by Meredith Schneider | Sep 21, 2017 | wolf tracks
Tomorrow, Kalamazoo, Michigan’s indie/folk americana duo Gifts or Creatures – comprised ofBrandon John Foote + Bethany Foote – releases their third full-length, a ten track piece of work titled Fair Mitten. But while we wait (not so patiently) to own a copy of it for ourselves, we’ve actually got the whole thing streaming for you.
From the lengthy, beautiful instrumental intro on first track “Pontiac’s Rebellion”, to the soft, simple but detailed storytelling in “Trout of The Pines”, to the soulful and rock-tinged “Green Gold”, all the way until the last chords of final track “Conquest Of The Old Northwest”, the entirety of the album offers an almost earthy vulnerability to its sound, making each one of its listeners feel as though they are connecting with the land around them. It’s an absolute breath of fresh air, and the band seems to have had that in mind from the beginning. Explains Brandon Foote:
Ever since I was a child, I have been enamored by the boundless blue water and thick north woods of Michigan. The striking and stunning combination of wooded land and freshwater seascapes has a rich history that is often overshadowed by the coastal cities and towns of North America. I have traveled around the country and always miss the north woods when away. The Great Lakes region has always felt like a secret undiscovered jewel to me.
Do yourself a favor and take a journey over the lush and textured soundscape Gifts or Creatures has provided your ears in our exclusive album stream premiere!
Fair Mitten is out September 22nd via Earthwork Music. Keep up with Gifts or Creatures here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 21, 2017 | wolf tracks
This week, self-proclaimed “Echo Park Pop” artist Luna Shadows unveiled her cover of Brand New’s “Jesus Christ” via Billboard, but we’re still swooning over her most recent original release, “Tokyo”. Lightweight – with that synth tinge to it that we have come to expect from Luna Shadows, with instrumental layers that have obvious Japanese pop influence. As she sings about springtime in her crystal clear, light as a feather voice, we imagine we are in a garden, surrounded by cherry blossom trees as their blossoms break off in the light breeze and fall around us.
Keep up with Luna Shadows here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 20, 2017 | wolf tracks
While you were busy soaking in the last days of summer, Ann Arbor, Michigan’s avant-rock outfit Throwaway – comprised of members Kirsten Carey and Nicole Patrick (MI) / Oliver Dobrian (CA) – was busy releasing their latest video “Family Cry”, the intro to which is slightly terrifying. Despite the cringeworthy red glow, the masks that make the subjects of the video faceless, and the white noise in the background, the strangest – and most intriguing aspect – of the video is the text that scrolls over the visuals, which doesn’t always make sense. You will find it almost impossible to keep up with the wording while simultaneously listening to the lyrics.
“Family Cry” will entrance you from beginning to end thanks in part to its director, Chicago-based performance artist Corey Smith. The colors, words, and acted scenes will confuse you, but there is a sense of thrill to it all when the song’s tempo-changing, unique, garage-tinged experimental rock backs it up.
Keep up with Throwaway here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 20, 2017 | wolf tracks
In collaboration with Margrét Seema Takyar, Masma Dream World (Devi Mambouka) has concocted a focused, beautiful, but almost anxiety-inducing world that will have you questioning your reality and comfort at the same time. Swedish designer Tove Berglund had the right idea with the costume design, which is simple but bold and highlights the beauty – and perhaps fear – of its subject.
An interesting aspect to the video is that Devi invited Tove to collaborate on this performance project in 2014, after being inspired by weave culture. Tove spent hours weaving the outfit (blond hair) onto Devi’s body, and Margrét then applied her vision of light and dark space in the visual representation of Devi’s dance.
While the track is experimental and plays with simple percussion and sound effects, Masma Dream World mesmerizes with movement – jerky, concerning, yet wondrous. Check out the video (just released today!) below, and let us know what you think in the comments!
Keep up with Masma Dream World here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 19, 2017 | wolf tracks
On Friday, Nashville’s intensely talented Whoa Dakota (Jess Ott) released the first step to her sophomore effort – a debut full-length titled Patterns, a follow up to 2015’s I’m a Liar EP -, the album’s coveted title track. “Patterns” is a groovy, nostalgic tribute to the 90’s in its composition and feel, a buoyant lead in for your fall season. It’s not always you find an artist whose vocals expertly complement instrumentals, especially one who hasn’t yet released a full-length. But Whoa Dakota brings every element to the forefront in a very clever and divine way. So take a four minute and nineteen second break to put a little more bounce in your work ethic today, with this sweet narrative on breaking “Patterns”.
