"Multitrack recording (also known as multitracking or just tracking for short) is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole."
Friday, December 31, 2010
Younger Us
My tastes have changed but if I found one of those old mixtapes I'm sure I would be nostalgic. 2010 was hands down the best year of my short life and these are the songs that will always remind me of this year. They will remind me of moving to Chicago, walking to my first real job after college, waiting in airports, and spending time with the best friends anyone could ever ask for. This year is a year that I will long to go back to for years to come. And I'm sure each of these songs will trigger those feelings.
The countdown:
Honorable Mention. The Hold Steady - The Weekenders
This track gets a mention for one lyric. "The theme of this party is the Industrial Age and you came dressed as a train wreck."
12. Freddie Gibbs- Oil Money
Gangsta Gibbs is a breath of fresh air. What rap should be. Not about bling and rims but about killing people. Dan Auerbach's chorus kind of steals the show on this track though.
11. Here We Go Magic - Casual
This song should be the theme song to all relationships. Casual. Not Heartbreaking.
10. Best Coast - Goodbye
This album is hard to listen to when its below 10 degrees in chicago like it has been for the past month. But in the summer this track made me so happy even though it reminds me of being depressed. "Nothing makes me happy. Not even tv or a bunch of weed."
9. Male Bonding - Weird Feelings
Sub Pop will sign great bands from here to eternity. Ride your bike while listening to this and you will feel like you are flying.
8. Jonsi - Animal Arithmetic
One of the best songs of the year from one of the best albums and by far the best live show I saw all year and maybe of my life.
7. Gayngs - Last Prom On Earth
This band should not be good. Whoever decided it would be a good idea to autotune Justin Vernon of Bon Ivers voice was a genius. Amazing, amazing song. There were no youtube videos of it but this video of Gaudy Side of Town from their "last prom on earth" show in MN will make you fall in love.
6. Crystal Castles Ft. Robert Smith - Not In Love
I DO NOT LIKE THE CRYSTAL CASTLES.... but I love the cure. This is the best song Robert Smith has been a part of in nearly 20 years. I could listen to it 30 times in a row and not be sick of it. Listen to it with headphones on and loud. Or at a rave.
5. A Lull - Weapons For War
2011 will be a great year for these guys and I wish them all the luck in the world. Watch this video. Buy their EP. Buy their full length this spring and please please please go see them live if you have a chance. You will not regret it.
4. Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I was at the Madison Garden show that this video is from and it really doesn't do it justice. The best song off one of the best off of the Suburbs and stands up against any track off of The Funeral or Neon Bible. Oh and they did fuck up the track about half way through and played it twice.
3. LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
You know that part in High Fidelity where Jack Black asks "Whats your top 5 A side track 1's?" This is on my list... up at the top. Ahead of Smells Like Teen Spirit? I dont know... maybe in time but holy shit - you have to admit every album should start like this.
2. Titus Andronicus - Theme From "Cheers"
"When I'm an old man, I can be the quiet type,
and I can go without a moment of fun for the rest of my life.
I can read a good book, and I can be in bed by ten,
and I can get up early, go to work and come home, and start it all over again.
But while we're young, boys, everybody raise your glasses high,
Singing, 'Here's to the good times, here's to the home team.
Kiss the good times goodbye, oh yeah,
Kiss the good times goodbye.'" ....
"So give me a Guinness, give me a Keystone Light,
Give me a kegger on a Friday night.
Give me anything but another year in exile.
I need a whiskey, I need a whiskey right now.
God knows how many times I've said this before,
But I really don't feel like doing this anymore."
1. Japandroids - Younger Us
Number 1 and 2 have a very similar theme and I think its a very similar theme to my year. I dont want to get old. I've lived in Seattle, Phoenix & now Chicago and all my friends are spread out all over the US. This makes miss all of them and want to be younger for some reason of another. Its not that I want to be younger... I just want those moments back when we were all younger. Even though I love my life now nothing will keep us from wanting that younger us. I probably listened to this song 300 times this year and every time it brought back different emotions and memories. I see these guys tonight to end my 2010 and it couldn't be any more fitting. Once again I thank every friend, band, family member, co-worker, etc that made 2010 so great.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
2010, In Retrospect
December can really bring out the snob in some of us (myself not excluded) when it comes to these year-end lists. "You ranked Arcade Fire higher than Caribou? That's not obvious at all! Is Bruce Springsteen up there, too? And you don't even have Deerhunter on there? Tell me, did you get to September and just stop listening to music altogether? Was your lobotomy expensive?"
