Consequence of Sound » Midnight Juggernauts

Meat Puppets, Titus Andronicus, EMA featured on Nevermind covers album

Chris Coplan — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 04:18:48 +0000

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Nirvana‘s seminal album Nevermind turns 20 this year (how’s that feel, Generation X?). A grunge masterpiece that transcended its boundaries, the album is as relevant now as it was when it hit the shelves in September 1991. Case in point: SPIN has put together Newermind, a cleverly titled tribute album that sees acts both new and old covering each of the record’s 13 tracks (including the hidden “Endless, Nameless”).

Now available as a free download in exchange for a good ol’ LIKE on Facebook, the LP features takes on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Meat Puppets, “Breed” by Titus Andronicus, “Lithium” by The Vaselines, and “Endless, Nameless” by EMA. Other contributing artists include Surfer Blood, Charles Bradley, Amanda Palmer, and Telekinesis. Check out the complete tracklist below.

The album is being released in conjunction with the magazine’s August issue, which features insight and praise for Nevermind from Eddie Vedder, Wayne Coyne, and David Grohl. It also follows a similar project done by SPIN a couple years back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Prince’s Purple Rain.

As for other Nevermind-related festivities, don’t forget about the forthcoming reissue, which will see release on September 19th in the UK and September 20th in the U.S via Universal. There’s also a museum exhibit worth checking out.

Newermind Tracklist:
01. Meat Puppets – Smells Like Teen Spirit
02. Butch Walker – In Bloom
03. Midnight Juggernauts – Come As You Are
04. Titus Andronicus – Breed
05. The Vaselines – Lithium
06. Amanda Palmer – Polly
07. Surfer Blood – Territorial Pissings
08. Foxy Shazam – Drain You
09. Jessica Lea Mayfield – Lounge Act
10. Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band – Stay Away
11. Telekinesis – On A Plain
12. JEFF the Brotherhood – Something In The Way
13. EMA – Endless, Nameless

Album Review: Midnight Juggernauts – The Crystal Axis

Frank Mojica — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:59:19 +0000

Following the 2007 release of their debut album, Dystopia, in their native Australia, Midnight Juggernauts found themselves earning numerous accolades, supporting Justice on their United States tour, and playing major festivals and their own headlining gigs all over the world. Dystopia took disco, glam rock, 80’s synth pop, and electro and mish-mashed these different sounds and styles for a fun album that defied simple classification. For their sophomore album, The Crystal Axis, Midnight Juggernauts continue to combine a variety of sounds to intriguing effect. The primary difference that sets The Crystal Axis apart from their debut is that it drifts away from the dance floor and towards the open arms of 70’s prog rock.

The Crystal Axis opens on an eerie note with “Induco”, a two-minute instrumental intro where an alien whistle mixes with a spacey synth to create a sound reminiscent of retro sci-fi films. “Induco” seamlessly flows into the previously released single, “Vital Signs”, one of the more pop-oriented songs on The Crystal Axis. Three minutes into “Vital Signs”, Midnight Juggernauts abruptly go into what is almost a new song characterized by tribal drumming before everything comes together for a spell-binding close. It’s moments such as these when Midnight Juggernauts are at their most compelling.

While “This New Technology” is the most accessible track on the album and also the most reminiscent of Dystopia, its Krautrock-esque organ and garage rock drumming make it distinctly The Crystal Axis. The organic, percussive element of Axis reaches its pinnacle on “Lara Versus the Savage Pack”, a triumphant pop-rock anthem that stands out among even the strongest songs. “The Great Beyond” represents a further departure for the band, as they jam into prog territory, and hooks give way to instrumental freak-outs.

Unfortunately, as magnetic as it is, The Crystal Axis noticeably peaks early. Matching or topping a standout trio like “Technology”, “Lara”, and “Beyond” is no easy feat, but with the exception of the forgettable transition track “Lemuria”, the second half of the album is still an engaging listen. While the driving rocker “Winds of Fortune” is one of the most irresistible songs, it’s also a somewhat awkward fit. “Fade to Red” brings the album to a shimmering end, as keyboard loops and distorted vocals swirl together in a hypnotic soundscape. The Crystal Axis is the sound of a band defying expectations and testing their limits, while continuing to evade fitting into any single musical category.

Midnight Juggernaut drops new single, album

Jeremy D. Larson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:35:04 +0000

Following up to their late 2007 release Dystopia, Midnight Juggernauts’ new album The Crystal Axis hopes to find the band exploring even more aural avenue. After laying down the tracks in its secluded studio in Melbourne, Australia, the band once again self-produced the album and hired on Chris Moor to engineer (of TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yeasayer, and Liars acclaim). The band also issued a preview of its first single “Vital Signs” and the music video for the song, both available below. Who knows, maybe this vid lands them a spot on The *Warped* Tour (LMAO)…

At first blush, it’s stark departure from much of Dystopia’s four to the floor jaunts. Maybe Moor was wearing his TV On The Radio shirt and Midnight Juggernaut’s were all like “Hey, Nice shirt! You like those guys?”

No U.S. dates are announced yet, but they’ll be hitting up Exit Festival, Benicàssim Festival, and Splendour in the Grass this summer.

The Crystal Axis will be available May 28th on Siberia Records. A pre-sale is currently ongoing at the band’s website. Be sure to be one of the first 1000 clickers to score their special limited print 12″ Vinyl. How special? They “can’t even tell you.”

Check Out:
“Vital Signs”

The Crystal Axis Tracklist:
01. Induco
02. Vital Signs
03. Lifeblood Flow
04. This New Technology
05. Lara Versus The Savage Pack
06. The Great Beyond
07. Cannibal Freeway
08. Virago
09. Winds of Fortune
10. Dynasty
11. Lemuria
12. Fade to Red

Big Day Out ’10 rounds up Muse, The Decemberists, Rise Against, more

Alex Young — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:30:22 +0000

We all know summer means music festivals. We also all hopefully know that Australia celebrates summer when we’re battling winter. So it makes senses that with Australia’s summer quickly approaching, many of the country’s major music events are starting to finalize their 2010 festivities, the first being Big Day Out.

For its 18th edition, Australia’s largest outdoor music event has tapped the likes of Muse, The Decemberists, The Mars Volta, the newly unretired Lily Allen, Peaches, Rise Against, Mastodon, Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal, Powderfinger, Ladyhawke, the Horrors, and Girl Talk.

However, as Undercover reports, David Bowie, who had been heavily rumored to be participating in this year’s event, is missing from the initial lineup. Good thing initial only means initial, eh?

Big Day Out kicks off on January 15th in Auckland, New Zealand, before hitting the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and concluding in Perth on January 31st. Tickets, ranging from $132 – $140, are available via bigdayout.com.