the pop songs were great, it was 2004’s Hang On, Mike that really displayed his talent and emotional spectrum as a writer. Dealing with topics from his best friend’s introducing him to Kiss Alive II, to bringing children into the world, to the tragic story of coping with the loss of his wife to cancer. The mark of a great power-pop artist is not only to write catchy and lyrically astute music, but to be able to bridge the spectrum of emotions by drawing from personal experience. I find few better at this than Mike Viola.

Though Viola has dropped the Candy Butcher moniker, he has gone on to work in other collaborative efforts and has pursued his own solo career. Having recently moved out to Los Angeles, those local readers who think they might want to check him out will definitely have their opportunity. Mike Viola’s most recent venture was 2011’s Electro de Perfecto which continues to prove his musical prowess by serving up an offering of more tunes worth singing-along to. As usual, get your fix below. Enjoy!

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Artist of the Week-Fountains of Wayne

Andy

– February 17, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

Well, Valentine’s Day (or “Singles Awareness Day” as I was recently corrected) has come and passed, but regardless of whether you celebrated on Tuesday or were waiting for the weekend to get down to business we have our lock for Artist of the Week ready for your reading and listening pleasure. When everyone else is buttering up on the romance and the chocolate and flowers, this blogger is choosing to brush up on his witty, irreverent, and sometimes (often) bitter musical catalogue; primarily the power-pop part of that catalogue. Our artist this week most definitely falls into this category. Ladies and gentlemen, we here at Enter the Shell bring you Fountains of Wayne as your Artist of the Week.

Somewhere down the line you’ve likely come across the song that, for a brief time in the early 2000’s, sky-rocketed the garden state band into the spotlight. Yes, we all remember the catchy melody accompanying the neighborhood boy ogling Rod Stewart’s wife for the music video to “Stacy’s Mom,” but what few people truly seemed to grasp was the talent and intellect behind the song. While most people write off Fountains of Wayne as a one-hit-wonder, those who are willing to delve deeper into the band’s library discover a couple of friends who are capable and bright songsmiths with great insight into the progression of an individual’s life.

Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood first met at Williams College in Massachusetts in 1986, but little did they know that they would later become an international sensation. After a few years of playing in bands and, under the guise of Pinwheel, trying to get an album released, the two parted ways until in 1996 they reunited and signed to Atlantic to make what is today the band we know and love. Schlesinger and Collingwood, the primary writers for the band, then enlisted Jody Porter and Brian Young as part of their team and began writing some of the best music a young individual could need to deal with the pointless and pedantic frustrations (or as I call them: the finer points) that typically plague a young suburbanite. For years their power-pop has outlined in comedic form the maturation of youth, the college life, and the struggles of a single adult, giving the listener the feeling that someone out there understands their life’s vexations.

The writing talents of Schlesinger and Collingwood would not stop with their own music however, as the two have expanded their penmanship to the world of the big and little screens. Many movies and TV shows you may not have even realized they wrote the music for. Schlesinger alone has had his work written for or featured in movies such as That Thing You Do! (wrote the title song, performed by longtime friend Mike Viola), Josie and the Pussycats, Music and Lyrics, and has written songs and scores for the Tony and Emmy awards, Stephen Colbert, Howard Stern, Sesame Street, and countless others.

Yes, Fountains of Wayne have certainly done much in their 16 year tenure, their most recent production being 2011’s Sky Full of Holes, with the same loveable power-pop that has served them well, but with a slightly darker side, dealing with the escapes and doldrums of adulthood. The band still serve up their dose of entertainment, and now signed to Yep Roc with the likes of Nick Lowe, Gang of Four, and Liam Finn, they’re in good company. As per usual, get your fix with the links below. Enjoy!

