I think all of my posts should be blitz-posts from here on out. And I also have decided to link to all of the artist's pages, because I am in no danger of crashing anyone's anything, other than my car. So, I think this will become some kind of priority in my non-working time and I will follow in the footsteps of a friend of mine by blogging cause I like it. Which is really all I was trying to do in the first place.
Destoyer- Kaputt
It's Destroyer, first and foremost, so you expect a certain level of .....easy-listening but with quality? Daniel Bejar is really loving the sax on this record, enhancing the easy-listening to almost unpleasant levels. The guy has a pretty clear sound he is heading for, short funky guitar in the background, lofty chorused female backing vocals, luxurious horns moaning in the background. It's a hipster soft-rock/late 80's R&B mashup parallel to some of the tracks on Dirty Projectors' last album. It's smooth and elusive. There is something that doesn't quite feel intact, as if the elements were all attached separately but not quite a whole unit. I'll be honest, I probably won't be seeking this one out to listen to, but I'll like it if I get there.
Figurines-Figurines
So I looooooved Figurines' album 'Skeletons' from 2006. "Race You" is just one of my favorite songs ever, and I love his high, lilted English. The Danish just have a great music scene. Initially, I wasn't dazzled by 'Figurines' their 2010 release but I knew not to judge too harshly because I can get xenophobic. I sounds just like 'Skeletons' but it isn't 'Skeletons' so I wanna shake around and moan "But Moooom, it's not the saaaaaame." But let's be honest, I was kinda bored through the first part of the record. It was background music, it was the show you waited through til the band you liked came on. Track 6 'We Got Away' is pretty choice though, slow with piano and some sawwing synth shimmer in the back, plus he says "I love her like a lover, should love her" which is almost as fun to say as to hear said. And track 7, also fun and catchy! Sort of Monkees-esque. (BTW has it ever occurred to you that monk-ees implies that maybe Davy Jones really like Dominicans and not primates?) In total, I like the back half of the album, the first half can just go somewhere.
Dum Dum Girls- He Gets Me High EP
Straightforward, uncomplicated, produced exactly as you'd expect them to be. This is someone's favorite EP of all time and there are people that dance at the show. I will bob my head.
Blank Dogs- Land and Fixed
This is a shimmery affair, with synths and guitars and a drum machine that could easily be real drums. Engaging enough to pay attention to, I think I would like to come back to this when I am driving or being partially distracted. that way I can zone on some of the less engaging parts and get pulled back sharply on the things I like. It does stretch a little long though, for only 12 tracks.
O'Death-Outside
Ahhh, banjos and fiddle. Warbling country voices? Check. Catchy in a pop way? Woah, check. Do i love this record. Yes! O'Death does what it does really well, and hey, they might even get big if Mumford and Sons could do it. But even if they aren't getting play on Top 40 radio they will have a good career. 'Cause they are good. In fact, fuck Top 40 radio I couldn't care less if any of these bands ended up there, all that it would really mean is that high school kids love it. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's still all it means. Go O'Death, fight the ...uh. power.
You can tell towards the end here I am getting tired. But, its nice to be back on the blog, listening and talking about music. I have maybe 15 or 20 posts worth of albums that I have listened to this year that deserve a re-listen and review, so look forward to it! You! Yeah you, you look forward to it, not that guy over there. Fuck that guy.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blitz Post!
I have a ridiculous backlog of music, too much to give anything the thoughtful time it deserves. Instead I'm going to pretend I am being cool and themey by doing blitz reviews! so here it is, one-listen blitz reviews about band I'm going to do very little research on!
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
I couldn't remember if I liked Smith Westerns or not. I remember their last album cover pretty vividly and I remember kinda wanting to like them more than I did. But hey, 3 songs into their newest effort I am really enjoying it. This will probably enter my rotation of music where Chief now stands, mood specific and deserving of more time than I give it, but greatly appreciated when I do listen. There is some ELO influence here and some Cold War Kids vibes too.
