New Music Tuesday

Well this Tuesday is a busy one for releases.  Two amazing artists decided today was the day to release their new albums.  St. Vincent and Beck.  Two different albums, but both great.

St. Vincent -- St. Vincent

The album starts off with a solid pulse of fuzzy synth, then added fuzzy guitars and slightly distorted vocals of Annie Clark.  "Rattlesnake" is my favorite song of the freshly digitally minted album....at least after a couple listens.  The first couple songs are a little different then what I'm used to hearing from them.  "Prince Johnny" is more vintage St. Vincent with Clark's vocals leading the way and the added digital choir backing her up as well as the thumping bass drum.  "Digital Witness" seems like it was left off her album with David Byrne.  The added saxophone is great and I love the driving pace of the song.  Overall from a couple listens, there are definitely a handful of standouts which is a great sign.  I'm sure after a few more listens I'll be able to dig deeper into the more hidden tracks.

Beck -- Morning Phase

I have to admit to start off that I'm a much bigger fan of Beck's rowdier, slacker rap then I am of his stripped down acoustic centered albums.  Sea Changes was a great album, but I think Odelay blows it out of the water.  I think most people would disagree with me on that.  So when I heard that Beck was going to release his first new album in six years and heard it was going to be more stripped down, I was a little disappointed I must admit.  That being said.....Morning Phase took me by surprise.....its a beautiful album.  Its naturally being compared to Sea Changes and I was expecting that, but I think this album surpasses it.  Its so patient in its execution, Beck doesn't seemed hurried.  Its a very calming and peaceful album that goes with a Sunday afternoon drive.  My guess is that when he tours with this album, he's not going to pull out "New Pollution" in the middle of the set.  Favorite tracks are: Morning, Blue Moon, Heart Is a Drum, Waking Light.

Listen to the album here.

Melancholy Monday

Well today isn't very Melancholy....at least weather-wise.  Its supposed to be in the low 60's today....in February....in Utah!  It feels like late March or early April outside and I can't complain about it.  Despite the sun, its still a Monday and there are deadlines looming at work, homework is due and it seems like an eternity till the weekend.

"Warm and Sunny Days" by The Dears always felt like a semi-Melancholy song to me because of the experiences that I was going through in my life.  It feels appropriate in this circumstance.

Whatever Wednesday

The year was 1996...and just like anyone who saw the new version of Romeo and Juliet...you heard a song that became immensely popular, The Cardigan's "Lovefool".  I, like everyone else, got my copy of "First Band on the Moon" just so I could hear that track.  After the song lost its luster and the album left my car cd book, my friend and I saw a music video for their second single, "Been It" on the only music station that my antennae would pull in, The Box, "Music television YOU control".  After spending a couple of our precious dollars to play the video we were surprised with how much we liked it.  I thought for sure that they, like so many bands before them, would become a one hit wonder and fizzle off into the sunset.  What I saw in the video was that there was a lot more to the band.......unfortunately it took me a long time after that to pick up that album that I purchased years before  from Media Play and discover its......for lack of a better word.....amazing-ness.  I was holding onto gold.  The album is extremely under-rated and tends to be brushed off by a lot of people because of Love Fool.  But if you dig deeper, you'll find the entire album is much, much better than its #1 hit.  Soon after that I skewered all of their albums.  Their older albums, 'Emmerdale' and 'Life' set the stage for the Moon album.  Like most bands, they had a hard time repeating that magic from there and stumbled with releases after that.

Their music is so sunny and happy....even in its darker songs.  This band began an age of 60's/70's pop influenced music that I listened to non-stop back in 2005, I was obsessed, but that's another story.  I have heard they have reformed and have played in the last couple months in Europe.  They are in the top 10 current bands I'd love to see live.  This is the track "Carnival" from the album "Life".

This is from their first album Emmerdale, "Black Letter Day"

Lastly from First Band on the Moon, "Your New Cuckoo"

New Music Tuesday

Temples

Their new album "Sun Structures" debuted last week.  I know its only February, but its one of my favorite records to come out this year....although Beck's new album next week will likely top it.  But the new album will live up its week of glory with its fun, psychedelic rock that makes you tap both feet.  Their vocals sound like transplants from any of the 60's psych bands....also the more recent Tame Impala, but that's alright, they are a genre band and they stick to it.  Great tracks include: "Shelter Song", "Keep in the Dark" and "Mesmerise".

