Infinite Shuffle

January 10, 2010

11 – Band of Horses

Filed under: B, Seattle, South Carolina — assman41 @ 12:01 am

When Band of Horses released their debut album, “Everything All the Time” in 2006, I was mildly skeptical about their chances of catching on. The first single, “Funeral” is amazing and seemed to be getting constant airplay.

The problem was that they have the type of sound that could be exhausting for an entire album. Just like the band Muse’s constant anthemic rock sound, the echoey, whisper-scream of BoH lead singer Ben Bridwell permeates every song on the disc. But instead of becoming tiresome, it really works here.

Here’s how they were described on their Wikipedia page:

The band often draws comparisons to My Morning Jacket, largely due to the vocal similarities between Bridwell and MMJ lead singer Jim James, the occasional Southern Rock tendencies that the two groups have in common and a penchant for glimmering reverb.

The song “The Great Salt Lake” was definitely solid, and their song “Our Swords” was on the soundtrack for the movie “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” But I was still worried that, with such a great first song, Band of Horses might be destined for the realm of One-Hit Wonders. It didn’t help matters that “Funeral” was being played all over in commercials and a slew of movies and television shows.

However, all of that worrying became a moot point when they dropped their sophomore effort, “Cease To Begin,” in 2007. This was my most-played album of the past year and is slowly becoming one of my all-time favorites.

While their first album has one or two really powerful songs, the second one is packed with them. The singles that you might recognize include “Is There a Ghost” and “No One’s Gonna Love You.”

But even the non-singles are really good. Songs such as “Detlef Schrempf,” “Ode to LRC,” “The General Specific,” “Islands on the Coast” and “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands” could have been successfully released by themselves.

I’m eagerly awaiting another album, which is likely due sometime this year. The disc, which is tentatively titled “Night Rainbows,” was recorded in 2009, but a release date has yet to be announced. I’m also looking forward to catching them the next time they’re on tour.

In the meantime, you can check out some of their biggest songs at their official website or their MySpace page.

I chose to post the following song for two reasons — 1) it’s great, and 2) it’s awesome that the band, which had been based in Seattle before relocating to South Carolina, decided to pay homage to one of the Emerald City’s former basketball greats in the song title.

Band of Horses – Detlef Schrempf

January 3, 2010

10 – Ladyhawke

Filed under: L, New Zealand — assman41 @ 12:01 am

Up to this point, every band or artist I’ve reviewed can lay claim to putting out at least one album that I have absolutely loved from beginning to end — well, except for Bat For Lashes.

That isn’t quite the case with Ladyhawke. Her self-titled debut includes some of my favorite songs from the past year, but it also has a lot of filler I could do without.

Ladyhawke is the stage name of Phillipa “Pip” Brown, a 30-year-old singer/songwriter from New Zealand who looks and sounds like a hybrid of a slew of popular ’80s singers — such as Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Wilde, Debbie Gibson, Terri Nunn and Dale Bozzio.

And like her predecessors, Ladyhawke produces solid new wave/indie rock tinged with plenty of electronica to keep the hipsters dancing. The problem is that, while her singles are incredibly catchy, she doesn’t quite sustain it for the entirety of the album.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t have a problem with repeated listens to Ladyhawke, but more than likely, I’ll stick to just playing my faves, which include “Back of the Van,” “My Delirium” and “Paris Is Burning.”

Just go to her MySpace page and try not to get hooked on that trio of songs.

Ladyhawke – Back Of The Van

Ladyhawke – My Delerium

December 27, 2009

9 – Forward, Russia!

Filed under: England, F — assman41 @ 12:01 am

On their debut album, Forward, Russia! sounds like a mixture between the Arctic Monkeys and the Hives but with the vocal stylings of Bloc Party.

Early in their career, Forward, Russia! thought it was a good idea to name songs with numbers, in the order they were written. So, that first album, Give Me a Wall, has 11 tracks, opening with “Thirteen,” closing with “Eleven” and ranging from “Seven” to “Nineteen” in the interim.

Because of this, it’s rather difficult to keep the various tracks straight, but I know it starts off strong with “Thirteen” and “Twelve.” Things take a bit of a turn toward The Killers and White Lies on “Nineteen,” the album’s fifth track.