Telepathique- All Your Lovers
I distinctly remember not being very partial to Telepathique. Just generally 'eh'. Then errbody was like "JOMG, Telepathique" which I didn't get. Maybe I was harsh on the first listen 'cause this new EP really isn't bad at all. They are Brazilian, they have a lot in common with CSS sound-wise. and 24/07 is pretty rad. I dig the floating vocals on the refrain and the electronics don't come off as generic (which was their biggest weakness as I remember)
Bangs- Fakes EP
Holy Sheez am I loving this EP. I have listened to only this EP all day today. It owes a lot to Animal Collective but it's that clear, pulsing Animal Collective we got on Merriweather Post Pavilion. Bangs has great synths, feathery layers, and a pop mentality. If it stands up over time, it might end up in my Top 20 list.
Ducktails III- Arcade Dynamic
This album seems a little long, I have a hard time imagining what this band is like live. If you mostly ignored them it would probably be an awesome show. Which sounds bad, but if you heard the wah-pedally, plinking guitars that push a couple songs out past 5 min, you would probably get it. The shorter affairs are totally lovable. Its the kind of band you would have if you were really just having a good time being mellow.
Chapel Club- Wintering EP
More or less loving this too, but not as much as Bangs. This is moaning, death-embracing kind of delish. Morrissey wants his schtick back, but White Lies lent it to Glasvegas and they lost it after a particularly vigorous night of playing one chord. Chapel Club's schtick might be the same one, but it's there's now so Morrissey will just have to deal. Probably by wishing he was dead with a beautiful woman.
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
I wish I could give this more time. That is how I feel about the album, not how I feel about the review. Its decent, very decent. On the whole though, her first album was better and Oh Land did better this year already and this will stand up just fine 6 months down the road, but I don't think it will get any better. That is the sad fact of life. Its ok Lykke Li, I still love you.
Ok, I still have an enormous backlog, so it will be blitz entries from here on out until I am caught up. If I get all caught on something I might go for a more full review. I am not sure whether to include links or not, considering that any reader is perfectly capable of googling a band.......hmmm. We'll see. Until next time!
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
I couldn't remember if I liked Smith Westerns or not. I remember their last album cover pretty vividly and I remember kinda wanting to like them more than I did. But hey, 3 songs into their newest effort I am really enjoying it. This will probably enter my rotation of music where Chief now stands, mood specific and deserving of more time than I give it, but greatly appreciated when I do listen. There is some ELO influence here and some Cold War Kids vibes too.
Telepathique- All Your Lovers
I distinctly remember not being very partial to Telepathique. Just generally 'eh'. Then errbody was like "JOMG, Telepathique" which I didn't get. Maybe I was harsh on the first listen 'cause this new EP really isn't bad at all. They are Brazilian, they have a lot in common with CSS sound-wise. and 24/07 is pretty rad. I dig the floating vocals on the refrain and the electronics don't come off as generic (which was their biggest weakness as I remember)
Bangs- Fakes EP
Holy Sheez am I loving this EP. I have listened to only this EP all day today. It owes a lot to Animal Collective but it's that clear, pulsing Animal Collective we got on Merriweather Post Pavilion. Bangs has great synths, feathery layers, and a pop mentality. If it stands up over time, it might end up in my Top 20 list.
Ducktails III- Arcade Dynamic
This album seems a little long, I have a hard time imagining what this band is like live. If you mostly ignored them it would probably be an awesome show. Which sounds bad, but if you heard the wah-pedally, plinking guitars that push a couple songs out past 5 min, you would probably get it. The shorter affairs are totally lovable. Its the kind of band you would have if you were really just having a good time being mellow.
Chapel Club- Wintering EP
More or less loving this too, but not as much as Bangs. This is moaning, death-embracing kind of delish. Morrissey wants his schtick back, but White Lies lent it to Glasvegas and they lost it after a particularly vigorous night of playing one chord. Chapel Club's schtick might be the same one, but it's there's now so Morrissey will just have to deal. Probably by wishing he was dead with a beautiful woman.
Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
I wish I could give this more time. That is how I feel about the album, not how I feel about the review. Its decent, very decent. On the whole though, her first album was better and Oh Land did better this year already and this will stand up just fine 6 months down the road, but I don't think it will get any better. That is the sad fact of life. Its ok Lykke Li, I still love you.
Ok, I still have an enormous backlog, so it will be blitz entries from here on out until I am caught up. If I get all caught on something I might go for a more full review. I am not sure whether to include links or not, considering that any reader is perfectly capable of googling a band.......hmmm. We'll see. Until next time!
