Operation alleviate boredom through music is in full swing here at the Anderson abode. My most recent musical refuge has been a band I’ve heard about for what seems decades. Despite this fact, up until about three weeks ago, I had never actually listened to any of their music. At all. The band? Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

The album I’ve been listening to is their debut: Fever to Tell. In the first listen through Tick really grabbed my attention and refused to let go, such that I found myself skipping forwards and backwards, ignoring other perfectly fine tracks in favor of the sheer insanity of Tick. With much will power I was able to break this tendency and listen to the rest of the album.

I’ve been listening to Fever to Tell almost exclusively for a week now, and for a week I’ve been trying to figure out how to describe this album. I finally figured it out, but only by using other bands that you may or may not have heard of. Which kind of makes this post moot, because practically everyone has heard Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The first is Cat Power, the second is Be Your Own Pet. Take both bands, and combine them in various ways. You end up with this album.

My affinity for Garage Rock is limited, to be honest. There is something about it that after a while just gets under my skin. Perhaps it’s too open-ended. Perhaps it’s because the vocals aren’t so pronounced, and to me vocals are what seal the deal. Or maybe it’s because the beat is hard to feel under all that guitar. Regardless, garage rock and I don’t always get along.

This album has some songs that don’t really pull me in. It also grates on me sometimes. Karen O’s crazy vocals are great, but when the guitar gets weird and screamy behind the crazy vocals it feels like too much.

The first two tracks on this album don’t do a whole lot for me.

Tick then goes nuts and permanently landed Fever to Tell in my remembered albums list.

The songs on this album that I don’t care for fall into a category of music I generally don’t care for, no matter who is producing it. Fast lyrics with slow music, or vice versa. Too much vampy guitar. A beat that is off kilter or subject to unexpected change. These things always get to me.

Black Tongue and Pin are pretty awesome. The beats are solid and the guitar is kept under control.

I also really enjoy Maps, but for alternate reasons. It’s a slow song, but with a good beat. The guitar gets vampy without getting piercing, and matches the deeper Karen O vocals. Modern Romance is another perfect slow song. The beat is steady, and the vocals are perfectly nostalgic.

For what it’s worth, though, Karen O seems to be a total Frother…which automatically gets her a gold star.

What to Take Away?

Generally speaking, Leslie doesn’t know enough about Yeah Yeah Yeah’s style of music to make much commentary on that, but overall the album has some good points, some boring points, and some points that really gets on Leslie’s nerves. This being the debut album, though, makes me look forward do a more defined sound in their later albums.

What to Expect?

Garage rock influenced Indie with a general lack of steady beats in favor of craziness.

What drink to pair it with?

A Hot and Dirty Martini. Pepper Vodka, Dry Vermouth, Olive Brine, a dash of chipotle tabasco sauce. Garnish with a pepperoncini stuffed with blue cheese, and enjoy the insanity.

Favorite song?

Oh my, Tick. That song makes the entire album seem like a gift from congress.

Stumping for bands is second nature I believe for any music lover. We all have our favorites, and we make damn sure that everybody else knows just how much we like them. Regrettably, stumping for local bands tends to be a more cumbersome endeavor…

People rarely know of the group being discussed. Concerts are inevitably on Thursday’s at bars I avoid going near let alone in. Albums are scarce to come by (assuming they have even published an album yet), and frankly, the music coming from the big music houses has caused consumers to expect a lot from musicians… A stumbling point I think when small is trying to break out of its little shell and into regional acceptance.

Enter Pittsburgh regional band Donora (not to be confused with the borough of the same name). Regrettably, I have very little time to bar hop during the weekdays to see all the start-up groups doing their entry campaigns so Donora slipped under my radar for their early life until a friend mentioned them (and MOIP) during a conversation detailing weekend happenings in the ‘burgh. It is also worth noting that their popularity has grown to the point that they are making regional tours through the mid-Atlantic and Midwest.

Now, while Pittsburgh has a very active start-up music scene, the bulk of participants leave me crying blood and screaming “you’re doing it wrong!” by the time they’re done tuning instruments.

Oh yeah, in general they’re that bad.

It has to be a wheat/chaff analogy thing. For every one band with potential, there is a group with the suckitude needed to balance some global artistic scale.

Donora not only doesn’t suck (a rousing endorsement, I know), they also manage to draw dedicated crowds in what is, woefully, territory held squarely by Top 40 hits, oldies, rap, and *shiver* country. It’s simply tough to get people to realize that there are alternatives to what our limited radio stations play although I think the constant influx of new blood to the various universities is helping.

Donora is more-or-less an indie-rock band with a bit of pop and some Midwestern alternative thrown in for good measure. Their lyrics are questionably placed at times, but still stray nowhere near the ridiculousness of Dragonette – my hope here is that with a maturing band the lyrics will grow a little as well.

Donora has released a full length (self-titled) album. Ten songs ranging from the catchy and danceable “Shout” [Editor's note: "Shout" is the only song in the album strategically missing from playback on last.fm] to the quirky “I Think I Like You” and the reminiscing, synth-laden “Photograph” – all rather short with an average being right about three minutes ten. Totally worth it. Given slightly more experience I expect longer songs up in the more normal 3:30 – 3:40 range.

Donora finally got their album up on iTunes (at least for US customers), and if indie-rock is even close to your cup of tea I highly recommend a trial listen.

What to expect.

Classic, quirky, fun indie-rock from a group that is destined to grow into something large.

What to take away?

While they tend to attract a large percentage of hipsters don’t let the scene that seems to follow them throw you off. Donora’s music is simply intended to be fun and dance inducing (with one notable slow song) with no pretension or preaching.

Favorite song?

Tossup. I really like “I Think I Like You,” but I think “Shout” still has the ribbon. It’s a bit repetitive lyrically (I know – I get hung up), but the energy that goes into it is addicting.

Pairing?

A slightly advanced hipster beer (above PBR anyway) – Straub of St. Marys, Pennsylvania.