The Greatest American Band Debate: The Up-and-Comers

For the greatest American band debate, today I'm going to write about some current bands that I think are on the verge of belonging in the conversation. These particular bands aren't quite at the level of some of the other bands I've written about, but they could be if they continue on their current paths. Some of these bands have only put out one, two or three albums, but the albums they've released have put quite an impression on not only me, but the masses as well.

The first band I want to talk about is Alabama Shakes. I have written about them already on the website, reviewing their most recent album "Sound and Color". As my review stated, I love this album. It's a wonderful array of different genres of rock music. They use cool effects and bring in new instruments to mess around with. Their first album, "Boys and Girls" was an out of nowhere phenomena to me. I had a friend tell me about the record, I bought it not having heard anything from it, and was immediately hooked. It's a throwback to swamp rock. It's funkier than any Creedance album I've heard, and Brittany Howard is a powerhouse. If Alabama Shakes continues to get better and experiment like they have on their first two records, there will be no denying the fact that they belong in the conversation. They are bringing swamp rock to the masses and taking chances that make their music sound that much better. Alabama Shakes are a very good band.

Another band that is on the verge is Ratatat. I've written about their record and concert on the website. They are bringing electronic music to the masses. Their newest album, "Magnifique", was one of the best reviewed records of the year. Ratatat is the newer, better version of a band like YES or ELO. Their electronic music appeals to the masses because it's guitar driven. It's not jump computers and repetitive beats used over and over again. It's actual music that has a beginning, middle and end. There are no words, but you get the gist while listening. You can also tell when the bridge comes in. They are weirdos making some of the best electronic music I've ever heard. They have released more albums than the other bands I will mention today, but they don't have the mass appeal that some of the other bands do. That has begun to change with "Magnifique", and if my father is into an electronic band, they have to be good because he doesn't like electronic music at all. Ratatat is a great band that is finally getting noticed.

Black Joe Lewis has a chance to be huge. On their first two records the band went by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. They played some of the funkiest rock and roll I'd ever heard. Black Joe Lewis almost sounds like a modern day James Brown, scream singing lyrics, and the rest of the band is dynamite. The horn section is absolutely phenomenal. The drums and guitars are totally on point. After the release of their first two albums, they changed their name to Black Joe Lewis. They've released one album under this name and while it's not as funky, it's one of the best rock and roll albums I've heard in a long time. The band uses very heavily distorted guitars and they almost have a metal sound. But, just when you think it's going to be Black Sabbath esque, Black Joe Lewis comes in with his awesome, gruff voice and gives you what you are used to out of the band. The horns even make an appearance on more than half the album. Black Joe Lewis is great. They are one of the best rock bands out there now. They should be playing arenas, but they may like playing the smaller venues more. Black Joe Lewis is incredible. Go out and listen to them now.

The Arcs, another band I've written about before, put out one of the coolest albums I've heard all year. "Yours Dreamily" is a Western movie soundtrack with fantastic musicians playing the music. It's not corny like most Western movie music, it's rock and roll mixed with funk, blues and even a little R&B. It's not literally a Western movie soundtrack, that's just what it sounds like to me. The Arcs are one of Dan Auerbach's side projects. He has many other interests outside of the Black Keys, but The Arcs has been my personal favorite. It doesn't hurt that Richard Swift is the co founder of this band. He's an awesome solo artist, and he's been playing bass with the Black Keys on their most recent tour. Dan Auerbach has a chance to be in this conversation at least twice. He's a musical genius and I'd take him any day over the extremely overrated Jack White. If The Arcs continue to make more and more records, I'd be hard pressed to not write about them for the greatest American band debate.

The last band I want to talk about today is St. Paul and the Broken Bones. They've only released one album so far, but it's dynamite. "Half the City" is 50's and 60's R&B come to life in the 21st century. The band plays excellent, funky music in the background and the lead singer has one of the best voices I've heard in a long while. He can hit very high notes. He reminds me of a modern, better Rufus Thomas. The band is incredible, as I stated before, and they play perfect funk/R&B music. Not too many people know St. Paul and the Broken Bones, but I have a feeling that will change very soon. They have a radio friendly sound and they will start to become more and more popular within the next few years, especially if their future albums are as good as their debut. There are many other bands I'm leaving out of the discussion today, but these five have the best chance to end up in the greatest American band debate in the future. As long as they all continue to do what they're doing, and get better and better, they will all be as famous and popular as the bands I've written about for this debate previous to today.

Go out and listen to these bands if you don't already. You'll thank me later.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man podcast. He will be travelling a lot this Thanksgiving and plans on listen to these bands multiple times. Follow Ty on twitter @tykulik.

Ty saw Ratatat live, and you should too

Delivering the best in electronica

Last night I saw Ratatat at the Pageant in St. Louis and it was a really excellent show.