Melancholy Monday — Late Edition

The pure white crystalline snow that blanketed much of the northeast last week has now been transformed into gravel-encrusted banks, frozen-over slush, and flattened sheets of hardened ice. Yes, it's another melancholy Monday. But the outlook's not necessarily so bleak. By week's end, temperatures may reach the sixties, perhaps allowing us to catch the first glimpse of spring.

So the perfect song for the occasion is "Mother of Pearl" by the indie electro-pop duo Silver Swans. Though the song starts out somewhat plaintively, any iciness resulting from the synth-based arrangement is quickly melted away by Ann Yu's lovely hushed vocals. "Mother of Pearl" (not to be confused with Roxy Music's identically named classic) features both unbridled melodicism and dreamy romanticism. It's a tuneful little gem that portends brighter days on the horizon.

Silver Swans — "Mother of Pearl"

 

 

Melancholy Monday

Another Monday has graced us with its presence.  The song that I picked to represent it is a bit of an oldie...1995 to be exact, "Hello Rain" by The Softies.  Two guitars and two voices is all they need.  Its like a lullabye for a depressed person to fall asleep to.  I love it though, its perfect for those days that a little more drab.  Monday's are tough....especially for those in the office space world in which I live in.....this just eases me into my cubicle and wraps a blanket around me.

Throwback Thursday ... Snochi Style

I suppose there are worse places one could be stranded than Tampa, Florida. I've been here in the Buccaneers' and Rays' hometown on a business trip since Monday and was scheduled to fly back to DC this morning. However, a light 12-18" dusting of snow in the greater DC region (the storm's now being dubbed Snochi — cute) has all but paralyzed air traffic in the nation's capital, meaning that my original return flight as well as my backup flights all got canceled. I'm now scheduled to get home by tomorrow evening. But even that's in jeopardy now, as another system advancing into the area may drop up to 4 more inches tomorrow night. So with the status of my return less than certain at the moment, I continue to cool my jets in the warm Tampa sun.

And speaking of the warm sun, let's take a quick jaunt back to the summer of 1992 — a time I always associate with sunny optimism and carefree frivolity. To me, no song more immediately conjures up that era than the Soup Dragons' highest-charting single "Divine Thing." So for those who sit in their snowbound houses tonight (or worse, an incapacitated airport), here's a little ditty that will hopefully send a ray or two of sunshine your way. Enjoy!

Soup Dragons — Divine Thing

 

 

New Music Tuesday Part 2...sort of

Tennis

Ok, I felt like my last review was a little negative and probably made out to sound like I didn't even like the songs I was posting.  I thought I'd post a song that I have been digging on lately.  Tennis put out an EP a few months ago, so this technically isn't new, but its recent.  They can do no wrong in my eyes at this point.  I can't wait for their next full length to come out.  This piano and bass driven song with a splash of guitar and keyboard is fun to listen to.  Its a pretty slow paced song but you'll find yourself swaying to it after the first few seconds.

New Music Tuesday

Dog Bite

Another lazy attempt for a band name I must say, but the music is decent.  This Atlanta based band formed by the keyboardist of Washed Out has put out an album full of chillwave synth and shoe gaze guitars.  The band hardly does anything new or groundbreaking, its pretty safe within these genres and doesn't dare venture out much.  You'd expect more from a Washed Out band member I would think.  Overall as an album, its alright, I just wish sometimes it wouldn't be so repetitive. However, it does have a couple songs that are decent.  The shoegazer "We" and the darker, moody 'Curesque' "L'oiseau Storm".  I know this isn't a glowing endorsement of the band, but I do like these two songs.  Read Pitchfork's review of it, they absolutely hated it, ha.

Melancholy Monday

Well its another Melancholy Monday and the weather is complying with cloudy and rainy conditions.  My pick this week is "Brakhage" by Stereolab.  This is a song that I can listen to and just stare.  This goes on for  a few minutes until I snap out of it.  Its repetition is almost hypnotic.  It is not boring at all though....its anything but that.  But its so thought provoking for me that I get stuck day dreaming to it almost every time.  Usually this 60's french pop band is played in the sunshine and blue skies, but I prefer this song played in diffused light and grey skies.

Mixtape Friday

Well, its Friday....how about a mix to munch on for the weekend.  Can't wait to get out and enjoy the sunshine....oh wait its supposed to snow all weekend.

P.S.  You must have Spotify to play this playlist.  I'm looking for a better way to share, but everyone has Spotify, right?  Let me know if you can't access it even if you have Spotify.

