van she - here with you

'here with you' is an electro-psych-surf-shoegaze track from the aussie band van she named after, (surprise!), the lead singer matt van schie.

a dark bass riff ala 'lust for life' beat emerges and gives way to a sprinkling of light percussion, akin to wind dancing upon roofs of grass huts. the vocals on the verses, begin with a robert plant bouncing technique and play on the surf rock guitars bending with phasers. invoking imagery of a lazy rave on a beach in the middle of the night; the sole illumination of the moon, comprised of thousands of glow sticks burning out and in, piercing the darkness. the movement stopping for a brief break before returning, the bass slopping like waves on the shore in a futile effort to tear the sand away. is the tide only unmasking what lies beneath?

"running out naked in the truth of you, only know the seas through the seasons of change, it will never be this good with you, it will never be this good again"

thee more shallows - cloisterphobia

in one of those moods where i'm so overwhelmed things begin to slow down.
somehow 'cloisterphobia' by thee more shallows comes on and although it may not muster enough to soothe me, it calms me in the same vein as exhaling one of those long breaths to hear your ribcage pop.

'cloisterphobia' demonstrates thee more shallows ability to accent percussion in all of their instrumentation. all three of thee shallows are experienced drummers, by the way. from the interwoven softly plucked guitar, to the delicately whispered dialogue and the incessant tapping of a snare, everything is about timing. the swaying organic synth swoons over the already momentous moodiness, drafting this feeling that even though everything is put together so scrupulously, there is a clear undertone of laziness which encapsulates the whole thing. as songwriter dee kesler sings "to celebrate..." (bejeweled with sarcasm) the rhythm changes and a chorale with never ending vocal capacities strikes a hymnal tone until the choir faints and the song fades to fragmentation.

sardonic, in every sense of the word.

advance apologies about the video, it's probably a high school project.

phoenix - wolfgang amadeus phoenix

there has been a good deal of internet buzz about phoenix's new album wolfgang amadeus phoenix. the title of the album and track 'lisztomania' tongue in cheek throwbacks to classical composers. a stab at the pomp behind classical composers, or nod back towards classical compositions?

wolfgang amadeus phoenix doesn't blaze new territories with the french quartet's signature blend of funk/pop/alt vibes, but they do employ some deep resonating synths to channel a darker shadow on their playful image. despite the dark texture, thomas mars' vocals remain unsinkable with syncopation, youth and naivety.

while many tracks dangle usual phoenix pop hooks, jangly guitar rhythms and skipping bass lines akin to sounds of united, wolfgang amadeus phoenix finds the band more spatially aware. '1901' and 'lisztomania' will find you uncontrollably bobbing your head to tunes which could totally have been remixed off the band's first album with added guttural, buzzing synths. this new found sense of space will surely draw comparisons to another distant french cousin (air) with synthmospheric tracks like 'love like a sunset part 1' and the break near mid 'rome.' of course it goes without saying they will continue to be likened to the strokes, (although i hear more albert hammond jr).

wolfgang amadeus phoenix finds phoenix darker; but only for a moment like the short boy who walks into house of mirrors to make himself taller. phoenix's texture and imagination are what really adds to the depth.

menomena - my my

'my my' is late track on menomena's friend or foe, a mixed up, yet cohesive and collective album.

starting with a warbling organ, twisted together with plinky acoustic guitar and swooping bass, the quirky nature of the song battles between the constant pull of the organ and cut/paste punch-ins. this spawns the spontaneity of shifting guitar parts and other random instruments including glockenspiels, synths and wood blocks. the song really has two crescendos relying on hushed campfire vocals to construct the climax. as the song fades, toy pianos shimmer, as if to reassure you it's just a dream. my favorite part though, is the distorted guitar sample which continually tries, (unsuccessfully), to offset the elements of the song.

no album version on youtube so here's a live version followed by a last.fm link for the album version.

Here is the last.fm link

kid loco - tracy (remix)

it's the beginning of the week and i'm really sick. i could barely think yesterday and i was surprised i was able to complete basic functions at work. today i've been sweating it out at home.

'tracy' was written mogwai and this interpretation by kid loco has always held me hostage. not in the bank robbery way with the gun to the back of your head, but in an eerie, calming manner. beginning with tribal congas and spacy synth sounds, the steady bass lead emerges, embroidered with twinkling piano arpeggios and what could be a phased out guitar. everything dissolves into one big swirling sound as the main drums kick in, with occasional unearthly synthesized whale calls. it's easy to find comfort in this ocean of noise.

torche - healer

in honor of alex's show at the showbox at the market, i'm going to post something a little more heavy.

torche is out of florida and despite the associations usually indicative of a florida band, they are a bulldozer. add 1 droning sympathetic string squeal, a pumpkins-like rhythm guitar with aggressive drumming ala dave grohl bringing me back to nirvana's glory days. as guttural and raw as 'healer' comes across, it still manages to sheen with gunmetal finish; you know, like that guy's car in high school with the hand painted skull.

