The Silent Years- On Our Way Home
The Silent Years are a Detroit, pronounced Day-Twa, band fronted by Josh Epstein who is currently working in Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. which is perhaps my new favorite band. This song is really good though.
Speaking of DEJJ, this is Simple Girl, which is a simple pop song. I just saw them live and they are releasing an album in the spring which, I am going to guess, is going to be my favorite album of the year. Check em out, I talked with them at their show and they're really nice guys who seem down to earth and focused on having a good time and making really good music.
This is probably not in the correct order, but I gave it a shot:
1. Yeasayer- Odd Blood
2. LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening
3. Menomena- Mines
4. Hot Chip- One life Stand
5. The Morning Benders- Big Echo
6. Curren$y- Pilot Talk 2
7. Chromeo- Business Casual
8. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left foot
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.- Horse Power EP
10. The Drums- The Drums
Also considered: Broken Bells-Broken Bells, Fun.- Aim and Ignite, Blitzen Trapper- Destroyer of the Void, Flying Lotus- Cosmogramma, Sleigh Bells - Treats, Holy Fuck - Latin, Janelle Monáe - The ArchAndroid, Portugal. The Man -American Ghetto, Ratatat - LP4, Gorillaz - Plastic Beach, and others
The venue, LittleField, is awesome. Walking in the front door you are greeted with a huge mural on the wall that, a little investigation told me, changes every month. It’s also a really dark place, with only a few dim lights over the bar and not very much light on the dancefloor. Beers were only 3 dollars for Miller High Life in a bottle, which is not a bad deal. I opened a tab. Also, we were the first person there, but as we came in a DJ started and played for the three of us, sitting down at the back of the dance floor. Slowly but surely, people started coming in, and by midnight the place was pretty full. It was the perfect amount of people for a concert goer, enough to make the party happen, but there was enough space for elbow/ dancing room. In addition, the crowd was filled with really good dancers, and because the place was pretty dark, it was easy to let yourself go and really feel the music.
So, on to the music, the best word that I can describe it as is Fluid. It all melded together, flowed beautifully and never stopped. There was a river of music flooding the dance floor for the entirety of the show. I stayed at the venue for about four and a half hours and there was never a moment of silence, even through three different DJs. The music was easy. It wasn’t abrasive like some electronic music is, it was warm. It also wasn’t too loud, making it easy to talk to people, relative to some other shows that I’ve been to where, screaming in a person’s ear often yields poor results. The DJs were really talented, apart from the first guy who came on, none of them used a computer, it was all done on 2 vinyl turntables, two electronic turntables, and a mixing/ sample board in the middle. The DJs used actual vinyl records to play their music, to use their samples and to create their sound. Watching them it was difficult to tell how their hands matched up to what the music did, unlike a guitar where you can see exactly what the musician is doing, the turntable is like a foreign language to me. I have no idea what one twist of a knob does compared to a flip of a switch. There was no front row at the show either, people were just as crowded at the back as they were in the front, and a lot of people weren’t even facing the DJ. The whole night had a great vibe to it, it felt good, it felt happy. I had had a long day so we left at about 2:30 in the middle of Norm Talley’s set, before the main act, John Roberts even came on. It was a great place, and a great time and I strongly recommend checking it out.
You'll all be doin' it soon, here's some music to get you motivated for multiple trips to the car and luggin' around boxes.
!!!- Bend Over Beethoven
Pronounced Chick Chick Chick, !!! is a disco funkpunk band that has been around for a couple years now. I just saw them this past Sunday and they really blew me away, check out this song and imagine it much louder and more powerful.
The Drums- Lets Go Surfing
This is off the debut album from the drums, pretty catchy song right here. Check them out too.
DOM- Bochicha
Fun little song by a band that just said they're breaking up. That's unfortunate, but so is having to move in that futon!
