Random punk/indie covers

:: Download Random Covers ::

This post is a little different than I've done before. It's actually a collaboration I've done with my buddy IRememberNothing. Together we've assembled a collection of cover songs. But wait. There's more! In an effort to enhance the listening experience for our audience, we even did some research on each one. After hours of digging, we made some fascinating discoveries. Read below for the REAL story behind each cover. Enjoy!

A Perfect Circle – Imagine (John Lennon)
After falling in love with the song 'Stinkfist', Yoko Ono knew exactly who she wanted to sing her late husband's song "Imagine." At the time he was approached by Yoko, Maynard James Keenan was working with his side project A Perfect Circle. He was more than happy to sing the song for Yoko.

A Perfect Circle - Let's Have a War (Fear)
After being blown away by an infamous performance by Fear on Saturday Night Live, he's always wanted to cover one of their songs.

AFI - Demonomania (the Misfits)
Before turning AFI into the worst glam wannabe punk band ever, Davey Havok knew what good music was. What happened?

AFI - The Hanging Garden (the Cure)
In hopes to get the attention of The Cure's Robert Smith, Davey Havok decided to cover one his songs. Robert was somewhat impressed until Davey admitted he planned on turning the band into the worst glam wannabe punk ever. At least Adam Carson didn't need help with the drumming.

AFI - Jack the Ripper (Morrissey)
After attending a drag competition in South Beach, Miami, Davey Havoc was walking along the beach when he was attacked by a deranged British man named Jack who mistook Davey for a prostitute. Fortunately, Morrissey passed by at that very instant. Wearing mossy oak fatigues and sporting a "We Are the Quarry"-era machine gun and, he posed a menacing figure, scaring away Jack and saving Davey to the rejoicing of his fans.

Anberlin - There is A Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths)
What Christian band would cover The Smiths? Exactly.

At The Drive In - This Night Has Opened My Eyes (the Smiths)
One hot afternoon, the members of At the Drive In were in their tour bus combing each other's afros to pass the time on the long drive to Arkansas. Cedric was reading the news of the world and found a story about Morrissey. While playing a show, Morrissey was hit by a water bottle and stormed off in tears. Cedric was deeply moved by the singer's heroic sacrifice on stage and longed to pay tribute to the Moz. He hoped that their band could play alongside Morrissey. They would show Morrissey how to handle unruly fans! Cedric decided to cover his favorite Smiths song in his unearthly, quavering voice to get Morrissey’s attention.

Braid - My Life (Billy Joel)
Bob Nanna, the lead singer of Braid, has been an alcoholic since the age of 4. While boozing on his favorite beverage, Wild Irish Rose, he thought to himself, "who else is an alcoholic?" Then it hit him, Billy Joel! Then he thought, "Man, I really like Billy, maybe I should cover one of my favorites from him." The rest is history.

Braid – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths)
The members of Braid were hiding from the rain in a darkened underpass. They were discouraged, having just experienced one of the worst performances of their career. Thanks to a typo by the venue's agent when advertising the show, the crowd had expected them to be the female "hip-pop" act the Braids. The unruly crowd wasn't expecting such dynamic and complex music and furiously booed the band off the stage. To inspire his fellow band members, Bob Nanna began singing a song by the Smiths, one of their chief musical influences. It didn't help much, but everyone joined in an affectionate group hug for the chorus.

Braid - This Charming Man (the Smiths)
Bob Nanna developed a love for the Smiths at an early age. On the way to the hospital, his mother birthed him on the smooth leather of the passenger seat while "This Charming Man" played on the radio.

Cake - I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Recovering from a break-up with Winona Ryder, John McCrea decided it was time to prove he was no longer a broken man.

Deftones - Drive (the Cars)
While thinking of a bonus track for the album "Saturday Night Wrist," Chino Moreno decided to check out how often their music is played on Zune Social. He soon discovered they were being grouped with bands like KoRn and Limp Bizkit. This really drove Chino crazy and he began to sing "She Drives Me Crazy" by the Fine Young Cannibals. This brought to mind "Drive" by the Cars. The rest is history.

Deftones - No Ordinary Love (Sade)
Expressing their softer side, Deftones felt compelled to do this cover after watching the Notebook and weeping for hours on end when the movie ended.

Friction - Hybrid Moments (the Misfits)
While playing a venue in Lodi New Jersey, Robert Nanna wanted to pay tribute to one of their local bands.

Galaxie 500 - Ceremony (Joy Division)
Waking from an uncanny dream, Dean Wareham had the next song for their album "On Fire". He quickly rounded up the band and began to jam. To this day, he still thinks he is the original composer.

Gary Jules - Mad World (Tears for Fears)
After attending an all-night psychedelic mushroom party, Gary Jules claims to have been visited by a time-travelling rabbit named Frank. Together, they jammed 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds to 80s hits with Gary on an old piano and the rabbit playing tenor saxophone. Unfortunately, most of this legendary performance was lost except for their cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World". Can you hear the saxophone? No one can. But Gary stubbornly swears it's there in the mix.

Hey Mercedes - The Promise (When In Rome)
When in Rome, Do As the Romans Do. That's what Robert Nanna always says. When in a good band, do good covers, just as Robert and the rest of the guys decided here.

