Sunday, a friend sent me an email asking for new music, and in particular asking for the best band she had probably never heard of. This seemingly simple request dragged me out from the deep dark corners of my music collection. I had found myself going back and listening to tracks I don’t think I was truly able to appreciate when they first came out (Nirvana for one). As I started to put together a few suggestions for my friend, others started coming out of the woodwork with similar requests, so here are some bands that shouldn’t be missed, but probably were. Due to my eclectic tastes I figured I would include the type of person (or the side of me) most likely to appreciate the band.
I Know I Know by Freshkills
For those (perhaps begrudgingly) moving on from their punk rock days. Post-hardcore is a lot like obscenity, I know it when I see it, and this is it, in all its aggressive, catchy goodness. If you like this, also check out Hard to Be Decent, and the rest of their self-titled release.
Don’t Haunt This Place by Rural Alberta Advantage
For the indie rock aficionado (you know who you are) and those with a soft spot for earnest singer-songwriters. Hometowns will make you nostalgic for the small town you never actually came from, this album is just that good. If you need more proof check out The Deathbridge in Lethbridge, and Drain the Blood, then buy Hometowns.
1901 by Phoenix
For the Indie rocker looking for something a little more dance-able (and fan’s of awesome indie songs being used in car commercials). I had completely forgotten about Phoenix until I heard this song in a Cadillac commercial of all places (First Ford uses Band of Horses, and now this. I still won’t buy an American car, but at least they are improving the quality of music on tv.) Phoenix does an amazing job of hugging the line between indie, and electro-pop without sounding like a half-assed comprise that nobody wants. Give Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix a listen.
Sleepyhead by Passion Pit
For those who have found the new electro-pop religion and those willing to give it a chance. I’m not really an electro-pop fan, but this genre seems to have exploded (at least in the echo chamber that is the indie music section of the internet). Passion Pit manages to combine indie song writing chops, a melodic synth army, and a real live drummer. Together they hit all the right spots and you’ll find it impossible not to start tapping your foot (or maybe, just maybe, dance a little.) Check out Folds in Your Hands, and the rest of Manners
Yeah I know, I missed a week. Life was crazy so you all have to just deal with it. Now onto that Valentine’s Day post I promised. I decided to continue last year’s tradition and highlight songs for both good and bad V-days.
For those of you who had a good time:
Empty Swings by The Lost Sea - I really don’t know what to say about this song other than that I love the duet in the chorus. I just wish they had a better sound guy, because there are lots of subtle notes in the background that get overpowered by the drums.
What I’m Trying To Say by Stars - Someone sent me a list of TOP 100 love songs from the last decade and on it was Stars My Favorite Book. I understand the thought behind that pick, its a good love song, with a nice modern take on a simple jazz sound. For my taste though, I think this band has done much better, and I’d rather recognize them for what they do best, blending indie-rock and electronica.
Echo by Incubus - Oh high school nostalgia; I still love Incubus’ Morning View and Make Yourself.
For those focusing on the fact that Valentine’s day is the aniversary of someone getting their head chopped off:
If It Hadn’t Been For Love by The Steeldrivers - I won’t say too much about this song, because that would ruin the storytelling nature of the song. This song almost makes me want to augment my bass playing with a stand-up bass.
Wish You Were Dead by Lincoln - I know I posted something by these guys just a few weeks ago, but too bad. I love the contradiction of this song, and the weak attempt to bash the person, who you secretly still want to be with. I’m sure we’ve all been there.
Showerhead by Eve6 - Again we return to high school nostalgia. Oh to be able to find the person who broke your heart and find their life in shambles. Its even better in song form, because it doesn’t have to be true.
So I thought about doing a Valentines day post, but I just couldn’t find the energy, so that will have to wait ‘till next week. Instead you get two tracks that have amused me over the last week.
I Kissed A Girl by Corin Joel - Who knew that hidden in that over-produced pile of souless corporate-pop, there was actually pieces of a decent song.
Ballad of Jonny Z by Pedals On Our Pirate Ships - I would love to see these guys live. Its certainly not an example of the art of song writting, but you can tell they like playing and are having a blast. Stuff like this just reminds me why I love music.
Short post today, but I’ll make it up next week with a super-awesome valentine’s day themed post.
Its been a slow couple of weeks for new music (at least I haven’t found anything really good in the last few). So I decided to pull out some older stuff that I ment to post, but never got to.
Blow by Lincoln - I still remember listening to this cd while driving around the beach in my cousin’s car years ago. Ever since that trip this has been one of my favorite albums. To this day I’m still disappointed that no one’s ever heard of them, and you can’t even find their album on Amazon (and I’ve found some really obscure stuff on amazon).
Never Gonna Change by Drive-by Truckers - So I realized that I’ve never posted anything by Drive-by Truckers here. This isn’t my favorite of their songs, but it is one of the best to drive to, and sometimes thats more important than anything else.
Calling All Friends by Low Stars - Every time I hear the intro to this song, I swear its was used in the closing shot of an episode of House that I can’t quite remember. Listen to the first 30 seconds. Can’t you just picture House walking out of the hospital and then a series of follow-up shots checking in on how the rest of the team is coping.
Quick post again because I’m really distracted, and I’m just trying to make it to Friday evening.
The ‘59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem - Someone somewhere refered to this band as the new Bruce Springstein. I’m wouldn’t go that far (and I’m not much of a Boss fan anyways) but I certainly get the comparision.
The Great Escape by The Rifles - It’s nice to find that there is still some real guitar rock still being made in this world, even if I have to go across the pond to find it.
