New Music Tuesday: Sego's EP Wicket Youth

Sego releases their debut EP "Wicket Youth" today.  They've released three songs of the five songs in anticipation for its release, but let's go through each song one by one:

"Your song's.....different....Sego"

1. 20 years tall -- Alright alright we start off with some straight talk dance punk.  Its different and edgy, but its the same different and edgy I heard when I listened to LCD Soundsystem. (Which is a great thing)  The song is like the principal in Forrest Gump, "Your son's.....different...Miss Gump.", but we all know that Forrest falls into wealth and ends up with his long lost passed around girlfriend in the end so he gets the last laugh......just like this song....what?  Anyway, the first track off the the new EP probably defines what the band sounds like and the rest of the tracks will follow suite, right?....

2. Wicket Youth -- ....well not exactly.  The next track is Wicket Youth......which is like taking off my ripped black jeans and putting on my white dress suit from Miami Vice and fighting drug lords while driving the $100k police race boat that they randomly have a budget for ......quite the contrast.  All the edges are as smooth as the keys on a keyboard, and what we have left is very catchy synthpop number.

Harrison Ford digging "Engineer Amnesia"

3. Engineer Amnesia -- We stick with the synthpop tone but dial it back a bit.....instead of Miami Vice we get Blade Runner/Terminator/Terminator 2.  I could very easily see Harrison Ford in his flying car cruising through the clouds with this song blasting as the human race is being exterminated by killer terminators below.

4. False Currency -- I would say this as close as we get to track one.  More straight talk but with less dance punk.  In its place is seemingly chaotic guitars, punchy horns and a steady beat that gets stronger as the song explodes to the finish line.  No bands or movie comparisons because I honestly can't put my finger on what this sounds like.  But the EP definitely hits its climax with that dance beat ending.

"Hey!!.....PARTED LIPS!!!"

5. Parted Lips -- Alright, now this is awesome.  ...its only 1 minute long, kind of the denouement of the EP, and again throws a different flavor into the mix.  I'd say that it sounds a hidden Beck track on the Odelay or Guero album.  Since Beck is my favorite musician this bodes well.  Its offbeat but in the best kind of way  You'll find yourself blurting out the words "Parted Lips" to yourself in a quiet room and yelling it to strangers on the street.


Overall, after all the flavors make the best kind of Kool-aid.  You'll feel really.... Kool.... when listening to it.

Album Review: Eyes Lips Eyes

Well its been approximately two years since the last release of new music from Los Angeles' Eyes Lips Eyes.  After recording the album, the band had a long hiatus to pursue other individual music projects and tackle life challenges.  They have finally given their fans the long awaited swig of music.

The album 'Place to Be' was put out earlier today and for those that pledged during the Kickstarter for the album they received it a little earlier.


It starts out with familiar song 'Never Alone'.  For die-hard fans, this will be a song heard from years ago when they put out an album on their own.  It kicks into high gear and into new territory with the spastic and fun 'Itty Bitty' with its catchy 'ooo's' and 'aahhhh's'.

Their single 'Hollywood' is their most polished number that has a very catchy and bubbly guitar hook.  Their most recognizable song 'Tickle makes the cut as well with its jangley guitars and sing-able chorus.  The album then shifts into a different gear and drops the happy honey glazed tunes.

The next song, and my favorite from the album 'Old', brings its primal repetitive guitar riff coupled with a powerful driving bass crashing drums that make you want to jump around and throw chairs through walls....in the most positive way possible.  From that description you'd think its some Rage against the Machine rip off, but not so.  Although its not mellow, its not something that's out of control either.  Its theme is more contemplative as it speaks of the natural reflection of one's life thinking that "I'm old, I'm as old as I've ever been........and I'll never be this young again."  Here is the song below.  Take a listen, punch a brick wall with your bare fists.

The surprise of the album was 'Getting Late'.  The song's first five seconds leads you to believe that it will be another mellow pop song until hits the gas and doesn't stop.  Its a song that as dance-able as any out there.  The added element of the cow bell really keeps the party going throughout.

"A-OK is a simple speedy rocker that will have you yelling with the background singers during the chorus.  The final song "Language Lessons", its a late at night driver.  Its not something that you'll fall asleep to, but will keep you going with its echoed thumping bass that keeps the pace.  Mix that with the accented and atmospheric guitar hooks that add flavor and it'll have your foot tapping non-stop.

I've always considered Eyes Lips Eyes to be a live band that you must see live to gain the full experience, but this album you catch some very real glimpses of what that's like and it comes as close as you possibly can.

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.