I already broke the chain and missed a post yesterday. Doh! In an effort to make up, maybe I’ll post an extra one this weekend…or maybe I’ll change my plan and only post on weekdays so last weekend’s posts were extras. if you always move the bar, you are always right.
I first heard of The xx thanks to my usual source of new music over the past year. I didn’t really listen to them much until they started showing up on all of the “best of” lists this past month. Like any interesting artist, they spark debate amongst listeners. Some people think they are too sparse while others think they are just perfect. I happen to agree with the later. The sound is sparse and you might feel at first like it’s missing something, but as you listen you realize that every note is just right. Their debut album xx is a very strong first release.
This London based band is currently on tour with Hot Chip and will also be performing at the Fox in April. This particular song has been on repeat in my headphones for a few weeks now and something about the simplicity of it means that I never get tired of it. I think the open space just makes it feel relaxing and beautiful.
I don’t really have a lot to say about this particular song or band. I’ve liked Spoon for awhile now and think they just release really good music. I know there are debates going on about their last few albums and if the band has changed. Ultimately, I think Spoon does a great job of exploring their own distinctive sound and sometimes it is more accessible, sometimes more pop-like, and sometimes more experimental. But no matter what, they are producing good music. On top of that, Britt Daniel’s vocals are distinctive and even I have to say, damn sexy. There is just something “rock n’ roll” about his voice.
Their 7th LP, Transference, will come out next week and from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t disappoint.
They will be at the Fox Theater here in Oakland on April 13th with Deerhunter and Micachu & the Shapes (who I posted about last week). Tickets go on sale to the public this Sunday but you can get in on the presale here or here. Maybe I’ll see you at the show. :)
I saw this movie with my dear friend, Lani when it was playing in the theaters and really enjoyed it. There were mixed reviews floating around and even I was skeptical that a children’s picture-book with less than 50 pages could be made into a feature-length film. However, I have enjoyed Spike Jonze’s workonmany, manyoccasions and was impressed from what I saw in the trailers as far as costumes and design. Then I saw an interview where Jonze claimed that he tapped into his own childhood and how he felt when he was 9 years old and I was sold.
It took me awhile to get that all the monsters represented the different emotions that Max was feeling but once it finally hit me, it all made sense. I guess I never really understood the book. The moment KW delivered the line “Please don’t go, we’ll eat you up, we love you so.” it just all sank in. All those crazy emotions we feel about our parents. The people that are supposed to protect us, nourish us, and make the world feel like everything is going to be okay. But when we feel like they aren’t doing what we need…well let’s just say there can be a lot of anger and fear. At the same time I can see how the parent would feel. Almost as if they are required to give entirely of themselves no matter the cost. Children or so selfish (I mean that in jest) …. but what choice do they have?
It wasn’t until the ending credits that I finally heard Karen O’s voice and I thought…did the Yeah Yeah Yeahs do the soundtrack? It doesn’t quite sound like them but her voice is so distinctive.
Of course I looked it up as soon as I got home and apparently I was light-years behind everyone that already knew the soundtrack was awesome. Karen O And The Kids was the name of the group that Karen O put together in order to make the soundtrack. I’m sure you can hear the kids in that track and understand where the name came from. I also feel this song captures the same sentiment because it is all based in love. It may take different forms and fear and anger might cloud things once in awhile…but it’s all just love. Feeling it, wanting it, missing it.
I don’t know if July Flames even come from Georgia but for some reason Colbert was the first person I thought of when I heard that Laura Veirs‘ new album is named after a peach.
I discovered this new release thanks to the NPR: Music Podcast. I’m a sucker for female singer/songwriters with melodic voices, so I really didn’t stand a chance. You won’t be disappointed if you give the whole LP a listen. Simply put, it’s beautiful, but Laura doesn’t rest on just her voice and lyrics. There are enough added elements to keep you interested and wanting more and most songs have a rich, full sound to them even though this is clearly a folk recording.
What I gleaned from the interview, Laura Veirs has made a name for herself across the pond but this CD is her big push to enter the US market. I also might just not have been listening very closely so feel free to correct me…but if it is true, c’mon America. It’s time we got on board.
I first discovered Metric on a Jet Blue flight to Boston. Some channel I stumbled across had a live performance of theirs on and I recall seeing this hot chick wailing away on a keyboard. It’s probably the closest I’ve ever been to love-at-first-sight.
