5-21-12 - "All The Rowboats" ~ Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor probably doesn't need the hype from my little blog, and I've already discussed a few of her tracks.  But this one, from her new album that drops next week, is just spectacular and I felt like telling you why I feel that way, so here goes.


The first several times I listened were at work with the volume low, unfortunately not the best way to fully appreciate music.  However, even in that setting, the musicianship and composition struck me.  When I got around to giving the song its proper due and absorbing the lyrics, it only deepened my enjoyment.  On the surface, the song is a lament for masterworks of various art forms as they are neglected by today's reality TV society.  If you like, you can likely find several layers of deeper meaning as well.


The most poignant metaphor, for me, is the violin.  A Stradivarius is in itself a masterpiece, but it only becomes a true wonder when in the hands of a brilliant musician.  If it's sitting in a display case, the beauty of its sound is lost... "They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing..."


Here's the track on Soundcloud:





A Letterman performance from last week, complete with a Steinway & Sons grand piano and Regina's trademarked oddball vocalizations - this time in the form of laser sound effects:

And the music video:

"First there's lights out, then there's lock up

Masterpieces serving maximum sentences

It's their own fault for being timeless

There's a price to pay, and a consequence..."

5-3-12 - "Carry On" ~ Fun.

You guys.  Fun. Is. Spectacular.  A combination of, dare I say, fun melodies with upbeat and catchy instrumentation, topped off with (at least on tracks like this) powerful and introspective lyrics.  They're exploding across the airwaves, on both the indie and popular stations (and fortunately, "We Are Young" hasn't been mutilated for the Top 40 stations like Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know".)


This one (especially the acoustic performance) captures the power of Nate's vocals and the emotion he conveys.  The song's message is one of hope and perseverance.


Sick acoustic version recorded for Record Store Day (4/21/2012):

Fun. - The Ghost That You Are To Me from Record Store Day on Vimeo.


Another sweet acoustic version (marred slightly by a "watermark", unfortunately...)

Album version:

"And it's nice to know
when I was left for dead

I was found and now I don't roam these streets..."

2-3-12 - "Sequel" ~ TeamMate

Here's a sweet new track from a sweet new band.  A band comprised of Scott Simons, an expatriate of West Virginia who's been living in LA, and Dani Buncher, a Pittsburgher who you might know from my ramblings about Big Hurry and Big Snow Big Thaw (the other two bands for which she is the drummer)  I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit disappointed this band isn't called "Big TeamMate" or something to that effect...


Oh yeah, and the duo used to date for, like, ten years, so that adds an interesting dynamic.  This is their debut single, just dropped last night.  It deals with their breakup and some of their story, some pretty rough relationship stuff set to infectious upbeat pop sounds.  If this is any indication, they'll be quite a fun show at Brillobox next weekend...

Oh by the way, free download of this track on their facebook page.  Bangarang.


"Sometimes all you've got is too much
sometimes nothing's ever enough..."

2-1-12 - "Fog In The Valley" ~ Good Night, States

Every time I post a song that involves an Echo Chamber session from the Draw Us Lines crew, I'm reminded of a line in The Rescuers Down Under (you know you loved that movie as a kid)... "We're gonna have to make connections with a bigger bird." (said by Wilbur of Albatross Air, when asked whether it's a non-stop flight to Australia...)  They do such a good job over there at DUL, and capture some truly amazing songs stripped down to the roots in the EC sessions.  Not to mention, some of the songs are as yet unreleased (this one is from Good Night, States' upcoming "Country / Static" release - due 4.5.12), and the EC videos are the only versions available for me to post.

Good Night, States are yet another gem formed in the coal valleys of the Steel City... but they throw in some Jersey attitude for good measure.  Given their long-distance relationship, they're more than slightly elusive as far as live concert performances go, and I've yet to see them.  But I can guarantee I'll be at their next PGH gig, good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise.

This song will blow you away.  At least, it blew me away; I'll try not to oversell it since not everyone's musical tastes are identical.  But if you like the folksy feel and lush harmonies of The Head And The Heart or Fleet Foxes; or haunting, love/heartbreak songs like "Liar" or "Poison and Wine", I'll wager you'll like this song too:

"Fog In The Valley" ~ Good Night, States (from Vimeo.com, Draw Us Lines Echo Chamber Session)

"what i want more than silver

what i know i'm gonna wish i had

what i'd die and i'd kill for

some intimation that i make you glad..."

