Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WK12 - The Strokes - Angles (6.5)


Released - 3/22/11
Label - RCA Records

BLURB - Finally! After years and years of waiting, the public has finally gotten what they have demanded from The Strokes - a new album. For those that have been following this drama, it was a tumultuous period for the group filled with constant arguments and fights over the material. Compound this with Julian Casablancas, very publicly, pursuing his own solo career. But, push come to shove, the album is here. While I don't think there will ever again be releases like "Is This It" or "Room on Fire," - "Angles" certainly delivers some classic-Strokes tunes. But in all honestly, the new record doesn't stand up to the high bar of expectations all of us have come to expect from The Strokes.

Rating - 6.5 out of 10

FULL STORY - First and foremost, we can finally move forward from "First Impression of Earth." This was by far The Strokes worst album, and arguably, one of the worst albums ever made. "Angles" appears to have a similar 'experimental' aspect to it, but much of the new songs do have a old-school, grassroots Strokes feel. Which is definitely a good thing...but there are still plenty of question marks on "Angles."

One of the first experiments comes on the album's opener, 'Machu Picchu.' This song is weird, I'm somewhere in between hating and loving it. The verses are made up with some weird oriental-80's guitar work that I can't seem to get into. It's a little slow, and somewhat monotonous. However, the chorus and subsequent guitar interludes are amazing. The energy and the overall feel of the song becomes much brighter and more frenetic. This is The Strokes we all love. It almost feels like the song is made up of two entirely different parts, and when they are fused together...it doesn't really work

'Under Cover of Darkness' is the definitive best song on the album. The track is comprised of riffs and melodies that are constantly bouncing off of each other. There is a very fun and light feel to the song that is simply infectious. Further helping the song along, is a huge chorus that is belted out with immense force and depth.

Julian dials in the 80's once again for 'Two Kinds of Happiness,' and once again I'm not to sure about it - and this is coming from someone that loves 80's music. In a weird way, 'Two Kinds of Happiness' reminds me of 'Machu Picchu' in the sense that once again there are two clearly distinct sections of the song that don't match well together. With 'Two Kinds of Happiness,' the retro 80's feel of the introduction and verses are extremely well done. Simple, yet melodic. But then the music merges into this uptempo, thrashy chorus that seems to go nowhere. It just doesn't mesh.

'Gratisfaction' is old school Strokes at its finest. The track sounds like a hit someone concocted with their blues band in their garage in 1978. There is definitely a feeling of soul and blues in 'Gratisfaction.' It's also bright and energetic and fairly impossible to stop listening to, which is something I've had trouble with. Song like this are what we've all been waiting for. Awesome.

In all fairness, we probably wanted the world with "Angles." But The Strokes did finally give us a new album, so we should probably just all shut up and listen to it. That being said, it's not as strong as I hoped it would be. You can almost feel the creative control over the material through the music. Songs like 'Life is Simple in the Moonlight' and 'Call Me Back' are far cries from 'Last Night' and 'Someday.' I respect the risks involved with these tracks and some of the other ones, but just give us a couple chords, a cool melody and Julian crooning about being drunk with a girl. That's all we wanted.

Take a listen to 'Under Cover of Darkness.'

Tracks
1.) Machu Piccu
2.) Under Cover of Darkness
3.) Two Kinds of Happiness
4.) You're So Right
5.) Taken for a Fool
6.) Games
7.) Call Me Back
8.) Gratisfaction
9.) Metabolism
10.) Life is Simple in the Moonlight
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Thursday, March 10, 2011

25 Bands to Watch @ SXSW


So every year I do a little write-up of bands that I'll be watching at SXSW. Here's a great list of 25 artists to look out for in Austin and in 2011 (in ABC order no less). Enjoy!

- cool, slow rising indie band w/ a female singer. very spacious and have a little pop in them.

2.) Cloud Nothings - http://sxsw.com/node/6636
- young and up and coming indie/punk rock band. may be the surfer blood of 2011. still not sold on them, but lots of buzz so far this year.

