We had thought about putting The Harlem Shakes in our "bands to watch for 2010" but apparently they broke up in September. Sadness (and weird since they were starting to do pretty well for themselves). But this song is fitting for New Years Eve, as I know a lot of people who have had really terrible 2009s (myself included), and so here's to a better year - a year of financial stability, health, travel, fun, productiveness, "time to waste some time," and bands we like NOT breaking up.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Beats Antique
Beats Antique are a San Francisco–based group that makes Middle Eastern–flavored electronic music. They consist of two DJ/musicians and, oddly, a belly dancer. While I can't speak to their music's suitability for belly dancing, I very much enjoy the marriage between staggered beats, deep synths and exotic horns and strings. They can perhaps be seen as a West Coast twist on Balkan Beat Box, and a welcome twist in my opinion.Their most recent release of new music is the EP Contraption, Vol. I. I'm a fan of the EP format in general, and I think it suits them particularly well, as I find that a half hour is about the amount of time that I typically wish to spend listening to this kind of music.
"Junktion" is a chilled, downtempo track driven by banjo and bass, along with a nice beat. "She's Looking for Something" is significantly darker and has a trip-hop vibe, which is aided by the female lead vocals by Janover. There's also some fairly creepy hip-hop scatting from her frequent collaborator, the Bay Area rapper/beatboxer Lynx.
As a bonus track, here's "Shout It Out" from Lynx & Janover's own album, Between Worlds. This one has a similar sound to the Beats Antique track but is produced by David Starfire.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Artists to Watch in 2010
For the last of our lists this year, we have artists that have shown promise and/or generated buzz, and that we're expecting to see interesting things from in the year to come. So, just in time for the New Year, we present you with "Artists to Watch in 2010":
Ellie Goulding
21-year-old Ellie Goulding has already been chosen as one of the 15 best rising music stars on BBC's Sound of 2010 list. She's been generating tons of buzz over the last few months, and with an electro-pop sugary sound, musicians like Little Boots and Marina and the Diamonds (more about her below) are often mentioned alongside her. Her first single "Under the Sheets" was released a couple of months ago and her debut set to release in March, so, like we've said before, expect this one to hit big.
"I Am Not A Robot" was one of Lise's tracks-on-repeat this last summer, and like Ellie above, Marina and the Diamonds have also made BBC's Sound of 2010 list. People love her for her don't-care-what-others-think attitude and robust, thickly vibrato-ridden voice, but Lise is still waiting to be impressed with a live performance, although perhaps that will change in this upcoming year. Until then, you should at least check her out if you are unfamiliar, cause there is no doubt you will be hearing more about her in 2010.
Heathers
This Irish twin girl duo, named after the infamous '80s movie starring Winona Ryder, is kind of like Tegan & Sara 2.0, but more folky perhaps. They're how I imagine Tegan and Sara were when they were just starting out - talented and adorable, keeping things simple but lovely, with rocking acoustic guitar and awesome vocal harmonies. It sounds like things are starting to pick up for them in Ireland and we're hoping that they'll pick up for them here in the US too, so that they'll come back stateside for a tour again soon.
Em first saw Drink Up Buttercup by chance back in May, instantly loving them, and has watched their audience grow and expand at shows in NYC in August and November. They are worth seeing again and again live because they have such great energy as they bang and plang and clang on everything from your typical keyboards and guitars to the less typical garbage can tops, tool boxes and plastic maracas. Their EP is superb and hopefully we can expect a full-length album from them in 2010.
Sosey Dosey [mp3] - (iTunes)
Pattern is Movement
Much to our surprise, these two lumberjack-looking guys make the most elaborate, fanciful, delightful and downright bizarre music we've possibly ever heard. It certainly wasn't what Em was expecting when they opened for St. Vincent earlier this year, but they ended up blowing her away and we can't wait to hear more from the Philadelphia duo.
One of LA's top indie acts that are ready to break out in a big way, all 4-part harmonies and pounding toms. They're already popular overseas, having toured the UK and Europe in 2009, and they've just been signed to NY label Frenchkiss Records (home of The Antlers, Passion Pit, The Dodos, etc.) They played a soldout show at the Echo the other night - their last US show until the domestic release of Gorilla Manor (February 5) - and any Angelenos who made it out will be lucky enough to say they were there first.
Marching Band
Unlike a lot of the Scandinavian music we receive here at GFP, this isn't dark, experimental, or haunting. Marching Band's music is for the most part poppy, pretty and highly enjoyable. It will definitely leave your head bopping and your toe tapping, and since a lot of amazing stuff is coming out of Scandinavia right now, I think we can expect to see them fair well here in the US.
One of our writers, Diana, has been into Avi Buffalo for a little over a year now and we can't wait to see what SubPop does for them in 2010. Seeing Avi play his Fender Jaguar will make you envious that you're not 19 years old, winning folks over with a high falsetto and lines like, "you are tiny and your lips are like little pieces of bacon."