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Artist of the Week-Jordan Zevon

Andy

– February 10, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week, The Blogs

February is here and just around the corner is the day that singles hate and couples go all out to make sure that they’re going to get some. That’s right, Valentine’s Day. That hallmark holiday made to get people to spend more money in the holiday dead months. As a man who has spent every Valentine’s Day alone and brooding in both his teen and adult life, I felt it would be a fitting time and fun idea to recognize some artists who have spent their time writing self-effacing, bitter, tongue-in-cheek music about the lack of love. This week we honor the artist still breaking out of his shell in the music world, but got schooling from one of the best in the business. Singer-songwriter Jordan Zevon is our first Artist of the Week for February.

Son of legendary musician Warren Zevon, Jordan has a huge pair of shoes to fill, which one would think has worked against him during his musical career. While being descendant of a lyrical master, Jordan himself picked up the talent and has taken his writing in his own direction. Like many youngsters interested in music, Jordan got his start in high school playing in a cover band, and like those same youngsters who dedicate their time to the practice; Jordan Zevon was able to do something with it. He began playing with his band The iMPOSTERS (not of Costello fame), writing music and helping to sell out shows in the LA area.

Before Jordan’s solo career took flight he had the opportunity to work with such talents as Notorious B.I.G., Sarah McLachlan, and Outkast during a stint at Arista Records. He later tried his hand at creating Trademark Entertainment with Jordan Summers (of The iMPOSTERS), co-writing film scripts, doing web design, and working for an amp company. It wasn’t until the news of his father’s illness that Jordan seemed to settle down, and after both his parents’ deaths that he dedicated himself to his music. He helped produce Warren’s final album as well as aided in the posthumous tributes to his late father.

Though Jordan Zevon has only released one album, Insides Out, he demonstrates his knack for songwriting and his ability to poke fun of himself (which you would hope for when the opening song is entitled “The Joke’s On Me”). In the album you see the peppering of his father’s influence with his version of Warren’s Studebaker coming in as one of the songs, but a good amount of the album showcases Jordan’s own road down the path of professional musician. His grasp over the power-pop song is often reminiscent of the Candy Butchers and pre-“Stacy’s Mom” Fountains of Wayne with its quick-witted writing and self-deprecating humor, making him easily likable to anyone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously (everyone likes sarcastic songs about being down and out when it’s put in an up-tempo, right?).

While Jordan’s father may have been a big influence on him, it is both unfair and a sad circumstance that people will often compare him to the late Warren when, at least in this blogger’s opinion, he has done an excellent job of making the point that he has his own originality that is sorely missed in commercial music today. While Insides Out may be the only full-length album, new music is still trickling in from our artist of the week, with his sophomore album Imperfect in the works we can only hope that more will be arriving from Mr. Zevon in the near future.

Useful Links

Official Site

Myspace

Youtube

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Artist of the Week (Legend Series)-Birdmonster

Andy

– February 3, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

The Jan “NEW” ary theme is one that is both fun to work with, but with its drawbacks. Example: finding new bands for the regular week isn’t so tough, but when it comes to finding a legend to stick into the final slot, well, it’s not so easy. How do you determine a band is legendary when the theme itself is to find an artist who is supposed to be emerging as the next big thing (commercially or through other channels)? The choice has been difficult, but in the end I selected a band that has shown the capacity to rock faces on and off of albums, create music accessible to all, and show devotion to the creation of their music. Ladies and gents, welcome Birdmonster as January’s legendary Artist of the Week.

Formed officially in 2004, Birdmonster (like all of our January artists before) began its early phases before they were ever an official band. Schoolyard chums David Klein and Justin Tenuto used to jam together during their formative years in San Diego. It was during their college years and afterward when they linked up with Zach Winter and Peter Arcuni, finally forming what would be today’s Birdmonster, residing in the San Francisco Bay area. Through several connections in print and radio, the band was able to get their shot at luring in a crowd when they opened for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

The band released their self-titled three-song EP in 2004, debuting with long intros, hauntingly fun, danceable, head-bobbing songs. Using the money they made off of the album to tour the states (and frustrating attempts at entering Canada). Only two years later came the self- release of their first full length album, No Midnight, which, while showing a young band having fun, also showed Birdmonster’s skills at changing the pace, keeping their music fresh, and giving audiences what they loved. Intertwined between the 13 tracks were great three-minute pop songs and fast-paced, seven-minute ballads that could make the most stubborn and pretentious of listeners tap their feet and sing along.