Friday, April 15, 2011
FLIGHT- The Lead Riders EP
As a musical tradition, my interest filtered through my dad's love of Bay Area late 60's and 70's rock. At that 12-13 year old range when kids establish their own tastes I was sooo into Nu- Metal until that sounds faded and a more technical, screamy kind of metal came to the forefront. By then I was ready for something new and Death Cab had just released Transatlanticism. So bam-indie music here I come.
Nonetheless, there have always been indulgences. I listened to all of Marilyn Manson's new releases. I loooved She Wants Revenge. Spineshank broke up and I got sad and then Jonny Santos ended up in a couple different bands and I got happy. The Deftones and Tool never actually got 'bad' as far as I can tell, cause I still love them dearly.
Which leads us to The Lead Riders EP by FLIGHT.
Not Nu-Metal really, but undeniably influenced. Most of the record is actually just moody and jostling, like the more intense moments of The Cure. But the WHOOLE record, guitars, vocals, everything, is drenched in this warbling effect that used to factor into Manson in a huge way. She Wants Revenge too, they had the same deadpan vocal sound and a couple times they used this compressed electronic effect. Their sound is meaty, thick, atmospheric. Sometimes you can actually hear the air rattle when the bass is plowing away by itself. The hooks are pretty huge too, this could be big alternative radio stuff if they had a cleaner mass-appeal sound. But they don't and that will keep them in indie geekdom forever.....which is good for us.
I just couldn't help but thinking of skinny 17-year-olds loving the hell of out of this record and the 17-year-old in me loves it too. In fact.....I want to see this band live, hold on, I'm gonna go look up tour dates. Wow, it was waaay harder to find that Myspace page than i thought it would be. Like, I had to look up the band name, the EP name and go to the second page of result......jomg! PS: I don't know what jomg means
aaaaaaannd no up coming shows. Anyways, I really enjoyed it, so I vote yes. Check 'em out here for tour dates when they come and check out their label, Zoo Music, here.
Nonetheless, there have always been indulgences. I listened to all of Marilyn Manson's new releases. I loooved She Wants Revenge. Spineshank broke up and I got sad and then Jonny Santos ended up in a couple different bands and I got happy. The Deftones and Tool never actually got 'bad' as far as I can tell, cause I still love them dearly.
Which leads us to The Lead Riders EP by FLIGHT.
Not Nu-Metal really, but undeniably influenced. Most of the record is actually just moody and jostling, like the more intense moments of The Cure. But the WHOOLE record, guitars, vocals, everything, is drenched in this warbling effect that used to factor into Manson in a huge way. She Wants Revenge too, they had the same deadpan vocal sound and a couple times they used this compressed electronic effect. Their sound is meaty, thick, atmospheric. Sometimes you can actually hear the air rattle when the bass is plowing away by itself. The hooks are pretty huge too, this could be big alternative radio stuff if they had a cleaner mass-appeal sound. But they don't and that will keep them in indie geekdom forever.....which is good for us.
I just couldn't help but thinking of skinny 17-year-olds loving the hell of out of this record and the 17-year-old in me loves it too. In fact.....I want to see this band live, hold on, I'm gonna go look up tour dates. Wow, it was waaay harder to find that Myspace page than i thought it would be. Like, I had to look up the band name, the EP name and go to the second page of result......jomg! PS: I don't know what jomg means
aaaaaaannd no up coming shows. Anyways, I really enjoyed it, so I vote yes. Check 'em out here for tour dates when they come and check out their label, Zoo Music, here.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Various Artists- Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 2
Ok, so I generally like cover records because they are fun and unpredictable. You hear a lot of songs you love mixed in with songs you've never heard before, especially for the Minnesota Beatle Project....which name seems self-explanatory for what the project is about. I mean, The Beatles have suuuch a huge back log of songs, there is a ton of work to choose from.
The problem is that a bunch of them sound like covers. Soul Asylum does 'Good Morning, Good Morning' and god, they really shouldn't have. The Beatles got to do it because it was totally sincere, they wrote it. But Soul Asylum just sounds like a cover, its really not fun or exciting. I almost feel like I have to go song for song on this one........
01 Good Morning Good Morning – Soul Asylum Already talked about it, not a fan, super unnecessary.
02 Revolution – Total Babe Better, they tweak the melody so it works for them, still just a cover, but a good execution of a good song.
