WHAT TO WEAR DURING AN ORANGE ALERT?

Teen Daze "Four More Years" (Arcade Sound Ltd, July 23rd)

If I could only dub one album the perfect summer of 2010 album it would be the debut from Teen Daze called Four More Years. Here is my "Tweet" Review of their eight track gem.

"Four More Years": Hazy instrumental opening, a more rock based version of BMSR.
"Gone For The Summer": Roll down the window and let the warmth fill your car. This one ends suddenly, but so does summer.
"Neon": Nearly full-blown electro-rock with almost non-existent vocals float throughout.
"Around": Is that a vocoder? The gentle, but pulsing electronics will carry you to the beach and then out to the night club.
"No Regrets": I was hoping for a New Order cover, but this still maintains a blistful mood.
"Shine On, You Crazy White Cap" (mp3): This one opens like a sun rise and then drifts into the spacey atmosphere. It's a dance track with extra warmth.

Sambassadeur is a Swedish band formed in Gothenburg in 2003. On their latest album, European, they blend light and airy vocals with melodic upbeat indie pop. On the album's latest single, "I Can Try", they even add horns and a drum beat that is undeniable. The video for the single was shot in Jönkoping by Philip Ekström of The Mary Onettes.

Listen to: "I Can Try" (mp3)

European is the band's third album, and it is perhaps their best. This is perfect summer morning wake up music. Sambassadeur is Anna Persson, Daniel Permbo, Joachim Läckberg, and Daniel Tolergård.

Under The Small Lights by John Cotter (Miami University Press, May 2010)

John Cotter calls his debut novel a coming-of-age story, but the truth is that the main character never really figures too much out. What Cotter captures is the feeling in youth that someone else is everything you what to be. The book is about aspiration but on an almost disturbed level. The main character, Jack spends more of his time trying to live the life that he feels others around him are living. He wants so badly to be with the woman that two his friends were with, and although she is married to his friend he still pursues. His life seems to be a constant play filled with new characters to emulate. Yet he is not the only one living this way. His friend Star also finds herself chasing various lives that are not her own. It really is a valuable commentary on life at twenty and how friendships are formed and lost because of our own confusion.

Listening:
1. A.R.E. Weapons: Yep, they're back and stranger than ever. Listen to: Mr. Creature (mp3)
2. Bishop Morocco: This Toronto duo will be releasing their debut album in September. Listen to: Last Year's Disco Guitars (mp3)
3. Rachel McGoye: Radio-ready pop tunes not found on the radio. Listen to: Ghetto Gloss (mp3)

Reading:
1. Divide By Zero by Joseph Gant

Episode Eighteen: Summertime

* Dj BC: Hotbreaker
* Flying Lotus: Heave(N)
* Shannon Peil: Oj
* Wild Nothing: Bored Games
* PF Potvin: Art of Party
* The Whitefield Brothers: The Gift ft Edan & Mr. Lif
* J. Bradley: Quadriplegic
* Last Order: Summertime
* Washed Out: You and I
* Kathleen Rooney: Natural's Not In It (live from The Orange Alert Reading Series)

Despite how it may appear it is difficult to start a lit journal, make it quality, build a following, and keep it running. Chloe Caldwell has done all of those things with her site Sleep.Snort.F*ck. The way she sees the site is as a port of landing of those who may have been tossed away by other sites. That is not to say these are not quality selections, but perhaps these are less established writers or more experimental pieces. Regardless, as you read through SSF you are guaranteed to find something you will relate to.

Besides editing SSF, Chloe is a wonderful writer and recently took the time to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): The on-line lit journal that you edit has an interesting title, and seems to publish a very specific type of writing. Are the two connected, and where did the title come from?

Whenever I see two distinct sides to an artist I am fascinated. I had enjoyed the drawings of Joy Whalen for sometime, but a couple of months ago I was sent a video she had created for a Chicago band named Sonoi. So I began to watch the other videos that Joy had created and while I was watching I was trying to connect her drawings and video work. When the only connection that I could come up with was that they are both creative expressions, I decided to contact Joy and ask her a few questions.

Orange Alert (OA): I love the most recent drawings on your site. They are all ink drawings and seemed to be focusing on nature in various forms and mostly in more destructive forms. Do you feel that more natural elements are appearing in your work as more natural disasters occur around the world?

Last week, The Record Machine released the latest ep, Holy Spirits, from Ohio's State Bird. It is the band's third release, and it finds them pushing beyond their previous releases into a more focus and energetic project. The five song ep is a tribute of sorts to the summer party.

The video for the second track on the ep, "Wasted Away", is above and was shot entirely in 8mm film. State Bird is a band that clearly likes to have some fun and it comes clearly in their music.

Julie Weitz "Guardian 12", 2010 Gouache on paper 22 × 22, from the current show at Thomas Robertello Gallery (939 W Randolph, Chicago)

Listening:
1. How to Dress Well: A hazy summer special. Listen to: Ready For the World (mp3)
2. Afrobeta: Beat heavy pop from Miami. Listen to: Two Different Worlds (mp3)
3. Joy Ike: Such a powerful voice. Listen to: Sweeter (mp3)

Reading:
1. Turn by Susannah Keebler
2. The Wildest One by Matt Bell
3. That Knocking You Hear is Actually Ticking by Billy Thompson