Here We Go Magic - Self-Titled

Here We Go Magic remind me of Fleet Foxes. But that doesn't mean they're bad. I personally don't care for Fleet Foxes. To me they are indulging in a tired genre that never really took off since the late 60s. Sure it's nice and pretty, but there's more to music than carefully constructed harmonies.

Here We Go Magic have the harmonies (sometimes). And they have the cool electronics and synth-flutters that sound like alien technology. They have the songwriting too. The lead singer, whose name escapes me at the moment was a folk/singer/songwriter type guy for awhile before starting this new project. This record is short, but sweet. The first song kicks it off very nicely with electronics intricately weaving in and out of innocently plucked acoustic guitars and quiet drums. The vocals are lush but also very noisy and lo-fi. Don't get too worried, they're perfect audible. The song quickly gets louder and as layers are subtley added on; the song becomes a very entrancing movement.

This album seems simple upon first listen. But after repeated listens, I have become enthralled in the deep textures and soundscapes that the band creates behind the seemingly ordinary folk structure.

Download this album if you're looking for something out of the ordinary.

Download Here We Go Magic
Stream Here We Go Magic
Buy it

Deerhunter - Microcastle

Sorry for the lack of posts, been busy with school and I've been enlisted for Kids On A Holiday. This next band is called Deerhunter, and they rule.

The intro of the album reminds me of Flaming Lips in their Soft Bulletin days. But then the album kicks in and it's almost like a mellow version of the Lips in their older days mixed with the newer stuff. It's very shoegaze-y and post-punk-y. But it's a very enjoyable listen. I especially enjoy the tracks, "Nothing Ever Happened" and "Cavalry Scars." The lead singer is a guy named Bradford Cox and he looks unhealthy and haggard. But nonetheless, he is a genius.

A very good album. It comes with a bonus disc (Weird Era Cont.)that I didn't include here because it's almost a different entity (and not as good in my opinion).

Deerhunter - Microcastle

1. "Cover Me (Slowly)" - 1:21
2. "Agoraphobia" - 3:22
3. "Never Stops" - 3:04
4. "Little Kids" - 4:22
5. "Microcastle" - 3:40
6. "Calvary Scars" - 1:37
7. "Green Jacket" - 2:09
8. "Activa" - 1:49
9. "Nothing Ever Happened" - 5:50
10. "Saved by Old Times" - 3:50
11. "Neither of Us, Uncertainly" - 5:25
12. "Twilight at Carbon Lake" - 4:24

Boris - Rainbow

Some of you might have heard of Boris...but if you haven't; they're a quite prolific trio from Japan that make drone/sludge/stoner/psychedelic/experimental music. They're music is very varied, and I have just started listening to them. This is probably their most accessible album. It's a collaboration with Michio Kurihara.

I don't know what else to say about this album. It's very interesting chill/creepy music.

Try it out?

Boris with Michio Kurihara - Rainbow

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

The best album of 2007 that I didn't hear till 2008. Panda Bear is a member of Animal Collective and he made one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the decade back in ought seven and I'm bringing it you live: good for yo earhole.

He relies heavily on samples and MIDI to create very complex pop music. This album is only 7 tracks, but packs enough awesomeness for 70 tracks. I can't describe this album other than Beach Boys on more LSD.

Download this.


Now.


That is a direct order.

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

New Merriweather Post Pavillion Link

I finally redeemed my MP3 code from Domino Records and got my 320 kpbs version of the new Animal Collective album. Oh my god. What an amazing album. Sounds and samples I never heard before are coming out at me. This album is classic. CLASSIC.

Also, I have no idea where the Final Part of the Top 10 list went. Some pretty well-written reviews there of TV on the Radio and The Sound of Animals Fighting. Maybe the interwebz police were sweeping for TVOTR or TSOAF links across the web and deleted the post. Hmm. Sorry guys.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

The Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage: Animation Music Vol. 1

There's a certain way of telling what bands are timeless, and which bands are truly inspirational and influential. Pink Floyd has proven to be the band of the past that has influenced so many bands today (The Flaming Lips, Coheed & Cambria, etc.). This band channels what made Pink Floyd great and creates a kind of psychedelic sonic assault of sounds and layers. I discovered this band by looking up neo-psychedelia bands on Wikipedia. These guys were part of The Elephant 6 Collective; a group of artists that concentrated on making great psychedelic music in the mid 90s. These bands included Of Montreal, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Olivia Tremor Control (among others).

The album I'm posting is their second album I believe. It's super long, mainly because of the noisy interlude tracks interspersed within the actual 'songs.'

This album is a great, fun listen. It makes me wonder if this album wasn't really made in 1999 and actually 1969.

The Olivia Tremor Control - Black Foliage: Animation Music, Vol. 1