Where the food sounds good, and the music is pretty tasty too.
Those cerebral Pop geniuses headed by Mr. Cool Nerd himself Michael Angelakos are back in space-man black with their first single release “Take A Walk” taken from the band’s forthcoming sophomore album Gossamer. The new LP is scheduled for a July 24th release. You can get the single on iTunes and the band’s shiny neat website at www.passionpitmusic.com. Peace. Continue reading “Passion Pit // Take A Walk”
With this group it is definitely a family affair and some guy. OK, not just some guy, his name is Dash Hutton, he’s the guy caressing the synth ever so commandingly. Then there are the girls? Well, they’re sisters; Alana, Danielle and Este of the cognomen Haim. As if the sister thingy weren’t novelty enough, these girls, i.e. women, play exceptionally good music. It’s the perfect blend of Pop music with something more edgy and off the beaten path. The music is sensuously, though modestly, vigorous and lusty. It doesn’t just pulse, it breathes steam into your ears. In essence, it jumps your bones and you’re so alright with its outright assertiveness. Check out the Haim’s sexy R&B/Calypso/Pop/Rock track “Forever” if this ain’t dirty dancing music, then I don’t know what species of sexy noise it is. Peace. Continue reading “Haim // Forever”
A one man show is a cool thing. Especially when the one man behind the curtain is Tom Vek. This 80’s son pulls influences from a wide spectrum of musical spices, and like a maestro at the top of his game he knows when and where to sprinkle them. The song “You’ll Stay” is s far cry from Tom’s grunge garage music roots, but his ability to rock is still front and center. Peace. Continue reading “Tom Vek // You’ll Stay”
The band Poliça just added additional tour dates for 2012 and I’m ever so thankful. I missed their show in Chicago and now I’ll be able see them here in Michigan! Poliça has got to be one of the sexiest bands in existence today. Yeah it’s the music, but without a doubt Channy Casselle-Leaneagh is a major ingredient to their appeal with her (she’ll hate for this ) pixieish good looks and seductive singing voice and style. A big thumbs up to one of most darling records in my collection. Peace. Continue reading “Poliça // Lay Your Cards Out (Video) + New Tour Dates”
it breaks
silently
no a flood
but it dreams to be
these tears
are emotion
overflowing
these tears
are no myth.
According to Sub Pop Records’ Bud Scoppa, “Some albums were made to be played on a Saturday night. The Tarnished Gold LP by Los Angeles’ Beachwood Sparks is meant to be played on a Sunday afternoon. Listening to Beachwood Sparks’ first album in 11 years is like being under cobalt blue skies and smelling the night-blooming jasmine on a perfect spring day in Los Angeles.” Now, who can argue with that, except why limit your listening experience to a Sunday afternoon? And their utterly heart melting song, “Myth” well I’ll end with this. Some songs just start you thinking about moments. Moments suspended in time and melancholy. Hell, it even inspired me to pen the poem preceding this review. I hope it puts a wan smile upon your heart as well. The bands forthcoming album is scheduled to drop June the 26th. Peace. Continue reading “Beachwood Sparks // Myth”
I first reviewed Zulu Winter way back in October ’11, and today I’m just as impressed with the band as the was then. Now, with the band’s latest single release “Silver Tongue,” I’m just plain excited! The new song is taken from the band’s forthcoming debut LP Language out on the veritable Arts & Crafts label. You can also pre-order the new album Language at Amazon and iTunes. Peace. Continue reading “Zulu Winter // Silver Tongue”
Beth Jeans Houghton is a bright star cresting the musical horizon. In a world overrun with cookie cutter acts, hers is reason enough to smile and turn up the volume. However, Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny break out, or rather shatter any would be mold, thus delivering music that is any thing but run-of-the-mill or boring. Like a freshened breeze of opium mist Ms. H and her Hooves of D send listeners swooning. And so it is with her latest video for the song, “Atlas.” Most say the Juan Iglesias directed video is about change, it looks to be something wholly, er, different to me. The video co-stars Brenda King, and depicts, or rather suggests illicit shenanigans aplenty. Watch it and tell me what you think. Also, be on the look out for the forthcoming debut album Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose (April 23rd) from which the song “Atlas” is taken. Peace. Continue reading “Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves of Destiny // Atlas (Official Video)”
