Another new weekly segment coming atcha! Music so seductive, so beautiful in its sexual majesty that you will have family members disowning you as a result of the things you do while listening to it. Geared towards music for the dance floor, Forgive Me Father! Fridays! is in favor of kicking on those boogie shoes and getting hot and heavy on a Friday night.
Strange Talk is an Indie music outfit from the beautiful Gold Coast, Australia. Like all Australians they are very happy to be living in Australia, and their music reflects the fact that Australia is really awesome. Cause their music is really awesome. They've released a four track, self titled EP (called Strange Talk, for those of you who don't know what self-titled means) and you guys should all go check it out. Its hip, its different, and its fun. What more could you want for a beautiful spring afternoon, hand in hand with your love...praying for that first kiss.
Hey there folks! Once again we're back with 142 BPM Mondays, highlighting the best and brightest in Dubstep. It doesn't get much fresher then this, so hold onto your nutsack's (literal or otherwise) and prepare to be the coolest kid in school.
Sundays are great days. You wake up at noon and spend the rest of the day nursing a hangover, doing homework, whatever it may be. It's a time that calls for quiet music and soft noises. Thats why we at MUT are creating a new segment focused on beautiful, sleep inducing songs to spend your Sunday daydreaming to.
Solid hard rock has gone missing.In part, I understand – there is an unfortunate stigma revolved around a lot of psyche and grunge rock these days (which I believe radio is to blame for), and with the rise of incredibly hyped dub and electronic fads of the past few years, it is easy to sweep more classic, melodious guitar drones and richer rock bass and drums under the rug.Sometimes, though, I do really worry that a lot of us have lost appreciation for – in the simplest of terms – good, hard rock.My current favorite is D.C. originated band Dead Meadow.
I’d classify this band as more of a bluesy, psychedelic breed, with some of the most beautiful distortions I’ve heard since my front row Sonic Youth experience.Their self-title debut album is dynamic, sassy as hell, and honestly feels like a blunt to the face (totally serious).Turn up Sleepy Silver Door in your headphones and close your eyes.I’m so addicted to the crazy cymbals and bass bubbles that make the hypnotizing guitars feel like they’re crawling down my spine.Indian Bones and Rocky Mountain High are lovely follow-ups, full of boiling energy and stunning, sweaty sex – picture a White Stripes/70’s Stooges lovechild.Dragonfly and Beyond the Fields We Know are a slower set, but some of the romantic songs of their kind.I won’t talk too much about Feathers, the bands fifth album, because it’s my least favorite (although still unbelievable as a whole) – much less hard and head-nod-able, but don’t get it twisted, kids – Heaven and Let It All Pass are tracks off this record that I could listen to until my ears bleed.
Old Growth is their newest album and an absolute joy.Beautifully written and excessively fun.Enjoy.
Liz Harris, alias Grouper. The Portland based singer-songwriter has been around for awhile. 2008's "Dragging a Dead Dear Up a Hill", the most recent Grouper album, was beautiful and sleep inducing, haunting and tiring at the same time. Harris's music can be characterized by song titles the likes of "We've All Gone to Sleep" and "Heavy Water /I'd Rather Be Sleeping". Its soft and slow, frequently bordering on ambient. Yet there's something beautiful and accessible to Groupers music that most ambient lacks. It feels like its coming from the bed of an ocean or the deepest recesses of your bed, its enchanting and inviting, it makes you feel safe and unnerved at the same time, as it can be quite creepy.
The latest Grouper output is the distant "AIA: Alien Observer", which has Harris going back to her roots pre "Dragging a Dead...". Her voice is more layered and obscured by various sounds. Where her previous LP took away a lot of the fuzz that shrouds Grouper tracks, "Alien Observer", brings it back, though admittingly to a more sparing degree then some older albums. Highlights of the album are the title track, unusually short for a Grouper track at less then four minutes, it has Harris floating above the song, rather then controlling it. Her voice adds to the haunting atmosphere and indeed serves largely as a setting rather then a director of the music.
What makes Harris's story tragic is the fact that she will never come to obvious prominence in the music community. While her albums have attracted attention and a good set of followers (myself included), her music is slow and requires an attention span far surpassing that of the average music listener (ya I'm a snob, so what?).
Buy Groupers music, support those artists that test the patience of listeners. Or I'll get you. Or something, whatever.
