Music Under Fire

Stars and Sons struck us a bunch of months back. After listening to The Goat Show EP we soon conducted an interview with Mike Lord from the group. Now, months later, Stars and Sons returns.

In anticipation of their new single, the group teamed up with film maker Matthew Anstee to create a comical low-budget video for "In the Ocean". The result is below but the sound can't be denied. Pop this rock 'til your limbs fall off. Enjoy.

Death Cab For Cutie's "Cath..." video is now out.

One of the marquee songs off of their Narrow Stairs album, to me "Cath..." personally works well without any video. Unlike many videos out there DCFC match the lyrics of the song with what was in the video.

I can't say enough how much this group amazes me at their every turn. Enjoy, and if you haven't picked up the album, jump on it.



That guy in the back of the church was a child actor in some scary movie but I can't remember since it was so long ago. If you know who he is, please leave a comment.

Time to pick things back up this week with some great albums we are once again excited to get our noggins into. First and foremost, one of MUFs favorite artists, Beck is out with his much anticipated Modern Guilt album. After experimenting with each album, Beck's latest is infused with a mix across the board of pop classicism, humorous lyrics, and intertwined experimentation. Be sure to check it out.

Also this week, we recommend supporting The Black Ghosts, our UK pick of the week. If you're looking for some pop-punk to sooth your soul, listen to The Maine. We mentioned them a few months ago with their redone version of "I Wanna Love You". They're well on their way into the ipods of the world.

A few quirky picks for the week: Check out Sunny Day Sets Fire or The Melvins (out of LA). Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are out with Have Another Ball. The band is well-known for covering anything under the sun from Willie Nelson to Elton John. We also have a feeling about OH!3. Check out their site to find out what they heck they are through the links we provided below.

MP3: Beck - Modern Guilt (buy)
MP3: Me First and the Gimme Gimmies - The Boxer (buy)

3OH!3 - Want (MySpace)
Age of Rockets - Hannah (Official) (MySpace)
Albert Hammond Jr. - Como Te Llama (Official) (MySpace)
Bad Religion - Maps of Hell (Deluxe Edition) (Official) (MySpace)
Beck - Modern Guilt (Official) (MySpace)
Capital Lights - This is An Outrage (MySpace)
Danger Radio - Used and Abused (Official) (MySpace)
Emarosa - Relativity (MySpace)
Have Heart - Songs To Scream at the Sun (Official) (MySpace)
Hit the Lights - Skip School, Start Fights (MySpace)
Lower Definition - The Greatest of All Lost Arts (MySpace)
Me First and the Gimme Gimmies - Have Another Ball (Official) (MySpace)
Ron Sexsmith - Exit Strategy of the Soul (Official) (MySpace)
Street Dogs - State of Grace (Official) (MySpace)
STS9 - Peaceblaster (Official) (MySpace)
Sunny Day Sets Fire - Summer Palace (Official) (MySpace)
The Black Ghosts - The Black Ghosts (Official) (MySpace)
The Maine - Can't Stop, Won't Stop (Official) (MySpace)
The Melvins - Nude With Boots (Official) (MySpace)
Thieves and Villains - Movement (Official) (MySpace)
Tickle Me Pink - Madeline (Official) (MySpace)
Totimoshi - Milagrosa (Official) (MySpace)

About a month ago, I received a copy of Priscilla Ahn's debut album, A Good Day. Needless to say, I was playing "Wallflower" and "Astronaut" until the lyrics and melodies hummed in my dreams at night. After some added research I found out Ms. Ahn grew up in the same city as myself (Reading, PA) before pursuing her lifelong dream as an artist.

MusicUnderFire thanks Priscilla for the opportunity to ask her a few questions amid her blossoming dream.


Your new album is titled A Good Day. Where did you came up with such a positive sound while your life has been so hectic?

Priscilla Ahn: Well, fortunately, my life up until June 10th, has been pretty quiet and chill. I thought I'd name the album A Good Day after the last track on the album. While we were recording it, I loved it so much, and I also love the positive message it gives, that I just sort of yelled out --"this is gonna be the title of the album!" Whenever I think of a good day, in the past, or having one, I feel a little happier.


You have mentioned that your song "Wallflower" refers to you generally being alone at parties when you first arrived in L.A. Now that you have settled in, how have you adjusted to your new life in the city?

Priscilla: Yes, I have. Also, I don't go to those kinds of parties anymore. And if I do, I'm usually with really good friends, or my boyfriend, so I'm never really alone anyway. The social things I'll go to now are either shows, or dinner parties with close friends. it took me a few years to find these people though. They are what make L.A. home to me now. I'm very lucky to have them.


