Band: Radar Bros.
Album: Auditorium
Label: Merge
Album: Auditorium
Label: Merge
Release Date: 1/29/08
Rating: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
For me, the Radar Bros. are the most important LA indie band of the last decade. Lead singer/guitarist Jim Putnam came on the scene in the early 1990s as a guitarist in Medicine. Medicine was a well-liked noise-pop/shoegaze band signed to Rick Rubin’s Def American.
Putnam and Eddie Ruscha (Dada Munchamonkey, Future Pigeon, Dub Club DJ, son of world famous artist Ed Ruscha) left early in Medicine’s life to form a new band called Maids of Gravity. Maids of Gravity had some moderate success with Ruscha as the frontman.
In 1994, Putnam grabbed his good friend Steve Goodfriend for drums and recorded some demos. Senon Williams joined and they became the Radar Bros. With their first LP in 1996, the Radar Bros. were usually compared to slowcore bands like Low and Codeine. I like those bands too, but it never made complete sense because those bands really can rock you to sleep.
While I liked the Radar Bros. eponymous debut album, it wasn’t until the follow up in 1999 (The Singing Hatchet) that I started calling them my favorite band in LA. Putnam was getting really good in the studio (it runs in the family) and the production was lush. The pop elements in the songs were more evident and Putnam’s lyrics were becoming weirder in a great way.
Cut to 2002 and the release of their third album, And the Surrounding Mountains on Merge Records. Pink Floyd/Meddle comparisons abound and the best reviews to date pour in. Putnam’s still got the breathy, soft voice but as you listen, you realize he’s singing about some really sinister shit. It’s a fucked up concept record, and even better than the The Singing Hatchet.
Following up And the Surrounding Mountains couldn’t have been an easy task. In 2005, they released their fourth full length and second for Merge, The Fallen Leaf Pages. The record’s really special to me because the record release party finally got me out to Sea Level Records in Echo Park and I met my girlfriend that night.
Following their pattern (a record every three years), the Radar Bros. are about to release their fifth album, Auditorium (out January 28th on Merge). Fans will not be disappointed. Beginning to end, this might be their best record yet. Williams and Goodfriend are still there, as is a new participant, touring guitarist Jeff Palmer. At its heart, the record’s got all the trademarks of the band. It’s lush and layered with pop elements and Putnam’s soothing voice. The production’s the best yet and they incorporate new sound textures. Lyrically, it’s still weird with some of Putnam’s best stuff yet (“the fat cops make bigger targets” and “I keep drinking your tailgate piss”). He’s got nature and politics on his mind. The record’s perfect for sitting around a campfire drinking beer, or sitting on your porch with a friend getting high, or driving home from the beach after a long day in the sun.
You’ve got two more chances to see the Radar Bros. during their Monday night residency at the Echo. If you really want to see and hear the band, your best bet is this week’s (the 21st) show. The following week’s show features Brian Aubert (Silversun Pickups) and Everest as the support acts, so it promises to be a zoo. Rumors are starting to circulate that Senon’s leaving the Radar Bros. after this residency to focus on his other band, Dengue Fever. Jim Putnam will be a guest on the Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) show on Little Radio this Thursday to talk about it. See these guys now, before it’s too late.
Download “Warm Rising Sun”
Rating: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
For me, the Radar Bros. are the most important LA indie band of the last decade. Lead singer/guitarist Jim Putnam came on the scene in the early 1990s as a guitarist in Medicine. Medicine was a well-liked noise-pop/shoegaze band signed to Rick Rubin’s Def American.
Putnam and Eddie Ruscha (Dada Munchamonkey, Future Pigeon, Dub Club DJ, son of world famous artist Ed Ruscha) left early in Medicine’s life to form a new band called Maids of Gravity. Maids of Gravity had some moderate success with Ruscha as the frontman.
In 1994, Putnam grabbed his good friend Steve Goodfriend for drums and recorded some demos. Senon Williams joined and they became the Radar Bros. With their first LP in 1996, the Radar Bros. were usually compared to slowcore bands like Low and Codeine. I like those bands too, but it never made complete sense because those bands really can rock you to sleep.
While I liked the Radar Bros. eponymous debut album, it wasn’t until the follow up in 1999 (The Singing Hatchet) that I started calling them my favorite band in LA. Putnam was getting really good in the studio (it runs in the family) and the production was lush. The pop elements in the songs were more evident and Putnam’s lyrics were becoming weirder in a great way.
Cut to 2002 and the release of their third album, And the Surrounding Mountains on Merge Records. Pink Floyd/Meddle comparisons abound and the best reviews to date pour in. Putnam’s still got the breathy, soft voice but as you listen, you realize he’s singing about some really sinister shit. It’s a fucked up concept record, and even better than the The Singing Hatchet.
Following up And the Surrounding Mountains couldn’t have been an easy task. In 2005, they released their fourth full length and second for Merge, The Fallen Leaf Pages. The record’s really special to me because the record release party finally got me out to Sea Level Records in Echo Park and I met my girlfriend that night.
Following their pattern (a record every three years), the Radar Bros. are about to release their fifth album, Auditorium (out January 28th on Merge). Fans will not be disappointed. Beginning to end, this might be their best record yet. Williams and Goodfriend are still there, as is a new participant, touring guitarist Jeff Palmer. At its heart, the record’s got all the trademarks of the band. It’s lush and layered with pop elements and Putnam’s soothing voice. The production’s the best yet and they incorporate new sound textures. Lyrically, it’s still weird with some of Putnam’s best stuff yet (“the fat cops make bigger targets” and “I keep drinking your tailgate piss”). He’s got nature and politics on his mind. The record’s perfect for sitting around a campfire drinking beer, or sitting on your porch with a friend getting high, or driving home from the beach after a long day in the sun.
You’ve got two more chances to see the Radar Bros. during their Monday night residency at the Echo. If you really want to see and hear the band, your best bet is this week’s (the 21st) show. The following week’s show features Brian Aubert (Silversun Pickups) and Everest as the support acts, so it promises to be a zoo. Rumors are starting to circulate that Senon’s leaving the Radar Bros. after this residency to focus on his other band, Dengue Fever. Jim Putnam will be a guest on the Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) show on Little Radio this Thursday to talk about it. See these guys now, before it’s too late.
Download “Warm Rising Sun”
3 comments:
nice review. do you know if they are selling the new album at thier residency? or do i have to wait till the 28th like all the other chumps?
unfortunatly i didn't make it out last night, so i'm not sure. i'm guessing they'll have it next monday since that's the official record release party....
Auditorium will be on sale at the last night of their residency. I am so very excited!
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