Bluegrassy duo from North Carolina. They've released three albums, most recently being 2015's "Such Jubilee." I debated posting songs straight from their LP's, where pedal steel (probably my favorite instrument of all time) is often featured... but their live performance speaks to how talented they really are. Flawless harmonies, heartbreaking lyrics, great musicianship. Both are songs from their 2013 release, "This Side of Jordan."
It's about time I write a post with songs that I know my brother will love. His music tastes occasionally stray just a tad from mine, leaning more toward the punk genre than my joni-mitchell-type-bias, but still, I love the stuff he listens to. He has a great ear for really, really fun music, shares my love for 80's songs... and he can tell what will be an outstanding live show (like that time he brought me to an awesome Reverend Horton Heat concert, a band that'd never usually be at the top of my playlists). So, without further adieu, here's a list of Danny-minded songs that I've been playing WAY too loud in my apartment.
Ratatat - "Abrasive"
This song is anything but it's title. It's got all the workings of a great electronic/dance song. Builds up over time, with the addition of drums, and synthesizers. Fun video too. And it'd be a perfect addition to a Nintendo game soundtrack.
Zammuto - "Need Some Sun"
Fantastic bassline that drives the whole song. We were lucky enough to catch Zammuto at the Great Scott this year and they were awesome live. Lots of energy, and a unique show complete with video screen projection behind them.
Hot Chip - "Need You Now"
I've included their song "Huarache Lights" on a prior post, which is a raucous electronic dance song. "Need You Now" features sizzling percussion thanks to Sarah Jones and samples an 80's song.
Bayonne - "Spectrolite"
Roger Sellers, better known as Bayonne, is a multi-instrumentalist (you'll see that's an appropriate title if you watch some of his live performances on Youtube). His work simultaneously reminds me of Youth Lagoon, Tycho, and Philip Glass, and yet, he still sounds totally unique.
Courtney Barnett - "Aqua Profunda!"
One of the most unique songwriters today. She's clearly been influenced by bands like Nirvana and the Kinks, with most of her songs having that gritty, punk rock vibe (although there are outliers on her recent album, to include 'Depreston' and the epic 'Kim's Caravan'). On her simpler songs, she still keeps things interesting with sharp lyrics. Take, for instance, this short tune which tells the story of Courtney trying to impress a swimmer in the next lane over (extra points for my favorite sport being featured... leave it to an Aussie).
Tame Impala - "Let It Happen"
Tame Impala first grabbed my attention with their album Innerspeaker, which channeled psych rock acts of the sixties and seventies. Now, the lead song on their new release echoes several different genres, all within the span of 8 minutes. It's a bold single fueled by synthesizers, vocoder harmonies, strings, drums.... well, everything, really. It's more a journey than a song. Buckle up.
I've been slacking on the blog posts, so here's a bunch of songs worth a listen (or ten, or more)... to catch us up.
Lord Huron - La Belle Fleur Savage
Off their new release, "Strange Trails." Best listened to outdoors, by the campfire.
Jessica Pratt - Game That I Play
Such a unique voice. She recorded this album in her bedroom, and it shows. Super intimate & personal. She's playing at Great Scott in Allston in a few weeks, and I'll be sure not to miss it.
Mac DeMarco - Let Her Go
His album "Salad Days" is one I haven't been able to stop listening to for months. Clean guitars, and a very relaxed vibe.
The Staves - In The Long Run
Three sisters from England who play folk songs in ridiculously perfect harmony.
Hot Chip - Huarache Lights
Guaranteed to put you in a good mood. Psyched to see them tomorrow night at the House of Blues.
Courtney Barnett - Depreston
One of my favorite songwriters of the past couple years. She can wittily string together seemingly unrelated, mundane aspects of life into fascintating songs that hit on emotional themes too. Not to mention the intoxicating guitar distortion...
Father John Misty - Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
He (and his whole new album, "I Love You, Honeybear") really deserve their own post. Great, great stuff. He's the former drummer of Fleet Foxes, and you can hear that influence on this track.
Hurray for the Riff Raff released a really great LP entitled "Small Town Heroes" at the beginning of this year. The album sways between upbeat bluegrass tunes and more downtempo, dark ones. The constant throughout it all, though, is lead singer Alynda Lee Segarra's super smooth vocals. Collectively, it's a really nice work.
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Perhaps the most interesting part of discovering this band was learning about the road (or should I say tracks) that Segarra traveled to found this band & create music. The following is an excerpt from wuis.org about her journey:
"Alynda Lee Segarra - the singer, songwriter and musical force behind the group - first captured national attention in 2012, when her album Look Out Mama earned glowing reviews. Born to a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, Segarra grew up making weekly trips to New York's Lower East Side for punk matinees. After extensive traveling [including hopping freight trains for years], she found her own musical home in New Orleans."
Now it's time to sit back (preferably on a front porch rocking chair) and take a listen to the band, live in a KEXP session:
A couple days ago, I took the initially scary but eventually liberating step of restoring (i.e. deleting) my entire IPod. I was sick of the same old stuff on it that's been accumulating over the past 5 years. Now that the clean slate is filled up with new stuff, I've got a whole bunch of random songs to share (in addition to some songs I just haven't been able to get out of my head for a while).
Sylvan Esso - "Uncatena"
Amelia Meath's innocent, folksy vocals laid over infectious beats
Hiss Golden Messenger - "Mahogany Dread"
Classic American roots rock... done right.
Alt-J - "Nara"
Off their newly released EP, "This is All Yours". If you're short on time, just start the video at 2:55. Enough said.
FKA Twigs - "Two Weeks"
Listened to this for the first time while on a plane, looking out the window as we soared back and forth between massive cloud formations. The chorus fit the setting to a tee.
Marissa Nadler - "Drive"
This checks off all of my typical boxes: sad, haunting lyrics, pedal steel, angelic harmonies... super emo.
Was blasting this song in my car while running errands today... Alt-J is a quirky U.K. based band that has gained a bit of a following here in the states as well.
Alt-J
This track is off their 2012 album, An Awesome Wave. The video's nothing to write home about, but the song is.
