Hazel - "Ringing In My Ears": "I had a great time out in SF this weekend, particularly at Honey Soundsystem last night. The only downside is the music was so loud that my ears still haven't stopped ringing - thus this as my song of the day, even if it's a little cheeky to use this great, sad Hazel song just for the title alone."
The Damnwells - "She Goes Around": "I don't love this band like I used to, but I do like this track from their new album - more of the straight forward melodic rock they do so well, but it's the backing vocal countermelody in the chorus and the guitar instrumental between choruses that really sell the track."
Spoon - "The Book I Write": "An understated (and underknown) Spoon track from the Stranger Than Fiction soundtrack, with Britt's vocals (particularly his falsetto) making it worth noting. I also really like the piano and percussion opening - it's got a great sound."
Monarchy - "The Phoenix Alive": "I'm usually a bit wary of this kind of slick synth-pop, but there's good, non-gaudy hooks here plus a bit of drama and presence - something they easily demonstrated at Coachella, where I saw them without having even heard of them before and was won over by their subtle but powerful command of the stage and some really great if stylized dance tracks."
0
comments
Labels:
Coachella 2011
Afghan Whigs - "I'm Her Slave": "Wonderful co-dependent darkness that feels kind of sick to like."
Depeche Mode - "Suffer Well" (M83 Remix): "Two reasons to like this track: 1) It's better than the original (but keeps the best parts of the original) and 2) it's so heavily re-recorded that it's more of a M83 reinterpretation than a remix - and given how long I've been waiting for a new M83 album, I'll take new M83 where I can get it."
Vijay Benedict - "Kasam Paida Karne Wale Ki": "More awesome Bollywood disco funk, from the same soundtrack that brough you yesterday's slinky 'Come Closer'."
Salma Agha - "Come Closer": "So good - minimalist bedroom funk, not unlike a Mary Jane Girls demo, in a Bollywood wrapping. You can't fake this kind of awesome."
Twin Shadow - "Tyrant Destroyed": "Talk about a slow burn - I saw Twin Shadow at South By Southwest and thought they were ok. I wasn't really won over, but was intrigued enough to check out their record. First listen, second listen, still okay...but something made me come back to it again. Slowly, their songs have started to pop into my head. The songs may not be that flashy or obviously hooky, but there's something intriguing to their modern reworking of 80s new wave elements - not enough for me to get it out of the gate, but enough to have me coming back until I did."
0
comments
Labels:
SXSW 2011 Recap
Sugar - "A Good Idea": "Why haven't I listened to this more recently? This song is awesome! I miss when radio would play stuff like this...although I don't listen to radio anymore, so I guess it doesn't really matter."
Death Cab For Cutie - "Doors Unlocked and Open": "From their new record, Codes and Keys. At first, it's the same kind of driving rhythm section that recalls 'I Will Possess Your Heart' from their previous album...which initially led me to think, 'Oh, this again?' But then the song pivots to a different groove, still driving, but the vocals play more of a counterpart, mostly in the high range. Nice, but it's really the chorus that blends some of the more classic DCFC melodies with the new, more agressive rock backing - and it really works together. (Thanks, Nick!)"
Royal Bangs - "Back Then It Was Different": "Imagine a more earnest MGMT trying to sound like Quasi (at least in terms of a driving organ-and-drum tune) and you get this quirkily uptempo but slightly sad tune."
Posts
All Comments