03 Child Of Nature – Mason Jennings Great. Like the Total Babe track, its an execution of the song, stripped down a little to service Mason Jennings, but he is pitch-perfect for this song.
04 Fixing A Hole – Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons It's Not Cory Chisel's fault that I don't really like this song much. Actually I prefer this cover, he pulls in the long minor notes so they don't rings in my ears and sound sort of sour. Big thumbs up for updating the tune.
05 Real Love – Lookbook The first example of a couple on this record of how contemporary The Beatles writing can sound. Plus a female lead vocal compliments Lennon's melody excellently.
06 Happiness Is A Warm Gun – A Night In The Box I love this song, the original is so great. Just little vignettes of songs, all of which I would love to hear in their entirety. This doesn't disappoint at all, an extremely faithful replaying of the song. Boosh.
07 It's All Too Much – Polara The Beatles are just so relevant today, and this tune is exactly why. It is so easy to forget that Polara didn't write this song, it sounds like something someone written yesterday and its an awesome song. The original is all sorts of layered and progressive with the percussion, almost back beating. I just love this one.
08 Tomorrow Never Knows – Meat Puppets feat. Alison Scott Fuzzy and warm, but I think this falls into the area of Beatles' songs that I don't really care for.
09 I Am The Walrus – Pert Near Sandstone Bluegrasse-y cover of 'I am the Walrus'? Sounds great! No, not really. By the end you just feel like this band had no business playing this song. And maybe no one does.
10 Michelle – The New Standards This is another real winner. Chan Poling has a deep, mournful, maybe even a little aggressive voice that really embodies what the song is about. Which is sort of creepy and unromantic, if you think about it.
11 And Your Bird Can Sing – Rogue Valley One of the more precious Beatles songs, an admirable execution.
12 Dear Boy – P.O.S. Timeless melody can demand updating. The layered vocals and electronic slow drum beat make this song sound brand new, even when those elements are all in the original. If anything it highlights how progressive The Beatles were, making sounds and effects that still sound contemporary. Just excellent.
13 I Want To Hold Your Hand – Edison High School Light and fun and a little less energy than the original but still lovely. If I didn't know it was a cover, I would think this band was amazing at the 60's throwback. But I know, so it still sounds like a cover.
14 Golden Slumbers – Communist Daughter I would have thought this would be an obvious 'cover' sounding song, cause I just love the original so much. But man, Communist Daughter owns this version, it is theirs, unequivocally. Just as good as the original at least.
15 Hey Jude – Sounds Of Blackness Soulful-choirs and shit, horns and hand-clapping. A little tropical beat in the background. Really nice. Honestly I have no frame of reference for this sound, so I can't say whether Sounds of Blackness would have written this tune, but I think that they probably excel at re-imagining songs rather than writing their own. So hey, this is their forte!
16 Good Night – Curtiss A’s D’Lando Flaques-Ffaire *Rockestra Another of my faves. Not many groups have actually written great lullabies. Its a weird art to make a melody that's both soothing and universally singable. I was listening to the original for comparison and I just had to listen to it all the way through, because it is just so sweet and sincere. That being said, I wasn't quite as riveted to the cover (I'm not really sure what is a name and what is The Name of the Band...Curtiss A's?) but the singer has a nice rickety kind of voice, older David Bowie sounding, matches the song nicely and I enjoyed it there. And there's a little guitary 'Here Comes The Sun' riff as a hidden track at the end.
Okay! Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 2, this post felt like it took forever to write but it's out in the world now and there is no stopping it! If you love The Beatles, any one of these bands, or are from Minnesota (which not all of the bands are on this volume, but close enough) consider buying the record. Find out more about the project and the bands here.
The problem is that a bunch of them sound like covers. Soul Asylum does 'Good Morning, Good Morning' and god, they really shouldn't have. The Beatles got to do it because it was totally sincere, they wrote it. But Soul Asylum just sounds like a cover, its really not fun or exciting. I almost feel like I have to go song for song on this one........
01 Good Morning Good Morning – Soul Asylum Already talked about it, not a fan, super unnecessary.
02 Revolution – Total Babe Better, they tweak the melody so it works for them, still just a cover, but a good execution of a good song.