Wale- The Guilty Pleasure (No Hands) (Ft. Waka Flaka and Roscoe)
Wale's new mixtape is called More About Nothing and it's his second mixtape about America's favorite sitcom, Seinfield. This song is just as the title announces, a guilty pleasure, complete with Autotune and a radio hook. "Ladies, this yo jam".
Das Racist- You Oughta Know
Yup, three rap songs in a row, what are you gonna do about it? This one's super catchy and it's brought to you by the same guys who made: "I'm at the Pizza Hut!" and I'll take any excuse to post that song.
Discouraged by the lack of embedded songs and overtaken by a wave of apathy, I have failed to do anything for many months. Alas! Recently I have found a great deal of excellent music which has, as music tends to do, inspired me to regain my former zeal and get back to blogging. Or so I hope. Anyway, here are some great songs that I've been listening to lately.
The Postelles- White Night
Can't get over this song, I listen to it over and over. I first heard it on their Daytrotter Session, which gives a little bit of a different version and also some of their other songs off of their Debut album.
Aeroplane- We Can't Fly
A really funky song, which goes through some changes. Aeroplane's new album is very eclectic, as demonstrated by the next song on the album.
Aeroplane- We Fall Over
Couldn't find this one on Yotube or Hype Machine, but you can download it here. It's a good one, and a lot slower. Check it out
Les Savy Fav- Appetites
This song's a little crazier, kinda reminds me of The Strokes and a little bit like Bats. This whole album is real good.
Jaill- Everyone's Hip
This is a real fun dancy rock song. Fast and short, just the way I like em. I'm in the process of listening to this whole album; it sounds like a new age Velvet Underground, but that may be too lofty a compliment. Decide for yourself!
Cut Copy- Where I'm Going
Cut Copy is the shit. Go to their free show in Brooklyn this Sunday, this song is from their upcoming album which I am eagerly awaiting.
A steady beat, heavy base, and a catchy hook is essential to any party song. The song must be able to transcend the differences between people's music tastes, thus enabling it to unite the whole party under one groove. So here's a little playlist that I whipped up for your upcoming party; keep in mind that in order to get the most out of this music it should be played loudly on a decent set of speakers.
In case you missed it, or you are a strict seasonalist (not a word), it's summer time in NYC. That means that the parks are full, the people are happy, and the air is filled with music. Well maybe that's a little idealistic, but you get the idea, people are excited. And this summer there is reason to be; this summer there are a ton of amazing concerts and shows to go to. So here, I've tried to make your and my lives a little easier by listing a bunch that should be worth while. Some are expensive and others are free, but all should be considered among your summer plans.
Hot damn! My heart is aflutter. This is going to be one epic summer. Be sure to check back for updates, because I am sure that there will be some more shows that pop up, or ones that I missed. If anyone plans to go to any of these shows and needs someone to go with, let me know and I'll probably be there.
It's early May, you know what that means, finals time. We all have papers to write and facts to memorize, exciting isn't it? No, no it's not. However, when I write papers I like to have some music playing in the background. Sometimes I go for classical other times it''s electronic, here is some music you may not have heard that really helps me study.
These songs might be a little weird out of context, but when you're sitting in front of your computer with headphones on trying to think of the right word, these songs will help you out. They'll put you into a rhythm without distracting you from your work. Comment back with songs that help you write a paper.
Brand new release from Swedish group, The Radio Dept. Do you know that they have state sponsored artists over there? Obama would be shot for even speaking of such a thing. Anyway, this song's pretty happy, listen to it.
This is the first song of Hot Chip's latest album. While it isn't the dance blast that Ready for the Floor was, this song shows some progression for the band. Love the Oh's.
Super catchy song here. I wish all Sleigh Bells sounded like this, but some of their other music is hard to listen to. Check this one out though, and don't be surprised if you start to hear more from these girls.
