New Music Monday

Today marks the return of New Music Monday.  Why, you ask?  What changed?  Eh, who knows.  I've been listening to a new record by an old favorite and an old record by a new favorite and just feeling generally affectionate toward music makers.  So I decided to give my latest "new music" play list another listen to see if I hated it all like I did last time and I didn't!  So it's time to report on my latest findings.

"Television Youth" - Sonic Avenues
Might as well start with my least favorite of the list, you know, now that I've told you how I don't hate everything anymore.  Thing is, I don't hate this song, I just don't really like it.  It's kind of noisy and not in an organized, going somewhere kind of way.  It sounds like Sonic Avenues can't decide if they're a punk band or a rock band.  Or maybe they're a punk band that just isn't angry enough.  I really don't know.  I think I could kind of like this song if I was in the mood for it, but I'm just not.  But if you're into loud music that makes you jump around the room and throw your body into amps and whatnot, then by all means, have at it.

"The Days of Adderall" - Deleted Scenes
If you don't know, Adderall is the drug they give kids for ADD.  Apparently it makes your mind very clear but I have to seriously question any "clarity" that's brought on by chemicals.  I guess the songwriter does too because that's pretty much what this song is about.  According to their blurb at spinner.com it's about a mythical place of clarity where all of your ideas seem like good ones.  The song itself is kind of quiet and ethereal and I dig it, but I honestly think I would like it better if I was high.

"Lost Communication" - Anothers Blood
This is by far my favorite of these songs.  I like this guy's voice they way I like Perry Farrell's voice.  It doesn't have the warm, honey quality that I'm usually drawn too, but I still really dig it.  There's just something about it that hooks me.  This song reminds me of "Get Gone" by White Arrow in that I can't tell you exactly what it is that I love about it, I just know that I want to listen to it over and over.  And I have.  And I will continue to do so. 

"Lowdown" - Bridge 19
I'm honestly not sure how these girls hit my radar but I'm glad they did.  There are pleasant harmonies, clever lyrics and an interesting arrangement.  What more do you need?  If you like female singers (which I didn't used to, but they're growing on me left, right and center) I recommend checking this one out.  I look forward to hearing more from them.

"Desert Wind" - A Lion Named Roar
And now we've come around to the radio hit of the bunch.  Does that sound like an insult when you read it?  Cause it kind of sounds like one in my head and I don't really mean it that way.  It's just that it sounds like any of 1,000 different pop songs you might hear on the radio at any given moment.  That doesn't make it bad, I actually like this song.  It's catchy and you can sing along with it and the guy has a nice enough voice, it's just not unique.  (Of course, unique doesn't necessarily = good.) And we all know that things that are different and new and wonderful rarely get the radio love they deserve.  Anyway, I like it and if they keep this up, I'm sure we'll be hearing more from A Lion Named Roar (although, I'm questioning the band name...).

Not Really Any New Music Monday

I tried to listen to some new stuff for you this week, I really did.  I promise.  But after last week and then my attempts this week, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to postpone New Music Monday until I'm in a mindset that isn't so ready to hate everything.  That might be next week (hopefully) or 6 months (good grief, I hope not!) but either way it'll come back eventually.

By the way, I don't mean to say I haven't heard anything good this week.  I did get Plants and Animals' The End of That which kicks some serious ass, but it doesn't qualify for New Music Monday because I've already talked about it once.  So there you go, that's all I got. 

In the meantime, listen to some Centro-Matic (then go download it and give them some money), it's not new either (not to me or the world), but it is pretty sweet.  If you can't find something in this collection that you dig, then I can't help you:

New Music Monday

I have to be honest with you, getting myself to write this New Music Monday post has been like pulling teeth.  Totally uninspired.  I don't have anything this week that I really love and while there is plenty that I don't like, I'm just kind of indifferent to it this week.  In order to be really inspired by something you have to feel strongly about it, one way or the other, and I don't feel strongly about any of these songs.  So let's just get to it.

Gimme a Kiss - Madi Diaz
As a general rule, I really like Madi Diaz.  I like her voice and her style, but this song missed the mark for me.  I'm not even sure why and that's what irritates me about it.  It's a pleasant little pop song.  Her voice is pleasant, the song is peppy and easy to sing along with, but that's about it.  Honestly, I don't know what my problem is with it - maybe it was just the wrong week for an upbeat pop song around here. I'm still a fan of hers though, so I'm going to blame this one on me and not her.  Check it out and see what you think.

Overdose - Ducky
This song was written after a friend of hers actually overdosed.  Whatever.  Even knowing that, I still don't get it.  There is a hook, "I like the way you told me you'd stay, you told me you'd leave the blood on my face" that appeals to me for some reason, but that's really all this one has for me, which I guess is better than nothing.

