Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Friendly Foes


Strip it down. Cut the fat. Verse chorus verse. No bridge? No problem.

That's it: the simplistic formula behind Friendly Foes — a pop-inspired three-piece hailing just outside of Detroit. But hold up...just because they choose the most economic way to get to power-pop's Pleasure Island, it doesn't mean their songs don't come without a hefty wallop, a fierce bite, and a few twists and turns to keep you on your toes. In Friendly Foes' world, simple does not equate with boring.

Inspired as equally by 70s punk-songwriters like Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello as they are the glory days of 90s indie rock (Superchunk, Guided By Voices, Chisel) — with a healthy dose of Husker Du and Replacements-style bash 'n pop thrown in for good measure — Friendly Foes craft rag-tag, rough around the edges rock songs that do away with pretense. Instead, they choose quick routes to get to the gooey guts of what makes for rock-solid jams: whip-smart lyrics and anthemic melodies delivered at an unrelenting pace.

Their first full-length, "Born Radical" (released on Gangplank Records), delivers the Foes' compact message in spades. Bursting with 13 dynamic songs, the album boasts lyrics that range from nostalgic looks at life before MySpace and Mp3s, to raging diatribes on rock and roll's currents state of affairs. Guitars slash and burn, the bass rumbles like a heard of stampeding elephants, and drums crash and bang with precise abandon. And it all comes from three distinct players who are hardly indie rock rookies— Allen also sings and plays guitar in Thunderbirds are Now!, Wittman is one half of Kiddo, and Brad Elliott has done his time in the Satin Peaches, amongst others.

Friendly Foes are just but a year old, but have already shared the stage with an impressive list of bands, including Sloan, the Walkmen, the Whigs, the Jealous Girlfriends, Born Ruffians, School of Language, Dosh, Cadence Weapon, Most Serene Republic, Rose Hill Drive, the Golden Dogs, and loads more. Recommended!

Friendly Foes - Couch Surfing
Friendly Foes - My Body (Is A Strange Place To Live)
Friendly Foes - Get Yr Shit Together
Friendly Foes - Born Radical (album stream)
Friendly Foes @ MySpace

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SONG OF THE DAY: Bon Iver - Blood Bank

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Check Comments for Bonus!

7 Comments:

Blogger Ziggy said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

6:47 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

desperately looking for anything Tycho. any help?
and thanks as always ziggy!

7:04 AM  
Blogger Axi said...

Here is so Tycho:
http://www.beluv.com/misc/Tycho/
http://matt.themuffins.com/files/music/Tycho/

Thanks Ziggy!!!

8:31 AM  
Blogger WEB SHERIFF said...

WEB SHERIFF
Protecting Your Rights on the Internet
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Hi 'Ziggy',

On behalf of Fat Possum Records and Andrew Bird, we would kindly ask you
not to post copies of "Noble Beast" on your site (or any non-preview
tracks from the artist's new album - street date 20th January).

We do appreciate that you are fans of / are promoting Andrew Bird, but
the label and artist would greatly appreciate your co-operation in
removing your links to the pirate files in question.

Thank you for respecting the artist's and label's wishes and, if you /
your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, "Oh No" is
available for fans and bloggers to link to / post / host etc on
www.andrewbird.net and a promo stream of the full album is also
available for linking (but not hosting or posting) at
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98649962 ... .. a
promo stream of the "Useless Creatures" bonus disc is also available for
linking (only) on the artist's web-site and "Noble Beast" is now
available for pre-sale on iTunes (and including immediate delivery of
"Oh No" and 2 bonus tracks upon release) ... .. for further details of
"Noble Beast" / "Useless Creatures" promotions, videos and 2009 shows
check-out www.andrewbird.net, www.myspace.com/andrewbird and
www.youtube.com/andrewbirdmusic.

As you will appreciate, this e-mail is written on a without prejudice
basis and, as such, all of our clients' accumulated, worldwide rights
and remedies remain strictly reserved : please excuse this required
formality.

With Thanks & Regards,

WEB SHERIFF

5:02 PM  
Blogger Ziggy said...

She & Him - Volume One (2008)
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/9j5ao5

Starflyer 59 - Dial M (2008) !!!
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns (2008)
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology (2008)
Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Hands (2008)
Girl Talk - Night Ripper + Feed The Animals
Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
Guster - Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/7vtb7j

Swans - Children Of God
Dalek - Abandoned Language
Animal Collective - Feels + People EP
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/9ynysa

Metallica - Death Magnetic
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/7zhxm8

Rock
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/9o4eun

HIM, Tori Amos, The Cranberries, etc.
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/9fo8zu

Your Eyes Are Doves - Albums
[CODE]http://tinyurl.com/8fqcay

9:32 PM  
Blogger Greg said...

Well played Ziggy.

7:30 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Axi, thanks soo much!

3:46 PM  

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