When Blitzen Trapper’s fourth album, Furr, was released in 2008, it received a great deal of fanfare and praise from all around the music world. The album helped the band gain national attention, it even landed them thirteenth on the Rolling Stone list for best albums of the year. Furr was a folksy trip through Americana landscapes and fairy tale lyrics. Blitzen Trapper’s new Album, Destroyer of the Void, continues along that same vein. While the band doesn’t stray too far from their roots, their fifth release finds ways to continue to surprise and inspire even the most diehard Blitzen Trapper enthusiasts. My only complaint is that at 45 minutes, the album is too short.
The album harkens back to the great Americana bands of the past, stirring up thoughts of Wings, The Doors, and even Wilco. Blitzen Trapper’s seamless mix of electric and acoustic guitars creates a sense of duality in their songs without confusing or challenging the listener. Take for example the standout song “Love and Hate,” with six musicians in the band, the song stands on the edge of raucous, but never crosses over into something that would take away from the laid back folk rock that Blitzen Trapper is known for.
From the start you get a sense that the band has classic rock influences, the title track kicks off the album with soft vocals that sing of wayward sons and rolling stones. The song goes on to transform twice throughout its six minute runtime, which is reminiscent of Paul McCartney’s iconic ballad, “Band on the Run”. True to Blitzen Trapper’s form, Destroyer of the Void has a cohesive mix of faced paced rock songs and acoustic folksy stories. While the album doesn’t really have any low points, it certainly has some highlights. The excellent song, “The Man Who Would Speak True” tells the tale of man who is cursed with a flower for a tongue, the song is filled with fantastic images of drinking whiskey and killing loved ones. What more would you expect from Blitzen Trapper? Later on the album is the sparkling duet, “The Tree”, which features Alela Diane, and the brilliant “Evening Star.” While these songs are quite different, “The Tree” is a soft love song, and “Evening Star” is a more upbeat song with a funky baseline, they both totally encapsulate what Blitzen Trapper is; a band which creates positively infectious songs filled with metaphor and sing-along choruses. The album ends with the piano ballad “Sadie”, which, because of its title and style, could be a reference to Bob Dylan or even The Beatles.
Comparing Blitzen Trapper to some of the best rock acts of all time may seem bold, but I believe that Destroyer of the Void will at least conjure up thoughts of these great bands. So go out and buy this album when it’s released on June 8th or go see them live in concert, I know I will.
I've been pretty busy lately, Titus Andronicus shows and papers don't really add up, but I have been listening to some pretty good music. So check these out to hold you over before I can write a more complete post.
Admiral Fallow- Squealing Pigs
This sounds a lot like Frightened Rabbit, I love the way it builds up from just a voice and guitar. Makes you wish you hadn't taken for granted all of your privileges all these years.
The Tallest Man on Earth- King of Spain
Classic TTME here, I love the energy in this song. It's the single off of his brand new CD The Wild Hunt. Which I am enjoying right now.
LCD Soundsystem- Home
I love this track off of the new LCD Soundsystem album This is Happening. James Murphy and LCD are pretty hard to pinpoint, they always seem to make music that gets better every time you hear it. If you like this and have some spare cash , send them a donation. Murphy is the head of DFA records which has been putting out struggling bands for a while now, they are one record label which deserves as much support as possible. I'll be buying this vinyl like the damn dirty hipster I am.
Circa Survive- Get Out
This one is very different than the others, but if you're feeling a little angsty and you also want to get pumped up, listen to this song. I can't get over it really, it's awesome.
On his Myspace Page England native, Jai Paul lists his music as Pop/Hiphop/Indie. I'm not sure if it is any of this; the self proclaimed artists and producer throws together elements from a number of different genres.Which I guess is what they call Indie these days.
BTSU is based around a simple drum beat and some high pitched vocals, but the song goes much farther than that as it delves into some heavy base and horn samples. The track pops like it was played on a record, and though based in electronic music, BTSU might even sound "old-timey". The song comes across as chill and easy, it's something you listen to as you sit and bob your head, and it does not lose it's appeal even after further exploration of the song.
Judging by the rest of the music on his Myspace page, I won't hesitate to bet on Jai Paul getting some serious play in the next year. Keep an eye on him, I know I will.
