Results tagged “prairiecartel”

The Prairie Carrtel are preparing for the "official" release of their debut full-length (which is already available here) and have released this video, directed by Peng Lei, for their song "No Light Escapes Here." The teaser's a weird mixture of political imagery overlaid by whimsy and the result is analogous to the group's sound; it's catchy and poppy but there's a definite aggression running under the surface.

Friday, 5/22

We've already spewed forth our admiration for Chicago new-wave-punk-garage-rock quartet Mr. Russia, but we just wanted to alert you to their CD release show for their debut album -- Teething -- at Metro this Friday. To whet everyone's appetite in advance of the big day the group has cobbled together a video for lead single "Skipping Hearts."

The following ten groups released albums or EPs that we believe launched them far above the roiling masses making up the Chicago music scene. While these are our favorites it should be noted that this was an amazingly strong year for the local scene, and we could have easily made a top 50 list without much of a problem. In fact, just reviewing the bands while making this list we realized how thankful we are to be located in such a musically fertile city!

Chicago has been particularly successful in generating a bunch of dance rock band worth buzzing about -- Walter Meego, Hey Champ, Prairie Cartel, etc. -- and now we can add another to that list with Parks And Gardens. This newer group doesn't really deviate from the form of loop and sample laden rockin' designed with the discotheque in mind, but instead of utilizing those elements to create a cliche they inject an angular artsiness into their songs. In effect this creates a minor agitation in the listener, and we think that's kind of a bold move for any band trying to ingratiate themselves with a crowd not particularly interested in anything beyond basic Sybaritic pleasure. It's this element that bonds Parks And Gardens with the aforementioned bands, and helps raise them -- and the Chicago dance music scene in general -- above the countless other drones aping the style.

The Prairie Cartel's debut 12" successfully lays out the group's sonic manifesto in two original tracks, a cover, and a remix. The band is populated by men who can only be described as rockers and Chicago mainstays seduced by the sounds of the dance floor. Opener "Fuck Yeah, That Wide" features Scott Lucas' ragged vocal delivery over a combination of adrenalized four-on-the-foor beats and electric guitars. Think of it as punk blood in a Go-Go cage. It leads nicely into "Keep Everybody Warm," as the group subverts a hippy-dippy vocal sample and turns it into an entreaty to get even closer to your dance partner and loose yourself in the swirling rhythms.