Record Review - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend



The hype around this band is INSANE! Everyone loves them…so that means I have to hate them, right? Wrong.

Trust me, I wanted to write snarky comments about this band…but I can’t. Vampire Weekend is to indie music writers what Barack Obama is to the television media. “Are you comfortable, Vampire Weekend? Could you use another pillow, Vampire Weekend? Because, it’s really no trouble at all. Are you sure that you are comfortable, Vampire Weekend?” And as much as I may hate to admit it, VW’s debut disc has justifiably earned the fawning of rock writers everywhere.

The best description VW’s sound that I’ve heard is “Nintendo Punk.” The foursome met while attending Columbia, so obviously these kids aren't tossing out a hardcore vibe. VW is one part Clash-esque punk, thrown in with some of Paul Simon’s Graceland, sprinkled with skankable upbeats and skats, and all bound together with witty writing. The sound translates to a well produced disc that is really good from start to finish. 12 out of 12 tracks on this disc are not just good…but really good. Seriously, I can’t think of time that I liked every single song on a cd.

They are far and away the best release of 2008 so far...by a mile. I know I tend to like most everything I buy…then again why would I buy if I didn’t already at least like it…but this disc is seriously really good. Just suck it up and buy it.

I would normally give you a couple of standout tracks from the disc to really focus in on, but I really can’t narrow it down to just a couple. Instead, I’ll give you my favorite chorus of the disc…

1:28 into “Oxford Comma”
Why would you lie about how much coal you have?
Why would you lie about something dumb like that?
Why would you lie about anything at all?
First the window, then it’s to the wall.
Lil’ John, he always tells the truth.

In summary: weapons grade, indie music cock-fight, this stuff is good, I’m Jackie Moon; illegal.

MP3: Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma (highly rec'd)
MP3: Vampire Weekend – A Punk (highly rec'd)
MP3: Vampire Weekend - Campus

Afternoon Dee-Lite!

LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous!



Celebrate the fact that it's 4 o'clock and your day is almost over, with the bleep, bloop, blops of LCD Soundsystem's Get Innocuous!

Enjoy
MP3: LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous

Afternoon Dee-Lite!

Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – When Your Minds Made Up



I meant to post this yesterday in honor of Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova’s Oscar win, but forgot. The song is greatness by itself, but I really think it takes watching the scene from the movie to truly appreciate it…something that is true of the entire soundtrack. Oh ya, if I haven’t told personally yet, rent “Once” and watch it. You won’t regret it.

Kudos to Fux for sharing this soundtrack back in August…

Afternoon Dee-Lite!

Vampire Weekend - M79


Dude…I’ve got a bad case of the Monday’s. This song is the only thing making it any better, so I’m paying it forward. Enjoy…

MP3: Vampire Weekend - M79 (Daytrotter Sessions)

For 3 more Vampire Weekend freebies, vist this LINK…

Record Review - Great Lake Swimmers

Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara



Anyone who knows me, and my music preferences, knows that I am a huge believer in good music is all about the right time and the right place. I say this to offer an explanation on exactly why Great Lake Swimmer’s Ongiara has been patiently sitting on my “wish list” since its release in May.

Here’s the thing…this disc should’ve been released in January, not May. Let me explain. Great Lake Swimmers are a Canadian folk band. I kinda have this thing about folk music, and that I think folk music can only be truly appreciated in the winter. It’s because of the beard. Proven fact: all great folk music makes you want to abandon the city, flee to the wilderness, become a trapper, sell pelts, and obviously grow a beard. It's science…you can’t debate it.

Back to the disc… GLS are going to remind you of Iron & Wine meet Neil Young meet Sufjan, so to say to expect mellow tracks would be the understatement of the century. Ongiara is chock full ‘o layers of banjos, brush drumming, strings, and falsetto vocals that really weave some great songs that travel and evolve. I zone out when listening to this disc, so doing anything that requires your full attention is a no go. It’s a headphones disc for me. If you don’t get what I mean; grab a book, go outside, sit in the grass, and turn this on…you’ll get it then.

Stand out tracks: Your Rocky Spine – lots of layers that build throughout the entire 3 minutes, Catcher Song – real Sufjan vibe, Put There By The Land – great song that you could listen to all day long, Passenger Song - holy crap, this is a good song

Overall: If you can appreciate a low key disc that isn’t going to get you fired up to do anything physical, except for maybe chop wood, you’ll dig this disc. If you are a strictly upbeat kinda dude that needs happy fun tracks…Ongiara is not for you.

MP3: Great Lake Swimmers - Your Rocky Spine
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers - Put There By The Land

Record Review - Bell X1

Bell X1 - Flock


This entry might more accurately be titled a “Somewhat New Tunes Alert.” Truth be told these guys have been around for a long time, and Flock – the bands 2nd album – was released overseas in March…wait for it…of 2006. Yeah…so not so new right? My only saving grace is that it didn’t get an official US release until Feb 19 of this year, so I think I’m safe.

I don’t know if it’s the winter blues or what, I’ve been in a mood for a good pop cd for a while now. Just as luck would have it…Flock is full of pop rock songs that are catchy, safe, and going to remind a lot of listeners of Snow Patrol. It’s a fair comparison based off of some the slower tracks. The strumming guitars, strings, and airy vocals will remind you of something you’d hear in the background of that one episode of Grey’s Anatomy where Meredith says she loves Derek, but he says he’s not ready, but you just totally know he is.

