Don't Forget To Dance

M. Ward is kinda hit or miss for me. Covers of classic songs...

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:31:00 -0400

M. Ward is kinda hit or miss for me. Covers of classic songs usually end up pissing me off. M. Ward covers this classic song and gets a hit. I should also point out that I’m anything but pissed off.

Francis & The Lights - LIME Francis Farewell Starlite has...

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:13:00 -0400

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.

All Hail Sufjan

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:27:00 -0400

Last Tuesday, Augustus ii MMXI, Saint Sufjan descended upon Brooklyn delivering a fluorescent sermon of salvation. His sermon said to ROCK and we did. Have a look.

photos courtesy of Joe Fro

“I Can Lift A Car” - Walk The Moon The...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:35:00 -0400

“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...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:42:00 -0400

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,...

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:11:31 -0400

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.

FULL ALBUM: Danger Mouse & Danielle Lupi. Rome I heard this...

Wed, 18 May 2011 15:47:00 -0400

FULL ALBUM: Danger Mouse & Danielle Lupi. Rome

I heard this album for the first time yesterday and I think 6 times since. If you like spaghetti western/Morricone music, you might love this. I know I do.

Wikipedia:

Since 2005, Danger Mouse has been composing a spaghetti western album with composer Daniele Luppi. Jack White and Norah Jones do the main vocals on the album. Instrumentation was done mainly by musicians who played on the original Ennio Morricone scores. Danger Mouse does not play any instruments on the album. The style of the album reflects much of Danger Mouse’s work since 2005, such as segments of Beck’s “Modern Guilt”, aspects of “Dark Night of the Soul”, and songs like “Mongrel Heart” off of the self-titled Broken Bellsalbum. The album is titled Rome and will be released on May 16, 2011.

Superchunk - “Digging for Something” (from Majesty...

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:35:13 -0400

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.

Cee-Lo - “F**k You” (From the forthcoming The...

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:55:25 -0400

Cee-Lo - “F**k You” (From the forthcoming The Ladykiller LP)

If you haven’t heard Cee-Lo’s new song yet, then you should listen immediately, because it’s the most infectious, poppy, happy, kiss-off song I’ve heard. Although, it’s been pretty ubiquitous lately, so you’ve probably heard it. But I can’t get enough of it, so I’m posting it here. And yes, since I still feel like a 12 year-old sometimes, I giggle at the way he merrily sings that four letter word.

“Brand New Start” by Little Joy Since we’re...

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:01:00 -0400

“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...

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:48:00 -0400

Smith Westerns - “Girl in Love”

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

My last three days were spent working from home due to office construction. I now have a new, beautiful, and spacious cube. :)
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. :)
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. :)

“You And I Know ” - Ra Ra Riot (from The...

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:35:00 -0400

“You And I Know ” - Ra Ra Riot (from The Orchard)

Although my initial impressions of Ra Ra Riot’s sophomore album The Orchard (due for release on August 24th) are fairly mixed, there are few stand out tracks that I do like quite a bit. ”Boy”, the first single, is not only the strongest track, but also the one that lovers of the band’s core chamber pop sound will probably find very familiar and pleasing. The band has made “Boy” available for free over at their website, so go on and take advantage of that if you don’t have it yet.

The problem with the first single, however, is that is isn’t really indicative of the rest of the album, which is slower, more introspective, and a bit darker than their debut, The Rhumb Line. But even if everything doesn’t always work for me I appreciate that the band is trying some new things, and giving their cellist the mic on “You and I Know” is one of the changes that works. It’s a grower - very pretty, a little sad, and builds to a satisfying, lovely end.

Best Coast - “When I’m With You” (from Crazy...

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:31:00 -0400

Best Coast - “When I’m With You” (from Crazy For You)

Best Coast is an LA-based duo that just released their 1st full-length ablum, Crazy For You. Which I just happen to be currently obsessed with. It’s the perfect album for summer- poppy, lo-fi surf-rock. I definitely think this will end up in my top albums of 2010, so you should go get it if you haven’t, ya fool.

