From the Vault: Bishop Allen - "Rooftop Brawl"
“We found some cymbals at the last minute,” says Biship Allen’s lead singer Justin Rice in this charming performance video from 2009. “Ours got legs last night.” Watching this video, you can see how items might have disappeared in the hoopla of an evening with the band. Lyrics about swallowed keys and broken watches maintain the chaotic appeal of this bouncy Brooklyn-based group. Check out “Rooftop Brawl” in the player below, and be sure to swing by the Video Vault for other performance videos just waiting to be your new favorites.... read more
Found in: Featured VideosThe Half Light: Bishop Allen and the Reality of Failure
Ripe with talent, ambition, and the connections to make an impact, they seemed like a sure thing. Would they ever be as big as similar bands like The Shins or Belle & Sebastian? The sheer odds made it seem improbable, but at the time, I would have vouched for them. This was a group that couldn’t miss. But they did. read more
Found in: Music, ColumnsBest Coast, Wavves, Blackalicious, Bishop Allen Appear on Target Christmas Compilation
Target lassoed up an impressive roster for their festive release The Christmas Gig. The line-up includes lo-fi sweethearts Best Coast and Wavves, West Coast rappers Blackalicious and psych-rockers Darker My Love.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsTen Sugarpop Bands We're Not Ashamed to Love
We’re aware that this genre didn’t exist until we coined it just now. A Google search revealed that “sugarpop” is a kid group that performed on GMA’s SOP sporting tuxedos and pink frilly dresses and fashionably-mussed hair and covering songs that were way beyond their emotional and hormonal depth. And, as it turns out, that’s a pretty good definition of sugarpop the genre. A little twee, kind of precious, it usually contains some combo of handclaps and cellos and boy-girl duos dressing in Value Village Mad Men chic. The duos in question might even make music videos where they wear... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayCMJ 2009: Warpaint, My Jerusalem, John Forté and More
CMJ’s annual Music Marathon is upon us. Unlike Austin, New York is always crowded and filled with idiots wearing orange lanyards, so the city barely lifts an eyebrow when overrun with however many thousand bands with names (Surfer Blood, Best Coast, Holiday Shores, etc.) that sound like they were yanked straight out of a Dick Dale tribute night.... read more
Found in: Blogs, FestivusBishop Allen Announces Film Screening, North American Tour
Two years may have passed since Bishop Allen first told listeners to "take another picture with your click-click-click-click-camera," but its sophomore release Grrr... gave no reason for them to stop. And so the indie-pop group marches on, now with its sights set on a film screening in New York and a fall tour in North America. ... read more
Found in: Music, NewsApril Showers Bring to Mind These Rain-Themed Rock Songs
It's that time of the year when the May flowers are allegedly right around the next bend. But why not enjoy the precipitation while it's here, especially when there are so many great songs inspired by it? Below are six of my favorite rain-themed rock songs: ... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DaySXSW 2009: The Paste Party - Day Two
For Day Two, Paste teamed up with Brooklyn Vegan to feature some of our favorite artists at SXSW. You'll see performances from Bishop Allen, The Avett Brothers, Daniel Johnston and more! ... read more
Found in: Featured VideosBishop Allen: Grrr...
“I would choose the darkest horse; that’s the horse I’d ride...” read more
Found in: Music, ReviewsBishop Allen's Grrr... out March 10
Brooklyn's Bishop Allen has a new LP, Grrr..., set for a March 10 release on Dead Oceans. ... read more
Found in: Music, News
