Featured in the

Spring 2008 Issue

Cover Story:

A country mysterious enough that most Americans don’t even know enough about it to form a dismissive caricature, New Zealand is much more than just the place The Lord of the Rings was filmed. Renowned for its stunning geography and abundant natural resources, it’s the farthest outpost of English-speaking society, a country with roughly half as many inhabitants as New York City. But New Zealanders must be people with a sense of humor. Why else would they adopt the kiwi, a plain-looking and flightless bird that is smaller than a chicken, as their national symbol (and the moniker by which they are known to the rest of the world)? Ask someone on the street to name someone from New Zealand, and they’re likely to come up with Keith Urban, Russell Crowe, and a bunch of people from Australia. But the cultural tally between the two countries is getting closer: Australia has kangaroos, the Outback, and Paul Hogan; New Zealand has Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, also known as Flight of the Conchords.

The rare musical comedy act that’s actually funny, Flight of the Conchords officially reached American shores in the Summer of 2007, the logical conclusion of nearly 10 years spent perfecting their act at out-of-the-way comedy festivals and dank clubs. First they won over the judges at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, then they launched a highly successful radio comedy show on the BBC in London, and followed that with a breakthrough 2005 HBO standup special. After a few false starts, they soon landed in the United States with their own eponymous HBO TV series, two musicians playing the role of two musicians who shared their names and many of their experiences. Now, in 2008, the only frontier remaining is the pop charts, and with their self-titled Sub Pop debut, they’re in position to put some intentional humor back in the Top 40. If it seems like it took them a long time to get here, it only goes to prove just how far away New Zealand really is.

Writer Matt Fink interviewed both Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie for this in-depth eleven-page article that tackles their debut album, their history, the second season of their TV show, and the pressures of newfound fame. We also interviewed actor/comedian Rhys Darby, who plays hapless band manager Murray Hewitt on Flight of the Conchords’ HBO show. Co-Publisher Wendy Lynch Redfern conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the duo for Under the Radar in Los Angeles. For the shoot we recreated classic album covers of famous musical duos from the past, dressing Clement and McKenzie up as these notable duos: David Bowie and Mick Jagger from the “Dancing in the Street” video, Captain & Tennille, Hall & Oates, Kid ‘N Play, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Pet Shop Boys, and Wham.

“We think of the characters sometimes as a married couple, and I’m not sure if in that relationship I’m the wife or the husband.” – Jemaine Clement

“The other day Jemaine and I walked through the streets in Wellington, and a group of people just stood up and clapped. That’s pretty weird.” – Bret McKenzie

Main Features:

Death Cab for Cutie: Seizing the Narrative
Writer Matt Fink interviewed Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla about their new album Narrow Stairs. In a sidebar article, Walla also discusses his recent solo album, Field Manuel. Photographer Steven Dewall conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the band for Under the Radar in Seattle.
“It’s an interesting juxtaposition to have everything going perfectly with the band and have things in my personal life crumbling into rubble.” – Ben Gibbard
“I tried to make sure things were in tune, but there’s a lot of shit that isn’t even in tune at a lot of points. But I didn’t feel the need to protect this record. I feel like I must have gotten through a bunch of control issues or something.” – Chris Walla

The Duke Spirit: Raspberry Sunsets
Writer J. Pace interviewed Leila Moss and Luke Ford of the British band The Duke Spirit about their second album, Neptune, which was recorded in the California desert with producer Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age). Photographers Crackerfarm conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the band for Under the Radar in their NYC studio.
“The moments where things slow down and nothing happens, you feel afraid, you feel like you’re not an artist, and maybe you’re kidding yourself.” – Leila Moss

Ladytron: Mythical Beasts and Masterful Beats
Writer Lorraine Carpenter interviewed Mira Aroyo and Daniel Hunt of the Liverpool-based band Ladytron about their fourth album, Velocifero, which was recorded in Paris. Co-Publisher Wendy Lynch Redfern conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the band for Under the Radar in Los Angeles.
“On Witching Hour, we found a sound that we were happy with for the first time, but as a whole, it wasn’t very diverse. We hit on a formula of how to incorporate live drums and bass and guitars, and that’s definitely still there—it gave us a lot of confidence and made us push ourselves a bit further. But with this one, we’ve tightened up some of the rhythmic elements and played with a wider variety of synth sounds, rather than relying on effects, reverb, and lots of washed-out guitars.” – Mira Aroyo
“The worst situation to be in, if you’re in a band, is to feel like you have to make the same record again and again. That’s gotta be soul-destroying.” – Daniel Hunt

