In some ways, nothing can be worse for a new local band than gaining instant recognition in the local press, especially when it seems that the press might have jumped the gun. Sure, it is probably quite a thrill to practically sell out the first show you ever play at a popular Dallas venue, and I would assume that it is a significant confidence booster to see your name in the Dallas Observer several times throughout your first month of existence. However, this kind of attention sets a fairly high bar for a band that is just starting out, making it difficult for them to avoid the dreaded "overhyped" tag that often ends up thrusting such bands back down to reality.

Pegasus Now has received this kind of early attention, and not surprisingly, they have yet to deliver on the promises of their buzz. The truth is that Pegasus Now, at least at this point, sounds like a fairly talented but solidly average local band that could easily become either a successful local act or a perennial opening band at the Barley House, depending on where they go from here. The level of attention they have received really shouldn't factor in to an honest assessment of their output, but such things are unavoidable. The buzz is the reason that most local music fans have even heard of them, and it is certainly a factor in our decision to review this record. And although it is easy to see why people around town might be optimistic about the band's future, their present output doesn't really warrant the current hype.

Careless Loveseeds, the band's debut EP, showcases a group of musicians that might have their shit together, but clearly haven't figured out what to do with it. Of course, this is a common problem with new bands, and it is something that we have written about on this blog many times before. Styles and influences are all over the place and often don't mix quite right, transitions aren't executed as well as they could be, and certain parts of certain songs are underplayed, overplayed, too long, too short, underdeveloped, overly ambitious, or just simply need a bit more or a bit less of whatever they have too much or too little of. But on the bright side, there are flashes of inspired songwriting, strong guitar work, catchy choruses, and tight playing that reveal enough potential to save Pegasus Now, even if their debut is little more than an average local release.

Pegasus Now is a guitar pop band at its core, and if thats your thing, there are several songs on this EP that will probably please you. Lead singer Neu LeBlanc has a capable and soothing voice, and also appears to have quite a knack for writing catchy choruses when he wants to. "Stranger to the Dayes" displays the kind of memorable songwriting that draws people into local music venues, and also features an airy, post-rock keyboard hook that hints at a band willing to go beyond the conventions of indie pop, despite many signs of restraint and trepidation concerning how far they might want to take it. Throughout the record, a diverse range of influences are revealed, with Steely Dan, Sea and Cake, Jamiroqui, the Who, Catherine Wheel, and various elements of shoegaze, r&b and late period britpop dominating the palette. This diverse blend works well on closer "Dance on Pure Glass," where the band eventually allows its rhythm section to take control and set a spacey, low key electrosoul groove behind LeBlanc's soft vocals, playing on all of the band's strengths. But on songs like "Mr. Greycoat" and "Babydoll," the band doesn't seem to know what it wants to do, as bits and pieces of bold, structured pop fade in and out of songs that are otherwise lose and hazy in construction and delivery, often changing the mood before they set it and leaving the listener a bit puzzled. Diversity isn't a bad thing of course, but when too many styles are thrown at you at once in an often awkward manner, it starts sounding less like diversity and more like indecision. Along with "Pure Glass," opener "Tea for Two" is probably the strongest song throughout, and it is also by far the most cohesive, with a simple guitar hook and chorus that avoids stalling and meandering, which many of the other songs on this EP tend to do.

Of course, it would be interesting to hear some of these songs taken in different and more challenging directions, but it seems that Pegasus Now is more comfortable within the framework of straightforward pop. In fact, they could probably become one of the more popular indie pop acts in the area if they can find themselves before the buzz well runs dry.

Ever since last week, when we noticed that Japanther was going to be playing a show at Rubber Gloves this Thursday, their album Dump the Body in the Rikki Lake has been getting some serious play around WSJR headquarters. Their brand of lo-fi bedroom electro noise is very rhythmic, joyous and accessible, but they take more than enough chances with their sounds and composition to make them extremely interesting and hard to define. I can't say that I've heard a band quite like Japanther before (although you could make an argument that there is something of a Swell Maps/This Heat influence present), and I'm really looking forward to catching their show this week, as I hear that their live performances are known to get a bit insane at times. We've posted an MP3 from the Rikki Lake album below, and even you pop kids out there that might not normally be inclined to listen to such things should check it out, because they have enough melody packed in their songs to please you too. We asked them some quick questions via email, and here are the answers:

Is it true that one of you met Calvin Johnson early in life and spent some time with him. Whats the story there? It seems like K Records might have been a big influence on the way you guys record and perform, if not on your music itself. What kind of influence do you think Calvin and K have had on your music?

My name is Ian Vanek and I grew up in Olympia, WA. I was extremely lucky to meet a billion great people who influenced me and gave me ideas to chew on. Without a doubt K influenced me as did Kill Rock Stars and all the other indie labels around OLY.

Your music seems extremely hard to pin down or classify. What are some of Japanther's primary musical influences?

Cartoons and laughing really influences us the most. We are not musicians and really don't want to be.

What is going on currently with your record label? Planning any releases from now until the end of the year?

Tapes Records just released the new JAPANTHER"Don't Trust Anyone Over Thirty" CD as well as the Bent Outta Shape LP/CD.

I read that you guys participated in some kind of synchronized swimming performance by creating a soundtrack for the swimming. Could you describe this project to us in a little more detail, and tell us how the idea came about?

The idea was cosmic. We saw Esther Williams in a hotel on the tele and laughed about making our own water ballet. Later in LA we got an email asking us to write songs for just such a ballet. The resulting"Dangerous When Wet" was staged (pooled) in May 2006 at NYU. It featured an olympic swimmer soloing to our song and a punk troupe called "Aqua Doom." Our friends at SAFE clothing even made costumes for the event. It was truly surreal from my vantage point.