Two years later the band released their sophomore album, From the Mountain to the Sea. The album was consistent with the trend of maturity in bands looking for a rise to the top, smoothing out the sound, demonstrating less grit in their songs, but still changing tempo and keeping the tunes catchy and fun. They even released a B-side EP one year after From the Mountain to the Sea hit stores, adding to the potency of what the album could have become. Despite the nature of the albums and band as a whole being something that could (and should) be widespread, their numerous South by Southwest appearances and their indie-radio coverage, the band has never quite taken off in the direction they deserve to go. But they also never look sullen in their musical quests. Through several (nearly stalkerish) meetings with the band at shows, you find that Birdmonster is four guys having a blast, playing their hearts out whether the venue is filled with 500 people, or 5 drunks who happen to be at the bar they’re booked at. Always humble, always good-natured.

Since the release of their B-side album, Blood Memory, there has been a bit of a lull in Birdmonster activity. Peter Arcuni has gone on to do his own side project, Sonny Pete, and Birdmonster shows and tours have been in the decline, but the band recently released a new single, and we can only hope a new album and tour dates are scheduled for the near future. From this blogger’s (and fan’s) eyes, Birdmonster is deserving of far more attention than they have received in the past, but their dedication to their music and their talent and attitudes make them a shoe-in as my pick for artist of the week. As per usual, get your fix below and enjoy!

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Artist of the Week-The Silent Comedy

Andy

– January 27, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

The end of our January new music special is nearly come to a conclusion with only one more week after this one to go, and we are showing no signs of slowing down. This week we bring you a band that is slowly gaining a name for themselves in the music community with songs making their way into the media through different outlets. Given the Golden Globes’ recent awards recognizing the new silent film the Artist, it is only fitting that our Artist of the Week is none other than up and coming band the Silent Comedy.

The Silent Comedy was formed, similar to last week’s artist, Princeton, by brothers who shared a love of and devotion to music. Jeremiah and Joshua Zimmerman, sons of a Pentecostal preacher, discovered their niche and style while traveling Europe and India during the mid-90’s, inspiring their rock/folk/bluegrass band that is gaining traction today (though I’m not quite sure what inspired the awe inspiring mustaches that several members of the band sport). It wasn’t until 2006 that the Silent Comedy took shape and recruited other members, reinforcing the foundation of what would be the four-piece band gradually making head waves today.

Producing music that seems to evoke a cabaret style hoedown with faces being rocked about, the Silent Comedy does an excellent job of giving listeners something exciting, different, and accessible to all. The San Diego quartet teamed up with Brian Karscig of Louis XIV fame in 2008 to produce and record their self-titled EP, which also helped to give the band street cred in both the indie and commercial music worlds. Common Faults, the band’s 2010 LP, saw the album selling out as well as tickets to shows being bought up as though the band had been a major headliner for several years already. The voice of the Silent Comedy was spreading.

I first heard of the Silent Comedy back in September when waiting for the release of Dark Souls, one of the most difficult and challenging video games ever created and released (though not Contra difficult). Their music was used for the advertisement of the game and (aside from raving reviews) was part of what got me extremely excited to play the game and, through my screening of the trailer to friends and acquaintances, got them eager to listen to the band and try their hand at an intense game as well.

The Silent Comedy has been on the upturn as of late, gaining a following throughout the states. Since their formation, and particularly their relation to Brian Karscig, the band has been opening for and playing on bills with the likes of other successful, indie, and up-and-coming artists like the Black Keys, Mumford and Sons, Delta Spirit, the Whigs, Cold War Kids, Flogging Molly, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Razorlight. The Silent Comedy are a band to definitely look out for as this blogger foresees them doing major things in the future. Fortunately, and as always, you can get your fix below! Enjoy!