These days, we’re all looking forward to a happy spring pick-me-up, aren’t we?I would argue that the darker days of Sigh No More, the King of Limbs, and Teen Dream, while all hypnotic and some of my own recent favorites, should be left in the slushy, grey days of winter.I’ve gotten sick of walking around to my favorite Bon Iver’s (new EP in June, brace yo’selves), I’ve become bored of No Age and Local Natives and all these bands that fit my winter fancy.I’ve even grown bored of those filthy dubstep groans we all hold so close to our tired little teenage hearts.This is why, in the first warm, perfectly breezed, pollen-filled days of spring, I feel the desperate need to spread the word about one of my new favorites, not only appropriate for spring, but hopefully for the duration of my last few months before heading off to college – no, not Helplessness Blues ("Sunlight over me no matter what I do!") – Saratoga Springs based band Phantogram.
I have a love/hate relationship with pretty much all chick singers.I left the Beach House concert early this year because, frankly, I don’t care too much for Victoria Legrand’s ‘earthiness’ (feel free to judge me).Florence Welch’s singing, after frequent listening, has become less pleasant and more whale-like.Grace Potter’s sex-filled rasp get’s old. I will even admit, after years of denial, that Regine Chassange (when left alone) leaves much to be desired (…come on, you know it’s true).However, upon first shuffling through Phantogram’s debut album Eyelid Movements, I found myself with quite literally no complaints.Not to mention the duo has previously opened for Metric and Yeasayer.What more could trendy little hipster scums want?
Sarah Barthel is ballsy, specifically for a young, sexy female who (I’m sure) had every opportunity to slut away her talents on some sub-par pop album off some big, fancy label.Her voice, often times in company with guitarist Josh Carter, is subtle, but arguably as sassy and powerful as current chart-topper Adele.Her voice on Eyelid Movements is dynamic on each track – mysteriously muted while equally strident, easy on the ears while curiously impossible to replicate (my shower head can vouch for me).My favorite track off this album is Mouthful of Diamonds, which features some of the sparkliest guitars I have ever heard.Yes, sparkly. You’ll have to hear it to believe it (see below).“Wake up, you’re getting high on your own supply”Next, I’d recommend When I’m Small, another favorite.This track is equally as psych-poppy and catchy, but arguably darker and beautifully eery.“I’d rather die than to be with you”Turn it Off and Running From The Cops are also big hitters in my book.
There’s something about this part of the year that begs for unfortunately catchy pop singles, troubled MC’s and love songs.What Phantogram so artfully supplies is a fresh sound that echoes gorgeously articulated ruminations on unrequited love, royally fucking up, caustic criticisms of close friends, and big fat “FUCK YOU” ‘s to unsuspecting individuals.There’s nothing like a good pop album that sends shivers down your spine and pumps out solid modern funk at the same time.I don’t know about you, but this is what I’ll be clumsily dancing to for the next few weeks or so.
Props to Daryl for letting me in on this hip endeavor.I feel fucking special. TBX out.
Every now and then I come across something truly special. There are lots of great albums with hype built up for months before the release. They come pre-packedged with billboards, Rolling Stone articles, and David Letterman performances. Much rarer are those left field hits that take you by surprise in a genuine way free of staged publicity and sex scandals.
The new mixtape "House of Balloons" from Canadian group the Weeknd is a great example of something occupying a sonic territory so specific and haunting that its hard not to pay attention. Originally anonymous, the Weeknd is the project of Toronto based R&B singer Abel Tesfaye and several producers from around the area. Its music for night owls. Sexy, scary, and sad, the Weeknd occupies a sonic territory thats characterized by drugs and loneliness. They don't live in the ideal world but there's something romantically alluring about it. The only comparison in terms of sex appeal and sadness I can conjure is the xx's self titled debut in 2009.
"Codeine cups paint a picture so vivid Fakes try to mimic get girls timid But behind closed doors they get oh so rigid"
These lines appear on one of the albums high points, the sad, pseudo-triumphant "The Morning". The world of girls, drugs, and forgotten nights seems to be taking their tole on The Weeknd, who never seem satisfied or happy with where they're at.
This review is to short to really merit a rating, its enough to say that "House of Ballons" is a gem, always sexy and inviting, yet never content.