What's In It For? [mp3] - (iTunes)
Fredrik
Their album Na Na Ni was on our Best Albums of 2008, and their album Trilogi was supposed to come out this year, but has been pushed back to January of 2010. So keep your eye out for that. The one track they've released from it is even more haunting, dark and stunning than the highly experimental Na Na Ni, and we've heard that the rest of Trilogi is supposed to follow suit.
We still don't know why this band isn't signed. Their debut Shouting At Mountains was quite solid, and the 3 shows Diana attended of their June residency at Spaceland were easily the best shows she's seen this whole year. Nate Cole has all the charisma a frontman needs and more, and the songs are just an awesome mix of blues, rock, and pop. They've been going strong in the LA scene for a couple years now, so we have my fingers crossed that 2010 will be their year.
Skipping Stepping Stones [mp3] - (iTunes)
tUnE-YaRdS
tUnE-YaRdS, aka Merrill Garbus is incredibly intriguing to say the least. Her unique rhythms, complicated music and full voice make for an interesting listen. However, her debut album, Bird Brains, was made very much DIY-style, and while she certainly does quite well with very little, we would love to hear what she can do with some real production value behind her. Hopefully we will get the chance considering how much buzz she has gotten this year.
Their debut album Astro Coast is dropping January 2010, and having listened to a couple of the tracks, we wager that it'll probably take a few months for news to properly circulate about this band. Surfer Blood has somehow managed to encompass that guilty pleasure of 90's pop-rock sound of Weezer and Keane and structure it into a sophisticated-yet-carefree indie rock throwback with added fuzzy flair for the upcoming decade.
Floating Vibes [mp3] - (iTunes)
Gamble House
One of Diana's bandmates introduced her to Gamble House a couple months ago, and she recommends them to anyone who is a fan of pre-Veckatimest Grizzly Bear. This year they self-released an album of low-key indie/folk-ish music that goes beyond the standard vocals/guitar M.O., incorporating banjo, bells, keyboards and other little flourishes that reflect the band's jazz background. Definitely worth checking out.
For a duo that has yet to come out with a full-length album, Phantogram sure has a pretty big following. A bit reminiscent of Blonde Redhead, their electro-dance-rock certainly will get you moving. They're great live and we look forward to hearing what they come out with in the future.
When I'm Small [mp3] - (iTunes)
Ravens & Chimes
So they were on our list of Artists to Watch for 2009 last year, but unfortunately they didn't end up coming out with any new stuff this past year. However, it is confirmed that they will be coming out with an album in 2010, so we are putting them on the list again because we love them that much. Hopefully, after going through some major member changes this year (only two of the people in this picture are still in the band but we can't find any more recent ones...), next year will be a successful one for them. Here's one of the songs off their upcoming 2010 album.
Ellie Goulding 21-year-old Ellie Goulding has already been chosen as one of the 15 best rising music stars on BBC's Sound of 2010 list. She's been generating tons of buzz over the last few months, and with an electro-pop sugary sound, musicians like Little Boots and Marina and the Diamonds (more about her below) are often mentioned alongside her. Her first single "Under the Sheets" was released a couple of months ago and her debut set to release in March, so, like we've said before, expect this one to hit big.
Under the Sheets [mp3] - (no online purchase available in US)
"I Am Not A Robot" was one of Lise's tracks-on-repeat this last summer, and like Ellie above, Marina and the Diamonds have also made BBC's Sound of 2010 list. People love her for her don't-care-what-others-think attitude and robust, thickly vibrato-ridden voice, but Lise is still waiting to be impressed with a live performance, although perhaps that will change in this upcoming year. Until then, you should at least check her out if you are unfamiliar, cause there is no doubt you will be hearing more about her in 2010.
I Am Not A Robot [mp3] - (no online purchase available)
Heathers This Irish twin girl duo, named after the infamous '80s movie starring Winona Ryder, is kind of like Tegan & Sara 2.0, but more folky perhaps. They're how I imagine Tegan and Sara were when they were just starting out - talented and adorable, keeping things simple but lovely, with rocking acoustic guitar and awesome vocal harmonies. It sounds like things are starting to pick up for them in Ireland and we're hoping that they'll pick up for them here in the US too, so that they'll come back stateside for a tour again soon.
Em first saw Drink Up Buttercup by chance back in May, instantly loving them, and has watched their audience grow and expand at shows in NYC in August and November. They are worth seeing again and again live because they have such great energy as they bang and plang and clang on everything from your typical keyboards and guitars to the less typical garbage can tops, tool boxes and plastic maracas. Their EP is superb and hopefully we can expect a full-length album from them in 2010.