On their MySpace page, these lads from Leeds categorize themselves as “experimental/indie.” That becomes evident as Give Me a Wall progresses through various spurts of thumping, yelling and chanting. On their Wikipedia page, one of the band members is even listed as “electric guitar, shouts, synth.” But it all seems to work pretty well and never crosses the line into unaccessible. If you end up giving this disc a listen, just a warning, the ninth track, “Seven,” may get stuck in your head for a couple days.

On their follow-up album, 2008’s Life Processes, Forward, Russia! follows the path of the aforementioned Bloc Party. They become slower, heavier and deeper as their sound grows more akin to TV on the Radio.

I only just recently listened to this album for the first time, so I don’t have a lot to say about it. But it seems pretty solid, and I’ll be interested to see where they go from here.

Unfortunately, it might be awhile before we find out, as they’re apparently on hiatus, according to their official website.

Below is the first song from their debut album. Hopefully, it gives you a pretty good idea of what this band is all about and why I loved this disc so much.

Forward, Russia! – Thirteen

December 20, 2009

8 – The Magic Numbers

Filed under: England, M — assman41 @ 12:01 am

Upon moving to Charlottesville, Va., in February 2006, I quickly discovered an awesome independent local radio station (91.1 WNRN) that played non-stop indie rock. After being forced to listen to shitty corporate rock, oldies and classic rock stations my entire life, my ears were suddenly inundated with a constant wave of amazing new music.

One of the first bands I discovered was The Magic Numbers. The London-based quartet is often compared to The Mamas & The Papas, both because of its composition — it consists of a pair of brother-sister tandems — and its signature harmonies.

Additionally, the band members’ scruffy appearance would make their hippie forebears proud. But The Magic Numbers also compare favorably to more modern brethren — most notably, the New Pornographers.

Their self-titled debut was easily one of my favorite albums of 2006 — it was actually released in August 2005, but those are just details. I even got to see them live, but I showed up late and only caught the last few songs.

It wouldn’t be the last time I took The Magic Numbers for granted. For a variety of reasons, I never listened to their follow-up album, Those the Brokes, until recently, even though it came out in November 2006. It’s an oversight I definitely regret as the sophomore effort picks up right where the first one left off with the band’s distinct slow/fast, pop/folk harmonies.

They also released a six-track EP titled Undecided, which I’m still trying to track down. And, according to their less-than-stellar official website, they’re releasing a new album in Spring 2010.

In the meantime, visit their MySpace page and listen to eight of their tracks, including “Hurts So Good,” the first single from their upcoming album.

And here is one of my favorite songs from their debut album …

The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost

December 13, 2009

7 – Northern State

Filed under: Long Island, N — assman41 @ 12:01 am

When I moved to Indiana in 2008, my friend in Pennsylvania and I figured the only way we’d ever be able to hang out was if we met somewhere halfway.

The first such rendezvous was in April of that year, when we hung out in Cleveland for a couple days. In addition to hitting up the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and going to an Indians game, we also wanted to see a band somewhere.

After combing through the scant choices, we settled for a group called Northern State, which was playing at the Grog Shop, near the Case Western campus.

Prior to the show, the only facts we knew were that they were a hip-hop group named after the Northern State Parkway on Long Island. But by the end of the show, we were hooked.

Going into it not knowing much about the group, I was immediately blown away by the rapping chops of these three white girls. They seem like they could hold their own in a freestyle competition — especially the group’s leader, Hesta Prynn.

Once the novelty of seeing a bunch of white girls from Long Island doing old-school rap subsides, they keep you hooked with their harmonies. Throughout their most recent album, Can I Keep This Pen?, they intersperse straight rap songs with some rap/harmony hybrids.

Some of the best examples of Northern State’s sound are on “Better Already,” and “Mother May I?”. They also have several more-melodious, less-rapping tracks, including “Away Away” and “Run Off the Road.”

They’ve put out three full-length albums and a few EPs, and they’ve been associated with a lot of established artists, including The Roots, Tegan & Sara and Adrock from the Beastie Boys.

From time to time, I’ll see/hear something from Northern State that comes out of nowhere — such as Hesta Prynn turning up in a SILK soy milk commercial or a couple of their songs playing in the background of a Grey’s Anatomy episode — and I’ll become giddy all over again.

You can listen to as many as 11 songs and watch five videos at their official website or head over to their MySpace page and find a six-pack of songs.

Since so many of their tracks are available online, I figured I’d just include a couple here that hopefully show what the group has to offer.

