Godspeed You! Black Emperor: Dead Flag Blues (Intro)

I feel like, with the close of 2013, this is more than apropos. Burn 2013 and what it had to offer--learn from it, but don't go back. Cheers to 2014, folks.

"the car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
and a dark wind blows

the government is corrupt
and we're on so many drugs
with the radio on and the curtains drawn

we're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
and the machine is bleeding to death

the sun has fallen down
and the billboards are all leering
and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

it went like this:

the buildings tumbled in on themselves
mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble
and pulled out their hair

the skyline was beautiful on fire
all twisted metal stretching upwards
everything washed in a thin orange haze

i said: "kiss me, you're beautiful -
these are truly the last days"

you grabbed my hand and we fell into it
like a daydream or a fever

we woke up one morning and fell a little further down -
for sure it's the valley of death

i open up my wallet
and it's full of blood"

Schlohmo remix of HAERTS: Wings

Schlohmo is an artist from Los Angeles, California, known to his mother as Henry Laufer. The 23-year-old producer  is a lo-fi beat junkie and field-recording enthusiast, whose crackling, low-BPM compositions update Boards of Canada’s filmstrip-soundtrack wooziness.

An LA native, Laufer grew up listening to “stuff like DJ Shadow, Amon Tobin, M83 stuff with some sort of cinematic vision.” He started making beats when he was 14, but “didn’t really do it with any sort of purpose until I was like 17 or 18. That was also around the time he and his friends, already fans of Flying Lotus, discovered Low End Theory.

The Dodos: The Season

The Dodos are an indie folk duo which formed in San Francisco, California in 2005. They consist of Meric Long (vocals, guitar) and Logan Kroeber (drums).

The Dodos began playing music together in 2005, when Meric Long, who had been gigging steadily along in San Francisco as a solo singer-songwriter, was introduced to Logan Kroeber through a mutual friend and resulted in an amazingly wonderful project.

The Front Bottoms: Twin Size Mattress

The Front Bottoms are a two-piece indie-pop acoustic band based out of New Jersey. The band was formed with three members in 2006: Brian Sella (vocals, guitar, lyricist), Brian Uychich (keyboard, vocals) and Matt Uychich (drums). However, in the year 2010 Brian Uychich left the band to concentrate on school full-time. Brian Uychich was replaced by Drew Villafuerte (bass, keys) 

Gentlemen HALL cover of Kendrick Lamar: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe

Gentlemen Hall is comprised of six individuals out to deliver pop songs wrapped in unique instrumentation. From flutes to vintage synthesizers, Gentlemen Hall is not a typical lineup of drums, vocals, bass, and drums. Based out of Boston, the band was originally just a group of friends with no intentions of making music together. Despite coming from completely different musical backgrounds, the sextet was drawn to the the sounds of common artists and found themselves incorporating the pulsing synth sounds of Depeche Mode, the hallucinatory topics and arrangements of the Flaming Lips, and eclecticism and unique vocal approach of David Bowie.

Little May: Hide

Little May is a Sydney-based indie-folk three-piece band, Little May creates expansive and intricate heart-warming harmonies which showcase the story-telling talents of Hannah Field, Liz Drummond and Annie Hamilton; Little May is the tale of three friends who are quickly making a name for themselves and winning hearts both locally and abroad. Little May is inspired by the likes of folk-loving friends: Fleetwood Mac, Mumford & Sons and Local Natives, the outfit make a notable nod to the likes of fem-folk trailblazers such as Julia Stone and Holly Throsby.

The second single "Hide" is a bit of a sneak peak from their forthcoming debut EP which is set for release in late 2013. Testament to Little May’s diversity, "Hide" is a darker, more intricate offering than the previous "Boardwalks".