In Your Mind - Mercies
According to Spin, this song is very personal and I'm sure it would be moving and profound if only it could hold my attention for the full 5 minutes for me to hear the lyrics.  It doesn't.  I have a pretty healthy insomnia thing going on and I seriously fell asleep two nights in a row while trying to listen to this song.  (So I might keep it around just for that and who knows, maybe someday it'll grow on me) In fact, I'm listening to it right now and even though I'm wide awake and trying to focus on it, I'm having trouble.

Here Now - Sean Bones
This is my second favorite of these four songs but really, that's not saying much.  It's a toe-tapper, I can say that about it, but the vocal is pushed so far back in the mix that I have trouble following it and I really dislike that.  So overall, I could really take it or leave it.

Obviously, this whole group I could take or leave.  But I have listened to some really amazing music lately and I can't expect everything to measure up.  The songs for next week are probably screwed too because I bought Plants and Animals' new album The End of That tonight and I've heard it's mind blowing.  We'll see though, you never know, maybe I'll find something unbelievable.  I like to be optimistic.  (HA!)

New Music Monday

I did really good for New Music Monday...well, until Jon Palmer and the New Complainers showed up.  After that I sucked.  I literally listened to nothing but their song "Radio" for a solid day.  Then I made this sweet playlist with them and a bunch of other people who are all connected somehow in real life (a.k.a. outside of my iPod) and listened to pretty much just that for the rest of the week.  But, in spite of all that, I DO have some new songs for you and they ARE by people who are genuinely new to me (as far as I know, at least) so here we go:

Song for Love - Plants and Animals
This song from their album The End of That opens with this line: "Sittin' in the sun, blowin' smoke and talkin' shit with no reasons."  Between that line and the delivery of it, I like the song right away.  They keep up with the catchy lines through the whole thing.  The guitar gets a little fuzzy for me in the middle and the song itself is a wee bit too long, but overall I really like it.  The more I listen to it, the more it grows on me.  Apparently these guys have been releasing albums since 2005 or so, which means they're not new to the world, just to me.  I've listened to a couple other things and I dig 'em, so I'd definitely recommend checking them out.

Apparition - Leland Sundries
Oh, Leland, why so sad?? Sure, I get that the song was written in the aftermath of a bad breakup and that it's about the destruction left in love's wake, but still.  You don't have to sound quite this down trodden to get that point across.  Of course, I haven't heard anything else by this guy...maybe he just always sounds this way.  The bitch of it is, I really like this song.  It totally gets stuck in my head, but he just sounds half asleep and it kind of annoys me.

Don't Just Sit There - Lucius
"Don't Just Sit There" is a pretty song, it kind of reminds me of Lucious Jackson or Portishead.  There are two female lead singers and they have very pleasant voices that harmonize remarkably.  All that being said though, it doesn't excite me.  I like it, I listen to it, but I'm not in love with it.  Check them out though, you might be moved.

I Can't Stand Up - The Energy
And here's the one I don't like. It's just noise to me.  You can listen to it for yourself at the link above, but this one definitely won't be on my New Music Monday Hitlist.  I listened to it a few times and it's just not getting in there.  Oh well, you win some you lose some. 

New Music Monday

I only have one legitimately new song for you, but I have five legitimately awesome songs for you, so it seems like a fair trade.  All of these are relatively new to me, as in I've come to own them recently, so by my broad definition of "new music", they qualify.

"Relapse" - Betty Goo
This song is from their album Superchthonic.  I just got that one in the mail this past Wednesday but I already know all the words to this song (and two others) because I can't stop listening to it.  Have you ever heard a song that literally made your heart ache from the very first listen?  Like, the first time you hear the lyrics and the delivery, it just slices right through you?  That's this song for me.  I kind of hope, for your sake, that it doesn't strike you that way.  But either way, it's a great song.

"Another Relapse" - Betty Goo
From Gooicide, this is another one that got in immediately.  Well, as I'm sure you know by now, this entire album infected my brain pretty instantly, but this song stands out.  No wait, that's not really right - there are a lot of standouts - I just picked this one because it fits so nicely with my first choice up there and it causes a lot of that same feeling of a literal ache.  The difference is that "Another Relapse" has some loud parts that are less brooding and more cathartic and singing it in the car just feels so ridiculously good.

