Orange Alert's Music Minute

Not only does Chicago have a lively hip hop scene right now, but the avant-rock scene is about to explode. Case in point, Chandeliers, formed in 2004 and have been fine tuning their wild brand of funk all over the city ever since. They will release their debut album, The Thrush, October 14th on the newly formed imprint Obey Your Brain (run by members of Man Man/ Icy Demons). Some say Chandeliers represent a phenomenon of unclassifiable modern music. Their sound is fresh, well-balanced, rhythmic, and irresistible!

Listen: Mr. Electric (mp3)

This Montreal band completely caught me by surprise. The name Duchess Says had me picturing a girl group dressed in gold pumping out "bangers". Don't ask me why. Anyway, this album is non-stop in your face massive electro-punk. They fuse the fury and intensity of a punk rock comprised of screaming guitars, moaning bass and relentless drumming with keyboards and the explosively sexy stylings of vocalist Annie-C. There is something breathtakingly original about Duchess Says and one listen to their debut album Anthologie des 3 Perchoirs will cement that impression.

Listen to: Ccut Up (mp3)

The Mood are from New York and they released their second ep, Synaesthesia, on July 1st. I almost wrote this band off when I saw the first band that their PR guy chose to compare them to... Fountains of Wayne! Seriously, when I received the album I did not play it a week, but finally I decided to give it a shot. Now I have only heard that one song by Fountains of Wayne, you know the one, but I have to say The Mood sound nothing like them. Yes, the play a form of party rock, but it is not as cheesy and artificial as some would lead you to believe. I feel it is sun drenched rock n' roll and nothing more and nothing less.

Listen to: Masquerade (mp3)

Matt Keating is a folk singer from New York, and for his third studio album he collected a lot of material. I would say a double album, in a time when records are not selling well, is either risky or courageous. The album finds Keating reunited with longtime studio partner Adam Lasus (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah). The album also marks new collaborations with bassist Jason Mercer (Ron Sexsmith, Ani DiFranco), drummer Jordan Richardson, and guitarist Duane Jarvis (Lucinda Williams, Frank Black.) The album really has a lot of heart and seems to tell the tale of Matt's life. It the passion and excitement in his voice over these 23 tracks that make this a quality release.

Listen to: St. Cloud (mp3)

The Peel Back: Kid606 Down With The Scene (Ipecac Recordings, June 2000)

Miguel Trost Depedro, the Venezuela born electronic musician known as Kid606, is the master of glitch-punk. Where Prefuse 73 adds more elements of hip hop, Kid606 adds screams and chopped up guitars. Don't get me wrong, there are many hip hop shards and fragment here, especially with a song called "It'll Take Millions in Plastic Surgery to Make Me Black". Aside from being known for his glitchy and crunchy beats, he is widely known for his song titles. My favorite on this album is " Luke Vibert Can Kiss My Indie-Punk Whiteboy A**". Even though he is mostly wild, raw and extremely funny, he can also show a serious and mellower side and does on the follow-up to this album P.S., I Love You.

Down with The Scene is filled with beats that roll and then stop, build up and then dissolve, bubble-up again just to be torn apart and scattered all over the tracks. This albums moves, but it is not a dance album. It is dark yet funny, and Miguel Depedro is truly a unique voice in the world of electronic music.

Chart Topping Radio Hit/Luke Vibert Can Kiss My Indie-Punk Whiteboy A**/Buffalo606- The Morning After/Kidrush (mp3)/GQ on the EQ/Punkshit/ Secrets 4 Sale/Juvenile Hall Rollcall/It'll Take Millions in Plastic Surgery to Make Me Black/Dame Nature/Hardcore/My Kitten/In Love With All You Are and Forever Maybe as If My Soul Depended on It to Survive/Catstep/My Kitten/Catnap Vatstep DSP