Beach House - Myth

Beach House have done everything in their power to see to it that I have a good weekend.  A few days ago they released the first song from their upcoming album Bloom which drops sometime this May.  The track, entitled "Myth", has that trusted Beach House sound with an ethereal and hypnotic arpeggio'd guitar that hooked me a few seconds into the song.  It's kinda what I've come to expect from Beach House (and I mean that in a good way).  I expect to be impressed with each new song I hear.  They're albums have gotten steadily better with each new release, and their most recent effort Teen Dream was one of my top albums of a few years ago.  I'm still fairly obsessed with their song "Norway".

This track will all but increase the already strong anticipation for this next album.  Despite their name, Beach House's music has always had a very wintery feel to it for me.  It'll be cool, however, enjoying the new album with the summer sun setting in the background a few months from now.  For now, this one fantastic song will have to hold us over....

RR

Gettin' My Nerd On

 
Fair warning....this is most likely the nerdiest music-related blog post you'll ever read.  I'm quite certain about that.  Normally, I leave work at work, and my ability to do so is one of the things I pride myself on.  However, when the wife and kid are out of town....this is what you get.  A music blog post about chemicals.

You read that correctly.  Chemicals.  It's my job, so it's time to start mixing business with pleasure...if you know what I mean.  Honestly, it's ok if you don't because I'm not even certain I know what I mean.  So here we go...my top songs named after chemicals/elements/and alloys!  WOOHOO!

 1.  Radiohead - Polyethylene (Parts 1&2) (buy)

Ahh....this is the song from a bygone day in which Radiohead played primarily guitars on their albums.  It's also the track that inspired this great endeavor.  You can find it on the Airbag/How Am I Driving? EP released a few months after their OK Computer album (my favorite album of all time).  Polyethylene is a plastic made by combining a crapload of ethene molecules together.  So take the image above and multiply it by a couple of thousand.  Add them all together and what do you get?? Plastic.  Add some titanium dioxide (my current job) to it and what do you get?? White plastic.  It just got real up in here.

2.  Nirvana - Lithium (buy)

Elements....seriously, where would we be without them?  Lithium was probably my favorite song off the Nevermind album.  It or "In Bloom".  We're splitting hairs here if you force me to choose.  Lithium...what can I tell you about it?  Well, its got three protons and it's reactive as hell.  It's a metal, but you can cut it with a knife.....if you dare!  It'll probably catch fire if it touches water though, so don't rinse that lithium-cutting knife in the sink.  Lithium compounds are used to treat schizophrenia.  It's also used a source of tritium....which I'm pretty sure was the energy source everyone was after in the Spider-Man 2 movie....except that it was colored gold....and shaped like a soccer ball....and I think James Franco kept it in a safe in his office.

3.  Radiohead - Melatonin (buy)

Again with the Radiohead.  I knew there was a reason I liked this group so much.  Melatonin....or as you most likely know it, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (holla back now, IUPAC!!).  It's one of Radiohead's softer numbers and as Radiohead songs go....very meh. 

4.  The Smashing Pumpkins - The Crying Tree of Mercury (buy)

I'm not sure what Senor Corgan was getting at by naming a song "The Crying Tree of Mercury", nor do I feel he grasped the severity of what he was proposing.  Mercury is like CCCRRRAAAZZZYYYYY toxic.  A tree that cries Mercury would literally be terrible.  There wouldn't be enough thiols in the world to clean up that mess.

5.  Wilco - Hell is Chrome (buy)

This one's kind of a stretch.  Chrome is basically a thin layer of chromium (cleverly named, huh?) placed on the surface of some metals.  Close enough.  Seriously, though....we should all be thankful that chrome is in our lives.  Can you imagine what rims would look like on tricked-out Hondas without Chrome?  Shudder....

 

6.  Beastie Boys - Brass Monkey (buy)

Alloys.  This monkey is made of copper and zinc.  What proportions?  Who knows...the Beastie Boys don't exactly state the copper-to-zinc ratio.  It's a wonder they ever made it in the music industry.

RR

Oberwhatzit?

