Archive for December 10, 2011

M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

These dudes have a lot of tricks up their sleeve. I love what they have done to his particular genre, and what they have to offer to others. It’s that retro-pop that your parents bounced to in the early 90′s but forgot to tell you about. Its that hipster jive that pumps the whole party up after someone drops “Midnight City” for the first time at one of your parties. And its the ability to melt so many differing sounds into something that just relates to the modern esthetic in such a way that it rewinds you back to why you enjoyed Passion Pit and old MGMT.

So it turns out that its some French dudes who created all these modern/post-modern tracks and melted your face with them. Who cares? These guys are geniuses. And they don’t mind showing it. With a 22 track 2-part CD, we’re given what we’re looking for and more. Its smart. Whereas most bands drop 10, maybe 13 songs, they’re doubling them. It just keeps them in the loop that much more.

What I truly appreciate is the ability to grasp the times within the suburbs of major cities and flair out to the esoteric modernism that the major music scene is going to be pushing towards. Its a shame and a sham that most haven’t brutalized this CD with the ferocity that my roommates and I have; its one of those non-stop players that just keeps pumping out of the speakers in your room. Its great… but the let down? The HBO show ‘How to Make It In America’ dropped “Midnight City” at the end of episode 5, and I knew it was all over. They’ll be even bigger then anyone could have ever dreamed.

Listen to – Midnight City, Claudia Lewis, Steve McQueen

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. - M83

City and Colour – Little Hell

Hey! Dallas! You dropped the acoustic for the ’52 Telecaster, eh? Good work. Kind of.

K, so I don’t hate it. But City and Colour used to be so freakin’ raw that it was unbearable. Dallas’ voice is so pure that its difficult to think of anyone that can hold what he can hold.

Comparatively, this CD doesn’t come close to the old stuff. Putting it out there alone, it does hold its own. Its good for what it is and what it has. It was his first time as a front man and not a lone-soul with the perfect tuning and complementary voice. Keep making music Dallas, Ill definitely keep buying it.

 

Listen to – O’Sister, Little Hell, Weightless

“Grand Optimist”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZo31zMAySQ?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>

 
Little Hell - City and Colour

Circa Survive – Blue Sky Noise

Its hard for me to be impartial when talking about Circa Survive, because Anthony Green was my crack while I was growing up, but honestly, they have grown up. Its quite odd, the scream bands of late (Thursday, Thrice, Saosin) have all walked further up the stairs and they end of creating instead of making, and it truly is inspirational.

This CD is pretty damn righteous. The whole thing is quite delectable, and you will not get sick of it. It is quite difficult to find faults in Anthony Green’s songwriting ability. He knows what he’s doing.

 

Listen to – Frozen Creek, Get Out, and The Longest Mile

“Frozen Creek”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcHhHX24dXg?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>

Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix

This band was a surprise for me. I kind of stumbled across them, and its a good thing I did. They are everything that’s right about music, except maybe a bit of a snooty attitude (I saw an interview where they completely undermined an award), but hey, they’re English, maybe I just didn’t understand the humor.

They have a good sound, something like a hybrid along the Two Door Cinema Club and Phoenix had a child and that child went on an acid trip through the woods. Thats a good thing, by the way. Check em out, I can’t think of someone who wouldn’t like their sound.

 

Listen to – How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep, Struggle, Shuffle

“Shuffle”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLGcj62fdKo&amp;hd=1?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
A Different Kind of Fix - Bombay Bicycle Club

Broadway – Kingdoms

Here we go. This CD is basically what I would have loved if I was still a junior in high school.

One problem, I’m actually not in high school anymore…

Still, the old screamo elements and the forcefulness of the drums are something all to familiar to use emo’s of old. The sound is kind of difficult, and I keep finding the same building blocks in every song. Ehhhh. It’s not a lllllll that bad :) .

 

Listen to – Don’t Jump the Shark Before you Save the Whale

“Don’t Jump the Shark Before you Save the Whale”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Gq79HTeH8&amp;hd=1?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
Kingdoms - Broadway

Boys Noize – Oi Oi Oi

Wow. Production, how are you? How are you doing after being totally exploited? You’re good? Well, you sound good.

Boys Noize shreds the light between the fast forward, rewind style of overproduction techno and the bass-bass of dub/trancestep. If you’re not really screwed in for this type of music, you could be left behind rather quickly.

This stuff gets you going. It’s kind of Crystal Castles on speed with the flange of more underneath raspy computer vibes. Its pretty gnarly, strap in.

 

Listen to – & Down, Oh!, Shine Shine

“& Down”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwzRLgJorYQ?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
Oi Oi Oi - Boys Noize

The Cave Singers – Welcome Joy

Okay, so you know the first time you heard Fleetwood Mac, and you were like, woah, they kind of know what they’re doing? This music reminds me of that feeling that you get when you hear it.

Its intensely passionate for what it is. I actually can’t stand country music, but this progressive folk is beautiful because of its rawness, passion, and heart.

If you enjoy Mumford and Sons, these guys will give you that same type of recognition of sound. Maybe a little more acid rock and less frozen tundra of the English hillside.

 

Listen to – Dancing on our Graves, Shrine, Hen of the Woods

“Dancing on our Graves

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssN2_B7351U?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>

“Summer Light”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUmd-iMoxFE?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>

 

 
Welcome Joy (Bonus Track Version) - The Cave Singers

Calvin Harris – Ready for the Weekend

If you don’t like this, you don’t like to party. Or have a good time. Or smile.

Calvin Harris is simply brilliant in every step of the way. He’s just an unreal producer, catchy song writer, and everything about his music keeps you going.

If you haven’t heard of him, hurry up. Its that good.

 

Listen to – Feel So Close, You Used to Hold me

“Feel So Close”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGghkjpNCQ8?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
Ready for the Weekend (Bonus Track Version) - Calvin Harris

The Boxer Rebellion – Exits

Its that ambient rock’n'roll that gets you goin’. And its good stuff.

The Boxer Rebellion has a wicked style about them. Kind of like that edginess that smacked you in the face when you first heard The Black Keys, or Jack White. It makes you happy though, the darkness brings out the light in the music.

They might be a tough band for some to enjoy, just because they have a soulful exposition about their arrangements, but I found them to be quite radical and talented. Check it.

 

Listen to – Watermelon, Cowboys and Engines

“Evacuate”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbwbpxUogw?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>

August Burns Red – Leveler

This cd is as brutal as it is exotic, and it has many different timing and variants within its own elements. I really enjoy this band at some points, and get burnt out at other points. It seems like an odd problem, but it is quite true.

Slap these guys in if you’re not in the mood to listen truly too hard. This cd is not as good as their old stuff, but, they have flashes of brilliance in this one, just not as many.

 

Listen to – Carpe Diem, Leveler, Salt and Light

“Carpe Diem”

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQ6BQbXblI?hl=en"><img src="http://inmyheadphones.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/audio-tube/images/play-tub.png" alt="Play" style="border:0px;" /></a>
Leveler (Deluxe Edition) - August Burns Red