By: David Schultz

While far from a diligent or scientific survey of the multitude of Best of the Decade lists, The Secret Machines’ Now Here Is Nowhere seemed criminally underrepresented in the culling of the oughts’ finest. A mixture of strident unrelenting modern rock, wispy pastorals and droning ambience, the freshness and excitement of The Secret Machines’ 2004 debut more than made up for its somewhat uneven pacing. Drummer Josh Garza’s monstrous drumbeats are barely contained by the studio and the Morse code bass lines of Brandon Curtis propel songs like “Nowhere Again” and “The Road Leads Where Its Led” forward with an unparalleled intensity. The propulsive infectiousness of “First Wave Intact,” the nine minute explosion of a mission statement that opens the album, is such a perfect song it can send shivers down your spine. You had the feeling that you were listening to the next great band, the droll affectless counterpoint to Arcade Fire.

Unfortunately, the departure of Ben Curtis from the band in 2007 to concentrate on School Of Seven Bells with Alejandra and Claudia Deheza seemed to sap the rush out of the Machines. Their last studio effort with Phil Karnats rounding out the trio flashed glimpses of past wonder but too often Secret Machines plodded forth with a joyless mechanical march. They remain compelling, even if they’ve yet to get back in step with where they were at the middle of the last decade. Around Christmas time, Curtis and Garza played a Secret Machines show as duo when a snow storm stranded Karnats outside the City limits. Village Voice profilee nyctaper caught the show and wherever he goes, high-quality recordings follow.

LOOKING AHEAD, INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS: When the weather gets warmer, The National will be releasing their follow-up to Boxer and take to the road. They’ll play the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN, where guitarist Bryce Dessner will co-curate, hit up parts of Europe and both American coasts, including a hometown June 16 show at Radio City Music Hall. On the west coast, Menomena’s Brent Knopf’s side project, Ramona Falls, will open.

In support of Scratch My Back, his album of cover songs that will be released in the US on March 2, Peter Gabriel will embark on The New Blood Tour. Leaving guitars and drums at home, Gabriel will be accompanied solely by an orchestra he’s named the Scratch My Back Experience. The tour will bring Gabriel back to America for the first time in close to seven years with shows announced for Radio City Music Hall in New York City (May 2, May 3) and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Earl Greyhound will release their sophomore album Suspicious Package on April 13, marking their return after an abnormally long absence. Has anything changed during that time? From the promo photo, Ricc Sheridan may have toned down his penchant for awesomely colorful shirts (doubtful), Kamara Thomas looks to have shortened one of the greatest hairstyles in rock and roll (self evident) and Matt Whyte seems to gone stone cold hippie or developed a serious William Hurt fetish(Whoa!).

Labels: Earl Greyhound, Peter Gabriel, The National, The Secret Machines