Music of 2011

As the end of 2011 approaches, "Best of Lists" are inescapable. While its enjoyable to sort through and compare your favorites with others, it can be so difficult reducing a year's worth of music into a simple list. With so many great artists, where to begin? After much listening and deliberation, the following is a collection of our favorite albums for the year.

	10. Foster the People, Torches  Upbeat, dance-worthy music. Standout song: "Pumped Up Kicks"
	9. The Cave Singers, No Witch Blues Americana making a comeback. Standout song: "Swim Club"
	8. The Kills, Blood Pressures Thick sexy beats. Standout song: "Satellite"
	7. Portugal. The Man, In the Mountain In the Cloud  Intellectual psychedelia group sing-a-longs that rock out live.   Standout song: "All Your Light (Times Like These)"
	6. Feist, Metals Pictorial soundscapes, adding vision to sound. Standout song: "How Come You  Never Go"
	5. St. Vincent, Strange Mercy Hard-edged in a pretty package. Standout song: "Cheerleader"
	4. The Dodos, No Color Purity found in a guitar and drum. Standout song: "Good"
	3. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues Mother Earth approved instant classic. Standout song: "The Shrine / An Argument"
	2. TV on the Radio, Nine Types of Light Urban art rock poetry. Standout song: "Will Do"
	1. The Antlers, Burst Apart Epic transcendence. Standout song: "Parentheses"

In Rotation : Feist - Metals

Four years after the single "1 2 3 4" was showcased in an Apple commercial, propelling Feist to become one of 2007s biggest indie pop artists, her newly released follow-up album Metals brings a more matured perspective.  The cheery playfulness present in former albums has been paired back, replaced with an underlying heaviness and measured introspective thought.  The result is a visually stimulating album that creates atmospheric environments which Feist uses to give a sense of place and emotion within each lyrical vignette.

Notable Tracks:
3. "Caught a Long Wind"
4. "How Come You Never Go There"
9. "Undiscovered First"
11. "Comfort Me"

In addition to the original, check out Beck's remixed version of "How Come You Never Go There".



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In Rotation : The Antlers - Burst Apart

One of the year's brightest, but most underrated albums is The Antlers' Burst Apart.  Beginning to end, the album has a concise point of view. With its heady East Coast neuroses, there is an unnerving, yet intoxicating dream state quality to Burst Apart  that is ideal for 2AM listening sessions.  The record begins in a fragmented tone - searching for answers, not quite content in its state of being.  By the end, a transformation takes place, bringing a resolution and feeling of being at peace with itself.

Notable Tracks:
3. "Parenthesis"
4. "No Widows"
5. "Rolled Together"
6. "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out"
10. "Putting the Dog to Sleep"

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In Rotation : Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

A fresh young band from Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club, is introducing their energetic indie dance pop sound with the group's first full release, Tourist History.  The album is full of short, upbeat songs perfect for some lighthearted fun.  Akin to their UK counterparts such as The Wombats, Bloc Party, and Foals, they share the signature odd-timed drum beat prevalent in British/Irish music of the same genre, but differentiate themselves with a more concise blending between rhythm and lyrical syncopation.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Come Back Home"
3. "Undercover Martyn"
5. "This is the Life"
8. "What You Know"

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Blues Rock Setlist - Alabama Shakes, Band of Skulls, & The Black Keys

Bring on the power and soul that epitomizes the true foundation of rock n' roll.  With blues-infused heavy electric guitars, these few tracks are sure to enliven your ears.

Alabama Shakes "Hold On" - Alabama Shakes EP

With only a 4 song EP released, this new band has been attracting some good indie cred from the likes of NPR and KEXP. One listen and its easy to tell why, lead singer Brittany Howard has some major pipes. Howard transforms into a Southern rock, bluesy temptress in "Hold On," playing with the length and timing of her notes, stretching them to their limits before exploding in full power.



Band of Skulls "Sweet Sour" - Sweet Sour

Good things are sure to come musically in 2012 for Band of Skulls judging by an early preview of the title track "Sweet Sour."  With their album officially coming out in February, these English rockers are prime for a breakout following in the likes of The White Stripes and The Kills.



The Black Keys "Lonely Boy" - El Camino

The most recognizable of the three bands, The Black Keys had a monster of a year in 2010 with the inescapably brilliant album Brothers.  Just this past week, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney released El Camino, the group's seventh studio album together. The first single "Lonely Boy" is fun, fast, and an instant hit from where they last left off.  You can visit their website for the full music video.

