Royal Holland got tired of people not knowing or seemingly not caring about music from amazing musicians who don't have the marketing power to make you want to get their music. Often times, the music being posted is free, it only costs a small amount of your time, and could change the way you look at creativity. Support the ones close to you and they will sprout wings. Royal Recommends is a way to showcase these bands.
Well, I've been trying to write about DINGE for a few months now. I keep not being able to attend their shows (much to my and their chagrin), and I don't think they have anything recorded on the interwebs yet, but perhaps they are finishing an album?
It's like a big secret and stuff.
They're pretty great.
From what I can tell some of the same people in DINGE are also in Cross Country. In fact when I met Emily McColgan, the front most person of DINGE and bassist for Cross Country, for the first time, I was wearing a 'Cross Country' running shirt from maybe the 80's and it was serendipitous and nifty and photos were taken to prove that this actually happened.
So, I'm going to write a little bit about Cross Country for now and promise to write about DINGE sometime later. but, still do watch those videos. It's like Pile and 50FOOTWAVE and all the best other ways the 90's indie scene has been reinterpreted in modern times. It's nuanced and loud and quiet and jangly and discordant in the sonic youth-y way.
Cross Country on the other hand is also just as complex and interesting if not more pop-oriented. I can hear more Weezer weezering themselves in there, or possibly The Like Young, Like Young-ing themselves all over the place. Their dual guitar solos make me so Superchunking happy that I just Superchunked all over my shirt.
The great thing about Cross Country is that they are not afraid to arrange the crap out of a tune. It's gonna throw you for a few wonderfully careening loops like the best sort of carnival ride. It'll be like riding one of those contraptions and eating some cotton candy if said cotton candy were absinthe flavored.
You will probably like it even if you think you won't because it's infectious and catchy as crapping butts.
I'd recommend listening to one of their latest releases “Gum/Awful” HERE. I mean it's two tracks so listen to both. What it's like a 10-minute commitment from you that might change your life? 10 < life.
If you can commit more than that, send them some money because you owe them. Big time.