For my last playlist of 2010 I hoped to add a little objectivity into my shamelessly subjective list of the year's best songs.
One of the things that always seems to be missing in "Top X" lists is the element of time. These lists don't have the lonely optimism of late winter or the careless excitement of summer. They don't make you think of that first warm day driving with your windows down in March or the few days you took off work or school in October. So much of the magic that comes from a good song has to do with timing, the perfect words and the perfect mood at the perfect moment.
Let's flip through our calendars one last time before we toast to the new year. Here's a song from each month of the past year of our Lord, 2010.
January:
Beach House - Norway
February: Local Natives - Warning Sign
March: Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside
April: Mynabirds - We Made A Mountain
May: The National - Terrible Love
June: Andrew Bird - The Twistable, Turnable Man Returns
July: Best Coast - Crazy For You
August: Arcade Fire - Modern Man
September: Jenny & Johnny - Big Wave
October: Warpaint - Baby
November: Girls - Heartbreaker
December: Daft Punk - Derezzed
(HAPPY NEW YEAR)
Iron and Wine - Tree By the River
Monday, December 27, 2010
All I Got for Christmas was Coffee & Cigarettes
Christmas songs, post Christmas.
I mean, I loved every minute of it, but family time is not for the weak of spirit.
The Christmas craze has subsided for the most part, though our tree is still standing and wilting needles all over the carpet. Here's a list of my favorite songs of the season (hint: does not include "Little Drummer Boy.")
"What Christmas Means to Me" - Hanson
Yeah, I went there. Best Christmas album of all time, and I say that with no shame.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" - Love Actually Soundtrack
This girl kills Mariah's version. I tried to look up what else she's done since the movie came out, and it looks like it's just a bunch of voice work for Disney channel-type cartoons.
"Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley
Classic. I have a thing for slightly sad Christmas songs, and this is one of the best.
"I Wish It Was Christmas Today" - Julian Casablancas
He played this at Coachella, and though it was 100+ degrees out, it was the highlight of the set.
O Christmas Tree - The Layaways
I usually don't have patience for pretty, harmonic songs, but this one draws me in.
"Don't Shoot Me Santa" - The Killers
So strange that I can't even try to explain it.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" - Death Cab for Cutie
OK, I think Hanson's version of this song is better, but for variety's sake I went with Death Cab. You can kind of feel what it's like being heartbroken somewhere with gray skies and cold weather, amirite?
"Wishing You a Merry Xmas" - Blue Skies for Black Hearts
This makes me laugh.
"All I Want for Christmas" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I want to be Karen O when I grow up.
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" - Glee Cast
I love this show for making (mostly) 3-dimensional gay characters. But even if the writers didn't, I'd still adore this sultry, smooth take on the classic (date rape?) song.
"Cool Yule" - Louis Armstrong and the Commanders
Just try not to dance.
"A Marshmallow World" - Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin
DRUNK.
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Life
A Life
Too overwhelmed to make a Best of 2010 list this year, I instead directed my energies toward a project that quickly became even more absorbing. I attempted to create a playlist that would begin in the womb, end in the afterlife and include every major life stage between. Once I’d begun, I realized that I wasn’t satisfied making a guitar-and-drums playlist. To Americanize the human experience would be an incredible crime. I scrapped my old playlist, created another, and this is the final product:
[P.S. I'm not including a link to videos because most are either lacking a video or have a crap video that would really damage the integrity of the song.]
-Birth: Samskeyti by Sigur Rós (Iceland)
First of all, I thought it was important that the birthing experience be instrumental because lyrics would have taken it to a level of consciousness that doesn’t exist at this stage. I love that this song begins quietly, swells, and returns to silence. I can’t help but imagine that I’m emerging from a place of complacency to a different, but equally as complacent place. The song is the perfect marriage of wonder and purity. The fact that it’s the first track of the second disc of the album it comes from (Hvarf-Heim) is also perfect; it’s singly able to tie the first part of the album to the second, as birth does from the life before it to the life after.
-Infancy/Early Childhood: Sala by Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project (China/America)
Fast forward to a child’s first steps, his or her first words, or the child’s growing ability to have fun and be curious. That’s this song. The simplicity and purity of the harmony and melody, the vocals and instrumentals, give this song a childish vibe and a sweet playfulness.