Sosey Dosey [mp3] - (iTunes)
Pattern is Movement Much to our surprise, these two lumberjack-looking guys make the most elaborate, fanciful, delightful and downright bizarre music we've possibly ever heard. It certainly wasn't what Em was expecting when they opened for St. Vincent earlier this year, but they ended up blowing her away and we can't wait to hear more from the Philadelphia duo.
One of LA's top indie acts that are ready to break out in a big way, all 4-part harmonies and pounding toms. They're already popular overseas, having toured the UK and Europe in 2009, and they've just been signed to NY label Frenchkiss Records (home of The Antlers, Passion Pit, The Dodos, etc.) They played a soldout show at the Echo the other night - their last US show until the domestic release of Gorilla Manor (February 5) - and any Angelenos who made it out will be lucky enough to say they were there first.
Marching Band Unlike a lot of the Scandinavian music we receive here at GFP, this isn't dark, experimental, or haunting. Marching Band's music is for the most part poppy, pretty and highly enjoyable. It will definitely leave your head bopping and your toe tapping, and since a lot of amazing stuff is coming out of Scandinavia right now, I think we can expect to see them fair well here in the US.
One of our writers, Diana, has been into Avi Buffalo for a little over a year now and we can't wait to see what SubPop does for them in 2010. Seeing Avi play his Fender Jaguar will make you envious that you're not 19 years old, winning folks over with a high falsetto and lines like, "you are tiny and your lips are like little pieces of bacon."
What's In It For? [mp3] - (iTunes)
FredrikTheir album Na Na Ni was on our Best Albums of 2008, and their album Trilogi was supposed to come out this year, but has been pushed back to January of 2010. So keep your eye out for that. The one track they've released from it is even more haunting, dark and stunning than the highly experimental Na Na Ni, and we've heard that the rest of Trilogi is supposed to follow suit.
We still don't know why this band isn't signed. Their debut Shouting At Mountains was quite solid, and the 3 shows Diana attended of their June residency at Spaceland were easily the best shows she's seen this whole year. Nate Cole has all the charisma a frontman needs and more, and the songs are just an awesome mix of blues, rock, and pop. They've been going strong in the LA scene for a couple years now, so we have my fingers crossed that 2010 will be their year.
Skipping Stepping Stones [mp3] - (iTunes)
tUnE-YaRdS tUnE-YaRdS, aka Merrill Garbus is incredibly intriguing to say the least. Her unique rhythms, complicated music and full voice make for an interesting listen. However, her debut album, Bird Brains, was made very much DIY-style, and while she certainly does quite well with very little, we would love to hear what she can do with some real production value behind her. Hopefully we will get the chance considering how much buzz she has gotten this year.
Their debut album Astro Coast is dropping January 2010, and having listened to a couple of the tracks, we wager that it'll probably take a few months for news to properly circulate about this band. Surfer Blood has somehow managed to encompass that guilty pleasure of 90's pop-rock sound of Weezer and Keane and structure it into a sophisticated-yet-carefree indie rock throwback with added fuzzy flair for the upcoming decade.
Floating Vibes [mp3] - (iTunes)
Gamble House One of Diana's bandmates introduced her to Gamble House a couple months ago, and she recommends them to anyone who is a fan of pre-Veckatimest Grizzly Bear. This year they self-released an album of low-key indie/folk-ish music that goes beyond the standard vocals/guitar M.O., incorporating banjo, bells, keyboards and other little flourishes that reflect the band's jazz background. Definitely worth checking out.
Central Park [mp3] - (no online purchase available)
For a duo that has yet to come out with a full-length album, Phantogram sure has a pretty big following. A bit reminiscent of Blonde Redhead, their electro-dance-rock certainly will get you moving. They're great live and we look forward to hearing what they come out with in the future.
When I'm Small [mp3] - (iTunes)
Ravens & ChimesSo they were on our list of Artists to Watch for 2009 last year, but unfortunately they didn't end up coming out with any new stuff this past year. However, it is confirmed that they will be coming out with an album in 2010, so we are putting them on the list again because we love them that much. Hopefully, after going through some major member changes this year (only two of the people in this picture are still in the band but we can't find any more recent ones...), next year will be a successful one for them. Here's one of the songs off their upcoming 2010 album.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Honorable Mentions 2009
These are songs or albums that we thought deserved a mention, even though they didn't quite make our Best Albums list.
Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring
Even though Regina Spektor remains one of our top musicians of all time, her latest release, Far, was not as crazy, spunky, elegantly raw or as zesty as hoped. There were standout tracks that enticed the popular masses like "Laughing With," the earworm "Eet," and the dark and buzzing "Machine," but after a dozen or so listens, we found myself wanting to listen more to Regina's numbers from years past (like "Prisoners" and "Baby Jesus"). It was good album, don't get us wrong, but not groundbreaking for Spektor, and so we place her here amongst the honorable mentions.
