Psycho Magnet

Los Campesinos! "We Throw Parties You Throw Knives"

This twee-pop debut single from Cardiff teenagers Los Campesinos! is packed with promise. Though there are seven members of the and, nowhere does it feel bloated, and the use of percussion makes it impossible to stay still while listening. The backing vocals are sung by female members of the band, making a sweet contrast to the ragged lead vocals. Though far from the most complex song or band to establish themselves in the past few years, Los Campesinos! has promise, as evidenced by the quirky, off-beat indie found on this single. Their lyrics are no less amusing, and B-side "Don't tell me to do the math(s)" begs us to "give [our] lives to literature"--as long as we don't read Jane Eyre, before telling us their plan to deck the room in fairy lights. An excellent debut single from a band that is sure to produce great things in the not-so-distant future.

Lily Seglin

NEWSFLASH:

The Fratellis' second-best song, "Flathead," is featured in the new iPod commercials. Though "Chelsea Dagger" may be a better song, "Flathead" is a song to make you sing and dance.

Bah-dah-bah-bah-bah-dah-bah-dah...!

Lily Seglin

The Competition

So PM isn't always there for you. We empathize. You may love us, but we don't always provide the high end gloss and fuss that you may be wishing for. Never fear, indie music populace! We have two magazines that, if you're in a pinch, you can always pick up.

The first magazine we at PM would like to recommend is the legendary NME. Famous for breaking bands like the Sex Pistols, the Smiths and the Libertines, the NME is the closest thing we have to a trashy music tabloid. Always lurid and sensational, the NME is always reliable for a gossipy interview with an up-and-coming band or proclaiming a new group as The Best Thing Ever. Props for its sense of humor and great new band section. And also for featuring our editors in the letters page on a fairly regular basis. Just don't take anything you see written seriously, and ignore all mentions to the Kooks, the View or the Horrors.

The second magazine that PM likes to read on airplanes (yes, PM editors must fly occasionally) is Filter. Filter is, quite frankly, the exact opposite of the NME. American, reserved, and filled to the brim with pretension, Filter is what to read when craving an understated interview with an established band, or a quick profile of someone like...the Arctic Monkeys. The magazine to read when you need to feel as though your music taste is far superior to everyone else's taste.

But neither of these magazines are perfect, and that's why you have us!

Lily Seglin

"Good" Music in Pop-Culture

While many of us Indie-Music fans (especially the American ones) find ourselves being ignored by the general press, at least there are certain TV shows and movies that have killer soundtracks taht we can point to and yell "Hey, I know that band!" Three soundtracks that you must own:

1. "The O.C." soundtracks
Though little more than an addictive teen drama, The O.C. has introduced many beloved indie bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Death Cab for Cutie to the mainstream. While it would be a stretch to call these bands "indie" anymore, the O.C. has also provided a jumpstart for bands such as Bromheads Jacket, The Subways, and Stars. How anyone can deride its indie cred is impossible--thanks to this show, mainstream radio is a little better, and your younger sister is humming Kaiser Chiefs.

2. "Marie-Antoinette" soundtrack
One listen and you're transported to a world filled with dancing, dresses, and the Strokes. Oh, and don't forget all of that great 80's stuff you've forgotten about. Like any Sophia Coppala movie, this one is dripping in hipster cred (gotta love the pink converse) but this one is above and beyond the rest with its mix of past, present, and future.

3. "Brothers of the Head" soundtrack
This little movie's soundtrack may not feature anyone familiar. In fact, the only band on it is the fictional Bang Bang, the subject of this faux-documentary. Though these aren't the punk songs of the "Olden Days," they are certainly the embodiment of everything written by the Sex Pistols. A great act of traditional punk, with spice missing today.