Jamie Lidell: By Any Other Name
Writer Matt Fink interviewed Jamie Lidell and his soulful third album, Jim. Photographers Crackerfarm conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with Lidell for Under the Radar in their NYC studio.
“I’m going to ride with it baby! Get a lot of shoes and get laid!” – Jamie Lidell

El Perro del Mar: Angel, Angel, Up We Go Together
Writer Lorraine Carpenter interviewed El Perro del Mar’s Sarah Assbring about the Swedish singer’s new album From the Valley to the Stars.
“Regardless of religious beliefs and regardless of where and when we happen to live on this earth. We have always and will always have a natural relationship to the sky.” – Sarah Assbring

Goldfrapp: When the Glitter’s Gone
Writer Matt Fink interviewed Goldfrapp’s Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory about the British duo’s fourth album, Seventh Tree.
“There was a few times I said to Will, ‘Fucking hell! Do you think anyone is going to want to listen to this?’” – Alison Goldfrapp

Headlights: The Champaign of Bands
Writer Chris Drabick interviewed Headlights’ Erin Fein and Tristan Wraight about the Champaign, Illinois-based band’s second album, Some Racing, Some Stopping.
“We’ve definitely toured our asses off. I think there are a lot of other bands out there that work hard and tour a lot, but being in Champaign, I think we felt a little bit out of the loop. Our only path to connecting ourselves to the world of indie rock was to go on tour. We decided that we wanted to do it as much as we possibly could and make that the centerpiece of what we did.” – Erin Fein

Justice League: The New Frontier: Creator Darwyn Cooke on the Transition from Comics to Screen
Writer Aaron Passman interviewed Canadian comic book writer/artist Darwyn Cooke, the brains behind the animated film Justice League: The New Frontier, which recently premiered on DVD. The movie is based on Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier, a six-issue limited series originally published in 2004 and winner of the Eisner Award, one of comic books’ most prestigious honors. New Frontier finds the Justice League (Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter) mired in the post-war America of McCarthyism, Communist paranoia, and the Space Race, a time where superheroes are under suspicion and distrusted by much of the world. Working from this historical cocktail Cooke reimagined the birth of comics’ greatest team.
“I think we’re at a point in history now where I think most 9-year-olds would think that Spider-Man was a cartoon that they made a movie out of—not that it was ever a comic book…. Even if a kid does find his way into a [comic] shop, it’s not that there’s a Spider-Man comic—there are 15 of them, they all interlock, they’re all in the middle of an 8-part story the kid knows nothing about, and it’s completely inaccessible.” – Darwyn Cooke

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks: Life Among the Metalheads
Writer Mark Sanders interviewed Stephen Malkmus about his fourth post-Pavement album, Real Emotional Trash.
“There’s nothing more romantic than a group of young boys or girls starting a band and playing in their garage and having the energy.” – Stephen Malkmus

M83: Fountain of Youth
Writer J. Pace interviewed M83’s Anthony Gonzalez about the Frenchman’s new album, the ’80s-inspired Saturdays=Youth. Photographer Sophie Etchart conducted an exclusive shoot with Gonzalez for Under the Radar in Paris.
“I really fell in love with bands like Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, or Cocteau Twins. It was like a revelation to me.” – Anthony Gonzalez

Neon Neon: Where There are No Roads
Writer Marcus Kagler interviewed both Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) and Bryon Hollon (aka Boom Bip) about the duo’s collaboration as Neon Neon and their debut album, Stainless Style, which is a concept album about the life of infamous automotive engineer John DeLorean. Co-Publisher Wendy Lynch Redfern conducted an exclusive Back to the Future-themed photo-shoot with the duo for Under the Radar in Los Angeles.
“We strove to do something unique and unexpected from the collaboration between the two of us. The music is this investigation of the American dream and the American nightmare. It’s a celebration of all things plastic and synthetic.” – Gruff Rhys
“Any child of the ’80s knows the idea of the year 2000 back then was really insane. “There were a lot of TV shows and movies with laser guns and hover cars and stuff. According to Gruff, all roads from the ’80s lead to John DeLorean.” – Bryon Hollon (aka Boom Bip)

Sons & Daughters: Showing Off
Writer J. Pace interviewed Sons & Daughters’ Scott Paterson about the Scottish band’s new album, This Gift, which was produced by former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.
“I nearly punched [producer Bernard Butler]. I’m sure he nearly punched me many times as well. It went both ways.” – Scott Paterson

Under Byen: Orchestral Maneuvers in Denmark
Writer John Motley interviewed Under Byen’s Nils Gröndahl about the Danish band’s new EP, Siamesisk, which was recorded live with The Danish Radio Sinfonietta, a 42-piece chamber orchestra. Gröndahl also updated us on the band’s next full-length album.
“In some ways, these recordings are over-the-top: We included 42 people to add even more melancholy to our songs.” – Nils Gröndahl

