Image via www.exclaim.ca
Seeing the post this morning from PJ about The Teenagers made me smile. As he said, they are one of my current favorites, not only due to their own original works. In addition, these Londoners (transplanted via Paris) also have remixed most everyone who is someone in the indietronica scene (Simian Mobile Disco, Lo-Fi-Fnk etc…). So let me tell you a little bit more about them.
Since info was hard to find about the background of this band, all I have to go on is second hand sources, quick interviews and blurbs about them. Heres what I have, feel free to correct me if I am off.
The Teenagers formed around Christmas in 2005 while sitting around drinking. They decided to write the song “Fuck Nicole” (apologies for the curses). They put these joking lyrics on a myspace music page, and then added music (Michael Szpiner- Bass) (Dorian Dumont-Guitar/Synth) (Quentin Delafon-Vocals). They decided to keep the joke going by writing “Homecoming”. Since then their music has taken off as they have since signed to Merok records in the UK, a label best known for supporting The Klaxons, and also Crystal Castles. Also, these cats have reportedly have signed with S.L.U. records in Canada (Crystal Castles). They have hit the touring scene pretty hard in Europe, both the club scene and the festival scene.
So by now most everyone has heard their track “Homecoming” released as a single in May. This track blends a poppy indie with a dance kick, while walking the fine line between vulgarity and humor in the lyrics. I like that they do this but it may make some folks out there dislike their filthy mouths. At the same time, I don’t think a track like this would be noticed if the lyrics were not slightly risque. “Homecoming” tells the Grease like story of a boy going to California and hooking up with a girl (they don’t say it like this), while the girl has fallen in love with “Her English romance.”
Another track I enjoy greatly (on my favorite songs of mid-2007) is “Scarlett Johansson.” Maybe this enjoyment is based on the fact that I too have a crush on Scarlett (like many), so I can relate to the lyrics in a humorous sort of way. The song describes Scarlett in her various movie roles and her private life boyfriends, and plays on the fact that Scarlett is an avid believer of NOT being monogamous, and she is open about this.
So I’m going to wrap up about The Teenagers original music by saying this: an album is supposedly in the works for release in early 2008, and many of those tracks (many of them demos) have been posted in the music blog scene.
In addition, The Teenagers have been contracted by many artists for remix making. These remixes are very simple, adding a bass line (their signature IMO), and maybe a synth line here and there, changing the pitch/speed slightly as well. They do a great job of keeping the original music intact, yet they add their own personal flair. Artists remixed include Simian Mobile Disco, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Air, The Goodbooks, Au Revoir Simone, The Enemy, New Young Pony Club, and Scanners. The great thing is they keep a remixes page where you can check them out.
So check out the tracks below, along with the remixes I’ve posted the originals, so you can check those as well. Hopefully these guys make it across the pond soon, they seem like they would be good to party with (check out the bands Flickr page). Cheers!
The Teenagers – Myspace, Blogspot, Flickr
Scarlett Johansson
Make it Happen removed at label’s request
The Teenagers Remixes – Myspace
The Goodbooks – Illness (Teenagers Remix)
The Goodbooks – Illness
Simian Mobile Disco – Its the Beat (Teenagers Remix)
Simian Mobile Disco – Its the Beat
Additional posts you may be interested in:
Entries (RSS)
These guys need to put out an album, like, NOW!! I’m loving these tracks, especially Homecoming. I kinda reminds me of Pulp or Nada Surf.
Wow, these guys are really pulling me awayf rom my old stand by bands. love the music.
site’s nice too