-Youth: Children Go ‘Round (Demissènw) by Dee Dee Bridgewater (Mali/America)
I first debated whether I should include this song or the former, but decided to keep both. This one is a bit more mature than the last, with what seems to be more layers and a deeper vocal. The child we’re now watching grow is becoming more mischievous and is taking on more responsibilities. There’s a more complex dynamic between the child and his or her social surroundings, as Bridgewater notes about 3 minutes in.
-Adolescence: Girl You Move Me by Seu Jorge and Almaz (Brazil)
Teenage angst. Tortured lust. Dark confusion. Seu Jorge and Almaz get it perfectly. The song itself, which transforms from calm to rough and stormy, is much reminiscent of the spikes in hormones and moods that leave most adolescents groaning. This is the stage of life rock and roll speaks to best.
-Sex: Fire Dance by Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (Nigeria)
Sex: The ultimate fire dance. No, this song doesn’t speak much for passion. It’s not loud and rough and grimy and it doesn’t necessarily have you screaming for more. But not all sex is power. Sometimes sex is fun and play and simple. It’s not until you reach the next stage—love—and you start to incorporate feelings into that play—that sex takes on a different dynamic.
-Love: Sur Les Quais Du Vieux Paris by Juliette Gréco (France)
It’s sung in the language of love, it’s sexy, and its content is both poetic and romantic. Translated by Lyrics Translate: “When you quietly lean over / whispering: ‘It's Sunday, / What if we had a wander in the suburbs / Under the blue summer sky?’ / A thousand plans entice us / But, sharing the same smile, / We retrace the sweet and simple steps / Of our very first dates ... / On the banks of old Paris, / along the Seine / Happiness smiles, / On the banks of old Paris, / Love wanders along / Searching for a nest. / Old bookseller, / Beautiful florist / How we love you, / Living poem! / On the banks of old Paris, / Bohemian love / It's paradise ... / All the old bridges know us, / Witnesses to the crazy promises, / That the echo in the current will recount / To the merry, cheeky sparrows ... / And, in your arms which hold me, / Listening to the sirens, / I let my heart, overcome with happiness, / beat next to yours ... / On the banks of old Paris, / along the Seine / Happiness smiles, / On the banks of old Paris, / Love wanders along / Searching for a nest. / Old bookseller, / Beautiful florist / How we love you, / Living poem! / On the banks of old Paris, / Bohemian love / It's paradise ...”
-Heartbreak: Mal De Mer by Rupa & The April Fishes (America/France)
Completely coincidentally, the love song and the song I’ve chosen for heartbreak are both of the same tongue. Simply put, this song is sad. I love this band and I love the use of different instruments to communicate a different level of emotion.
-The Coming of Contentment: Mandra by Kottarashky (Bulgaria)
“Mandra” does such a swell job of communicating routine. The loops in this song and repetitive elements are similar to the patterns we start detecting as we get older. Yet, this song isn’t tough listening. In fact, it’s almost fun. It embraces redundancies and patterns, as we learn to do.
-Aging: Fafa by Vieux Farka Touré (Mali)
The vocals alone in this piece are really aged, which I adore. I don’t think I can explain it, but I just imagine an old man, weathered and wrinkled, sitting in his rocking chair on the front porch. It’s one of those songs that make me feel like the sun is beating down on me, which is a fantastic metaphor for old age. It’s agonizing at times and unremarkable at others, and yet the entire thing is something to be respected.
-Dying: Rain Rain Beautiful Rain by Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa)
I have no words. I can only hope this is what death is like.
-The Afterlife: Videotape by Radiohead (England)
I couldn’t not include this song in this playlist. It’s essentially purgatory, which makes the playlist take a much unexpected turn after such a pleasant track list. However, I think it’s an important inclusion. Does doing everything according to plan, does walking through life “pleasantly,” guarantee a smooth transition to the hereafter? Possibly not.
-The Quiet: SÃðasti bærinn 5 by Kjartan Sveinsson (Iceland)
What better way to end a playlist about life than where it started? Kjartan Sveinsson is actually a member of Sigur Rós, which allows me to begin and end in Iceland. This piece is incredibly moving. To me, it speaks of sad defeat, which makes this another odd addition to the playlist. However, it’s intentional, which I hope leaves you something to think about.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
I've seen quite a few "best of 2010" mixes and even more "best albums of 2010" lists. While I put together both of those, I deemed it more pertinent to my winter concert schedule to make a favorite remixes of 2010 mix-tape in addition to a couple of the better electronic releases in 2010. So, without further adieu, my December Mix-tape...