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Artist of the Week-Princeton

Andy

– January 20, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

Our second artist for our new and up-coming month of music, we’re bringing you some local boys (if you’re from Southern California). This week we have the lovers of literature, the scintillating songsters that make you feel a load smarter just by listening to them, but without that feeling of shame when you don’t get a reference. Ladies and gentlemen, roll out the welcome mat for Eagle Rock’s own Princeton!

Formed in 2005 (though technically together for much longer for reasons revealed in just a moment) by Ben Usen and twins Matt and Jesse Kivel, Princeton took their name from the street in Santa Monica where they grew up rather than the university itself (though given the band’s choice of source material, it would be easy for one to assume the school). While the trio originally began playing music with each other in the late 90’s, 2005 marks the official formation when the three happened to meet up while schooling in London for the first time since they had first sauntered off to college. It was in London where Matt and Jesse also discovered their love for British literature and the Velvet Underground, two huge influences on Princeton’s sound.

Since their formation in 2005, the three have returned to California, settling in Eagle Rock and adding drummer David Kitz to their lineup. 2006 marked the band’s first EP, self-released and titled A Case of the Emperor’s Clothes. Princeton’s music, while certainly having the Velvet Underground influence, also seems to add a sound that brings you to something in between Sea Wolf, the Cure, Vampire Weekend, and the feeling of a Hawaiian sunset. The twins’ literary influence also shines through in their ability to paint vivid pictures, providing excellent imagery for their listeners.

As mentioned above, despite their intellectual and seemingly highbrow content, the band is anything but. Behind the instruments and the smart lyrics, you find some humble young men who are just as happy making music as they are shaking your hand and striking up a conversation. Perhaps this is just one of the many draws that Princeton offers? After all, if you just got schooled in theoretical physics by a stranger, wouldn’t you want to be able to fearlessly approach them and strike up a conversation? And perhaps it’s this quality that lands them gigs with other rising stars like Ra Ra Riot, Phoenix, aforementioned Vampire Weekend, and former Artist of the Week recipient What Made Milwaukee Famous.

Princeton released their debut album, Cocoon of Love, in 2009 just one year after having wowed listeners with their Bloombury EP, showcasing their songs devoted entirely to British authors, and are currently and gradually on their way to more. Every year sees the release of new songs giving listeners a taste of the goods to come and the steady maturation of a band that seemingly got their start at a mature state. Time can only tell what good things Princeton can do, and we can only hope that those good things are plenty. As usual, get your fix below and enjoy!

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Artist of the Week-Middle Class Rut

Andy

– January 13, 2012Posted in: Artist of the Week

A hearty welcome to 2012 and our first artist of the week…of the year! In case you didn’t happen to tune in to the show, this month we’re showcasing the new tunes, the up-and-comers, and the soon-to-be-known. Our artist this week is one who, in their few years together, is managing to make way into the media eye. Say hello to the year’s first artist of the week: Middle Class Rut.

Officially formed in 2006, Middle Class Rut was in development years before when the only members of the band, Sean Stockham and Zack Lopez, were teens writing songs in Sacramento, California. Through trial and error with their earlier band, Leisure, as well as the natural forces of life that puts distance between best friends, the boys learned from their experiences and realized that making music together was their calling. When 2006 rolled around the two already had tons of experience working together, gelling, and discovering the direction that they wanted to take with Middle Class Rut, and the two have managed to keep it up.

When you listen to Middle Class Rut you get a mish-mash of rock and punk influences that leaves them sounding somewhere between Jane’s Addiction, the Futureheads, and early Green Day. One thing setting them apart from other bands making it into the commercial spotlight is the dedication and passion involved in their music. Stockham and Lopez possess the honorable and admirable quality that they feel the need to tackle the process of musical production all on their own. And while the do it yourself style music has certainly taken hold in many underground avenues; it’s not often that you see this spreading into the ears of people listening to commercial stations and making waves all around the world.

