Tracks: The Goondas and Stellar Vector
(Tracks is a feature on Borangutan that showcases local artists and their recent album. Many local artists generously donate their music to Borangutan writers, and part of our mission is to take that music and place it in your ears. Voila! Each feature offers a free, limited-time mp3 download (one track) from the highlighted artist’s album, and links to where you can listen to or purchase more.)
Self Titled: The Goondas
Anyone who has witnessed the enigmatic Goondas knows they put on one of the most blitzing shows in town. What they may not know is that the band’s energy transfers from stage to record more flawlessly than most bands could hope. That’s saying a lot, considering we live in a time when a band’s live sound is more important than ever and its translation onto record often confounding. (kudos Albatross Studios for hitting it home!) Need an idea of how good this band is live? I said it (and more) here.
The Goondas self-titled LP is ten songs to rock your southern rockabilly sensitivities. If you dig The Doors and The Strokes, The Stooges and a little Tom Waits, then you’re going to love this record! “Nancy’s Habit” scores two large opposeable thumbs-up at track 4, and “Jackalope Jesus” is a personal club favorite. Speaking of, it’s advisable to add it to your mp3 collection now by snagging it below!
The Goondas have a string of shows coming up in the Twin Cities, and you can check the listing via their Myspace page. Shows are the place to get a hard copy LP, but for you strictly digital fanatics, stop by iTunes for your Goondas fix. And since we’re on the topic, now could be a good time to check out the video for “Jackalope Jesus” released earlier this year. Have I given you too much? It’s alright, this band is worth it. 
[audio=http://borangutan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/The-Goondas-Jackalope-Jesus.mp3]
“Jackalope Jesus” by: The Goondas
A Flock of Cowards: Stellar Vector
I’ve always found Stellar Vector to be one of the more uniquely inspiring bands in the Twin Cities. Why, you might ask? They sound familiar – yet they don’t sound like anyone else, and no one else sounds like them. That’s a bit of a strange concept, but I think it is what you end up with when a band pulls the best of everything you love about rock and pop and mushes it into one nicely fashioned package. We’ve written about Stellar Vector before (here and here), but if this is your first acquaintance, it’s about time!
A Flock of Cowards is Stellar Vector’s first foray into the art of commercial success, releasing an album that is both appealing to a wide range of listeners, and uh, cost money. The first two Stellar Vector EP releases were distributed for free as creative enterprises for use in musical collaboration, and these are still available via the band’s website. A Flock of Cowards may be considered the culmination of the artistic process undertook during the creation of the first two EP’s. Go download and listen to them yourself, then pick up a copy of A Flock of Cowards. I think you’ll hear and feel that process, and like me, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
You can follow Stellar Vector on either Myspace or Facebook, and A Flock of Cowards purchase/download options can be browsed via the band’s website. Once you touch base, give the band a loving nudge – the Twin Cities would be a better place with them on stage more often!
[audio=http://borangutan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/LackingSelfControl.mp3]
“Lacking Self Control” by: Stellar Vector
posted July 12th, 2010 at 2:58 pm Tracks
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