"X-Large" - Boy Wonder
I got this album, Break the Spell, Etc. Thursday night and I loved the shit out of this song immediately. You know how fond I am of Paula Kelley and Aaron Tap's work, but when the lyrics were written by him and the music was written by her and the song is a duet??  Are you fucking kidding me?  It doesn't get any better than that.  The juxtaposition between the dark tale of a relationship gone to hell in a hand basket and the fast-paced music is pretty sweet.  Also, it gave me a fun new goal which is to learn the words (you'll know what I mean when you hear it) and I'm getting there.  I know what they're saying, just haven't been able to quite keep up for the whole song. 

"These Days" - Dr. Dog
I haven't listened to this one enough to have any profound (HA!) insight, but I do know that I dig it.  It's one of those songs that has a little of this, a little of that, a little piano, a little something I can't identify, but what really draws me to it is the vocal.  Somehow it is face-paced and kind of sleepy at the same time.  He sounds like the most laid back person on earth, I love it.  By the way, this is from their latest release Be The Void (so see?  Pretty new!).

"Thickfreakness" - The Black Keys
I told my husband that I had been so fixated on the same couple artists lately (like he didn't already know that) that I was lacking in variety for this post.  He suggested this song off the album by the same name.  And he offered to tell me what it sounds like.  Here's what I got from him: "It makes you feel like you should be in some sweaty bar in New Orleans with some hot Creole girl [and I think I know the one he means] grinding on you.  The cover art of that album says everything you need to know about that song."  So I'm listening to it right now and you know what?  He's not wrong.  Hell, it makes me want to be in a sweaty bar in New Orleans with some hot Creole girl grinding on me!  Just in case you don't know, here's the cover art he's referring to:

So Perfectly Nasty

New Music Monday

Album: As I Make My Way - EP
Artist: The Commuters
Release: August, 2011

These songs aren't incredibly new as they were released last August, but then again, they're the best kind of new because they're all tracks from their upcoming album Release which will come out April 17, 2012.  I don't remember where I heard about these guys or how I ended up with this EP (I'm assuming I downloaded here), but I do know that it sat in iTunes gathering virtual dust for quite a while before I ever got around to listening to it.  What a mistake!  In the original spirit of my New Music Mondays, I haven't listened to these songs very many times so this is a first impression, but I have listened to them enough to know that I like them, quite a lot actually. 

The first three, "As I Make My Way", "Fallen From Grace" and "Bombs Away" are largely guitar driven rock songs.  But that's not to say they all sound the same, not by any means.  "As I Make My Way" and "Bombs Away" are the kinds of songs you want to turn up and dance around the house to while "Fallen From Grace" has a more laid back, more introspective vibe.  Then they change it up all together with the piano based "You'll Stay Right Here" which I guess you could say is the ballad of this collection.  It's a very pretty song and the lead singer's vocals definitely hold up in this quiet song where they have nowhere to hide.  Overall, I'm really digging this little collection of songs and I'm looking forward to the full length album coming out in April.

New Music Monday

Last week I was a major slacker in the new music arena.  I have more than made up for it this week.  I originally intended to listen to Green River Ordinance for today so I made a little nighttime playlist of their songs to that end.  However, I made the mistake of putting Matt Nathanson, Ryan Schmidt, Aaron Tap and Carbon Leaf in front of them on the playlist.  As a result, I only got through a few of their songs, but I did add a couple Carbon Leaf songs to this post.  So you get more variety!

"Life Less Ordinary" - Carbon Leaf
This song, from their album Indian Summer (an album so good that I bought a copy even though it was originally given to me for free) is one of the best songs I've heard in a while.  When I walk around the house singing a song and my husband goes, "Who does that <insert random lyric*> song?" and I tell him and he replies with, "That's a good song", then I know it's a keeper.  That happened with this one tonight.  I already knew of its awesomeness, but that just sealed the deal. 

"What About Everything" - Carbon Leaf
Another very cleverly written song by Carbon Leaf.  (Pretty sure I'm officially a Carbon Leaf fan at this point, which is cool)  The first time I really listened to this one, the line "What about that midnight phone call, the one that wakes you from your peace" actually made me tear up.  One too many of those midnight phone calls, I suppose.  Either way, they officially got to me with that line and I was hooked.  I highly recommend you give them a listen, you won't be disappointed.

"Dancing Shoes" - Green River Ordinance
This song, off their EP The Morning Passengers is the first song I ever heard by them.  Having no preconceived notion, I assumed they were a country band based on this song.  I mean, come on, between the harmonica, the mention of Emmy Lou Harris and sitting on the front porch - it pretty much is a country song!  As a general rule, I'm not a fan of country music, but I'm also not a fan of labels and I like this song, I don't give a shit what genre it sounds like.

"Come On" - Green River Ordinance
The next one on the playlist, this one is from their 2009 release Out of My Hands.  "Come On" has a much more rock music feel to it than "Dancing Shoes".  It's kind of Daughtry-esque, but much better somehow.  It's pretty much just a catchy little rock song about sticking it out and making a relationship work.

