Far From Noise

Comic borrowed from xkcd

 
Happy Singles Awareness Day or SAD. My friend Arlie just informed me of this rather appropriate name for the fake holiday made-up by greeting card companies. It seems like people celebrate it either on or one day near the 14th. Not all of the songs in this week’s mix fit the theme, but a few do. Hope you enjoy.

1. Don’t Do It by Salvador Santana
   From: Los Angeles, CA
   Album: Keyboard City (Dig) 
   Can you say “funky”? There’s also a dash of techno and the singing style is spoken word/rap. Salvador Santana is originally from San Francisco but started his band in the southern part of the state. I’m sure you can guess by his last name that he’s the son of Carlos Santana. This is his second LP and it dropped earlier this month.
   
   
2. I’m An Animal by Shark?
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: Noise Maker 
   This is the second EP from this up and coming band out of NY. I love the voice on the lead singer. To me it sounds like a raspy Jim Morrison. Noise Maker is an appropriate title for the sound of this garage (almost lo-fi) band. You can download the whole thing for free over here. So what’s stopping you?!?!
   
   
3. The Book of Love by The Magnetic Fields
   From: New York, NY
   Album: 69 Love Songs Vol. 1 (Vinyl Remaster) 
   I included The Magnetic Fields last week for their more recent release Realism but this is an older song. They are re-releasing their 1999 box-set on vinyl in April and this song seemed appropriate with the upcoming pink-heart day. Again, his voice and lyrics draw me in. Beyond that this song is rather naked with very little accompaniment. I can’t resist.
   
   
4. Drumming For Pistols by Puerto Muerto
   From: Chicago, IL
   Album: Drumming for Pistols 
   Puerto Muerto is a husband and wife duo that have been releasing LPs since 2001. One of their more interesting endeavors was a supplemental soundtrack to the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre which they then took on tour and had the movie showing while they played. Drumming for Pistols was released just a couple weeks ago and the title track gives you a pretty good taste of what to expect.
   
   
5. Beg You To Stay by Smile Smile
   From: Dallas, TX
   Album: Truth on Tape 
   Another duo, however this couple used to be an item and broke up after their debut CD. They decided to keep working together and made this latest LP all about breaking up. Reminds me of local Oakland band The Lovemakers. Even if it’s a depressing topic, you can guess that with a name like Smile Smile that it’s still going to have an upbeat sound. Folk-pop to be specific. Do you think they planned to release a CD about breaking up around Valentine’s Day? You can listen to the whole CD over here.
   
   
6. Gotta Have You by The Weepies
   From: Topanga, CA
   Album: Say I Am You 
   Nothing new about this song released in 2006, but I just stumbled across it and fell in love with it. It kinda goes with my semi-attempt at a theme. The Weepies are another married couple/singing duo and you’ve probably heard several of their songs on various TV shows.
   
   
7. Anna by Taken by Trees
   From: Stockholm, Sweden
   Album: East of Eden 
   A beautiful, dreamy song off of Taken by Trees second LP that came out last September. This is the solo project of Victoria Bergman, lead singer of The Concretes. You can stream the whole CD here. She recorded this in Pakistan and you can definitely hear the eastern influences.
   
   
8. Real Life (Memory Tapes Remix) by Tanlines
   From: Brooklyn, NY
   Album: Settings 
   Tanlines debut EP comes out in early March I prefer this remixed version of their first single but it’s not so over done that you can’t hear the original sound. It’s a sound I would call either tropical or beach-rock. And I don’t say that in a mean way.
   
   
9. Dear Boy by Bodies Of Water
   From: Highland Park, CA
   Album: RAM On L.A. 
   RAM On L.A. is a fascinating project that came out almost a year ago (yeah I’m behind the times, sorry). The idea was to exhibit some of the great L.A. talent and to make it a cohesive endeavor, they each did a song off of Paul McCartney’s 1971 solo album, RAM. And it was all in the name of charity. The music was given away free and people were asked to donate to the non-profit No More Landmines. You can read all about it, and download the entire CD, here. This song is my favorite from the compilation and Bodies of Water was a band I heard about two years ago but I wasn’t really into their music. It’s another damn married couple that forms the core of this group with other band members making different appearances.
   
   
10. North by North by Faded Paper Figures
    From: Los Angeles, CA/New Haven, CT
    Album: Dynamo 
    This song gives me flashbacks of The Postal Service. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I wish The Postal Service would release another CD so I’m glad to hear someone continuing the sound but adding to it as well. Their debut LP came out in late 2008 and some how I completely missed it.
    
    
11. Lying Around (Sharam Jey Remix) by Cassette Kids
    From: Sydney, Australia
    Album: Lying Around 
    Yeah I know this won’t be liked by everyone, but it’s not everyday that I find a house song that I really enjoy. I don’t really like the Cassette Kids. I find them to be a diluted, emo version of Blondie. But this remix kicks ass! Sharam Jey is from Germany and you can hear more of his remixes here.