Mikal Cronin drops by West Germany on his European Tour in support of his excellent new album MC II and will be supported by local kids The History Of Colour TV, all brought to you by Eine Welt Aus Hack.
Mikal Cronin might be familiar to some of you as that dude ripping the crap out of his guitar in Ty Segall’s band but after this show he’ll b efamiliar as that dude who plays a certain kind of sunshiney power-pop that you just can’t resist. His latest album MC II has even gained the seal of approval of Pitchfork who gushed and cooed and raved about it; Cronin’s in love, he’s messing it up, he’s not sure of anything, he’s not sure if he should try or leave it alone. Instead of being an annoying navel-gazing, whining piece of rubbish, it’s an empowering and uplifting record and one that surely will be just as enjoyable in a live context.
Here’s a couple of his, the second one is off the new record:
The History Of Colour TV released their debut album last January on Saint Marie Records, home to some of the finest shoegazey-type bands currently operating so it was no surprise they were snapped up by that label. However, although it has garnered some great reviews, the debut Emerald Cures Chic Ills, is often too easily simply thrown into the My Bloody Valentine-esque box. There’s no denying the huge influence of MBV on their sound but continued listening reveals a much more intelligent and diverse recording. This three-piece make their West Germany debut tonight and are well worth getting there early for.
On first hearing the record I was overwhelmed by soaring guitars, propulsive drumming, seething keyboards and a pop sensibility being catapulted at me and which can only be described as 21st century rock music. It’s influences are many, from Let’s Get Sick which is the best album opener since The Cure’s Disintegration, to My Bloody Valentine-tinged pop screamers like 1-800 Badnite and I Knew It Was Wrong But I Did It Anyway the album also boasts several showstoppers like the keyboard-driven Mend which is a simply jaw-dropping piece of modern music which will stop the most cold-hearted music critic in their tracks…it stopped this one.
Here’s a couple of theirs including a live version of album opener Let’s Get Sick:
