Now weekly adding a video and a song from really any point in time. These will show new bands, past bands, and just classic tracks. Enjoy it.
Sunny Day Real Estate-In Circles
This band is so 90s it almost hurts. Really though a showing of emo musics roots. At one point it actually was good, an emotional, depressing song from these guys off the album Diary. It's a good one don't hate.
Olivia Tremor Control- Gravity Car
The Gravity Car - The Olivia T... These guys came out in 90s as well (not intentionally both 90s bands), and are now split up. They make some amazing indie rock, with ridiculous instrumentation, and effects to boot. Goofy lyrics and reminiscent of The Beatles OTC rocked the 90s softly.
Pop? Upbeat? Fast Tempo? Yes, this is Animal Collective (Indie music superstars), and I'm sure you're going to be asking quite a few questions when you hear their newest outing Merriweather Post Pavillion, from Domino Records. This is album is a bit more like Strawberry Jam, and really different from anything from the likes of Feels, People, Water Curses, or Sung Tongs. Listening to this album, you will see that Animal Collective really can perfect any style they want to do. If you are not a big fan, or have never even heard of this trio well get ready to meet them. This is easily Avey Tare, Panda Bear, and the Geologist's (These are obviously just nicknames) most accessible album to date. Merrriweather is well Animal Collective's first real pop album. Oh and just to get this out of the way, the cover is illusion art by Akiyoshi Kitaoka.
Now if you're a person who has really followed AC over their music careers, this album should really be no surprise to you whatsoever. Just hearing Strawberry Jam, you knew that they were becoming a little bit more upbeat and poppy. Is this a bad thing? No, it really isn't, I really see no problem with becoming more pop, but that's only if the music doesn't suffer. Another surprising thing is, none of the albums have suffered from many of the members doing their own side projects, for example Person Pitch from Panda Bear, or Avey Tare working with his wife on Pullhair Rubeye. These guys really have their shit together, and love to keep putting out original music for all the hipsters, (Now everyone I guess? It is fucking pop) there really is a reason they have been a sensation in the music world. Classify them how you want freak folk, pop, even trance, whatever but they really have one of the more unique sounds today in the music world. One thing with Merriweather though, is that it only boasts one slower song. The songs, are obviously very catchy (can be good or bad), and it would be bad for this trend to continue I believe. I'm scared that are falling into a trap other bands have gotten themselves into, that of selling out. They are a completely different sounding band from their first albums, Song Tongs or Spirit They've Gone Spirity They've Vanished. The only thing that is similar really, is that of Avey Tare's voice, his yelling and screaming has really been a constant for Animal Collective, and this is key to the band's odd music making success. Though something nice,and unexpected from this album is, you will hear Panda Bear Singing more (No Geologist does not sing too many loops to worry about).
Now to start to speak about Merriweather, get ready honestly for more synth than ever. These guys have really become masters of looping, which is a sample of music that is being constantly repeated. You will hear a lot of different loops, many crazy sound effects, and Avey Tare and Panda Bear shouting out the vocals. One nice thing this album does keep is really the odd noises made by the singers, which has been with every album, and thankfully has not gone away. Random yelling of nonsense, or humming suprisingly is one of the things that make them who they are. Nonsense is one of the big things with Animal Collective, from the yellings, all the way to their lyrics. You migth be thinking that their nonsense lyrics are something you will hate, but while a lot of it is nonsense, it does work for how odd the music sounds. Don't worry though many of lyrics are very thoughtful, and when you're reading the song reviews you will see what their all about.
Now the album will start off by fooling you with the opener In the Flowers, it really starts off as a throwback to older AC. It creeps up on you, opening with a very catching slow beat, and Avey's quiet but powerful voice. It speaks of a dancer Avey finds high in a field that catches his attention, and after about 2 minutes the song just explodes musically. The beats start pumping with a jolting synth, and crazy singing. Next you get to hear really what the album is all about, pop, with the song My Girls. While this song is really catchy speaking of things like My Girls as the title suggests the lyrics get oh so sensitive, such as "Is it much that I feel I need" "A solid soul and the blood I bleed". Avey also speaks of outlooks on life when yelling over major beats "I don't mean to seem like a I care about material things or my social status", and then letting us know what really is important to him "I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls". Here you start to see some nonsense like adobe slabs, really an undefinable term but it just seems to fit, for no reason. Just listen to the track and you'll get it. The third track Also Frightened asks all of us a simple question "Are you also frightened?", and repeats it many times, just like the other question int he song "Will it be just like I'm dreamin". The song touches on much more trippy lyrics, such as "Excited and screaming their voices go wild, and raise with the birds mating up in the clouds". Another highlight track is Bluish the fifth tack on album. It also opens up slowly, but really stays slow for everything but the catchy chorus. The song is more trippy including lyrics "Pulling me into another dream, a lucid dream", but the chorus really sells this one. The chorus opens with piano going up in key, more upbeat love like lyrics, and well matching synth. Most of the songs are extremely upbeat, or a combination of the two. A rare chill song for this album, No More Running, really goes back to their folk roots. The song includes odd lyrics lyrics, "I locked my bones and trapped my feet, I told them I found em a place to be" ,or, "No more runnin, says my mind". The chorus belts in harmonization between Panda and Avey "It's what I hope for", with for being elongated. The rest of the songs really are very poppy, even if they tend to open up slowly. The last song really speaks for the album as a whole this being Brothersport, including crazy lyrics, nutsy noises, and it is oh so catchy. The whole song, is just pop, loud beats, and awesome loops.