Catarina by Joe Purdy - I love the guitar work on this song. It also happens to be a pretty good love song. Yes its more of my singer-songwriter accoustic stuff, those of you who give me hard time about this have been warned.
So some quick highlights from yesterday’s long drive back home.
Badges and Badges by Manchester Orchestra - There isn’t much to this, but I still found myself humming it to myself today at work after listening to it on the long drive back yesterday. The simple guitar rhythm is just insanely catchy.
House Fire by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - When I saw the name of this band, I was really hoping they would live up to it, and they didn’t disappoint.
Wish You Were Here by Ryan Adams - This pretty well encapsulates how I’ve been feeling since I’ve returned home.
Ok, quick stream of consciousness post this time beause I spent most of the afternoon and evening with a massive headache, and this is really all I can manage.
Ashley by The Dodos - So simple, so very catchy. The druming in this reminds me a lot of The National. Visiter was on a lot of people’s best of 2008 list, so I’m thinking I might have to add it to my collection pretty soon.
Black Irish by The Devil Makes Three - The latest addition to my late night driving mix. At least twice now, I have caught myself driving far too fast while listening to this song.
Dead Letter Office by The Answer Team - I have to admit, I’m not usually one for instrumental tracks. However I’ve been listening to this track for two months now and still find it incredibly compelling.
Next week’s update might not happen until Wednesday. I’ll be on vacation escaping the inauguration hordes, and won’t be home until late Tuesday.
So one of my New Years resolutions was to get back in the habit of this, so I’m going to try and do weekly posts every Tuesday evening (this might change to Wednesday if I go back to playing football on Tuesday’s when it warms up a little).
Greater Heights by Jessica Lea Mayfield - With Blasphemy So Heartfelt is a 12 song look at the varying experiences that go hand in hand with love: from the shear amazment at how great the person you’ve found is, the pain of having to choose between two loves, to the moment you realize that you’d rather be alone than take back the one who left. Jessica’s voice, with a slight southern drawl, is put up front to carry most of the album, but producer Dan Auerbach does an amazing job of layering multiple guitar tracks behind her, that gives much of the album a distant dreamy sound to it.
The Captain and the Hourglass by Laura Marling - I was driving home one day when the radio brought me this little gem (thanks Sirius). I’m not sure what it was, but this song stuck in my head for most of a week (maybe I’m just a sucker for english accents). New Romantic and Ghosts are also worth a listen if you like this one.
Well, I’ll leave you with a couple new songs, and a reminder that both of these albums can be downloaded from amazon for < $9
UPDATE: Just noticed, I mentioned Jessica Lea Mayfield in my previous post. This is what I get when I let two months go by; Oh well, I’ll do better next week…
Well last time I covered what I listened to as I drove back from PA; so I guess I’ll continue working backwards and and share what I was listening to as I drove up there.
Over Georgia by Abalone Dots — I just don’t understand this, I now know of three folk / blue-grass bands from Sweden. How in the hell is Sweden producing better americana bands than America? Anyways, if you don’t instantly hate folk music, you should give this a listen, these four women are simply amazing. Maybe I’m easy to impress but if you can play an instrument while still holding your own in a 4-part vocal harmony you’ve got my respect.
Love Dog by TV On The Radio — People I respect always rave about TV On The Radio but with the exception of a song or two, I never really saw it. However, since hearing this track I’ve been fighting the urge to roll the dice and pickup their newest release Dear Science.
Call Me by Jessica Lea Mayfield — The song is a little repetitive, but the song is delivered so perfectly as to make that acceptable. When Jessica sings, you can tell there is a story and true emotion behind her songs and and after listening to the radio today, I’m reminded how rare that is in today’s music industry. Go pickup With Blasphemy So Heartfelt, trust me.
Always Where I Need To Be by The Kooks — Needed to include some rock (even if it is indie rock) in this post. Someone suggested that this should be my personal theme song.
Wow, a weekend where I wasn’t out of town or had some all consuming event to attend; so now I’m finally albe to write.
So I guess I’ll work in reverse order and cover the music from my latest trip (don’t worry I’ve got wedding and California inspired posts composing in my head). Last weekend I got to stop by my favorite record store (its a good thing my favorite record store is 3 hours away, it helps keep my spending there in check), so here are some highlights from my latest acquisitions.
What I’m Trying To Say by Stars — I was trying to decide between Set Yourself on Fire and some Bloc Party album, and the store clerk told me to stick with this one; I couldn’t be happier with his advice. From start to finish the Stars manage to Electro-Pop almost perfect with this disc (the trite political bitch-fess He Lied About Death not withstanding). If you are trying to expand from your emo rut (you know who you are) but still want songs about failing relationships and insecurity this disc would make a great first step.
Looking At The Sun by Matthew Sweet — This is why I love used record stores; Where you can stumble across an original copy of Girlfriend and simultaneous think why would someone give this up / I must own this. If you like 90s-era guitar rock, then you owe it to yourself to get this album. Its only real flaw is that is that it peaks after 3 songs with the title track. Hell even Rolling Stone had to admit that this was one of the top 100 albums of the 90s
Other People’s Lives by Modest Mouse — Every time I listen to early Modest Mouse (pre-Good News For People Who Like Bad News) I seem to initially hate it, and then as I give it a second or third listen I’m amazed by it. Building Nothing Out of Something was no different, I barely got through three tracks on the drive home from PA, but then two days later at home I gave it another and I was hooked. The disc is certainly a little out there, but I never would have guested this was a compilation album given how thematically connected the tracks are.