1. Baptism – Crystal Castles
2. Some Chords – Deadmau5
3. making konstantine cry (Jay-z vs. Something Corporate)
4. Escape Me (Acicii Remix) – Tiesto
5. Night By Night – Chromeo
6. Coquet Coquette (Starfucker Remix) – of Montreal
7. Jump on Stage – Girl Talk
8. Heads Will Roll (Electronic Soulside ft Odissi Mix) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs A-Trak
9. Infinity Guitars – Sleigh Bells
10. And Together (Midnight Conspiracy Remix) – Innerpartysystem
11. Sadie Hawkins Day – Yip Deceiver
12. In the Hall of the Mountain King – Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Motivation for the Mix content: Australia 2011.
Must See:
Justice
Chromeo
Boys Noize
So-Me vs. DVNO
Line Up
Purple Sneakers DJ's
Baio (Vampire Weekend DJ set)
Rat vs. Possum
SLEIGH BELLS
Purple Sneakers DJs
Pictures and Videos will hopefully be posted upon my return. As always if anyone wants a copy of the mix, just let me know and I'll post it!
Jake.
ALL THE HITS
Countdown
Friday, December 17, 2010
My First Mixtape: Christmas
I was never much of a mixtaper when I was younger. Sure, I made mixtapes from my own music collection, or taping songs off the radio and making tapes for myself, but I wasn’t consumed by making tapes. I was more interested in just finding more music and learning every nuance of the music I loved. I’ve made mixtapes for myself, for girls, and for best friends just to introduce them to great music. And now I’m going to do that for you.
Because there seem to be so many end of the year lists on so many blogs, and even here, I decided to be seasonal with my first mix. I submit for you some of my favorite Christmas songs. These are all songs that mean something to me by artists that likely mean something to you. They aren’t presented in a countdown; this is how I sequenced them for myself to get a good flow. I think you’ll enjoy it.
1. Super Deluxe “All I Wanted Was a Skateboard” – Having grown up in the greater Seattle area, this was an important band local band in the mid-90s. As grunge began to fade there were many bands building on that foundation and adding melody to a scene that sorely lacked it in some corners. This was one such band. When they released Electric Holiday in 1995 this song was an instant hit in Seattle. It is a staple of my Christmas season. So many times growing up I received a gift I didn’t want, or simply didn’t get that one thing that I really did want. This song speaks to those Yule time disappointments with such accuracy it is as if the band was writing about me. Alas, I had my skateboard, I got it for a birthday, but there were so many things I didn’t get that my tween and teen heart was so set on having that there was no way Santa could possibly not deliver. “All I got was this stupid sweater” is perhaps the best Christmas line ever. And it’s in a song you probably have never heard.
2. The Pretenders “2000 Miles” – I was only six years old when this song was released in 1984, and didn’t become familiar with it until I was out of high school, but it is so well written and full of such sorrow that, if not for the references to snow, the song could play in the other eleven months just as well as it does in December. This is a nice melancholy, fireside kind of song, and one to play when with that special someone and cuddling up on a cold winter eve.
3. Jimmy Eat World “Last Christmas” – This is a cover of Wham!’s popular 1984 Christmas single. The original is a decidedly dark Christmas song of loss and heartbreak, but the J.E.W. version is surprisingly up beat for the lyrical content. The contrast is two-fold: The intentionally melancholy vocals of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley highlight the loss in the song while the music of Jimmy Eat World is a much more up-tempo attempt at the song that was performed in a lower key by the original group. Also, I just like Jim Atkins voice a lot better than Michael’s and Ridgeley’s.
4. The Smashing Pumpkins “Christmastime” – This song saw its original release on the A Very Special Christmas 3 compilation in 1997 and has been a December staple on Modern Rock radio ever since. Also released on the Pumpkins jaw-dropping B-Sides and Rarities collection, the song continues to find life every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is the most Christmas-sounding song in this mix with the bells, strings and other accouterments, and harkens back to a day when Billy Corgan had hair and we all knew the other members of the Smashing Pumpkins.
5. The Waitresses “Christmas Wrapping” – This song was originally released in 1981 and saw a resurrection, of sorts, in the mid-90s as Alternative radio stations searched to fill their Christmas quotas. This is, perhaps, my favorite Christmas song of all-time. I remember purchasing the Waitresses’ best of CD just to have this song. It has been my ringback-tone for the last several years, as well. If you ever need a dose of “Christmas Wrapping,” just give me a jingle.
6. Run-DMC “Christmas In Hollis” – There aren’t a lot of rap and hip hop Christmas songs, which is only part of the reason why this song stands out. The rest is because it is a really good song. The duo originally released “Christmas In Hollis” in 1987 as part of the original A Very Special Christmas compilation as well as the Christmas Rap compilation. The video for the song is a hoot, and helps to keep it an annual hit every Christmas.
