The Televangelist and The Architect

A submission that came in just yesterday. Here are my immediate reactions as recorded upon a second listen to the song when I realized this was a band I just might be featuring on EAR FARM sooner, rather than later. Begin immediate reactions now: "The song I was sent ("The Unconscious Collective") begins with a simple and quick (maybe slightly spooky) piano arpeggio that is soon joined by guitars, drums, and the vocals. The melody carries with it a certain theatricality that matches the music and I'm at first reminded of Placebo, or maybe certain Cure songs, but that's got to be some curious knee-jerk reaction. No this isn't those bands, but it's something that definitely catches my ear right away. Lyrics, oh wait lyrics I can relate to perhaps? A little Dick Dale influence there on guitar? Hmm...the production sounds really nice too. Definitely have to check out more."

Sometimes when I'm listening to a new band I make quick notes of my reaction just like the above. Those notes then sometimes later serve as a basis for what you read on this site. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Of course, I did indeed check out some more songs by this band. That's what I DO.

The Televangelist and The Architect are from Cambridge, Mass but would seemingly be right at home in Omaha with the Saddle Creek crew. I say that because the music of The Televangelist and The Architect is equal parts catchy and interesting, different from the norm yet owing much to their influences. Just like many of the artists who have made Saddle Creek such an excellent record label. Also, their sound does indeed fit somewhere right in between Cursive, Bright Eyes and The Faint but that's maybe not too much of a surprise given the following statement from the email the band sent to me: "It was mixed by Ryan Hadlock (Blonde Redhead, Black Heart Procession, Stephen Malkmus, The Strokes) and mastered by Doug Van Sloun (Bright Eyes, Cursive, The Faint, Rilo Kiley)."

So far, I've only listened to the four tracks they make available on their MySpace page and my two favorites are posted below for you to check out. Notice, more surf-rock inspired guitar on the strumming at the beginning of "Self-Propagating Mechanisms Of Religion". Sweet. Thankfully the goodness doesn't end with these four MySpace tracks. The Televangelist and The Architect have made the entirety of their new album available for free download on their website. Check out this band now, before your friends are all "dude, you should check out this excellent ablum I just got for free online".

Listen:
"The Unconscious Collective (A Tale From Williamsburg)"
"Self-Propagating Mechanisms Of Religion"

Visit The Televangelist and The Architect on MySpace.

Download the album Diaries Of The Intelligentsia HERE.

See them live in NYC at Pianos on the 13th of August.