School of Seven Bells - I L U

They always produce beautiful music. Their 2010 album Disconnect from Desire is out now.

Esmerine - Why She Swallows Bulletts

Esmerine produces a beautiful composition in "Why She Swallows Bullets" off of their 2005 album Aurora.

Cinematic Orchestra - To Build a Home

I initiate the beautiful music weak. First up is the Cinematic Orchestra's "To Build a Home" off of their 2009 album La Fleur. The British jass/electro outfit seemingly capture what it feels like to fall in love. Enjoy!

Florence and the Machine - Dog Days are Over

Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man

Seymour Bits - Put it Back Down

LCD Soundsystem - Home

You know, I take back anything that I ever said badly against LCD Soundsystem for both this song and video. Enjoy!

Daft Punk does TRON

Enough said. If you enjoyed the space opera of Human After All, you may want to check out TRON.

Let's talk J. Ralph

Joshua Ralph (J. Ralph) is a very prolific modern classical composer. He wrote the score for the movie Lucky Number Sleven, trailer above. Most likely, you would recognize his music from his work for car companies, like the Volkswagen clip below.



His combination of classical instruments and concepts with a modern/edgy interpretation really make the scores and compositions stand out. Growing up, I used to not listen to musics with lyrics and grew to really appreciate the complexity of sound in general (Godspeed You Black Emperor, Brian Eno, William Orbit, Explosions in th Sky, etc.). J.Ralph is worth a listen.

A Sunny Day in Glasgow - So Bloody, So Tight

A Sunny Day in Glasgow is a Philly based band that oddly toured through Ithaca, NY last year. They sound quite like a less refined, more gritty, less confident School of Seven Bells (see video below). But, any band that is brave enough to play in the Wildfire Lounge here in Ithaca (where the guests basically sit on top of you while you play) deserves a listen.

Plus, the video is quite cool with painted people. Enjoy!

m83 - We Own the Skies

Because post-punk experimental rock often is overlooked, here is m83's 2009 "We Own the Sky". Enjoy!

Life is...

My brain has been operating a lot like this recently, seeing the unity in most things. Probably because I have been listening to too much Radio Lab. Just putting a plug in for it, the broadcast is awesome.

The music behind this clip is Parachutes' "Where Were You" freely available on their myspace page.



Also, note that the waterfall in the second clip is actually Taughannock Falls out here in Ithaca. Yay Ithaca!

Brandon Flowers - Crossfire

Brandon Flowers of the Killers decided to branch off into solo work. All I am going to stay is he is MUCH better with the Killers.

Royksopp - The Drug

Royksopp released the counterpart to 2009's Junior with 2010's Senior. The mood is much different, darker, more broody. Hence, the overall creepiness of their video for "The Drug". A great addition to the Royksopp library overall and a stellar contrast to their pop infused last outing. Enjoy!

Kanye West - Power

Kanye West is back, and well, is very Kanye. Ego big, check. Beat stellar, check. Unusual rhyme scheme, check. All in all, a very Kanye outing.

Bag Raiders - "Way Back Home"

Bag Raiders resemble in many ways a younger version of the National. I would have more to say, 'cept time is creeping on and I gotta do Science! Check out their new album when it hits the waves October 1st of this year.

Cee Lo - "No One's Gonna Love You"

With the new school year off and started, the campus is populated again. I'm starting to get that DJ itch again, so thought I should revisit the ol' blog. I'll kick it off with a great cover of a Band of Horses' song by none other than Cee Lo (probably most famous for "Crazy" when he worked with Danger Mouse). A great video is attached and mimics the overall tone/intent of the song. Enjoy!

Godspeed is Reuniting!

In case you haven't heard, the great experimental band "Godspeed You Black Emperor" (put the ! wherever you see most appropriate)!!!

Cocorosie - Lemonade

Cocorosie seems to be challenging Fever Ray/the Knife for interesting sounds and unsettling subjects/music videos. Who knew creep was becoming a niche market?

The American born, Parisian based, sister-centered (Bianca and Sierra Cassidy) CocoRosie have been bringing their unsettling yet beautiful sound to audiences across Europe and the US since 2004. Their 2010 release Grey Oceans continues their journey into the manipulation of sound and living on the edge of acceptable music. Definitly worth the listen.