03 Child Of Nature – Mason Jennings Great. Like the Total Babe track, its an execution of the song, stripped down a little to service Mason Jennings, but he is pitch-perfect for this song.
04 Fixing A Hole – Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons It's Not Cory Chisel's fault that I don't really like this song much. Actually I prefer this cover, he pulls in the long minor notes so they don't rings in my ears and sound sort of sour. Big thumbs up for updating the tune.
05 Real Love – Lookbook The first example of a couple on this record of how contemporary The Beatles writing can sound. Plus a female lead vocal compliments Lennon's melody excellently.
06 Happiness Is A Warm Gun – A Night In The Box I love this song, the original is so great. Just little vignettes of songs, all of which I would love to hear in their entirety. This doesn't disappoint at all, an extremely faithful replaying of the song. Boosh.
07 It's All Too Much – Polara The Beatles are just so relevant today, and this tune is exactly why. It is so easy to forget that Polara didn't write this song, it sounds like something someone written yesterday and its an awesome song. The original is all sorts of layered and progressive with the percussion, almost back beating. I just love this one.
08 Tomorrow Never Knows – Meat Puppets feat. Alison Scott Fuzzy and warm, but I think this falls into the area of Beatles' songs that I don't really care for.
09 I Am The Walrus – Pert Near Sandstone Bluegrasse-y cover of 'I am the Walrus'? Sounds great! No, not really. By the end you just feel like this band had no business playing this song. And maybe no one does.
10 Michelle – The New Standards This is another real winner. Chan Poling has a deep, mournful, maybe even a little aggressive voice that really embodies what the song is about. Which is sort of creepy and unromantic, if you think about it.
11 And Your Bird Can Sing – Rogue Valley One of the more precious Beatles songs, an admirable execution.
12 Dear Boy – P.O.S. Timeless melody can demand updating. The layered vocals and electronic slow drum beat make this song sound brand new, even when those elements are all in the original. If anything it highlights how progressive The Beatles were, making sounds and effects that still sound contemporary. Just excellent.
13 I Want To Hold Your Hand – Edison High School Light and fun and a little less energy than the original but still lovely. If I didn't know it was a cover, I would think this band was amazing at the 60's throwback. But I know, so it still sounds like a cover.
14 Golden Slumbers – Communist Daughter I would have thought this would be an obvious 'cover' sounding song, cause I just love the original so much. But man, Communist Daughter owns this version, it is theirs, unequivocally. Just as good as the original at least.
15 Hey Jude – Sounds Of Blackness Soulful-choirs and shit, horns and hand-clapping. A little tropical beat in the background. Really nice. Honestly I have no frame of reference for this sound, so I can't say whether Sounds of Blackness would have written this tune, but I think that they probably excel at re-imagining songs rather than writing their own. So hey, this is their forte!
16 Good Night – Curtiss A’s D’Lando Flaques-Ffaire *Rockestra Another of my faves. Not many groups have actually written great lullabies. Its a weird art to make a melody that's both soothing and universally singable. I was listening to the original for comparison and I just had to listen to it all the way through, because it is just so sweet and sincere. That being said, I wasn't quite as riveted to the cover (I'm not really sure what is a name and what is The Name of the Band...Curtiss A's?) but the singer has a nice rickety kind of voice, older David Bowie sounding, matches the song nicely and I enjoyed it there. And there's a little guitary 'Here Comes The Sun' riff as a hidden track at the end.
Okay! Minnesota Beatle Project Vol. 2, this post felt like it took forever to write but it's out in the world now and there is no stopping it! If you love The Beatles, any one of these bands, or are from Minnesota (which not all of the bands are on this volume, but close enough) consider buying the record. Find out more about the project and the bands here.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Me too!
I noticed that Patrick wrote a quick little guy (sorry ladies, blog posts are almost always boys) introducing himself to our non-existent readers (alright!) so I'm doing the same.
Whereas his stuff will be mostly musics, I'm going to cover mostly comics with a dash of movies and TV and all sorts of nerdery. Hope you enjoy.
Whereas his stuff will be mostly musics, I'm going to cover mostly comics with a dash of movies and TV and all sorts of nerdery. Hope you enjoy.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Oh Land-Oh Land EP and Laura Marling-The Blues Run The Game EP
What great little records! EP's........releases.........
