Cuddle Up WIth: Oberhofer

Cuddle Up WIth: Oberhofer

Oberhofer is the moniker for Brad Oberhofer, a local Seattle/Tacoma guy who has migrated east to the thriving Brooklyn music scene. He is unsigned, but his new local and recent blog buzz will certainly propel him into the indie spotlight.

Oberhofer's melodies and guitar riffs are beautiful, raw and deeply American. His free EP o0Oo0Oo (yep) is a sloppy seven track endeavor full of catchy and rather surprisingly creative tunes. Comparisons have been made with The Dodos, Wavves, Real Estate, Animal Collective, etc.

Though the entire EP is great, "Away FRM U" stands out above the rest. The song is a highway anthem of the highest quality. The opening guitar line will send chills down your spine and as the deep percussive rhythms emerge you will probably feel the urge to run into the filming of a sudo-hipster Levi's commercial where the sun sets on buff youthful models who have been forced into skinny jeans. Its like the feeling you would have nannying the immaculately conceived children of Kerouac and Whitman.

Oberhofer is the denim jeans of indie rock.

Oberhofer :: Away FRM U
Oberhofer :: I Could Go

Myspace
Download the free EP HERE

Kerouac Reading Kerouac

Kerouac Reading Kerouac

For the most part this blog likes to keep pace with the manic speed of the blogosphere by only writing on new music, but occasionally we are going to point back to some lesser known tracks/artists. Jack Kerouac is obviously not under the "lesser known" list, but his collection of recorded spoken-word poetry set to jazz improvisation may yet to grace your ipod.

Its a beautiful collection. The Beat poets of the fifties and sixties are often held responsible for the hippy generation, but even more importantly their spoken-poetry had a huge influence on later hip hop that would arise during the eighties. Kerouac reads his poetry with intentional rhythm and melody. His voice, which occasionally breaks into song, is nearly identical to Frank Sinatra's. Take a listen to the slow, graceful narrative he spins on "October in the Railroad Earth":

Jack Kerouac :: October in the Railroad Earth
Jack Kerouac :: The Beat Generation