Music Under Fire

The trio from New York City, The Diggs recent release of their sophomore album Ctrl-Alt-Del has been making some noise for the band. Along side one of our favorite songs of the year thus far, "Recovery Forever", their latest is chock full of great songs. We were lucky enough to get a few words from the band about their progression, recording with Rudyard Lee Cullers and what Ctrl-Alt-Del is really all about.

People always are intrigued about band names - your name, The Diggs, seems somewhat straightforward (to us anyway). What are the biggest misconceptions you get based on your face value?

Robert: Oddly enough I didn't think that the name "The Diggs" was ever going to be the permanent. We were never crazy about it, but decided we could live with it for the time being and it just stuck. This was late 2003. After the first EP (2004’s Parahora), we just kind of stopped thinking about it. Now when people write about us, they often apply some sort of pun to the name (which is fine).
Timothy: The name is definitely straight forward and we chose it for that very reason.
Charlie: That we're a hipster band with a gimmick, when we're really just a straight ahead rock band.

How did your debut Commute affect your approach to your second album Ctrl-Alt-Del? What has been done differently this time around?

Robert: I guess we wanted to do something a little different. But really we just started working and writing and Ctrl-Alt-Del is what came out of it. Rudyard Lee Cullers produced the record this time around and I know that helped really set it apart from Commute. We just didn’t want to make the same record twice. Our ambition has always been to progress and grow as a band.
Timothy: The tracking for Commute was way more “These are great songs, lets record them,” while Ctrl-Alt-Del was “Okay, how can we make these great songs really fucking great?”
Charlie: The songs on Ctrl-Alt-Del are much more emotional and draw from some very deep experiences.

Did you find it easier making your second LP once you got your first under your belt?

Robert: I think in some ways. We knew what we wanted and what we didn't. But it’s always hard. You labor over it and obsess over it.
Timothy: For me it was way harder. To begin with, when you are the only guitar player and the only singer on a rock record, you are going to be the one who is in the studio for the most amount of time. Also, when working with a producer who is as hungry and as driven as the band is you are going to be pushed hard. Rudyard Lee Cullers had so many incredible ideas and we tried them all. It was exhausting but I'm thrilled with how the record came out.
Charlie: Yes. It becomes much more fluid.

Your album name Ctrl-Alt-Del is "a way to start over when everything gets messed up or stuck." Were there specific reasons you decided on this album name? When was the last time you wanted to just reboot?

Robert: I think we all had our own personal reasons. For me there were a lot of big decisions I had to make and a lot of things I had to come to terms with in order to make them.
Timothy: For a while I wanted to name the record Brightness Falls after a book that I had read and loved. Ctrl-Alt-Del was the working title of a novel that a friend of ours was working on and we thought it suited the energy of the record perfectly. We stole it with permission.
The last time I wanted to reboot was probably before I started The Diggs when I wasn't writing and playing these songs.
Charlie: I think everyone does either at the end of the day or at some major point in their lives. We all want to move away to the mountains when we realize that we made bad choices.

For a three-man band, you put out quite an energetic, yet sophisticated intermingling array of melodies and rhythms - have you considered picking up a fourth member to expand you possibilities or do you feel you are where you need to be?

Robert: I definitely think we are where we need to be. I think we enjoy the challenge. It is both more complicated and simplistic at the same time. Besides, we get a kick out of playing with a 7 piece band and blowing them out of the water (just kidding).
Timothy: I remember seeing a Yeah Yeah Yeahs show (Bowery Ballroom NYC February 2006) right before Show Your Bones came out and although it was a great show, it bummed me out seeing that they had acquired another guitarist even if it was just for their gigs. We just wouldn't be the same band with a fourth member. I love the simplicity of being in a three piece. Bands have gotten too large in numbers. If you ask me, it’s funny when we're just as loud as they are.
Charlie: No. We like it small and strong. This band always has a few tricks up their sleeves as far as looping and layering goes.

"Brigante" and "Recovery Forever" are two of my favorite tracks from this album, both are equally moving, driven by all three band members equally - where do you see your strengths as a band and what are your personal favorites?