happy friday

the cinematics - keep forgetting

the cinematics are out of scotland. there are a number of reminders of their origin, whether it be a franz ferdinand-esque riff, bubbly bass or simple synths. 'keep forgetting' is off their arguably great lp a strange education, which blends spacey guitars ala u2, poppy vocals and mostly upbeat tracks.

if you want an idea of their sound, take a franz ferdinand verse guitar riff, add a chorus in the vein of dandy worhols and overlay vocals from kele from bloc party. the result isn't a sound you've never heard, but it's polished and constructed solidly. and i would be shocked if you don't have "there's something i keep forgetting..." stuck in your head.

rilo kiley - the good that won't come out

another wave of melancholy and i'm listening to rilo kiley.

a canned beat, with a dancy guitar lead open up 'the good that won't come out,' a testimonial to lost potential. being a child star, jenny lewis doesn't sing with empathy, (no one ever said stars were always happy). add a slide guitar and throw down a rambling rhythm section in the end; you've got a hard hitting, passionate and honest song.

muse - new born

muse is a band out of britain, who routinely sells out stadiums in other countries and has only recently blown up in the u s of a. 'knights of cydonia' crafted muse's sound as futuristic surf rock, while 'super massive black hole' found likeness in britney spears, but, come on, their sound is much more complex than either of those comparisons.

'new born' is off the origin of symmetry, muse's second album, which finds them pulling from a broader range of influences.

beginning melodically with chiming piano and bubbly bass; the song finally gives into it's more brutal dark side with a dirty guitar mirrored by the bass. the guitar flavourings ranging from hard rock riffage, to skanky chicken scratching, then to full blown open chords; this song blends all these stylings together flawlessly. matt bellamy's vocal range is incredible, bordering on the operatic level.

logh - yellow lights mean slow down, not speed up

logh is a band out of sweden. pretty much unheard of west of the atlantic. my friend jason, passed this track to me; i'm not quite sure how he found them.

'yellow lights mean slow down, not speed up' is off their album everytime a bell rings an angel gets his wings'. the track opens with a soft lullaby guitar lead while a saturated rhythm guitar sheds single strums. as the song picks up a slide guitar gently sweeps into the frame and it carries the thematic melody until the distorted outro. the vocals remain hushed mutterings about neon lights and what quite possibly could be the future. difficult to understand, but then again the whole concept is abstract.

air - universal traveler

this song, off air's talkie walkie, is a calmer display of the band's repertoire. their mix of techno and acoustic guitar sculpts a sound which soothes the soul similarly to a mother robot beeping a lullaby her human baby. the constant click of the wood blocks and thumping of obvious electronic percussion, make way for the occasional synth which glides effortlessly over the melody of the guitar. the vocals maintain a distance with robotic like jumping within keys, but breathe in androgynous tones.

sigur ros - untitled 3

yep, it's been a long month. yet short at the same time.
i'm feeling mixed up and listening to a sigur ros track, "untitled 3" off the album (); reminding me to slow down and take everything in. the simple and melodic piano draws deeper breaths, like a slow lapswimmer training to span the atlantic ocean. waves of ebow'ed strings and synths build slower than any squall imaginable. rather than throw the dedicated swimmer off, the swells build the speed and seem to even stretch time itself in the same sense as a flipbook effect triggers our persistence of vision.

slow, delicate and breathtaking.

say hi - one, two... one

say hi continues to amaze me with his relevance and sincerity; even through sarcasm. add these to his other claims to fame: he can write an albums worth of material about vampires; signature self deprecating humor and his blend of poppy, upbeat and goth-esque at the same time.

this is a track off his newest oohs and aahs entitled 'one, two... one'. it's bluesy rooted guitar hooks in front of the mashed keys and pep band drums, (which for the record are done with reason and still sound damn live). on the new album eric's vocals have this ghostly reverb presence which almost appears before he sings.

this should be his next single (hint, hint)

youtube won't embed, so check out the album version here

or below for a live performance

beck - lost cause

my favorite track off 2002's sea change, beck tosses aside his silly side to craft a seriously thematic, country-esque track. this testimonial references so many of those who have been in a failing relationship despite the best of their efforts. 'lost cause' is the wake of calm felt after the fighting; a deep understanding that further actions are useless and surprising enough, the collapse is much more alluring than imagined.

pieced together by clips of vocal snippets, the brilliance of simple plucked acoustic guitar strings and laid back vocals, 'lost cause' reiterates the fragility and beauty in relationships.

the national - brainy

it's friday and i feel upbeat, optimistic and a little silly. in that light i'm going to post about a song which shines in my current mood and sticks out in a dark and sarcastic album (i'm not putting the album down).

as many other bands i'm in love with, the national still practices the lost art of creating albums. yes, an album used to be a collection of songs which fit together in a holistic sense to craft a story, sentiment or just a theme. currently the music industry is shying away from albums since the popularity of singles has risen during the current digital age.

the national's boxer from two years ago was from start to finish a complete album. backed by a dark canvas, boxer has moments of seriousness, silliness, optimism, pessimism, honesty, sarcasm and overall drunkenness. the track i'm posting 'brainy' is possibly just an inner dialogue of a boyfriend trying to impress his lady with booksmarts. the persistent upbeat drum work is the spine of the main character, the churping guitar falling like streetlights onto him. horns envelop this picture, distinct but only from an arm's length.

