Psychedelic rock without the administration

[Live action shot of Xu Xu Fang by Rachel Carr, 2008]

Remember when Sony Music tried to get everyone excited about psychedelic rock with MGMT’s stunning debut studio album? Good times, until MGMT put on the worst live act I’ve ever seen in my life at Slim's in San Francisco. The dismal show was no fluke, with negative reviews across the country. One friend told me that the leader singer stumbled onto stage, muttered “I’m too f'ed up to play” into the mike, jacked his iPod into the PA, and left listeners with a wonderful little playlist. Quite rationally, I immediately distrusted “psychedelic rock” as a label constructed by executives to cover up MGMT’s complete naiveté. Fortunately, two local artists from Los Angeles and New York are slowing repairing my damaged psyche:

Xu Xu Fang fuses a downtempo rhythmic structure (aka trip hop) with psychedelic rock and a mastery of instrumental and vocal arrangements to bring The Cure’s “Fascination Street” into the 21st century. Likewise, “Your Way” manages to incorporate influences from the vanguard of the late millennial trip hop movement (Nightmares on Wax, FC Kahuana, Sigur Ros) while simultaneously striking out new ground.

• Xu Xu Fang - Fascination Street
• Xu Xu Fang - Your Way
• Nightmares on Wax - You Wish
  

Xylos adopts a vision of psychedelic rock bursting with upbeat sunshine. Featuring guest vocals from Ira Tuton and Anand Wilder of Yeasayer, their latest EP (available for free at their website) remains experimental without abandoning carefree lyrical composition and pop hooks, especially on “In the Bedroom.” According to the track, relationships based purely on physical attraction inevitably lead to disaster. Thanks for the astute analysis.

• Xylos - In the Bedroom
• Xylos - Yellow Flip Flops
• Yeasayer - Sunrise