Northern State – Sucka MoFo

Northern State – Better Already

December 6, 2009

6 – White Lies

Filed under: England, W — assman41 @ 12:01 am

This London trio’s debut album, To Lose My Life, is dripping with the sounds of all the best post-punk bands of the ’80s. Joy Division, The Cure and Echo and The Bunnymen are obvious influences. So to are modern brethren such as The Killers, Interpol and Editors.

When I originally downloaded the album this past spring, I actually got a bunch of shoddy — possibly live — tracks. You could tell the songs were decent, but the quality really detracted from the experience, and I only listened to the entire album once.

I finally got around to re-downloading the album with the proper studio tracks, and it’s like night and day. From the solid opening track, “Death,” I was pulled in by lead singer Harry McVeigh’s dark voice.

I was already a big fan of the early singles — “E.S.T.” and “To Lose My Life” — but after the second listen I found a lot of new favorites, such as “A Place to Hide,” “Fifty on Our Foreheads,” “Unfinished Business,” “Farewell to the Fairground” and the aforementioned opener.

With my second attempt at downloading, I also picked up three bonus tracks and a couple remixes. The extra songs “You Still Love Him” and “Black Song” definitely give off a Killers vibe.

I’m currently listening to the album for the second time today and I’m officially in love. I’d compare it to Glasvegas’ self-titled disc from last year, as both are debut albums packed full of great songs. And just like their Scottish counterparts, To Lose My Life will definitely be on a slew of Best of 2009 lists, including mine.

You can hear a few songs on their MySpace page and at their official website — including a bunch of remixes for “Death” — so below I’ve posted one you can’t find. It’s the song that led me to White Lies in the first place.

White Lies – E.S.T.

November 29, 2009

5 – Great Lake Swimmers

Filed under: G, Toronto — assman41 @ 12:01 am

I can’t remember a time in which I’ve went back and repeated a song while listening to my iPod on shuffle. Except for this one time while I was returning home from Chicago on the train and the song “Pulling on a Line” by Great Lake Swimmers came on. I think I listened to it about four or five times consecutively.

Last month, I saw Great Lake Swimmers perform live a local church. And for this devout atheist, they almost made that house of worship seem spiritual to me.

They are similar to Marching Band — in that they combine elements of a band such as Snow Patrol with those of folkier groups, such as Fleet Foxes and Blitzen Trapper. The difference, however, is that while Marching Band’s sound leans closer to Snow Patrol, Great Lake Swimmers tends toward their folkier brethren.

Listening to the instrumentation, I’m reminded of Elf Power, but not quite as bold or dynamic.

On an instrument-related sidenote, I would occasionally hear a banjo standout at various times throughout the album, and it kept reminding of two things — the banjo on Okkervil River’s song “Lost Coastlines” and the theme song to the show Scrubs.

Great Lake Swimmers is a band that generally keeps things simple, and that’s not a bad thing.

Since forming in 2001, the Toronto quartet has grown into a national favorite in their native Canada. With the release of Lost Channels, the band’s fourth album, it has been lauded by a lot of critics, magazines and other media outlets and is gaining a bigger worldwide audience.

The band’s front man and main lyricist, Tony Dekker, has already been dubbed by one national publication as one of Canada’s best singer/songwriters — in the company of legends Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot.

By the way, I eventually realized that the reason I even had them on my iPod in the first place was because I’d heard them through NPR’s Song of the Day way back in March.

There is plenty of free music to listen at their official website, where they have seven songs posted, and their MySpace page, where there are 12 tracks.

Even though my aforementioned favorite song can easily be found at both of those sites, I’m still going to post it here. I just love it too much.

Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On a Line

November 22, 2009

4 – Bat For Lashes

Filed under: B, England — assman41 @ 12:01 am

The first time I ever heard Bat For Lashes was while watching the show “Subterranean” on MTV2 and the video for “Daniel” came on. The first one or two times I didn’t think much of the song or video, but soon enough, that tune had planted itself in my head. Now it’s easily one of my favorite songs from the past couple years.

 

Bat For Lashes is actually just the stage name of British songstress Natasha Khan, who, in addition to singing, plays the piano, guitar, harpsichord and autoharp.

 

The music, which would best described as dreamy eclectro-pop, varies at times, but the element that ties it all together is Khan’s voice, which conjures memories of Bjork, Tori Amos and Annie Lennox

 

Her first two albums — “Fur and Gold” and “Two Suns” — have earned plenty of praise, and each was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The video for “Daniel” was even in the running for an MTV Video Music Award.