Metric released Fantasies back in April last year to mostly good reviews. I haven’t been following the band for a long time but I get the impression that this latest LP is a shift from previous efforts. A bit more introspective and not quite as upbeat.
The track I posted above is not actually about zombies but I figured if I opened with what I really think, it would appear that all I write about is struggling with life. There are definitely times when that voice in my head says, “Help, I’m alive.” I sent an email out to some close friends and family 4 months ago that said pretty much just that. The second after I hit “Send” I was scared shitless that I just did the worst possible thing EVER. People find it hard to talk about suicide and the feelings associated with it. They think it’s best to just not think about those things and put on a smile and keep going through life.
Within 24 hours the responses I got back were completely beyond what I could have hoped for. The compassion and understanding was really amazing. All my friends wanted to be there for me and most of them shared some experience they had with depression. Sometimes it was a family member or friend…sometimes it was something they dealt with in their past…and sometimes it was something they were struggling with right now. I was completely taken by surprise with the number of people that are/were affected by depression in some way. The support structure this has created for me has been invaluable and I can’t emphasize enough how important that one email has been in my life. So if there is anyone else out there reading this that might be struggling too…I know it isn’t easy, but have faith in your friends and family. Reach out and they will most likely surprise you.
I’ll just apologize ahead of time for the snobbishness of what I’m about to type…
About two blocks from where I work is an old Sears building. It’s a giant, blocky building with a sign that lights up at night beckoning the non-existent late night shoppers in downtown Oakland. Upon entering this monstrous two story structure a wave of sadness washes over you due to the yellow fluorescent lighting and the sound of the employee’s dreams being crushed. I have no clue how it stays in business.
I needed to stop inside this dreary place to pick up some ramekins for a dessert I was making for Thanksgiving. Yes, I’m a guy and I own ramekins, eight of them, you want to make something of it? Anyways, one of the 6 people in this entire store happens to beat me to the cashier and since they so rarely have to actually sell anything, the process took a bit of time. I think she had to dust off the cash register and review the manual on how to remove those damn security tags attached to the clothing. So there I am standing in my one person line and you wouldn’t believe what I hear being piped through the store sound system:
I was shocked but I eventually figured out that somehow Grizzly Bear had entered the mainstream conscious because I started hearing it at several random stores. I think the last one was Target.
Grizzly Bear is a quartet from Brooklyn, NY. Their latest release Veckatimest is a beautiful album all the way through. I’m not sure how to describe the sound because I would definitely say that it is mellow but there is this fullness and complexity lurking under the surface. Almost as if each song is being just slightly constrained and leaves you wanting more…in a good way.
I can’t talk about this song without mentioning Gabe Askew who made this truly amazing fan video for “Two Weeks”. It kicks the original video’s ass! Completely done within a computer but it looks like stop motion. I’ve watched it several times and I never get bored of it.
And finally, to just leave Sears in downtown Oakland on a good note, apparently someone/something is still watching over it and trying to make it beautiful.
Last July I finally made it over to Yosemite in order to hike to the top of Half Dome. Liz let me borrow her car so I could make the three hour drive with Jim. For some odd reason, Jim didn’t want to ride as a passenger on the back of my motorcycle. It just so happened that Liz left Phoenix’s latest LP, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, in her CD player.
Jim and I left it on repeat in the background over the entire drive up and it wasn’t until the drive back that we started paying attention to it. We both agreed that it was really good and left it on repeat for another three listens. I recalled hearing “1901″ on Letterman a bit earlier in the year and thinking “Why the hell haven’t I heard of this band, they’re really good.”
I LOVE how the lead vocals blend in with the keyboards during “Fold it, fold it, fold it.” (Yeah, I thought he was saying “Fallen, fallen, fallen” too) I’m sure they’re doing some sort of effects on his voice, but the harmony it creates is beautiful.
This song, and many other Phoenix songs, have made it into commercials, TV shows, and movies. I’m always torn about commercialism, but if it gets the name out there and lets them keep making music, I’ll accept the evils associated with it.
Music files, artwork and photographs displayed on this site are the property of the artists who created them. Mp3 files are made available for exposure purposes. All material is offered for a limited time, but works can be removed sooner by Artist request.
