Far From Noise

No real theme this week so I’ll just say, here is a mix from me to you. Hope you like it.
 

1. Dog Days Are Over by Florence And The Machine
   From: United Kingdom
   Album: Lungs 
   This record came out last year but I just now got around to listening to it. I posted her other single, “Kiss With A Fist”, over a year ago but didn’t know what else to expect from her. Her bluesy neo-soul sound is great without sounding too retro.
   
   
2. Crazy by The Pack A.D.
   From: Vancouver, Canada
   Album: We Kill Computers 
   Heavy White Stripes influences, this female duo knows how to mix blues and rock. This will be their 3rd studio release and it’s coming out at the end of April. Until then, bang your head to this track and watch for them touring some where near you.
   
   
3. Able To by Eternal Summers
   From: Roanoke, VA
   Album: Eternal Summers [EP] 
   Another duo, this time a co-ed version. This EP is coming out March 13th. This song simply has all the elements I love in music lately. Gritty guitars, pop sensibilities, and beautiful vocals.
   
   
4. Ain’t No Grave by Johnny Cash
   From: Badass, America
   Album: American VI: Ain’t No Grave 
   Do I really need to say anything about Johnny Cash? The man is an icon. I can tell you that he worked on several recordings with Rick Rubin during his last days. Rick Rubin has been putting the final touches on these songs and slowly releasing them as a series. This is the sixth and last one. This particular song sends a chill up my spine and I just can’t get enough of it. As soon as those chains kick in…oh man. Just really well done.
   
   
5. The Dark Lord (of love) by Patrick Bower & The World Without Magic
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: The Dark Lord (of love) EP 
   It’s pretty tough to follow Johnny but I think these guys do a good job of moving us slowly back into the pop world. The voice and lyrics evoke this rather somber image but the music and clapping hands will get you bopping in your seat. I’d love to see how this translates on stage and hopefully will get the opportunity when they tour the states later this year. This EP will be released at the end of the month.
   
   
6. Western hospitality by Club 8
   From: Sweden
   Album: The People’s Record 
   This seventh release from Club 8 is coming out in May and is a slight change from their previous slightly morose sound. “Western Hospitality” is a melting pot of different global sounds with a bossa nova beat and surf guitars and many other elements that I can’t even explain. Good stuff.
   
   
7. Fresh by Devo
   From: Akron, OH
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   You all know who Devo is! They haven’t release a studio album in 20 years and you can find this song on the as yet titled album coming out in May. “Fresh” gives me the impression that Devo has just picked up where it left off which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I look forward to hearing more.
   
   
8. Colors by April Smith and the Great Picture Show
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: Songs for a Sinking Ship 
   I feel bad putting this track and that Florence and the Machine one on the same mix since there are some serious similarities between these bands. But where Florence is dark and bluesy, April has a upbeat, bright, and bit more of a country or rock-a-billy sound. This also happens to be a success story for Kickstarter where people can ask for funds to do whatever project they want. April Smith was able to get $13,000 and as of last month, Songs for a Sink Ship is a reality.
   
   
9. My Baby Left Me by Rox
   From: South London, UK
   Album: Memoirs 
   Rox is short for Roxanne Tataei, a half Jamaican and half Iranian neo-soul and R&B singer from London. This is the debut single coming out March 15th which is off the debut album coming out later this Spring. Beautiful song and this girl is going to be big.
   
   
10. Sleepyhead (Starsmith Remix feat. Ellie Goulding) by Starsmith
    From: London, UK
    Album: Sleepyhead 
    So this should probably be called a cover instead of a remix since Starsmith is pretty much recreating all the music and Ellie Goulding is singing all the lyrics. Starsmith is a well known DJ and producer and Ellie Goulding is an up and coming pop singer. This indie song from Passion Pit has been turned into a disco, contemporary, pretty song but still has the original edge. I really like it.
    
    

And I have to bring attention to OK Go‘s latest video. It’s a GIANT Rube Goldberg machine and it truly is a work of art.