- perhaps a little over hyped, but still good. indie-pop / folk / electronica duo, with great vocals.

4.) Eastern Conference Champions - http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS11634
- rock / pop / indie. i kind of liken them to cage the elephant a little.

- just started getting to them, remind a bit of mgmt. kind of werid and awesome at the same time.

- my absolute favorite party band. if they are playing a late night set and you're in the mood for drinks...definitely go. always a huge hipster dance party. new cd is very weird, but mainly their music is electronic indie dance music.
- still yet to jump on their bandwagon. more or less, a spacious and creative indie band which includes justin vernon of bon iver.

- saw them last week open for tennis & la sera, holiday shores easily could have headlined. great mix of surf rock, pop, indie, afro-pop. they remind me of an early and more innovative vampire weekend.

- the boy wonder from UK. does everything from dubstep to progressive pop. one of the must-sees of sxsw, i'm checking him out in BK next week.

- another boy wonder from the UK. has an amazing voice and his music is very experimental pop.

- most underrated band of 2010. breezy, catchy, mellow indie pop music. side project from the singer of princeton.

- very beachy and simple music from katy goodman of the vivian girls. saw them last week, nothing spectacular, but for some reason people love katy goodman.

- one of my favorite bands from 2010. awesome indie band that has an amazing dance element. neon indian produced much of their album...enough said.

- indie folk / rock supergroup featuring members of delta spirit, dawes and deer tick.

- another favorite of 2010. have seen them maybe 4-5 times in the last year. awesome pop band with an amazing frontman that i would liken to justin timberlake or adam levine of maroon 5

- beautiful collection of folk, pop and indie acoustic. has a huge and loyal following. an act everyone seems to root for.

- one of the of the most buzzworthy indie bands. raw, unique and filled with creative energy. remind me of a rougher version of the thrills with more pace.

- indie band i've been following, still trying to figure them out, i'm seeing them on saturday. but they are very mellow, graceful and spacious.

- great indie band with lots of bright and warm tones. nothing really has blown up for them, but they're still trying.

- very vintage, lo fi pop music that's made for the beach. can be a bit monotonous, but do have some quality material.

- weird fusion of dance and indie pop. a bit enigmatic, nobody knows what to make of them

22.) The Head and the Heart - http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13280
- great indie / acoustic / folk band that has been on the rise this year. kind of like fleet foxes but fun and with more pop.
"Ghosts" - The Head and the Heart - http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS13280

- probably my favorite artist of the last 2 years. used to be solely electronic but now has a full band and is just as good if not better. indie dance, pop, funk, chillwave.

- every time i see yellow ostrich there is a crowd of 30,000 19 year old girls. indie pop / slightly rock / slightly folk. i think they are going to blow up. maybe this years freelance whales?

- amazing indie rock / alternative band. remind me of every good alt-rock band from the 90's. definitely should have a huge 2011.
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Sunday, March 6, 2011

WK11 - James Blake - James Blake (9.5)


Released - 2/7/11
Label - Polydor Ltd.

BLURB - Well, James Blake's full length has finally been released and let me be one of the first to tell you that it's well worth the wait. The record is brimming with progressive versatility and creativity. This album will challenge your definition of what a song should sound like. I think my roommate said it best, 'If you asked someone in 1981 what music would sound like in 2011 - they would have probably been describing James Blake.' Of course, this would be after they finished talking about flying cars for thirty minutes. Even just trying to label this collection of sounds is difficult...maybe modern pop/electronica/soul/classical/dance? Whatever it is - this is where music is headed.

Rating - 9.5 out of 10

FULL STORY - Luckily I snagged a few tickets to Blake's first ever US show a week ago, and he didn't disappoint - and the crowd was perhaps one of the best I've ever been a part of. Everyone was there for the same reason and filled with the same level of excitement and anticipation. During slower songs you could literally hear a pin drop as the crowd astutely followed his gigantic fingers across his keyboard. During the more uptempo songs you could hear random people screaming as loud as they could, 'You da man James!!!' And oh yeah...the bass. I have never heard bass like that. Unbelievable.