Knuckles - What I Like

Let's continue with the Suped Up Running Music. Knuckles (now known as Sovgner) hails from Paris and packs quite a musical punch. Personally, this makes me want to organize an urban relay team.

Vitalic - Second Lives

I'm back baby! Being homeless and without internet for a few days really can cramp blogging efforts. But no matter now! Let's kick off things with Vitalic's "Second Lives" from their 2010 album Flashmob. Now, this posting drifts slightly from my normal indie or pop song posts, but I really enjoy techno-trance music every now and then. On his most recent album, Pascal Arbez (aka Vitalic) captures the new disco influence that is emanating through dance clubs and recording studios. Overall, the album is a very strong showing for the electronic industry, an industry who fell out of popularity once the rave scene died away. But, if you are looking for really inspirational running or exercise music, I would recommend checking Vitalic out!

The Black Keys - Tighten Up

The Black Keys are ridiculously good right now. Still moving, so blog is kinda on semi-leave at the moment.

FM Belfast - Underwear

Jammed for time as I am moving, but enjoy FM Belfast's "Underwear"!

Goldfrapp - Alive

Goldfrapp released her new album Head First earlier this month. The retro-respective romp provides a nostalgia for sounds that were predominant in the 1970s and 1980s. The video for "Alive" is no exception. The current craze of vampires is melded with the 80's throwback of large hair and legwarmers. Enjoy!

Battle of the Divas: Queen Gaga, NY Beyonce, and Italy still loves Madonna

Hello all-

Some more datafaction for you today. First up, which diva is ruling the internets? Let us consult the might oracle Google to see which artist tops the search engine out of Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and Keisha (without the money sign).

Figure 1. Search volume index versus time for the search terms Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Ke$ha. Data provided by Google Trends(c) and accessed on May 18th, 2010.

Lady Gaga's popularity exploded and has cast her as the dominant diva to date.  Even Taylor Swift's drama dwarfs the peak searches for Lady Gaga.  Beyonce comes in a distant second with Taylor Swift and Madonna coming in about third.  Keisha (or Kei$ha) will be discussed at the end.  However, do not discount the power of Beyonce, let's zoom into New York City.

Figure 2. Search volume index for New York City, NY for the search terms Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Keisha. Data provided by Google Trends(c) and accessed on May 18th, 2010.

While Lady Gaga may be Queen of the World, Beyonce dominates her in the City that Never Sleeps.  And Madonna still has global staying power, look at Italy.

Figure 2. Search volume index for Italy for the search terms Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Keisha. Data provided by Google Trends(c) and accessed on May 18th, 2010.

NOTE: In the bar graphs, Kesha is spelled wrong, the search term was correct though.

Now back to Kesha (or Ke$ha, or what have you). The problem she is facing is that most people know her song and not her. Nearly as many people have searched for the song "Tik Tok" as they have "Kesha". So, she hasn't reached stardom yet, her music is just a little catchy (and poppy annoying).

Ramona Falls - Russia

I've posted previously about Ramona Falls, but they just released a new video for "Russia", the song that originally made me listen to this band. The video is really well done and pretty humorous as well, and in a way, teaches a good lessen. Sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes you have to escape.

Gorillaz' Plastic Beach - Success or Otherwise?

The Gorillaz released Plastic Beach nearly five years after their mega-hit Demon Days hit the shelves. The two albums offer slightly different stylistic sounds from the band, but overall are very similar and would appeal to the same audience. So, how do the releases compare? Let's consult the graph below...

Figure 1. Search Volume Index versus Time. Data provided by Google(c) Trends with a search term of Gorillaz.

From the graph, note that the maximum search volume index for Plastic Beach is nearly 3/5 of what it was for Demon Days. Thus, the trend suggests that there could exist a decrease in the popularity of either the album or the Gorillaz in general. Before we jump off the bridge here, several distinctions need to be made. First, the decline could be representative of other factors including listeners using streaming services like Pandora and Last.fm. Second, Plastic Beach has only been available for two months, therefore a second boom could occur a little after the release date. However, the previous pulse suggests that the peak has passed.

