Jose Gonzalez's new video for Down the Line is pretty dark. even though I don't really get it I really like it. It's directed by Andreas Nillson, who's also behind many of the Kinfe's wierd videos. From the two songs I've heard it sounds way darker and a bit louder than Veneer was. I'm sure a lot of people were expecting another version of Veneer, but I'm really happy he's growing musically and making tracks like this. Too bad I can't find out how to attach the video to this post do go here.
And this recording isn't on the record but there is a cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop" on there, and here's a bootleg of a performance he did of the song. I can't wait to hear a good recording of this track. Teardrop (live)
Sorry if you were looking forward to it. But I don't have too much sympathy cause I think this is a well deserved break, considering I've only missed my daily post once.
But on another note, I'm putting up a poll, but it's not really a poll. I'd like every single person who reads this to vote, because it's to give me an idea of how many readers I have. If you read this and don't vote... well I won't like that too much.
I've been digging lots of indie and folky songs as of late. Small, minimal, acoustic. Or actually, I guess indie more sums it up, because Stars and Death Cab aren't always really acoustic or minimal at all. Not much else to say, here are the songs I like a lot now.
Death Cab For Cutie - Expo' 86 Off of one of my favorite albums ever, it flows front to back so well, each song makes the next song better just by being next to each other. This is one of the more average songs on the album, but it's melodies and hooks are so hard not to love. Buy Transatlanticsm
Stars - Window Bird I've really been liking this album a lot. The bass and drums are so tight and... groovey(?). It's really mellow and Amy's and Torquil's voices work extra nice on al these tracks. Pre-Order In Our Bedroom After the War
Fionn Regan - Snowy Atlas Mountains I was thinking about buying this album just based on this and another song I have, bought I have it on hold at the library instead (I know, I'm cheap). But this song is so damn pretty. When the drums and strings kick in, I get suckered in every time. Buy The End of History
American Analog Set - The Kindness of Strangers I only have about 10 tracks of theirs, but now I'm going to buy Know By heart for sure. Once you get into one song a lot, you get into all their songs a lot. Sometimes it's good have a very one sound kind of thing when your sound is this good. And I just absolutely love this song. Buy Know By Heart
Joni Mitchell - California I actually just got into Joni Mitchell really recently. As a kid you shrug off all your parent's music and think they can't like anything cool or good, but recently I started looking at my parent's records more and listened to some of the stuff that drove me nuts as a kid and it's actually sort of cool. But Jony Mitchell especially, and my mom's super psyched that I'm listening to her now. Buy Blue
Pretty much assume when I do an Album Feature I'm just going to rant about it for the whole time, because it's such a good album. This is such a good album. Personally I think it's Damien Jurado's best, and I can't think of any other artist who's latest work is my favorite. By the opening track, Hoqiuam, it starts strong with that beautiful cello that perfectly compliments the songs on almost every track. The recording and production on this record is so lush and quiet, but the emotion is so strong the songs are almost overwhelming. A song that really showcases this is the title track, which is definitely qualifiable as one of my favorite songs ever made. is the title track, which is definitely qualified for one of my favorite songs ever made. I'm really struggling for words to describe the song, it's just so powerful. The strings and the drums definitely drive the track. It manages to be quiet but booming at the same time and every word that Damien almost whispers sounds tragic and captivating. The album keeps the same mood practically throughout the whole 12 songs for the most part, and while some songs start to blend together (like I am Still Here and Shannon Rhodes) I find that's OK because I usually end up wanting to play some songs over, but it leaves you with a really complete feeling when the album finishes (even the artwork captures the same mood). And the lyrics separate each song from the rest. Damien Jurado has a great narrative voice in his songs. I wonder how much of his songs are real stories or if he imagines these sort of things playing out in his head. Either way, it's incredible and it paints such an amazing picture in your head. He barely has to say two sentences and you already get a sense of what's happening in the song. The songs I mentioned earlier, I Am Still Here and Shannon Rhodes really prove these songwriting skills. And I had No Intentions is probably the saddest song I've ever heard, every time I hear it I can't help but feel the tragedy depicted. I'm a huge fan of pretty much everything Damien's done (that I know of) but I always end up listening to this album the most, and I usually get hooked and end up listening to it all the way through. Here are a few of my favorite tracks: Hoqiuam Denton, TX I had No Intentions And Now That I'm in Your Shadow I am Still Here
Seriously, you should own this album. Buy it Here.
And he's working on a new album too, I'm really looking forward to that. I don't know what to expect.
