I'm not usually one to plug a website, but lala.com is doing some pretty cool things in streaming music. Here's the deal: you can listen to any song once and you can add a song to your electronic library for 10 cents and stream it as much as you want. In addition, you can post these streaming songs on blogs and whatnot. First 50 songs are free. To your right you'll see two songs I've posted from lala.
The Pains of Being Pure at heart are a really incredible twee pop/shoegaze band that caught everyone by surprise this February. I'm still planning on doing a proper review of their self titled debut (and have been for weeks...) but for now this will have to satisfy you.
You can read more about The Love Language in my review of their debut written last month. "Sparxxx" is the song on that album that I just can't stop listening to. Lo-fi pop at its best.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Retro-viewing: Some Great Albums of '08
With the stress of the end of the semester crashing down on me, I've been forced to put off a few reviews I'd planned on doing by now (Wavves and Pains of Being Pure at Heart, I apologize). Instead I'm going to do a few quick reviews of some excellent '08 albums I hadn't had the chance to hear until recently. Here goes:
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
Hailing from Antibes, France, electronic-shoegaze-pop outfit M83 has been around since 2001. On 2008's Saturdays=Youth, they set their synths to 80's and successfully explore the all-too-often abused theme of angsty teen life. That's right: M83 is essentially rewriting the Breakfast Club soundtrack (don't take that metaphor too literally, even though that girl on the cover looks a lot like Molly Ringwald...). Needless to say a concept like this could easily go a number of ways, and we're fortunate that the extraordinarily talented M83 turned it into one of the best albums of the year. If nothing else, listen to: Kim & Jessie, Graveyard Girl, We Own the Sky
Deerhunter - Microcastle
For anyone plugged in to the independent music scene, Atlanta's Deerhunter is one of those names you just can't ignore. Regardless, I did just that until very recently. One of my problems, I think, was that it was difficult for me to separate the music from all of the mythos and hype. After months of occasional listens, this album finally clicked yesterday... in a huge way. Forget what you've heard about them. Forget about your mental image of Bradford Cox, perhaps the most unlikely of rock stars. When it comes down to it, these guys are famous for one reason: they know how to make brilliant music. If you have trouble digesting this album, stick with it. You'll be thankful you did. If nothing else, listen to: Agoraphobia, Little Kids, Nothing Ever Happened, Saved By Old Times
Hercules and Love Affair - S/T
Hercules and Love Affair is primarily the brainchild of New York DJ Andy Butler, but -- in my opinion -- what elevates this great disco dance record to the territory of true classics is the incredible vocal work of Antony Hegarty. You may be familiar with Antony from his own band, Antony & The Johnsons, whose fantastic '09 release The Crying Light went to #1 on Europe's Billboard charts. The entire album is beautiful, but 6 minute centerpiece "Blind" is the real gem here. The funky beat and excellent horn riffs will have you dancing in no time, but Antony, Butler and company are just getting started. As the song grows, Antony's vocals and introspective lyrics grow more urgent and powerful. When things get serious in the second half, you'll be glad he took his time. If nothing else, listen to: Time Will, You Belong, Blind, Iris
M83 - Saturdays = YouthHailing from Antibes, France, electronic-shoegaze-pop outfit M83 has been around since 2001. On 2008's Saturdays=Youth, they set their synths to 80's and successfully explore the all-too-often abused theme of angsty teen life. That's right: M83 is essentially rewriting the Breakfast Club soundtrack (don't take that metaphor too literally, even though that girl on the cover looks a lot like Molly Ringwald...). Needless to say a concept like this could easily go a number of ways, and we're fortunate that the extraordinarily talented M83 turned it into one of the best albums of the year. If nothing else, listen to: Kim & Jessie, Graveyard Girl, We Own the Sky
Deerhunter - MicrocastleFor anyone plugged in to the independent music scene, Atlanta's Deerhunter is one of those names you just can't ignore. Regardless, I did just that until very recently. One of my problems, I think, was that it was difficult for me to separate the music from all of the mythos and hype. After months of occasional listens, this album finally clicked yesterday... in a huge way. Forget what you've heard about them. Forget about your mental image of Bradford Cox, perhaps the most unlikely of rock stars. When it comes down to it, these guys are famous for one reason: they know how to make brilliant music. If you have trouble digesting this album, stick with it. You'll be thankful you did. If nothing else, listen to: Agoraphobia, Little Kids, Nothing Ever Happened, Saved By Old Times
Hercules and Love Affair - S/THercules and Love Affair is primarily the brainchild of New York DJ Andy Butler, but -- in my opinion -- what elevates this great disco dance record to the territory of true classics is the incredible vocal work of Antony Hegarty. You may be familiar with Antony from his own band, Antony & The Johnsons, whose fantastic '09 release The Crying Light went to #1 on Europe's Billboard charts. The entire album is beautiful, but 6 minute centerpiece "Blind" is the real gem here. The funky beat and excellent horn riffs will have you dancing in no time, but Antony, Butler and company are just getting started. As the song grows, Antony's vocals and introspective lyrics grow more urgent and powerful. When things get serious in the second half, you'll be glad he took his time. If nothing else, listen to: Time Will, You Belong, Blind, Iris
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