Showing posts with label Indie Rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indie Rock. Show all posts
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Holiday Shores - Columbus'd the Whim
Monday, March 22, 2010
Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
ZAZA - Cameo
standard shoegaze. too lazy to post a good description. boy and girl duo. you get it. loud and noisy. with good melodies! i like that. i'm tired. it's electronic but not. fuck it i'll do it.
Do you ever like someone whispering in your ear? The feeling of a dull voice as it grazes over your ear lobes is often unsettling. Someone's telling you a secret, but you can't concentrate on what they're saying because you begin to feel uncomfortable. You pull away, but you want to know the secret so you stay for a second longer. And then you're trapped.
That's ZAZA.
Do you ever like someone whispering in your ear? The feeling of a dull voice as it grazes over your ear lobes is often unsettling. Someone's telling you a secret, but you can't concentrate on what they're saying because you begin to feel uncomfortable. You pull away, but you want to know the secret so you stay for a second longer. And then you're trapped.
That's ZAZA.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
The Love Language - The Love Language
THE LOVE LANGUAGE
quirky low fidelity pop rock with tinges of 70s era soft rock melodical ideas. a pretty large band for such a ordinary writing standpoint. Their debut is self-titled and came out last year. Loud and harmonized vocals cut through sunny chord progressions and fuzzy leads. You would think these songs are all about love. And it is. 'Little girls tell the biggest lies, it seems just yesterday we said goodbye.' Yeah, to an extent.
quirky low fidelity pop rock with tinges of 70s era soft rock melodical ideas. a pretty large band for such a ordinary writing standpoint. Their debut is self-titled and came out last year. Loud and harmonized vocals cut through sunny chord progressions and fuzzy leads. You would think these songs are all about love. And it is. 'Little girls tell the biggest lies, it seems just yesterday we said goodbye.' Yeah, to an extent.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Besnard Lakes - ...are the Roaring Night
More shoegaze for staring at yr shoez with. The Besnard Lakes are a 'progressive rock' band according to last.fm. They're pretty standard cute, quiet/loud shoegaze with two part songs and 'concepts' I really dig their new record that just came out/leaked. Not really sure if its out yet. Czech it.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
I was never a Strokes guy. When all those "The ____s" bands came out in the early 2000s I was completely indifferent...and probably a little oblivious. Listening to Is This It today, I realize that it is a damn fine record, but to an 8th grader into Pink Floyd, I never really jumped on that bandwagon.
Several years and two mediocre records later, The Strokes are laying dormant for the time being, while members sort out their respective solo projects (Check Albert Hammond Jr.'s stuff. Trust me). Casablancas premiered some of his solo tracks earlier this year and later announced he would release an LP. Phrazes for the Young is pure pop gold. Songs like "Left & Right in the Dark" and single, "11th Dimension" offer a synthesizer landmine of electronic pop. While tracks like the digital blues number, "4 Chords of the Apocalypse" and "Ludlow St." offer a more traditional indie rock sound. I recommend listening to this album in your car. Once you learn the words, you'll be at the optimal listening state of mind. Go a little over the speed limit, enough to feel badass (you are listening to an album by Julian Casablancas), but don't get pulled over because then you'll have to stop listening to this record. After you've reached a reasonable illegal speed, turn up your volume. Rinse, repeat.
Seriously though, this record may seem short. But it clocks in at 40 minutes, giving you enough time to make a few loops on the highway or just around your block like 30 times. I don't know where this will end up on my year end list, but this record is pretty good. And definitely better than the 5.5 it got from our dear friends at Pitchfork.
Several years and two mediocre records later, The Strokes are laying dormant for the time being, while members sort out their respective solo projects (Check Albert Hammond Jr.'s stuff. Trust me). Casablancas premiered some of his solo tracks earlier this year and later announced he would release an LP. Phrazes for the Young is pure pop gold. Songs like "Left & Right in the Dark" and single, "11th Dimension" offer a synthesizer landmine of electronic pop. While tracks like the digital blues number, "4 Chords of the Apocalypse" and "Ludlow St." offer a more traditional indie rock sound. I recommend listening to this album in your car. Once you learn the words, you'll be at the optimal listening state of mind. Go a little over the speed limit, enough to feel badass (you are listening to an album by Julian Casablancas), but don't get pulled over because then you'll have to stop listening to this record. After you've reached a reasonable illegal speed, turn up your volume. Rinse, repeat.
Seriously though, this record may seem short. But it clocks in at 40 minutes, giving you enough time to make a few loops on the highway or just around your block like 30 times. I don't know where this will end up on my year end list, but this record is pretty good. And definitely better than the 5.5 it got from our dear friends at Pitchfork.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Dr. Dog - Fate
There was a time in the past decade where suddenly it was cool to sound like bands from the 60s and 70s. I don't know if it was Wolfmother or someone realized that the music coming from those decades is still relevant and really good. Either way, this resurgence brought a lot of bands to the forefront of the indie scene. Dr. Dog takes cues from The Beach Boys, The Beatles and just about any rock band from the 70s. Obviously, these dudes add their own little modern touch to the sound. They've released a couple of albums so far, but my favorite is their latest effort, Fate. Great stuff here folks.
