Don't Forget To Dance

Francis & The Lights - LIME

Francis Farewell Starlite has been described as a “skinny white guy who dances like Michael Jackson and sounds like a mix between Phil Collins and Prince.” Yah, you heard me right. This particular single, LIME (Look Into My Eyes), is a mix of funk, pop, and a bit of 80’s-throwback meshed together to form a catchy ass tune.

“I Can Lift A Car” - Walk The Moon

The unapologetic, eternally summer infused, indie pop group, Walk the Moon, managed to make me think… I can lift car! Safe to say, I will be sending them my medical bills.

Remember…

Listen. Love it. Dance.

Black Lips - Family Tree

With the help of Amy Winehouse producer, Mark Ronson, the Black Lips have stumbled their way out of the garage and into the studio, creating their first outside produced album in over 10 years. Leaving behind the sounds of 13th Floor Elevators,Velvet Underground, and other psychedelic bands of the 60s, Black Lips have opted for a more straight-forward 60s rock feel. Channelling the Stones on “Dumpster Diving”, the Beach Boys (or should I say Ramones) on “Raw Meat”, and the  Kinks, Yardbirds, and Sonics on a slue of other songs, Arabia Mountain, is by far my favorite Black Lips’ album to date. I should also mention, they’ve successfully brought back the Rock Saxophone!

The Western States Motel - A Moment in the Sun

Some time ago, The Western States Motel popped up on some Pandora station I was listening to.  I noted their name on a post-it and took it home to remind me to download it later.  That didn’t happen until last Friday when Pandora again reminded me of who they were.

With Summer pretty much here, it only seems appropriate to play these guys on loop during my morning/evening commute. Slightly reminiscent of Grandaddy and early Beck, kinda makes you wanna lay on the grass and stare at the clouds.

Superchunk - “Digging for Something” (from Majesty Shredding)

Perhaps I’m just feeling nostalgic about 90’s indie rock after seeing Pavement last week, but I have found myself obsessed with the new Superchunk album, Majesty Shredding. Much has been written about their 9 year hiatus, a time during which several members were responsible for bringing us Arcade Fire, stellar albums from Spoon, etc., through their label Merge. Their absence did not leave them at all rusty, and in my opinion, this latest release is as good as their best previous work.

In a year in which so much music has been moody and gloomy (which obviously has its place), I find it terribly refreshing to turn on something upbeat and infectious. Perhaps if I listen to the album enough, I’ll recapture some of that optimism and good humor I seem to recall I had in the 90’s.

“Brand New Start” by Little Joy

Since we’re sort of on the subject of bands we’re just now finally getting around to, I thought this might be the time to throw some Little Joy your way.  Despite heaps of critical praise, I all but ignored release of their first, self-titled album last winter.  Perhaps it’s because it’s such a summery album that it didn’t really fit with my wintry frame of mind.  Perhaps it’s just because I was being lame.  Either way, it’s the perfect soundtrack for this, the last weekend of summer.   Enjoy with sunshine.

Smith Westerns - “Girl in Love”

Reason’s that have made me realize that I am a square:

1. My last three days were spent working from home due to office construction.  I now have a new, beautiful, and spacious cube. :)
2. I never listened the Smith Westerns album when it was released a year ago AND was only turned on to it while working from home while waiting for my new, beautiful, and spacious cube to be built. :)
3. When asked how I am doing, I generally reply “Pretty fair, for a square” followed by a :)

Kinda sounds like Cartman formed a kickass lo-fi high school garage band in Chicago. :)