Young@Heart: Bob Cilman on his Senior Citizens Chorus
Writer Chris Tinkham interviewed Bob Cilman, the chorus director of the Northampton, Massachusetts senior citizens chorus Young@Heart, about Fox Searchlight’s acclaimed and heartbreaking documentary about the chorus, also entitled Young@Heart. The Young@Heart Chorus, which formed in 1982 with Cilman at the helm, has gained attention over the years for performing rock and R&B songs by the likes of Coldplay, Sonic Youth, Radiohead, and Outkast.
“If people go away [after seeing the film] feeling like I’m an ogre, I guess that’s sad. But I don’t worry about what other people think. I know what my relationship is with the chorus.” – Bob Cilman

Our section dedicated to the best and most exciting new artists.

The Dodos: Clearly Not Extinct
Writer Chris Drabick interviewed Meric Long of The Dodos (whose lineup also includes Logan Kroeber) about the San Francisco-based duo’s excellent second record, Visiter.
“I wanted to learn about West African drumming for a paper I was doing on the history of western popular music. A friend of mine hooked me up with a drummer who taught Ewe at Cal Arts in Southern California….A lot of my rhythmic ideas still are informed by what I learned back then.” – Meric Long

El Guincho: Sound Contradictions
Writer Matt Fink interviewed Spain-based Pablo Díaz-Reixa about Alegranza, his debut album as El Guincho.
“It’s kind of sad for me, because you make a record thinking that you’re doing your own thing, and then you’ve got all these people telling you you’ve made a record that sounds like Panda Bear.” – Pablo Díaz-Reixa

Foals: Antithetical Pop
Writer John Motley interviewed Yannis Philippakis, the 20-year-old vocalist and guitarist for the Oxford, England quintet Foals, about their debut album, Antidotes. Photographers Crackerfarm conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the band for Under the Radar in their NYC studio.
“So many bands in the U.K. right now seem to want to present this sepia-toned picture of mod culture. Dave [Sitek] just really encouraged us and reinforced our convictions to not make a record like that and to do something different.” – Yannis Philippakis

Fuck Buttons: The Art of Noise
Writer John Motley interviewed Benjamin John Power of the Bristol, England-based duo Fuck Buttons (whose lineup also includes Andrew Hung) about their debut album, Street Horrrsing.
“With many experimental groups and musicians today, there seems to have been a departure from the recognized ‘song’ structure.” – Benjamin John Power

Noah and the Whale: By Land or By Sea
Writer Frank Valish interviewed Charlie Fink of the London, England-based band Noah and the Whale about their forthcoming debut album. Photographer Andy Willsher conducted an exclusive photo-shoot with the band for Under the Radar in London.
“When I was 15 and 16, I used to be in some really, really terrible bands and made some really terrible music. I guess when you’re 16 and making music, you just want to make noise, really. You just want to rock out. And so I took a year out traveling and thought about what songs I wanted to write.”– Charlie Fink

Jim Noir: Off the Cuff
Writer Matt Fink interviewed Manchester, England-based musician Jim Noir about his self-titled new album.
“It started just as a personal experiment. I was making a lot of silly electronic music, so this was almost like a joke. And then it picked up. It’s a lot more successful than I thought it would be. Sometimes I think it could be a lot better. But if I start learning piano theory, I might lose the blind, innocent way of just plonking around on the piano and creating the nonsense that comes out when you’re not playing in a trained way.” – Jim Noir

Plants and Animals: Collegiate Progressives
Writer Frank Valish interviewed Warren Spicer of Montréal, Canada’s Plants and Animals about their sophomore album, Parc Avenue.
“After [studying music] for four years and really having to concentrate hard on making that sonic stuff, I just wanted to get back to playing guitar again.” – Warren Spicer

School of Language: Reticent Rockist
Writer J. Pace interviewed Field Music’s David Brewis about his new project as School of Language and his debut album under that moniker, Sea From Shore.
“Most of the music that I’ve made in the past ten years has been avoiding embracing the guitar too much. When I first started writing the songs that ended up on this album it did cross my mind that I don’t want to hide away the fact that I love playing the guitar.” – David Brewis

The Teenagers: Parental Advisory
Writer Frank Valish interviewed Teenagers bassist/singer Michael Szpinner about the French band’s debut album, Reality Check, an album that name-checks Scarlett Johansson, has such song titles as “Fuck Nicole,” and features some rather rude lyrics.
“To us, ‘cunt’ is not that rude. It’s just a word….We felt that it was the way everyone spoke, so let’s use it. We were really innocent and naïve.” – Michael Szpinner

