On June 7th, Andrew and new bass man Joe went into the basement studios of WMBR at MIT and cut a live-on-air set set. Three weeks earlier, Reports did the same. Have a listen to both here. CUFFS brings reverbed out minimal pop glory in this half-sized lineup, and Reports previewed most of their forthcoming Dinamo Cambridge LP. go on over (CUFFS set is in the June 7th podcast, Reports in May 17, enjoy!)
Tag Archives: reports
termbo Reviews Bill Wyman 7″
from termbo record reviews, spring 2009:
More MA action from the Ride the Snake label, via Reports, a band whose LP I seem to remember Dave Hyde giving a posi review to in TB long ago, which I always meant to check out, and of course never followed up on. I probably should have, because I dig this din. “Bill Wyman…” is noisy 4-track pop-rock with a very New Zealand-y bouquet, quick and melodious with a careening vocal performance. B-Side is a basher with a more distinct garage-beat and some high-pitched lead squeals. Nothing fancy, but very enjoyable in its no-nonsense delivery. A concise racket that hits its target in the red and manages to be sneakily catchy to boot. No contrived gimmickry, no trendy moves, just a well executed rock’n'roll record here folks. Which sadly means no one will pay it any attention. Fools. PS: Bill Wyman actually has his own model of metal detector.(RK)
World of Wümme Reviews Bill Wyman
from World of Wümme, May 6, 2009:
The latest offering from Cambridge, Mass’ Reports is one of the more intriguing surprises I’ve found in the mailbox this past week – and by surprise I mean this came without warning, from the band, as a gift — not the surprise of finally finding those records I pre-ordered over a month ago. If you read here you’ll know Reports first LP, Mosquito Nets was one of those under-the-radar releases that didn’t get passed around too many circles, but it still shone with a pop bent that couldn’t be denied. I said it was crammed with “scruffy tuneful moments” and I meant it. That record’s still sitting on the “play” shelf, even though I was getting anxious to see how they would evolve.
Their latest 7” on Ride the Snake gives us some clues. “Bill Wyman, Metal Detector,” reiterates the fact that Reports are currently my favorite (unashamed/unabashed) disciples of Guided By Voices (sorry High Strung), and you can really hear it in the ascending vocal melodies. The music on the other hand, is more like an agitated GBV (or Arlo, for those in the know), influenced by a slanted form of punk Pollard would rarely touch. I enjoy the fusion, as there seems to be both slop and tightly wound dynamics to what they do as a band. The b-side, “Attleboro Trails,” mines a similar bop but its groundwork is purely – what’s the word here? – choogling in the way Zen Guerilla or Delta 72 would work a white-funk groove, except sterilized and dripping in echo. It’s not what you think. They actually don’t play out of character — it’s simply a nice diversion to their already increasing profile in shitpop centers.
But I need the whole quest guys. I need to hear what this would sound like stretched over a full slab. There’s got to be some label out there hearing this. Reports deserve a shot and a wider forum from which to yell. Grab it.
Still Single Reviews Bill Wyman 7″
from Still Single: Vol. 5, No. 15:
First new reports from Reports in a good long while, and it’s welcome whenever they’re ready to offer more songs. Centered around songwriter and ringleader Martin, they seem to operate at a hobbyist’s pace, rarely leaving the Boston area and reportedly playing with different lineups. Whoever’s backing Martin up on this one has put a fire under his ass; these are the fastest and most catchy songs they’ve released to date. “Bill Wyman” busts along at a breakneck pace, the crap-fi recording offset with reverb in a charming way that would recall the Wedding Present meets Blondie ca. “Dreaming” if neither party had the backing to make the records they did. It’s a great song that overcomes its rendering, one which is more suited to the bashing flipside “Attleboro Trailers,” all understatedly sassy single-minded riffage, the kind that the Fall or the Velvets would rely on. This is a big step forward from their already fantastic Mosquito Nets album, and I hope they continue to surprise. Two for two on records by Ride the Snake; eager for that Dead At 24 album, too. – Doug Mosurock