Always seemingly out of nowhere, Cincinnatis own 'Other Pop' enthusiast, College/Modern Rock/Alternative music survivors—whatever or however you want to call them—The Tigerlillies, once again acting with surprise in their favor, unleash a follow-up to their full-length In The Dark CD with 123456; their latest sonic offering in the form of an extended player.
Other-Pop (as I see it as the bastard evolution of The Embarrassments Blister-Pop) is the way I choose to describe (not label) this release: Another non-existent genre of music (that I just-now coined) that inevitably someone reading this will react by rolling their eyes about... Now. That is, if they already haven't. Not because Other-Pop dosent fit, or isn't witty enough, but because they didn't think of it first.
Other-Pop (as I see it as the bastard evolution of The Embarrassments Blister-Pop) is the way I choose to describe (not label) this release: Another non-existent genre of music (that I just-now coined) that inevitably someone reading this will react by rolling their eyes about... Now. That is, if they already haven't. Not because Other-Pop dosent fit, or isn't witty enough, but because they didn't think of it first.
To call 123456 'Indie' seems wrong and out of place... Even, perhaps, an understatement. The Tigerlillies deserve better than that!
It's not a matter of respect for this bands longevity or their ability to weather and endure... Ever progressing still, the band (once again—in my own words) that always was, who I feel like I have always seen on flyers since my earliest days going to local shows, has earned it.
There's no reason why The Tigerlillies shouldn't be heard on the [new] 105.9 fm WNKU which is (thank the heavens above) sounding more and more like the sorely-missed [Old] Future of Rock and Roll™ 97.7 WOXY, and their local music promise to play a local band—at least one—every hour.
If I can hear bands like Sacred Spirits, The Fairmount Girls and The Pomegranits more than once each in easy listening whilst completing chores around town—if I can read e-mails and Facebook™ post from comrades telling me they heard my name used in conjunction with a Buffalo Killers related radio-spot on said station—then why hear The Tigerlillies not WNKU?*
After all, 123456 does contain a tribute to David Bowie titled (be fittingly enough) "Bowie" pre-dating his demise.* Brian Driscoll (Tigerlillies bass-player) describes the stand-out jam "Our first ode to another musician." Which subtlety suggest that there will be more in the future.
Times come and go, and that includes real and even the BS genres I create, develop and continually alienate myself with. Just when Planet Cincinnati turns their head, The Tigerlillies prevail once again delivering beautifully excited Television-esq guitar riffs mixed with a delivery reminding me of Document era R.E.M. and the nearly forgotten Material Issue.
Returning with verily noticeable charm that The Tigerlillies unknowingly brandish, 123456 exhibits a sharp edge of optimistic energy. When asked, Brian responds "I think this group of songs may be slightly less angstly if you will. Take a song like "Darlin"... It's a slower song, think VU or even 50's style do-wop in structure and cadence."
Expanding inward and showing a deeper level of development, Brian adds: "Although the Tigerlilies 'thread' still runs through these songs, the tone and tempos are perhaps more varied."
On 123456 The Tigerlillies pierces your ears like a cleverly unsuspecting placed assassination shot to the ear. Bands like The Tigerlillies has provided examples of how to be a band in the sometimes insular Cincinnati scene that many musicians and fellow bands today utilize from the well-established, to the cut-your-teeth basement venues, without noticing or fully and truly understanding.
After all, it had to come from somewhere and with output like 123456, The Tigerlillies make it look easy.
Even if it's not.
S.A.
The Tigerlillies on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheTigerliliesUSA/
The Tigerlillies at MOTR Pub in Cincinnati
*This has been thankfully rectified. Thank you WNKU!