Overall, I would say it is a successful album. Unfortunately, the time between releases, lack of tours, and artists occupied with side projects may have thinned out those who are interested in the Gorillaz. But hey, they are still super stars, maybe not mega-stars like Lady Gaga... look for tomorrow's post on her.

Enjoy a nice stop motion video from Plastic Beach for "Some Kind of Nature".

Back, after a small hiatus...

After a small hiatus, I am back to blogging. I decided to take a break to do my other more time consuming job of science, yay!

However, while data-mining for my research, I began to think about the state of music today. Essentially, there are SO many bands, musical styles, and fads that come and go very quickly. You are essentially defined by what you listen to. In conversations, people tend to ask "who do you listen to" and the overlap tends to show similar personality traits, age, and background. How did we get here?

During the dawn of rock-and-roll, there was limited access to both recording studios and national exposure. The Ed Sullivan show was a platform to expose the average American viewer to bands such as the Doors, Beatles, and Rolling Stones. Music's transportation was also much more limited due to being on vinyl.

As technology progressed inside the studio and out, the cost for recording and exposure plummeted. The a-track, tape cassette, and compact disc revolutionized the way music could be stored and transported. Listening to your favorite bands moved from your bedroom to the street. You could also broadcast to the world what you listened to via boomboxes. More radio stations came online allowing a diversification in the interest of the listener. Communities of listeners could be established with the same taste.

Additionally, some artists began to explore unique sounds to gain an edge (Brian Eno with ambient, the synth revolution) while others stuck to formulas to seek pop star fame. Thus, subclasses of certain genres hit.

Two of the most important factors that have propelled the music industry to where it is today is the dropping cost of quality recordings and the ability to mass distribute a song without a major record label contract. Enter the era of the MP3. Although the roots of indie recording stretches way back (the Pixies, Smiths, etc.), the number, diversity, and popularity of independent and main-stream post-independent bands is due to the digitalization of music. Allowing music to be compressed in an easily stored, listened to, and transported file essentially broke open the music scene.

Just some evolutionary thoughts on music for you today. I may follow this post up later with some statistical analysis, because that is the frame of mind I am in!

Sigur Ros

Wednesday seems like a Sigur Ros day. Enjoy!

Drake - Find Your Love

I am only posting this to say that Drake live was one of the worst performances I have ever seen. His rhymes were lazy and prepackaged, his crowd engagement missed the mark, and his performance of his own material fell well short of entertaining. I think the crowd of drunken undergrads sang most of his lyrics for him. Overall, I am disappointed with the taste of music the Slope Day Programming Board sees fit to bring to Cornell University. Ithaca College had a much better representation of Indie music that seems more appropriate for my generation and the students who attend both schools. However, they are also not as Frat based. Off my soap box for now.

WhoMadeWho - Keep Me in My Plane

The Danish trio WhoMadeWho is starting to gain notoriety. They were one of the featured artists at the famous indie SXSW music festival. Overall, their sound is combining indie rock with dance punk. They are also legendary live performers, so add them to a list of bands I would like to see live... Enjoy "Keep Me in My Plane" off of their 2009 album The Plot.

The Chemical Brothers - Swoon

The band who won't quit, the Chemical Brothers, are releasing their new album Further this June. They have weathered the rise and fall of electronica/big beat and along the way continued to produce stellar albums. Overall, by sticking to their own sound and the collapse of the majority of the bands around them, the Chemical Brothers are left a unique voice. Although some of their music borders on the line of retro sounds, it is hard to call the Chemical Brothers throwbacks since they were producing albums when many of their competitors in the indie music scene were not even born yet. Enjoy the new video "Swoon" from their album. Additionally, find "Hey Girl, Hey Boy" below.

Ratatat

Ratatat is releasing their new album LP4. They are known for their techno infused rock and overall craziness. "Mirando" is a prime example. The song has a fairly simple construction, but set the music to remixed images of The Predator and suddenly you have a modern classic (okay, maybe not but it is still awesome). "Shempi" from the same album is below.

Silversun Pickups - Substitution

An older song from the Silversun Pickups. "Substitution" is off their 2009 album Swoon. The style of the video slightly reminds me of St. Vincents "Actor Out of Work". Enjoy!