Lily Seglin

Editorial: Unwanted Music Trends in Music

-All style, no substance: NME-hype bands like the Horrors are becoming famous overnight for their image, yet they do little by way of music. Though the Horros are doing some interesting things musically with the use of electronica and white noise, it is doubtful that it was their music that earned them that coveted NME cover before other, more accomplished bands. The NME has a bad habit of overhyping bands that have put out little. Sometimes this is a good thing until the backlash hits (Arctic Monkeys), while more often than not, these bands just sort of...collapse. So please, music press, recognize bands that deserve to be recognized rather than bands that just look good.

-Lukewarm versions of good music: The View seem to embody this type of band perfectly, which abound on Radio1 Playlists, AND in indie clubs. Quite simply, The View and their kind have taken what we love out of bands like the Libertines and sucked the excitement from it. Gone are the "ohmygod are they going to fall apart?" scrambles of riotious music. Instead, the View, wishing to make a buck/get famous as teens/become proper rock stars have created a formula of family-friendly "indie" rock.

-Rock Operas: "Tommy" was the last good one. My Chemical Romance--just stop, you're embarassing yourselves. Though your stories are interesting and whatnot, they are way over your heads both musically and lyrically for your third album. Leave it till the sixth or seventh.

-James Blunt

Lily Seglin

Five Bands To Watch in 2007

1. Dustin's Bar Mitzvah
All of us that went through Jewish rights of passage can sigh and exchange wry smiles at these goofballs's names, but Dustin's Bar Mitzvah's musical sensibilites are nothing to laugh about. Their first full-length album, "Get Your Mood On" didn't set the charts afire but shook the core of music listeners everywhere. Even those of us that love the scholarly lyrics of Larrikin Love or the reality checks of Arctic Monkeys need something to lose everything to, and this is the perfect soundtrack. Whether singing songs about the absolute urge to just listen to the Ramones or chanting about their past as Catholic schoolboys, Dustin's Bar Mitzvah is music made to enjoy.

2. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
Bright Eyes may be an emoindie icon that angsty teens listen to religiously, but Conor Obrest isn't the end-all-be-all of singer-songwriters. The politically-charged, electronica-folk that Sam Duckworth, under the name of GCWCF writes, produces, and performs is perhaps the most innovative music to come out of the British Isles in years.

3. Jakobinarina
Profiled by PM a few months ago, Jakobinarina are six Icelandic teens who have more in common with the Sex Pistols than Sufjan Stevens. Wailing in surprisingly British accents about leaving their island homes and bank robbign in order to raise the funds, these Prince Harry-lookalikes won't be lacking for attention soon. Look for these guys to shoot for the stars in the future. They won't even need to rob that much talked-about bank.

4. The Holloways
These chipper-cockney-gypsy lads have been getting considerable (random) airplay in the United States. Though you probably haven't heard of them yet, their debut, "This Is Great Britain" made a small peep in the UK last year, and they share a violin player with Larrikin Love. Regardless of any preconcieved notions one may have about this band, "Generator" is guarenteed to put a smile on even the face of the Grinch.

5. The Maccabees

Like the Futureheads. Only better. Enough said.

Lily Seglin

Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"

Arcade Fire's first album, "Funeral" was rightly heralded as a revelation. The desperate, heartbreaking melodies coupled with painful lyrics created a masterpiece. As a result, Arcade Fire has waited to release its next album until the band was certain that their work was a successful follow up to the acclaimed debut. While "Neon Bible" does not have the goosebump factor that accompanies the emotions of listening to "Funeral" for the first time, its lyrics are still haunting and the sound is still the same chilling Arcade Fire sound. However, "Neon Bible's" sound is slightly darker than "Funeral's", and the use of heavy drum beats in songs like "Black Mirror" show the group's exploration into other genres. "Intervention," however, is something special, very much like tracks found on "Funeral." It is a beautiful, melodious song, and the vocals soar to extraordinary heights. However, much of the albums pales in comparison to this song, and falls into somewhat of a repitious rut. Though Arcade Fire's magic is still strong, the band has played it safe after "Funeral," and "Neon Bible" is easy to like without much thought.