I bought the tickets last month while on vacation in the UP of Michigan and the excitement had continued to build for the entire month of August all the way to last night. I usually don't get too excited for concerts like I used to. When I was a teenager and in my early twenties, I'd buy tickets in advance and constantly think about the upcoming show. I would be on razors edge by the time the show came around. It was not a great way to go to shows because I felt like I was too amped up when the concert finally happened and, while the shows were usually great, I didn't enjoy the experience as much as I should have. As I've gotten older, I don't get overly excited until I'm at the show. Last night, I found a happy medium between my two selves. I was very excited, but I've learned to temper expectations until after the show when I can really critique it. What had me more excited than normal was the fact that I'd never seen Ratatat before. Most shows I go to now, it's bands that I know will be good, or great. I don't have the time to go check someone out live that I only know a few songs, or have never heard of. I'm getting to old to discover new music live. I prefer to listen to someone on record many times before I commit to seeing them live. Ratatat brought out old feelings in me. I was excited to see a band for the first time. Full disclosure, I've listened to their records a TON and I knew exactly what I was getting into, thus making the decision to go easy. I brought my brother Seth along. He's the one who introduced me to the band and he's closest in age to me, being only four years older than me. What made the anticipation greater for me, Seth goes to a lot of live music, he's seen somewhere in the thousands of live shows, but he'd only seen Ratatat once, seven years ago. He was, for all intents and purposes, as new to them as I was.

Let's get to the show. The opener was one guy that called himself Hot Sugar. We arrived late to the show because, unless it's a double bill, I don't care for openers. They're usually boring and are only on the tour because they're on the same label as the headliner. We walked in during his first song, listened for about 2 minutes and went outside. We re-entered the venue when he was playing his last song, heard about another two minutes and he was off the stage. So, four total minutes of Hot Sugar and that was all I needed to hear to know I didn't care for his music. It was ambient DJ music, I bet if I stayed for his whole 40 minute set, I could've taken a cat nap. But, openers don't really matter, let's get to Ratatat. Their set started with a big projection screen that had Ratatat written in big block letters. The music playing sounded like something out of Star Wars and the block letters were shooting off fireworks. The band finally emerged and for an hour and a half, they crushed. Their set ran the gammit of their albums. They played songs off of all their albums. They opened with "Pricks of Brightness" off their new album "Magnifique". It was an awesome way to start the show. The lead guitarist shredded and his band member played a really heavy, chest thumping bass line. The set only got better from there. Other tracks off "Magnifique" included an excellent version of their six and a half minute epic "Nightclub Amnesia". They played the slower, what I call their "Mario Bros" water level song, "Magnifique". They played their single "Cream on Chrome" and my favorite song off the new album, "Abrasive". It was great to hear these songs since they're so fresh in my head. But, as I said earlier, they played songs off all their albums. Other standouts were, "Wildcat", "Shempi" and "Loud Pipes". "Loud Pipes" was pretty great. They played a bit of guitar, but both members of the band ditched their guitars for a couple minutes and banged away on the drum that each had set up in front of them. The same can be said for "Shempi". Both songs have guitar in them, but they focus more on the drums and it was a nice change of pace from the majority of the show. "Wildcat" is a classic Ratatat song. When you hear the cat's growl, you know it's on. That song is incredible live. What I was happily surprised by, they played "Seventeen Years". It was their first of two encore songs. This was the song that introduced me to Ratatat. I didn't know that "electronica" music could be guitar driven, but "Seventeen Years" proved me wrong. It was AWESOME live. I was so, so happy to hear this song last night. It's my favorite Ratatat song and it's always nice when a band you like plays your favorite song at a live show.

The songs were great, but the show going on behind them was just as cool. They had a big projector behind them and two flat screens on the side of the stage. Random images were shown on these devices throughout the show. We saw lions, birds, old sculptures and an eight armed running baby. The lead guitarist would stand in front of the projector screen when it was white and we got to see his shadow throwing down on guitar. It was pretty great. The light show was awesome too. They had a ton of reflective lights and pulsing white and orange lights throughout their set. The light show we got during "Nightclub Amnesia" was exceptional. I felt like I was in a disco in the 70's, but in a good way. The two guys in the band also provided me enjoyment. They each stood, at various moments, with their legs spread about a foot apart and proceeded to play their instruments phenomenally. My only gripe with the concert had to do with the venue. I love the Pageant, but the balcony was closed and the 21 and over area was packed. When we were in that area, I felt like a sardine in a can. It was very uncomfortable. Thankfully, Seth suggested we move to the under 21 section, since neither of us were drinking, and it was our best decision of the night. No gripes with Ratatat, just with the choices the venue made.

This was an excellent show and I'm extremely happy I got to see Ratatat live. They were on my concert bucket list and I can now cross them off. I will see them any other time they come to St. Louis. They were that great. So, if Ratatat comes anywhere close to you and you're a fan, see them.

It's well worth your money.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the co-host of the X Millennial Man podcast. If you come to St. Louis to play a show, Ty will be there in the under 21 section to do a review. Follow him on twitter @tykulik.