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In Rotation 2 : Foster the People - Torches

As far as breakout music goes for 2011, there's no denying the creative success that Foster the People have had with their debut album Torches.  While "Pumped Up Kicks" has definitely been and deserves to be the group's standout song, just about every track on Torches has the potential of being a hit single. Start to finish, the entire album is filled with lively songs and contagious beats that'll have you pumped up ready to go.  Though the exterior of the music is upbeat, many of their songs actually take on a darker tone lyrically.  Its this ability to infuse hip swaying music with topics extending past the dance floor that makes Foster the People one of the year's top new bands.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Helena Beat"
2. "Pumped Up Kicks"
3. "Call it What You Want"
7. "Houdini"

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In Rotation: Florence + the Machine - Ceremonials

Florence + the Machine exploded onto the scene with the debut album Lungs.  It seemed within such a short time F+M were seasoned veterans of powerhouse pop.  Coming off such a meteoric rise, it is often hard for an artist to turn around and deliver a second sensation.  However, the "sophomore slump" is not felt in the newly released Ceremonials.  Not to disappoint, F+M takes us on a follow-up journey of dramatic themed story telling.  Listening one can sense how much of her own self is put into each note, sung as if each song will be her last.  Where Lungs felt like a collection of various thoughts and themes, Ceremonials has a concentrated point of view of procession and ritual.  An ambitious album, F+M released a deluxe version offering additional tracks along with demo and acoustic version various tracks.  The acoustic versions are a welcomed lift to the heavy layering orchestral accompaniments, the parsing away of drums and bass lines highlight with even more emphasis her vocal abilities and core essence of the songwriting.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Only If for a Night"
3. "What the Water Gave Me"
5. "Breaking Down"
7. "No Light, No Light"
8. "Seven Devils"

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In Rotation 2 : TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Combining indie rock, dance, soul and everything in between, TV on the Radio is a band that I can always expect to go beyond the music and explore the artistic side of sound.  Their latest album, Nine Types of Light, delivers a wave of rhythms and vocal shifts.  At first listen, strong beats and up-tempo tracks like "Caffeinated Consciousness" and "New Cannonball Blues" appear to dominate the album with their bold nature.  But with every further listen, the true driving force is a stream of (on the surface) gentler, more subdued songs.   This is evident in "Forgotten" and "Will Do," where there is almost an uneasy romanticism that takes form through the creeping beats.  As true art always is, there are many layers to Nine Types of Light that keep unraveling the more its explored.

Notable Tracks:
5. "Killer Crane"
6. "Will Do"
8. "Repetition"
9. "Forgotten"
10. "Caffeinated Consciousness"

For even more artistic expansion, TV on the Radio released a full-length music video, filled with individual visual representations for each one of its songs and then tied together with a collection of ideas provoked from topics found within the record.

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In Concert : Generationals @ Record Bar

Generationals opened the night bringing their toe-tapping beats onto the stage.  The New Orleans based band energized the room with fun up-beat tempos, instantly sparking the audience to dance along.  With the release of their second album, Actor-Caster, Generationals find opportunity to intertwine 50's doo-wop, british guitar rock, 80's keyboard pop, and dreamy vocals in to their minimalist indie rock. They are a young band with a fresh opinion on how to incorporate sounds from generations past into a present sound.

Notable Tracks:
1.  "Ten-Twenty-Ten"
7. "Black and White"
8. "Tell Me Now"
10.  "Please Be It"

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In Concert: tUnE-YarDs @ Jackpot Music Hall

On a gloomy rainy evening, one might not think going to a concert is high priority, but that was not the case this past Monday at the Jackpot. To a standing room only crowd, the tUnE-YarDs took the stage with their warpaint on.  A phantom of multitasking, Merrill Garbus looped drum signatures and vocal "skats" effortlessly. With tremendous vocal range, lyrics of regressed modern oppression whilst backed with a rhythmic bass groove, the tUne-YarDs had the entire crowd moving as one. Every song from whokill takes over your body, dropping you deep into an African drum circle where every spastic limb movement is an extension of the beat.

Notable Tracks:
1. "My Country"
2. "Es-So"
3. "Gangsta"
4. "Powa"
6. "Bizness"

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In Concert: The Wombats @ Record Bar

"Tooooorrrd!" echoed from the back of the crowd, as The Wombats brought their fun, energetic music to the stage.  Tord, playing bass whether he was bouncing back and forth across the stage, climbing atop speakers or being down on the ground, brought nonstop action to the show.  All the while lead singer Matthew Murphy and  drummer Dan Haggis brought their cheeky English humor to the forefront, telling jokes in between songs, and hiding behind amps and curtains for the encore.  Their songs are a direct reflection of their fun-natured attitude and are all happy, uncomplicated music that you can't help but dance to as The Wombats Proudly Present... This Modern Glitch.

