Showing posts with label Miniature Tigers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miniature Tigers. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Review: Miniature Tigers - Tell It To The Volcano (* * * *)

After posting a bit about Miniature Tigers a couple weeks ago, I decided I needed to hear their debut album, Tell It To The Volcano, as soon as possible. The record was released last year digitally and will be getting a proper physical release soon, but I wanted to write this review while the excitement of hearing the songs was still fresh in my mind. "Volcano" is a light-hearted, fun album full of pop hooks and clever lyrics that is especially refreshing in the midst of so many self-serious indie bands out there today.

Starting things off is the first single, "Cannibal Queen," an extra-catchy album highlight about singer Charlie Brand's attempt to find love with a good girl. The band also shine especially bright on the bitter, yet humorous title track which presents an interesting (and primitive) look into getting over that previously special someone. Brand has a quirky way of describing what could otherwise be very familiar and normal situations, like experiencing a change of heart, "I'm no longer on a quest to get girls undressed" or post-break-up depression, "I listen to Tchaikovsky and cry, pour myself a glass of red wine." Yet, even has he slings clever phrases and odd metaphors, he manages to seem relatively sincere about the subject matter.

Elsewhere, Miniature Tigers get mopey ("Annie Oakley"), territorial ("The Wolf"), and creepy ("Like or Like Like"), but if you're not paying close attention, you might just assume they're throwing a 29 minute, low-key party. The music on Tell It To The Volcano feels effortlessly ear-pleasing with a fun blend of acoustic guitars, various keys, and well-placed vocal harmony that keeps a good pace and never overstays its welcome. Brand may have a sharp wit, but his melodic hooks are sharper; he's hurt, he's angry, and maybe a bit unstable, but he's not about to let that get in the way of a good time.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Miniature Tigers announce tour, plan retail album release

The first thing I heard about Miniature Tigers was the following quote from Austin Town Hall, "With a sound that’s poppy and pretty easy on the ears, these guys might just be the new Vampire Weekend you peoples are all looking for..." My interest piqued, I checked out the first single, "Cannibal Queen" from the band's digitally-released debut entitled Tell it to the Volcano. The song features Charlie Brand's quirky lyrical style backed by the band's bouncy, rhythmic guitar/drum/bass combo. While I don't completely agree with the Vampire Weekend comparison, the catchy indie-pop sound that Miniature Tigers create is indeed worthy of our attention.

Download the aforementioned song below along with the video (quite bizarre, and hilarious):

Cannibal Queen - MP3

Cannibal Queen - Music Video (Download)

The band have an extensive tour planned with the likes of Lenka and Dear & The Headlights and will also play at SXSW. They are also planning on a retail release for the Tell it to the Volcano late this year, though the album is available on iTunes now.


Tour Dates (May be incomplete - check their MySpace page as well)

With Lenka
1/15/09 Thu San Francisco CA The Independent
1/16/09 Fri Modesto CA Modesto Virtual
1/17/09 Sat Santa Barbara CA SoHo

With Dear & The Headlights
2/24/09 Tue Los Angeles CA Knitting Factory
2/25/09 Wed Anaheim CA Chain Reaction
2/26/09 Thu Modesto CA Modesto Virtual
2/27/09 Fri San Francisco CA Bottom of the Hill
2/28/09 Sat Orangevale CA Boardwalk
3/1/09 Sun Portland OR Satyricon
3/2/09 Mon Seattle WA El Corazon
3/4/09 Wed Boise ID The Venue
3/5/09 Thu Salt Lake City UT Avalon Theatre
3/7/09 Sat Denver CO Marquis Theatre
3/8/09 Sun Omaha NE Sokol Underground
3/10/09 Tue Minneapolis MN Triple Rock
3/11/09 Wed Iowa City IA Picador
3/12/09 Thu Chicago IL Reggie's Rock Club
3/13/09 Fri Columbia MO Mojo's
3/14/09 Sat Tulsa OK The Marquee
3/15/09 Sun Dallas TX The Door
3/17/09 Tue San Antonio TX Rock Bottom Bar

SXSW
3/19/09 Thu Austin TX Jackalope