Machine [mp3] - (iTunes)
Alvin Band - Mantis Preying
What an interesting concept - an album of vocal experimentation, where all the sounds on the whole album are made by one guy's voice (Rick Alvin Schaier). The variety of sounds and the range of his voice is pretty impressive on it's own, and Mantis Preying has a few really stellar tracks, such as the haunting "Mystery of the Yellow Room," a very dark and incredibly well put together Phantom of the Opera medley.
The Fame Monster doesn't quite compare to Lady Gaga's debut, The Fame. There's only really one standout hit that we really liked - "Bad Romance" - whereas The Fame was stuffed full of crazy dance hits. However, Lady Gaga continues to be an amazing performer and I'm sure we can expect her to dominate the dance scene for years to come.
Bad Romance [mp3] - (iTunes)
Anni Rossi – Rockwell
Em predicted that Anni Rossi would make it in the music world many years ago, when they went to the same high school and Em saw her perform at the music shows there. Anni's versatility and playful style will take her far, and she has drawn comparisons to everyone from Regina Spektor to PJ Harvey to the Jonas Brothers (seriously?). Her label debut, Rockwell, shows off her skills well, despite its lack of production value, and is a good sign of the wonderful things we can expect from her in the future.
Loney Dear have the gift of being one of those bands who shine brighter in concert than on album format, but it does help when you have good stuff to work with in the first place. This Swedish multi-instrumental syllabic-infused orchestral pop wonder retains a more mature and aged sound than Loney Dear's previous works, and the tracks nicelybop along on top a quiet foundation of synths and Emil Svanangen's gentle-yet-energetic falsetto voice. All in all, Svanangen manages to bring forth something totally different and wonderful, songs that both move the foot and the soul, while tapping into the child-like exhilaration that lingers within the depths of all of us.
Airport Surroundings [mp3] - (iTunes)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs always show us a good time, and It's Blitz! has a few very solid dance tracks on it, sure to make you rock out, such as "Zero," or the oft-remixed "Heads Will Roll." There's also the pretty ballad, "Runaway," which we were impressed by, as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs aren't all that known for ballads.
Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
"Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" actually came out in 2008, but it was everywhere this year so we think it deserves a mention. From the Beyonce/Justin Timberlake/Adam Samburg music video spoof on SNL, to the football team on Glee to the middle-aged guy at the dueling piano bar (sorry, no video of that one) - this dance inspired many amazing pop culture moments, and for that, Beyonce (and Beyonce's choreographers), we thank you.
Tegan & Sara's frenzied rock 'n' roll single "Hell," from their album Sainthood, is sure to make you sing along, if you can keep up with the quick lyrics. The rest of the album has some catchy songs, but "Hell" definitely stands (or rocks) out high above the rest and is one of our favorite singles of this year.
Hell [mp3] - (iTunes)
Chris Garneau - El Radio
Chris Garneau's reminds of us of a male version of Regina Spektor in her earlier days - alternating between gorgeous, heartfelt ballads and playful, dark, intricate (some might even say "weird") pieces. Most of his songs are piano based and he has a versatile, unique voice. Considering how much we love Regina here at GFP, that comparison is a pretty massive compliment. But make no mistake - just because we are comparing them, does not mean that Chris Garneau's music is not his own. Quite the contrary, Garneau is unique and refreshingly different.
Within the music blog world Owl City is quite disputed. We have to say, as much as it might sound like a rip off of Death Cab or Postal Service (can Adam Young really help it if his voice sounds just like Ben Gibbard's?), "Fireflies" is a damn catchy song and even a really sweet, earnest one at that. Plus the guy recorded it in his basement in small town Minnesota and now it's gone double platinum. That's pretty impressive.
Fireflies [mp3] - (iTunes)
Romona Falls - Intuit
A solo side project of Menomena's Brent Knopf, these swirling, tortuously layered, almost sinister songs masterfully weave in and out of various genres, but remain anchored in an acoustic guitar-layered dreamland of sorts that is reminiscent of folk-experimental Grizzly Bear. The album reverberates all over the place, and although it is certainly one of those albums to be digested time and time again, some tracks like "Going Once, Going Twice" fall short, marring the overall experience.
This is a quite catchy song off of a solid album put out by this Norwegian duo. "Boat Behind" reminds us of summertime and the carefree days spent with good friends. The uniqueness of their music manifests itself in this song, and it stands out as the best offering from their recent album Declaration of Dependence. The video for the song is a must-see as well.
Boat Behind [mp3] - (iTunes)
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
From the duo made famous by their "little film that could," Once, continues to produce music together under the name The Swell Season. The deep voice of Glen Hansard is complimented well by the soft voice of Marketa Irglova, and his guitar and her piano provide a nice balance as well. As the album is about the end of their relationship together, it is part of an emotional journey we've all experienced a time or two.