I very recently began listening to songs by a band that calls themselves Oberhofer.  Seemed like a weird enough name for a band....so I did a little digging.  Turns out "themselves" is actually only a "himself".  The band is one dude.....and according to the article I read was 19 years old eleven months ago (I'm guessing he's 20 now, but it's better not to make any assumptions).  Seriously.  When I was 19 I was likely trying my best to memorize every Dave Matthews lyric in existence.  This guy has a one-man band...and it's pretty good.

His name is Brad Oberhofer and he's originally from Tacoma, WA, which I find cool...especially considering he put a very Mt. Rainer-esque mountain on the cover of one his self-produced EPs (I could not, in fact, verify that it actually is Rainer....but I'm guessing it is).  If you haven't been to Seattle or Tacoma and seen Mt. Rainer off in the distance on one of the 15 sunny days of the year out there.....then I recommend you go.  It's pretty spectacular.

Back to Oberhofer.  He's released 4 EPs (or more likely 3 EPs and a single) to date.  I first got hooked on the song "I Could Go" though they're all pretty good.  Its kinda difficult to classify his musical style.  Some songs are 'garage-rocky' reminiscent of The Hives.  Some are much more experimental, a la Animal Collective.  In fact, he has a very Panda Bear (one of the members of Animal Collective) sounding voice.  It sounds so much like Panda Bear at times that I had double-check with the Google that Oberhofer wasn't some pseudonym for Panda Bear.  There's a fair amount of synthesizers and lots of jangly guitar chords to be found in these songs, and possibly maybe even a xylophone or two.  There's also lots of singing of the letter "O".  He even named a song "o0O0o0O0o".....which I'm pretty sure has zeroes in it and was solely named that way to piss off bloggers.

There's only 8 official songs out there so far and downloading all of them only cost me like $5.  So if you like what you hear I recommend you head over to Emusic and pick up the rest.   

Oberhofer - I Could Go (buy)

Oberhofer - Away Frm U (buy)

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

RR

Chicken Soup for the Musical Soul

I've recently started venturing outside the friendly confines (Editor's Note: this is definitely not a Chicago Cubs reference) of indie rock, a genre with which I feel very at home and knowledgeable.  I've taken a look at both jazz and the blues, and even had good intentions about getting into some reggae.  Each genre exploration is in various stages though, as there's only so much time in the day to listen to stuff.....and no matter how hard I try, I just can't listen to everything...and have a job....and have a kid...and watch a lot of baseball.  There's only so much time.

Regardless, my most recent foray has been into soul music.  I suppose I've always known enough to throw out some names of classic soul artists like Aretha, Otis, Al Green, etc.  However, beyond some standard radio hits, I'm kind of at a loss when it comes to their better work.  That being said, my soul revival....actually, I suppose it can't exactly be called a "re"vival if I was never interested in the first place....how about my soul vival?  Is that a word?  Spell-check is saying no....but it also thought my last name wasn't a word either....stupid spell-check.  As I was saying, my interest in soul music has been spawned by some up-and-coming artists that are relatively new in the musical landscape.

Before I get to some of the new artists I've been digging, I feel like we should all be on the same page regarding the definition of soul music.  According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, soul music arose (and I'm paraphrasing here) out of the African-American experience in the United States and contains a mix of gospel and R&B in the form of secular testifying.  Secular gospel sounds about right to me.  Now, honestly, I know little of the "African-American experience" and I won't pretend to....but I totally dig the idea of a gospel/blues combo.  Wikipedia also mentions that "catchy rhythms, stressed by handclaps and extemporaneous body moves, are an important feature of soul music."  If there's one thing I'm known for....it's my extemporaneous body moves. 

The first artist that inspired my interest in soul was played for me about 9 months ago.  Aloe Blacc (which sounds more like an anti-itch ointment than a soul musician) released an album entitled Good Things mid-way through last year.  "Green Lights" was the first song I heard off that album (I've linked to it below).  On the whole, the album has a very "produced" sound.....for lack of a better word, but a number of the songs are catchy.  What I find the most interesting is the very upbeat way that Blacc describes otherwise downtrodden situations and hardships.  It's like he's trying to make you feel good about the tough times he's experienced.