Lazer Crystal - Love Rhombus

Welcome back 80s. Thirty year retro for Lazer Crystal's 2010 album MCMLXXX. I'm not sure I am enjoying all of this 80s throw back, making ME feel old.

On Music Matters

The Black Keys - Next Girl

Ah, the Black Keys. Overly sexualized women. A singing T-Rex hand puppet. 70's glitz and glam. Sprinkle in some awesome southern, blues infused indie rock and suddenly you have the sound and style of the video for "Next Girl" off of their upcoming 2010 album Brothers. To note, this is not the first video of theirs with a T-Rex hand puppet...

Daft Punk - Technologic

Just a Daft Punk Sunday.

The Dodos - Fools

The San Francisco based Dodos have been producing high quality American Idie Rock since 2005. "Fools" is off their 2008 album Visiter. Since then, they released the 2009 album Time to Die. Overall, their sound is very similar to bands such as the Antlers, Bear in Heaven, and the Animal Collective. Enjoy!

M.I.A. - Born Free (NSFW)

Well, welcome back M.I.A. One of the reasons why I am forced to display a Vimeo clip for this video is because Youtube pulled it off of their website. You can't really blame them with the video's nudity, execution of a young boy, and slow motion explosion of another boy. Political much? "Born Free" is off of her upcoming album.

We Are Wolves - Blue

Quebec/Montreal based We Are Wolves consist of only three permanent members, however they are able to fill a very professional and full sound. "Blue" comes from their 2009 album Invisible Violence. The complexity/artistry of the video matches the overall tone of the song very well. Posted below is "Little Birds", very LCD Soundsystem-esque.

You have to hand it to the guys in Bear in Heaven. They were stuck in the Madrid airport with a camera and decide 'hey, let's set it on the luggage conveyor belt and see what we get'. The result is a pretty unique video that matches up to their song "Dust Cloud" really well. Especially since they were trapped due to the Icelandic volcano eruption, essentially, a dust cloud.

The video reminded me of a sushi conveyor belt video I saw a bit ago.

Family Band - Children

Brooklyn based (score another one for the Indie Brooklyn scene) Family Band is the collaboration between wife-husband duo Kim Krans on vocals and Johny Ollsin on guitar. "Children" is off of their upcoming LP Miller Path. Overall, their sound is haunting, brooding, and reminiscent of a low key Fiona Apple. Don't believe me? Compare for yourself below.

Earl Greyhound - Shotgun

Brooklyn based Earl Greyhound is on tour with OK Go! and made a trip to Ithaca yesterday. They complimented the high strung theatrics of OK Go! quite well with their more laid back classic rock. "Shotgun" is off of their 2010 album Suspicious Packages. Enjoy!

OK GO! - This Too Shall Pass

OK GO! is starting to become well known for their crazy music videos to accompany their songs (circa the Treadmills off of their first album). Although I am a Johny Come Lately with posting these fine videos representing "This Too Shall Pass" off of their 2010 Of the Blue Color of Sky, they are still incredible videos. Additionally, they play in Ithaca later today, so big news for us out here.



Side note, I DJed for Cornell University's Grad Ball on Friday, a reasonably large crowd (500 people) attended and overall it was a good time. Minus the fact someone stole my Venetian Mask and nearly had both my speakers destroyed. So apologies for missing a couple of posts, been exhausted.

An Horse - Postcards

Kate Cooper and Damon Cox make up the Melbourne, Australia duo An Horse. The song "Postcards" is off of their 2009 album Rearranging Beds while the music video was just released two days ago. Within the music video, the reconstruction of a man from scratch matches the overall ominous but progressive sound of the music.

And it's not what I want to hear, what I want to see
but your skin's covered in postcards from you to me, to me.

When you see me sit by myself, you'll think that I'm waiting for someone else.
But I'm wishing for somewhere else, I'm wishing for somewhere else.

Two postcards in a month or so, well I don't know, I just don't know.

Complicated. Enjoy!

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls

Um... yeah... so...