7. Death Cab For Cutie “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – This song was originally recorded by Darlene Love in 1963 for her Christmas album; it was written by Phil Spector, which explains why it continues to be re-recorded often by modern artists. R.E.M., U2, Joey Ramone and many others have recorded versions of this song, but DCFC’s 2004 version is my favorite. Like several other songs in this mix it is a sad Christmas song and makes for a good soundtrack for crying in your eggnog.
8. No Doubt “Oi To the World” – Another song that was released in the A Very Special Christmas series, this punk tune from 1997 is one of the sillier Christmas songs ever recorded (the silliest is further down this mix). Written and originally recorded by the Vandals, the song tells the story of Haji, a turban wearing punker that fights with a skin-head by the name of Trevor. Haji stabs Trevor but then feels the Christmas spirit and saves Trevor’s life. The two then go drink together. It’s a funny song that fits the season for any fan of punk rock.
9. The Kinks “Father Christmas” – The Kinks were one of those bands that turned out to be more influential than they were successful, and they were fairly successful. This song is about a group of hooligans that hold up a department store Santa for money and is told from the perspective of the man playing Santa. At one point the kid holding up the fake Santa asks if the Santa could give the hooligan’s father a job and then implores that if the Santa should have a machine gun that it would serve as ample substitute. It is both comedic and telling, especially in an economy like we have today.
10. Joey Ramone “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” – The Ramones were never known for having the deepest of lyrics, but they always rocked. This song is no exception. Though the song doesn’t go into detail about why he would be fighting with his baby, it is no less a great Christmas song. The standard three-chord punk and 4/4 rhythms make for a fun listen, even if Joey does ramble about where Santa is and what is dancing in the sleeping kids’ heads.
11. Pearl Jam “Let Me Sleep (Christmas Time)” – Fans of Pearl Jam are likely aware of the band’s yearly holiday single. A reward to their fanclub members that have included some really great songs, most of which aren’t actually Christmas songs (“Last Kiss,” as one example). This is from the band’s very first such holiday single in 1991. It has the same feel as some of Pearl Jam’s b-sides from that time period (“Footsteps,” “Yellow Leadbetter”) and wallows in its minimalism. The song is comprised of just Eddie Vedder’s voice, a slight guitar riff and a djembe or some other hand drum with Vedder reminiscing about how magical Christmas was when he was a child.
12. The Human Lard Dog & the Band of Shy “The Stupendous Holiday Finksten” – Though not technically a Christmas song, this is a must for any Christmas collection. The silliest holiday song ever recorded by a man that has never had notoriety of any kind. I was introduced to this song while in college radio. The staff stumbled upon this gem and I’ve been in love with it ever since. Using a comedic style not unlike Adam Sandler, the lyrics of this song dig into one’s head like a scene out of Wrath of Kahn and get stuck for hours. The stupendous holiday Finksten is always two weeks away, which makes it difficult to celebrate I imagine. We always need more faux-holidays this time of year, because Festivus just isn’t enough.
There you have it, my first mixtape for Multitracking. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Next time I’ll introduce you to some great new music. Promise.
Download this mix.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
MMX
Honestly, I don’t think 2010 was a terribly great year for music. Sure, there were some solid albums, but nothing earth-shatteringly awesome. I’m still at a loss as to what my #1 album of the year is (and will probably decide next year). Enough of the bummer stuff, though. I figured since most folks would post tunes from their top 10 albums, I’d do something a bit different. I compiled a list of songs I enjoyed (not necessarily the album, though) as well as tunes from albums I dug this year. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Happy to send the mix to you, too.
“Pull Me In” – the Graduate
Full disclosure – I helped market these guys. I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. The build here is epic and the lyrics are quite touching. Pretty good album too – think a mix of Jimmy Eat World and Owl City, but in a good way (not hating on Jimmy there, Ash!).
“All The Best” – My Morning Jacket
I’m a huge MMJ fanboy. Easily, my show of the year was them at Merriweather Post Pavilion. I drove 4 hours to see the show on an unbelievably warm day in May and it was worth the trek. The 6th row amphitheater seats might’ve helped! Regardless, an amazing, amazing show and I can’t stress enough how much you need to see the Jacket live. I suspect you’ll get many opportunities in 2011 since they have a new album on the horizon. In the meantime, check out this wonderful song, which was part of a John Prine tribute album.