These New Puritans: Shadow of London
Writer J. Pace interviewed vocalist/guitarist Jack Barnett of These New Puritans about the British band’s debut album, Beat Pyramid.
“To me, just being in a band is the most pretentious thing you can do.” – Jack Barnett

Reviews:

Over 140 albums, singles, EPs, books, films, TV shows, video games, comic books, and DVDs reviewed, including the following releases:

Music:

A Weather
The Acorn
Annuals
Apples in Stereo
Autechre
The Autumns
Eric Avery
Bauhaus
Beck
Be Your Pet
Big Dipper
Billionaires
Bjorkestra
The Black Keys
Boredoms
The Botticellis
The Breeders
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Sera Cahoone
Cassettes Won’t Listen
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Chatham County Line
Clinic
Constantines
Crushed Stars
Crystal Castles
Ray Davies
Death Cab for Cutie
Devastations
DeVotchKa
diskJokke
The Dodos
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Dream Theater
The Drift
The Duke Spirit
Justin Townes Earle
El Perro del Mar
Elf Power
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Excepter
Explorers Club
The Felice Brothers
Fleet Foxes
Flight of the Conchords
Flowers Forever
Foals
Fuck Buttons
Gnarls Barkley
Goldfrapp
Good Shoes
Adam Green
Gutter Twins
Ed Harcourt
Head of Femur
The Heavy
Hello, Blue Roses
Hymns
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Scarlett Johansson
Stanley Jordan
Junkie XL
The Kills
The Kooks
Kula Shaker
Ladyhawk
Ladytron
Last of the Shadow Puppets
Jim Lauderdale & The Dream Players
Jamie Lidell
The LK
The Long Blondes
Linoel Loueke
Lyrics Born
M83
Mahjongg
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks
Man Man
Colin Meloy
M.I.A.
The Microphones
Monade
Morcheeba
Peter Morén
The Mumlers
Neon Neon
Neva Dinova
The New Frontiers
Jim Noir
PacificUV
Panther
Pattern is Movement
Plants and Animals
Portishead
R.E.M.
Dizzee Rascal
The Ruby Suns
Science For Girls
She and Him
Sian Alice Group
Silver Mt. Zion
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
South
State Bird
Sun Kil Moon
Sunny Day Sets Fire
Supergrass
Richard Swift
Switches
Tapes ‘n Tapes
The Teenagers
These New Puritans
These United States
Tokyo Police Club
Under Byen & The Danish Radio Sinfonietta
Imaad Wasif
What Made Milwaukee Famous
White Hinterland
Why?
Wolfkin
Wye Oak
Zykos
And more…

Film:

My Blueberry Nights
Then She Found Me
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?
Young@Heart

Television:

Blood+
Damages
Dirt
Doctor Who
The Kingdom
New Amsterdam
Newhart
The Return of Jezebel James
The Riches
The Sarah Jane Adventures
South Park
Tell Me You Love Me
The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder

DVDs:

30 Days of Night
A Hundred Dollars and a T-Shirt
American Gangster
Beowulf
Burn to Shine Seattle, WA 01.27.07
The Darjeeling Limited
Darkon
Encyclopedia Asthmatica
Groundhog Day
Robyn Hitchcock
Inside The Smiths
Into the Wild
Justice League: The New Frontier
The King of Kong
Tootsie

Video Games:

Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz
Mass Effect
Rez HD
Singstar ’90s
Turok

Books:

R. Black: Futura: L’Art De R. Black
Dan Kennedy: Rock On: An Office Power Ballad
Tara McPherson: Lonely Heart: The Art of Tara McPherson
Stainboy Reinel: Vicious Intent: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Art and Exploitation of Stainboy Reinel
Tom Reynolds: Touch Me, I’m Sick: The 52 Creepiest Love Songs You’ve Ever Heard
David Stubbs: Ace Records
Dean Wareham: Black Postcards: Unreleased B-sides & Notes From the Road

Comic Books:

Amazing Joy Buzzards: Vol. 1
Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up
B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground
DMZ: Volumes 1 – 4
Doctor Who (Issues 1 – 3)
Doctor Who Classics (Issues 1 – 3)
Fantastic Comics No. 24
Fear Agent Volume Three: The Last Goodbye
Green Arrow: Year One
Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War
Hawaiian Dick: Screaming Black Thunder (Issues 1 – 3)
Howard the Duck: Media Duckling
Paul Goes Fishing
X-Men: First Class – Mutant Mayhem
xxXombies (Issues 1 – 4)

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