Considering the album is set to release in a couple days, I suppose I’m a little late sharing this, but Dr. Dog’s got a new album and it can be listened to in its entirety here. Enjoy.
Ah Holly Fam’ly - Loneliest City
Folk music from some Oregon folks for my folks.
“what’s the loneliest city?
spin a globe around
put your finger down
and it’s there.”
The blogosphere is in a tizzy! There is virtually not one music blog that does not feature a post about Dan Black. DFTD will be no different. Dan’s growing internet real estate, is partially due to the US release of his single and video for “Symphonies” featuring Kid Cudi. It’s also probably getting some residual interest from the popularity of Passion Pit, with the Passion Pit remix of the same song.
“Symphonies” is a great song on its own. It uses the backing beat from Rihanna’s hit song “Umbrella”, but creates a moody feel that’s all it’s own. However, Dan Black has made it even better. DFTDers, I present to you “Hypntz”. Not sure exactly, which song came first, but it’s clear which one is the best.
It takes a genius and a mad man to attempt to remake an iconic rap song such as, “Hypnotize”, by the late great, The Notorious B.I.G. The magic behind Hypntz, is that Dan takes a song that samples two songs (Hypnotize uses the instrumental “Rise” by Herb Alpert for its backing track and lyrics from “La Di Da Di” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick for the chorus), and creates a masterpiece that samples two songs (Backing beat is from Rihanna’s, “Umbrella and the lyrics are from “Hypnotize”). GENIUS!!!
I’m pretty impressed. You will be too. Check out Dan Black’s album, UN. I’ve read that his live show is spectacular also.
Listen. Love it. Dance.
Chasingpaper summed up Harlem pretty well in her post almost a year ago today. And despite the fact that they list their influences as “the only band we like is nirvana. the only album we like is nevermind. the only song we like is smells like teen spirit” they still manage to pull together some catchy jams. Not sure what “Gay Human Bones” is about but I know I like it… in a purely hetero way that is.
1,2,3 - Confetti
These two guys from Pittsburgh released their “Confetti” single last month on iTunes. Not too much info on them to be found as they’ve apparently only been around a few months. Some influences:
“Beatles, Motown, Marvin Gaye, Roy Orbison, reggae, 70’s punk (Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Clash), Delta Blues… its all in there, and the more people hear our songs, the more they will see that.”
Dr. Dog’ish a bit? Check out 2 other tracks over on their myspace music page: http://www.myspace.com/1comma2comma3
Yes, DFTDers!! I am back! I know … It’s been a long time. My quest for new music has given me a few gems to share with you all. So here it is…
My first post for 2010 comes from Swedish band, Miike Snow. Unlike the group name suggests, the group is formed of three members. The band released their self-titled debut album “Miike Snow” early last year, but as usual, I’m a bit late.
The featured single, “Animal”, is a great example of their organic approach to electro-pop, which has many comparing them to Passion Pit and Animal Collective. Not cheesy, but instant feel good songs. Check out their other tracks, “Silvia” and “Cult Logic”. I’m also kind of digging the smoother Mark Ronson remix of Animal.
So there it is.
Listen. Love it. Dance.
P.S: Two of the band members are responsible for Britney Spear’s “Toxic”. um… Can we say “KICK ASS!”?
“‘81” - Joanna Newsom (from Have One On Me)
I liken Joanna Newsom to anchovies: for some people they are the best part of the Caesar salad, but for other people they render the entire thing inedible. I like anchovies. I also really, really like Joanna Newsom.
I guess it’s not really surprising that Newsom’s back catalog has left listeners pretty firmly divided. Y’s in particular had plenty of moments for haters to roll their eyes over, what with the harp, her penchant for arcane language, and Newsom’s often screechy and squeaky voice carrying listeners through epic, 17+ minute long songs. But I loved Ys, unabashedly and unapologetically, so I suppose it’s not much of surprise that I also love Newsom’s newest release - the massive, sometimes unwieldy triple album, Have One On Me. However, Newsom’s newest release is enough of a departure from her previous work that I bet she can win over some folks who had previously considered her annoying and ridiculous.
On Have One On Me Newsom’s voice is more controlled, her songs are more streamlined, her harp is more of an accessory than a musical focus, and the result is an album that will please traditional Newsom fans while making her more palatable for a wider audience. The musical likeness that keeps popping up in reviews is Joni Mitchell, so if you’re looking for a point of comparison then that’s a pretty apt one.
Have One On Me has been met with fairly unanimous critical acclaim, and I believe all the praise is absolutely deserved. The album is massive, a bit all over the place, and fairly pretentious, but it’s also brave, lavish, and uniquely beautiful. I had a hard time picking a song for this post - “Soft as Chalk”, “Good Intentions Paving Company”, “Esme” and “On a Good Day” are also personal favorites, but I settled on “‘81” because the audio file was too large for all those other songs and Tumblr wouldn’t let me post any of them. (Ain’t technology grand?)
But as a bonus, I’m also posting Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold covering “On a Good Day” because it’s absurdly lovely. A duet please?
Arranged Marriage Dearly Beloved
When Joe suggested we share some of our favorite hometown bands, my mind immediately went to several Detroit bands that I love and who definitely deserve wider publicity and appeal; however, when I caught wind of the upcoming release of Dearly Beloved, an album from father-son duo Brad and Scott Allen (of Thunderbirds Are Now!), I knew that was the one I was going to go with. See, while there are many great “Detroit” bands, these guys hail from the very ‘burb I call home: Livonia, Michigan. And since precious little cool comes from Livonia (myself excepted, of course), I figured coolness must be highlighted and celebrated when it is discovered.
So, yes - Arranged Marriage is new, and from what I’ve heard I like them quite a bit. They draw very heavy inspiration from Elliott Smith, recorded their album in their home in “The L”, and their album will be available for purchase on April 20th in both digital and vinyl forms. A few lovely samples below (via Motor City Rocks).
Mp3: “All Is Mine”
Mp3: “Sit Alone”
The Recital - “The Head Rhythm”
Ok, so it’s been awhile. Also, I seemed to have neglected to participate Joe’s theme week suggestion. Well I’m back and just in time to close out the most unproductive and pathetic theme week we’ve done so far! And since I’m the only other person to participate, I guess nobody will judge me if I cheat a little and do a band from where I grew up instead.
The Recital was a local Detroit band which I’ve had the pleasure of seeing once or twice. It recently came to my attention via the bassist’s website, however, that after 10 years of being together, they are now defunct. Tears of sadness ensued but were soon dispelled by tears of joy when I saw they were giving their final EP away for free.
Chicha Libre - Indian Summer
I recently suggested to the boss that we should have a theme week again. This time, local (wherever you may reside) unknown bands. In this case, I’ve chosen a brooklyn band that plays every Monday night at Barbes in park slope. As one youtube critic put it, “This music is like being on a canoe staring at the sunset through the forest in the Peruvian Amazon river”.
“CHICHA is the name of a corn-based liquor favored by the Incas in pre-colombian days. Chicha is also the name of a South American music craze which started out in the late 70’s in the Peruvian Amazon. Cumbias amazonicas, as they were first called, were loosely inspired by Colombian accordion-driven cumbias but soon incorporated the distinctive sounds of Andean melodies, some Cuban son, and the psychedelic sounds of surf guitars, farfisa organs and moog synthesizers.” - CantolaoTV