Notable Tracks:

1. "Our Perfect Disease"

2. "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)"

3. "Jump into the Fog"

6. "Techno Fan"

7. "1996"

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In Rotation 1 : My Morning Jacket - Circuital

As the title suggest, Circuital, has the feeling of progression traditional narration.  My Morning Jacket introduces their 6th studio album with the broad sweeping orchestral rock of "Victory Dance".  Moving into the climatic sing-along "Holdin' on to Black Metal".  And then, ending with a sweet piano ballad "Movin' Away".  Don't let the dropped g's fool you as to the content of the lyrical narration, there is a grand sense of life observations and archetypal notions of the passing of time.  A great addition to the American/Southern Rock genre for your collection.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Victory Dance"
3. "The Day is Coming"
8. "You Wanna Freak Out"
10. "Movin' Away"


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In Rotation 2 : Givers - In Light

Fun, upbeat, and playful...no other words best describe the Givers first album In Light.  This collegiate, indie pop group from Louisiana have a great spirit about their music. There's a warmth to their songs, almost as if it were born from a day in the sun.  Their afrobeat-infused percussion and interchange in lead vocals between male and female parts adds to the album's playfulness.  Well developed music and solid lyrics give In Light  real substance, an album that can easily be played on repeat for days.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Meantime"
6. "Ceiling of Plankton"
7. "In My Eyes"
9. "Go Out At Night"
10. "Words"


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In Rotation 1 : Washed Out - Within and Without

Washed Out debut studio album Within and Without is born out of the recent wave of chilled electronic music.  Each track blends from one to another with a sense of ephemeral transitions of time.  Each track is musically transportive utilizing repetitive drum tracks, droning bass, a heavy use of ambient synth, with a backing of blending vocals.  A perfect inclusion to your Fall playlist.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Echoes"
3. "Amor Fati"
5. "Far Away"
8. "Within and Without"

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In Concert: Portugal. The Man @ The Bottleneck

Loving some Portugal. The Man this year...and not just their new album In the Mountain in the Cloud released in July, but also going back to 2008's Censored Colors and 2009's The Satanic Satanist.  Portugal has a fresh sound, revitalizing rock music.  While their albums are a bit lax, their stage show is supercharged.  Every song was played with such excitement and high energy that reverberated through the crowd.  There was not a body in the place that wasn't rocking when they started their beloved hit "People Say" or the all-out cover of The Beatles' "Helter Skelter".  A very exciting show from an exciting new band that everyone should know about.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Colors" - Censored Colors
4. "Salt" - Censored Colors
9. "Never Pleased" - Censored Colors

1. "People Say" - The Satanic Satanist
2. "Work All Day" - The Satanic Satanist
8. "Do You" - The Satanic Satanist

5. "Head is a Flame (Cool with It)" - In the Mountain in the Cloud
8. "All Your Light (Times Like These)" - In the Mountain in the Cloud
11. "Sleep Forever" - In the Mountain in the Cloud

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In Concert: St. Vincent @ Liberty Hall

St. Vincent is a bit of a musical paradox. Seemingly sweet, with an angelic voice, St. Vincent aka Annie Clark is more dark and hard then she lets on at the surface.  Listen a little closer and her lyrics have an edge, backed with bursts of heavy guitars and scratched, discordant waves of sound.  Seeing her perform in person, you are flooded with the intensity that she brings to her music.  For this, her latest album Strange Mercy deserves to be cranked to the fullest in order to really experience the artistic genius that lies within. 

Notable Tracks:
2. "Cruel"
3. "Cheerleader"
4. "Surgeon"
6. "Strange Mercy"
9. "Dilettante"
11. "Year of the Tiger"

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In Concert: Wild Flag @ Record Bar

Wild Flag's live performance can be described in one word...intense.  The newly formed band of Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium), and Rebecca Cole (The Minders) are touring their new album, of the same name.  From beginning to end there is no shortage of energy.  They came on stage, plugged-in, and rocked!

Notable Tracks:
1. "Romance"
8. "Future Crimes"
9. "Racehorse"
10. "Black Tiles"

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In Concert: Death Cab for Cutie @ River Market

It was a perfect October night under the crisp air and evening stars listening to Death Cab for Cutie.  When you have a band with such a rich history of songs that you have a personal connection to, it sometimes gets harder to embrace new material right away.  For this, it was great introduction to their new album Codes and Keys.  Compared to previous work, Codes and Keys has taken a more playful route in both instrumentation and lyrical writing.  It is apparent that Ben Gibbard and the entire band are in a comfortable and confident state with their lives and music. While the band was out to promote their latest release, they were not short on performing songs from throughout their entire career.  Early favorites like "A Movie Script Ending" and "We Laugh Indoors" reminded us all of that time when we first fell in love with Death Cab.  Adored songs like "Soul Meets Body" had the entire audience swept over and singing along. And, to end of their normal set, "We Looked Like Giants" was transformed into an energetic, all-out jam session, leaving us all chanting for more.