Tobacco- Street Trash
- Tobacco has a real nice electronic sound- kinda like a cross between Air and RJD2 if you can imagine that.
Gotta credit Dreesy on this one- Good lookin out
Local Natives- Wide Eyes
-Local Natives new album is really good- some singalongs, nice guitar and overlapping vocals.
Fang Island- Treeton
- Fang Island plays upbeat indiepowerpop whatever the hell that means. It's pretty fun and easy to listen to.
Blitzen Trapper- Heaven and Earth
- Brand new Blitzen Trapper track is getting a lot of hype. This one is very classical with some awesome piano and a dash of strings. Nicely done.
The band name sounds pretentious, especially when they explain it. The band wants to be as universal as the name of a country and as specific as a single person, a lofty goal. When they took to the stage, these thoughts came to my mind. Coming into the show I had no idea what to expect, I had read good reviews of the band’s live performance, but lead guitarist and vocalist, John Gourley, came out with his hood up and a hat pulled down over his eyes. He looked shifty at best, and when bassist Zachary Carothers came out wearing a beret that matched his shirt, and keyboardist Ryan Neighbors looked like he was about fifteen, I was nervous at best. But god damn, can Portugal. The Man play. They put on a show that I’ll not forget.
But let’s start from the beginning. When I first arrived I noticed that 1. The place was very nice, or “swankenstein” as was coined shortly after entrance 2. The beers were only 4 dollars each 3. We were probably some of the oldest people in there. It wasn’t like a Jonas Brothers concert, but most of our fellow patrons were our age or younger. When we came in most of the people there were sitting on the floor holding good spots for later viewing. It was relatively easy to step over them and secure good standing position toward the front, right in the middle.
Next, the openers were pretty good except I think they were out of order. The first band, The Dig, played loud rock laden with crescendos and breakdowns. The set was highlighted by a ten man performance, including members from the second opener, of what sounded like an eighties rock song. The second opener, Port O’Brien, could have easily been a Neil Young cover band, except for the fact that they weren’t playing Neil Young songs. They played folky pop which was less upbeat than The Dig and settled the crowd back in. The final song of their set featured another ten plus man troop of members from The Dig and Portugal. The Man, this easily highlighted their set.
Finally, Portugal. The Man came out at about eleven and immediately the space around me shrunk as people forced their way to the front of the stage. This was reminiscent of other general admission shows such as Ratatat when there was hardly any room to move at all. Like I said, I really didn’t know what to expect with this show, were they going to play the songs straight just as they are on the album? Would they play mostly new material? These questions were answered after the second song. I tried my best to record a setlist, but many of the songs bled together and were hard to recognize. Here’s what I have:
3.-Into- One is the Loneliest Number (Three Dog Night cover)
4.-Back Into- Church Mouth
5.Strangers (Kinks cover with members of Port O’Brien and The Dig)
This is pretty incredible as it is, but with these songs there was also a great deal of jams and other variations. On several occasions the music conjured images of Moe. and other Jam-bands. While the whole show flowed together nicely, there were some highlights which, as highlights do, stood out more than others. The show was relatively calm until “Chicago” came on. On the album, Waiter. “You Vultures!”, “Chicago” is an electronic song which raucously yells “We say burn the fucker down
Burn the motherfucker down.” It was at this moment that the crowd erupted into a moshpit complete with crowd surfing and stage diving. After five minutes of pushing and shoving through “Chicago” and part of “1989” the crowd got suddenly jovial and ecstatic, with hugs and high-fives being exchanged between total strangers. Again I was reminded of the drug induced love inspired by the Jam-band scene.
The encore was something that should be witnessed. To start, the visibly shy and nervous Gourley came out alone and played the entirety of “Created” alone; with the whole crowd singing along Gourley made it through the whole song, something he said he had never been able to do. The encore continued fabulously through “Church Mouth” and “One is the Loneliest Number” and ended with an incredible version of The Kinks song “Strangers” (you know, the one that goes “we are not two, we are one” ) that featured another stage filled with members of all three bands.
