GIMMICKS! Here at A New Band A Day, we love them - to the point that we aren't afraid of using cheap, near-moronic devices ourselves in an attempt to crowbar some variety into our shallow lives. Anything like that in the world of rock 'n' pop is worth a go, I suppose, and if it works and raises the profile of a good band, all the better. So: Today's New Band, The Very Most, are giving away a free custom song with every purchase of their new album until the end of August. You tell them what you want the song to be about,and they'll write it.

This is a good deal, assuming you like their music. There's no point getting a song written about you and your life-long Roxette obsession if the band doing it is Extreme Noise Terror, for example. So here's the good news - The Very Most are a good band, with charm and panache to spare. Their songs are as sweet and carefully constructed as a child's model treehouse made of Lego. "Why don't you call the cops on me?" they sing, in the similarly-named song, which may or may not explore the banality of children's playground taunts.

Save the most or your reserves of pleasant surprise for their Custom Songs though - you might hook yourself a minor classic. MP3Hugger is quiet noise-rock, with a soft fuzz leeching through the indie-pop pleasantness just near the end. It's a delicate delight - a quick, gentle fog of guitar and slightly cryptic lyrics. It's on their MySpace page here. A whole album of songs written on the suggestions of fans and outsiders would be an interesting proposition. On the strength of MP3Hugger, I hope they consider it.

I suppose the only danger of a gimmick like that is that The Very Most might become 'that band that writes free songs about you' - but frankly, if it ropes in a few idiots who can't look past that and recognise a good band when one is poking them in the ear, then it's no loss. At very least, they'll sell more records and have more people hearing their lovely songs, and that's the most important thing. Good marketing is the new Rock 'n' Roll/Stand-Up Comedy/Black/Whatever. Hooray! Listen to their songs and getcha free song here!

Labels: Gimmicks, Indie, summer

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What is it that makes us view Welsh bands differently? Even when a song from the litany of fabulous Welsh bands such as Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Munki sing in English, there's something indefinable that separates them from their British counterparts, at least. Today's new band, Genod Droog, also have this - with the twinkly space-yness of Gorky's and the full-on mentalism found in the Furries' crazier moments.

Oh, and they're hip-hop. Yup, and rapping fits Welsh as well as it does French: brilliantly. While this might be a novelty enough to just to hear it in action, Genod Droog have tunes in spades too. Listen to Gwn Tatws on their MySpage page and try and stop yourself from singing along in your best attempt at Welsh while their blend of Psych-Rock-Hip-Hop bombards your ears. Then marvel that the song is about veg of champions - the potato (at least I think so; my very basic knowledge of Welsh is fallable).

Best of all is Bomiwch y Byd - the kind of song that reeks of summertime and would sound best if heard sitting a sunny Welsh field, sipping a cider. Fortunately for us mere mortals, this will be possible soon - they're playing a bunch of gigs around the fantastic Welsh summer festival circuit. Welsh bands seem to have an innate ability to do the simple stuff - i.e. tunes - and making it work well, weirdly, and wonderfully. Genod Droog do this too - listen now and then catch them if you can.

Finally, another ANBAD radio show will be up very soon, over the weekend, barring technical mishaps/Internet hell/death. Marvel at its glory! Listen to voices talk in between this week's greatest songs! Free! All those things - and more!

Don't forget, if you have a great band we should listen to and put on A New Band A Day, email me and tell me all about it. We listen to every band you suggest, promise!

Labels: potatoes, summer, Welsh

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