Whatever they are.
Both of these EP's are huge jerks for not being longer, the Laura Marling especially, as it is only 2 songs. But oh, what 2 songs! Marling isn't exactly pushing the envelope or anything, but she is so amazing as she is, I wouldn't want her to push anything lest she damage her guitar playin' hands. The first track 'Blues Run the Game' is a little jaunty, folksy number. The fine young lady from England has a touch of smoke to her voice, but she stays away from anything jazzy or poppy on the road to sweet acoustic wonder. The second track is "The Needle and The Damage Done", a Neil Young cover. Also a Thursday lyric but whatevs. She finger picks her way into a slightly more upbeat version of the song. I think she owns it, she sounds like she had written it, none of that 'sounds like a cover' nonsense. If this wasn't an EP I'd be waaay happy. But as is, I will patiently wait for a full length.
Oh Land is another lady-centric group, which is one of my favorite things. Nanna Oland Fabricius calls herself Oh Land and she is starting to get some big looks, at least that's what the internet indicates. I know I am looking because 'Son of a Gun' is a really amazing single. As far as sound she intersects a few great women; Marina and the Diamonds, Kate Miller-Heidke, and one of my favs, Lykke Li. If Lykke Li had a more full sound it would be Oh Land, which is cool because they are both Scandinavian, classically trained ballet dancers.
It's a six-song EP but the last two tracks are really kind of unfortunate remixes. I am a fan of remixes but these two are a great example of why they get a bad rep. Boring on the best edge, unnecessary on the whole, the song doesn't do any better by being remixed. The first 2 tracks-'Son of a Gun' and 'White Nights'- have a really similar sound. Think really driving, almost tribal drums with long, lean synths, and sexy melodic vocals. Both are just excellent, though I think 'Son of a Gun' is going to be her stand-out. The third track features a plinking marimba and really gets that Lyyke Li feel in. The final track (because I am ignoring the remixes) is 'Wolf & I'-a lot slower with her voice ranging away from the electro sound and into a more organic smoky register. The first time I heard it I thought "Aww, dang. I guess you just can't keep up that much energy over a whole record, eventually you have to fall back on something more conventional." I don't quite feel the same way now, but I think that if 'Wolf & I' is your favorite Oh Land song, you probably don't actually like Oh Land.
Ok! That is the post. Today it was Laura Marling from the UK and Oh Land from Denmark via Brooklyn. I have a ton of stuff building up so hopefully I won't dwell on the next few like I did these EP's But there is a new Figurines record, eeeee. and that Asobi Seksu is still out there.......
Whatever they are.
Both of these EP's are huge jerks for not being longer, the Laura Marling especially, as it is only 2 songs. But oh, what 2 songs! Marling isn't exactly pushing the envelope or anything, but she is so amazing as she is, I wouldn't want her to push anything lest she damage her guitar playin' hands. The first track 'Blues Run the Game' is a little jaunty, folksy number. The fine young lady from England has a touch of smoke to her voice, but she stays away from anything jazzy or poppy on the road to sweet acoustic wonder. The second track is "The Needle and The Damage Done", a Neil Young cover. Also a Thursday lyric but whatevs. She finger picks her way into a slightly more upbeat version of the song. I think she owns it, she sounds like she had written it, none of that 'sounds like a cover' nonsense. If this wasn't an EP I'd be waaay happy. But as is, I will patiently wait for a full length.
Oh Land is another lady-centric group, which is one of my favorite things. Nanna Oland Fabricius calls herself Oh Land and she is starting to get some big looks, at least that's what the internet indicates. I know I am looking because 'Son of a Gun' is a really amazing single. As far as sound she intersects a few great women; Marina and the Diamonds, Kate Miller-Heidke, and one of my favs, Lykke Li. If Lykke Li had a more full sound it would be Oh Land, which is cool because they are both Scandinavian, classically trained ballet dancers.
