Do It Yourself - The Story of Rough Trade

This is a really great doc about the superb Rough Trade record shop/label in London...and by the way, Williamsburg, Brooklyn USA will be getting one later this year!

The Morning Benders: “Big Echo”

(Originally written for and posted to Thunder on 02/27/10)

Ok, so it's hard to listen to or talk about these guys without mentioning a certain Brooklyn band's name in comparison (insert educated guess here). "Big Echo" is the second full length record from San Francisco dudes The Morning Benders...produced by Chris Chu and Chris Taylor...and now let's not mention Grizzly Bear again. These guys have crafted quite a refreshing and intelligent pop record, paying attention to harmony and mixing big overdriven guitar reverb low into the mix to reinforce song color without dominating it. First single "Excuses" is one of the better songs I've heard in 2010. The thing that excites me the most about this band is not so much the excellent record they have just recorded, but the potential for them to continue to find their own unique sound on subsequent releases.

"Big Echo" is out March 9 on Rough Trade US.

Check out first single "Excuses" (LP version and excellent live video) along with other tracks here.

Visit your favorite record store to pick it up.