PS - props to percussionist Dan Harding for the awesome Where The Wild Things Are t-shirt (and the ridiculous glockenspiel breakdown), and to the venue for this EC session, which is a gorgeous local church - Eastminster Presbyterian.

1-11-12 - "We Are Young" ~ fun.

Like 1,2,3, these guys have a nigh un-googleable name: fun.  But man, they play some catchy tunes.  This one's been around for a bit, but I have not posted it yet, and it turns out the video is a free download on iTunes right now, so I was reminded of the awesomeness of the tune.


Regular:

Acoustic (this. is. legit.):

And, for anyone who's an intermediate pianist, here's a 2-minute tutorial from the band's keyboard dude, Andrew Dost:

"The moon is on the fly

I have no reason to run

So will someone come and carry me home...?"

1-8-12 - "Innocents Abroad" ~ Meeting Of Important People

If you live in Pittsburgh and missed last night's Brillobox lineup, you should be ashamed.  Or at least saddened.  My first time seeing Whiskey Holler, a fun little outfit with some steel guitar, mini organ, and a hint of banjo.  1,2,3 closed out the night with a bang.  But I was most stoked for Meeting Of Important People's set, and they delivered as usual.


I snagged a couple of concert videos, including I Know Every Street (from their eponymous debut LP), a brand new track extolling the virtues of getting up and dancing (on the proverbial "floor"), and this one - a nod to Mark Twain, and according to the band, their "Pitchfork song."  


Here's my video from last night:

And here's the Draw Us Lines Echo Chamber video - you may recall (but likely don't) that last July, I typed out my internal debate as to whether to post this track or "Oh, Will You Finally Go?" Guess it worked out that I can now post my own concert vid plus this gem:

EDIT (3-2-12):  Here's a link to a video of Josh performing the song solo, which I filmed at the AIR gallery show on 2-18-12:

"and now I'm - I'm runnin' scared
my kitchen cabinets are bare..."

12-19-11 - "Top Bunk" ~ Gauntlet Hair

I'm going to be honest: I'm not precisely sure what's going on here.  But I like it.


Gauntlet Hair is a noise pop duo from Chicago by way of Denver.  This track has looping guitar riffs and somewhat dissonant interludes, along with nigh-unintelligible lyrics.  (It's my custom to pilfer a line or two and include at the bottom of the post, but in this case, I can't make out enough of a phrase to put anything remotely meaningful.... so... yeah.)

It might not be your cup of tea, but then again you may find yourself drawn to it as I was.  Give it a click, and if it's not for you, just browse to another post, like maybe some Sufjan Stevens if you're a hipster, Arcade Fire if you only liked Sufjan before he went mainstream, Said The Whale if you only liked Arcade Fire before they went mainstream, William Fitzsimmons if you just went through a divorce or nasty breakup, Bob Marley if you're Rastafarian or just like weed, or.... you know what, just browse around!

12-17-11 - "Go Outside" ~ Cults

I suppose it shouldn't be shocking that a band by this name would put out a video based on one of the most chilling events in recent history - a mass suicide/murder by a group of people following a fanatical and charismatic leader.  The video's production is impressive, seamlessly inserting the band members into footage from the cult.  You can read a bit about the making of the video here.

Despite the depressing nature of the video's subject matter, I find the song itself encouraging.  The ultimate message is to live life to the fullest, not to "hole up" or "stay inside and sleep the light away..."  Take advantage of opportunities to see the world, spend time with loved ones, and don't take the little things for granted.  And especially, don't let negative or slothful people get in the way of your own enjoyment of this beautiful world.  At least, that's what I'm getting out of the tune...  

Just the song, without the NBC News commentary and whatnot:

Bonus:  The band is featured in a new holiday episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, which apparently airs on Nick Jr. tomorrow evening.  So if you enjoy this song, be sure to tune in for that and trip out whilst watching a children's program... you know, if you're into that sort of thing.

"Yeah I know what's good 

Exactly those things night cannot behold..."

12-15-11 - "By Your Hand" ~ Los Campesinos!

Indie pop from Wales, but not Welsh (at least according to Wikipedia...)  I guess stranger things have happened in this world.  Wherever they're from, they caught my ear, and lo and behold, now they have a chance to catch yours.


This track is a bit darker than you might think from the music.  Catchy and engaging synth and upbeat major chords won't have you thinking about your untimely demise, but that's the subject matter which belies the mood of the melody.  The accompanying video has some nostalgic moments with toys from our collective youth, but contrasts these images with some twisted and morbid scenes, a juxtaposition which is quite unsettling:

"By your hand is the only end I foresee..."