"Out of My Hands" - Green River Ordinance
The last one of theirs that I listened to enough this week enough to have an opinion on, "Out of My Hands" is another good song and it sounds entirely different from the first two I listened to.  But that's kind of where they're losing me, I think.  All of their songs (I've been through them all at least once) are good, I don't have any complaints about them really (except for the way he pronounces "girl" in "Endlessly"...argh) but they all sound so different from each other, I'm having trouble pinning this band down.  Variety is good, no doubt, but it's almost like they're struggling for an identity.  I'd be hard pressed to describe their sound, even in the most general terms.  But they're good, I like them and right now, that's enough for me.



*the random lyric in this case was "took the bones of me"

New Music Monday (...or not)

No new music this Monday morning.  I'm sorry.  The simple fact is that I'm still completely ate up with the Betty Goo album that I got last week and I haven't made time to listen to anything else.  Well, except for Nothing/Everything by Paula Kelley which came in the mail Saturday, but I've scarcely listened to it enough to have an opinion. 

I have a plan for upcoming Mondays though, so in a weak attempt to make up for my slacker ways, I'll share the plan with you:

Green River Ordinance - I have 7 songs by them that I haven't even listened to yet, so I'm going to check those out this week and I'll ramble about them next Monday.

The Walla Recovery - I've only listened to them a little bit while I was at work one day, but I think I like them so far.  They kind of remind me of Mumford & Sons which is cool.  I'll be talking about their album With Trembling... (already I love the title, so that's a good start).

Chelsey Scott - after that will be Chelsey Scott's The Little Boat EP.  I've actually had this one for a while but haven't listened to it yet.  I got it at the end of December, but it's just been sitting there.  So I'm putting it in the New Music rotation to make myself take the time to give it a chance.

The Commuters - I got their album Rescue a couple weeks ago and it's another that's sitting in iTunes gathering virtual dust.  I don't even remember where I got it or where I heard about them, but you never know, maybe I'll love it!

So there you go, that's what's coming.  But for right now, I'm going to listen to Gooicide again...

New Music Monday

I have been listening to a ton of new music lately; so much so that I kind of feel like I'm neglecting some old favorites.  I'll have to rectify that situation soon, but for now I'm really enjoying finding new artists and expanding my collection.  This week I'm going to share a few new albums that I've come to own recently.  A couple of these are new to the world, a couple aren't, but they are all new to me, so maybe they will be to you too!

Thickfreakness - The Black Keys
I was coerced into buying this album by my husband who is really coming into his music-nerd own with his fondness for The Black Keys.  Besides having possibly my favorite title ever, Thickfreakness is just gritty and dirty and wonderful.  No way does this sound like two relatively young white boys.  It is much more like an old African American man who has seen it all and done it all and is ripping the stories of it all out of his gut for your listening pleasure.  If you have ever been there, this record will make you miss the shit out of New Orleans.  If you haven't been, it should make you want to go in a big way.  I'm digging on El Camino too, but this one is much better for me.

Human Again - Ingrid Michaelson
I can't remember exactly where I heard about Ingrid Michaelson, but luckily I did just before her 5th studio album, Human Again was released.  I love her voice and I love this record.  Is it just the string arrangements that appear in a few songs that get me?  Or is it the groove of "Black and Blue"?  Or is it a combination of these things mixed with her genuine, crafty songwriting and from-the-heart vocal delivery?  Yes, I'd say it's probably all of those things coming together on this record to create a perfect storm of can't-stop-listening-to-it.  Now I'm excited to look back into her catalogue and see what else is there.

The Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into the World - Paula Kelley
Sure, this record is nine years old, but I only got it a few weeks ago so therefore it still qualifies a "new".  As you know (because I won't shut up about her), I found Paula Kelley via an Aaron Tap tweet and was instantly drawn to her voice, which led me to fall completely in love with the arrangements behind the vocals.  I've listened to Airports - EP about a million times and finally decided to expand my collection and get a new PK record.  When I bought it, I had to pick between Nothing/Everything and this one and I think I picked right (well, I guess I did...I let you know after I get Nothing/Everything - which will be soon because I ordered it last night).  The Trouble With Success is a showcase of all the wonderful things about Paula Kelley...her voice, her interesting and intelligent songwriting and her wicked good arrangements.  Just buy it.

Love Is Another Drug - Jesse Macht
I just discussed this one here.  And I was right - it's awesome.  He is awesome.  Just go buy everything he has recorded, you won't regret it.