Jimmy Eat World - Half Right (Heatmiser)
When lead singer Jim Atkins experimented with the fad Atkins diet, the only thing that kept him from binging on all the carbs in the Sam's Club bread aisle was the songs of Elliot Smith and his band Heatmiser. Jim Atkins was suddenly comprehending the cryptic despair in Smith's songs and his agonizing battle over addiction. (Minus the $1,200 a day spent on cocaine and heroin, of course.)

The Killers - Shadowplay (Joy Division)
Being quite the anglophile, Brandon Flowers decided it was time to do a cover. Not just any cover, a Joy Division cover. Why you ask? Who knows, ask Brandon.

Lifetime - Money (Embrace)
Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, Lifetime was able to express their displeasure with snobby, mainstream bands while knocking out a cover of one of their favorite bands.

Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls (Joy Division)
Using influences from the home of the Sharon Tate murders, Trent Reznor was able to channel the spirit of Ian Curtis to bring forth the best Joy Division cover ever made.

Rammstein – Stripped (Depeche Mode)
Till Lindermann and the other members of the industrial act Rammstein are natives of the progressive, free-thinking society of Germany. Unfortunately, the freedoms they enjoy in their homeland are often not supported by other societies. They forgot this fact in the United States when they decided to go streaking together through a nursing home while spanking each other playfully and belting out Depeche Mode songs. While this avant-garde behavior would have garnered the praise of German grandmothers, it brought American grandmothers to tears and a night in jail for the band.

Ryan Adams – Wonderwall (Oasis)
During a break from touring, Ryan Adams was spending a night with Jack Daniels and the cousins. They decided to watch Alice in Wonderland. After the movie finished, they tried to collaborate on a song about Wonderland, but they were too drunk to concentrate. They ended up singing Oasis songs that made them cry, which, strangely, made for a hauntingly beautiful take on "Wonderwall".

Seaweed - Warsaw (Joy Division)
Shattering his ankle during a Nut Cracker performance, Aaron Stauffer knew his ballet career was over. Down but not defeated, he wanted to try his hand at singing. After finding the elements needed for the band, a band name was needed. Sitting around the ganja filled hookah, band-mate Wade Neal said aloud, “How about Seaweed?” “I mean, it’s like two totally random words but two totally awesome words together as one!” The other band-mates agreed with this random suggestion and decided their first song must be a cover. Band-mate Clint Werner exclaimed, “I got it! Since we’re on this whole ‘two random words’ kick, how about “Warsaw” from Joy Division?”

Stars - This Charming Man (the Smiths)
Torquil Campbell's cover of "This Charming Man" is at once detached and elegant, an excellent example of his musical and performing talent. Born in Sheffield, England to theatre actor parents, he followed in their footsteps as a charming actor in roles such as a teenage prostitute in Philp Seymour Hoffman's play "Shopping and Fucking" and guest appearances on Sex and the City.

Straylight Run - With God On Our Side (Bob Dylan)
It was prom night, and John Nolan and the band were drinking soco amaretto lime cocktails and planning the final setlist for their gig at Baldwin High. Michelle suggested that, to please the crowd, they should steer away from moody piano soundscapes and concentrate on angsty teen songs about Jude Law. Angered by this suggestion, John ordered the band to do something noble and cover an old Bob Dylan song to protest American politics and xenophobic holy war.

Tool - No Quarter (Led Zeppelin)
Maynard James Keenan is known for his pursuit in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At one point, before Tool, he was a cage fighter. His theme song was Led Zeppelin, No Quarter. Coincidence? I think not.

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
In the 90s, Tori's favorite scent for male deodorant was Teen Spirit. During this time, she turned down Kurt Cobain's advances for a strapping young wrestler who loved to wear singlets completely doused in Teen Spirit. Tori exposed this wrestler to her music and influenced him to start his own band. Fulfilling her wishes, the former-wrestler-turned-crooner, Scott Stapp, started the band Creed in Tallahassee, Florida. Tori's only regret was that Kurt was not there to witness how much his music had influenced an entire generation of angry jock rockers.

With Hands Extended to the Rising Sun

His feet ached from walking; his back was sore from all the weight it had carried. Sad but spellbound, he watched the relentless wind carry the fallen petals and marshmallow ashes until they were lost in the empty but gorgeous sky. It was a misty night. Something about it smelled like fancy and elegance. The sparks rising from the embers were quickly extinguished by the mist. Soon, everything faded to pitch darkness, except the ground which was as pale as a vampire's skin. The world was utterly silent. He felt eerie but too exhausted to be overwhelmed by the fear. He lay on the cold, damp ground with his hands extended to the east. The certainty of the coming dawn and the rising sun soothed the tiny, throbbing vessels in his chest. His eyes closed slowly.