I don't really know what to say about this video. The whole thing actually kinda disturbed me more than anything. I mean, I get the concept and LCD Soundsystem has always pushed the envelope, but the overall effect of the video for "Drunk Girls" off of their upcoming This is Happening, is, well, sort of unsettling. The beginning of the video more or less has the random pandas pulling harmless pranks, then they increase in aggression and overall creepiness overtime. I dunno about you, but when they hulled the backup vocalist into the backroom and had a random woman screaming violently in the background, it got weird. I guess that the video lives up to the name "this is happening" pretty well. Also, the song really isn't all that great, LCD has had much better work in the past.

So, overall, I think this is my first bad review.

A better song and video by them ("North American Scum"):

Christopher Smith - Gently Gently

A confession, Vimeo is a great place to find unique and artistic music videos. The featured video today is Chritopher Smith's "Gently Gently" from their upcoming May 2010 release The Beckon Call. A great way to market your music these days is to produce a heartfelt, artistic, stop-motion video that captures a wide audience. The music style sounds very similar to M. Ward, maybe a little more reserved if that is possible.

Miike Snow - Animal

The Swedish band Miike Snow (if you were wondering, it is NOT pronounced how it looks, but it actually sounds more like Mark Snou) consists Andrew Wyatt, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg. The trip formed in 2007 and released their first self-entitle album Miike Snow in May of 2009. The song "Animal" posted above describes the bands overall sound pretty well, blending electronica, indie, and pop altogether. They range from dark and gloomy ("In Search Of") to optimistic ("Animal"). Posted below is the video for "Black and Blue". I often feel like I could become that guy one day...

Flaming Lips @ Barton Hall - April 18th 2010

The Flaming Lips played at Cornell University's Barton Hall on Sunday, April 18th, 2010. It was an amazing show with Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble-hamster cage crowd surfing. An okay quality of their cover of Pink Floyd is posted below. Overall, great concert.

Flaming Lips Marathon - Race for the Prize

"Race for the Prize" from 1999's The Soft Bulletin.

Flaming Lips Marathon - Fight Test

"Fight Test" from 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

Flaming Lips Marathon - Pink Robots

"Pink Robots" from 2002's Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

Flaming Lips Marathon - Breath

"Breathe" actually a cover from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Awesome.

Flaming Lips Marathon - I Can Be a Frog

"I Can Be a Frog" from 2009's Embryonic.

Flaming Lips Marathon - Gemini Syringes - NSFW

"Gemini Syringes" from 2009's Embryonic.

Flaming Lips Marathon - Powerless

"Powerless" from 2009's Embryonic.

The Morning Benders - Excuses

So, I'll admit, I saw this video a bit back on vimeo but decided against posting it because I found the middle section where the lead singer (Chris Chu) starts leading the A Capella section to be distracting. However, the overall project is still quite neat, collaborating with local San Franscisco musicians to celebrate/promote the Morning Bender's 2010 sophomore release "Big Echo". Their album is really worth a listen, to me, it is kinda like Vampire Weekend but without the Phil Collins undertones. I also was forced to post this because the Morning Benders are starting to gain in popularity. Go them. Enjoy!

Kid Sam - Down to the Cemetary

Following up on the Kid Sam's "We're Mostly Made of Water", the Australian band also released the song "Down to the Cemetery" that juxtaposes the restrained rock music and children dancing with the idea of death (always a good mixture). The cousin duo (Kishore Ryan and Kieran Ryan) haven't hit mainstream America yet, but I have a feeling their sophomore album after their 2009's self entitled album will most likely get noticed more internationally. Enjoy!

The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health

Spring boarding off of yesterday's solo work done by Fever Ray, the older brother-sister electric duo released several albums under the band name the Knife. Their 2006 album Silent Shout contains some of their finest work including the posted video "We Share Our Mother's Health". The aptly animated and creepy music video is a product of the artist Motomichi Nakamura. Although the storyline revolves around a girl waking from a deep sleep and attempting to find a sacred apple, the S&M undertones and overall uneasiness dominate the production. Oddly, it reminds me a bit of the Presets music video for "The Girl and the Sea" where the animation enhances the overall tone of the song. Enjoy!

Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

Fever Ray is the solo work of Karin Elisabeth Dreijer Andersson from the brother-sister duo the Knife. The Swedish performer's 2009 album pushed the electronic-ambient indie movement a little further, bringing in haunting and at times almost primordial sounds. The album is excellent. "When I Grow Up" is posted above and "If I had a Heart" is posted below.