Sorry for the lack of posts. I tried to post the latest Devendra album, but didn't feel like uploading it and couldn't find a link. It'll come soon, don't you worry. Love you.
Sorry for the lack of posts. I tried to post the latest Devendra album, but didn't feel like uploading it and couldn't find a link. It'll come soon, don't you worry. Love you.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Antlers - Hospice
The Antlers are the Bon Iver story of 2009. Song-writer Peter Silberman comes out of a so-called 'social isolation' and writes and records a beautiful record about the relationship between a man and a child who is terminal in a hospital. Darby added two full-time band members to become The Antlers and the band self-released Hospice earlier this year. Now it is being re-released on Frenchkiss Records.
Peter Silberman is a very passionate song-writer. It's hard to tell if the lyrics he has penned are somewhat personal and based on true events. It's hard to tell yet what the details of the story are, but the music is very dynamic within the character of the lyrical content. The sounds themselves are very effervescent and intriguing. "Prologue" is the first song and sets up the record perfectly. The noisy number flows seamlessly into the heart-string tugging, "Kettering." This track holds some of the softest, but aggressive vocal sound I've ever heard. The record continues on with very loud qualities. The shoegaze influence is evident as songs routinely gain momentum and build as an almost post-rock like build and release idea. The pop sensibility of Darby's lyrics and vocal melodies bring the structure to the seemingly large compositions. Hospice doesn't really get a chance to drag through too much somberness because of the abrupt length of the record. It's a sad record, but it's somewhat short and bright sounding. It's hard to explain, I recommend this album and it'll definitely make my best of '09 list I've been slaving over so hard already.
Peter Silberman is a very passionate song-writer. It's hard to tell if the lyrics he has penned are somewhat personal and based on true events. It's hard to tell yet what the details of the story are, but the music is very dynamic within the character of the lyrical content. The sounds themselves are very effervescent and intriguing. "Prologue" is the first song and sets up the record perfectly. The noisy number flows seamlessly into the heart-string tugging, "Kettering." This track holds some of the softest, but aggressive vocal sound I've ever heard. The record continues on with very loud qualities. The shoegaze influence is evident as songs routinely gain momentum and build as an almost post-rock like build and release idea. The pop sensibility of Darby's lyrics and vocal melodies bring the structure to the seemingly large compositions. Hospice doesn't really get a chance to drag through too much somberness because of the abrupt length of the record. It's a sad record, but it's somewhat short and bright sounding. It's hard to explain, I recommend this album and it'll definitely make my best of '09 list I've been slaving over so hard already.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
A friend of mine named Gabriel particularly fancies the musical endeavors of a band named Wilco. They come from some town in America and play what I would call frantic American music. Their compositions always have that backwood feel while still feeling modern and experimental. The band is led by inevitably cool man, Jeff Tweedy. His ideas and the way he expresses his thoughts are both equally impressive.
This is widely known as their best album. The album starts with a mysterious song called, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Easily the most 'progressive' song on the record, it stands as one of the most intriguing album openers I have heard in my music listening career. Yankee Hotle Foxtrot is an interesting record. It courageously tries to balance the fine line between alternative rock and psychedelic rock. But ultimately it does not stay balanced as it consistently falls on to the psychedilia side. They also just put out a record called Wilco (The Album), so go check that out as well.
This is widely known as their best album. The album starts with a mysterious song called, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart." Easily the most 'progressive' song on the record, it stands as one of the most intriguing album openers I have heard in my music listening career. Yankee Hotle Foxtrot is an interesting record. It courageously tries to balance the fine line between alternative rock and psychedelic rock. But ultimately it does not stay balanced as it consistently falls on to the psychedilia side. They also just put out a record called Wilco (The Album), so go check that out as well.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Flaming Lips - In A Priest Driven Ambulance
Hello there, my name is Ethan and I'm going to be contributing to this blog every now and again. I figured that i might as well start off by posting one of my favorite albums of the early 90's and a psychadelic rock classic, if you're into that kinda thing. With this album, The Flaming Lips constructed some of the oddest, and most beautiful textures I've ever heard simply using guitar, bass, drums, and vocals...not to mention overwhelming use of a fuzz face. The best way I can describe this album is that its like walking a metaphorical gauntlet, where at every turn something new pops out and frightens the hell out of you. It's definitely an album where, in order to "get it", you have to listen to it start to finish at mind shattering volumes.
1. Shine On Sweet Jesus (Jesus Song No.5)
2. Unconsciously Screaming
3. Rainin' Babies
4. Take Meta Mars
5. Five Stop Mother Superior Rain
6. Stand In Line
7. God Walks Amoung Us Now (Jesus Song No. 6)
8. There You Are (Jesus Song No. 7)
9. Mountain Side
10. What A Wonderful World
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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).
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
- "Cover Me (Slowly)" - 1:21
- "Agoraphobia" - 3:22
- "Never Stops" - 3:04
- "Little Kids" - 4:22
- "Microcastle" - 3:40
- "Calvary Scars" - 1:37
- "Green Jacket" - 2:09
- "Activa" - 1:49
- "Nothing Ever Happened" - 5:50
- "Saved by Old Times" - 3:50
- "Neither of Us, Uncertainly" - 5:25
- "Twilight at Carbon Lake" - 4:24
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