Aloe Blacc - Green Lights (buy)
Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar (buy)

My interest in Aloe made me go back through the soul archives of the past couple years to an artist that has taken the indie world by storm over the past decade.  I had always heard of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, but never really considered them my "cup of tea".  The Dap-Kings are the house band for Sharon Jones' record label Daptone Records.  Supposedly they're known for their revivalist intentions manifested by opting for analog recording equipment vs. digital.  In my opinion, the result is a sound right out of the 60's and 70's that sands down the smooth edges heard on Aloe's record.  Every song you listen to sounds like you're hearing it on 50-year old vinyl.  And as good as their albums are, I'm guessing they are a band that KILLS it live.  Unfortunately I've never seen them.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - How Do I Let a Good Man Down? (live)

All this leads me to my favorite soul "discovery" of the past few months.  Michael Kiwanuka. He is an emerging soul artist out of the UK by way of Uganda (seriously, how many times have we heard that story).  He's released two EPs, Tell Me a Tale: The Isle of Wight Sessions last year and I'm Getting Ready this year, with a full length on the way next month.  Michael's first 6 songs (over the two EPs) have me extremely excited about the full length.  He shows a broad range over the songs from the stripped down "Home Again" to the larger band-backed "Tell Me a Tale" which begins with a Jethro Tull-style flute.  These songs are great.

Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again (buy)
Michael Kiwanuka - Tell Me a Tale (buy)

I'm basically in the beginnings of my understanding and enjoyment of soul music.  I'd love to dive into some earlier works by the Otis Reddings of the musical world, but these newer folks are more than "scratching my itch" for the time-being.  I hope you enjoy the songs as well.  I've included links to places where you can buy each of the albums mentioned above. So if you really dig them, think about purchasing one or two.  I really don't think you'll be disappointed.  Also, if you've got any other suggestions on where to point my musical compass, I'd love to hear them.  Leave them in the comments section below.

RR

It Only Took a Year

I guess I'm technically posting a picture of someone else's house.  If you own this house now....sorry.

358 days later we sold our house.  Seriously.  One week short of a year.  I'm a real estate novice, but even I know that's a long time.  In a time when many people don't have jobs and may not know where their paychecks are coming from in a few months, it seems a little silly to be so stressed and "mad" about a house not selling.....but that's just the way it was.  There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think and worry about it.  But no longer.  It's sold.

Now there's a huge part of me that thinks, "Bout damn time," and that's easily the most dominant feeling.  But there's certainly a bittersweet feeling associated with getting rid of our house as well. You see....we built that house.  For the better part of a year that house was our baby.  We chose the lot and monitored the day-to-day progress for nine months.  We obsessed over every detail, from the door knobs to the custom wine rack.  We personally did all the landscaping, including the Asian pear tree in the back yard.  It was fun, stressful, and ultimately an amazing experience.  But now, someone else owns it.  That's the bittersweet part.  Someone else is enjoying the "fruits" of our labor.  But that's just the way it goes sometimes.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't change a thing though if I could do it all over again....because "in the end no one learns a lesson".  Building and owning that house was a blast for the 2 years that we were there.

So this blog post is in honor of our old home.  My favorite thing to do there was sit on the back porch, listen to music, and watch the sun set.  I've posted a picture of one of those sunsets below...I think you can see why I loved it so much.  In addition, I've linked to a couple songs at the bottom of this post that specifically make me think of that house.  There is nothing particularly special about any of the songs, and I'm not writing up any additional commentary about the songs....but for one reason or another each of these songs reminds me of our Washington home.  I hope you enjoy them.

Beach House - Norway

Deer Tick - Piece by Piece and Frame by Frame

The Hold Steady - The Weekenders

RR

Videos Worth Watching for Songs Worth Listening

Believe it or not, bands still make videos.  You're certainly not going to find them on MTV, but they're making them nonetheless.  Luckily, essentially all these videos can be found online.....well, until we're blacked out from the internet, I suppose.  While we still have an internet, I just wanted to take a second to recommend a couple of cool videos I've discovered over the past few months.  One old, one new.

