Duos

September 1, 2004 2:46 AM

2 people making noise {hover yer mouse, click blind, or check the key inside}
posted by dobbs (28 comments total)

2 = the handsome family [country/alt/rock] - 2

p = the crabs [pop/rock]
e = the books [experimental]
o = Coyle and Sharpe [spoken word / street art]
p = The Inbreds [pop / rock] - 2
l = Ms. John Soda [electronica]
e = Quasi [rock / pop]

m = mr. airplane man [rock / blues]
a = Death From Above 1979 [rock]
k = Stars of the Lid [ambient]
i = 20 Miles [blues / rock] - 2
n = Lightning Bolt [rock] - mov
g = Jud Jud [acapella hardcore)


n = Herschell Savage and the American Flag [pop]
o = The Black Keys [blues/rock]
i = arab strap [alternative / electronic]
s = White Stripes [rock / blues]
e = godheadsilo [noise rock]
posted by dobbs at 2:47 AM on September 1, 2004 [1 favorite]

Oops, Coyle and Sharpe shoulda been linked.
posted by dobbs at 2:51 AM on September 1, 2004

I really dislike this post. Clever, but OBNOXIOUS! I almost DON'T want to click any of these links.
posted by scalz at 5:00 AM on September 1, 2004

I really dislike the above poster. Not clever, and OBNOXIOUS. I almost DON'T want to have anything more to do with him.]

Rock on, dobbs. Thanks for the links.
posted by humuhumu at 5:06 AM on September 1, 2004 [1 favorite]

You're not an ordinary fellah.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:21 AM on September 1, 2004

Mmm.... Inbreds. I'd have to say, though, that my favourite duo is the aptly named Duotang.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:37 AM on September 1, 2004

great post!

Everyone should really check out The Books if they haven't already.
posted by soplerfo at 7:10 AM on September 1, 2004

Stars of the Lid produce some of the most haunting and beautiful ambient music I've heard in years. Much of it is done with guitars, although you wouldn't know it on first listen. Waves of slow, washing sound, drones and hum.

Similar in some respects to Brian/Roger Eno's ambient works, or labelmates Labradford, with whom they've also collaborated.
posted by 40 Watt at 8:01 AM on September 1, 2004

And if you're into Stars of the Lid, make sure to check out Adam's latest project - The Dead Texan.

...and speaking of the Books, there is a great clip at mtve.com (self link, sort of) in which they play a song on cello and music box. I don't know how to direct link to it, and the site is annoying as hell, so here's how you get to it.

Go to www.mtve.com (and rage as flash ads appear), click on "shows & presenters", click on "This is Our Music" (pop up window, flash, sound), click on "New York" and there it is. You'll need the latest Real Player and yadda yadda, but still - if you're a fan of The books it's totally worth it!

By the way, great post dobbs!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 8:20 AM on September 1, 2004

The books remind me A LOT of Biota's poppier moments.
posted by kenko at 8:29 AM on September 1, 2004

The Inbreds and Death from Above, very nice.

To quote Chicks on Speed, "we don't play guitars"
posted by loukas_c at 8:29 AM on September 1, 2004

Stars of the Lid is quite nice. Reminds me a lot of Dead Voices On Air.
posted by neckro23 at 9:19 AM on September 1, 2004

Sorry about this, but here's a direct link to the "New York" episode of "This is Our Music".

</thread hijack>
posted by soundofsuburbia at 9:27 AM on September 1, 2004

You rock, dobbs! Mates of state are a two piece you might enjoy. Also check out Tall Dwarfs.
posted by shoepal at 9:29 AM on September 1, 2004

L!GHTN!NG B0LT!!!!
rock rock kill rock rock kill. (that video is great)
posted by Peter H at 9:39 AM on September 1, 2004

Second the recommendation of Mates of State--they're amazing live. I also saw Cash Audio back when they were called Cash Money and was blown away how two guys could create such a huge sound.

P.S. Great post--now I've got lots of new music to check out this afternoon.
posted by turaho at 9:48 AM on September 1, 2004

scalz, that's unfortunate.

The rest of you, glad you're liking the links. It was harder than I thought it would be to find MP3s of the duos.

Turaho, I tried to find a Cash Money MP3 and nothing came up after Googling so I gave up. Same goes for Chemical Brothers, The Dining Rooms, Butterglory, Suicide, Two Lone Swordsmen, Tren Brothers, and a bunch of others. I was desperate not to include White Stripes but it was 530 in the morning and my brain was hurting.