With Hands Extended to the Rising Sun
::Full Album:: [zip] (60 minutes)
01. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
02. Phoenix - Lasso
03. Skank - Garota Nacional
04. Animal Collective - Brother Sport
05. Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move
06. Mew - Introducing Palace Players
07. Silversun Pickups - There's No Secrets This Year
08. Leslie Feist + Ben Gibbard - Train Song
09. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
10. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
11. Imogen Heap - First Train Home
12. Bloc Party - Signs
13. Mates of State - My Only Offer
14. Frightened Rabbit - Keep Yourself Warm
15. Iron & Wine - Belated Promise Ring

(bonus)
::Side A:: [zip]
16. Ana Carolina e Seu Jorge - É Isso Aí
17. the Anniversary - All Things Ordinary
18. Beirut - My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille
19. Cine - Garota Radical
20. A Day To Remember - Over My Head (The Fray cover)
21. The Devil Wears Prada - Sassafras
22. FilterFunk - S.O.S. (Message In A Bottle) (Hi Track radio edit)
23. Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane remix ft. Au Revoir Simone)

::Side B:: [zip]
24. Led Zeppelin - Misty Mountain Hop
25. Los Campesinos! - My Year in Lists
26. Lovedrug - Down Towards the Healing
27. Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance
28. Mew - Sometimes Life Isn't Easy
29. Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
30. Owl City - Fireflies
31. Passion Pit - Little Secrets

::Side C:: [zip]
32. Search The City - Son Of A Gun
33. Shakira - Loba
34. Sufjan Stevens - There's Too Much Love (live)
35. Switchfoot - This Is Home
36. Umbrellas - Boston White
37. Vampire Weekend - Exit Music (For a Film)
38. Van She - Kelly (Cut Copy Remix)

DJ Mac - Glassy-Hearted Longings

Inhale. This summer night is special. It conceals within its dark folds a peculiar sense of magical mystery. It is a blanket that shelters sun-drenched sand and skin. But, it is also a siren that urgently wails for help in the distance. Once the evening breeze chases away the afternoon heat, this summer night begs you to dance on the beach and then go running under the stars until civilization is a tiny glowing dot on the horizon. The journey starts out with some poppy dance grooves that get stuck in your head like the sand in your ears. The journey transitions into starlight with some edgy house beats. As the world grows darker and the sky grows brighter, the soundtrack drifts into blissful, progressive melodies. You're exhausted and collapse with your back to the ground and your face to the zenith above you. Your heart is pounding from the exertion so much that it shatters into a thousand tiny puzzle pieces of glass. Each crack in the glass slowly fills up with light pouring from the molten sky. A sigh escapes from your lips, not in pain but in relief. You are at peace. Finally. But don't get up just yet; wait. Be content to stay and relax a while in that entrancing state between wakefulness and sleep.

Glassy-Hearted Longings
Side A [zip file, 59.1 MB]
1. MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix)
2. Milky - Just the Way You Are (Original FM Cut)
3. D.O.N.S. - You Used to Hold Me (TV Rock Remix Edit)
4. Kate Ryan - Ella elle l'a (Bodybangers remix)
5. Dave Spoon & Paul Harris ft Sam Obernik - Batitude
6. Dani Moreno - I Wanna Be Free
7. DJ Pearl & Last Vegas feat. Jeremy Carr - Sexy Girl (Malibu Breeze Remix Edit)

Side B [zip file, 82.9 MB]
8. Jan Driver - Kardamoon (Victor Magan remix)
9. Deadmau5 - Slip
10. Tall Paul & Dave Aude - Common Ground (Original Club mix)
11. Bad Boy Bill Featuring Alyssa Palmer - Falling Anthem (Hervé's We Are A Beautiful Disaster Remix)
12. John Acquaviva - Sofa King (Original Mix)
13. Tocadisco - Morumbi
14. Sharam - The One (feat. Daniel Bedingfield)

Side C [zip file, 81.1 MB]
15. Liz Kay - You're Not Alone (Original Mix)
16. Robert Burian - Orion (Original Mix)
17. Dankann & Aqua Diva - I Keep Breathing (Return From Paradise Vocal Mix)
18. Deadmau5 & Kaskade - I Remember (Vocal Edit)
19. Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool (Thin White Duke Remix)
20. Jon Hopkins - Light Through The Veins*

   *The theme for this one is the basis for Coldplay's Life In Technicolor

Canzoni libere! Comincate la rivoluzione!

The crowded bus drove up the steep mountain road, its diesel engine busily panting out fumes. In the back a traveler named Gary sat, his head leaning against the window. With his eyes half-closed, he was day-dreaming and thoughtfully absorbing the unfamiliar scenery outside. Three girls next to him were chattering energetically in their own language. They were talking so quickly that he could not understand what they were saying. But Gary was happy. He had finally escaped the smothering comfort zone of the capital city overrun by boisterous tourists. Besides, not being forced to comprehend every conversation around him made the long ride peaceful and relaxing.

One of the girls reached into a backpack and pulled out a battery-powered radio. She turned the switch and adjusted the volume. Immediately, the back of the bus was filled with loud music. It was slightly static but clearly recognizable as the worse American pop song Gary had ever heard. Gary curled into the fetal position and silently howled in agony.

Over the next few hours, poor Gary valiantly tried to ignore the words and music buzzing in his ears. He fiercely kicked himself because he had forgotten to bring ear plugs. When the batteries in the girl's radio finally ran out after eight hours, Gary almost cried with happiness...

Sure, pop music from the US isn't all that bad. But, it's unfortunate that most mainstream music around the world is dominated by American artists, especially manufactured artists that aren't exactly too talented or original.

Well, to help the situation, here are some good songs by international artists. Since the songs are international, most of the lyrics aren't in English. But that adds a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them even better. Yes? Claro que si!