It's a six-song EP but the last two tracks are really kind of unfortunate remixes. I am a fan of remixes but these two are a great example of why they get a bad rep. Boring on the best edge, unnecessary on the whole, the song doesn't do any better by being remixed. The first 2 tracks-'Son of a Gun' and 'White Nights'- have a really similar sound. Think really driving, almost tribal drums with long, lean synths, and sexy melodic vocals. Both are just excellent, though I think 'Son of a Gun' is going to be her stand-out. The third track features a plinking marimba and really gets that Lyyke Li feel in. The final track (because I am ignoring the remixes) is 'Wolf & I'-a lot slower with her voice ranging away from the electro sound and into a more organic smoky register. The first time I heard it I thought "Aww, dang. I guess you just can't keep up that much energy over a whole record, eventually you have to fall back on something more conventional." I don't quite feel the same way now, but I think that if 'Wolf & I' is your favorite Oh Land song, you probably don't actually like Oh Land.
Ok! That is the post. Today it was Laura Marling from the UK and Oh Land from Denmark via Brooklyn. I have a ton of stuff building up so hopefully I won't dwell on the next few like I did these EP's But there is a new Figurines record, eeeee. and that Asobi Seksu is still out there.......
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Naked and Famous-Passive Me, Aggresive You and Rooney-Eureka
So you know what sucks? That we all don't live in New Zealand (which could really use your help and money btw) In New Zealand, this band is so popular that is pisses people off because they've gone mainstream. New Zealand has enough incredible music to choke some sort of large-throated mammal. Plus I think the eighties are still happening there, but with the internet going on at the same time! Which means that everyone dresses like a hipster but has no idea what that means and they write eighties music but with absolute sincerity.
Oh... I was talking about the band The Naked & Famous. Passive Me, Aggressive You, their debut album, basically swathes together all of my favorite musical sounds and spreads them out evenly over a record. Totally personal preference but fuzzy background drone mixed with electro beats and synth, male and female vocals singing driving, clear melodies. Sha-bam! That's me to a T. If you mashed Mates of State and Shiny Toy Guns (when they are being good) into one group and relocated 'em, that would be The Naked & Famous.
This is one of those records with a really even sound, so it's hard to remember which song is which. Either that is because they are a little limited in their scope or each song is so good that you forget about the other songs by the time it ends. Or both. I say a little of both. I've listened to it about 4-5 times now, almost back to back and by far the stand out song is 'Young Blood', the single. But the opening track 'All of This' is a great cut, as is 'The Sun' with it's Nine Inch Nails spare piano opening. The more I revisit the more I cut out some of the inconsequential songs and what started as a 13 track album ends at about 9 or 10. But 9 out of 13 good songs is a damn good percentage, so they are still winning. I can tell you right now this isn't my Album of the Year or anything, but a really strong release nonetheless.
I don't really know Rooney, though in my mind they sit right below Motion City Soundtrack on the popularity scale and compare with The Cribs for sound. And Phantom Planet. If I were going to take a whack-stab at where this newest record-'Eureka'-stands in the world of Rooney, I would say about the same. Which doesn't seem to be a bad thing, since about the same for Rooney means very solid and very very safe. Straightforward as a pop punk influenced rock record can get. The first track "Holdin' On" grew on me big-time after a couple listens, very hooky and maybe smidge introspective on the lyrical end? If the album was a 5 song EP I think it would be perfect, because "Into the Blue" grabs my attention right at the front and then as soon as the chorus hits it sort of loses me. By then end of the song I am ready to let the whole album go. But it just keeps going on! I bet most people have a hard time getting to the back half of the record listening straight through, because something very decisively stops at the 5th track
Ultimately I am surprised because over the past couple of days/week I have kept coming back to it, just to try and figure out exactly what it is, who it sounds like, what works and what doesn't. I really just want to say 'Eh, it's ok' and toss it aside but for some reason I feel like that isn't giving it the fair shake it deserves. Maybe I will listen more and do another write up later on down the road.
Anyways! That is what I've been listening to, there is a Laura Marling EP sitting in my collection that I really want to hear, so I feel like that might be the next project. And maybe the Oh Land EP.........Ep's are going to be the end of me, there are so many! Today's bands were The Naked & Famous from New Zealand and Rooney from LA. Go forth!
Oh... I was talking about the band The Naked & Famous. Passive Me, Aggressive You, their debut album, basically swathes together all of my favorite musical sounds and spreads them out evenly over a record. Totally personal preference but fuzzy background drone mixed with electro beats and synth, male and female vocals singing driving, clear melodies. Sha-bam! That's me to a T. If you mashed Mates of State and Shiny Toy Guns (when they are being good) into one group and relocated 'em, that would be The Naked & Famous.