The album begins with the slow-building, 'Unluck' as we're introduced to a more melancholy version of James Blake. The track is filled with unique and clever percussion that will definitely throw you for a loop upon your first listen. As the song continues to grow, waves of distorted keyboards filter through as Blake digitally contorts his voice to every color imaginable.

'Wilhelms Scream' may just be one of the best songs from this millennium. The track is as complex as it is simple - the James Blake modus operandi. 'Wilhelms Scream' is extremely patient and sincere as it begins. Ambient keyboard chords and digital drums provide the ideal canvas for his lyrics:

"I don't know about my dreams. I don't know about my dreaming any more. All I know is that I'm falling, falling, falling, falling. Might as well fall in. I don't know about my love. I don't know about my loving anymore. All that I know is I'm loving, falling, loving, loving. Might as well love you."

What's great about 'Wilhelms Scream' is that each lyrical stanza is more or less the same, but the delivery and instrumentation is constantly pumping more emotion and energy into the song as it progresses. About halfway in, the keyboards are completely fuzzed out and distorted while the drum beat changes entirely - creating a sense of chaos that sharply contrasts the graceful nature of the song.

Creativity shines on 'I Never Learnt to Share.' Blake begins by looping multiple voices over the line - 'My brother and my sister don't speak to me. But I don't blame them.' Once again as the song builds, a flurry of well conceived effects transition in and out before finally exploding into an eruption of synth and bass at the 3:41 mark.

'Give Me My Month' appears to be a one-take number. It's both raw and beautiful, and on the opposite end of the dub-step spectrum that many people associate Blake with. The song features only an acoustic piano and Blake's voice, and is a great surprise to find on the album. 'Give Me My Month' showcases just how intelligent and versatile Blake is. He has the ability to effortlessly create both insane dub-step records like 'CMYK,' while also having the skill set and wherewithal to pen elegant classical pop tracks like this one.

Don't miss this bandwagon. James Blake, by far, is exceeding all of his lofty expectations and is genuinely pushing music into several new directions. His work is clever, ingenious, simple, progressive and extremely well thought out. Just listening to this debut record will serve as an eye-opener and will have music enthusiasts everywhere desperately searching for more artists like James Blake.

Have a listen to "Wilhelms Scream"



Tracks
1.) Unluck
2.) Wilhelms Scream
3.) I Never Learnt to Share
4.) Lindisfarne I
5.) Lindisfarne II
6.) Limit to Your Love
7.) Give Me My Month
8.) To Care (Like You)
9.) Why Don't You Call Me?
10.) I Mind
11.) Measurements
12.) Tep and the Logic
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WK10 - Middle Brother - Middle Brother (7.5)


Released - 3/1/11
Label - Partisian Records

BLURB - So what do you get when combine the frontmen of three of the most popular indie folk / rock acts in the game? Middle Brother. This supergroup (if you want to call it) is a more than entertaining side project that's been created by members of Delta Spirit, Dawes and Deer Tick. Much like their full time gigs, the music each brings to Middle Brother is a blend of acoustic folk and indie rock. You can definitely hear some of the collaborative growing pains on the record (they have only been serious for less than a year), but the majority of the tracks are not only strong but impressive. And it's these powerful tracks that carry much of the weight for the dynamic debut of Middle Brother.

Rating - 7.5 out of 10

FULL STORY - If you can take away anything from this release - it should be that music is still fun. Imagine your in a slowly rising indie band that is just beginning to break into the mainstream. Some of your best friends are also in similar bands. You guys all tour with each other. Even when you're not touring or recording, you're all great friends and spend all of your free time hanging out with each other in southern California. And you're all in your 20's. That's the life. So - the next natural progression was to supplement the careers of the members of Deer Tick, Dawes and Delta Spirit with yet another fun and exciting project where they are surrounded with each other.