Good Classical-based Indie/Electronica is hard to come by these days, especially when it needs to compare itself to the likes of Yann Tiersen and Sigur Ros. When you find it and then learn that the composer only created the 7-song album as part of a personal challenge to write a song every day for a week, you start to get into "blown away" territory. The songs are extremely well polished - laden with divine emotional piano melodies, garnished with thick dramatic strings and pin-pricked with precise and well-thought out electronica. The only complaint, outside perhaps of it staying within its basic genre boundaries, is that there is not more to listen to.
Ljósið [mp3] - (iTunes)
Clare and the Reasons - Allow
With her light, airy voice and her saccharine, bouncy music, Clare and the Reasons are always a pleasure to listen to (or watch live). That catchy, summery tunes will get stuck in your head for days, but you won't mind because the songs are just so pleasant that you can't help but smile, bop your head and whistle along.
All The Wine [mp3] - (iTunes)
Noah and the Whale - The First Days of SpringDiana fought hard to get this album on our Best Albums list, as it was one of her favorites of the year, but there weren't quite enough votes for it, so we're giving it an honorable mention. Here's what she had to say about the album: "Sometimes I'm just drawn to sad things, and I love a good breakup song; it's not a bad deal when you get some respite in the end. Next time you feel snubbed by your guy or gal, try a healthy dose of 'Blue Skies.'"
Even though Regina Spektor remains one of our top musicians of all time, her latest release, Far, was not as crazy, spunky, elegantly raw or as zesty as hoped. There were standout tracks that enticed the popular masses like "Laughing With," the earworm "Eet," and the dark and buzzing "Machine," but after a dozen or so listens, we found myself wanting to listen more to Regina's numbers from years past (like "Prisoners" and "Baby Jesus"). It was good album, don't get us wrong, but not groundbreaking for Spektor, and so we place her here amongst the honorable mentions.
Machine [mp3] - (iTunes)
Alvin Band - Mantis Preying What an interesting concept - an album of vocal experimentation, where all the sounds on the whole album are made by one guy's voice (Rick Alvin Schaier). The variety of sounds and the range of his voice is pretty impressive on it's own, and Mantis Preying has a few really stellar tracks, such as the haunting "Mystery of the Yellow Room," a very dark and incredibly well put together Phantom of the Opera medley.
The Fame Monster doesn't quite compare to Lady Gaga's debut, The Fame. There's only really one standout hit that we really liked - "Bad Romance" - whereas The Fame was stuffed full of crazy dance hits. However, Lady Gaga continues to be an amazing performer and I'm sure we can expect her to dominate the dance scene for years to come.
Bad Romance [mp3] - (iTunes)
Anni Rossi – Rockwell Em predicted that Anni Rossi would make it in the music world many years ago, when they went to the same high school and Em saw her perform at the music shows there. Anni's versatility and playful style will take her far, and she has drawn comparisons to everyone from Regina Spektor to PJ Harvey to the Jonas Brothers (seriously?). Her label debut, Rockwell, shows off her skills well, despite its lack of production value, and is a good sign of the wonderful things we can expect from her in the future.
Loney Dear have the gift of being one of those bands who shine brighter in concert than on album format, but it does help when you have good stuff to work with in the first place. This Swedish multi-instrumental syllabic-infused orchestral pop wonder retains a more mature and aged sound than Loney Dear's previous works, and the tracks nicelybop along on top a quiet foundation of synths and Emil Svanangen's gentle-yet-energetic falsetto voice. All in all, Svanangen manages to bring forth something totally different and wonderful, songs that both move the foot and the soul, while tapping into the child-like exhilaration that lingers within the depths of all of us.
Airport Surroundings [mp3] - (iTunes)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!The Yeah Yeah Yeahs always show us a good time, and It's Blitz! has a few very solid dance tracks on it, sure to make you rock out, such as "Zero," or the oft-remixed "Heads Will Roll." There's also the pretty ballad, "Runaway," which we were impressed by, as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs aren't all that known for ballads.
The title track from this album was one of the best ballads to emerge from 2009, as Scott and Seth Avett are masters at crooning thoughtful mellow-rock piano and banjo numbers with conversational yet pensively beautiful lyrics such as "Acting like someone I know isn't me/ ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed." While the songs are wonderfully produced and the feeling is fantastically poignant, the focus remains on the ballads, never indulging the listener with enough bang to push the boundaries.
I and Love and You [mp3] - (iTunes)
I and Love and You [mp3] - (iTunes)
Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" actually came out in 2008, but it was everywhere this year so we think it deserves a mention. From the Beyonce/Justin Timberlake/Adam Samburg music video spoof on SNL, to the football team on Glee to the middle-aged guy at the dueling piano bar (sorry, no video of that one) - this dance inspired many amazing pop culture moments, and for that, Beyonce (and Beyonce's choreographers), we thank you.