Top image borrowed from Whale and Bee

I felt my title was a bit boring so I’m trying to think of something else I should call my mixes. ‘MYSBLT mixes’ doesn’t quite roll of the tongue. I’m open to suggestions if you’re willing to share some ideas in the comments section.
This week has probably the most repeats for me since I started this. Three of the bands below I have had on previous mixes. If you didn’t like them the first time around, maybe you’ll hear something different this time. Enjoy.

1. The Big Guns Of Highsmith by Lightspeed Champion
   From: New York, NY
   Album: Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You 
   Devonté Hynes is Lightspeed Champion. He was born in Houston, TX, grew up in England, and now calls New York home. He has an experimental style comfortable with classical as well as electronic sounds. I know this song is a little repetitive but I just love the choir style chorus. Life Is Sweet! Nice To Meet You just came out this past January.
   
   
2. Swim Until You Can’t See Land by Frightened Rabbit
   From: Scotland
   Album: The Winter of Mixed Drinks 
   I love this band. There is something so endearing about the lead singer’s voice and Scottish bands just know how to rock. This would be Frightened Rabbit’s third studio release (coming out this month) and it definitely sounds like them. I know people like bands because they sound a certain way, but somehow I always want bands to be evolving. Don’t get me wrong, The Winter of Mixed Drinks is a good LP, but it sounds like a continuation of the last one.
   
   
3. Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons
   From: London, England
   Album: Sigh No More 
   I’m so bummed that I missed these guys coming through town. Another example of why I should have been listening to music last year. Mumford & Sons is just a GOOD folk rock band with beautiful harmonies, the right amount of banjo, and thought provoking lyrics. This song in particular speaks to me about way too many times in my life. Sigh No More came out last October but this band has been getting a lot of attention ever since early Summer of 2009. I highly recommend picking up this CD.
   
   
4. As Long As We’re Together by Andrew Morgan
   From: Lawrence, KS
   Album: Please Kid, Remember 
   I was really torn on this song because it does make me bop in my seat and Andrew Morgan’s voice is relatively unique…but there is also something cloying about it. And his voice kinda reminds me of John Mayer, which isn’t a good thing if you were wondering. After everything is said and done, it’s a pretty song and it does make me smile when I hear it. This LP was released early last year so you might have already heard it.
   
   
5. Up by Man/Miracle
   From: Oakland, CA
   Album: Shape of Things 
   Oakland love, baby!!! I feel like there aren’t that many bands out of the Bay Area that I ever get excited about, but these guys are changing that. This is their sophomore release and it just came out this February. This is another full LP that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Buy it now! You can catch them at SXSW and they’ll be on tour with Rogue Wave starting in April.
   
   
6. Jail La La by Dum Dum Girls
   From: Los Angeles, CA
   Album: I Will Be 
   Lo-fi, garage-rock, pop band. Nothing more, nothing less. Just good music. Signed by Sub Pop last year, you can get their debut LP on March 30th. The lead singer is Kristin Gundred (now using the stage name “Dee Dee”) from Grand Ole Party but this is definitely a divergent path for her.
   
   
7. Falling Asleep by FEATHERS
   From: San Francisco, CA / New Orleans, LA
   Album:  
   There is very little information about this “band?”. Big Stereo turned me on to them and their MySpace page says they are from San Francisco/New Orleans. I equate this song to a spacey, electronic, beach sound. I’m hoping we get to hear some more from this mystery group in the future.
   
   
8. Icarus by White Hinterland
   From: Portland, OR
   Album: Kairos 
   Ethereal and beautiful. I feel transported when I hear this song. Transported to some calm, gorgeous place. White Hinterland is 25 year old Casey Dienel who just recently moved from Massachusetts to Oregon and from what I understand, changed her sound along the way. Kairos will be out on March 9th.
   
   
9. Cold War by Janelle Monáe
   From: Atlanta, GA
   Album: The ArchAndroid 
   Janelle Monáe will be at Café du Nord on March 21st (and 22nd) and I’ll be there in the front row if possible. I’m not usually an R&B fan but her voice and those great beats just get me. Her previous release, Metropolis Suite I of IV: The Chase, got her a Grammy nomination and was a themed album about some futuristic city with androids. The ArchAndroid continues the story line and will be out May 18th. You can also hear another track featuring Big Boi from Outkast on her website.
   
   

Above drawing borrowed from Lacy Player Graphic Design