:: Canzoni Libere :: [zip, 188MB]

Details:
Brasilian
Skank - É Uma Partida De Futebol
Bebel Gilberto - Aganjú
Bebel Gilberto - Um Segundo
João Gilberto - La Garota de Ipanema
MC Marcinho - Rap Glamourosa
Sergio Mendes - Berimbau/Consolacao
Sergio Mendes - Magalenha
Sergio Mendes - Mas Que Nada ft. Black Eyed Peas
Seu Jorge - Carolina
Seu Jorge - Convite para Vida
Vanessa da Mata - Ai ai ai...
Vanessa da Mata - Não Me Deixe Só
Wonkavision - O Ímpar Perfeito

Colombian
Sonora Carruseles – Micaela

Danish
Alphabeat - Fascination
Mew - 156

Eire (Irish)
Lasairfhíona - Bímse Féin Ag Iascaireacht
Lasairfhíona - Damhsa na gCoiníní

Español
Antonio Carmona - Ay De Ti
Astrud - El Vertedero De Sâo Paulo
La Buena Vida - En Bicicleta
Mala Rodriguez - Nanai
Mala Rodriguez - Yo Marco El Minuto

Français
Indochine - Electrastar
Indochine - Popstitute

日本 (Japanese)
Puffy AmiYumi - Tokyo I'm On My Way
TM Revolution - Heart of Sword

Русские (Russian)
Glukoza Nostra - Schweine
Катя Чехова - Я робот
Ленинград - Nikogo ne zhalko

Scottish
Julie Fowlis - Hùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir

And... if you've got any international song favorites, let me know!

Songs to celebrate Carnaval!

Happy Carnaval, everyone! While most of us weren't able to make it down to Brasil for the festivities, here are some latin songs to make you feel like you were there, dancing through the streets in outrageous costumes.

Español:
Miguel Yamba Karamba - Salsa con candela
Franklin Veloz - A Bailar la Rumba
Bio Ritmo - Hermano
Pink Martini - Donde Estas, Yolanda?
Eddy Santiago - Loco Por Tu Amor
Puerto Rican Power - Se Ven Bonitas
Croma Latina - Baila y Toca


Português:
Caetano Veloso - Irene
Os Mutantes - Quem Tem Medo De Brincar De Amor
Cansei Der Ser Sexy - Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex
Seu Jorge - Rebel, Rebel

Brand New (with live mp3s!)

Brand New
With Thrice and mewithoutYou
The NorVa, 30 Nov 2007

     I saw the King at the NorVa last Friday, I swear. No, not the Burger King, but Elvis. Really, that Elvis, the decadent rock n' roll pioneer from back in the era when my dad was riding tricycles with kids that looked like Theodore "Leave it to Beaver" Cleaver. Elvis was cleverly disguised as the much younger Jesse Lacey, singer of Brand New. He thought he fooled everyone. That is, everyone who didn't notice him sing the line, "No matter what they say, I am still the King". See, I wasn't fooled!

     On stage, Jesse did act like he was the King. It is true that the band and he are talented, but he maintained an air of superiority that a Hollywood celebrity would have. Understandably, the band has been touring for years and has built a significant, non-corporate fan-base. Relentless touring is stressful for a band to the point that performing loses its charm. Their performance on Friday was evident of this stress in that the performance, while physically energetic, seemed hollow at times.
     The performance focused mainly on their recent album The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. With the songs on this album, Jesse and the band are caught in a midlife crisis of sorts. Without getting too far into a tangential album review, their latest material departs entirely from the raw angst of Your Favorite Weapon and elaborately expands the range of imagery in Déjà Entendu.  The Devil... is complex and mature. While this progression to maturity with the past three albums is logical and demonstrates the diversity and creativity of the band, it also shows their limit. It is difficult to try to be complex and profound while avoiding theatrical arrangements and pretentious lyrics. Brand New began as a raw punk band that is now seeking to achieve timelessness. Jesse probably wonders now if he will truly be great, like Neil Young, Robert Smith, or Morrissey.

     Great lead singers are arrogant but they have earned the right to be. Jesse is still not badass enough to get away with ending the concert with looped variations on an untitled track from their most recent album. It was an anti-climatic ending. I would have rather extended mewithoutYou's short 25-minute set and skipped the Brand New encore.
     Even though Jesse Lacey won't ever be this generation's Bruce Springsteen, the concert was loads of fun. I was two-steppin' the whole time. For those that missed out on the concert as well as those who want to relive the magical moments, here are some highlights from Brand New's set. It was recorded and carefully edited by an anonymous friend of mine. Thanks again, anonymous friend!

- Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
- Sic Transit Gloria
- Millstone
- You Won't Know

And two random studio Brand New Songs:
- Mixtape
- Fork And Knife

The two opening bands mewithYou and Thrice put on better shows than Brand New's. I will post highlights from their sets as soon as I get the files.