Tegan & Sara's frenzied rock 'n' roll single "Hell," from their album Sainthood, is sure to make you sing along, if you can keep up with the quick lyrics. The rest of the album has some catchy songs, but "Hell" definitely stands (or rocks) out high above the rest and is one of our favorite singles of this year.
Hell [mp3] - (iTunes)
Chris Garneau - El Radio Chris Garneau's reminds of us of a male version of Regina Spektor in her earlier days - alternating between gorgeous, heartfelt ballads and playful, dark, intricate (some might even say "weird") pieces. Most of his songs are piano based and he has a versatile, unique voice. Considering how much we love Regina here at GFP, that comparison is a pretty massive compliment. But make no mistake - just because we are comparing them, does not mean that Chris Garneau's music is not his own. Quite the contrary, Garneau is unique and refreshingly different.
Within the music blog world Owl City is quite disputed. We have to say, as much as it might sound like a rip off of Death Cab or Postal Service (can Adam Young really help it if his voice sounds just like Ben Gibbard's?), "Fireflies" is a damn catchy song and even a really sweet, earnest one at that. Plus the guy recorded it in his basement in small town Minnesota and now it's gone double platinum. That's pretty impressive.
Fireflies [mp3] - (iTunes)
Romona Falls - IntuitA solo side project of Menomena's Brent Knopf, these swirling, tortuously layered, almost sinister songs masterfully weave in and out of various genres, but remain anchored in an acoustic guitar-layered dreamland of sorts that is reminiscent of folk-experimental Grizzly Bear. The album reverberates all over the place, and although it is certainly one of those albums to be digested time and time again, some tracks like "Going Once, Going Twice" fall short, marring the overall experience.
This is a quite catchy song off of a solid album put out by this Norwegian duo. "Boat Behind" reminds us of summertime and the carefree days spent with good friends. The uniqueness of their music manifests itself in this song, and it stands out as the best offering from their recent album Declaration of Dependence. The video for the song is a must-see as well.
Boat Behind [mp3] - (iTunes)
The Swell Season - Strict JoyFrom the duo made famous by their "little film that could," Once, continues to produce music together under the name The Swell Season. The deep voice of Glen Hansard is complimented well by the soft voice of Marketa Irglova, and his guitar and her piano provide a nice balance as well. As the album is about the end of their relationship together, it is part of an emotional journey we've all experienced a time or two.
Good Classical-based Indie/Electronica is hard to come by these days, especially when it needs to compare itself to the likes of Yann Tiersen and Sigur Ros. When you find it and then learn that the composer only created the 7-song album as part of a personal challenge to write a song every day for a week, you start to get into "blown away" territory. The songs are extremely well polished - laden with divine emotional piano melodies, garnished with thick dramatic strings and pin-pricked with precise and well-thought out electronica. The only complaint, outside perhaps of it staying within its basic genre boundaries, is that there is not more to listen to.
Ljósið [mp3] - (iTunes)
Clare and the Reasons - Allow With her light, airy voice and her saccharine, bouncy music, Clare and the Reasons are always a pleasure to listen to (or watch live). That catchy, summery tunes will get stuck in your head for days, but you won't mind because the songs are just so pleasant that you can't help but smile, bop your head and whistle along.
All The Wine [mp3] - (iTunes)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Best Albums of 2009
As you might be able to tell by our lack of posting, we were hard at work over the holidays putting together our end of the year lists. Today is the first of three lists - our Best Albums of 2009 list. So in no particular order, we present them to you:
The Antlers - Hospice
This intensely beautiful, heart-wrenching album is full of more tragedy than we would hope any one person would experience in a lifetime, much less a person of front man and writer Pete Silberman's young age. Hospice launched The Antlers to indie fame this year, and deservedly so. The haunting melodies strike us deeply in our cores and stay with us long after we've listened to them. Not that it's ever that long between listens, since the album has pretty much been on repeat on our playlists since it first came out in March.
Sylvia [mp3] - (iTunes)
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
Passion Pit - Manners
In a year stockpiled with celebrity deaths, who anticipated that Stanley Kubrick would be resurrected to orchestrate the best indie-pop album of 2009? Every moment of Manners contains a purposely placed hook - Kids singing! Catchy synth lines! A horn section! - but the album would amount to nothing more than a dizzying Go Team! disciple if not for the pitch-perfect layering of Michael Angelakos' heartfelt falsetto. Without it, Manners - and Passion Pit by proxy - would be an indistinguishable novelty act instead of a polished pop catharsis.
The Reeling [mp3] - (iTunes)
Matt Jones - The Black Path
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
While they've been on the music scene for a while, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was the album that really put French band Phoenix on the map. With catchy hits like "Lisztomania" and "1901," they rocketed through the indie masses alongside the album's vivid revivalist melodies and danceable indie-pop beats. A small smear of brit-pop shoegaze added for fun and the love for the film Breakfast Club that was reignited made this album a clear standout in 2009.
