Black Market Karma – Oozer
Similar artists: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beck, The Flaming Lips, The Dandy Warhols, Eels
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
There’s always been a bit of dress code policy when it comes to pop stars. But, back in the days when pop music was still young, the record execs and the stars were getting drunk off the same wine bottle. It wasn’t alright to be an individual, but there was nobody guarding the door too closely. At least, not until the sales reports came in.
Well, everybody’s sobered up, and our world as music listeners is the worst for it. The record executives want their reports early Monday morning, and they want their pop stars to be clean-shaven and showered while waiting outside their office. Yeah, they occasionally dress someone in drag or throw a bunch of colourful clothes on their back. But, for the most part, that’s just meant to throw us off the scent.
Black Market Karma makes the kind of music you hope artists are still chasing and, you know, record execs have forgotten about. “Oozer” is quirky, slightly gaudy and ready to encourage a life of bad decisions. It’s made by the kinds of people you wouldn’t expect could get a regular job. It’s made by people who are still chasing the psych-rock dream and grabbing all the moondust just for our pleasure.
Cherry Sucker – Yellow Tape
Similar artists: White Denim, Post Animal, Dark Dazey
Genre: Psychedelic Rock, Garage Rock, Alternative Rock
There aren’t plenty of differences between radio-friendly pop artists and rock bands anymore. In fact, the vast majority of rock bands would give up their instruments in a second should a producer recommend it to them. In fact, most rock bands are comprised of musicians who were never asked to be in a pop group.
So, how do you know what you have as a listener? Well, one of the few barriers still separating the two is the requirement for imagination. You see, pop music nowadays is designed to be as unintrusive as possible. It can be played in the supermarket, radio or the Super Bowl and won’t make anyone stop what they’re doing. Proper rock music can still take you on a journey.
Cherry Sucker’s “Yellow Tape” is a highly competent Souther-rock-infused indie. But the band’s greatest gift is being able to whisk you away on a kind of adventure of the mind. This is not the indie-rock that’s merely based on a guy banging out three power chords and going home. It’s music that seems to come out of every direction, taking over your brain, pouring over your imagination, and not letting go for a long time. It asks more of the listener than typical pop songs but delivers more as well.
