A Round of Applause

Okay, so maybe I lied about the reviews before. It's been a while and I'm still listening to more and more music I've never heard before. Case in point: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. I remember hearing the single off their debut album back in freshman year and being really annoyed by this dude's voice. Strangely now, it's not half bad and the music is the important part anyway right?

Only listening to this once I might have a glorified opinion of it but I think it's noteworthy. Every song (except the first track, which I wasn't a fan of) would fit perfectly on any mix tape. Their jangly, Talking-Heads-esque, catchy as hell brand of indie rock is incredibly inviting. If you like Bishop Allen or Takka Takka... even Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (minus the sadness of Broom) definitely give this a spin. I feel a little guilty getting into this so late in the game but better late than never, right?

::Coming Soon::

I've been in the midst of alot of new music (for me) so I'll be making/editing this post over the course of the next week or so.

Albums to Be Covered:

"Grrr..." by Bishop Allen (out March 10!)
"Summer Sun" by Yo La Tengo
"Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us" by Death Vessel

...for now here are some random tracks I recently remembered and highly recommend.

1. "GfC" by Albert Hammond Jr.
2. "Two Ways Out" by Darker My Love
3. "Come to View (Song For Neil Young)" by Arthur & Yu
4. "Hit The Snow" by The Aislers Set

*I always try here or here to find select MP3's

Catchy as a Cactus (Radio Friendly Mix)

Okay so I've been fairly proud of the playlists I've been cooking up for Sonorus (online radio show I'm on) so I figured I'd compile the last 3 or so weeks into one list. Don't worry, if you feel like making a CD all of 'em will definitely fit. Hope you enjoy it!

1. "Oh Mandy" by The Spinto Band
2. "I Love My Car" by Belle & Sebastian
3. "Sons & Daughters" by The Decemberists
4. "We Could Be Heroes" by David Bowie
5. "Artichokes" by Maps & Atlases
6. "Lights Out" by Santogold
7. "Imitation of Life" by R.E.M.
8. "Slow Motion" by The Flaming Lips
9. "After Hours" by We Are Scientists
10. "No Ceiling" by Eddie Vedder
11. "He Doesn't Know Why" by Fleet Foxes
12. "Always See You Face" by Love
13. "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off" by The Magnetic Fields
14. "Let Me Introduce My Friends" by I'm From Barcelona
15. "1st Time High (Re/De-Constructionist Jon Brion Remix of 'An Eluardian Instance')" by Of Montreal
16. "Be Gentle With Me" by Boy Least Likely To
17. "Know Your Onion!" by The Shins
18. "Here Comes Your Man" by The Pixies
19. "That's Entertainment (Demo Version)" by The Jam
20. "It'5" by Architecture in Helsinki
21. "Holland, 1945" by Neutral Milk Hotel

Get the whole playlist here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/576si1

Bigger Than Words

Before the Dawn Heals Us

by M83

Holy crap! This has got to be one of the most epic albums I have ever listened to. Before I had listened to the tracks "Teen Angst" and "Lower Your Eyelids to Die with the Sun" and I had no idea that the rest could keep up the pace. It opens up by steadily building. The dialogue in "Moonchild" begins by laying out the plans for the next hour:

They say I made the moon

Everything was in the dark

No memories at all

Just a tiny freezing wind in my back

As I was sitting there

Singing a song they had never heard before

Suddenly, a voice told me

"Keep on singing, little boy

And raise your arms in the big black sky

Raise your arms the highest you can

So the whole universe will glow"

Wow. There sound is electronic bombastic shoegazy post-rock... it's one of the biggest most ambitious sounds I've come across. The only things I can pick out would be the portions of dialogue which may test the listeners patience at times but there isn't enough for it to be a true concern. The combination of live drums and layered synth choirs build a wall of sound (which is, in truth, a weak description for M83's effort).

If you're into bands like Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky you'll more than appreciate this sublimely cavernous coma of sound.

First Post... Woohoo!

It's been long overdue for me to get a music blog, plus I think it would be really fun for me to have a log of what I've been listening to that I can go back to. My first post I won't go into too much detail about what I've been listening to currently but I think I'll just leave a playlist I made for my friend back in September. I'm also going to try and figure out how to post MP3's here so people can get the songs if they want.

Disorientation Week:

1. "Just Like Honey" by The Jesus & Mary Chain
2. "Take Care" by Alt-Ctrl-Sleep
3. "Metal Heart" by Cat Power
4. "Shelter From the Storm" by Bob Dylan
5. "Remember Me (I'm The One Who Loves You)" by Johnny Cash
6. "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" by Bright Eyes
7. "Baby Blue Sedan" by Modest Mouse
8. "Hippipola" by Sigur Ros
9. "Sleep at the Bottom" by Low
10. "Postcards From Italy" by Beirut
11. "Fight Song Melodies" by Eef Barzelay
12. "Stories of the Street" by Leonard Cohen
13. "Canon In D" by Pachelbel
14. "Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken" by Camera Obscura
15. "Vampire/Forest Fire" by Arcade Fire