Bodega Shiny New Model – 7th Level Music

Top 30 albums of 2019: #’s 30 – 26

Here we are at the end of 2019. As always, there’s too much good music released every year for anyone to hear all of it, but here are my top 30 albums of 2019 (of 60 that I reviewed) this year.

#30 – Vapors of Morphine – Lyons, Colley, Dupree Live at the Lizard Lounge 5/25/2007

This is a recording of a 2007 show that was the beginnings of what would become Vapors of Morphine. It’s a great recording of jazz, low rock, delta blues, and a bit of psychedelia and was a welcome gift for this lover of Morphine.

#29 – Black Midi – Schlagenheim

This album is difficult to describe. Is it prog-rock? Post-punk? Both? Neither? I think it’s neither. I do know that it’s a wild mix of crazy guitar riffs, epic drumming, and bizarre, frantic lyrics. It’s unlike anything you’ll hear, and I fully expect (and the band has pretty much said) that the next Black Midi album will be completely different.

#28 – BODEGA – Shiny New Model

BODEGA can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes and ears, and Shiny New Model was another sharp, witty post-punk record from these New Yorkers. BODEGA capture existential ennui, technology paranoia, and the annoyance of the daily grind better than most.

#27 – Cosmonauts – Star 69

I knew as soon as I heard the single “Seven Sisters” for the first time that Star 69 would be in the top half of this list. Sure enough, the entire album is a shoegaze wallop with their heavy wall of distorted guitars and California sunshine (intentionally mixed with a bit of smog, let’s be honest). Sharp lyrics about being tired of parties and sick of hipsters are an added bonus.

#26 – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Fishing for Fishies

Never ones to fear experimenting with multiple genres, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard decided to make a blues record and mix it with synthwave. It works. They’re probably one of the few bands who could do it, let alone make it a concept record about environmental issues and the constant creep of more technology into our lives.

Who’s in the top 25? Come back tomorrow to find out!

Keep your mind open.

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Review: BODEGA – Shiny New Model

With so much happening in the world right now (in terms of pop culture, existential ennui, outsider art, and politics, at least), NYC post-punks BODEGA have a wealth of material upon which to draw for inspiration. I’m surprised they don’t put out at least an EP every three months.

Their newest one, Shiny New Model, is another one with a stinging name (the first being their debut full-length Endless Scroll), stinging jams, and stinging lyrics. The title track opens the record, and the first line is, “You will be replaced by a shiny new model.” They’re right, of course. All of us are fated to be replaced by someone or something else in our relationships (“Swipe!” is repeated throughout the chorus.), jobs, discography, and lives. Lead singer Ben Hozie sings an ode to an old ATM in the back of a bodega that, like everything else, is being replaced by the newest technology. It’s an allegory for all of us, of course, our reliance / addiction to modern technology, and our willingness to dehumanize our lives.

“Treasures of the Ancient World” has Hozie looking for lost love while Heather Elle‘s bass groove behind him is downright wicked. “There’s no vanguard revival, and I bet there never was,” Hozie sings on “No Vanguard Revival.” – a fast, brutal truth of a track. “Knife on the Platter” has some of Madison Vandam‘s best guitar work on the record, ranging from post-punk stabs to Andy Summers-like explorations.

“Domesticated Animal” is a funny, sharp takedown of mansplaining and sexism sung by Nikki Belfiglio. “Realism” is a quick tale of a woman at the end of a bad relationship.

The end of the album is two different versions of “Truth Is Not Punishment” – a cut from Endless Scroll that has become one of the band’s favorites for improvising while onstage. The song is about how many us want the truth yet refuse to accept it when it is delivered. The “long version” has Hozie singing Chuck Berry‘s “No Particular Place to Go” in the middle of it. One of the most impressive parts of the long version is how new drummer Tai Lee keeps her beats perfect and sounding the same for over ten minutes. The whole “sound the same thing” isn’t a slam on her at all. Listen to the beat she puts down and then try to play it yourself for over ten minutes without error. Your arms will feel like they’re going to fall off within three. The short version of the song is snappy and no less hard-hitting in its lesson and sound than the long one.

It’s another excellent record from BODEGA…until the next one comes along and replaces this with the shiniest, newest model.

Keep your mind open.

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BODEGA leaves us a “Knife on the Platter” to go with their upcoming EP.

Brooklyn-based BODEGA releases a new single, “Knife On The Platter,” from their forthcoming EP, Shiny New Model, out October 11th on What’s Your Rupture?. Following the “pirouetting guitar line and an intimate bass groove” (Paste) of the title track, “Knife on the Platter” charges forward with resounding bass and sharp, nearly-shouted vocals.

“‘Knife On the Platter’ is a narrative song. I was imagining a top notch Gena Rowlands-esque actress who is cast in a mediocre gothic who nonetheless elevates the script’s schlocky material through her absolute commitment to authentically live each moment of the play,” says Ben Hozie. “She performs as if the gods are watching – she ‘acts’ as if each gesture will be set in stone for the future to see. That’s a show business trick – when performing imagine your heroes are in the room. You will no longer mess around. Twice in the song Zeus responds via the lightning striking from Madison’s guitar. That’s the thing: even when you are totally alone and lost – someone is (or will always be) watching your actions. Choose wisely.”