It is raining here in Michigan, and the precipitation is as persistent as it is chilly. The sky? Well, it is as expected. Overcast and gray. But there is hope yet. Currently, I’m listening to the Maglia Rosa Group and so there is at least sunshine upon the airwaves ringing my ears. The Maglia Rosa Group hail from Norwich, U.K. But really their physical location is a moot point, because it’s their music that is of importance. Listening to the song, “Penelope” I get the feel of something not easily defined. For one, the music Daisy, Matt, Owen and Sam make is too sophisticated to be categorized as mere Pop. Yet, the tag adult contemporary is a mismatch too. So, what to do? Well, I’ll just enjoy the music sans labels. I’m especially unarmed by Daisy’s smoked honey voice. It’s a voice I hope to hear more of, and I think you’ll want the same. You can head over to the band’s Facebook fan page for additional tracks. Peace. Continue reading “maglia rosa group // penelope”
Something wonderful is happening down-under and it’s spreading like wildfire. Get ready for a hot summer and a Tsunami of above-par music from our brethren and sistren from Australia. Kimbra has a voice like melted sunshine and powered moonbeams and her song “Settle Down” just does it for me on so many levels. Take note, ’cause I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from her. Plus, the video just kills. Kimbra’s U.S. debut album ‘VOWS’ will be released on May. However, the Settle Down EP is available now on iTunes. Peace.
Kimbra – Settle Down from Forum5 Recordings on Vimeo.
Also, check out the song “Somebody That I Used To Know” with the artist/producer Gotye. Plus, I’ve also included the vicious TheFatRat remix. I got you covered from head to toe. Enjoy.
“Somebody That I Used To Know” (TheFatRat Remix)
(Via TheFatRat)
I have this to say about the Leeds, UK band Alt-J. Don’t let their debut album An Awesome Wave slip beneath your musical radar for lack of familiarity. You may have heard Alt-J’s totally (but still amazing) out of the box track, “Breezeblocks,” yet this track is only a fragment of a much larger, and conceptually complex puzzle.
Stream the entire album here at www.altjband.com. Available at Amazon and iTunes
Alt – J has so many wonderful things going on it may be difficult to put their sound into words, I’ll do my best. First, there is the unique vocals of lead singer Joe Newman, think one part hip-hop with swirls of some Romanesque bard thrown in for good measure. The music can range from the ardently, and deceptively folkish, to the bubbly sonic shock of punk fornicating with wild abandon with electro. It’s rife with so many genre flourishes and stops, starts and in-betweens. But it is exactly this which makes the band so much fun. Alt-J is simply a wondrous amalgamation of sounds; synths, guitars, and highly imaginative syncopation galore, enough to propel your backbone slipping beyond the furthest reaches of outer space. Yet, the songwriting is tight, imaginative But there is also tender songs of introspection perfect for moments of solemnness. Listen to “Tesselate,” “Matilda,” “Ms.,” and the haunting sweetness of the track, “Bloodflood”. The latter song is like being kissed by countless scalpels and held tight by a million sutures afterwards. And then there is the hidden track, “Hand Made,” I’ll let you discover it on your own.
With the song “Breezelocks” you get a sense of the mysterious and slightly menacing, like a runaway freight train caroming off the tracks. But without a doubt it is so goddamn groovy! And although the song is filled with rolling fog and brilliant day-glo colors, it has just a bit of Nitrous oxide to keep it light, woozy and likeable. In short, it makes for fun and interesting listening. Peace.