FRESH BAKED
in NYC
Manawi Thorn
Feed and Weep
2009 | Self-Released
D+

Originally hailing from Chicago, I’ve had a long exposure to math-rock. If there’s one thing the city of big shoulders keeps alive (other than hospitality, and a magical sandwich called the Italian Beef) it’s technically driven post-rock, bands that are significantly more focused on the musicianship than the music. I left that city thinking that math was just the way local scenes were – that the reason most of these bands didn’t get full on indie exposure (past Don Caballero, and the old guys like Slint and the Jesus Lizard) was because they were somehow more progressive and authentic. They were more interested in creating music for musicians then they were with fans, in a somewhat self-righteous sort of “hey, look at me, I’m finger tapping and you can’t even comprehend my time signatures.” That was just the state of local music. And then I got to Brooklyn.

Manawi Thorn does not sound like a Brooklyn band. They don’t really sound like any band I’ve heard over the last few years, or really much like a band from the 2000s. In fact, the confluence of their sound seems wrapped up in one label and one time: the late 80s in the offices of Touch and Go Records. From the first moments of Feed and Weep, you can almost see Steve Albini creeping around the corner, staring in at the band’s practice. Opener “2 Against 3” starts with an industrial, angular guitar riff blasting off at odd time signatures, a counterintuitive drum beats, and yelped vocals so low in the balance that you’d swear Mr. Albini’s Shellac is moonlighting under a different name (except…err…Thorn isn’t quite as good).

But, at the same time, it is refreshing to hear a band going back to the Melvins, Big Black, and the Jesus Lizard, and starting from there. Those definitional bands still find their way into modern indie, and Steve Albini continues to leave his fingerprints on all sorts of music, but it’s different than hearing any new output in line with Songs About Fucking or Goat.
More on Manawi Thorn | Feed and Weep

Weekly Review
For the small number of you not out at the first official Pool Party of the summer (or for the many of you waiting in the forever-long line with your iPhones and nothing to do), here’s a wrap-up of this week’s music news…

At the local level: 2009 Summer Park Jams (already underway) and Siren Festival (taking place next weekend), schedules finalized. Both promise to be rollicking good, sweaty summer times. Also, Sufjan (Brooklyn resident) reworking Enjoy Your Rabbit for the Brooklyn quartet Osso. Resulting LP will be called Run Rabbit Run.

At the state level: Shellac, Crystal Castles, and Sufjan (crossing local-state boundaries), have been added to All Tomorrow’s Parties lineup. Will take place from September 11th-13th in Monticello, NY.

At the national level, in order of importance: Foo Fighters played 4th of July party last Sunday for Obama, debuted new song; NIN has announced lineup of final shows; and Panic at the Disco now (again) Panic! At the Disco.

At the international level, Leonard Cohen has enforced strict no-more-“Hallelujah”-cover policy. And, the only piece of news to reach an intergalactic level, David Bowie will release new EP this month, featuring “Space Oddity,” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of man walking on the moon.

by Elana Jacobs

DAILY NEWS PICKS

Nas Writing New Album; Claims Hip-Hop Has Responsibility To “Keep Shit Crunchy” [Billboard]

Jay Reatard Thinks Pains of Being Pure at Heart is Boring and Therefore Hates Entirety of Brooklyn [Brooklyn Vegan]

Bring a Can of Squirt and See Girl Talk For Free (Wait, They Still Make Squirt?) [Pitchfork]

Nine Inch Nails’ Final Tour Announced – Four Confirmed New York Dates in August [Brooklyn Vegan]

Most Banal News Story of the Day: Panic at the Disco Re-Rename Themselves Panic! At the Disco [Idolator]

Scottland’s The Swell Season Record Announce New Album The Strict Joy [Spin]

Shellac(!), Crystal Castles(!), and Sufjan Stevens (!!!!) Added to All Tomorrow’s Parties New York [Brooklyn Vegan]

Leonard Cohen Feels “Hallelujah” Has Been Covered Too Many Times; Meanwhile, Some Highschooler Covers “Hallelujah” For Girlfriend [NME]Leon

Dinosaur Jr.’s Farm Recalled For Rocking Too Hard; Causing Deafness [Pitchfork]

Jay-Z Possibly To Release Book of Lyrical Explanations [Prefix]

Madonna Performs With Sunn O)); Picture is Unbelievably Awesome [Tripwire]

compiled by Max Sebela