Rotation 1
"Bend to Squares" - Something About Airplanes, 1999
"Champagne from a Paper Cup" - Something About Airplanes, 1999
"For What Reason" - We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes, 2000
"A Movie Script Ending" - The Photo Album, 2001
"Passenger Seat" - Transatlanticism, 2003
"We Looked Like Giants" - Transatlanticism, 2003
"Lack of Color" - Transatlanticism, 2003
"Marching Band of Manhattan" - Plans, 2005
"Soul Meets Body" - Plans, 2005
"I Will Follow You into the Dark" - Plans, 2005

Rotation 2
"Wait" - You Can Play These Songs with Chords, 1997
"Champagne from a Paper Cup" - You Can Play These Songs with Chords, 1997
"Bend to Squares" - Something About Airplanes, 1999
"A Movie Script Ending" - The Photo Album, 2001
"We Laugh Indoors" - The Photo Album, 2001
"Coney Island" - The Photo Album, 2001
"Title and Registration" - Transatlanticism, 2003
"Tiny Vessels" - Transatlanticism, 2003
"Cath..." - Narrow Stairs, 2008
"My Mirror Speaks" - The Open Door EP, 2009

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In Rotation 2: Kasabian - Velociraptor!

After much of a summer hiatus, it is time to get back to some good music.  While I might have to revisit some music missed out on from the past few months, I'll start by kicking it off with something new:

The fourth album from British electro rock group Kasabian, Velociraptor!, hit the audible spot this week with its experimental and bold sounds. The album really starts for me five songs deep at the title track. Its upbeat, fast, addicting, and yes, that velociraptor is going to get you. From there, you go on a trippy, exotic ride with "Acid Turkish Bath (shelter from the Storm)" - just imagine camel rides with amps.  Then its back to reality, battling your own neuroses and personal enemies.  Kasabian as always creates great pump up, all-conquering tunes, and Velociraptor! does it again.  So tune in, turn up, and prepare to take on your next great challenge.

Notable Tracks:
5. "Velociraptor!"
6. "Acid Turkish Bath (Shelter from the Storm)"
7. "I Hear Voices"
8. "Re-Wired"

Watch as they perform "Velociraptor!" in a Boeing 747 at the Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome...if only real flights were this entertaining.


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In Concert: Thao & Mirah @ Record Bar

By the powers of Oprah (their strong, reliable bus), Thao and Mirah showed up with an all-female ensemble ready to perform. Its one thing to have some musical capabilities and another to be a true musician.  After watching Thao and Mirah perform on stage, I can confirm that these two are in fact the real thing.  All night both ladies roamed about the stage, switching up instruments and playing techniques. Amazingly enough, they proved patty-caking as a viable source of percussion artillery.  The back and forth interchange of vocals provided them with a platform to create different moods and variability within their songs.  Even the drummer came armed with an entire palette of drum sticks with different tips to switch about through the night.  All in all, their playfulness on stage showed a willing to stretch musical boundaries and not be contained by any norm.

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In Rotation 2 : Akron/Family - S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT

With a title like S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT, I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into when I picked up the new album from Akron/Family.  Although it is the band's fifth studio album, it was my first introduction to their music.  Now, returning to the matter after a couple listens, I think it is a perfect title for their record. Its kind of out there, capturing their experimental, psychedelic rock sound, with a nomadic, earthy quality, sharing their folk-esque, landscaped tunes.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Silly Bears"
2. "Island"
4. "So It Goes"
5. "Another Sky"
6. "Light Emerges"


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In Concert: Foals @ The Beaumont Club

If you want to let loose, jump, and dance around, Foals is a must see concert.  With a killer thumping bass, the band just kept grooving throughout the night, creating an all out party atmosphere.   They have an intense English dance-punk vibe that gets even more pronounced on the live stage from feeding off the crowd.  To show they aren't just all fun and fluff, Foals performed some of their more momentous and personal songs "Spanish Sahara" and "Blue Blood," which really showcased the band's restraint and the power in lead singer Yannis' voice.  Then it was back to a fun mix of upbeat songs featured from both their Antidotes and Total Life Forever albums.

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In Concert - Arcade Fire @ Starlight Theatre

"Coming Soon...Arcade Fire", stretched across the video screens with every one in anticipation for the show to begin.  In following with the post-70's suburban theme of their album, videos rolled through touting the serene peacefulness that the suburban cultural was to offer.  Arcade Fire takes the stage with the powerful "Month of May" off their latest album.  Followed by hit-after-hit from Neon Bible and Funeral.  As I stood their completely immersed in the show I realized just how good these guys are.  The concert was fabulous and memorable finishing in full on ribbon dance to "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)".  I have not been able to get the concert out of my head all week.  In reflection of  the experience, below is a sampling of some new and old favorites.


