The National, Sujfan Stevens and Richard Parry – Barcarola (You Must Be a Christmas Tree)
It’s like the Super Friends of indie rock! So The National, Sufjan Stevens and Richard Parry of Arcade Fire got together and recorded two Christmas songs, Silent Night and this original, Barcarola (You Must Be a Christmas Tree). While this isn’t a catchy, uplifting yuletide ditty, it captures that sentimental aspect with a yearning tone, from a time where...
Mew – Introducing Palace Players
Mew is a band from Denmark that has been releasing albums for nearly 15 years, but I was just recently introduced to them. Their sound ranges from dream pop to math rock within the scope of a single song, especially “Introducing Palace Players.” What initially feels like a lagging drum beat is actually a really special performance and a marvel of...
Smith Westerns – Weekend
Well-crafted and fun, the Smith Westerns’ “Weekend” is simply good pop rock. The sound lies somewhere in between early Sloan and the garage rock version of MGMT. Off their sophmore, Fat Possum release, Dye It Blonde, the band has obviously come into more money for recording but managed to keep their playful sound. And in...
Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
Somebody once posed the question, “If you could go back and see any band perform live in their prime, who would it be?” Of course thoughts of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones crossed my mind. I think I may have even toyed with The Who, thought about The Pixies (although their reunion tour was super rockin’)...
Crystal Castles – Celestica
Crystal Castles comfortably reside in harsh, bold sound that can even feel inhuman at times. Perhaps Ethan Kath and Alice Glass are simply human fronts for an all robot band that produces detached and eerily hypnotic music in a quest to . . . hmmm, take over the world just seems trite at this point; perhaps...
Pascal Pinon – I Wrote a Song
These Icelandic twins aren’t letting the cold, or the economy in their homeland get them down. I have a tendency to go in the opposite direction of cheerful music, but there is something so sincere drawing and sincere about their sound. The obvious comparison would be Tegan and Sara, but I get an early Aimee Mann vibe. They...
Sloan – Everything You’ve Done Wrong
Those masters of pop rock construction have an uncanny smile inducing ability . . . what is it about those Canadians? Ah, America’s hat has been great for smiles and laughs: Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Pictionary, dental mirrors, my Uncle Bob, those funny accents and of course, Sloan. Horn intro, layered vocals and jangly guitar...
Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar
If someone had played this song without telling me who it was, there is a good chance they could have sold it as Bill Withers. Much like Meyer Hawthorne minus the touch of shtick, Aloe Blacc brilliantly captures that old school soul, R&B sound that would make Bill and Marvin proud. It’s odd that artists like...
Girl Talk – Triple Double
I love a good mashup. And there’s no mix-master better than Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk.
Washed Out – Feel It All Around
How can something be so gentle, yet so epic? Washed Out is part of the chill wave craze, and while they have that throwback 80s element to their sound, it goes well beyond that. Well, it’s a bit misleading to refer to Washed Out as “they,” as it is Ernest Greene’s one-man project. His songs strike...
Bun B – Trillionaire
This is Southern Rap indulgence at its finest. Bun B, formerly of duo UGK is a precise M.C. and didn’t shy from the 808 rage with his newest album Trill O.G. “Trillionaire” is a perfect Friday throwdown and you should adapt the opening sentiment of: “They be hatin’ on me ’cause I’m the man.” Enjoy the throwback...
Cassius – I Love You So
What is it about these French electronica duos? Cassius creates epic sound and “I Love You So” is no exception. The repetitive lyric, “I love you so, but why I love you I never know,” essentially says everything on the subject. It’s the type of song you crank and feel like it’s an event. So volume up,...