Luckily for everyone though, Bell X1 doesn’t dwell in the longing love song mode for the entire album. Paul Noonan’s vocals have a little bit of a Talking Heads feel, which makes for a good match with the upbeat tracks that are thick with layers of piano and bleep-bloob-blops of cpu sound effects.

“Rocky Took A Lover” is easily the best track on the album, and will soon become your "feel good" Spring/Summer anthem. Its opening keyboard rift reminds me a lot of good Third Eye Blind tracks. I don’t care who you are and how indie your music tastes are…you cannot disagree that “Semi-Charmed Life” is a kick ass song.

Other notable tracks: Eve, The Apple of My Eye – mello, piano laden song that reminds me of something Five For Fighting would sing (die hard OC fans will recognize this song), My First Born – jazzy piano number with a dark brooding but still really melodic vocal, Bigger Than Me – the eclectic guitar rifts and rich chorus has a Talking Heads meets Modest Mouse vibe, Trampoline ­– fun, upbeat track with some good texture to the layers.

Overall, I wanted to like this cd… I’ve been in a funk of cd’s that have been good, but nothing really consistently listenable beginning to end. I don’t know how long I’ll dig this cd, but I really dig it right now. I think it is all because of the upbeat pop songs. I don’t always like to concentrate about why a cd is good. Sometimes I just want to hear something polished and nice and say “oh that sounds good.”

This disc does a great job of being pleasing to just about anyone you would play it for, but still has layers that allow you dig a little deeper should you choose to do so. I have no doubt that it will get heavy rotation this Spring in the Team Robertson “Outside Tunes” playlist.

MP3: Bell X1 - Rocky Took a Lover
MP3: Bell X1 - Eve the Apple of My Eye
MP3: Bell X1 - Chicken Lips Remix

NEW TUNES ALERT

Lykee Li – Little Bit


First the meatball, then IKEA, and now Indie Rock…the Swede’s are so hot right now…

Add Lykke Li to your growing list of acts coming out Sweden that are pretty much just kick ass. Her debut ep, Little Bit, was produced by fellow Swede Björn Yttling (of PB&J) and is chock full of killer indie tunes that will keep you smiling all day long. It’s not available in the US yet, so I’ve included some mp3’s for your downloading pleasure…

Right click, 'save target as' to download mp3's
I'm Good, I'm Gone (highly recommended)
Tonight (highly recommended)
Dance Dance Dance
Little Bit
Everybody but me
Breaking It Up

Record Review - Liam Finn

Liam Finn – I’ll be Lightning


9 out of 10 times if your dad is a rock musician with any sort of success you can almost rest assured that you are destined to produce utterly horrible records. If you don’t believe me pick up a Sean Lennon disc, and then talk to me. Luckily though for music fans Liam Finn, spawn of Crowded House’s Neil Finn, succeeds with his debut I’ll Be Lightning where other rock progenies have failed.

On I’ll Be the Lightning, Finn follows the indie mainstay of writing, producing, and playing almost every instrument on the cd with the exception of a couple of guest spots by his Pops. As you listen to more of the disc, it becomes very present that Neil Finn’s influence is all over this thing. But then again growing up in a household that produced pop gems like “Don’t Dream It’s Over” has got to be hard to ignore. Don’t let Finn’s…Liam’s…use of synthesizers, distorted guitars, looping drums, and choral backgrounds fool you. He’s crafted some really great pop songs that have a lot of repeat play appeal.

Standout tracks: “Better to Be” – killer synth bass line with a The Good, the Bad, & the Queen kinda vibe…also a great breakdown on this one, “Second Chance” – electro poppy goodness which really kicks about a minute and half in, “Fire in Your Belly” – hip jazzy vocal chorus that’s got Manfred Man electro vibe, “Energy Spent” – folky vibe mixed in with drum machine loops, “Wise Man” – accousticy Brit-pop goodness…even though he’s a kiwi.

I’ve been listening to this disc for about a week, and really enjoy its variety while I’m in the office. It’s not too bright and bubbly, but also not all morose and full of shoegazers either…just a bunch of very listenable tracks with a good pop vibe. Lightning is nothing that is going to require your full focus, so it would work brilliantly as a Saturday afternoon cd to pop on at the house on nice day while you’re moving around doing your daily duties.

And yes...I just said doodie.

Record Review - Pinback

Pinback – Autumn of Seraphs


Let this be known…This disc is not your standard indie album. After your first listen to Autumn of Seraphs, you might not even like it.

This is a different kind of disc than what all of us have been listening to lately. It’s one part indie, one part alternative rock, one part drum machine, all nicely wrapped up in a very palatable presentation…and there’s nothing wrong with that. This is definitely one of those cds that takes a couple of listens before you start to pick up the intricacies and variety of each track.

As you dig deeper into Seraphs the alt-vibe you’ll first pick up on will go away and you’ll hear layers of piano, funky bass lines and drum beats, and catchy vocal hooks. All of those the dark melodic tones that may have turned you off in the beginning, will start evolving into elaborate pop tunes.

Standout tracks for me are the “Good to Sea” – a bouncy electronic and poppy gem, “From Nothing to Nowhere” – driving rock tune with a Devo-esque undertone, “Blue Harvest” – a funky track that infuses vocal runs up and down scales with crunchy guitars and falsetto harmonies, and “Bouquet” – brooding, electronic, and full of melodic layers.

This cd isn’t formulaic enough for mainstream alternative fans and, despite its complex and melodic layers, could be too hard for indie lovers. Seraphs floats in a genre no man’s land of just being good rock music.