Rotation 1
"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" - Funeral, 2004
"Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)" - Funeral, 2004
"Rebellion (Lies)" - Funeral, 2004
"Ocean of Noise" - Neon Bible, 2007
"We Used to Wait" - The Suburbs, 2010

Rotation 2
"Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" - Funeral, 2004
"Wake Up" - Funeral, 2004
"Black Mirror" - Neon Bible, 2007
"Intervention" - Neon Bible, 2007
"Rococo" - The Suburbs, 2010

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In Rotation 2 : Thao & Mirah - Thao & Mirah

Its always exciting when musicians come together in collaboration,  melding their unique styles together in a way that pushes the artistic limits of what they can accomplish on their own.  Cue to artists Thao Nguyen, from the indie band The Get Down Stay Down, and Mirah, with a successful solo career of her own, who have collectively come together under the new project Thao & Mirah. Their self titled album out April 26th fuses the soft intensity and airy quality in Mirah's voice with the raw edge and richness of Thao to create a beautiful collection of songs that emerge out of melodic chaos. Take their first single "Eleven" for example, I feel like I should put a basket of fruit on my head, go to the beach, and start a dance party in the sun.  Kind of crazy, but it works.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Eleven"
3. "Little Cup"
5. "Teeth"
6. "Spaced Out Orbit"
11. "Squareneck"
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In Concert - Young the Giant @ Record Bar

Spring is here with warmer temperatures, the return of baseball, and music tours.  Young the Giant is one of many bands that have taken to the stage this season, promoting their still recent release of their self titled, debut album.  In some crazy mixture of indie rock, pop, and, blues, with rich vocals, catchy tunes, and lots of vibrant Cali energy, Young the Giant are definitely a fun band to see and hear live.  Frontman Sameer Gadhia has a captivating stage presence in his ability to range from loud, belted-out vocals to softer, more intimate songs.   It was a great show, culminating in the highlight performance of the night, "My Body," which resulted in an all out craze with half the crowd up on stage and the other half jumping and dancing around the bar.

Notable Tracks:
2. "My Body"
4. "Cough Syrup"
7. "Strings"
9. "Garands"
10. "St. Walker"

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In Rotation 2 : The Kills - Blood Pressures

Releasing next Tuesday, Blood Pressures is sure to satiate any Kills fan who has been impatiently waiting for new material.  As the album is so aptly named, Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince have found a way to get the blood pumping once again with their dark, bluesy garage rock, hard hitting sound.  Opening up the album, "Future Starts Slow" has a familiar musical quality to material in The Kills' last album Midnight Boom as if it were a bridge from their past to present sound.  Cue to "Satellite," the sickest, most seductive song ever created (although a few tracks later "DNA" gives it a close run).   There are just no other musicians around that have been able to harness the bluesy power, dark intrigue, and all-consuming air that surrounds The Kills' music.  Although I didn't think possible, Blood Pressures definitely goes a step beyond its predecessors; its an album that is not only musically strong but also explorative.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Future Starts Slow"
2. "Satellite"
4. "Nail in my Coffin"
6. "DNA"
9. "Damned If She Do"
11. "Pots and Pans"


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Song of the Week 3/20

Rotation 1

Wild Flag - Wild Flag, "Glass Tambourine"

There is no sweet back-up girl tambourine shaking with this song.  Wild Flag releases "Glass Tambourine" with thick drum beats, heavy guitar and psychedelic overtones. Newly formed Wild Flag is an indie rock powerhouse of Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Mary Timony (Helium), and Rebecca Cole (Minders). Due out this April, they will release a 7" single to be followed by an album this fall.

Rotation 2

The Strokes - Angles, "Machu Picchu"

Five years since their last album, The Strokes are back with a new record  Angles.  Kicking it off with "Machu Picchu," there is an instant flashback to the infectious new wave hits of the 80's.  By the time the song hits the bridge, The Strokes return to their past guitar sound that we all know and love.  Bouncing between the different aspects of sound, its a very playful track, finally reaching full potential near end when Julian takes his vocals up a notch and gives the song some real power.

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In Concert - The Dodos @ Record Bar

Fresh off the release of their fourth album No Color and an attention grabbing appearance at SXSW, The Dodos showed up to Kansas City ready to be heard. As drummer Logan Kroeber channeled some Charlie Sheen energy in a tiger blood tee and Bengayed his arm muscles down, I knew it was about to get serious, seriously good that is.  The duo with help from a third musician, kicked it off with the energy charged tune "Good."  Using every inch of the drums, rim and all, plus a tambourine strapped to his foot, Logan kept up a raging stream of beats throughout the night. All the while, Meric Long was relentless on guitar and provided magnetic vocals pulling the crowd in closer and closer to the stage.  With all the energy, power, and musicality, The Dodos are a band worth hearing for yourself. Check out their spring tour dates, see them live, listen to No Color, repeat.