I saw first official show by Middle Brother last night in Williamsburg where they played to a sold out crowd. Middle Brother headlined, with Dawes and Deer Tick opening (I'm guessing Delta Spirit wasn't on the bill as they are a bigger headliner than Middle Brother - who knows?). But the show was more or less a four hour jam session / party. Band members and guests were constantly interchanging instruments and duties. It was one of those concerts that was great to see live - you could feel the energy and positive vibes spewing from the stage. Separated from the general atmosphere of the show, was the fact that everyone on stage was a top notch musician...so when you combine these two aspects, greatness generally ensues. As it does, for the most part, on the record.

After 'Daydreaming' slowly breezes by as the record's gentle opener, the second song 'Blue Eyes' makes you realize the potential of Middle Brother. 'Blue Eyes' is some kind of indie-rock / country experiment that really dazzles the ear drums. There is a vintage rock feel to the track as it oozes with character and credibility. The tempo is somewhat relaxed, but the group does a great job of ratcheting up the intensity and energy at all the right points. Perhaps the highlight of the track, are the raw vocals provided by Delta Spirit's Matt Vasquez. That guy could sing the dictionary and it would sound amazing.

In attempt to make sure you know who they are, Middle Brother's song, 'Middle Brother' is another standout. This track once again has a slightly country lean, but is augmented by the pace and tempo with which it is recorded. Guesting on the song is Johnny Corndawg, another indie-folk artist that adds yet another interesting dynamic to the group. 'Middle Brother' is a fun and catchy song that you can really listen to any time. It's also one of those songs that you can tell was fun to record as evidenced by some of the lyrics:

"I know my days are numbered but I'm bad at math. I got a dick so hard that a cat couldn't scratch."

'Portland' is probably my favorite track on the record. There's just something about it - it's so relaxing and mellow but is filled with substance. The track is completed with great hooks and melodies, both vocally and instrumentally. John Joesph McCauley's voice (of Deer Tick) also provides the perfect rough and abrasive edge to the song's generally gentle feel.

The first single, 'Me, Me, Me' as well as 'Someday' are also noteworthy tracks on the record, with the latter almost sounding like some kind of rock interpretation of 60's motown pop. But it's not all praise and congratulations for Middle Brother. There are several tracks that seem to dampen the mood and energy of the album. 'Thanks for Nothing,' 'Theater,' 'Wilderness,' and 'Blood and Guts' are all dreadfully slow and almost certainly warrant a 'skip ahead' when listening to the album. I know every song can't sound as incredible and dynamic as 'Someday,' but that doesn't mean they have to painfully slow and static. So with that being said, there are certainly more than enough high points on "Middle Brother" to recommend grabbing the album. It's definitely worth it.

Have a listen to 'Someday.'


Tracks
1.) Daydreaming
2.) Blue Eyes
3.) Thanks for Nothing
4.) Middle Brother
5.) Theater
6.) Portland
7.) Wilderness
8.) Me, Me, Me
9.) Someday
10.) Blood and Guts
11.) Mom and Dad
12.) Million Dollar Bill
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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

WK9 - Toro y Moi - Underneath the Pine (9)


Released - 2/21/11
Label - Carpark Records

BLURB - Trying to follow last year's insane "Causers of This" wasn't going to be easy...at least in my mind. "Causers of This" was by far my favorite album of the year in 2010, and Toro y Moi instantly became my favorite artist to follow. This April I'll be seeing him for my fifth and sixth times in the last year and a half! So what does Chaz Bundick do for an encore anyway? How about this - completely leave the electronic world of samples, loops and synths and trade it in for a live band. It seems like the next logical step for Toro y Moi. Bundick became a master of creating depth, mood and ambience digitally on "Causers of This," but "Underneath the Pine" proves the musical genius of Bundick as he continues to flourish, this time with a full band backing him. Gone are the samples and glitchy beats, and in come the funky bass lines and layered keyboards of the new Toro y Moi. While his debut release still reigns supreme in my eyes, 'Underneath the Pine' proves that Chaz Bundick (and his band) aren't just a flash in the pan.