The Doves - Andalucia

Some bands do not deserve a best of album early in their career, the Doves however have produced three solid albums over two decades (started their formation in 1985) and have made cultural appearances in shows such as the OC and tours with Oasis and Coldplay. Not bad for a group that met while they were 15 in Manchester, England. They have had many number ones on the UK Billboard Charts and have had critical acclaim in the United States. Their most recent album is a best of collection, but it contains the new single "Andalucia" that is presented above. Although it is not groundbreaking in itself, the song summarizes the mature and full sound the Doves are able to produce after releasing four albums (Lost Souls, the Last Broadcast, Some Cities, and the Kingdom of Rust). Since I was late in posting this, enjoy one song from each of these albums below!

Doves - "Cedar Room" from 2000's Lost Souls.



Doves - "There Goes the Fear Again" from 2002's The Last Broadcast (also on the 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack).



Doves - "Black and White Town" from 2005's Some Cities (note the social commentary of the abandoned youths).



Doves - "Kingdom of Rust" from 2009's Kingdom of Rust.

How Music Works

Even though this is from CollegeHumor, it is really well done.

Soulsavers - Kingdom of Rain

"Kingdoms of Rain" is an older song by Soulsavers off of their 2007 album It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land. The group consists of Rich Machin, Ian Glover, and guest starring Mark Lanegan (who has bounced around quite a bit, working on the Queens of Stone Age as well as teh Gutter Twins). The down-tempo often captures a contemplative sound in the majority of their music.

Specifically focusing in on "Kingdoms of Rain" for a moment, one will notice the video imagery investigates Louisiana after the Katrina aftermath. Fitting for this specific song. One of the stunning reminders is that Hurricane Katrina struck landfall nearly 5 years ago now, highlighting the Civil Engineering and political mismanagement of vital infrastructure within the region. Reconstruction is slow within some areas during recovery. As these natural and man-made catastrophes become more common place (due to population expansion, climatic shifts, and over taxation of natural systems) I wonder how these tragedies will impact the artistic output of our society. Will each event filter into our media and how we communicate with each other or will they become common place and entertainment in themselves? If songs such as "Kingdoms of Rain" are a testament the potential creative output resulting from disasters, I hope the artistic community will continue to investigate the human response to forces that are out of their control. At least we as a society may gain a glimpse of who the better more heroic version of each of us are.

Midnight Juggernauts - Vital Signs

The Melbourne, Australia based Midnight Juggernauts return to the Indie electro-pop dance scene with their 2010 album The Crystal Axis. From the first video for the song "Vital Signs" off of that album, it is clear that the Midnight Juggernauts have both preserved their original lush sound and have expanded/matured just a bit. Additionally, they are now officially in the running with Yeasayer for the most psychedelic videos out there. Enjoy!

The Twilight Sad - And She Would Darken the Memory

The Twilight Sad is an indie rock trio hailing from Kilsyth, Scotland. The song "And She Would Darken the Memory" is off of their 2009 sophomore album Forget the Night Ahead. They combine post-punk sounds of bands such as Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, and Caspian while their vocals remind me of a singer somewhere between the Nationals and Silversun Pickups (when the lead is not pained). Overall, a low-key and experimental output. Enjoy!

The Hoof and the Heel - Fireworks (NSFW)

Montreal based the Hoof and the Heel consists of Harris Shper and Christine Hale, Farid Rener on the drum/synth, and Al Mal on bass. Currently, they only have the EP And All the Tigers released early in 2010, however the overall cohesiveness and intelligence of their sound makes them a band worth noting. The song "Fireworks" is a standout, combining a sense of joy and confusion seamlessly together. The accompanying video depicting the formation and ultimate demise of a relationship compliments the music. Young love is easily confused, so is the melody and beats of THATH. However, in that confusion often resides profound beauty.

Five Years Older - In The City

This is a case where the music video makes the song much better than it actually is. On the surface, Switzerland's Five Years Older "In the City" delivers a standard low-key pop affair. However, the psychedelic distortion the music video provides is truly amazing. Enjoy the package!

