Great Northern co-leaders Solon Bixler and Rachel Stolte have both been around the indie rock block a few times, Bixler in the actor's ego trip 30 Seconds to Mars and Stolte in the now-forgotten '90s band Whirlpool. This time, however, they've gotten it right. Great Northern's debut album has a lot of obvious antecedents, mostly from the Dave Fridmann school of /p>
eo-psychedelia (Mercury Rev, Grandaddy, etc.) and in Stolte's narcotized, deadpan vocals, the classic 4AD dream pop bands. But Trading Twilight for Daylight's inviting textures are married to a solid collection of tunes, with the terrific and unexpectedly catchy indie rocker "Home," the trippy Flaming Lips-style singalong "A Sun a Sound" and the breathy piano ballad "City of Sleep" serving as particular standouts. Rather than merely relying on atmospheric production (although the well-recorded album has that in spades as well), Bixler and Stolte give all of the songs a strong melodic foundation: the combination of a super-catchy chorus, and some unapologetically ear-grabbing arrangement tricks makes the swirling "The Middle" sound like the great lost freakbeat single of 1967. Nothing in Great Northern's background suggests they were capable of something as impressive as that.
Image From HereYou know, I have mentioned this before and will again. I missed out on new music for all of 2008 and half of 2007. So, I have been playing catch-up in the background. And, for that matter, I have been behind on the first half of 2009 and am playing catch-up with that too. Also, I have been buried in my 80's and 90's series which took a lot of my time but was/is well worth it. Whi...
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Goldenboy will be at Spaceland for just ONE more Saturday before going on tour across the country. Be sure to check out the show if you're in L.A. otherwise check to find out when they'll be in a city near you! Scissors for lefty have made the front page of the Windows Media Rock Grab Bag website which features their new video for Lay Down Your Weapons this week!
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What, I ask you, makes good pop music? Is it mass appeal? Is it a catchy hook? Does it beg repeat listens? Does it whiten your teeth _and_ freshen your breath? Science is getting close to an answer but I have a feeling in involves most, if not all, of the preceding qualifiers. When 4-5 people get together and make pop music about life and what goes on in it there are certain unspoken rules they...
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Wow. Last week, I was contacted by Angela from Eeenie Meenie records asking if I wanted to review the upcoming debut LP from "Great Northern":http://www.greatnorthernmusic.com/index-flash.html. Who, me? Of course, I obliged. So, how cool did I feel opening my first ever advance copy of a CD on Saturday? If you said super-cool, you'd be correct. It's yet another example of MOG bringing the fans ...
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saw Great Northern last night at The Spaceland. it's been a full year and half since i've seen these guys play and man did they just blow the roof off. they were good back when they started and they've just grown so much since then. made Division Day seem like over-excited children. Get Great Northern's album on Eenie Meenie Records when it comes out (May, i think), and go see them if they'...
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i finally got my ears on the new great northern debut and it is something else. the sounds are meticulous and the songs melancholy, enchanting and endearing. i've been waiting a long time for this one (going on fifteen years, i reckon!) and it doesn't disappoint. i'm very excited to see them when they roll thru in a couple of days and folks on the west coast can do the same:Jan 21 2007 - CAFE D...
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Check out Great Northern's tour dates and some other great songs on their myspace page: www.myspace.com/greatnorthern
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Last days, being the impetus they are for holding nothing back, are yet another reason it can be argued that perfect endings are so tragic. Last night, my last night out in Bangkok, I decided I was sick of alternating 20/80 between overpriced eat-outs and getting creative with sidewalk food and an electric water heater. So I walked into a diner, an honest to goodness, white plastic plates, whit...
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Los Angeles four-piece Great Northern (made up of ex-members of Earlimart, Whirlpool and 30 Seconds to Mars) has crafted (in my opinion) one of the Ten Best Albums of the Year... their debut album, "Trading Twilight for Daylight," is lush dream pop at its best. ...as flawless and beautiful as the drifting wax of a lava lamp...I've uploaded a couple of songs to check out... but the whole album i...