Notable Tracks:

1. "Black Night"

2. "Going Under"

3. "Good"

5. "Don't Try and Hide It"

9. "Don't Stop"

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In Rotation 2 : Warpaint - The Fool

The chill California vibe is ever so present on the all female, experimental rock band Warpaint and their debut album The Fool.  These LA ladies have mastered the perfect psychedelic blend of bass, electric guitar, and drums to create a vivid dream state of sound.  With intoxicating vocals that float out and seemingly melt away, there is a calming force that flirts with eerie darkness on the record.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Warpaint"

3. “Undertow”

4. “Bees”

6. “Composure”

8. “Majesty”

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Song of the Week 3/13

Rotation 1

The Dodos, No Color - "Black Night"

Heading out for SXSW this week, the Dodos open with their fourth studio album release.  "Black Night" offers a good foot-stompin' beat, perfect for your spring break road trip (perhaps a stop in Austin is on the map).













Rotation 2

Oh Land, Oh Land - "White Nights" Twin Shadow Remix

Back in January, my ears were introduced to Danish singer Oh Land.  This week she is back in the forefront with the release of her full length LP.  The album carries over all four tracks from her EP and nicely merges them with some new ones. "White Nights" shows the lighter, fun side of the album, while tracks like "Lean" and "Wolf and I" have a more mysterious, hypnotic quality that pulls you in.







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In Rotation 2 : DeVotchKa - 100 Lovers

100 Lovers is a sweeping musical adventure into the life of a modern day gypsy.  The album starts with a delicate piano that slowly builds until it is flooded by the epic vocals of lead singer, Nick Urata.  From there, its hard not to get seduced by the hypnotizing power and emotion that are in the songs.  The album definitely has a progression into the more exotic Slavic folk, mariachi sound that has made DeVotchKa unique.  Unfortunately for me, I'm just not as deeply drawn to this side of their music, which probably polarizes alot of other listeners too.  Since I don't think they should abandon who they are as a band, I'll settle with an excellent four song opening.

Notable Tracks:
1. "The Alley"
2. "All the Sand in All the Sea"
3. "One Hundred Other Lovers"
4. "The Common Good"


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Song of the Week 2/27

Rotation 1

Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues - "Helplessness Blues"

In 2008 Fleet Foxes stepped out onto the scene with their debut album, Fleet Foxes.  It was a fresh revitalization of story-telling, vocal harmonies, and instrumentation that had been missing in the recent years.  Since then many bands, such as, Mumford & Sons and Local Natives have emerged rounding out the spectrum with their own flavor.  Due out in May, Fleet Foxes will release their follow-up album, Helplessness Blues.  I am amped!






Rotation 2

Alexander, Alexander - "A Million Years"

You might recognize the voice of Alexander Ebert, lead singer for breakout group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, as he released his solo album this past week. Listening to his songs, it is hard not to just feel good. I'm also enthralled by his song "Truth."

"Like a rainbow crash
As we bow and swirl
Been a million years full of tears
But I found my girl

Like exploding sun
Let the light unfurl
Been a million years full of fears
But I found my girl"

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In Rotation 2 : The Cave Singers - No Witch

Although No Witch is The Cave Singers third album, it is the band's first with recording label Jagjaguwar and has the potential to launch a breakout year for this trio.   The group has a duality that balances between  the freshness of indie folk and ruggedness of Americana rock.  No Witch opens perfectly with "Gifts and Rafts," a natural wonder that almost mimics the sun rising to start the day.  Going between their softer, more relaxed songs and the fast, unrestricted tracks, the band has a seamless transition that lets their duality never overpower the sound of the album.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Gifts and the Raft"
2. "Swim Club"
5. "Outer Realms"
7. "All Land Crabs and Divinity"
12. "No Prosecution if We Bail"

So many great songs on this record, I couldn't even find videos of my personal favorites.




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Song of the Week 2/20

Rotation 1

Portugal.The Man, The Satanic Satanist - "People Say"

With the increased conflict around the world recently, Portugal.The Man's, "People Say" hits the spot this week.  A great group sing, you will find yourself joining in on the chorus.











Rotation 2

Young the Giant, Young the Giant - "My Body"

Straight from their debut album, "My Body" is a fun indie rock tune with tons of energy, guitars, and catchy lyrics.  On top of all, the breadth of vocals really makes this song shine. From the slower buildup to its all-out ending, there is a unique quality in singer Sameer Gadhia's voice.








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In Rotation 1 : Radiohead - The King of Limbs

As you may have heard, Radiohead released their eighth album this past week.  A stylistic departure from the previous In Rainbows and Hail to the Thief albums, The King of Limbs harkens back to their Kid A style.  Heavily layered with multiple sound clips and electronic beats, and yet there is still room for the use of a gentle piano and acoustical guitar.  Comprised of 8 tracks and running just under 38 minutes, one could note that it is just not long enough.  I would agree, however if left on repeat each song has so much musical depth there is constantly a new bit that you are to discover.