happy friday

working for a nuclear free city - je suis le vent

working for a nuclear free city is a band that i randomly came upon while perusing a sonic boom records store. their texture, complexity and diversity within their music is astounding. businessmen and ghosts is an inexpensive and gigantic catalog of their style which blends most elements of modern alt rock with techno and even club music at times.

the song which translates to 'i am the wind' in french, immediately invokes aerial imagery of scattered city lights at night, sparkling and winking while cold wind holds the aircraft in place. the feeling of isolation starkly contrasted with an inner warmth and comforting nature.

enjoy

modeselektor - happy birthday

in recognition of my friend adam's birthday today, i'm putting up a song entitled 'happy birthday' off modeselektor's incredible album happy birthday. the song progresses from an airy lead which builds and builds until you are swept off your feet with a warbling synth. the commotion is finally brought back down to earth with kraftwerk-esque bleeps.

happy birthday, my figga

mother mother - hayloft

very excited about this band from vancouver b.c. they just released their second album in two years. this track comes off o my ♥, an eclectic, thoroughly layered and youthful record. the album, is fantastic from start to finish and their live show leaves nothing more to desire.

both o my ♥ and their previous touch up are amazing and can be replayed for hours, do yourself a favor and check them out.

shearwater - 'rooks'

so, i've had a new idea, which i'm going to post songs from bands i believe to be excellent discoveries and see what you think.

shearwater is a band from austin, texas which found two members from okkervil river collaborating. there recent album rook blended jonathan meiburg's knowledge of ornithology, haunting vocals and guitars and dulcimers.

i hope you like it

here is my favorite from rook entitled rooks

the national/menomena - moore theater 9-19-08

wow. if i keep going to only great shows, could it possibly make me more of a music snob?

first of all, i'm going to try to be brief with my criticism of the crowd. they are getting to be more and more obtrusive it seems as i get older, but that could be part of the process. to the woman exalting in orgasmic yesses during 'fake empire- no the drummer doesn't have to be cued and no it's probably not the greatest social tendency to scream "do that shit!" after every drum fill. i didn't know if she was drunk or just plain vanilla stupid, but she will go in the vaults under annoying.

menomena

after hearing my brother rant about this band various occassions, i finally got the opportunity to see why. their cd, i feel is a bit drier and calculating then their live show, (most good bands are), even though they are so technical and precise.

like most of my brother's favorite music their set started with some white noise as the drummer madly pantomimed his drumming. he looked delirious, as in a trance like state and then in a split second he began beating the holy hell out of his kit. it reminded me of a surgeon but one whose incisions are more akin to being stabbed by a deranged junky on the ave, albeit one who navigates around your liver with extreme accuracy, pulls it out and puts it on an alter as a sacrifice. the bearded bassist/guitarist/alto saxophonist is definitely one of the better bassists i've seen with seasoned moves on the fretboard. the keyboardist/ebowing guitarist/singer was amazing. mostly he danced lightly on the keyboard but he later brought out some huge sounds more a la concertos. he sung most of my favorite song, wet and rusting, which was amazing.

then came time to set up for the national. a lot of seats had been vacant, some were filled but a ton of people went to the front, which i've never seen, mind you i've only been on the lower floor for sigur ros in 2002. thank god the stage seating which still gave us perfect view despite "crazy dancer" next to me who continued to sway to and fro like a drunken bear. i just have a notion that the national brings out the drinker in us, and yes we must have sat next to more than a couple of fans full of liquid fuel for the national.

the band got on the stage after a brief video about co-ops which was awesome. i'm a big fan of local farms and fresh food. the national came onstage, matt was wearing dark rimmed glasses and seemed a less drunk than the last show, and they chose to open with 'start a war'. this time there was no violin added by padma newsome, but someone was in his place playing keys and working with a whole arsenal of pedals.

we were very excited to see the national was flanked this time by a bassoon, a trombone and a trumpet; excellent to have backing such a well rounded cd as boxer. they were really overpowering at first, but they adjusted the volume to a nice level later. the band had a really strong performance, playing all of boxer but my favorite ‘guestroom’ and ‘gospel’ and decided to throw in a couple of older songs which were a good surprise, including 'abel', 'secret meeting', and 'mr. november', which they are selling shirts with obama's mug on.

matt continues to go all out on stage, apparently he quit smoking recently and was complaining that his voice doesn't go as far as it used to since then. he jokingly asked for a cigarette and then said "no, that's bad". his voice was in dire straits near the end of the concert, bordering on the side of deep croaks, but he still puts 110% into the show and as his voice strains more, the songs seem to hit a more emotive vein. another funny berninger quip was him dedicating 'abel' to menomena and the croc who closed shortly after the show they played last there with menomena. matt was going on to talk about percentages of dedication and kept changing his mind. he paused and then quizzed "so is it clear? who this is dedicated to?"

they chose to end it on the song 'mr. november'. very fitting for the election:
"i won't fuck us over, i'm mr. november" - possibly echoing all our political fears

great show