All in all, a theme of this incredible show could have been unity. As lame as that sounds, it has an air of truth to it. Portugal. The Man’s music is a cross between Jam, Indie, Electronic, and Rock; the fellow audience members and I felt as though we were there together, and the different bands shared instruments, stages and songs. So next time Portugal. The Man comes through your city, Go See This Music.
The thing about new bands is that they don’t have a lot of material; their sets rarely last more than forty minutes. Needless to say, this is a far cry from the four hour sets that I became accustomed to in my high school years listening to bands like Widespread Panic, Phish, and The String Cheese Incident. Neon Indian is a brand new band. Their debut album was released less than half a year ago and they have only been touring for a couple of months. So, their set was short. Despite this fact, it fucking rocked. There is something magical about seeing a band for the first time, there is something magical about seeing a band that have only played a handful of shows.
Going to the concert I was both unaware of what to expect and totally confident about what I would hear. This was because I knew that the band only had a small repertoire of songs that they would play, they only have one Album; at the same time I had no idea what it would sound like. The Album itself is a washed out, psychedelic wave of music. While the album does have definite rhythm, the guitar and vocals are not the hard hitting, fast paced king of thing that you would expect to be able to dance like a maniac to. But when a band gets on stage, anything can happen.
And man, something definitely happened when Neon Indian stepped onto the stage at Webster Hall on March 5th. Standing front row, and feeling the intense bass certainly helped, but this band shattered my expectation of what I was going to see. Frontman Alan Palomo sang with fervor and strength, guitarist Ronald (Ronnnnyy!!! As dubbed by the girls to our right) Gierhart played both in styles both spacey and grounded. The band came on at about 12:45 and played about forty minutes of psychedelic funk worthy of hipsters and ravers alike. The gem of the night was definitely “Deadbeat Summer” when Palomo ended up on his back writhing around while singing to the sky.
Throughout the show every member of the band thoroughly rocked out and looked incredibly enthused about the packed house at Webster Hall. Each song was jammed out with guitar solos and dance breaks; the concert was something to see. So grab so designer drugs, some ridiculous outfits and Go See This music.
I’ve been listening to this album for a little while now, and I’ve been having trouble trying to place who it sounds like. I did a quick Google search and found that it was produced by Grizzly Bear bassist Chris Taylor. Then it all fell into place. The Morning Bender’s sophomore album is a great synergy of Grizzly Bear’s twangy guitar, The Shins’ pop melodies and The Dodo’s steady beat.Add all that up and you have a certifiable indie record. However, to say that Big Echo doesn’t bring anything new to the mix would be wrong. The album gives you something new on every track and its eclectic sound does not fail to impress.
The first ten seconds of the album are so reminiscent of Grizzly Bear it’s uncanny. The dreamy guitar and flickering piano over a distant drum beat is a distinct characteristic of many a Grizzly Bear song. However, the impression doesn’t last long as the first track “Excuses” evolves into a coherent pop song complete with a string section and overlapping vocal tracks. Big Echo doesn’t take long to show off its flexibility, the album continues with the groovy “Promises” with bass and guitar riffs that will have you dancing. From there the album meanders through upbeat ditties like “Cold War (Nice Clean Fight” and “All Day Delight” and sullen depth tracks like “Pleasure Signs” and “Mason Jar.”
Vocalist Chris Chu ties the album together with background melodies over lyrics like “I put no one else above us … We'll still be best friends when all turns to dust.” These simple lyrics exemplify The Morning Benders who remain somewhat transparent despite a great deal of oddities and excellent production value. Big Echo is an album that, due to its varied nature, will grow on you with every listen. Songs like “Stitches” that might not have caught your attention on first listen will emerge as some of your favorites. The album is definitely influenced by the Grizzly Bear production as will be apparent almost immediately, but it transcends the boundaries of their chamber pop contemporaries by delving into a more accessible sound. Listen to this music.
You can stream the whole album from their website located here