This is one of those records with a really even sound, so it's hard to remember which song is which. Either that is because they are a little limited in their scope or each song is so good that you forget about the other songs by the time it ends. Or both. I say a little of both. I've listened to it about 4-5 times now, almost back to back and by far the stand out song is 'Young Blood', the single. But the opening track 'All of This' is a great cut, as is 'The Sun' with it's Nine Inch Nails spare piano opening. The more I revisit the more I cut out some of the inconsequential songs and what started as a 13 track album ends at about 9 or 10. But 9 out of 13 good songs is a damn good percentage, so they are still winning. I can tell you right now this isn't my Album of the Year or anything, but a really strong release nonetheless.
I don't really know Rooney, though in my mind they sit right below Motion City Soundtrack on the popularity scale and compare with The Cribs for sound. And Phantom Planet. If I were going to take a whack-stab at where this newest record-'Eureka'-stands in the world of Rooney, I would say about the same. Which doesn't seem to be a bad thing, since about the same for Rooney means very solid and very very safe. Straightforward as a pop punk influenced rock record can get. The first track "Holdin' On" grew on me big-time after a couple listens, very hooky and maybe smidge introspective on the lyrical end? If the album was a 5 song EP I think it would be perfect, because "Into the Blue" grabs my attention right at the front and then as soon as the chorus hits it sort of loses me. By then end of the song I am ready to let the whole album go. But it just keeps going on! I bet most people have a hard time getting to the back half of the record listening straight through, because something very decisively stops at the 5th track
Ultimately I am surprised because over the past couple of days/week I have kept coming back to it, just to try and figure out exactly what it is, who it sounds like, what works and what doesn't. I really just want to say 'Eh, it's ok' and toss it aside but for some reason I feel like that isn't giving it the fair shake it deserves. Maybe I will listen more and do another write up later on down the road.
Anyways! That is what I've been listening to, there is a Laura Marling EP sitting in my collection that I really want to hear, so I feel like that might be the next project. And maybe the Oh Land EP.........Ep's are going to be the end of me, there are so many! Today's bands were The Naked & Famous from New Zealand and Rooney from LA. Go forth!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tropical Punk& Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion
The Tropical Punk album and the Guthrie-Irion EP both have the same problem. I hear the instrumentation, little snatches of melody and I am so ready for these to be very different but very good releases. And then something just doesn't quite click in and they both end up in the "I probably won't revisit" pile. Tropical Punk's Sweetheart isn't too bad though, individual songs were endearing. 'Summer on the Rocks' had a little more kick to it the second time around and some earlier Weezer fans will recognize the vibe on 'Old Rebel'. I think on both of these its a taste thing more than objectively being good or bad. I want Tropical Punk to have a stronger melody, sound a little more like Conshafter out of Virginia but that's really just my preference. Oh, 'Take Me To The Party Baby' is pretty fun too. So three solid songs right in the middle of the record, Tropical Punk bears a couple listens. The Guthrie-Irion EP; Bright Examples just doesn't do much for me. I feel like they were trying to write folk-pop songs but quite nailing the hook. The potential is all there but then it just sorta washes away cause they thought of something new so that is where the song went. Jenny and Johnny with ADD.
Anyways those were my two albums for this post. I think Rooney's new record is next, but there is a new Asobi Seksu album floating around and 2 Dntel EP's so who knows. The bands were Tropical Punk from Ithaca, New York and wife-husband duo Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion from South Carolina and Massachusetts. Click the links, listen up.
Anyways those were my two albums for this post. I think Rooney's new record is next, but there is a new Asobi Seksu album floating around and 2 Dntel EP's so who knows. The bands were Tropical Punk from Ithaca, New York and wife-husband duo Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion from South Carolina and Massachusetts. Click the links, listen up.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Testin'
Woah! It's a first post on a new blog. Honestly, I am a terrible blogger but this year I was inspired by All Songs Considered to keep a running tab on what I listen to this year and how much I like it. It is so easy to get swamped in new music, lost in old music, or forget about music you loved in January come December. So I am keeping track this year with quick posts about what I heard, what I liked and didn't like, and what I can't wait for. Kach-ow.
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