Travel Music Mix

I traveled abroad recently, and the experience of feeling happily adventurous, occasionally lost, and slightly smaller was invigorating. During the journey on the road and in the air, I had plenty of hours to semi-consciously listen to songs perfectly related to travel. I also had plenty of time to relax on the Mediterranean coast and serenely enjoy music perfectly applicable to my surroundings. A selection of this music is below:

(Click on song titles to download)

1. Anberlin - Uncanny
   
2. the Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
   
3. Loney, Dear - The City, The Airport (CSS remix)
   
4. Audio Bullys - I'm in Love
   
5. Calvin Harris - Girls
   
6. Lester - Chocolate
   
7. Brazilian Girls - Last Call
   
8. Minus the Bear - Absinthe Party At the Fly Honey Warehouse
   
9. Counting Crows - Holiday in Spain
   
10. Broken Social Scene - Our Faces Split the Coast in Half
    
11. Stars - The Night Starts Here
    
12. Rosie Thomas - Much Farther To Go (ft. Sufjan Stevens)
    
13. Snow Patrol - An Olive Grove Facing The Sea
    

For something more electronic, a few highlights from the electronica/dance charts in Spain will be posted soon.

My Bloody Valentine (album review)

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
(Creation Records, 1991)

     The exotic tropical paradise of La Habana in Cuba is preparing for the onslaught of a major hurricane. As the wind gusts in from the bay, two young tourists that are probably American are suspiciously dangling their legs over the seawall. Although the Navy Seal floating invisibly in the water might suspect they are traitors, betraying the free world by looking for a unique cultural experience and high quality cigars, the two are mostly harmless. Even though they are both scruffy-looking, they have gorgeous haircuts. As they sip their mojitos, they argue animatedly:

     Wearing a Velvet Underground T-shirt, Stefan is boasting, "I'm so avant garde, I have an original cassette copy of LL Cool J's first LP."

     "That's nothing. I saw Grandmaster Flash spin records back before I was even born." Kevin grins triumphantly in his black Joy Division T-shirt.

     Stephan throws his worn copy of an obscure Hemingway book at Kevin, "Well, I have a vinyl of every Niagra record on German import and a white label of every seminal Detroit techno hit."

     Kevin is too excited to acknowledge the LCD Soundsystem reference. "Come on, don't you remember my parents named me for Kevin Shields?"

     "Who the hell is Kevin Shields?"

     "Oh my gosh, you've just lost major cool points, my friend. He's just the guitarist of My Bloody Valentine, the one who signed my Fender Jazzmaster. How could you forget his name?"

     Stefan hangs his head in shame.

     Since the 1991 release of their second LP Loveless [buy], My Bloody Valentine has not only useful for winning annoying name-dropping arguments, but also for causing reviewers to rave, giving a place for Loveless on many significant Best Albums lists. What at first is confusing about the enthusiastic acclaim for the album is that it seems like a mess, a muddy chaos of heavily-filtered guitar drowning out the indiscernible vocals. The music is sluggish like water in a muddy pond. The songs often do not progress cleanly or resolve comfortably.
     But just as pond water beneath the microscope reveals intricate, fascinating life, so Loveless unfolds into an immersive world of sound. The album is not a collection of songs; it is more like a painting that requires thoughtful examination to fully appreciate its colors, its textures, and its meaning. One of the differences between music and traditional visual art is unlike a painting which begins as a whole that the eye deconstructs and conceptualizes, an ordinary musical piece usually begins as a sequential order of tones that creates a whole in the form of a melody recognizable by the ear. However, in the hand of musical geniuses such as Kevin Shields on Loveless, music becomes a unified whole more than a melody simply manufactured from the humble building blocks of notes and chords. It becomes timeless, free from the restraints of progression. Loveless transforms these traditional musical building blocks, wrapping guitar chords in lush sustain effects so that the chords swirl together in a synergy fused into a single blazing star set against the background of dreamy vocals by Shields and fellow band-member Bilinda Butcher.

     Regardless of the medium, masterpieces have the ability to captivate their audience. With enough volume and enough patience, Loveless can overwhelm the listener to the point of speechlessness:

(download)
:: Only Shallow ::
:: To Here Knows When ::
:: When You Sleep ::
:: I Only Said ::
:: Blown a Wish ::

Summer Mixtape '07

Here is a fantastic summer mix I just made for a friend. The songs are not all cutting edge 2007 ones, but each one is spot-on and personally guaranteed to be 100% organic and fresh or your money back.

Highlights from the quirky but brilliant band They Might Be Giants' latest release the Else:
Take Out The Trash, Upside Down Frown

Bob Sinclar's 2006 body-moving house anthem with vaguely hopeful lyrics:
World Hold On

Sassy electro pop from Californian band Shiny Toy Guns:
Stripped (Depeche Mode cover), Le Disko

Panda Bear is the solo name of Animal Collective drummer Noah Lennox. His ethereal collages of catchy hooks scrambled with abstract ambiance sound unmistakably like sunny Beach Boys harmonies:
Good Girl/Carrots

It is the embodiment of commercialized and egotistic hip-hop, but likable in a true ironic way:
Clipse - Dirty Money

Air Traffic is an independent rock band from Bournemouth (the happiest place in England). Their latest single has impassioned falsetto vocals, energetic drums, and heart-warming piano chords:
Shooting Star

Influenced by the emotive music of 90s pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate, the Appleseed Cast inundate the ear with intricate guitar and rhythm parts that transcend melody as the focal point:
Fishing The Sky

The climatic duet from the 2006 Irish movie Once about a lonely street musician in Dublin who meets an inspiring Czech girl who loves his music:
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly

A glorious aria from one of the most famous operas ever, Puccini's La bohème:
Sì, mi chiamano Mimì

A soothing resolution to the confusion that was Spiderman 3, played over the ending credits:
Snow Patrol - Signal Fire

Melankton (album review)

Kate Havnevik - Melankton
Continentica Records, 2007 (US)

For those who are blissfully irrelevant to the ABC medical "dramedy" Grey's Anatomy and apathetic to its waning wit, Kate Havnevik happens to be the resident musician for the show's soundtrack. Avid followers of the show rave about scenes such as the characters Grey and Shepherd's momentous tryst in the season two finale while Havnevik's exclusively-composed song "Grace" plays in the background. The show has also featured five of her other songs throughout other episodes.