Though Middle Class Rut have been around a good amount of time as friends and just over five years as a band itself, the duo have released only one full-length album, which was back in 2010. While this may seem lacking to people desiring more music from the band, their track record for EP and single releases more than makes up for only one album. What’s more, their 2010 album, No Name No Color, was a sort of farrago of songs recorded over the friends’ years of collaboration, never having been taken to a studio to be re-recorded, adding to the personal aspect of the album itself.

Middle Class Rut has been demonstrating their talents the world over and though their road has been long, their efforts have not been fruitless. Stockham and Lopez have been billed with big-time names like Social Distortion, Weezer, Alice in Chains, and Them Crooked Vultures. They’ve also been popping up in other forms of media. Hell, were it not for NHL 12’s soundtrack I doubt I would have heard of them any sooner. Here’s to hoping to hearing more Middle Class Rut and to a happy New Year for all our readers and staff! As per usual, follow the links below to your enjoyment!

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Artist of the Week (Legend Series)-R.E.M.

Andy

– December 23, 2011Posted in: Artist of the Week, The Blogs

The end of the year is here and with that comes our final artist of the week for the year. As mentioned in the clues during the show, our artist has mirrored our year in that they too are coming to a close. After 30 years as a band making hit records, paving the way for alternative rock, and serving as inspiration for many other bands to come, R.E.M. helps us wrap up the year by being our Legendary Artist of the Week. We here at Enter the Shell invite you to take a look back on your (and our) 2011 as well as the history of R.E.M. in hopes that you’ll finish off the year on a positive note.

Most of you probably already know R.E.M. and while perhaps not the clearest on their origin story, or their entire career, you’ve probably had run-ins with the band in your life. Whether you’ve been the angst-ridden teen, the rejected, misunderstood, and lovelorn youth who listened to ”Everybody Hurts” over and over again in your car, or the guy who just enjoys a well-written, expertly-crafted song, R.E.M. has the ability to deliver alternative rock in a professional and talented manner. While perhaps not the band you think of when you’re thinking far-out or experimental, R.E.M.’s specialty is making catchy, well-rounded tunes with meaning and sentiment, and having done so through hard work and perseverance, making them accessible and relatable to any and all beings wishing to take part.

Forming in Athens, Georgia, in 1980, Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Peter Buck, and Bill Berry, formed what would be one of the most influential bands of current music. A college band at first among friends sharing similar musical tastes in punk rock, they grew into something prolific. While not an immediate success, the band (having taken their name from a dictionary at random) worked hard and put out an album a year from 1983 to 1988. Gaining traction in the underground and collegiate communities, R.E.M.’s demonstration of captivating listeners earned them their first gold album in 1986, Lifes Rich Pageant. Commercial success was right around the corner.

From there the story of R.E.M. shows the band becoming more and more successful. Their model of hard work while remaining true to the music and loyal to themselves has helped to inspire future acts like Sonic Youth and Nirvana. The band managed to keep the respect of an unknown band trying to make it and tell a story or support a cause, meanwhile raking in boatloads of dough, something that is not easily done (as the boatloads of dough will then put the raker of dough under scrutiny). Whether they or others like it or not, R.E.M. have become the unofficial poster-boys of how to make it in the big-times without looking like pretentious, undeserving, self-absorbed lunatics that many with fame and fortune tend to become.

Thirty years after the initial undertaking of their musical journey, R.E.M. have reached the end of their road. Their final album, Collapse Into Now, was released earlier this year and with it saw the break-up of the band. Though the band may be split, it has been done under amicable circumstances, leaving room in the future for reunions and holiday specials or whatnot. With fifteen albums under their belts, three Grammy’s, and numerous chart-topping and top-10 singles and albums, R.E.M. has a legacy left for those just learning about music to brush up on, and a great history for anyone wanting to revisit them. And as usual, we here at Enter the Shell have the links to get you started. Happy Holidays and we hope you enjoy the music!