SXSW 2014

The Joy Formidable

So there's a good possibility that I will be attending SXSW next month.  I'm pretty excited about it.  I've been to SXSW twice and its unlike any other festival I've ever experienced.  I think its very unique in that most of the bands are not as known and even the ones that are are playing at small venues that are close and personal.

The Flaming Lips

!!! (chkchkchk)

I've never been to Coachella or Bonaroo or any of those mega-festivals, but I think the festival is losing its luster.  There are so many festivals with so many bands, it seems like every single city has one and its lost the coolness of it.  I think its gotten a little out of hand.  Just like everything, you over-saturate the market, you'll see some of these festivals start to fall off the map.  I believe they are too distant and impersonal and they are very expensive.

 

With SXSW, you can attend it for free.  The evening shows you do need a pass to attend those shows which does cost quite a bit of money but you get nearly a week of music versus two days at the other festivals.
When I was there last year, I saw so much music I was sick of it by the end.  I just wanted to sit in a room that was quiet for a day to just decompress.  I didn't pay a dime to get into any of the shows that I saw and I saw pretty much everyone that I wanted to.

Local Natives

The pictures that I've posted I took without any kind of media pass.  The artists are for the most part easily accessible to talk to or to take pictures with.  Its just an enjoyable experience in comparison to the over-crowded rave, drug induced, bare all festivals that happen from spring till fall.

I'll probably end up going to one of those festivals eventually and I'll probably have a good time, but its just nothing in comparison.

Charles Bradley

2014's Most Anticipated Releases ...

... as determined by, well, me.

2014 will feature no shortage of high-profile releases. Here are the ten I'm most looking forward to.

Spoon — (TBD) (tbd release)

Britt Daniels has been on a hot streak for as long as I can remember. His tenure as Spoon's frontman has been virtually flawless as has been his stint with his side project The Divine Fits. It's been nearly four years since Spoon's last release. So we are long overdue for a healthy dose of Spoon's patented angular, ultra cool, taut-as-piano-wire rock.

Beck — Morning Phase (February 14 release)

Beck's output has been relatively sparse in recent years (reportedly because of a serious back injury). So Beck-o-philes the world over have reason to rejoice at the prospect of his first album since 2008's Modern Guilt. Early word is that it will be more akin to the acoustic SeaChange than the genre-bending Odelay or Midnite Vultures.

Little Dragon — (TBD) (Spring release)

Little Dragon's brand of icy cool nocturnal indie dance music — replete with pulsating rhythms, subtly mesmerizing melodies, and sultry vocals — has been impeccable on its last two albums. There's no reason to think that the third time won't be a charm as well.

The New Pornographers — (TBD) (tbd release)

The Canadian super group headlined by Carl Newman and Neko Case is back to unleash another deluge of ear-pleasing indie pop this spring. Can their winning streak of stellar albums remain intact? We'll soon find out.

Lykke Li — (TBD) (tbd release)

This Swedish indie pop chanteuse is set to release her follow-up to the the magnificent Wounded Rhymes. Expect another collection of rip-roaring show stoppers and spare confessionals sung with hushed intimacy.

Belle & Sebastian — (TBD) (tbd release)

The longtime titans of twee pop are back with their first release in four years. It's safe to predict that its songs (like virtually all B & S offerings) will mix skilled melodicism, precious vocals, and clever lyrics. I realize I'm going out on a limb here ....

Modest Mouse — (TBD) (tbd release)

The unique vision and off-kilter approach of this indie-rock outfit from the Pacific Northwest has generated a remarkably consistent slate of highly listenable albums. The next chapter in their oeuvre promises to expand upon that legacy.

Phantogram — Voices (February 18 release)

Phantogram describes its sound as "street beat, psych pop." However you wish to define it, the dreamy trip-hop on the New York duo's 2009 Eyelid Movies was a revelation. The much-anticipated Voices should further cement Phantogram's status as electro-rockers of the highest order.

Real Estate — Atlas (March 4 release)

Real Estate's last album Days was a masterpiece of wistful, romantic, melancholy pop. It definitely set a high bar, but I'm sure their newest release will clear it with ease.

Interpol — (TBD) (April release)

Following the release of Interpol's self-titled 2010 album, some wondered if it was the Gotham City indie rockers' swan song, especially considering the departure of bassist Carlos Dengler. However, Interpol has recorded a fresh batch of songs, which they're planning to debut on their upcoming tour in advance of their new album's release. Expect another exquisite set of moody post punk from this quintessentially NYC band.