 

The bulk of the music is pretty solid, but the only song that really stands out for me is “Daniel”. As for the rest of it, I could take it or leave it.

 

For more on Bat For Lashes, check out the MySpace page or the official website.

 

Bat For Lashes – Daniel

November 15, 2009

3 – Abdel Wright

Filed under: Jamaica, W — assman41 @ 12:01 am

The first time I ever heard Abdel Wright was in the fall of 2005. I was sitting at my desk at work, listening to internet radio — either Accuradio or Radioio — and I was on a New Releases channel and the song “Dust Under Carpet” came on and I was immediately smitten.

 

I think he popped up a few more times on that channel before I officially decided I needed to get his self-titled album. I actually found somewhat randomly later that fall while in a record store in Madison, Wis. — one more reason Madison ruleth.

 

As for the album, it’s full of amazing folk-reggae songs that just sound totally different than anything else on the radio. Wright pens songs with a social conscience and he sings with true passion. No two songs on this album are the same. I would consider it one of my top 10 favorite discs of all time

 

I occasionally surf the web, hoping to find more music by him, but this album is pretty much it. As for other details about this amazing musician, there isn’t much. This article gives some background on Wright’s life and the details leading up to his recording this album.

 

An internet search on him comes up with several references to Bono, who said Wright would be the biggest musician to come out of Jamaica since Bob Marley. Unfortunately, Wright has yet to record a follow-up, and he’s seemingly fallen totally off the grid.

 

His official website is no longer active, and he hasn’t logged into his MySpace page since October 2005. But there are three tracks on there that you should give a listen to.

 

And here is my aforementioned favorite track …

 

Abdel Wright – Dust Under Carpet

November 8, 2009

2 – Lovers

Filed under: L, Portland — assman41 @ 12:01 am

I stumbled across Lovers totally by chance. I was paying my first-ever visit to Las Vegas in the winter of 2009, and my friend and I were looking for something to do one night and, after narrowing down the rather slim pickin’s, headed to the Beauty Bar for a show. We apparently got there early — at least before they started charging a cover — and sat down at the bar next to some people who, as it turned out, were in the opening band.

 

They eventually began setting up their equipment and doing a sound check in which they kept repeating the opening strains of what turned out to be “Igloos for Ojos,” the opening track on their latest release, I Am the West.

 

At first, I thought they were having trouble with their equipment and had just given up, but then they eventually took the stage for real. I have to admit, my expectations weren’t too high considering the situation — some random band playing in the middle of the week at a bar away from the main thoroughfares, and they weren’t even the main act.

 

But my fears quickly subsided as the lead singer, a shoegazing waif named Carolyn Berk, unleashed one of the most amazing voices I’d ever heard in person. The fact that the entire venue was the size of a large conference room and our perch at the bar was just a few feet from the stage only added to the power of her voice.

 

Including a drummer and guitarist, the ladies of Lovers churned out numerous slow, dreamy songs of love and heartbreak and spiced it up with an electronic tinge.

 

If I had to sum up Lovers’ music in one word, it would be “ethereal.” Listening to Berk sing, you can hear the influences of Liz Phair, Suzanne Vega and Mazzy Star.

 

This is how her voice was described in the iTunes review of Lovers’ second album, The Gutter and the Garden:

 

Her slightly off-key timbre and breathy, sometimes volatile delivery add an emotional depth to arrangements that are already immersed in a sea of pastoral gloom.

 

By the end of the show, we had become Lovers converts. My friend immediately headed to the side of the stage to buy a copy of the latest album, a CD that I would later latch onto.

 

The band has produced four albums since forming in 2001. Lovers has basically been a vehicle for Berk, who’s been the only mainstay of the group. She’s had different backing members on each album and made a move from one indie music hot spot — Athens, Ga. — to another — Portland, Ore. — between the release of the group’s second and third albums.

 

Since moving to Oregon, the group hasn’t done much touring outside of the Pacific time zone. So, for now, I’ll have to enjoy them via the internet.

 

If you visit their MySpace page, you can hear selections from all four of their albums. Between that page and their official website, you can hear the first six tracks from their most recent release, I Am the West, including their first-ever video.

 

All of those songs are solid, but rather than try to pick a favorite, I figured I’d attach a song that can’t be found at either site. So below is the seventh track from the latest album.

 

Lovers – Imaginary Women

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