12-07-11 - "Somebody That I Used To Know" ~ Gotye (ft. Kimbra)

Belgian-Australian singer/songwriter Gotye had a bad breakup, and out of his misery came an internationally charting tune.  Collaborator Kimbra (a Kiwi, by the way) was not the subject of the song, but her vocals add depth to it.  The song has a somewhat odd and unsettling feel to it, but I definitely like it.  The minor chord progression and xylophone riff set the stage, and the unique voices and dynamic shifts paint the picture fantastically.


Speaking of painting, the music video features some bodypaint and tasteful nudity (you don't see anything you wouldn't at the public swimming pool).  But if you prefer not to watch that, or even if you do watch that, check out the recent live performance from KCRW's studios in Santa Monica, CA.

"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness..."

11-16-11 - "Houdini" ~ Foster The People

So I finally picked up Foster The People's album recently, because who doesn't love an album that's chock full of tunes just waiting for commercials to use them?  I mean, screw Corporate America and The Man, but dang is this album catchy!


After a handful of spins, this track has grabbed me the most.  The hook is off the hoo... wait I mean chain.  And the lyrics are actually fairly deep too.  It delves into the musician's dilemma - opening one's soul up to the masses. It speaks out against conforming and compromising due to fear, fostering the people (a bit of a stretch, I know, but deal with it) and encouraging them to stand strong and put their talents and skills to use.  And sometimes we all wish we could pull off miraculous escapes like Houdini...

And lest you think that they're just hiding behind all the electronic sounds and synths...

And here's a hybrid live performance from SNL which still has some of the synths, but brings more focus on the keys and vox while adding some sick horns... (hey, ah, Foster The People, you got a little, uh, Ben Stiller on your shirt...)

Also featuring Kenny G.  What.

"With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide
sometimes I want to disappear..."


(PS - Mark Foster kinda looks like Zach Braff...)

11-14-11 - "Lonely Boy" ~ The Black Keys

Here's a fun new track from the upcoming album by The Black Keys.  As a bonus, the video is simple, lacks pretense, and is quite entertaining.  


Pretty simple premise here; I won't insult you by explaining it...

"Well I'm so above you

and it's plain to see

but I came to love you anyway

so you tore my heart out

and I don't mind bleeding

any old time you keep me waiting…"

10-24-11 - "Moneygrabber" ~ Fitz and the Tantrums

Fitz and the Tantrums are apparently suffering through another nasty breakup.  This time, it seems there's a gold-digger involved.  But hey, life's tragedies lead to some of the best music:

Oh by the way, the band is offering Don't Gotta Work It Out for free right now: 


Don't Gotta Work It Out (mp3 download)

"I don't pay twice for the price of a cheap dime whore"

10-20-11 - "Morning Song" ~ We Are The City

So you've already read about the band whose show I attended on Monday night.  An unexpected benefit of being there was discovering these guys along the way.  Hailing from British Columbia just like tourmates Said The Whale, We Are The City brought an engaging brand of progressive indie rock with keyboard (which of course gets them a +1 in my book).  The downside was that I really only caught their last song, due to a prior commitment.  But that was enough for me to check them out further.


Morning Song is the back half of a just-dropped EP, and happens to be the song I caught at the show.  (The front half is called Mourning song, and leads into this one quite well - check it out too!)


The piano style reminds me a bit of Keane, but the guitar and vocals differentiate them from the brit piano-pop group.  Evocative lyrics will draw you in, with imagery of the ocean and the frailty of human life.  Asymmetrical phrasing generates an unsettled mood, making the resolution all the more powerful.  The song's subject matter is the suffering in the world, and the hope that burns within us despite the pain.  


Sweet video of the band performing the song out in nature in - you guessed it - the morning:

Perhaps the best part?  You can download the track FREE on Bandcamp!  (but if you like it, I highly recommend going back and buying the $2, 2-song EP to support the further endeavours* of this talented young group...)


* - see what I did there?  I spelled it like a Canadian would, eh?


Morning Song ~ We Are The City (bandcamp)


"Do you feel fine? 

Please pull me like the moon pulls the tide 

And if I'm set to walk on land then my sandy bones will turn to glass and I'll wait for them to crack..."