To avoid pigeonholing Kate Havnevik any further into the background music for one American television show, she is a classically-trained Norwegian musician and singer. A native of Olso, Norway, she currently bases out of the UK. Her enthralling voice may be familiar to fans of Norwegian trip-hop duo Röyksopp since she has done the supporting vocals on two of their songs from The Understanding [buy] including the wistful "Only This Moment" which she co-wrote. She has also collaborated with British producer Guy Sigsworth to do supporting vocals on the stellar song "Someday (I Will Understand)" by the internationally-renowned songstress Britney Spears. Fortunately for her reputation, after much pleading, Kate persuaded Guy Sigsworth to work with her on more worthwhile endeavors with her own voice at the forefront. Not coincidentally, her collaborative pieces with Guy are reminiscent of Björk and Imogen Heap (Frou Frou), who have also worked with Guy Sigsworth.

Featuring three of Havenik's collaborations with Guy Sigsworth, Melankton [buy] is her debut album, finally released in the States this March. The album swirls in a blend of refined classical pop, and spacey trip-hop. Throughout the album, the dynamic is simultaneously deliberate and delicate. Subtly, the album betrays an underlying chill that is icy but refreshing like this delicious recipe for peach gelato. In an unfortunate endeavor, expansive orchestration offsets this chill with organic accompaniment. Although elegant, this accompaniment borders on being too pervasive, lingering in many conservatively pastoral moments.

Aside from these sluggish arrangements and often nondescript lyrics, Havnevik's hushed vocals fortunately salvage the album, starting with the album's first track, "Unlike Me". A fitting opener, it begins with a pensive verse and steadily builds to a pithy chorus that mourns "There is no time..." The graceful arpeggios of a harp assist in the orchestral accompaniment which is appropriately understated since the song is a collaboration with the previously-mentioned producer Guy Sigsworth. "You Again", another of the Sigsworth-Havnevik collaborations, showcases more of Havnevik's vocals and has a more intimate feel than the opening track. To aid in the song's earnestness, a flute whispers a riveting introduction and evokes an atmospheric mood that continues into the rest of the song. Appropriately preventing the song's ambiance from being too monotonous, the flute accented by fresh-sounding violins played pizzicato blooms in a trembling interlude to the entreating melody. Kate's voice exhibits its best potential toward the end of the album with the lush, seven minute "New Day". It commences with strings humming a wandering theme that soon unites with Havnevik's voice and quirky electronic beats for a symphonic euphoria, the album's high point.

Amid these cryptic laments, heartwarming pleas, and surreal reveries, Melankton sheepishly tries to hide a few embarrassing low points. "Not Fair" pouts away in a prosaic depression that, with a little imagination, could be sung by Celine Dion. While "Suckerlove" does not sound as stale, its introduction is abrupt, seemingly incomplete. The song proceeds lethargically, awkwardly languishing in a forgettable melodrama. Equally forgettable is "Solo", included on the US version of the album anticlimactically after "New Day". Obviously, it is an b-side and an afterthought. Simplistic and acoustic, it is innocuous, great material for an easy-listening radio station.

Despite its low points, Melankton is otherwise a fascinating work. It soothes and relaxes, creating an ideal setting for, say, a cool summer evening. It displays solid imagery that is captivating and almost eerie at times. Protests that the album is unoriginal and unadventurous quickly become extinguished in the album's dreamy mist that causes the listener to become happily lost in the unfamiliar magic of night.

More songs

The Italian equivalent of Norah Jones, Amalia Grè has a voice that is playful and light:
"Armonafrica Televisiva"

"La Camisa Negra" is a distinctively melodic Latin pop song by the Columbian musician Juanes.

Neon Bible (album review)

Guess what? A brand-new Arcade Fire album review in time for St. Hallmark's Day. I've listened to this album over seven times so far, and haven't grown sick of it yet. So here are my thoughts on it:

Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Merge Records, 2007 [buy]

     Fire is one of the fundamental physical elements. In legend, it was cleverly stolen by Prometheus from the gods and given to mankind who yearned to have access to fire's tremendous power. Its fearsome potential to both destroy and create was first worshiped by mystical alchemists and later harnessed by scientific industrialists to transform the world in many ways, unfortunately often manifested by the uniquely-human characteristic to destroy. But even in destruction, fire can be an inspiration. Whoever or whatever started a fire in an arcade somewhere deserves the gratitude of the music world for inspiring the name of the band Arcade Fire. Like Prometheus before them, the band members of Arcade Fire, led by husband and wife team Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, channel the fire of the gods to forge ingenious compositions they generously bestow upon humanity.

