I am Obsessed With… Grizzly Bear
October 9, 2009
It says it all. I recently got to see them live in Ann Arbor a few weeks ago and it has become my favorite concert that I have been to, ever. They use reverb like it’s going out of fashion and more people sing in the band than CSNY, well they’re tied. Anyway they have a very unique sound and I am very excited to see where they will be going in the future.
I highly recommend them, and I would start with songs like “Two Weeks” and “Knife.” If you like, then try some deeper cuts like “Little Brother” (Yellow House or Friend EP are both wonderful) and “Colorado.” I don’t care how you listen to them, just do it!
For all you Twilight fans, they will be appearing on the New Moon soundtrack with a new song “Slow Life” with a guest appearance by Beach House singer Victoria Legrand (Who also appeared on “Two Weeks”). I have heard a little sampling from the Amazon.com page and I already lie a lot
Pitchfork.com had them play two songs from their most recent effort: Vectatimest. Both of the songs are quite beautiful, Now Listen! http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/episode/2043-grizzly-bear/1
Song of the Week: “Lights Out” by Santigold
September 21, 2009
Artist: Santigold
Album: Santogold
Released: April 2008
Label: Downtown Records
I think I have found my weakness as of late. Pop music. Granted the “pop” music is not as popular as Billboard top 100 but I do feel that much of it is based on those lyrics and hooks that pop music was born with. Anyway the song that I has been stuck in my head is no exception. Santigold’s Lights Out is catchy and I dare you to listen to it just once.
I’ll be honest, I am not the biggest fan of Santigold, I dismissed her as a record label’s attempt to jump on the M.I.A. bandwagon of woman singers who dress crazy. A few of her other songs I just can’t get into. However this song is very good.
Anyway check out the song, its crazy good, almost as crazy as the video.
Song of the Week: “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” by Electronic Light Orchestra
September 14, 2009
Artist: Electric Light Orchestra
Album: Out of the Blue
Released: November 1977
Label: Columbia
So my lack of dedication to this blog has been quite substantial however I would like to make up for it by returning with some new songs and albums to show off. I’ll be taking the plunge with a song that I have been enamored with for the past few days. ELO’s (Electronic Light Orchestra) Sweet Talkin’ Woman is one of my favorite more poppy songs by the Group. If you have never heard of Jeff Lynne (singer, guitarist and chief song writer) now is your chance. All of your favorite ELO tunes, you have them even if you don’t know you do, were written by Lynne. Tangent: Lynne was also in an 80’s supergroup called The Traveling Wilburys which included some good company being that Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison and Roy Orbison were all making sweet music babies together but I digress.
Sweet Talkin’ Woman came on to my FM the other day and it inspired me to buy ELO’s Greatest Hits; I know a greatest hits, how daring. But nevertheless after one listen I needed that song at my fingertips. Coming off of the 1977 Out of the Blue among many other singles off of the album. The song itself uses effects on vocals better than Cher or Kanye ever did and like all ELO songs the string section adds so much. But what really gets me each time I listen to the song is the chord progression. Well, don’t take my word for it here is a live version with all of ELO’s hair glory.
Song of the Week: “Walking on a Dream” by Empire of the Sun
April 28, 2009
Artist: Empire of the Sun
Album: Walking on a Dream
Released: October 4, 2008
Label: EMI
I have listened to this song so many times it became funny again after it wasn’t even funny. Empire of the Sun is a collaboration between two guys I have never heard of (Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore) from a country I have never heard of (Australia). Their album “Walking on a Dream” captured my attention due to the album cover’s awesomeness, horribleness, what have you, either way the cover got my attention. On many occasions the cover means nothing to me; many album covers are covers that only mothers could love, this one comes to mind. But that doesn’t mean the music is horrible.
To make a long story shorter, I looked up Empire of the Sun and liked what I heard. There are some great tracks on the album; most notable being “We Are the People” and “Half Mast” but the song that got my booty shakin’ and quakin’ was the title track, “Walking on a Dream.” It is catchier than an addicting substance sipped through a crazy straw.
I don’t want to compare the duo to MGMT but it is easy to do so even if their music is not necessarily that similar. Empire of the Sun’s songs are electronic but have too much guitar to be electronic, you know what I mean? You don’t? Well than just listen to the song.
Actor Review
April 21, 2009
Artist: St. Vincent
Album: Actor
Released: May 5, 2009
Label: 4AD
First of all, I would just like to ask: why hadn’t I heard of this woman until now?!
Apparently her 2007 debut “Marry Me” generated a lot of hype; however, clearly not enough. I obtained that album in order to hear it in its entirety before listening through her impending release: “Actor.” The most arresting thing throughout the album by far is Annie Clark’s voice. I have a feeling she could sing “Over the Rainbow” and put Judy Garland to shame. At times I began thinking I was listening to one of the incredible singers of the 50s like Ella Fitzgerald, but before I could slip completely into that notion I’d be bowled over by a discordant guitar and/or a sporadic drum break.
Annie Clark’s arrangements are hard to describe mostly because of their strangeness. The oddity of her writing is somewhat inherent, as she combines guitar, strings, various percussion, brass, piano, and the list goes on. Upon investigation, I found that Clark was a guitarist for Polyphonic Spree, and then in Sufjan Stevens’ touring band. This is some serious indie cred, but then she played drums, bass, and guitar on “Marry Me,” proving she is a skilled multi-instrumentalist to boot.
Her upcoming record “Actor” has been posted on NPR Music as separate tracks, and all of them are there and free to listeners. Most of the instruments heard on “Actor” are still played by Clark, but her collaborators include musicians who have played for Sufjan Stevens, Bjork, and Phillip Glass, while her producer has done work for Modest Mouse and Polyphonic Spree.
“Actor” is less dreamy than her debut, although it does contain that wonderful essence on songs like “The Party” and “Just the Same but Brand New.” “Marrow” is exemplary of the raucous irregular bursts that are especially powerful on “Actor.” I can imagine that track becoming one of her supreme live songs. The songs are even more complex and still feature a wealth of different instruments, but are arranged into increasingly byzantine layers. Her guitar seems to have gained quite the attitude since 2007, so the quieter melodic portions tend to be dominated by piano instead. All in all, there is just a lot more going on in “Actor.” The sounds range from raging guitar and walls of noise, to pure heavenly vocals, which are often both present in a single song, as heard in “The Strangers.”
The only real drawback I see for listeners of “Actor” is that it may be too much for some people to take in at first. If you have that feeling, then I urge you to listen through the whole album before you make any final judgments. Any suspended criticism will pay off, and you’ll realize what a gem it is.
Song of the Week: “1901” by Phoenix
April 21, 2009
Artist: Phoenix
Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Released: May 25, 2009
Label: Glassnote
I, like many viewers watching Saturday Night Live on April 4th, was unaware of a French rock group by the name of Phoenix. Apparently these dudes have been playing music for over a decade and most of it is very listenable, much of it being categorized as alternative, electronic and dance. Anyway, that fateful Saturday night has now given me a song that has been stuck in my head for a few days now. “1901″ is the hit single off Phoenix’s latest effort, “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” which will be hitting stores in the colonies May 26. The song is upbeat, toe-tappin’ and overall very lighthearted, which is a mood that I am always on the hunt to find new songs to satisfy. If you are in an economically stimulating mind frame, then head on over iTunes where there is a four song EP for sale which also includes “Lisztomania,” the second song Phoenix played on Saturday Night Live, which is also very good. If not, here is the video of the performance, or the album version.