Metric - Fantasies
St. Vincent - Actor
St. Vincent's sophomore album, inspired, she says, by Prince, can take a little warming up to at first. Her songs are complex and many of them can't truly be appreciated on the first listen. But the more you listen to it, the more masterful layers you discover and the more you appreciate this virtuoso. Rocking guitar harmonics burst forth from fluttering wind instruments and St. Vincent integrates these two contrasting sounds flawlessly, even within the same song.
White Rabbits - It's Frightening
Florence and the Machine - Lungs
Florence's powerful, rich voice and epically dramatic music make her debut album Lungs a force to reckon with, alternating between dark and stormy, with drums booming and her imposing vocals, and then flowery and romantic with plucky harps. But no matter what the style, the album never loses the dramatic flare that hooks you within the first few bars.
Discovery - LP
Fanfarlo - Reservoir
Reservoir is a package full of odds and ends that takes a while to unpack. The British sextet has created a well-crafted propulsive album that will make you laugh, cry, dance, sway or stand still in total revelry all within the same album. Their music has a warmth to it that is downright lovely. The exquisite instrumentation and lead singer Simon's distinct, cozy voice is enough to warrant more than a couple rounds of continuous listens.
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
The XX - XX
This debut album blew everyone away, with many describing it as downright perfect or fantastically innovative. Pitchfork called it "so fully formed and thoughtful that it feels like three or four lesser, noisier records should have preceded it." Indeed, it was a perfectly executed product from the London band of 20-somethings, with quiet instrumentation full of purpose and lyrics riddled with poignancy.
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
Comprised of star players like M. Ward (She & Him), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Monsters of Folk ventures into lands of varied and weathered styles, delivering quality and seamless song-work amongst the loose sea of rock-folk acoustic guitars and lush harmonies. Conor Oberst pens GFP writer Diana's favorite lyric of the year in "Temazcal," summing up a relationship that was never meant to be in less than 10 words: "love we made at gunpoint wasn't love at all."
The Antlers - Hospice This intensely beautiful, heart-wrenching album is full of more tragedy than we would hope any one person would experience in a lifetime, much less a person of front man and writer Pete Silberman's young age. Hospice launched The Antlers to indie fame this year, and deservedly so. The haunting melodies strike us deeply in our cores and stay with us long after we've listened to them. Not that it's ever that long between listens, since the album has pretty much been on repeat on our playlists since it first came out in March.
Sylvia [mp3] - (iTunes)
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest This anticipated album encompassed ingenious songcraft, never-ending unwinding textural and melodic flourishes, languid beatuy and sweeping rhythmic cavorts that cut to the center of any listener's ear. With painstaking attention to detail, Veckatimest soared above any fears of overproduction and swooped right into the land of absolute prowess.
Passion Pit - Manners In a year stockpiled with celebrity deaths, who anticipated that Stanley Kubrick would be resurrected to orchestrate the best indie-pop album of 2009? Every moment of Manners contains a purposely placed hook - Kids singing! Catchy synth lines! A horn section! - but the album would amount to nothing more than a dizzying Go Team! disciple if not for the pitch-perfect layering of Michael Angelakos' heartfelt falsetto. Without it, Manners - and Passion Pit by proxy - would be an indistinguishable novelty act instead of a polished pop catharsis.
The Reeling [mp3] - (iTunes)
Matt Jones - The Black Path We wrote about this album back in 2008, but it didn't technically come out until 2009, so we're going to write about it again because it's that good. Simply put, Matt Jones is a one-of-a-kind genius and this orchestral folk album is full of gorgeous, rich instrumentation and complex, deeply expressive lyrics. Matt Jones' music and unique voice are truly mesmerizing.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix While they've been on the music scene for a while, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was the album that really put French band Phoenix on the map. With catchy hits like "Lisztomania" and "1901," they rocketed through the indie masses alongside the album's vivid revivalist melodies and danceable indie-pop beats. A small smear of brit-pop shoegaze added for fun and the love for the film Breakfast Club that was reignited made this album a clear standout in 2009.
Metric - Fantasies Emily Haines always manages to create songs that are simultaneously melancholy or nostalgic and yet are awesome dance songs. You can rock out, yet feel an incredible emotional pull, and the songs are so catchy that they'll stay in your head for hours. Fantasies is no exception to this rule, and "Help I'm Alive" has not-so-slowly risen to be one of our most-played songs this year.
St. Vincent - Actor St. Vincent's sophomore album, inspired, she says, by Prince, can take a little warming up to at first. Her songs are complex and many of them can't truly be appreciated on the first listen. But the more you listen to it, the more masterful layers you discover and the more you appreciate this virtuoso. Rocking guitar harmonics burst forth from fluttering wind instruments and St. Vincent integrates these two contrasting sounds flawlessly, even within the same song.