When away from the crowds and the bright lights, what do you do to stay sane?

Priscilla: I love my "alone" time. After I play a show, I need to chill out for a minute. Even though my shows are pretty mellow, I find myself being exhausted after playing. It's a lot of standing, and also, a lot of energy I'm giving out to the audience. So afterwards, I like to sit by myself and take a few deep breaths, and sometimes write in my journal. Then I'm re energized to go back out there and sign CDs or whatever. Also before shows, there's usually a lot of down time, so I like to walk around whatever city I'm in, and maybe get something to eat. It's very peaceful.


I'm particularly fond of your song "Astronaut". To me this is a dreamier song than "Dream" or "Lullaby". What is your favorite song on your album and why?

Priscilla: Thank you! That's very cool. I think my favorite song is "A Good Day". I love the sound of it. It's very simple, but at the same time, sort of not simple. We threw the song into reverse, and put pieces of it in backwards, here and there, which gives it that backwards effect.


Going along with the theme of dreams, if you had any other career besides a music artist, what could you see yourself doing?

Priscilla: Maybe being a therapist, or a school guidance counselor. I think people are very fascinating. Other than that, I could see myself traveling a lot, having kids, painting or something.


What is up next for Priscilla Ahn and where can fans catch her this summer?

Priscilla: I'm about to do a show here in West Virginia in about 20 minutes, opening up for Jakob Dylan. And then I'm gonna hit the road in a few weeks, doing some of my own shows, and then some opening up for Amos Lee and Willie Nelson, which I'm pretty stoked about! I think I'm doing a show at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia very soon too! I hope you can come!


Thanks a ton again, Priscilla.

On her website, Priscilla Ahn's tour dates, blog, store, music and other neat features can be found. If you like what you hear support her by buying A Good Day.

After Polygon Palace ran into me the other day, I quickly checked out their version of Cut Copy's "Hearts on Fire". Even though this song happens to have gone remix crazy across the web, their efforts did more than the others out there.

The Australian duo of Adam Ferns and Gabriel Crossan didn't just put in a super-heavy bass into their songs and call it quits. Winding multiple layers of out of the box clips and lyrics "about partying, job interviews, time machines, vampires... all the usual things" further distances them from watered-down techno.

With that said, check out their songs below as well as their myspace.

MP3: Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Polygon Palace remix)
MP3: Polygon Palace - Disko Unterhaag

From our end, this is a much-welcomed slow week, unless of course you care that G-Unit or Nelly have new albums out. We don't though.

After digging deep, we have found a few gems. Red Hot Radio , The Faint and Maps & Atlases gleamed when we spotted and snagged a listen to their wares.

First off, Vegas' Red Hot Radio released their That's What We Said EP. You can also get it free off of their Virb profile.

Next, The Faint's single "The Geeks Were Right" is marvelous rock pop. Don't forget they have an album coming out on August 5. We'll be at one of their shows next month to fill you in on their newer technotronic rock.

Lastly, Chicago's Maps & Atlases bring a European funk punch again with You and Me and the Mountain. We've added a few MP3s below, so keeping in mind the start of the Tour de France later this week, appréciez.

MP3: Red Hot Radio - Sell Everything I Know
MP3: Maps & Atlases - Every Place Is A House (buy)
MP3: Johnny Dowd - Big Wave (live)


A Thorn for Every Heart - Pick Up the Pieces (Official) (MySpace)
Alkaline Trio - Agony and Irony (Official) (MySpace)
The Bronze Episode - Son Coeur Son Corps EP (Official) (MySpace)
The Chap - Mega Breakfast (Official) (MySpace)
Common Kings - Heavy Lies the Crown (Official) (MySpace)
Control Escape - Generation of Waste (Official) (MySpace)
The Crosstown Rivalry - Pull Down The Sky EP (MySpace)
The Faint - The Geeks Were Right (single) (Official) (MySpace)
John Mayer - Where the Light Is [DVD] (Official) (MySpace)
Johnny Dowd - A Drunkard's Masterpiece (Official) (MySpace)
Joseph Arthur - Foreign Girls (Official) (MySpace)
Los Lonely Boys - Forgiven (Official) (MySpace)
Maps & Atlases - You and Me and the Mountain (Official) (MySpace)
Red Hot Radio - That's What We Said (MySpace)
Relient K - The Bird and the Bee Sides (Official) (MySpace)
There For Tomorrow - There For Tomorrow (MySpace)
VersaEmerge - Perceptions EP (Official) (MySpace)