The Antlers - Kettering

I have posted previously about the Antlers, so this is not so much a post about the band but the song "Kettering" from their album Hospice. The song is incredible with the story told and the build of the emotions through a haunting progression in the music. Additionally, the song is appearing in pop culture, most recently on Chuck's Monday night episode "Chuck versus the Other Man".

Personally, I listened to this song on repeat while sketching in a small notebook traveling from London to Paris by train. There is something in the lyrics, in the melody, and in the broken harmonies that translates to reflection and sorrow. The Antlers are a stunning band.

I wish that I had known in
That first minute we met
The unpayable debt
That I owed you.

...

You made me sleep and uneven
And I didn't believe them
When they told me that there
Was no saving you.

Record Club - New Sensation

What do you get when you combine Beck, the Liars, and St. Vincent? A small side project that has dedicated themselves to covering INXS greatest hits is the answer. The song above "New Sensation" is from INXS's album Kick. Overall, it slows it down and mellows it out. Check out the additional "Guns in the Sky" below. Enjoy!



P.S. I'm BACK!

Okkervil River - A Girl In Port

Home.

Moby - New York, New York

Heading back to the greatest city on earth.

Phoenix - 1901

Last full day in Paris.

John and Jehn - Oh My Love

Still in Paris.

Stuck in the Sound - Ouais

Still kicking it in Paris.

The Do - At Last

In Paris!

St. Vincent - Paris is Burning

I'm bumming around Paris at the moment. Happy Birthday Sis!

The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost

Last day in London. Enjoy the Magic Numbers!

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

While in London, you HAVE to give a nod to Pink Floyd. Shine on!

Monkey Swallows the Universe - Science

Still in jolly London... Monkey Swallows the Universe attracted me because of the name. Soothing sound.

Detroit Social Club - Rivers and Rainbows

Still in England... note, these guys kinda sound like an edgy Fleet Foxes. Imagine if the Fleet Foxes got angry...

Pull Tiger Tail - Lets Lightning

Still touring England...

Engineers - Clean Coloured Wire

English based Engineers!

The Clash - London Calling

The Clash summarized it nicely. I'm in sunny London!

Frank Sinatra - New York, New York

Back in the city!

TV on the Radio - Halfway Home

I tend to either really enjoy a TV on the Radio song or am really irked by the vocals. Very few bands can actually due that to me. However, "Halfway Home" off of their 2009 album Dear Science is on normal rotation of my own personal music listening. The progression of the melody, intensity of the vocals, and motion of the story provide a complex and yet accessible song. Enjoy!

Bear in Heaven - For Beauty

Psychedelic rock challenges the notion of what is music and what is sound. John Philpot's Brooklyn based Bear in Heaven captures this notion exquisitely. Even a cursory listen to the 2009 album Beast Rest Forth Mouth will quickly show you that even in dead space and drone, music and ideas are communicated. The song "Beauty" captures the essence of the work, essentially ending with a three minute drift. The music video itself calls into question what is beauty and what is reality. Enjoy!

Menomena - Wet and Rusting

Following up on yesterdays post of Romona Falls, here is Menomena's "Wet and Rusting" from their 2007 album Friend and Foe. Look for their 2010 album shortly.

Ramona Falls - I Say Fever

The Portland, Oregon based Ramona Falls is the side project of Brent Knopf of Menomena. The 2009 album Intuit is a strong Indie Rock album, incorporating elements of classic rock styles and a folk feel. I personally also the creative storytelling incorporated into the video of "I Say Fever". Enjoy!

Lady Gaga - Telephone

Well. This is definitely a Lady Gaga video. Yeah. You would think Beyonce would help to normalize things a bit. Nope. Enjoy 10 minutes of crazy.

Yeasayer - ONE

Yet another Yeasayer video, this time it is "ONE" from the 2010 album Odd Blood. As usual for Yeasayer, I am slightly confused in a good way about this video. Enjoy!

These New Puritans - We Want War

The British group, These New Puritans, consists of the twin brothers Jack and George Barnett, Thomas Hein, and Sophie Sleigh-Johnson. The quartet produce a unique form of art rock, incorporating influences from the Apex Twins and original music for the bassoon. "We Want War" from their 2010 album Hidden is a prime example of the type of music they are delivering. Enjoy!

