In Rotation 1 : Charlotte Gainsbourg - IRM

Filled with the signature syncopated rhythms from Beck paired with the sweet beautiful voice of Charlotte Gainsbourg, is her third released studio album - IRM. IRM, takes the listener through a musical journey accompanied by lyrics creating visual images of modern times: "Pixelated Faces Play", "Looking Through a Glass Onion", "Crooked Mind Bending Back the Truth". I really appreciate how the album ebbs from the blasé to the neurotic and chaotic.

Notable Tracks:
2. "IRM"
5. "Heaven can Wait"
8. "Time of the Assassins"
9. "Trick Pony"
13. "La Collectionneuse"





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Song of the Week 10/24

Rotation 1

Plumtree, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World- "Scott Pilgrim"


Don't dis the soundtrack, they are albums too. I know that many times it can be just a jumble of songs, questionable even if the tracks go together and do they make sense with the movie they are suppose to be accompanying. However without seeing the movie, I cannot get this album out of my car. Every time I listen I fall into another song. My latest obsession is the second track aptly named "Scott Pilgrim", Plumtree has that quintessential indie garage rock thing down. Simple guitar, straight forward rhythm, and uncomplicated lyrics.

Rotation 2

The Strokes, First Impressions of Earth - "Heart in a Cage"

Thanks to my recent dive back into garage rock and my killer Pandora station, I was reminded just how much I like The Strokes with this 2006 song. Between the attitude in Julian Casablancas' voice and the crazy guitar chords, this song is flat out ridiculous.








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In Rotation 2 : The Walkmen - Lisbon

Somewhere in between the musical spectrum of Bob Dylan and The Strokes there lies a band named The Walkmen. If you aren't familiar with this band that has flown relatively under the radar of the masses for nearly a decade, its about time you get acquainted by taking a listen to Lisbon, the band's fifth studio album released back in September. Lisbon is a thoughtful collection of songs that balance between a pure and raw feeling. The songs walk a line between a gentle delicateness and fragility contrasted with the intensity in Hamilton Leithauser's voice that displays every ounce of painful emotion.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Angela Surf City"
4. "Blue As Your Blood"
5. "Stranded"
6. "Victory"



Plus an old favorite:

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Song of the Week 10/17

Rotation 1

Civil Twilight, Civil Twilight - "Letters from the Sky"

Think of a mix between Muse , U2, and Coldplay, in the middle of this spectrum would be Civil Twilight. The group from Cape Town releases their deut album with the powerful anthem, "Letters from the Sky".










Rotation 2

Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown - "No Money"

Two years after their most successful record to date, Kings of Leon are back at it with the release of their fifth studio album. They return with their laid back southern rocker charm. Don't let the term "laid back" full you, since these three brothers (plus one cousin) know how to showcase their instruments and still deliver a strong sound. "Radioactive," "The Immortals," and "No Money," which is one of their more revved up songs, are all standouts from the new album.




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Song of the Week 10/10

Rotation 1

Belle & Sebastian, Write About Love - "I Want the World to Stop" & "Write About Love"

Falling in music love with Belle & Sebastian back during their Tigermilk, If You're Feeling Sinister, and Boy with the Arab Strap albums. I was excited to hear that they were releasing a new album this month. True to their storytelling Brit-pop roots, the lyrics are as always full of cheeky bits.






Rotation 2

Eskmo, Eskmo - "Cloudlight"

Eskmo aka San Francisco electronic artist Brendan Angelides produces some funky beats on his new album out this month. "Cloudlight" is a great opening track that makes your ears feel like the world is melting outside of your headphones.








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In Rotation 2 : Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More

This post has definitely been months overdue. The tracks from Sigh No More have been streaming over my airwaves since early this spring. With a brief mention in my last post about indie folk rock, I figured it was time to give them their own spotlight. Mumford and Sons have found a way to perfectly capture gentle moments before graduating them into a monumental explosion of sound through an intensity in drums and bluegrass instrumentation.

Notable Tracks:
2. "The Cave"
3. "Winter Winds"
5. "White Blank Page"
7. "Little Lion Man"
11. "Dust Bowl Dance"


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In Rotation 1 : St. Vincent - Actor

Actor is the second full length album from St. Vincent. This album has me hooked with its layering of contrast. Juxtaposed against the innocent voice of Annie Clark are musically clean, but abrasive climatic moments along with cheeky and at times dark lyrics. Each song paints these wonderful pictures of "really" life accompanied by a great musical score.

Notable Tracks (the entire album is great from start to finish, but the following are a few of my favorites):
2. "Save Me From What I Want"
4. "Actor Out of Work"
6. "Laughing with a Mouth Full of Blood"
7. "Marrow"
10. "Just the Same but Brand New"





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Song of the Week 9/26

Rotation 1

Rodrigo y Gabriela, Live in Japan - "Stairway to Heaven"

Stairway to Heaven is a classic rock song that has been covered various times. However this version from guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela has quickly become one of my favorites (it is a close runner up from the original). I mentioned this particular track for this week because it is easy to transition from what might be a typical diet of radio music to intense paced Latin acoustic with something a bit familiar. However, the entire album is amazing to listen to; I have a fondness for the track "Tamacun". Live in Japan, comes with a DVD performance which is not to be missed. I am amazed that all the instrumentation is performed by just the two of them, truly a good time.


Rotation 2

Mark Ronson & The Business International, Record Collection - "Somebody to Love Me"

Mark Ronson's third album dropped this week and has instantly taken over my speakers. Record Collection brings together an array of performers, including Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, Q-Tip, Spank Rock, and MNDR, to produce a compilation of fun and quirky songs. "Somebody to Love Me," featuring Boy George and Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow, is one of the more epic songs that makes you want to get up and dance even though there's a deep longing in the vocals. The mixture of the two takes you on a crazy odyssey all in the matter of 5 minutes. I have to also recommend the tracks "Bang Bang Bang", "The Bike Song", and "The Night Last Night."

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