The old one.....

Check out the video for Jose Gonzalez's cover of The Knife's track "Heartbeats".  This song was released back in 2005 on Jose's album Veneer (buy), though I didn't find it until this year.  The video is amazing.  I don't even want to give a description....just check it out.  I'll just say this:  Bouncy Balls.

The new one.....

Here's one additional video that I just watched today.  Its for Active Child's song "Hanging On" off the album You Are All I See (buy) from last year.  It follows two dudes heading out on a fly fishing trip (which my brother-in-law has been trying to convince me to do for a couple years now).  Regardless, the visuals in the video are stellar.  Like everyone one of the guys begins his day, not with a cup of coffee, but by boiling Red Bull.  Obviously.

Anyways, let me know what you think of these.  They're two of the best I've seen in a while.  Enjoy.

RR

Fuzzy Guitar Rock - The Quiet Americans

So, this is kinda the exact opposite of my last post.  All the talk in my previous post about electronic music shouldn't be interpreted as a shift in my musical taste away from guitars.  Instead, it's more of an incorporation of electronica in with everything that was already there.  I still love guitars (generally the fuzzier, the better), and thankfully there's still new bands emerging that are willing to forego the many "advantages" that modern technology offers (i.e. computers, synths, bloops, bleeps, etc.) and release some good ol' fashioned rock n' roll music like you might have heard back in the day.

 These are definitely NOT the kind of fuzzy guitar I'm talking about.

For example, this morning I discovered a new band based out of the Fresno, CA area that call themselves The Quiet Americans.  The Quiet Americans have released one 6-song EP  (way back in April - where have I been?!?) entitled Medicine, which was recorded on an old-school reel-to-reel tape recorder (i.e. not a computer).  To make matters even more nostalgic, they released the EP as a cassette tape!  They only made 100 copies of the cassette, however, ensuring that the 17 people that still own tape players would be able to get themselves a copy.  HA!  I kid.....though I've read numerous places that cassette tapes are making a comeback (as is vinyl).  To be fair though....I haven't actually met anyone that's getting back into purchasing cassettes.  I'm guessing it's primarily hipsters like these folks.

Regardless, the music is pretty fun.  I've only been listening since this morning, but I've had the opportunity to listen all the way through twice now.  One of the cool effects of recording things in an analog fashion (rather than a digital one) is it produces a very live, raw sound to the music.  The Quiet Americans (full disclosure = they are decidedly NOT quiet) have utilized a combination of analog recording technology and fuzzy guitar distortion to create a vintage 70's psychedelia garage rock sound (not unlike that of the Australian group Tame Impala which released a pretty awesome record, Innerspeaker, a few years back).  In an era where seemingly everything is recorded digitally, its a refreshing change even if it's simply a change back to the way rock n' roll used to be.

 
The Quiet Americans are gracious enough to let you download the entire EP for free at their Bandcamp page which can be found here.  Or you could purchase one of the aforementioned cassette tapes for $5.....assuming they have any left.  If you'd like to preview a couple songs before you download, you can stream the songs at the same site.  I recommend starting with "Weird Mountain" as I did.  It features the heavy distorted guitar and lyrics I mentioned before but finishes with a screaming 2+ minute solo layered over top.  I think its the best track on a really solid EP.   

I also recommend turning up your speakers/headphones when you listen to it, because The Quiet Americans are definitely not intended to be listened to quietly.

RR

Anticipation Station

 This is what music looks like.

There was a time when I wouldn't touch a song classified as "electro-pop" with a ten foot pole.  Then my favorite band put out a song called "Idioteque".  Reluctantly, I enjoyed it.  To this day it's still not my first instinct to like a song or band that features a lot of bleeps and blips in their music.  In fact, I've never been able to get into what is considered by many to be one of the very best electro-pop bands....LCD Soundsystem (though this is likely due to my hatred of their song "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"). 