New Music Monday

Album: Be Here
Artist: Rachel Platten
Release: April 25, 2011

This Monday's new music is Rachel Platten's Be Here.  It's not THAT new as it was released last April, but it's totally new to me, so that's good enough.  Rachel is opening for Matt Nathanson on his All Night Noise tour this year so I'll be seeing her in February in Louisville, KY.  I always prefer live music that I'm familiar with, so that led me to check her out prior to the show.  You can find her here. (Edit: We saw her in Louisville and she was amazing!  She brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the stage, it was really refreshing.)

I'm not really accustomed to listening to bright, cheerful music - I'm generally just not in the mood for it.  Sometimes I think it sounds fake or forced, like they're trying to write theme songs for shows on the CW or something.  But I understand that's only because my world view is not bright and sparkling like that the majority of the time.  With all that being said, I decided to give this album and this artist a fair shake even though the music is pretty far outside the realm of what I normally listen to.  And guess what?  I really like it!  Sure, sometimes some of the songs are just too peppy and positive for me, but that's my problem, not hers.  I do appreciate the way she blends reality together with a positive message in these songs.  Kind of a "yeah, sometimes everything sucks, but you know what?  Maybe it will be OK in the end."  I like that about her songwriting.

"Don't Care What Time It Is" is far and away my favorite song on this record right now.  The first time I heard it, I skipped back and listened to it again.  I rarely ever do that, especially with dance music sounding type things like this song, but I really dig it.  I listened to it three times in a row on the way to work the other morning - what a great way to start the day!  I really hope she plays this one when we see her, I think it would be a lot of fun to see live.
My second favorite is "You Don't Have to Go" which is a candid song about a woman's perspective on a one-night stand (or what could potentially be one-night, anyway) With lines like, "Any other day, I might not be an easy lay, you can call it luck, but sometimes a girl just needs a friend" you know I'm bound to love this song.  Later on the record, she goes and gets all serious on us with "Remark" which is a beautiful song that hits pretty close to home for me.  It makes me feel, all at once, profoundly sad, regretful and hopeful.  It's one of those songs that makes you realize that, in a lot of ways, we're all in the same boat here.

Despite my natural inclination toward quieter or angrier music, I am really enjoying this record.  I'm finding that when I'm in the mood for something upbeat and fun, this is what I'm going for.  She has a pleasant, unique voice, her lyrics are interesting and the arrangements are peppy and fun to listen to.  Maybe she's going to change me and make me all bubbly and optimistic! I also think she's an excellent choice to open for Matt as there is no way the crowd won't get into the music and be ready to rock by the time she's done with them.

New Music Monday

Well, it's that time again.  Time to start a new week.  Time to shake off the weekend and put the old nose back to the grindstone.  And more importantly, time to check out some new tunes!  I have some good stuff for you this week (mixed in with the stinkers, of course):

"Let's Go" - Madi Diaz - Far From Things That We Know
First up is "Let's Go" by Madi Diaz.  She was recommended to me by Micah after he played a show with her a week or so ago.  Normally, I'm not a huge fan of female singers (I can't explain why...don't judge me), so I was a little afraid, but I was very pleasantly surprised.  I went to her website (see the link above) and checked out what she had there to listen to.  This song is available as a free download from her website (lucky you...and me!!) and it is really good!  I have been wearing this song out all week, she has such a pretty voice and the percussion on this song - gah - I'm hooked!!  Even more exciting, she has a new album coming out January 24th (yes, that's tomorrow!!).  After you go listen to this song and love it, you can pre-order Plastic Moon right now on iTunes.

"Velvet Arms" - Jay Loftus
I was sent a link to this song on youtube as an example of Jay Loftus' work, but I'm not sure it's a fair representation.  Personally, I think this song sounds like a perfectly good radio hit.  It is peppy, hooky and sugary sweet...everything you could ask for in a pop song.  I see no reason it won't be hugely popular.  That being said, I think this guy is better than this song.  If you want to hear what he really sounds like, check out his cover of Train's "Marry Me" which is really, really good, or any of his other acoustic performances. I think the processed sound of "Velvet Arms" will appeal to the masses and result in hordes of screaming girls outside every venue he plays, but I also feel like he has more actual talent than is displayed in this song.

"The Draft Dodger" - Sick Friend - Draft Dodger
This song has a background sound of static or feedback or something.  Whatever it is, I don't find it very pleasant to listen to.  The singer is going way too fast, I can almost not follow him and what's with the big exaggerated breathes every so often?  I don't really feel any melody in this one either.  I guess what I'm saying is that, overall, it's just not my thing.

