The Babies - “My Name”
My name is Kevin
I was born in Texas
I do not remember
And I never had a choice
…
My name is Cassie
I was born in New Jersey
I do not remember
And I never had a choice
The Babies - Live in Paris
This video of The Babies playing live at L’Espace B in Paris features one of the new untitled tracks they’ve been dropping on their recent tours. It’s sweet. Someone’s gotta pay the rent.
Artist: The Babies
Album: Cry Along With The Babies
Date Acquired: Jan. 22, 2011
How Acquired: Real Estate/The Babies show at Black Cat
I’ve had a place in my heart for The Babies for almost two and a half years now, ever since I saw them perform in Brooklyn in August 2009. Little did I know that this band, featuring members of Vivian Girls and Woods, would end up being one of my favorites. The debut self-titled full length charted very high on my top 25 albums of 2011, and some of the new songs floating around like “Places” and “Baby” are awesome.
Cry Along With The Babies, released on New Images, shows The Babies in a more intimate light. Composed of acoustic demos featuring Kevin Morby and Cassie Ramone, you feel like you’re watching a private bedroom show that you’re not sure if you should be seeing. The songs range from unreleased (“Big Mercedes,” “On My Team,” “That Boy”), finished (“Here Comes Trouble,” “My Tears”) and altered (“Hey Mama” - a different version of “Sick Kid”). All the while, the songs retain the uniqueness that Morby and Ramone bring to the table.
The high point for me is the last two songs of the EP: “Hey Mama” and “That Boy.” It might be the familiarity of the “Sick Kid” riff, but the outro to “Hey Mama” just jumps with the acoustic shredding from both guitarists. “That Boy,” with Morby on vocals, seems extremely personal and Dylan-esque. It’s almost like getting a look into his soul. Plus, the solo and outro sections really thrash.
While it’s short and sweet, Cry Along With The Babies provides a look at the in-progress nature of many of their songs, while dropping in a gem with “That Boy.”
The Babies - “Baby” (Live at The Smell)
This could be my all-time favorite Babies song, and this version from the live show last January they released on tape is so dark and angsty and just good. Cassie Ramone makes it work.
The Babies - “Caroline”
Live at 285 Kent in Williamsburg, Dec. 20, 2011.
Last night, The Babies were just overwhelmingly solid. The new songs sound so great and they really have a great, great raw energy. They have come a long way from Death By Audio in August 2009. I can’t wait to see them open for Real Estate in January in D.C.
The Babies - “Breakin’ The Law”
Live at 285 Kent in Williamsburg, Dec. 20, 2011.
The Babies - “Places”
Live at 285 Kent in Williamsburg, Dec. 20, 2011.
as heard on In Afternoon Air (Dec. 16, 2011)
1. Real Estate - Days
2. Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings
3. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation
4. Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy
5. Julian Lynch - Terra
6. The Babies - The Babies
7. La Big Vic - Actually
8. Yuck - Yuck
9. Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
10. Wye Oak - Civilian
11. total babes - swimming through sunlight
12. Vivian Girls - Share The Joy
13. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts
14. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
15. Iceage - New Brigade
16. Washed Out - Within and Without
17. Woods - Sun and Shade
18. Coma Cinema - Blue Suicide
19. Twerps - Twerps
20. Family Portrait - Family Portrait
21. Sea Patterns - Kid Pop (demo)
22. Parentz - Big
23. Craft Spells - Idle Labor
24. The Drums - Portamento
25. La Sera - La Sera
Download the show here.
A weekly radio show on WMUC-FM College Park 88.1 at the University of Maryland, College Park returning in August / September 2012. Read this blog in the meantime. Stream at wmucradio.com
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