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What, I ask you, makes good pop music? Is it mass appeal? Is it a catchy hook? Does it beg repeat listens? Does it whiten your teeth _and_ freshen your breath? Science is getting close to an answer but I have a feeling in involves most, if not all, of the preceding qualifiers. When 4-5 people get together and make pop music about life and what goes on in it there are certain unspoken rules they...
More >
Wow. Last week, I was contacted by Angela from Eeenie Meenie records asking if I wanted to review the upcoming debut LP from "Great Northern":http://www.greatnorthernmusic.com/index-flash.html. Who, me? Of course, I obliged. So, how cool did I feel opening my first ever advance copy of a CD on Saturday? If you said super-cool, you'd be correct. It's yet another example of MOG bringing the fans ...
More >
Suck. It's short, it's nasty, it's to the point. Nice little way to say that something is terrible, horrible, and practically worthless.Now just because you don't dig the Tom Waits album your friend is obsessed with, or you are convinced that Conor Oberst is the whiniest, most emo kid around doesn't mean you have any right to tell them their music taste sucks. I mean I understand if certain a...
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Hello!Great Northern at The Independent in SF with "lisbetho":http://www.mog.com/lisbetho and Mindy. It was a GREAT show. Loud, compelling, beautiful music. And who can beat a super cute girl bassist in a hot white dress?! :) They're based in LA and mentioned that SF was better than LA, which just made me fall in love with them a little more. Their CD and recordings do not do their live s...
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it feels like Great Northern have been everywhere lately. but they are an LA band, and this is indeed LA. it's easy to assume everyone's already heard everything when you live here. all the jaded hearts that still can't get enough music running thru their veins. in case you haven't heard this band or haven't caught the other posts around Mog, I thought I'd bring you in to LA mode for a moment a...
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i finally got my ears on the new great northern debut and it is something else. the sounds are meticulous and the songs melancholy, enchanting and endearing. i've been waiting a long time for this one (going on fifteen years, i reckon!) and it doesn't disappoint. i'm very excited to see them when they roll thru in a couple of days and folks on the west coast can do the same:Jan 21 2007 - CAFE D...
More >
saw Great Northern last night at The Spaceland. it's been a full year and half since i've seen these guys play and man did they just blow the roof off. they were good back when they started and they've just grown so much since then. made Division Day seem like over-excited children. Get Great Northern's album on Eenie Meenie Records when it comes out (May, i think), and go see them if they'...
More >
Image From HereYou know, I have mentioned this before and will again. I missed out on new music for all of 2008 and half of 2007. So, I have been playing catch-up in the background. And, for that matter, I have been behind on the first half of 2009 and am playing catch-up with that too. Also, I have been buried in my 80's and 90's series which took a lot of my time but was/is well worth it. Whi...
More >
Also, "This is A Problem".. great video!
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Goldenboy will be at Spaceland for just ONE more Saturday before going on tour across the country. Be sure to check out the show if you're in L.A. otherwise check to find out when they'll be in a city near you! Scissors for lefty have made the front page of the Windows Media Rock Grab Bag website which features their new video for Lay Down Your Weapons this week!
More >
If my dreams had a soundtrack, this would be the first tune.I absolutely adore this song.:)
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Great Northern will usher in the holiday season with a hometown show tonite at West Hollywood's famed Viper Room as part of Indie 103.1's Check One Two Holiday Event!!
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Our Bleeding Hearts |
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| 2 Just a Dream |
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| 3 Home |
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| 4 Telling Lies |
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| 5 Low Is a Height |
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| 6 City of Sleep |
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| 7 A Sun a Sound |
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| 8 Into the Sun |
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| 9 The Middle |
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| 10 Babies |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Trading Twilight for Daylight")