Keep up with Whoa Dakota here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 18, 2017 | wolf tracks
Just weeks before their debut album release in October, Brooklyn’s rock outfit The Fluids – comprised of Michael O’Donnell, Nick de Molina, and Cooper Formant – has been busy garnering attention with their new track “Creatures.” Strikingly dramatic in its instrumental composition, “Creatures” bleeds 80s experimental pop and modern good vibes. Let yourself get lost in “a wonderful vibe” as the seasons change. (This song gives off such a magical feeling, it might just clear up your autumn allergies!)
No Kidding! is out October 27th. Keep up with The Fluids here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 15, 2017 | wolf tracks
This week, Hopeless Records‘ star children – the guys of pop punk band New Found Glory – released not only the next music video in their stream of assets from latest album Makes Me Sick, but a fun behind the scenes video as well. Tropical, vibrant, cheesy, amazing. Though there is absolutely more of an island vibe to the tempo and instrumentals in “The Sound of Two Voices”, the fact that it’s still Chad Gilbert’s high pitched punk-tinged voice keeps it 100% NFG, 110% of the time. And it definitely could just be us, but does part of this video remind you of a modern version of the dance scenes in Back To The Future?
New Found Glory kicks off their fall tour soon. Check out the dates to find out which show you’re going to!
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 14, 2017 | wolf tracks
For those of you living under rocks, everyone’s favorite turn of the century alt rock band continues to put out killers. The most recent gem – a music video for their track “Over And Over Again” (published September 7th) – is as quirky as the cowbell that introduces the song. And Bert McCracken’s signature vocals dance in a strangely melodic and ethereal way – as his range truly surprises people every single time – over the instrumentals, which are pure pop rock at their core. The simple video filled with blank space for much of it really gives your eyes a lesson in contrast, while the guys dance and act out absurd and visually pleasing storylines.
The video for “Over And Over Again” is a true amalgamation of The Used’s wide range of talent, continually catapulting them into the bright future of alt rock.
Keep up with The Used here.
by Meredith Schneider | Sep 13, 2017 | Uncategorized
My name is Meredith, and it’s time to kick start this musical journey for you guys. Imperfect Fifth came from an idea that popped into my head several years ago, when I was working in a law office having already lived what seemed to be an entirely different lifetime working in entertainment in New York. Imperfect Fifth was during the days before I was the Editor in Chief of Impose, it came at a time when I had way less of an idea of what I was doing in the industry, and crazily allowed my voice to be inhibited.
Through my last few years career-wise, I’ve discovered I don’t want to lose that voice that I have. I don’t want to lose the zest for music that keeps my heart pounding out of my chest. I don’t want to lose my integrity among the mess. I want to bring clear, positive messages to the world through music… and I want to write the words to justify the feelings that music gives us. I want to work with like-minded, brilliant people who are dreamers, but who are willing to put in the legwork to make those dreams a reality. I certainly have encountered that passion over the last few years, but especially in the last several weeks. So I’ve decided to see where this goes, and I hope you’re all kind of diggin’ it.
I’ll admit there will be some kinks to work out. I purchased the domain only Monday (yeah… two days ago) and didn’t get it verified to start building out until yesterday… right about at the point I locked myself out of my apartment with no keys, no money, no phone, and a pizza I had made fresh, sitting on the coffee table for Schmidt to devour. Right when I was ready to dig in (and not miss my TODAY deadline), I had to walk a mile to my sister’s house (Thank goodness she lives so close!), and try to get her attention with no doorbell installed and no phone or car outside to ease her mind into realizing it was me.
Basically I banged on windows and doors and yelled into her mail slot and open windows until she wasn’t afraid I was a robber anymore.
Eventually – with the help of my neighbor’s email address and some patience – I got back in. And yeah, I may have missed some good coding time, but I actually feel really good about introducing a site called “Imperfect Fifth” in this way. Imperfect, but still with something to say. That’s why I took my time with it today, and why I’ll be optimizing it as I go. It’s a learning process for me, because I’m doing it all on my own.
For now.
I say that because this sucker will grow. Quickly, like the sunflowers we used to brand it with for the first phase of its life. And I will embrace the community that has nurtured and supported me the last few seasons of my life, and we will continue to – in small steps – make the industry and our community a better place to reside. One piece of art at a time.
P.S. Ma! Dad! Happy Anniversary! {{definitely chose to launch today because of the importance of 9/13 in my life}}
**For more info on the name selection, check this sucker out. If you want a snazzy video like mine, head over to Elephant Social and find out all the cool things Erin can do with you! And if you’re still on the fence about me, find out all you need to know at meredithschneider.com!
