2010 Progress Report: Beach House, Teen Dream

Welcome to the third installment of 2010 Progress Report -- thus far I've been talking up my favorite singles, but here I'm going to step off the flag and mention my favorite album of the year so far.

About 6 months ago I had no idea who Beach House was; I'd only heard the song "Gila" on a mixtape from a friend with no printed tracklist, so I didn't even know I was listening to them. I passed up the chance to see them open for Grizzly Bear in LA and went to the Noah and the Whale show instead (whose album The First Day of Spring was one of my top albums of 2009).

When the Baltimore, MD duo released the first single from this year's Teen Dream, "Norway," I wasn't totally convinced, but still curious so I bought the rest of the record. It was like going on a first date with someone and telling your friends it was sort of eh, but you wouldn't mind seeing them again if they asked. Then you go on a second and third date, and then a fourth date, and you realize they're kinda deep and smart and fragile and BAM! you start writing their name in hearts all over the post-Its in your cubicle.

I haven't been able to put this one down. There are some weeks I listen to it every day. Teen Dream is one of the rare albums I can get through without skipping more than once or twice, and it's versatile, too -- makes for a great daytime listen on half-sunny, not quite bright days, and it's good for city driving late at night. Roll the windows up and you feel like you're sitting with Victoria LeGrand, she's only singing for you. I think I read an interview once where she said these were supposed to be sultry, baby-makin' songs. Well hey, you can try that, too.

There are only 10 songs on the album, and unlike 2006's Beach House and 2008's Devotion (two other albums that deserve some words as well; post forthcoming) they do sometimes stray from the languid, downtempo "dream pop" that the band has become known (and sometimes condemned) for. The other day a co-worker friend told me he'd tried to get through some without wanting to kill himself....a fair assessment, sure, but there's so much beauty in this music -- the super simple drum machine beats paired with Alex Scally's guitar lines and the incessant organ haze, topped off by LeGrand's low, Nico-esque vocals. I'd love to hear a cover of VU's "Femme Fatale" from these guys.

**Looks like we're not allowed to link to Beach House songs, so check out this video of "Walk In The Park" from Pitchfork TV.





Bonus: Go here to watch a video of the P.S. 22 chorus singing "Zebra." Pretty awesome.

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

Diana 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.'"

Blue Skies [mp3] - (iTunes)

Regina Spektor – Far

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.

Mystery of the Yellow Room [mp3] - (iTunes)

Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster

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.

Wheelpusher [mp3] - (iTunes)

Loney Dear - Dear John

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.

Zero [mp3] - (iTunes)

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

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)

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.

Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) [mp3] - (iTunes)

Tegan and Sara - "Hell"

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.

Dirty Night Clowns [mp3] - (iTunes)

Owl City - "Fireflies"

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.

Russia [mp3] - (iTunes)

Kings of Convenience – "Boat Behind"

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.

In These Arms [mp3] - (iTunes)

Olafur Arnalds - Found Songs

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)

Album Review: Noah and the Whale - The First Days of Spring

Here we are at the end of 2009, and I haven't even written about my favorite album of the year. It's not on many people's (or anyone's) lists that I've seen so far but I love it. It's British indie quartet Noah and the Whale's The First Days Of Spring, released in the States back in early October as an 11-song album with a bonus 45-minute film carrying the same name.

I can never quite explain why I'm just attracted to some sad things. Now before you close your browser, run screaming in the other direction with visions of Thom Yorke's helmet filling up with water swimming through your head, and eBerate me for putting a damper on your day, let me just say that yes: this is a breakup album. But stay with me here folks. As the story goes, lead singer Charlie Fink broke up with girlfriend and ex-Noah collaborator Laura Marling before penning these tracks, and the result are some of my new go-to breakup songs.

Which brings us to what I love the most about The First Days of Spring. The songs run the gamut from epic, string-filled confessions that you've fucked everything up and now need to give yourself another chance at happiness ("The First Days Of Spring"), to long awkward silences at 4 am ("Our Window), to the first time you wake up with a new fling ("Stranger"), to finally realizing that it's all gonna get better one day ("My Door Is Always Open"). And it's the permeating hopefulness in the lyrics that makes this more than just a sad sack collection of indie pop tunes -- while still acknowledging the unavoidable pain on the way to recovery.

If I haven't described it well enough, have a listen to my two favorite tracks and let me know what you think:

"Blue Skies" [m4a]
"I Have Nothing" [m4a]

Noah And The Whale - "The First Days Of Spring"

London indie/folk/rockers and makers of beautiful music Noah And The Whale (named after director Noah Baumbauch and The Squid And The Whale - also worth checking out) are releasing their 2nd album on October 6th, entitled The First Days Of Spring. But don't be fooled -- the title track is so emotional and melancholy that it really recalls autumn or early winter, not spring, even though it's about spiritual rebirth and preparing to give yourself a second chance...something we could all use once in awhile. The whole album is available to listen to on Myspace, and after a cursory listen it sounds like all 11 songs are destined for my as-yet-empty "Autumn 2009" iTunes playlist. I'll be posting a full review shortly after the release date...so stay tuned.

Noah And The Whale are also planning a 7-day jaunt through select US cities, starting with LA (hurrah!) I'm buying my ticket today. If you live in any of these places, you might want to follow suit:

10/20 - The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA
10/22 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
10/24 - Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, WA
10/25 - Doug Fir Lounge - Portland, OR
10/29 - Lake Shore Theatre - Chicago, IL
10/30 - The Pike House - Pontiac, WI
10/31 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto

And without any further ado -- put on some huge headphones, lay down, and check out the title track from The First Days Of Spring.