"Ramona" - Night Beds - Country Sleep
I think I might really like this song if it was half as long as it is.  It has a little bit of a groove to it, I don't find the vocal unpleasant, it's ok.  But then it drags on for over 4 minutes.  Completely unnecessary.  And at one point, they fake you into thinking it's almost over, but it's not.  I just do not understand why artists feel like songs need to be this long.  They don't.  Unless they're really good (of course, I suppose Night Beds consider this to be a really good song).  If I need more minutes of a song, I'm more than happy to just listen to it twice.

"Tuck the Darkness In" - Bowerbirds - The Clearing
Apparently this song is about the lose of a close friend and the process of getting your shit back together after something like that.  I can respect that.  However, this song is almost 5 minutes long and that, I cannot get behind.  It's slow and dreamy and I assume if you were high it would be just wonderful to float along on this song for 5 minutes.  But I'm not high and after about 3 minutes of this song, I'm totally done with it.

New Music Monday - Sort Of

So, today's New Music Monday music was supposed to be Ryan Schmidt's White Horse EP.  However, after only 4 days of listening to it, the awesomeness of it was eating a hole in my brain and I just had to write about it sooner.  Sure, I could have written the post and scheduled it to publish today and left it at that, but where's the fun in that?? You can read about White Horse here here and here and you can buy it here or here.

Then, to top it off, I went and created the most awesome play list I've made in a while from some past and current favorites.  As a result, I haven't had time to listen to anything else for New Music Monday this week.  Still, I didn't want to skip it altogether, so I decided to share with you the list of songs that I featured in 2011 that have actually made their way into my play list rotation.  I have a list in iTunes called "NMM Hitlist" that contains the songs I've discovered that I really do like; here's that list:

1. Get Gone - White Arrows - Get Gone (my favorite of these)
2. Landslide - Steve Adamyk Band - Forever Won't Wait
3. Lost and Found - The Kill Van Kulls - Lost and Found
4. My Time Has Just Begun - The Dead Trees - WHATWAVE
5. Pineapple Girl - Mister Heavenly - Out of Love
6. Changes - Dirty Vegas
7. Sing in My Meadow - Cowboy Junkies - This Mountain
8. I Want to Forget - Psychic Twin - Deepest Part/I Want to Forget
9. Gliss - Farewell Republic - Burn the Boats

In other "new music" news, I got an iTunes gift card for my birthday.  I think I'm going to get Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (I'm deeply ashamed to admit I have never owned this record), Simon and Garfunkel Sounds of Silence and maybe The Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 - I used to own this on cassette but that copy is long gone and as I recall, I was pretty fond of it.

Also, one of my new favorites recommended a couple new (to me) artists that he actually did a show with last night.  They're both female, so I'm kind of scared because I don't dig female singers as a general rule, but I'm going to check them out and plan to feature them next Monday.

New Music Monday

The first time I listened to these four songs, I thought "Yuck, I've struck out this week", however, because I am a woman, I reserve the right to change my mind willy nilly.  And I have - sort of.  Honestly, I'm not sure I'm going to keep any of these songs, but on the other hand, I've come around to realizing that they're not bad songs, they just didn't grab me right away for whatever reason.

Forever Boy - A Classic Education
This song has a story - I mean a really detailed story.  You'll have to go the link above and read it yourself for all the details.  I like songs to have a story, but I mean more like telling the story of a relationship, or of a moment in time, not necessarily someone's entire life story - that's a bit overkill for me.  Besides, when I listen to this song, all I can focus on is the line about 1 minute 34 seconds in...does he say "cracked, her snatch is brittle"??  That's what I hear.  Anyway, the song is just all drums and guitars and, honestly, a kind of generic vocal.  I guess it's not a bad song, I'm just not moved by it.

Me and You - Strange Boys
This song, off their album Live Music, is certainly a toe-tapper, if nothing else.  It has lots of piano (which I like) and an upbeat, jangly sound.  It sounds like a bunch of guys just playing music - not too  polished, not too perfect, but just right.  It explores life, the choices we make, the mistakes ("There are many ways to say goodbye, that was one, you can't do twice").  The first time I listened to it, I let it go in one ear and out the other (forgive me, it was about 2am and I was sleepy), but now that I listen to it more closely and appreciate it for what it is, I have to recommend this one and I might keep it myself.

I Could Be A King - The Dunwells
This has been my favorite of these four songs right from the very beginning.  It's fast and stringy - reminds me of Mumford and Sons but with a brighter vocal.  It is their debut single and will be on their upcoming album Blind Sighted Faith which I understand will be released next month.  I like this song and the more I listen to it, the more I like it.  I enjoy the "I could be a king," sentiment, it's nice to be reminded of that feeling a life without restrictions stretching out before you.  I will definitely give their album a listen, I'm hoping for good things!