The Antlers - Two

The Antlers are slowly becoming an influential force in the Indie music scene, combining elements of folk into a rock setting. The track "Two" from the 2009 album Hospice has traces of Bon Iver and Arcade Fire distributed amongst a cheerfully haunting sound. The project initially began with Peter Silberman in New York and eventually captured Michael Lerner, Darby Cicci, and Justin Stivers (on Hospice). Additionally, they are coming to Ithaca. Enjoy!

Marion Cotillard and Franz Ferdinand - Eyes of Mars

"Eyes of Mars" is a very unique combination of the vocal talents of Marion Cotillard (singer actress from La Vie en Rose, Nine) and the rock styling of Indie mega-group Franz Ferdinand. The result is simply stunning. The video also matches the style, mixing vintage with modern with ease. Enjoy!

Matt and Kim - Lessons Learned

Stripping nude in the center of Times Square, NYC. You have to hand it to Matt and Kim on their 2009 "Lessons Learned" music video from their album Grand. From getting into their birthday suits, the Brooklyn transplants started to gain some buzz earning a MTV Music Video award and a slot in the Sims 3 Indie playlist. Overall, a fun and joyful band.

Side note, I am in NYC right now, hence the NYC flair in the next few videos...

School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep

School of Seven Bells is the name for the collaboration of Secret Machines alum Ben Curtis and the identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza formerly of On! Air! Library!. They met on a tour with Interpol and frankly hit it off, quit their bands, moved in together, and started forming lyrical music. Their 2008 release Alpinism is smooth, flowing, and relaxing. Songs such as "Half Asleep" and "Iamundernodisguise" seem to be effortless. Look for their 2010 album Disconnect from Desire shortly.

Side note: Yay, NYC!

The Autumn Film - Joy

This is why I love Vimeo. Tifah sits at her piano and produces a very memorable performance. Simple, lovely, independent, original. If you have time to kill and like independent projects, venture through vimeo.

GORILLAZ ARE BACK! Gorillaz and Mos Def - Stylos

The much awaited return from the Gorillaz since their 2005 Demon Days is starting to leak out. Their 2010 album is Plastic Beach and the previous songs I heard off of the album were slightly concerning. However, their collaboration with Mos Def on "Stylo" appears to be flawless. Recruiting a resurgent Bruce Willis in the music video is also genius. Over all, the song, the style, and the video are awesome. Welcome back Gorillaz.

Note: the video will probably be flagged on youtube, so comment if it disappears and I will try and find another available link.

Man Man - Rabbit Habits

Another Indie Group pairing with Fred Armisen. This time, Armisen, Charlyne Yi, and Martin Starr support the 2008 Man Man song "Rabbit Hands" from their album Rabbit Hands. The Philadelphia based group combines many different instruments (including the marimba and flute) to achieve a very unique and experimental sound. What's more, Yeasayer picked them up on their recent tour across the country. Even cooler, if you happen to live in or near Ithaca, Ithaca College decided to challenge Cornell University's traditional slope day by putting on their own free show. They decided to go with Yeasayer, Man Man, and Antlers. Cornell went with Drake. I think IC wins. I know where I will be May 7th.

Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist

As a follow up to yesterday's posting, here is the Avalanches' "Frontier Psychiatrist" from their 2000 album Since I Left You. Their style is pretty unique, in that they sample upwards of 3,000 obscure albums to stitch their songs together. Enjoy!

New Buffalo (remixed by Broken Social Scene) - I've Got You and You've Got Me

New Buffalo was the stage name for Melbourne native Sally Seltmann. Her style is reminiscent of St. Vincent and Regina Spektor. Overall, very lovely. The song "I've Got You and You've Got Me" is off of her 2004 release The Last Beautiful Day. The Canadian based indie rockers the Broken Social Scene recently remixed this track with an interesting, almost surreal outcome.

Look for Seltmann's 2010 release Heart That's Pounding. The first single "Harmony to My Heart" was released last November. Find the video below!

One last note, Sally Seltmann is married to Darren Saltmann, the crazy guy behind the Avalanches. I think I should post on them tomorrow...