Modernboys Moderngirls debut all over again
Their star is rising on the Canadian music scene and Modernboys Moderngirls lead singer Akira Alemany is understandably cautious. Bands come and go and he’s not counting on anything beyond the next gig.
The Toronto group just released their first album, I Might As Well Break It and Alemany is already “pretty close to finished” writing what he hopes will be the group’s second album, but he has no idea if anybody will hear it.
“I’ve got about seven or eight new tunes ready, but I don’t really have any idea if we’ll ever get to make another album. If we don’t… my cat will enjoy them, I guess.”
Yeah, right. Alemany’s cat, you, me and thousands of other people, if their debut is any indication.
Brett Millius, Juan Carlos Rivas, Akira Alemany
Suddenly, it was getting reviewed. It reached No. 8 on the CBCRadio3 charts and the reviews were positive, glowing, even. But Alemany wasn’t done tinkering with I Might As Well Break It.
“I’m not a perfectionist or anything, but it wasn’t done.”
The band took three songs off, put three new songs on, self-produced it and brought in Ryan Mills of Born Ruffians to mix and remaster the album for its official release.
“Ryan was a set of fresh ears. I think things work best when people making an album are bending away from each other a little,” Alemany says. “I liked having somebody come in with another perspective.
“Like, for example, I love Beck, but you listen to his albums and it’s like ‘drums by Beck, guitars by Beck, produced by Beck.’ I wish things would just conflict a little more. There’s too much agreement!”
Alemany compares the process of making the record to premiering a movie at Sundance, getting audience feedback, taking it back to the studio for another edit, then gaining a wider release in theatres. The release date was yesterday, the CD release party is tomorrow and early box office reports are favourable: Two thumbs way, way up.
It’s a fast-paced album filled with songs that manage to wedge themselves between the harshness of the garage and the burning flame of soul in the family room next to the furnace in the basement. It’s like Elvis Costello’s angry young man was recorded with the feverish dynamics of Stax soul.
This merging of genres is not seamless, but that’s part of its charm. Choppy guitars and a driving rhythm section slam up against poppy, repetitive choruses that jangle and shine and it’s all wrapped in a very purposeful cohesiveness that does not sound like a debut album. In that way, it’s similar to the New Pornographers’ debut, Mass Romantic;at first you might think it’s a mess, but it soon becomes apparent that IMAWBI is something special. They play with feedback, bring in some female vocals to bounce along on choruses, and just generally rip through these songs like they’re going to be taken away.
There also seems to be a theme of breakups and endings running through the album, but if there is, Alemany ain’t talkin’.
“There may be a specific narrative about people and relationships,” he said, but: ”I don’t think it matters what the songs mean to me after I’ve written them. I’m much less important at this point and I just want to invite the audience to be part of it.”
Audiences seem willing to come along. Modernboys Moderngirls have developed a solid reputation as a band to see live.
A couple years ago, they played a show at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto as a snowstorm raged outside. The crowd braved the weather and the place was packed with sweaty, dancing bodies. An Edgefest organizer in the audience was impressed enough to offer them a spot at the festival. Things picked up from there.
“We built our reputation on our live shows and that snowstorm was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
Their influences - everything from punk to soul to the straight ahead rockof Springsteen - have inspired them to be better live.
“We listen to the Stooges, to Television, to the New York Dolls, to the Ikettes and Tina Turner. Brett (Millius), our drummer, is obsessed with Johnny Thunders and the Dead Boys. I think Iggy Pop really brought showmanship and rawness to the stage. And Otis Redding live at the Whiskey A Go-Go is a great punk show! The best punk shows elevate! That’s what we want to do.”
Modernboys Moderngirls - On The Line : Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Modernboys Moderngirls - A Hammond Organ Singing: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Otis Redding - Satisfaction (I Can't Get No) Live: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Burn Planetarium - Frankenstein Kids: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadWill Modernboys Moderngirls elevate YOU? Find out for yourself at Sneaky Dee’s tomorrow when the group OFFICIALLY releases I Might As Well Break It. Doors open at 8:30 and as an added bonus, if you’re there early, you’ll get to see one of my favourite Guelph groups, Burn Planetarium. Neat!
Check out their blog, buy their stuff at their official store, on iTunes, or order it on amazon.ca or hmv.ca. Better yet, check them out live. Maybe they’re coming to a city near you!
Tour Dates:
Sept. 18 - Toronto: Sneaky Dee’s, CD Release w/ Clothes Make the Man, Burn Planetarium, Rikers
Sept. 19 - Kingston: The Toucan w/ Pelt
Sept. 25 - Barrie: Oscar’s w/ The Junction
Sept. 26 - Hamilton: Club Absinthe
Oct. 1 - Waterloo: Maxwell’s Music House w/ Balconies
Oct. 3 - London: Black Shire
Oct. 4 - Windsor: Phog Lounge (FAM Fest)
Oct. 9 - Jamestown, NY: Mojo’s
Oct. 10 - New York City, NY: Arlene’s Grocery
Oct. 12 - Brooklyn, NY: TBD
Nov. 6 - Toronto, Silver Dollar
Nov. 19 - Quebec City, La Ninkasi