Madeleine - Lissy Trullie
This is my least favorite of these four songs.  It is about the duality of siblings - their differences and how much alike they end up being. I have a sister, we're pretty opposite of each other in a lot of and also a lot alike.  But I still don't identify with this song.  It's just not palatable to me.  Something about the haunting, dreamy sound of it makes me uneasy when I listen to it - and not in a good way.  More like in a I'll be glad when it's over kind of way.  That being said, I can see where if you like that techno kind of a sound and a decently androgynous vocal, you might dig it.

 As a side note, I'm super excited about next week's New Music Monday!  It will be featuring Ryan Schmidt's new offering White Horse which will be available on http://www.bandcamp.com/ this coming Tuesday (Jan. 10th).  If you're not familiar with Ryan (you have clearly been ignoring me), then get caught up here before you buy the album on Tuesday.

New Music Monday

On this, the first Monday of 2012, I have 4 songs for you - none of which have impressed me very much.  I've only listened to these a couple times, so my opinion on them is possible (possibly likely) to change, but these are my first impressions.

"Northern Mentality" - Mathieu Santos (Massachusetts 2010)
I'm not going to lie, after the amount of music I came to love in 2011 that originated in the northeast, I had high hopes for this song.  I was excited to find yet another artist from my side of the country, but it was not to be.  Somehow, this song sounds unfinished to me although I can't really put my finger on why.  Apparently it has this deep meaning about being raising up north messes with your brain (I was raised by Yankees, so I know this to be true), but I don't get that.  In fact, after listening to it 4 or 5 times, I'm still like, "what the hell is he talking about?"  And I find the horn section to be vaguely irritating, which is odd because I have been loving the shit out of some horns lately. 

"St. Croix" - Family of the Year (St. Croix EP)
I'm kind of neither here nor there on this song.  It does have a catchy little chorus that made me laugh the first time I heard it, but that's about it.  I think the song is about some dude going to the Caribbean to forget about a girl and the best I can gather, he hooks up with a new girl (after throwing his cell phone in the ocean).  I think that's what's happening anyway.  The chorus, "You bring the ocean, I bring emotion (or the motion...I'm not sure), together we'll make a love potion" is funny, but too cheesy to make me really like the song.

"Keep You Right" - Blind Pilot - (We Are the Tide)
When you have a lot of people in your band or a big arrangement in a song, there is a fine line between "wow, that sounds great" and noise.  This song treads all over that line and crosses to both sides of it from time to time.  It has a catchy chorus that I can see singing along to, but that's about all I can say about it.  I'm not in love with it, but I don't hate it.  Check it out and see what you think.

"Roll on Hills" - Annie Williams - (This Mountain)
This is my favorite of these four, if only because it is the most benign.  Annie Williams has a pleasant, dreamy sounding voice and the song is quiet and smooth.  I'm not sure exactly what the song is about, but only because I haven't listened to it closely enough to follow.  There is a little too much drum for me, but I think only because her voice is so delicate that the drum almost drowns it out.  Either way, I would recommend this song, I can't imagine anyone would find it offensive.

New Music Monday

Somehow in my cookie and eggnog induced haze, I've managed to select 4 songs from my collection for New Music Monday.  I'm not terribly in love with any of these songs, but to each their own, I suppose.

Here we go:

"Changes" - Dirty Vegas
This is the gem of this collection. It's off their album Electric Love and it is very electric sounding indeed.  I have another Dirty Vegas song that I like pretty well and this one really isn't too bad.  The first couple times I listened to it, I didn't like it, but it's growing on me.  I'm sure that if you were into dance/techno music (which I am so not) you would really dig this one.  So if you like that peppy techno sound, then by all means, check it out. 

"Dreamers" - Savoir Adore
Off their new album of the same name, this song is dreamy and fluid sounding - like it could spill out of the speakers and stain the carpet.  I probably won't keep this song in my collection because I can't sing along to it and it doesn't make me feel anything except kind of vaguely sad.  I can't really explain that.  I can see where some people might really like it though, so check it out.

"Helplessness Blues" - Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes have been getting a lot of press lately and apparently people are pretty fond of them.  Myself, based solely on this, the title track of their new album, I don't get it.  There are a bunch of them and they have a rich sound like there are a lot of people singing and playing instruments (I'm not mad at them about the quality of their sound) but I still just don't like this song.  It's over 5 minutes long which I find excessive unless you're Led Zeppelin or Iron Butterfly and it's repetitive and just doesn't go anywhere.  Maybe I just don't get it (like Muse), maybe it's above me.  I'll probably give them another chance and listen to more of their stuff though because I don't find this song offensive, just...meh.