Robert: I think our strengths are that we are all very experienced musicians and really good friends. We all have strong musical personalities and we give each other the room to explore them. As for our personal favorites, they change from week to week but “Recovery Forever” and “Brigante” are always up there.
Timothy: We know how to let music breathe right and we all know what should happen in a song. “Carpal Tunnel” and “Ctrl-Alt-Del” are my favorites on the record.
Charlie: My personal favorite is "And In The End Shoot Back." It's just a beautiful song that builds accordingly. I like how the band automatically orchestrates its parts without any unnecessary doubling (no one steps on anyone’s toes).

I read in an interview from about a year or so ago, that you (Timothy Lannen) were into the "Seattle thing" in the 90s, which made you miss out on all of the popular music from that period. What bands stuck with you and helped you grow as musicians from that period?

Timothy: The thing is those Seattle bands I liked were popular in the nineties. I should have been listening to The Stone Roses first record, The Verve, Ride, and The Pixies. I still listen to Nirvana though.

What have you been up to recently?

Robert: Writing new songs and supporting the new record around NYC. We’re still kicking around the idea of a brief US tour, but only if the situation is right. We’ll be doing a WOXY Lounge Act in the near future which we’re really looking forward to.
Timothy: We're really excited about music these days. We’re considering recording an EP over the summer that would consist of really loud straight forward guitar songs. We’d like to put it out quickly on a site like RCRDLBL or something like that. We just debuted a new song at a show last week at The Delancey in New York City and it went over really well.
Charlie: Working on getting my MA in percussive studies and writing film scores.

When you're not playing music, what do you find occupying your time?

Robert: Making out with my wife.
Timothy: I work at a cafe, read books, cook, and hang out with my lady.
Charlie: I enjoy reading, cooking, cycling, and learning and writing new music.

Thanks again guys for taking the time to answer these questions and best of luck this year.


MP3: The Diggs - Ctrl-Alt-Del (buy)

Check out The Diggs on their MySpace page, buy their album on iTunes or just visit their Official Page.

We really enjoyed March this time around and the pace for more great music seems to be picking up moving on into April. Included in the list before are a few groups we didn't post anything notable about, but we thought were interesting. These New Puritans are probably the zaniest of all, but really piqued my ears. Tyler Ramsey was another one we saw open up at the Band of Horses concert at the beginning of this year, but haven't been able to pull away from just yet.

We also recommend checking out the Elbow song we mentioned below, even though its not available for free download. I believe its Garvey's best effort on The Seldom Seen Kid. And lastly, The Diggs provided one of my favorite songs this month with "Recovery Forever". It reminds me of one of those songs you'll end up seeing on some One Tree Hill Soundtrack or something to that effect. You get my point.

So before we take the full plunge into the new month, let's once again look back on what was so great about March.

MP3: French Kicks - Abandon (buy)
MP3: AM Syndicate - All The People Under The Sun (buy)
MP3: Hood - Any Hopeful Thoughts Arrive (buy)
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas (buy)
MP3: Death Cab For Cutie - Cath (live acoustic) (buy)
MP3: The Photographic - Directions (buy)
MP3: These New Puritans - Elvis (buy)
MP3: Stars and Sons - Fights Already Fought (buy)
MP3: Elbow - Friends of Ours (buy)
MP3: Dirty on Purpose - Girls & Sunshine (buy)
MP3: The Notwist - Good Lies (buy)
MP3: Why? - The Hollows (buy)
MP3: The Gutter Twins - I Was In Love With You (buy)
MP3: Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart (buy)
MP3: Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream (buy)
MP3: Saint Bernadette - Love Is A Stranger (buy)
MP3: Rivers Cuomo - Lover In The Snow (buy)
MP3: Helvetia - Old, New Bicycle (buy)
MP3: Sera Cahoon - Only as the Day Is Long (buy)
MP3: Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (buy)
MP3: The Diggs - Recovery Forever (buy)
MP3: The Whigs - Right Hand On My Heart (buy)
MP3: Your Vegas - Troubled Times (buy)
MP3: Amplive - Video Tapez (feat. Del the Funky Homosapien) (buy)
MP3: PlayRadioPlay! - Madi Don't Leave (buy)