Apparently, though, I'm softening in my old age.  I'm finding myself listening to a lot of stuff that falls into this genre of music.  The past year I enjoyed albums by a number of artists that could arguably be considered electro-pop: Cut Copy, Geographer, Mates of State, and Neon Indian to name a few.  And not a moment too soon, as essentially everyone except Mr. Dylan is increasingly incorporating electronica into his or her music......wait.....what's that?  Crap.

Which brings me to my main point.....one of the albums I'm most looking forward to in early-2012 is likely to be about as electro-poppy as they come.  Claire Boucher, otherwise known as Grimes, is set to release her first non-free full length, Visions, in just a couple days.  She has previously released a couple free LPs back in 2010 and combined with some dude with an apostrophe in his name (d'Eon) on a combined set of EPs last year.  I have none of those.  I have, however, heard the first release from her upcoming album.  It's called "Oblivion" (I've linked to it below).  It's everything the inventors of the phrase electro-pop ever dreamed.  It starts with a bunch of blips, is eventually followed by a bunch of bleeps, and finishes with some star-gazy whaa-whaa's.  And its awesome.  Now, will the entire album be this awesome?  Doubtful.  I suppose I could listen to some of her earlier work for a little enlightenment, and maybe I eventually will.  There's only so much time in the day available to listen to new music and right now I'm busy listening to "Oblivion" on repeat.  But I retain hope that the rest of the album is as stellar as this track.

I highly recommend you check it out via Pitchfork at the link below.  And if you want the full effect.....listen to it with a Jumperoo in the background like I'm currently doing....I really think it's how Grimes would want it to sound.

Grimes - Oblivion

RR

Top Ten Albums of 2011

I loved 2011.  From a music standpoint, it was one of my favorite years in recent memory.  I suppose the phrase that comes to mind is something along the lines of "Quantity vs Quality".....or something like that.  I suppose this is meant to raise the question as to whether you'd rather have a large number of something mediocre or a much smaller amount of something fantastic.  It's a fair question/debate/discussion.  But, for 2011 I would turn the phrase around a bit to something like "Quantity of Quality".  I think 2011 gave us a very balanced attack of well-above average albums.

Each year, since 2007, I've put together a list of my favorite albums of the year (ranked 1-10).  This year, however, was easily the most difficult list to organize since I began creating lists.  For example, the albums ranked 2-5 on this year's list could all essentially be interchangeable.  Usually, I have a pretty easy time arranging the top few albums with all the tough decisions coming later in the list.  This year produced quite a jam of awesome records that all were vying for the runner-up slot (#1 was easy for me this year).  In addition to the troubles I had formulating the upper echelon, the lower tiered albums were equally as difficult.  I had a pretty easy time breaking down my overall list to 13.  But it was incredibly difficult to knock off the final three (listed here as Honorable Mentions).  Finally, I also debated where to include three standout EPs I obtained this year.  In previous years, I've lumped the top EPs in with all the other top full lengths.  There were so many great full albums this year though, so I've simply listed three EPs that are certainly worth your time and attention.  So, enough rambling from me on how I constructed a list that most people won't ever read or care about.....here's the list:

EPs (in no particular order)

Surfer Blood - Tarot Classics (buy)
Now, Now - Neighbors (buy)
Dirty Gold - Roar (buy)

Surfer Blood put out one of my favorite albums of last year.  If they had put out a full length that was consistently as good as their 2011 EP Tarot Classics, it likely would've fallen somewhere in the Top 3 range.  Now, Now and Dirty Gold's EPs represent debuts by very young bands.  Now, Now's EP Neighbors is kinda unique in that it includes acoustic versions of the two standout tracks on the EP, which offers a nice contrast to the very not-acoustic originals.  As for Dirty Gold's EP Roar.....you won't likely find a more chill album/EP in all 2011.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

Radiohead - The King of Limbs (buy)
Beirut - The Rip Tide (buy)
Real Estate - Days (buy)

I'm as surprised as the next person that Radiohead didn't make it into my Top 10.  They're essentially #11, which is still pretty good, but I'm guessing this says more about my ridiculous expectations for Radiohead than it does the actual quality of the album.  This reminded me more of a Thom Yorke solo album than a Radiohead album.  Maybe I'll change my tune after I get to hear the songs live.