"Late Nights" - Brown Shoe
This song of their album The Gift Horse is another one that just leaves me flat.  Apparently it's a deep tune about trying to be good enough to please your lover but then realizing the relationship isn't real.  Whatever.  I don't get any depth of emotion from this song.  The music doesn't support the vocal, it all just kind of blends together into 3 1/2 minutes of sound.  Not a characteristic of a great song for me.

Perhaps I'm just bitter and cranky and impossible to please this holiday season.  Or maybe it's because I've discovered so much really good new music lately (see here and tomorrow's post) that I've raised my standards.  Whatever the cause, I can't really see any of these songs taking up permanent residence on my play lists.

New Music Monday!!

New Music Monday is back! (Look, I'm trying to be excited that it's Monday...just go with it)  Here are this week's victims picks:

"My Time Has Just Begun" by The Dead Trees
This song, from their album WHATWAVE is my favorite of these.  It's upbeat with heavy drums and a tambourine!  (I love a tambourine)  I like a song I can sing along with and this is definitely that.  I looked into some of their other offerings and sadly I didn't find anything that grabbed me like this one.  I suppose that's the big trick to songwriting, right? Either way, I know they have the potential, so I'll keep an ear out for them.

"No Surprise" The Blam
What the hell is the first line of this song??  "Poke me in my eagle eye"?  "Look me in my evil eye"?  "Hook me in my eagle eye"?  I just can't tell!!  This song is from their album Blow Wind Blow and my confusion over the first line (and their use of the term "squeeze box") are what keep me from really getting into this song.  It has a floaty, rhythmic sound that is not unpleasant, but it's just ok for me.  Spinner says they sound like Violent Femmes, but I don't get that at all. 

"Pineapple Girl" Mister Heavenly
This song from Out of Love is evidently about Manuel Noriega's correspondence with a young American girl.  The dictator is represented by a high, lilting voice while the little girl is portrayed by a deep, gruff voice.  The song is very clever and catchy, but I've listened to it about 20 times and it has almost worn out its welcome.  (To get some context here, I've listened to all of Modern Love at least 200 times according to iTunes and still love, love, love it - every minute.)  So when a song starts to get old after only 20 spins, that's not the sign of a great song to me.

"Public Dancer" Noah Wall
I really don't have any praise for this song.  It's almost six minutes long and for me, that's about five and half minutes too long.  The vocal is pushed so far in the back of the mix that I have no idea what the dude is even saying - which is not the way to win me over.  The song itself just doesn't go anywhere.  It doesn't build, it doesn't grow, it just stays a jumbled, unpleasant mess all the way through.

New Music Monday

In the interest of making Monday something better than just the start of the work week, I'm going to institute New Music Monday.  I'll give my first impressions of a few songs that I discovered over the last week (or weekend, as is the case today).  Through the discovery of all this new music, I am learning that there are simply not enough hours in the day for me to listen to all the things I want to listen to.

Here are this week's selections:

"Get Gone" - White Arrows
The first time I listened to this one, I remember not really liking it.  But now that I've been listening to it all day - I don't know what I was thinking!  It's so catchy with clever lyrics and a strange, intriguing vocal.  Check it out, if you don't like it at first, just give it a chance to soak in, it'll get you.

"Fleeced" - Arms
This song is from their upcoming album Summer Skills (well, it was upcoming when this song was posted - it might be out now).  This is probably my least favorite of these four.  The vocals are pushed too far back in the mix for my taste.  I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad song, it just doesn't make me feel anything.  Right now, I could take it or leave it.  I'm going to leave it on my iPod for now and let it show up in the shuffle and see if it grows on me.

"Landslide" - Steve Adamyk Band
The band says that this song from their album Forever Won't Wait is about "getting closer to hitting rock bottom and not caring."  I'm having a little trouble understanding the words, but if that's true, it's far and away the most upbeat trip to the bottom anyone has ever taken.  And I always love a good juxtaposition between peppy music and heavy lyrics.

"Lost and Found" - The Kill Van Kulls
And I've saved the best for last.  Oddly, this is my favorite of these four songs.  I say "oddly" because it has a decidedly 80's pop music sound to it.  A straight forward drum beat, a synthesizer, a clear vocal.  But, I might have been inclined to buy this one if I heard it on the radio (a few times).  This guy's voice is kind of reminiscent of George Michael (who I have loved since my sister let me listen to Faith when I was way too young - at least, according to our parents).  Of all these, I'm most likely to look these guys up and see what else they have to offer.

**Edit: I've changed my mind.  "Get Gone" has been in heavy rotation on my iPod and is my current favorite thing to listen to. I haven't looked for more from White Arrow yet, but I think I will - I hope it's all this infectious.