Try to catch Damien Jurado on tour, opening for Okkervil River:
I don't like the name of this day anymore. Whatever, here are some not-so-common songs.
Wolf Parade - Claxxon's Lament A cover of a Blackout Beach song. Blackout Beach is just Cary Mercer's side project from Frog Eyes, it gets mislabled as a Frog Eyes cover frequently. But it's really good. Wold Parade don't usually get this quiet.
Thom Yorke - Analyse (Live) This is really wonderful. A really great stripped down perfeormance of the song, just Thom on the piano. It's not the best he could have done I feel but it still sounds pretty great.
Ratatat - The Mule remix (Z-ro, Devin the Dude and Juvenile) Not really rare, but I just had to post one of these remixes. I've been listening to them a lot lately, they're just so cool. It's wierd how good this is and how terrible the originals are.
Quannum MC's Meet Jurassic 5 - Concentration I found this track this year and I was so wowed. It's got so many of my favorite MC's and producers. Here's the list: Chali 2na, Zaakir, Akil, Marc Se7en, Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Lyrics Born, Chief Xcel, DJ Nu-Mark, Cut Chemist, and DJ Shadow. All on one track!!! Jesus Christ. Don't worry, it does not dissapoint.
CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Hot Chip Remix) I like CSS. I like Hot Chip. But the math doesn't always add up well, sometimes Hot Chip's remixes aren't so good (like their !!! one). Sometimes they're amazing, but sometimes... I get nervous they won't work. This one starts slow but luckily it's long and it eventually builds up and breaks into this really sweet groove by the end. And strangely it's less of a party song now, the vibe totally gets switched up.
I really really like falling asleep to music. I love the feeling of being half awake and half asleep and being aware of what's happening but it feels like reality is a little distorted. And when you wake up you can remember the last song you heard and look on iTunes at what order the songs were played and figure out what time you went to sleep. Awhile ago I crafted one of the best sleep playlists I've ever made, seriously. I can't post the whole 32 song long thing but I'll type it all up and post a few tracks. It's mostly acoustic type stuff from singer-songwriters, but when I'm in that right moodit feels awesome and I go to sleep like that *snaps fingers*. Hopefully you'll get to sleep just like that dog in that picture. Get ready for lush slow and sleepy acoustic beautiful goodness!
mmm... just typing it makes me want to crawl into my bed. 17 out of 33 songs I think is pretty good. Take advantage of this excessive amount of music and download all these songs! They're really good!
These are songs I've been listening to a lot lately. I'm going to talk about them and recomend them to you. Seriously download all of these if you don't have them already. And that's that.
Shout Out Louds - Very Loud I was bouncing aroud my bedroom last night, getting into this song. It's got so much energy. These guys aren't really special but they're real easy to like and the guy's voice is so cool. The chorus hook gets me everytime, it's just such a sweet melody.
Aesop Rock - Daylight Ever since the Block Party this songs been on heavy rotation with me. I like to think this is one of the Aesop Rock songs I can understand the lyrics meanings. Again, the chorus is enough to get you. "All I ever wanted was to pick apart the day, put the pieces back together my way." Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers I'm pretty new to Sleater-Kinney, I've just been really digging this song as of late, and this album for that matter. The melody in the chrous moves mountains! It's so powerful and huge sounding. I just love when they get loud and start yelling.
Caribou - Melody Day I'm a sucker for hooks and choruses, all these songs have been like that so far, and especially this one. I like when singers can pull off falsetto's without it sounding cheesy. Plus I really like the video.
Honeyroot - Nobody Loves You (The Way I Do) Thank you so much to Alex at Be Kind & Remind for recomending this to me cause I've been listening to it a ton for the last month or so. I don't know why I like it so much, just the melody and the way it builds. It's super simple but it's got an awesome groove and it's really easy to tap into.
Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy Vast Aire's verse in this song is amazing. I need to buy this CD soon, it's so good. And the intro, I'm extra fond of that.
Devendra Banhart - Long Haired Child I've been listening Cripple Crow a lot lately, so I just had to choose one of my favorite cuts from that album, and this is it. It's got Devendra's witty humour all over the lyrics, which I love. Antony and the Johnsons - Fistful of Love Another album I've been getting into a lot lately. It's so beautiful, words can't describe. When you really get into these songs it takes a bit out of you emotionally cause it's so powerful and emotional. This track, not so much, but it is the song I've been listening to the most lately. Despite the lyrics, it's an incredibly uplifting song. It starts out with just that steady groove that's really mellow and it slowly builds into the soulful ending that always gets me super pumped for the day.