Useful Links

And hey, just ’cause 2012 is coming up and the world’s supposed to end and all that hoopla, video below!

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Artist of the Week-Arcade Fire

Andy

– December 16, 2011Posted in: Artist of the Week

We’ve reached that point in time where we now have to say goodbye to the year of 2011. While we are about to ring in a new year and pull up new resolutions (or revive old ones), it is also the time to reflect upon a year’s worth of deeds, decisions, and dilemmas. Were we true to ourselves? Did we do right by others? Did we accomplish everything we wanted? Well, we can tell you that here at Enter the Shell, we enjoy reflection, checking our progress, and seeing how many of you are moved by our fine articles and shows. So, here to help you with your considerations of things past is a band that is incredibly adept at writing albums that make you look back on life and contemplate the whys of what has occurred. This week we welcome Arcade Fire as our artist of the week.

Whether or not you’re a fan of their music, you have to admit that Arcade Fire have something to them that certainly attracts audiences. Whether it be their lyrical content, their large numbers, or the fact that the music sans lyrics is emotional and oddly empowering in and of itself, they’ve got something that seems to take hold of listeners and keeps them coming back. Yet for having been such a success in both the indie and mainstream charts, getting substantial amounts of air play, touring all over the world, and playing shows with David Bowie and U2, Arcade Fire still seem to slip under the radar of many people. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at videos of reactions to the band winning the Grammy for Album of the Year; there’s a lot of “who the hell is Arcade Fire?” going on out there. This phenomenon seems to keep the band in an acceptable state of cool for both those who enjoy commercial radio and the hipsters who think they’re the bee’s knees because they know of a band that you don’t.

Officially formed in 2003, but with roots back to 2001, Arcade Fire was Win and William Butler, Regine Chassagne, Richard Parry and Tim Kingsbury (they’ve since growngreatly in numbers). The band released a self-titled EP in 2003, and set to record their first full-length that was to be released in 2004. The bands recording origins seem to stem from reflection in their lives as their first album, Funeral, was written as a tribute to the loved ones that the members of the band had lost while they were recording their debut album. When Funeral was finally released in September of 2004 it was laced with the vivid imagery and emotion of people that were truly mourning and seeking comfort and strength for the future. The result was a well-received and powerful album that helped shoot Arcade Fire to the spotlight, giving them tons of major play on commercial radio stations.

Their second album, Neon Bible, released in 2007 showed Win Butler’s reflection of the U.S. of A. from an outsider’s perspective. Buying and recording in an old church in Canada, Neon Bible featured various themes and influences from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Elvis, the album did remarkably well and earned much praise from different indie and commercial sources. Just last year they released The Suburbs, which highlighted and observed youth in suburbia and their maturation and loss of innocence. With the release of The Suburbs, Arcade Fire once again gained critical and commercial acclaim, managing to prove their musical prowess and their dedication to the reality and relation to the struggles of life for people all over the world. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year as well as various other awards at the BRIT and Juno awards.

Arcade Fire have done well for themselves and with their success they manage to give back to various charities. Whether giving aid and raising awareness to problems in Haiti with Partners in Health, or campaigning for Barack Obama, Arcade Fire keeps in mind that being famous doesn’t mean you have to be a snob about it. Their success has also given them artistic and creative liberty to advertise and promote their music through many different programs and music videos. We here at Enter the Shell are happy to show you a few of them. So while you’re reflecting on your past year, follow the links below and let Arcade Fire be right there next to you while you’re looking back on all your (mis)adventures of 2011. Enjoy!

Useful Links

The Wilderness Downtown (pseudo-interactive video that’s pretty neat-o)