Notable Tracks:
3. Little by Little
5. Lotus Flower
6. Codex
7. Give Up the Ghost


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In Rotation 2 : Bright Eyes - The People's Key

The ever-intellectual lyricism of Conor Oberst remains at the forefront of Bright Eyes' newly released album, The People's Key. Although I can't question the knowledge displayed within Conor's songs, I do question whether it holds the same weight and resonance that is present in previous work.  Whether its the interjection of sermonlike rants or the album's upbeat rock melodies that teeter on pop, the personal connection that has made Bright Eyes so brilliant in the past is lost.  Exception to this is "The Ladder Song," with its honest vocals and a few piano notes playing in the background, it easily is the purest and most powerful song of The People's Key.

Notable Tracks:
2. "Shell Games"
9. "The Ladder Song"
10. "One for You, One for Me"


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Song of the Week 2/13

Rotation 1
PJ Harvey, Let England Shake - "Bitter Branches"

PJ Harvey's eighth album is a in-the-moment poignant album bringing to light much of the conflict around the world. "Bitter Branches" is a fist pumping anthem pointing out the infectious destruction and what is sacrificed in the end.











Rotation 2

Hugo, Old Time Religion - "99 Problems"

Who doesn't like a good cover? Especially when the original song is one of Jay-Z's infamous raps and its getting a bluesy, southern rock makeover.











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In Rotation 1 & 2 : Foals - Total Life Forever

Gearing up for a spring tour of the U.S., Foals are ready to take over the live stage with their latest album, Total Life Forever. In juxtaposition to their early work, they have found a way to pare back the upfront British trip hop beats into a record which takes a more mindful approach in lyrics and instrumentation. The result is a sophomore album that connects on a more personal level with the audience.

Notable Tracks:
1. "Blue Blood"
2. "Miami"
3. "Total Life Forever"
5. "Spanish Sahara"
11. "What Remains"


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Song of the Week 2/6

Rotation 1

Real Estate, Real Estate - "Beach Comber"

Real Estate provides laid back easy tempo beats that seem to waif along a warm breeze.  Off their self-titled debut album, "Beach Comber" one of the more up beat tracks.  The metallic vocals timbre paired with the raw metallic guitar offers a stripped back sound that is refreshing.








Rotation 2

Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals - "Colors"

With a strong southern rock, bluesy vibe, you would never suspect Grace Potter & The Nocturnals originates out of Vermont. While most of the album is full of loud, guitar driven, soul powered songs, "Colors" reflects a slower, stripped down aspect.








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In Rotation 2 : The Kills - "Satellite"

Pure, raw, and unpolished with guitars and a beat that just grinds deep into your veins. The Kills' new single "Satellite" is just what I needed to awaken from my music coma I've been in the past month.  Can't wait for their forthcoming album Blood Pressures to be released April 5th.


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In Rotation 2 : Benjamin Francis Leftwich - "Pictures"

"Pictures" is a sweet and simple, almost hauntingly beautiful single from British musician Benjamin Francis Leftwich's new EP.  Perfect for a subdued, reflective state.


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Artist Retrospective : The Decemberists

With the release of "The King is Dead," The Decemberists dally deep into the sound of classic American Folk.  From their early beginnings of Pacific Northwest Indie Rock to their stream-of-conscience concept album approach, The Decemberists are always experimenting and looking for new avenues of expression.  Although the band's style is ever-evolving, their music always remains rich in storytelling, giving life to archetypal human experiences of struggle and strife, love and longing, grief and sorrow. 


Notable Tracks:
4. "Rox in the Box"
5. "January Hymn"
6. "Down by the Water"
8. "June Hymn"
9. "This is Why We Fight"


Along with enjoying the new album, here are some old favorites to revisit.

Rotation 1

"Eli, The Barrow Boy" - Picaresque, 2005
"O Valencia!" - The Crane Wife, 2006
"The Perfect Crime #2" - The Crane Wife, 2006
"Shankill Butchers" - The Crane Wife, 2006
"Won't Want For Love (Margaret in the Taiga)" - The Hazards of Love, 2009


Rotation 2

"Eli, The Barrow Boy" - Picaresque, 2005
"On the Bus Mall" - Picaresque, 2005
"The Island: Come & See/The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning" - The Crane Wife, 2006
"O Valencia!" - The Crane Wife, 2006
"The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" - The Hazards of Love, 2009
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Song of the Week 1/23

Rotation 1

The Antlers, Hospice - "Two"

Again...Again...I like it.  "Two" is presented in a melodic round, where the lyrical melody is mono climatic through both the verse and the chorus.  The simple guitar strumming and continuous droning backdrop is a compliment to emotionally powerful storytelling.  I appreciate the repetitious use of the word "two" to enforce the ending verse.