6/7

Lily Seglin

Patrick Wolf has been fascinating, enlightening, and uplifting music fans for the pas three years, after he released his debut album at the mere age of 20. Since then, Patrick's releases have been filled with melancholy acoustic tunes and emotional electropop. His latest album, entitled "The Magic Position" is no exception. In keeping with his new bright red hair, Patrick's new album is much more uplifting than his previous work, and his pop influences are evident in bouncy songs such as the title track and first single "Accident and Emergency," which features a small cameo by Edward Larrikin. Though Patrick is still young, his voice is fuller and more mature than on "Wind in the Wires," taking on an almost Morrissey-like tone while still sounding unique. "Bluebells" is the standout track here, sounding simultaneously like every heartbreakingly beautiful love song written, but at the same time completely unique. It's an organic song, one that satisfies even the pickiest listener. The dark lyrics and melodies of "Lycanthropy" are gone, vanquished by the cathartic "Wind in the Wires," and Patrick, through his avenue of bright electropop songs, shines His beloved quirks are still on display with "Magpie," featuring Marianne Faithful, while the ballad "Augustine" would not be out of place on a previous CD. Patrick's confidence grows with every album he produces, and "The Magic Position," while much different from his previous work, is no exception.

6.5/7

Lily Seglin

Update Re: Updates

Thanks to special agent Lily who kept us alive (barely! Thanks Lil!) we are not completely dead. Thanks to school, family, and other stressful circumstances we haven't all been as on-the-ball as we should have been. However, the website is up and running, the boards have been de-hacked, and the writers (a few of them at least) have regained interest in the PM project. So all hope is not lost! All I can say is, more updates to come, and thank you to all our readers for keeping interest in us.

Love,

Meghan from the Psycho Magnet Team

Top Breakout Artists of the Year

-CSS

Cansei de Ser Sexy may be Brazilian and barely make sense lyrically, but that doesn't mean that their dance-punk isn't something special. By singing somewhat understandable songs about partying, love, and lust, Lovefoxxx (as the lead singer likes to be called) becomes the dancing diva in everyone's soul. So much easier to dance to than Kanye West.

-The View

Chants of "The View are on fire!!" were everywhere this year, and retaliatory shouts of "Libertweenies!" were all but silenced by the chart-topping hits by these Scottish teens. The View responded to the inevitable criticism with catchy songs that could bridge the gap between social groups.

-The Horrors
Love 'em or hate 'em (that is the question...oops! Wrong artist!), the Horrors certainly came out of obscurity this year with a stream of hit songs about parasites, death, and...Jack the Ripper. Though their musical ability is questionable, no doubt there are several hundred Lahhdahhn kids dying their hair and wearing flowy sleeves right now. We'll see what happens next year upon the release of their album.

-Les Incompetents

Only the good die young, and the fast end of Les Incompetents garnered them more press than they received during their duration as a band. Thought they're no longer together making music, "How It All Went Wrong" is the most uplifting song of the year, bar none. Something to sing at 4 AM.

-The Maccabees

Wow, the Futureheads managed to clone themselves! Oh well. Who cares when their songs are this good? "First Love" is like the great ballad Wire never wrote. Fact.

-The Bang Bang

The Bang Bang aren't a current band, nor are they actually real. The fake band from the awesome, tragically underrated "Brothers of the Head" fooled many into thinking that the punk band from 1975 actually existed and was lead by conjoined twins. Regardless of the band's veracity, the music is excellent and worthy of any "Punk is dead!"-screaming snob.

-d.o.c.h.

d.o.c.h. were the side project of Fettes Brot, a German hip hop group. d.o.c.h.'s lone song, "Was in der Zeitung Steht" was all in German, and the few times they performed live, the band was actually just made up of actors. But this band garnered quite the internet following with their humorous take on Babyshambles and friends in the WIDZS video.