The list: 

10. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation (buy)

Youth Lagoon's The Year of Hibernation is an album that came along very late in the year for me thanks primarily to my little brother. Because I haven't been listening to it for that long I was hesitant to put it on the list.  But I loved it instantly.  Their album reminds me of another killer lo-fi group from a couple years ago....Grizzly Bear.  If Youth Lagoon go on to make anything else like what Grizzly Bear have proven capable of, we'll be in for a fun ride. 

9.  Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi - Rome (buy)

Daniele Luppi soundtracks spaghetti westerns.  Danger Mouse kinda does everything.....now including his version of spaghetti western soundtracks. This album is very easy to get lost in.  I had to fly a lot in 2011 and I distinctly remember it soundtracking a number of airport visits for me.  Not exactly a western.....but still. 

8.  Wilco - The Whole Love (buy)

I was beginning to wonder if Wilco still had it in them.  Sky Blue Sky was OK, and Wilco [the album] was much less than OK for me.  I wanted another Wilco album that I could really jam out to.....and I finally got it.  The 7+ minute opener "Art of Almost" is exactly that......jam worthy.  Wilco's still got "it".  I was stupid for doubting them.

7.  tUnE-YaRdS - w h o k i l l (buy)

tUnE-YaRdS put out one of the most unique albums I've heard since some of Animal Collective's best work.  Its rare that an album that could very clearly be described as "experimental rock" still manages to have hooks and melodies as approachable as w h o k i l l. 

6.  Tennis - Cape Dory (buy)

This spot on the list begins a series of albums that all sound very reminiscent of the 50's, 60's, and 70's.  The title track is to this album is one of my favorite songs of the year. 

5.  Cults - Cults (buy)

Honestly, I found the 5 and 6 spots on this list to be somewhat interchangeable.  Very 60's inspired 2011 indie rock.  This has been a trend that's been emerging for a while (I was big into the Sandwitches' and Dr. Dog's album the past couple years) and it really seemed to gain even more steam this year.  You won't find catchier songs on any album this year than you will with Cults breakout LP. 

4.  Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (buy)

Every Girls album or EP has wound up on one of my year end lists and Father, Son, Holy Ghost is no different.  The entire album is great, but it simply could've made the list due to its standout track "Vomit".  This track begins with a very crisp lone electric guitar and ends in a gigantic gospel-inspired sing-a-long.  It's my runner up for Song of the Year behind the title track of #1 album on this list.

3.  Bon Iver - Bon Iver (buy)

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver described this album as a "soundscape"....meaning that the music is/was the primary focus of the album with only secondary thought given to the words.  That's exactly how I listen to music.  I focus on (and get lost in) the music and often don't ever pay attention to lyrics.  It was a perfect explanation for a spectacular album that hits right at the heart of what I personally enjoy about music. 

2.  Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine (buy)

Take everything I just wrote about the Bon Iver album and Toro Y Moi did that just a little bit better with his second LP Underneath the Pine.  His second album in as many years....http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1252546758057154439&postID=3697086907173576496Underneath the Pine represents tremendous growth from the first LP Causers of This, which I found inaccessible.

1.  Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (buy)

 2011 was an incredibly special year for me, primarily due to the birth of my son.  Helplessness Blues soundtracked the entire thing.  In fact, the very first time I heard the title track was the exact same day I found out my wife and I were having a boy.  I vividly remember listening to the song a good 10+ times that evening.  To this day, I can't listen to it without a feeling of sheer joy.  Its a special album for a special time in my life.  The opening line to the album, "So now I am older than my Mother and Father when they had their daughter.  Now what does that say about me?".  That's a lyric that I totally understood at the beginning of the year, and thus set the tone for my album experience.  It has since gone on to soundtrack a series of "firsts" for my son.....first holidays, giggles, etc.  Its an album that I will always cherish and cannot wait to listen to with my son 10-15 years from now and explain to him what I think of when I listen to it.

Happy New Year, everyone!