     Of late, humanity, especially in the UK and North America, seems to be eagerly receiving Arcade Fire, for their live shows are selling out minutes after tickets go on sale. Seeing such success for a band made famous solely by word-of-mouth, many are simplistically labeling Arcade Fire as a recent "underground phenomenon" and drawing glib comparisons between them and bands such as Joy Division, Roxy Music and Neutral Milk Hotel. But these left-brained attempts to categorize them by their musical influences, analyze their tonal dynamics or quantify their diverse instrumental capability fall incredibly short of describing the magic that is contained within their music. Dispensing with distracting facts, one must experience their immersive music first-hand and allow the soul to be overcome by the complex range of emotion the music creates.

     Neon Bible, Arcade Fire's second and latest full-length release, is awash with such expressive feeling. The predominant mood is a sincere thoughtfulness that sometimes glows with hope and sometimes broods in sorrow. The front album artwork appropriately captures the essence of this mood with its bright neon lights forming the outline of a book in a starkly contrast to a dark backdrop. Perhaps the dark backdrop is the more comforting of the two. "No Cars Go", a song re-recorded from Arcade Fire's 2003 EP Us Kids Know, as the title suggests, evokes a serenity that shuts out the clamor of modern civilization. The song lulls the listener to sleep, an escape from garish light pollution and shoving crowds to the dreamworld with its gentle darkness.
     Amid the crooning lullabies and soaring chorals, Neon Bible manages to tastefully interweave pointed social criticisms. Alluding to faceless fear and greedy exploitation of innocents, the swaggering "Antichrist Television Blues" targets a society often overcome by sensationalism and hysteria. Rumor has it that the original title of the song was "Joe Simpson", a reference to Joe Truett Simpson's monetization of his daughters Ashley and Jessica Simpson. In a similar criticism of American culture, "Windowsill" is a subtle march of guitar and drums over which Win protests "I don't wanna fight in the holy war... I don't wanna live in America no more". The atmosphere builds tension, until violins, trumpets, and a choir combine for a powerful resolution. On the strangely triumphant "Intervention" a pipe organ breathing reverent chords is a pronounced contrast to Win whose voice mourns the hypocrisy of organized religion especially in the United States with the refrain "Working for the church while my family dies".
     Though Neon Bible has these somber moments, it leaves sufficient room for uplifting ones. Clever lyrics with political commentary are, in reality, simply a detour from the highest musical points that awaken with transcendent hope. The track "Keep The Car Running" generates such hope, starting out with sparkling strings that transform into a whimsical blur of motion. Led by the foot-stomping rhythm section, the sun-tinged song seems to recklessly careen along a windy coastline road.

      With all its gradual progressions and thorough arrangements, Neon Bible lacks instant satisfaction. Most, if not all, of its songs require patience and thought to fully enjoy. They are not disconnected pop jingles to be shot into a vein yielding an intense high that is promptly over in a couple minutes. Ultimately, having the patience to comprehend the full depth of the songs is more than rewarding. Though, the album could have showcased Régine's lovely voice more prominently than it did.
      Writing six paragraphs about Arcade Fire without mentioning their previous album Funeral [buy] is almost a feat of objective brilliance. However, no mention would seem an oversight. Perhaps it is simply a delusion of subjective familiarity, but a certain cherished copy of the album is begging to be removed from its sleeve. It is dying to spin out its interconnected melodies--its cries on "Laïka", its meditations on "Une Année Sans Lumière" and its call for revolution on "Rebellion (Lies)". In a contest between Funeral and Neon Bible, Funeral would prevail--more cohesion, more Régine, and more French. Simply put, if buying one of the two albums, buy Funeral. But, if possible, please do not hesitate to buy both albums, prime examples of artistic rock that is not so self-obsessed that is forgets to to be personable.

Sufjan Stevens at the Kennedy Center

It was awesome, I was lucky enough to get tickets near the front to the performance of...

Sufjan Stevens
Kennedy Center, 05 Feb 2007

      The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC celebrated the tenth anniversary of their Millennium Stage concert series yesterday evening. The celebration consisted of a set of four free engagements, concluding with an exclusive show featuring the folksinger Sufjan Stevens supported by members of the Opera House Orchestra. Judging from the people who camped out in the ticket line for up to eighteen hours last week, Sufjan’s performance was the most popular of the four.

      While waiting for the show to begin, the “urban-casual” Sufjan crowd mingled in the enormous Grand Foyer merging with attendees of the previous performances who were often wearing suits or evening gowns. A good deal of the crowd ambled upstairs to the terrace level, where the atmosphere was especially festive with an abundance of free desserts and two chocolate fountains all sponsored by a national retail chain.
      At 8:30, the concert staff opened the doors to the Opera House auditorium. Inside, while it contained seating for 2,300 people, the auditorium was not overwhelmingly expansive or opulent; rather, it seemed more intimate, with its sloped floor ideal for experiencing a live performance. Above the room, a Lobmeyr crystal chandelier from Austria hung from the domed ceiling. At the front, a distinctive red and gold silk curtain hung on the stage.
      After a greeting from Michael Kaiser, the president of the Kennedy Center, the curtain lifted from the stage to reveal conductor Rob Moose and orchestra seated to the left, and a grand piano and Sufjan Steven’s other supporting musicians to the right. Stevens entered the stage and abruptly bowed to the cheering crowd. Then, he sat down in front of the piano.     