Rating - 9 out of 10

FULL STORY - I'll guess I'll start with the bad before the good. The major element that is lacking on "Underneath the Pine" is that melancholy swagger from Toro y Moi's first release. "Causers of This," although it didn't seem like it, was a very heavy, deep and personal record about heartbreak. You could almost feel the emotion through the record, and this was thanks in large part to Bundick's ability to pain pictures with his creative style of chopping and slicing ambient waves of synth against layers of looped percussion and beats, while providing sincere and vulnerable lyrics. He was pouring his heart out, but it was almost impossible to tell. The music and ingenious production was so awe-inspiring and genius, that it was easy to look past the motive. There was a clear theme to the record, and the entire album played like one gigantic song, that was filled with uncertain resolve and impossible to stop listening to. It was one of those records that had to be made at that exact time and can never really be duplicated.

"Underneath the Pine" displays a much less vulnerable Bundick. He's moved on. He's grown up. And part of this process sees Bundick moving his musical endeavors outside of his bedroom studio and to collaborations with a full band. The lonely nights of sampling beats and pouring his heart out are over. This is the new Toro y Moi.

Almost sounding like one last track to "Causers of This," the opener 'Intro Chi Chi' begins slowly and with waves of electronic synths. The song beautifully flows and transitions into 'New Beat,' kind of introducing us to the new Toro y Moi. 'New Beat' is funky, upbeat and fun, and will most certainly get you moving. The song itself has some heavy disco and funk undertones that create an infectious groove. This is interesting...I like where this is going.

'Go With You' brings a slower and more relaxed pace, but is equally impressive. The track wanders around finding several distinct niches and provides layers of depth. Lyrically, there is a continuation in themes from his debut, but a sense that he has most certainly matured:

"Get away from the woods that make you afraid. Down to the last new strands of thought. Making you a target for a fight. Give me somewhere to be, take me somewhere now. You might as well waste your time with me if you're gonna be here. I don't think I'm worth it. As a best friend I don't want to hold you down. But if there's someone better for you, I don't want to be around when you've got to go."

'Before I'm Done' is a carefully constructed acoustic ballad that is something I'd never expect to hear from Toro y Moi, and of course it's well done. The symphonic and orchestral textures gently breeze by with elegance and grace, reminding me very much of something Grizzly Bear would of concocted.

'Got Blinded' brings the energy back with a spiraling array of keyboards of hazy reverb. Just when you think the track is making you too dizzy to continue listening, the instrumentation locks in. The song brightly bounces around different tones and keys as it builds energy and momentum, continuing to show just how creative Toro y Moi is, and how many different musical hats he can wear.

The best and funkiest track of the album is without a doubt 'Still Sound.' This will easy go down as one of the best songs of the year. It's cool, it's groovy, it's fun and has such a likable quality. The bass lines and keyboard jams mesh perfectly as the song sparkles as the record's single. The fact that all of this is performed by an actual band makes the song all the more credible and authentic. I witnessed this first hand at the Mercury Lounge a few weeks ago, and the performance nearly matched the record...extremely tight. 'Still Sound' also has this timeless quality to it. You could have told me it was made in 2011 or 1977 and I would have believed you. It's just one of those songs that has instant appeal, a great sound and is fun to listen to. End of story.

So while I don't think "Underneath the Pine" tops "Causers of This," it certainly comes close. It's new, it's diverse and it has an entirely different feel - all good things. The incorporation of a full band give Bundick's musical mind more avenues and creative ways to express itself. I'm hard pressed to find a more impressive and reputable collection of two consecutive albums. Toro y Moi continues to assure us that when it comes to making innovative and creative music, he's one of the best in the business. "Underneath the Pine" is another one of those records you don't have to worry about skipping through songs - it's all great.

Take a listen to 'Still Sound.'


Tracks
1.) Intro / Chi Chi
2.) New Beat
3.) Go With You
4.) Divina
5.) Before I'm Done
6.) Got Blinded
7.) How I Know
8.) Light Black
9.) Still Sound
10.) Good Hold
11.) Elise
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