I also read that you guys consider Japanther to be more of an art project than a band. What do you think the difference is between the two labels, and why do you think drawing such a distinction is important?

Bands are a dime a dozen and often times have very similar goals. Japanther was started as a means to make art, travel, laugh and dance. Songs were and are secondary.

Being a band from Williamsburg seems as though it would have its advantages and disadvantages. How do you like living and working there? I've heard people say that Williamsburg is on a downward spiral right now artistically and socially, but I've also heard that its starting to get more exciting and creative there since the hipster "buzz" about Brooklyn has died down. What do you think?

I tend to think it's getting better as more and more folks move there. You know Strikes and Gutters, man. Ups and Downs. We are barely home so it doesn't effect us as much as it might effect other bands. We can't afford a practice space so we play at home and that shapes our sound. New York is a hell of town with cycles upon cycles. Give it a chance and judge for yourself. All this shit magazines and blogs are writing about Brooklyn is hot air.

Can we expect any new recorded material from you guys in the near future?

We just finished our "Don't Trust Anyone Over 30"CD and our "Dump the Body In Rikki Lake" DVD. They will hit the stores officially in the fall but we are touring with them now. We also have a split seven inch with Juiceboxxx coming out and split seven inch coming out with The Good Good in Europe.

"Critical" MP3

1. The Party w/ DJ Nature (Rubber Gloves)

2. This is Radio Clash (Flashlight Party DJs at Hailey's)
Looks like the Flashlight Party crew have started a regular Wednesday night thing @ Hailey's. The best part is that Hailey's is close enough to Rubber Gloves to allow you to check out Radio Clash and see Dj Nature at another point in the night. The Flashlight Party sets I've seen have tended to be a bit more poppy than Nature's sets, with a bit heavier dose of 80's synth, house, and more recent dance stuff like !!!, M.I.A. and LCD Soundsystem. Between the two, Nature and Flashlight Party should be covering many of the dance music genres you would ever care to hear (other than maybe some of the great house you'll hear DJ G spin at his Thursday night 80's parties), and both have enough variety in their sets to avoid being tagged with any one genre label. Good stuff in Denton tonight.

1. X, Rollins Band, Riverboat Gamblers (Gypsy Tea Room)

$23 isn't exactly a very "punk" ticket price but that's okay. I would actually pay that much to see X alone. I've seen Rollins before and he does put on a really entertaining show even if I can't really get behind some of his Nineties albums. He's touring with his original lineup so that should probably help. I'm sure you've heard of the Riverboat Gamblers, who have the coveted job of opening tonight. They're a punk band from Denton and they're well known for their high energy live show.

2. The Lost Generation with DJ Mwanza (The Cavern)

From the DJ himself:

"Lots of new additions to this week: [A}pendics shuffle,Benga,7 Samurai, DJ Shadow, Dragonforce(yeah this shit is just too funny), Jeff Mills & The Montpellier Orchestra, DJ Spooky and Dave Lombardo and of course the mighty return of the IDM GOD know as SQUAREPUSHER. Of course I am still digging into my Soul Jazz collection also recently scored a new batch of rare funk 45's. I will be joined by Gabriel from Lollipop Shoppe and Grits n Gravy. It will be all over the map as usual. come out and have a drink. Shake your booty and say hi."

Broadcast radio might suck here in good ol DFW, but at least we have Radio UTD, a great internet station. Can someone get these people on the airwaves, please?

ADDS:

1. GRIZZLY BEAR Yellow House
2. INSTRUMENTAL QUARTER Traffic Jam
3. DUPLOMACYAll These Long Drives
4. PINBACKNautical Antiques
5. THE POSITIONS Bliss!

CHARTS:

1. SUFJAN STEVENS The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album
2. THOM YORKEThe Eraser
3. COMPILATION Suicide Squeeze: Slaying Since 1996
4. SEBADOH III
5. MOUNTAIN GOATS Get Lonely
6. BOATSongs That You Might Not Like
7. WIRE154
8. EASTERN STARS July 5th, 1961
9. PAJO 1968
10. RATATAT Classics
11. GOLDEN SMOG Another Fine Day
12. M. WARD Post-War
13. YO LA TENGO I'm Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
14. WIRE Chairs Missing/Pink Flag
15. I LOVE YOU BUT I'VE CHOSEN DARKNESS according to plan
16. LAMBCHOP Damaged
17. BONNIE PRINCE BILLY Cursed Sleep [EP]
18. J. DILLA The Shining
19. ONEIDA Happy New Year
20. WHITE WHALE WWI
21. JIM NOIR Tower Of Love
22. KAKI KING Until We Felt Red
23. SLEEPY JACKSON Personality
24. SNOWDEN Anti-Anti
25. AUTOVAUGHN Space
26. CORDALENE The Star Ledger
27. CAIRO GANG the cairo gang
28. BLACK FICTION Ghost Ride
29. JOAN OF ARC The Intelligent Design Of Joan Of Arc
30. JESU Silver [EP]

Cindy Chaffin posted this on Fine Line a few minutes ago. Apparently Sam was fired by the Dallas Observer today, and I'm assuming that many of you who read this blog will either laugh at or be saddened by this turn of events, judging from the strong comments for and against him that we've seen on here since day one. Cindy doesn't know any of the details and neither do we, but we'll try to get you some if they are available later.

UPDATE #1: here is a bit more from Sam on what happened:

The reason on my goodbye letter says "you are being terminated today as a result of the performance issues we have discussed with you on multiple occasions.

Which Burden Brother do you think is the cutest? I like the one in the middle.

There isn't really anything going on today, and I'm not about to tell you to go watch corn mo play with that other band. Cute is the new suck.

This week, we should have several local album reviews, an interview, MP3s, and other stuff.