      He began to play the first track from his well-known album Illinois “Concerning the UFO Sighting at Highland” a trembling piano and voice composition. This song fittingly blended into an instrumental piece with the orchestra called “The Black Hawk War…” the second track from Illinois [buy].
      Having finished the medley, the band stopped. Sufjan sipped some water and stood to speak for a minute, welcoming the crowd to the show. He proceeded to mention his home state Michigan to introduce the next song from his 2003 album about his home state Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State [buy]
      Suddenly, the vibrant song “Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head” filled the hall with its energetic arrangement and forceful rhythm that almost could have awakened the home of Motown from its economic hibernation. In the middle of this invigorating arrangement, the saxophonist Hideaki Aomori performed an impressive solo to further the awakening call.
      Having fully awakened the attending audience at least, Sufjan backed by Annie Clark's vocals soothed everyone’s mesmerized eardrums with the bittersweet acoustic-folk of “Casmir Pulaski Day”. The punctuated beat of “Dear Mr. Supercomputer” from the Avalanche [buy] followed, showcasing percussionist James Mcalister’s impressive ability on the drums. The live version was instrumental except for when Sufjan managed to sing over the accompaniment “1-2-3-4-5-6-7/All computers go to heaven” alluding to a line from the Beatles’ “You Never Give Me Your Money”.
      Immediately after the cacophonous conclusion of “Dear Mr. Supercomputer”, Sufjan segued into the guitar chords of “Predatory Wasp of Palisades”, and began singing its haunting melody. The orchestra soon joined in with delicate dissonance in an arrangement that was alternately calming and uplifting. This contrast was surprisingly surpassed by the breathtaking "Seven Swans" from the album with the same name, Seven Swans [buy]. The song began as a hushed mournful ballad which crescendoed to a dramatic chorus accompanied by James Mcalister's crashing cymbals, Sufjan's fiery piano chords, and Rob Moose's orchestra at a forte. Annie Clark passionately played along on the bass guitar to complete this dazzling soundscape impossible to reproduce on any artificial sound system.

      The finale "Majesty Snowbird" was equally astounding. It was a new, unreleased song that sounded far better as a live performance than as a bland bootleg recording. It climaxed triumphantly, with the instruments resounding all throughout the hall. The piano began to shake from the force of Sufjan's chords, and the floor itself began to shake from the colossal wall of sound.
      Disappointedly, "Majesty Snowbird" was the final song with no encore performance that could have been one of Sufjan's other outstanding songs like "Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", "They Are Night Zombies..." or "No Man's Land". Even without an encore, the concert was still unforgettable. Backed by a score of talented musicians, Sufjan performed the songs he did proficiently both instrumentally and vocally--even his live falsetto was strong.

      Towards the end of the set, Sufjan made a fitting comment that was easy for people to make music about the money, forgetting that music should be a gift for everyone to hear and experience. Accomplished musicians like Sufjan, who transcend the commercial music business by seeing music as an end in and of itself, are the ones that truly deserve the support of loyal fans.

Mew, Karen Overton, Sufjan Stevens, and more.

Lately, I haven't heard a good deal of good albums. It's not that there isn't anything good out there, just what I've liked recently is well-known. Albums like Mew's And the Glass-Handed Kites, and Brand New's The Devil and God are Raging inside Me. Additionally, though 21st-century post-hardcore has its weaknesses, I would post the incredible track "Memphis Will Be Laid To Waste" by Norma Jean but I don't have the file with me. If anyone else has it, would they post it in a comment, please?

I also have the duty to mention that the Shins' new album Wincing The Night Away is pretty good except the vocals sometimes sound empty or hollow. The first track "Sleeping Lessons" doesn't start out as powerfully as "Kissing the Lipless" [5.37 MB] did for the Shins' previous album Chutes Too Narrow . Since the album is being hyped "all over" the internet, I am too lazy to review what a thousand other people have already reviewed.

Finally, I have some recommendations:

:: On Spec - "Knights of Columbos" :: [19.69 MB]
This track falls under the genre of "Progressive House". When listening to the track, I realized that the chord structure was reminiscent of a song "Why Are You Looking Grave" by the indie rockers Mew. My suspicions were confirmed towards the end where "Knights of Columbos" samples the piano at the end of the Mew song.

:: Karen Overton - "Your Loving Arms" :: [9.78 MB]
Another Progressive House track, this track is my favorite from Tiësto's latest mix album In Search of Sunrise: 5.

Yes, I know it is difficult for the average American to appreciate the seeming repetition of European techno and its various deviations. Perhaps the blame for this negative perception should rest on clothing stores like Abercrombie who mostly play unsettling electronic dance music at full volume. Good electronica can be repetitive, but it subtly varies and progresses creating a driving forward motion that can be energetic and sexy or inspirational and meditative. A quality sound system helps, of course.

:: Sufjan Stevens - "Holy, Holy, Holy" :: [8.80 MB]
This is a sacred song reverently sung by the amazing Sufjan Stevens to an acoustic accompaniment.