"There's two people living in one small room,
From your two half-families tearing at you,
Two ways to tell the story (no one worries),
Two silver rings on our fingers in a hurry,
Two people talking inside your brain,
                                                           Two people believing that I'm the one
                                                           to blame,
                                                           Two different voices coming out of
                                                           your mouth,
                                                           When I'm too cold to care and too sick to
                                                           shout."

Rotation 2

U.S. Royalty, Mirrors - "Equestrian"

DC rockers U.S. Royalty are primed to grab the attention of some new music fans with the release of their debut album this week. Their first single "Equestrian" has a fresh, naturalistic feel that pulls you in from the very first line "I slept in hills of wheat and pine/Too many years have passed me by."  There's an honest quality to the songs of Mirrors that makes their debut album very appealing.  They aren't trying too hard to be something they're not and they aren't afraid to show different sides to their music.  Case in point, check out their amazing blues-rock track "The Desert Won't SaveYou."
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Song of the Week 1/16

Rotation 1

First Aid Kit, Ghost Town EP - "When I Grow Up"

Young Swedish duo covers Fever Ray's, "When I Grow Up", stripping down the original to its lyrical core.  Removing the overtones of synthesizers and percussional beats, the song is represented with the same vocal hauntingness accompanied a softly ramblin' guitar.  In the spirit of Fleet Foxes, First Aid Kit, is true to their harmonizing vocals and simple folk instrumentation.  Check out their full length album, The Big Black and the Blue.





Rotation 2

Abbe May - "Mammalian Locomotion"

With a deep throbbing beat, gritty blues rock guitars, and sultry vocals, "Mammalian Locomotion" is Australian singer Abbe May's answer to Charlotte Gainsbourg's "Trick Pony."  The contrasting aspects of a delicate, yet seductive voice over strong instrumentation is a combination that makes both songs so addictive.  Be ready for this song to grab attention as Abbe prepares to release her upcoming album slated for May.




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In Rotation 2 : Pepper Rabbit - "Harvest Moon"

French horn anyone? Both Xander Singh and Luc Laurent of Pepper Rabbit aren't afraid to infuse a wide array of instruments into their music. Their song "Harvest Moon" is a melodic fusion of their capability to weave together the gentle tones of each instrument.  This trait coupled with the gentle vocals creates a real warmth in the song that is refreshing. 

You can find this track off of the band's debut album "Beauregard" released back in October 2010. And, watch for the band to put out new material later this year.


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Rotation 1 : Jose Gonzalez - In Our Nature

Singer songwriter Jose Gonzalez release of, In Our Nature, is a simple yet beautiful collection of songs.  Stripped down to an acoustic guitar, vocals, with a few percussional beats each track is intoxicating hypnotic; flowing effortlessly from one to another.  In Our Nature has a sweet humanistic quality with many of the lyrical subject revolving around the topics of human interaction and passage of time.  The guitar arrangement is organic with the feeling as if the melodic tones were those created by the sound of the wind passing through the landscape.

Notable tracks:
2. "Down the Line"
3. "Killing for Love"
5. "Teardrop"
10. "Cycling Trivialities"




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In Rotation 2 : Oh Land - Oh Land EP

Based off of a four song EP released back in October, Oh Land is one act to look out for in 2011.  Oh Land, also known as the talented electropop singer Nanna Fabricius, hails from Denmark bringing with her a  truly strong yet delicate, unique voice.  Like her European counterparts, Oh Land with her intriguing vocals and haunting beats falls somewhere between the likes of Lykke Li, Fever Ray, and Bjork. Until the release of her full album later this year, here are two songs worth putting on repeat:




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Song of the Week 12/26

Rotation 1

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, Dark Night of the Soul - "Revenge" featuring The Flaming Lips

2010 was a very prolific year for Brian Burton (Danger Mouse).  Besides teaming up with James Mercer to form Broken Bells, and offering his production talent on The Black Keys,  "Tighten Up"; he and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) introduced Dark Night of the Soul, a collaborative album featuring many musically influential artist. 

From the album, "Revenge" has an intoxicating quality; hooking the listener in traditional Flaming Lips style with its lyrical melodic combination. 

                                                             "In my mind
                                                             I have shot you and stabbed you
                                                             throught the heart
                                                             I just didn't understand
                                                             The ricochet is the second part
                                                            
                                                             Cause you can't hide
                                                             What you intend
                                                             It glows in the dark
                                                             Once you've sought
                                                             The path of revenge
                                                             There is no way to stop
                                                             And the more I try to hurt you
                                                             The more it hurts me"

Rotation 2

Sufjan Stevens, The Age of Adz - "Too Much"

There is something magical about the songs is Sufjan's latest album The Age of Adz.  Accompanied by the images of apocalyptic artist Royal Robertson, Sufjan has created an album full of sensory rich songs that transports you to an ancient society bent on the quest for eternal glory.  The blending of orchestral and electronic sound strengthens the conceptual idea adding a mechanical and mystical element to the musical journey.




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