Lack of Technology

The Ropes have been a favorite band here at soldout since forever. When we had our launch party at Santos what seems like ages ago (because it was), they were one of the initial bands on the bill. That show got nixed because of snow (I know, right), but the important thing is that this dry, witty, super-smart band has a new EP and a new video  and excuse the breathlessness of this but I'm sort of running to catch up on the fact that THERE IS NEW MUSIC FROM THE ROPES. 

we backed up showed you the ropes

The Ropes were the first New York band I discovered and loved entirely on my own after moving to NY in March, without anyone pointing me to them, and I quickly became obsessed with their dark, witty, fuzzy, smarmy & literate take on...what? No-wave? Shamble pop? Jangle rock? Garage-top? Doesn't matter, they're smart and they'll punch you, and if you're smart you'll let them.

They're playing the soldout launch party at Santos this Weds Feb 10 (which you can win tickets to here), and one of my live favorites of theirs that stands out equally in studio recording is "Be My Gun".

The Ropes: Be My Gun

It's the fucking fuzz as the song blows up into that plea-"listen/listen/here's a warning"-god, this is a great fucking song. The Ropes recently popped out a new EP and single, and all of their music is available for consumption at their site.

Catch The Ropes at our party at Santos Party House Weds, Feb 10, 7pm.

Win Tickets to the Soldout Launch Party!

So, our big launch party at Santos Party House is officially less than a week away, and we're as excited as Taylor Swift on Grammy night.

Get your $10 tickets here - and do it fast!

If you're still on the fence about coming out on a Wednesday to rock, check out our Apartment Story session with headliners The Bloodsugars.

Picture that, but louder. And with drinks. And preceded by equally stellar music from Ludlow Lions, BMLINX, and The Ropes. And with some deejaying by Ben Breier and Richy.

Because we're feeling nice, we're offering one lucky person a pair of tickets to the party. Just e-mail your full name, age, and why we should give you tickets to info@soldoutmusic.com. Bonus points for witticisms and pictures of pugs.

Launch Party

We've hinted at it. We've whispered about it. We've told all our friends, and they've told some friends, and it basically turned into the worst-kept-secret of a shampoo commercial ever.

And now...here it is. The soldoutmusic official launch party.

Click to read more ...

Never Trust A Loner Who'd Rather Be In Love

One of the first independent NY bands I fell in love with upon moving here was The Ropes. The first time I saw them they were battling through a club's sound issues but made it work, and the second time I was catching them in the lower room of Webster Hall and I arrived 2 songs 'til the end and I was all janky on a pre-Fever Ray high, but both times they made their nervous, pop-flecked rub of the ADULT. coin work for the crowd and the space. On record, they take the sound steps further than their two-person all-hands-multitasking live show, and add incredible, hypnotizing droning elements that have me completely addicted.

Their entire web site is worth checking out because all of their recorded output is available in a pay-what-you-want format (though, believe me, this stuff is worth way more than whatever you bought at the record store on Tuesday, kid), but I'm especially drawn to their tongue-in-cheek take on attaching filmed images to their songs-especially this, an incredibly literal take on one of my favorites of theirs, "Professional Outsiders". The song's great, the lyrics are tattoo-worthy ("never trust a loner who’d rather be in love. don’t believe a rebel who's friends with everyone"), and The Ropes should be your new favorite band if they aren't your current favorite band.