10-17-11 - "Don't Touch That Dial" ~ Paper Lions

Paper Lions hail from Prince Edward Island, Canada (hmm, could we be heavy on Canadian bands lately because I was recently in Canada, listening to a Canadian radio station...?)  The name seems to be drawn from a book written by an average joe who participated in training camp with the Detroit Lions.  Or maybe it's just a play on paper tigers.


Paper Lions' brand of garage pop/rock is infused with hints of punk, and caught my ear as I drove.  Check this song:

"grab your shoes, we're headin' to
the closest bar to get down to something not so new..."

9-23-11 - "Hold On" ~ Angus and Julia Stone

This one has a haunting and ethereal vibe.  Sounds like she loved someone whom she thought loved her in return, only to have her heart broken... yet she still holds on to hope that he'll come through in the end... or something to that effect, anyway.  Give it a listen; I think you may enjoy it.

"Hold on, what do you take me for?"

9-15-11 - "Truth" ~ Alexander

Last time I posted a song by Alexander, I almost picked this one, but changed my mind and did "Let's Win."  Now I know why, and it's because now I can include the live performance of "Truth" from Conan the other night (see below).  This one's not as upbeat or joyful, but the shambling flow will drag you right in.  

The lyrics are weighty, dealing with the singer's struggle to break free from following the mindless crowds as an unseen force would have him do ("wanna pull me back behind the fence with the cattle").  He has been there, following the hollow "truth" put forth to lure him in, but now he is beginning to see through it.  He is discovering the true truth, and is willing to stand and fight for it, no matter the cost.  It seems the conclusion he comes to is that love is truth...

(live on Conan - a little slower than the album version, but I love that it accentuates the choral harmonies!)

(music video - it's a little creepy and weird, and adds a layer to the song)

"I've seen a million numbered doors on the horizon

Now which is the future you choosen before you gone dying
I'll tell you about a secret I've been undermining
Every little lie in this world comes from dividing..."

"I swear to God I'm only trying to be loving..."

9-13-11 - "Four To The Floor" ~ These Animals

Well it took me a month to get around to posting these guys after seeing them in August, but they're swell and rumor has it they're coming back to Pittsburgh in October to help celebrate Big Hurry's new EP release!  That show promises to be pretty OK, so mark 10/21 on your calendars. 


These Animals hail from Brooklyn and play tunes that will make you want to do that funky hipster thing where you're not quite dancing but can't stay still.  Check this one out; it's got some words of wisdom to go along with the groove:

"she told me before

'love's like the weather

when it rains, it pours

but the sunshine is better'..."
_______________________________________________________


EDIT 10-24-11  


Check out my YouTube video from Friday Night's show at Brillobox in Pittsburgh:

9-10-11 - "Winding Road" ~ Ryan McAllister

My friend Jake just moved to the Pacific Northwest.  I found out about Big Hurry thanks to Jake.  Found out about Liisten.com thanks to Big Hurry.  Found out about Ryan McAllister thanks to Liisten.com.  Ryan McAllister is from Vancouver.  Vancouver is a city in the Pacific Northwest.  Six degrees of Kevin Bacon, if you will.


After listening to McAllister's album a few times, this track seems to jump out at me the most.  It speaks of the fleeting nature of life and the situations we each face here on Earth.  Some of us wander, some of us stay more or less in one place; some of us shine brightly, some flicker softly.  Yet all of us are allotted only so many days... we each have a path to travel, and it's a glorious adventure along the way.


WINDING ROAD by rymcallister


Get 2 free tracks and stream Ryan's full album on Liisten.com!


"if the sun should call my name toward some far horizon

then I will follow every flame until the sun burns out..."

8-31-11 - "Someone Like You" ~ Adele

If you haven't heard Adele sing yet, get on it.  If you have and don't like it... you have different musical taste than I.  I refuse to criticize people's musical taste, having had a few bad experiences on one side or the other of that in the past and having come to realize that there's something for everyone - different strokes for different folks, if you will.  But I definitely would encourage you to give her a shot, or another shot.


As great as her more upbeat, poppy tracks that are all over the radio may be, her ballads are what really hit the spot for me.  The soulful vocals ensnare you, and the heart-on-sleeve lyrics will either bring to mind personal experience or cause you to empathize with a girl who thought she had found the one, only to discover that he thought differently.  The key to the song is that while she still has feelings for the man who moved on, she's come to realize that even though it didn't work out with him, there's someone out there who will be what she thought she had with this chap.


You know by now that I'm a sucker for the piano songs, so that's just one more thing I like about this:

And here's a live performance (with a little exposition):

"Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead..."