April [07] Podcast
Just fucking listen to it!
(This is the tricked out feed with chapters and album art and all that good stuff. iTunes only though, but seriously who doesn’t use itunes. I want to hear from you!)
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01. Patrick Wolf – “Accident & Emergency” The Magic Position [Polydor]
This track only gets better with age. Each time you take this joyous tune in you will hear something you failed to hear before, and that’s the true beauty of great music. Patrick Wolf has hit his stride and “Accident & Emergency” is the perfect way to get acquainted with what he is all about.
02. Wintersleep – “Jaws of Life” Untitled [Labwork]
Rock and roll is alive and well in Eastern Canada, and if Wintersleep have anything to say about it, it’s not going to die anytime soon. “Jaws of Life” is inspiring, catchy, and well-played. Dig on the humming part half-way through. Hum along even. This one is well worth your time.
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03. Midlake – “Head Home” The Trials of Van Occupanther [Bella Union]
Yes, Midlake really are this good. And this is just the beginning. “Head Home” sums up what this band is capable of and expands on their melodious upbringings masterfully. It’s a wonder this band is not from some tiny village in England, but, hey, Texas is artsy, too.
04. Voxtrot – “Kids Gloves” Voxtrot [Playlouder]
The lead single for the album we’ve been awaiting for nearly two years, “Kid Gloves” is a worthy hit for Voxtrot, fitting right in line with “Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Wives”, and “Raised by Wolves” (the songs, not the EPs). Fast, fully-arranged, fully over-lyricized, and even more obviously ‘80s influenced, the song races to its climax, which grows on the repeated “Cheer me up, cheer me up, I’m a miserable fuck,”, before the most effective catharsis in a Voxtrot song yet.
05. Jim Bryson – “If By the Bridge” Where the Bungalows Roam [Kelp]
If our review of Where the Bungalows Roam hasn’t convinced you to check out Jim Bryson take one listen to “If By the Bridge” for all the convincing you’ll need. We said it once, we’ll say it twice, and we’ll say it around Christmas time: Jim Bryson is a talent that needs to be heard and cherished. And thanks to the wonderment of podcasting, here’s a prime time opportunity.
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06. Art Brut – “Late Sunday” (Demo) It’s a Bit Complicated [Downtown]
To complicate the matters on their second disc, Eddie Argos and Art Brut have drifted away from their snot-punk sound and towards the snot-rock sound that The Kinks mastered, at least if you believe the 5 song unmastered teaser EP on the internet, and “Lazy Sunday” off it especially. A bouncy bass-line, choppy guitar chords, backing “oo-wee-oos”, a horn section, and good golly Miss Molly, is that a trombone solo?! Don’t worry, it all works and Eddie’s still got his sing-speak lyricism under full control. Let’s just hope he gets some sleep now.
07. Dave Fischoff – “Ghost of an Afternoon” The Crawl [Secretly Canadian]
Dave Fischoff has been doing his thing for over a decade now. While he hasn’t always been this orchestral in his scope, he has always been this overly creative, in the best way possible. The new sound, as featured wonderfully on “Ghost of an Afternoon,” is as welcoming as it is harrowingly familiar. Latch on to this one.
08. Bright Eyes – “No One Would Riot for Less” Cassadaga [Saddle Creek]
Where does Bright Eyes go in 2007? According to this track, not very far, but he is still working magic with a stripped-down appeal that only he can evoke. The female vocal part, presumably offered by Maria Taylor (almost has to be her, right?), is downright frightening. Overall, this tune is quite pleasing and proves that Cassadaga will be as diverse as most of his catalogue.
09. A Northern Chorus – “The Millions Too Many” The Millions Too Many [Sonic Unyon]
Two years ago A Northern Chorus would not have written this song. There really is not all that much to say about it other than that it completely works and shows that this band refuses to be pigeonholed. If they want to start writing pop songs, this is what they’ll do. And they’ll do it well, for that matter.
10. Small Sails – “Somnabulist” Similar Anniversaries [Other Electricities]
This track opens the new Small Sails album, Similar Anniversaries, and you can probably see/hear why. It also opens this collage of landscapes and patterns by way of its production coupled with distant vocals and a gorgeous melody to boot. Very quality.
11. Dntel – “Dumb Luck” Dumb Luck [Sub Pop]
Dntel’s “The Dream of Evan and Chan” was the birth place of the Postal Service concept and that early collaboration with Ben Gibbard led to a tidy little album of pop gems. Six years after his last full-length, Dntel (Jimmy Tamborello) is back, collaborating his ass off to bring us Dumb Luck. I know this album will be better than his solo release of last year, but let’s also hope this album will lead to another side project as good as the Postal Service.
12. The National – “Fake Empire” Boxer [Beggars]
Even if you are still mad about “Mr. November” never getting a video treatment, The National should still be on your radar and you should be eagerly anticipating its drop. Alligator being one my favorite records of 2005, my anticipation has been boiling over for Boxer, and this new single has only heightened my fervor. Don’t sleep on this release.
13. SoftLightes – “Heart Made of Sound” Say No to Being Cool, Say Yet to Being Happy [Modular]
This album came out a few months back, but we all need to be refreshed on the SoftLightes. This song is bouncy and refreshing and lyrically sweet and their album is full of songs just like this. Don’t worry about missing the February release, we all make mistakes, just shrug it off to your friends if they ask.
14. Polytechnic – “Man Overboard” Down Till Dawn [Vital UK]
Another old song, but relevant because their new album is dropping sometime next month. Their sound is eerily similar to CYHSY, mostly because off the singing, but they still put together some catchy and enjoyable songs. If Some Loud Thunder wasn’t your cup of tea, then maybe this UK doppleganger just might delight you.
15. The Rosebuds – “Get Up Get Out” Night of the Furies [Merge]
The Rosebuds are back, and they’re downright sexy. The rhythm is tight, the melody is danceable, and the lyrics work. Perhaps this is pop with pretension attached, but it’s somehow welcomed pretension.
16. Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love – “Mayfly” Ends of June [Other Electricities]
Gosh, what a band name, eh? Love it or hate it, dig this track for what it’s worth. Sure, a lot of acts are trying to pull off this modern day, melodramatic folk sound, but Low Low Low… pull it off with a great sense of ease and delicacy. The vocal harmonies are spot-on and the lo-fi sound is ideal for a cloudy day accompanied with some deeply steeped tea.
