Record review: Save the Clocktower - 'Through the Glass'

By Sasha Geffen

When we last checked in with them, Save the Clocktower had just debuted on the verge of a decision. While most bands will splay out over a mosaic of different sounds or simply play off of a single, tentative idea throughout the duration of their first record, this then-trio-now-quartet rendered Carousel along binary channels: big '90s Brit-rock and big '90s synth-pop. 

Sourcing twin histories doesn't necessarily force a band to opt for one or the other as they move forward from their initial foray into making tunes, but it's nice to see artists commit to and expand upon a singular idea. On their sophomore LP Through the Glass, Save the Clocktower make the decision they set themselves up for on their previous record--and they go the ways of the synth.

Preview Save the Clocktower's new LP with first single 'Like That'

By Frank Krolicki

It was only last year that Chicago electro-pop band Save the Clocktower released their last album Carousel, but they've clearly kept hard at work because they're about to release a follow-up LP, Through the Glass, on July 3rd. The quartet is previewing the record with its second track "Like That," which can best be described as smooth. Really smooth. In addition to sounding like the perfect track to play on a lazy, sunny summer's day, it's also got a melody that will most likely set up camp in your head for an extended period of time.

You can listen to "Like That" below and pre-order a digital copy of Through the Glass via Bandcamp. Save the Clocktower will be playing a release show on August 10th at Double Door with Twinray, Paper Thick Walls and Ode, where you'll also be able to pick up a hard copy of the album.

Tonight: Filligar, Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, Save the Clocktower at Subterranean

By Sasha Geffen

Filligar

You may be tempted, winter creatures, to hide away in your burrows tonight. After all, our city's been granted its first real coat of snow, and getting from point A to point B is suddenly a much slushier endeavor. But I'll urge you not to lose this Friday in hibernation, if only because some very talented and exceptionally friendly bands would love to melt away your winter blues at Subterranean tonight.

Our friends Save the Clocktower will be kicking off the eve with their fuzzy, retro-styled electropop. If you haven't already picked up their latest record, you have about zero excuses. It's extra awesome and free on Bandcamp. Tonight's show will be their new bassist Chris's inaugural performance, so come show the new-minted quartet some love. New friends Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes will drop by from the sunnier skies of Nashville, Tennessee to play their quirky electronic-enforced indie pop. They released their LP Civilized Man last year to critical acclaim and I believe there are at least 14 reasons to start to love them contained within this one video alone. We'll also get to see Filligar flood the place with their sunny retro jangle. I caught these dudes at Subterranean ages ago and they have more fun than just about anybody on stage. Check out the following cut from their recent live session at the Hideout for a taste:

Knock Yourself Out by Filligar

Not only is Subt mere steps from the blue line, but Filligar has struck up a deal with Chicago's Uber car service for their fans. Just use the promo code "FILLIGAR" to get 25% off your ride to the show.

Doors at 8:30, show at 9, tickets are $10, 21+.

Fifteen of my favorite 2011 Chicago music releases

By Frank Krolicki

Damn. At this point the last thing the world needs is another year-end list, but here goes. I tried to resist adding to the mountain of existing roundups, but after seeing so many people write about their favorite releases of 2011 I started to think more about mine and what I might say about them in a sentence or two. In keeping with the spirit of this site all of my picks are releases from Chicago-based artists, some who I previously highlighted as favorites in years past and others who I heard for the first time in 2011. I'm not going to say they're the "best" because of course it's all subjective--I'm sure even my fellow WCR writers would have very different lists--but below are 15 releases that I enjoyed the most, in no particular order.

Company of Thieves--Running From a Gamble: For their second LP, COT managed a bolder, sharper, more memorable set of tunes to create the opposite of a sophomore slump. The crazy-good vocals of frontwoman Genevieve Schatz move effortlessly from sultry to snarling, and so does the guitar.

Pet Lions--Houses: Introducing themselves with straightforward guitar pop on 2009's Soft Right EP, Pet Lions expanded on that foundation with greater depth and more atmosphere on their debut full-length.

The Kickback--Mea Culpa Mea Culpa EP: Four solid tracks of muscular, hooky alt-rock that make me really curious what these guys will come up with on their first full-length, currently in progress. Plus, "Sting's Teacher Years" is quite possibly my favorite song title of the year.

Gypsyblood--Cold in the Guestway: Speaking of alt-rock, there's plenty more high quality, guitar-driven specimens on Gypsyblood's debut, which goes the extra mile by throwing in the occasional curveball like the strangely twangy "Dirty Thieves."

Architecture--When We Were Young EP: Dream pop that’s equal parts sweet and eerie. Sort of like music for a haunted dollhouse, which I can't say about anything else I heard this year.

Smith Westerns--Dye It Blonde: I still can't figure out why Smith Westerns are one of the only current Chicago bands people are willing to give buzz outside our city, but that doesn't take away the fact that this record's exuberant glam pop is worthy of praise.

Village--Local Moves: A great big guitar record loaded with power pop hooks, psychedelic undertones and pure rock 'n' roll energy. 

My My My--Wishing You Whatever’s Best EP: One of Chicago's most consistently fun bands returns with more slightly off-kilter singalongs, this time with a dancier, synthier touch.

Record review: Save The Clocktower - 'Carousel'

Posted by Sasha

Ours is a culture fueled by nostalgia. It seems that most of the innovations of this millennium are simply new methods of distributing content invented before the digital age. It's not a bad thing, just an odd thing, and one that can lead to creative reassembly of 20th century fragments. Carousel is one such collage. At its core, it draws from the pop and shoegaze of the early '90s; most songs on the record wouldn't sound out of place over nascent CGI or grainy home video loops. It's fitting that a band named Save The Clocktower would be time travelers, taking us back into a charmingly stylized version of our past.

That's not to say there's nothing new here. Like Doc Brown, Save The Clocktower were scientists before they were adventure heroes, and there's plenty of textural experimentation to keep us engaged. "Drip" kicks off strong with heavy pulses and danceable beats overlaid with electronic aether that wouldn't sound out of place on a Caribou record. It swirls down into the jet engine guitars of "You Got Me," a catchy, hazy number influenced as much by My Bloody Valentine as it is by contemporaneous one hit wonders. The vocal quality feels more in the world of post-punk; syllables are short and strong, but melodic enough to keep interest.