In total this album comes in around 55 minutes making Merriweather, Animal Collective's longest album they have ever released. I can only hope that if they keep their pop sound, that they wont end up losing their originility (selling out). For now, it is actually somewhat of a nice change of pace, even though I think everyone still really loves older Animal Collective. This is as was previously said their poppiest album to date, but that does not make it bad. It is honestly one of the best albums that will be released in 2009, and it was released in early January, which makes it somewhat of a great New Year's gift. If Animal Collective is going pop well I guess I am on board, with this release, they make me believe they can perfect anything they put their minds to. So the trio makes another amazing release, enjoy it and wait for an ep in a few months, so we can see what direction their going in then. I get a feeling they may change their pop ways, since these guys touch anything and it turns to gold. So go out buy this eleven track jamming album, and have fun. Until then Ill keep on runnin to get more music (godawful joke).
The album all together has a very upbeat feel in comparisons to that of ( ) , and others. Percussion is used frequently on the album, but don't worry the sound is still just the same as what you'd expect. Great synth and piano all in use, along with great singing. The album really does start as a big wave of excitement, and then in great fashion, mellows out very much at the end, with more piano. This album is very very good, a great listen, and another strong output by the band.
From your favorite Icelanders comes the new album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust or With a Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly. The first few tracks seem very strong, good use of percussion. Review this later, Animal Collective still coming.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
SNL January 17th 2009 just in case you missed this. Amazing live performance on SNL by Fleet Foxes with their song Mykonos. Now also added is better quality videos from SNL. Was'nt even aware they played Blue Ridge Mountains, until now. Both are great quality now really be sure to check these out, enjoy.
Really surprised to hear them play my personal favorite, Blue Ridge Mountains, from their self titled album. A song that really starts off with sweet slow melodies, and then picks up with amazing harmonization.
Also been slacking on the updates Animal Collective review done soon.
Slow and steady beat, good percussion, and always interesting guitar by the duo No Age. Goat Hurt is really an interesting depart from their usual jams. Even random song releases like this,they really seem to put a large amount of effort into it. One drawback is the style on song and the singing. Voice of the singer is just a bit too rough for the type of song it is attempting to be. Regardless it is still quite a good listen. Enjoy
Already heard teen creeps from Nouns their No Age's second album, but a new track is on the 7 inch called Intimate Descriptions more trance and slow, showing a shoegaze side to No Age. Really good track simple but enjoyable.
Ohio is not exactly my favorite place ever, but regardless some good music has to come out of it sometime. So I recently purchased that of Times New Viking's newest record Rip It Off . Assuming that many haven't heard of this band, I'll hand out some background. First you can see they're from Columbus, Ohio quite a boring place (not too different from my home town but whatever), the band consists of three members, Jared Phillips on guitar/vocals, Adam Elliott on drums, and Beth Murphy on keyboards/vocals. These three come together to make some of the most strong Lo-Fi noise rock in a long time. The band also sports to other full length albums, Dig Yourself, Present the Paisley Reich, both of which come out rather recently. If you were wondering how lo-fi, we are talking an 8 track recording.
The recording is what is going to stick out the most on record. If you can't take a band trying to be a bit artsy, than a personal suggestion would be to skip the listen. But, for those of you out there who are open to all types of music that use even recording styles to their creative advantage, you may want to buy or download this one. The entire album besides a small cut in one song is very rough. This roughness honestly comes off as quite charming, like listening to your best friends band, the only big difference is these guys are making good music. The washed out sound is really something original, and if this one of the new ways to make music then really I am all for it. Music has gotten less and less creative over the past years, and maybe sometimes taking a step back for creativity's sake is not a bad move.
So now that the lo-fi discussion is out of the way lets talk about the music itself. The album consists of 16 total songs all the way from Teen Drama to and ending post teen drama (haha). Now don't let that number of tracks full you, the album is only around 31 minutes in length, with most songs fast paced and right to the point. At their heart the band really pulls from noise rocks past and from of punk. A lot of the time voices are mostly drowned out by the blarind guitar with just tons of feedback smashing through the amps. The singers both also have voices fitting for this band, you wouldn't want them to perfect for what you're hearing, they belt out solid lyrics over nice guitar riffs and keyboard hits. Songs like the opener have lyrics that kind of mock teens so called dramas like "lets concieve a new concept of thoughtless" or "Is the right time to get wasted in the summer". We were all teens once and know of this rebellion that now we may look on, and laugh at. Well TNV nails a lot of things in their songs with the lyrics (even if a the lyrics sheet is needed to tell what their saying). Sometimes the band just writes some simple songs which really seem as though they could be pop, but that chance is ruined, for example in Faces on Fire a line "Lets do something that hasn't been done yet, I just can't wait to be near you.
Rip It Off is just what it sounds like carefree and rough. If you are looking for amazing singing, clear sound, and beautiful melodies you'll be dissapointed. The thing is you won't find it, but you will uncover some amazing noise rock. Really one of the best albums of the year 2008, and shows lo-fi is still a solid genre. So pick it up don't be surpised if you like the washed out sound charm and the solid song writing.