White Rabbits - It's Frightening This percussion-driven band became a sensation this year with their aptly named, explosive "Percussion Gun." But these are no one hit wonders - their album was full of other good, very catchy, rumbling, crashing, banging, tapping songs. And while it might be easy for a band with such a focus on percussion to get in a rut where all their music sounds the same, they've managed to utilize a nice variety of sounds and genres, while still maintaining a cohesiveness over the entire album.
Florence and the Machine - Lungs Florence's powerful, rich voice and epically dramatic music make her debut album Lungs a force to reckon with, alternating between dark and stormy, with drums booming and her imposing vocals, and then flowery and romantic with plucky harps. But no matter what the style, the album never loses the dramatic flare that hooks you within the first few bars.
Discovery - LP The brainchild of Vampire Weekend keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles, this debut album, which was recorded over the course of three and a half years, makes for an unique and pleasantly intriguing experience. Inventive beats, playful rhythms and slick rushes of harmonious vocals dapple throughout this album, producing indie electro-pop at its finest.
Fanfarlo - ReservoirReservoir is a package full of odds and ends that takes a while to unpack. The British sextet has created a well-crafted propulsive album that will make you laugh, cry, dance, sway or stand still in total revelry all within the same album. Their music has a warmth to it that is downright lovely. The exquisite instrumentation and lead singer Simon's distinct, cozy voice is enough to warrant more than a couple rounds of continuous listens.
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca It's perplexing that an album translating to "Please Killer Whale" would lead Brooklyn's experimental class into the pop realm this year (along with Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear). Differentiating this effort from its Yale-crested musical-composition predecessors are the hooks. That's right: hooks. "Stillness is the Move" is an outright jam - not just by Dirty Projectors' standards, but by Left Eye Lopez (R.I.P.) standards. It might have been the track of 2009 that best defined the shift (for those aforementioned bands) from strictly creating songs principled in deconstructionist methodology towards a welcomed practice of lavishing in mind-bending indie hymnals, i.e., running the musical gamut - in styles, genres, tempos, key/time signatures - during every featured track on the album.
This debut album blew everyone away, with many describing it as downright perfect or fantastically innovative. Pitchfork called it "so fully formed and thoughtful that it feels like three or four lesser, noisier records should have preceded it." Indeed, it was a perfectly executed product from the London band of 20-somethings, with quiet instrumentation full of purpose and lyrics riddled with poignancy.
Elizabeth & the Catapult's sassy debut album that juxtaposes the freedoms of youth and the responsibilities of growing up is a delightful listen from beginning to end - with bubbly, bouncy child-like songs such as "Race You" to the serious Leonard Cohen cover of "Everybody Knows," it's a well-rounded album and a very solid debut indeed.
Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk Comprised of star players like M. Ward (She & Him), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Monsters of Folk ventures into lands of varied and weathered styles, delivering quality and seamless song-work amongst the loose sea of rock-folk acoustic guitars and lush harmonies. Conor Oberst pens GFP writer Diana's favorite lyric of the year in "Temazcal," summing up a relationship that was never meant to be in less than 10 words: "love we made at gunpoint wasn't love at all."
Deas Vail
Deas Vail (Latin for "Humble Servant of God") frontman Wes Blaylock's falsetto blew me away the first time I heard them sing their song "Shoreline." It completely comes out of nowhere and is unique in the music landscape today. Teamed up with his wife, Laura, on the piano and synth, they combine to create a one-of-a-kind sound. They've recently finished a recording produced by Mark Lee Townshend of Relient K and have been touring with the likes of Owl City and will be part of the Copeland's upcoming farewell tour.Their relentless touring has allowed them to create a nationwide base of fans which will only continue to grow. As Wes Blaylock stated, "To us, playing live is just as important as making records, maybe more. Even if we get tired of playing these songs, there's meaning in the lyrics and we still feel like it's good music." Here's to continued success to a very talented group.
A few tour dates:
March 8 - New York, New York - Bowery Ballroom w/ Copeland
March 9 - Brooklyn, New York - Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Copeland
March 14 - Chicago, Illinois - Metro w/ Copeland
March 15 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater w/ Copeland
March 30 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse w/ Copeland
April 1 - Austin, TX - Emo's Outdoors w/ Copeland
More dates listed on the band's Myspace
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The Dialogue
The first time I heard The Dialogue, I thought I was hearing Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate/Jack's Mannequin) singing on a side project, it totally threw me for a loop. They are an indie-rock band out of Baltimore, and though they've only released an EP to this point, I think they're headed for bigger things. They'll be playing at SXSW from March 17-21 and are in the process of finishing up some new songs to be released soon, including one up on their Myspace now.
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