“The Wig He Made Her Wear” – Drive By Truckers
In my mind, the Truckers have never made a bad album. They’re probably one of the most consistently good bands out there (their live shows slay). While The Big To-Do wasn’t the breakthrough I thought they deserved, that’s not a comment on the music itself. The Truckers deliver another solid album’s worth of well-written characters and stories, bolstered by the band’s signature stew of Southern rock, folk, country and garage stomp. Far and away my favorite track on the album, “The Wig He Made Her Wear” showcases the Truckers’ talent for dark Southern sagas. Just an utterly amazing song.
“Father’s Son” – Fistful of Mercy
By and by, super groups suck. They sound great on paper, but the final product is usually underwhelming. Not so with Fistful of Mercy. The group is comprised of Ben Harper, cult hero Joseph Arthur and Dhani Harrison (George’s son). Perhaps the fact that it’s a fairly odd collection of musicians made this work. The mostly acoustic album As I Call You Down shows some strong collaboration between the trio. A very loose but engaging listen.
“Tootie Ma Is A Big Fine Thing” – Preservation Hall Jazz Band, feat. Tom Waits
Never thought a jazz band would be a favorite record of mine, but stranger things have happened. The Preservation Hall in New Orleans, a bastion for jazz, was closed during Hurricane Katrina. In order to re-open, keep the venue going and educate future generations about the history of the genre, RED Distribution put out a killer benefit album. Needless to say, do the right thing and buy this album. Its chockfull of guests – Andrew Bird, Jim James, Ani DiFranco, Dr. John, Pete Seeger and many other big names. None bigger than the reclusive Tom Waits, however, whose rugged voice beautifully accentuates the Dixieland tune.
Since a Tom Waits show is about as rare as a dodo, I cheated a bit and posted a video of the band performing “Louisiana Fairytale” with My Morning Jacket’s Jim James.
“Pickin’ Up The Pieces” – Fitz and the Tantrums
A late entry into this list, I recently got into Fitz. Just a really fun listen, in the vein of throwback outfits like Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings or Eli ‘Paperboy’ Reed & the True Loves.
“The Bike Song” – Mark Ronson feat. Kyle Falconer and Spank Rock
Say what you will about Ronson’s liberal use of guests in his albums, but at the very least, they always make for an interesting listen. None more so than on “The Bike Song,” which includes producer Spank Rock and Kyle Falconer from Brit band The View (check out their tune “Same Jeans,” one of my fave songs from the past few years). Try getting this slick song out of your head, I dare ya.
“We Got The System To Fight The System” – Maserati
If you dig !!!, you should like Maserati. Both bands offer an instrumental take on the post-punk genre, but Maserati has a slight psychedelic feel whereas !!! is much more dance-oriented. Sadly, the band’s drummer Jerry Fuchs passed away before the album Pyramid of the Sun came out (and he also played with !!! for a bit). Quite a shame, as he was quite a drummer and could have led Maserati to bigger things. Still, with songs this awesome, the group is poised for future success.
“Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?” – Tame Impala
These guys have been included on a few mixes already, so I’ll keep it brief. If you’re looking for an album to bliss out to, you’d be wise to snag Innerspeaker. I was looking forward to the album and it did not disappoint.
“Don’t Break The Needle” – J. Roddy Walston & the Business
I’m at an utter loss as to explain this band’s sound properly. Something like “piano-fueled snotty garage rock” doesn’t really do it justice. Check out the vid, decide for yourself and if you dig it, check out the album. I’ve been a fan for a bit and am thrilled that Vagrant gave these guys a shot, as they deserve a day (or many more) in the sun. That chorus is killer!
“Someone’s Daughter” – the Whigs
Its been satisfying to watch the Whigs grow from a college garage rock group into a full-fledged rock powerhouse. Each album adds new elements to the band’s sound. While they’re not reinventing the wheel, the Whigs are coming into their own as songwriters. Drummer Julian Doro continues to be a beast behind the kit. The group has lucked out, becoming the perennial opener for Kings of Leon’s arena tours.
“Bottled Up In Cork” – Ted Leo/Pharmacists
Another act that has put out consistently good records is Ted Leo/Pharmacists. The streak continues with The Brutalist Bricks, their first for Matador. Insanely catch tune that was one of my most listened to this year. The real treat here, though, is the video, which is an amusing parody of the mediocre American Idiot Broadway play (bolstered by cameos from Paul F. Tompkins and John Hodgman). The shot of a lipsticked Leo is priceless.