Far From Noise

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