Following Endless Scroll, their “debut full of danceable, pop-smooth punk” (The AV Club), the Shiny New Model EP marks a lush new sonic direction for the group – widescreen multi-tracked guitars and a giant sounding rhythm section complement sharp songwriting and yearning vocal melodies. With wild minimalism and laughing wit, they revitalize the rock and roll vocabulary under the influence of post punk, hip-hop, kraut rock, and folk-derived narrative songwriting.

BODEGA is comprised of Ben Hozie (conductor, vocals, guitar), Nikki Belfiglio (art director, vocals, samples, hi hat), Heather Elle (bass), Madison Velding Vandam (lead guitar, producer), and the new addition of Tai Lee (stand-up percussionist). The EP is the band’s first recording done with Tai Lee, its first session at a proper studio, and the first BODEGA release produced within the group (production was handled by Vandam).

The band will tour across North America, kicking off next week at O+ Festival in New York. All dates can be found below and tickets are on sale now.

Listen to “Knife on the Platter” – https://youtu.be/cR9AlXgvNSc

Watch the “Shiny New Model” video – https://youtu.be/h7_A8fqHNBQ

Pre-order Shiny New Model – https://bodegabk.bandcamp.com/

BODEGA Tour Dates: Fri. Oct. 11 – Kingston, NY @ O+ Festival Wed. Oct. 23 – Somerville, MA @ Once Ballroom * Thu. Oct. 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg * Sat. Oct. 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle * Sun. Oct. 27 – Washington, DC @ Pie Shop * Mon. Oct. 28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe * Fri. Nov. 1 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 * Sat. Nov. 2 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa * Tue. Nov. 5 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda * Fri. Nov. 8 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar * Sat. Nov. 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre * Mon. Dec. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall & Tue. Dec. 3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere & Thu. Dec. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie & *= w/ Starcrawler &= w/ Yummy Fur

Keep your mind open.

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BODEGA bring us a “Shiny New Model” with their latest single.

Brooklyn-based BODEGA announces their new EP, Shiny New Model, out October 11th on What’s Your Rupture. Today, they share the title track, a buzzy, art-punk song that is set in an actual bodega, and an accompanying video. The video was directed by Brian Ngai and stars the band themselves. Following Endless Scroll, their “debut full of danceable, pop-smooth punk” (The AV Club), the Shiny New Model EP marks a lush new sonic direction for the group – widescreen multi-tracked guitars and a giant sounding rhythm section complement sharp songwriting and yearning vocal melodies. With wild minimalism and laughing wit, they revitalize the rock and roll vocabulary under the influence of post punk, hip-hop, kraut rock, and folk-derived narrative songwriting.

Last winter, Ben Hozie (conductor, vocals, guitar), Nikki Belfiglio (art director, vocals, samples, hi hat), Heather Elle (bass), Madison Velding Vandam (lead guitar, producer), and the new addition of Tai Lee (stand-up percussionist) headed up to Power Station in Connecticut to record. The EP is the band’s first recording done with Tai Lee, its first session at a proper studio, and the first BODEGA release produced within the group (production was handled by Vandam).

The EP covers various thematic ground: history alive in the present, the sadness of modern consumption, and adultery via sexting. In addition to the EP’s breezy hook-filled songs, the LP’s B-side features an extended improvised version of the group’s staple track “Truth is not Punishment” (an abbreviated “radio edit” of this track will be available on streaming services). The band has been using this song as a vehicle for extended live improvisation for a year and decided to use a day of the EP’s session to experiment with it in the studio.

BODEGA will tour across Europe before returning to the states later this year. They’ll appear at the O+ Festival in New York, Toronto’s Adelaide Hall, Brooklyn’s Elsewhere, and Philadelphia’s Kung Fu Necktie. All dates can be found below.

Watch the “Shiny New Model” Video – https://youtu.be/h7_A8fqHNBQ

Pre-order Shiny New Model EP – http://hyperurl.co/t1eo8p

Shiny New Model EP Tracklist: 1. Shiny New Model 2. Treasures 3. No Vanguard Revival 4. Knife On The Platter 5. Domesticated Animal 6. Realism 7. Truth Is Not Punishment (Long) 8. Truth Is Not Punishment (Short)

BODEGA Tour Dates: Fri. Aug. 23 – Charleville Mezières, FR @ Cabaret Vert Festival Sat. Aug. 24 – Gueret, FR @ Festival Check In Party Tue. Aug. 27 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 Wed. Aug. 28 – Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds Thu. Aug. 29 – Bedford, UK @ Esquires Fri. Aug. 30 – Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival Sun. Sept. 1 – Stradbally, IE @ Electric Picnic Fri. Oct. 11 – Kingston, NY @ O+ Festival Wed. Oct. 23 – Boston, MA @ Once (w/ Starcrawler) Sat. Oct. 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle (w/ Starcrawler) Sun. Oct. 27 – Washington, DC @ Pie Shop (w/ Starcrawler) Mon. Oct. 28 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe (w/ Starcrawler) Fri. Nov. 1 – Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 (w/ Starcrawler) Sat. Nov. 2 @ New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa (w/ Starcrawler) Tue. Nov. 5 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda (Inside) (w/ Starcrawler) Fri. Nov. 8 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar (w/ Starcrawler) Sat. Nov. 9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre (w/ Starcrawler) Mon. Dec. 2 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall Tue. Dec. 3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere Thu. Dec. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

Keep your mind open.

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