(It’s a good companion to the previously posted Tennis. We definitely seem to have a vibe going here this summer.)

“Marathon” by Tennis Gee, it’s been awhile....

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 10:08:31 -0400

“Marathon” by Tennis

Gee, it’s been awhile. What is it about the summer and unlimited free time that makes me forget to sit around and waste some time? But speaking of summer, Tennis (a band that’s mad buzzin’ right now on the biggest time waster of all - the Internet) is a great band for the current season. Tennis is a married couple who bought a sailboat and spent eight months sailing around the East Coast. They wrote some songs about their experience, and the result is some terrifically catchy, instantly endearing, 1950s/60s era surf pop.

Unfortunately, they only printed 300 copies of their first 7” and it’s already sold out, but with all the buzz I’m sure they’ll print more. In the meantime, enjoy “Marathon”, which would make a great addition to any summer playlist.

Band of Horses - “Blue Beard” (from Infinite...

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:55:28 -0400

Band of Horses - “Blue Beard” (from Infinite Arms)

I’ve been meaning to post about the latest Band of Horses album since it was released. It’s gotten mixed, or good-but-not-glowing reviews, yet I am pretty enthusiastic about it. I suppose it’s not blazing any new trails in music, I just think it sounds nice. Especially the track “Blue Beard”. It sounds like a song to enjoy while watching the fireflies in your backyard at night.

Gauntlet Hair - I Was Thinking GAUNTLET HAIR IS: ANDY R. AND...

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:00:00 -0400

Gauntlet Hair - I Was Thinking

GAUNTLET HAIR IS: ANDY R. AND CRAIG NICE. WE HAVE BEEN MAKING MUSIC TOGETHER SINCE WE WERE FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. WE ARE IN LOVE…IN A PLATONIC BFF SORT OF MANNER. THE WRITING OF OUR FULL ALBUM IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. WE WILL HAVE IT FOR YOU SHORTLY. -HAIR HTTP://FORESTFAMILYRECS.COM/

Toro y Moi - You Hid (Studio Session) 1 guy. 3 hours. All...

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:45:00 -0400

Toro y Moi - You Hid (Studio Session)

1 guy. 3 hours. All instruments.

Off the Causers Of This album, Toro y Moi brings out the chillwave and lets you know it’s ok to disconnect and lay out on your lawn for hours on end. doing. absolutely. nothing.

Here’s the album version for the full synth effects:

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round Off the...

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:29:00 -0400

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round

Off the Before Today album which was released on June 8th.

Touring now. http://www.arielpink.com

“TAOS” by Menomena (from Mines) Menomena’s...

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:31:00 -0400

“TAOS” by Menomena (from Mines)

Menomena’s third album, titled Mines, is due for release on July 27th. This should excite you for the following reasons:

Experimental (and yet accessible) indie rock is so hot right now.
The guys from Menomena are pretty hot, too.
Menomena consistently make fantastic music.
From what I heard of it, Mines sounds consistently fantastic.
Menomena is just plain fun to say. (Or, if you’re feeling like a Muppet, to sing.)

So get excited already.

Wolf Parade’s “Pobody’s Nerfect” (from...

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:10:00 -0400

Wolf Parade’s “Pobody’s Nerfect” (from Expo 86)

I am completely enamored with Wolf Parade’s third album, Expo 86 (set for release on June 29). Their sophomore effort, At Mount Zoomer, felt so disjointed and rambling that it left me (and most critics) a bit cold, but the band with more side projects than should be possible seems to have found a way to come together and produce another focused, solidly great rock album that’s almost as good as their debut, Apologies to the Queen Mary.

I read somewhere that Spencer Krug’s main concern with writing and choosing songs for Expo 86 was whether or not he could dance to them, and it’s a benchmark that served them well. For the most part, the songs on Expo 86 are up-tempo toe tappers, and surprisingly sunny for a band that tends to skew dark. (And that album cover? Awesome.)

This one’s a keeper, kids. Get excited for it.