Johnny, I was never a Duotang fan. Saw them open two or three times and my gf had their first CD--didn't work for me. Inbreds, however, wrote a song about a guy who eats a bike to impress a girl, dies, and she doesn't notice, so that one really hits home with me (plus, I saw them play with Palace Brothers and Girls Against Boys at the Riv--best bill I've ever seen).

It's unfortunate the quality of the MP3s on the Books site are so dreadful. I would think a band like that would be smarter than that.

(that video is great)

Actually, that video was initially my entire post, but I foresaw a bunch of people yelling at me. :)
posted by dobbs at 10:15 AM on September 1, 2004

Excellent post in concept & execution. (The first time I visited my husband's apartment he played me a Jud Jud 7-inch, so I have a fond spot in my heart for them. I also know some people who were Jud Jud for Halloween ... one was Jud; the other was Jud.)
posted by lisa g at 10:44 AM on September 1, 2004

Inbreds, however, wrote a song about a guy who eats a bike to impress a girl, dies, and she doesn't notice, so that one really hits home with me

So YOU'RE the one!! Dammit, I liked that bike...
posted by rushmc at 11:08 AM on September 1, 2004

Here are my impressions as I listened to the songs:

The Handsome Family – Very nice, especially the Maori strum, lead vocalist has slight marbles in mouth issue
The Crabs – Spineless indie rock laced with Madchester beat, food band demerit*
The Books – Samples and a laptop that come across a bit precious and snotty
Coyle and Sharpe – This is just two men talking
The Inbreds – Whiny indie-boy vocals, no tune. I feel like I’m supposed to listen to the lyrics. I never listen lyrics
Ms. John Soda – Not electronica. Sounds like the Breeders circa 1991. Food band demerit*
Quasi – Nice tune and drumming but a bit trad—chorus is very 1959
Mr Airplane Man – I like this. Much better than the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Death from Above – For angsty 17 year old girls
Stars of the Lid – Really smooth and good
20 Miles – The sound has potential but ruined by weak vocals and lack of balls
Lightning Bolt – Love it. Great video
Jud Jud – Funnier in theory
Herschell Savage and the American Flag – Classic pop sound, great vocals, but no hook. Powerpop band with no hooks!
The Black Keys – Good band but honestly, this sounds like a Pearl Jam outtake
Arab Strap – Nice loungy mood ruined by unsexy Scots accent
The White Stripes – Great vocals, great guitar, bad drums, bad song
GodheadSilo – Hard but not explosive enough. They sound very 1993.

Thanks Dobbs!
posted by dydecker at 11:09 AM on September 1, 2004

*food band rule: all bands named after food shall suck.

Prove me wrong then!
posted by dydecker at 11:11 AM on September 1, 2004

it's funny, because when i saw 'the crabs', food isn't what first came to mind.
posted by chrisroberts at 11:26 AM on September 1, 2004

I think Godheadsilo *is* from 1993.
posted by drobot at 11:28 AM on September 1, 2004

food band rule: all bands named after food shall suck.

Beans? Granted, he's an artist, but what the hey. :)
posted by soundofsuburbia at 12:38 PM on September 1, 2004

some non-sucking food-monikered bands:
Melt-Banana, the Raspberries, Grenadine, Eggs, Jawbreaker, Butterglory.

Maybe that's it. I can't really stick up for the 1910 Fruitgum Company. Or Ambrosia.
posted by lisa g at 1:07 PM on September 1, 2004

Hot Chocolate? Strawberry Alarm Clock? Huevos Rancheros? The Lemon Pipers? The Paul Butterfield Blues Band?

And the music-related but not-actually-a-band category:
Peanut Butter Wolf (hip-hop DJ/producer)
Peanuts n' Corn (hip-hop label)
DJ Food (downtempo DJ collective)
Coldcut (ditto)
Moka Only (Rapper)

And, back in the day, the Calgary rave scene featured DJs named Rice, Pasta, Special K, Honey-Mustard and Turkish Delight.
posted by arto at 10:01 PM on September 1, 2004

Egg
Food (ok, they're not actually named after food. But their songs are.)
posted by kenko at 8:26 AM on September 2, 2004

"Anyone interested in 709 damaged records for wall hangings is welcome to come by my shed in E Auston and take 'em away"
posted by jaronson at 10:02 PM on September 11, 2004