Jack's Mannequin: Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)

Jack’s Mannequin began as a side-project of Andrew McMahon, who was the vocalist, pianist and main songwriter of the band Something Corporate but has now become his main project. The band is based in Orange County, California. The name Jack’s Mannequin originated from one of McMahon’s songs called Dear Jack, which was written about a friend of his whose brother was diagnosed with childhood leukemia. Andrew himself was diagnosed with leukemia, causing the concept to take on a whole new meaning.

I'll admit something to you. I haven't been as active of late because I literally hate the holidays. I don't think it's anything to do with the holidays as much as knowing that people are spending more and more time with the folks they love while I'm just doing my own thing, leading to some wonky sleep patterns,  Vitamin D deficiencies and long nights (in the worst way). Cheers to the holidays.

Winter Mitts: Le Paradis

Wintermitts is a genre-bending six-piece band from the rain-soaked left-hand corner of Vancouver, Canada. They're bilingual (at minimum), they rock out on trumpets and accordions, they waltz when they need to and they’re as absorbing (and as comforting!) as you’d hope a winter mitten would be.

The Neighbourhood: Sweater Weather

Stage: early 2012. A mysterious band appeared on the interwebs. The group, The Neighbourhood, revealed no bio, no photos nor backstory, offering only a moody track titled “Female Robbery.” Fans and the press were confounded confused and a little lost, endlessly sculling the net for any kernel of information that might lead them to the identity of these mysterious musicians. Pieces of the puzzle, some reflecting reality and some not so much, began to crystallize. The Neighbourhood were a quintet; They were from California--in spite of the Britishization of their name. Then, “Sweater Weather,” which had an accompanying — and equally dark — video.

Although The Neighbourhood’s identity remained in question, reality was that the music they were making felt transformative to critics and fans alike. The evocative combination of rock instruments with R&B and hip-hop aesthetics seemed, in many ways, revolutionary, a re-imagining of sounds that left everyone wanting MORE.

Stage: 2013. The Neighbourhood are an American alternative rock/dark pop band that formed in Newbury Park, California in August 2011. The band consists of members Jesse Rutherford, Riff Raff, Jeremy Freedman, Zach Abels, Mikey Margott, and Bryan Sammis.

Slow Magic remix of Sun Glitters: Too Much To Lose

I've raved about Slow Magic before, so I'll rave about Sun Glitters instead. Sun Glitters hails from Luxembourg and is an ocean of lush melodies, ghostly digi-diva choirs, pitch-shifted vocal samples, and warm bass melodies driven by alternately dense and relaxing beat-work combinations between down-tempo and wonky beats.

Firehorse: If You Don't Want To Be Alone

Firehorse is a project by Leah Siegel. The band includes Steve Elliot on guitar, Tim Luntzel on bass, and Brian Wolfe on drums.

"I'll build you a house
In the oak tree outside
You can come by
Whenever you'd like

Don't be frightened
I'll set you up right
Cause everyone needs
Somebody sometime"

Gallant produced by Felix Snow: Manhattan

Forget shows like "The Voice", network producers should instead do a talent show where aspiring producers are put through their paces. Because it's the overall sound of a record that dictate success more than any individual component parts such as vocals or guitar, isn't it? It's definitely the sound of the songs by the artist under inspection today that marks him out, which is rather like saying something because the singing is fantastic, and we don't as a rule give a monkey's behind about the voice. The voice of Gallant, a 21-year-old from Maryland who moved to New York and now lives in Los Angeles, is a spectral warble whose falsetto tremble resembles Michael Jackson if he would've surrendered to his true feelings rather than insisting on pseudo-macho posturing that frankly fooled no one. Without the sonics the singing would be merely arresting. With what Felix Snow does to them and around them, well, it’s one of the best things I've heard all year.

Deptford Goth: Real Love Fantasy

Wordless.

Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World

Once again, I refuse to taint the purity of both the music and the musician with my words.

Bipolar Sunshine: Love More Worry Less

Bipolar Sunshine is the project of Manchester-housed fellow Adio Marchant, who is no stranger to the stage. His solo project is a wonderful culmination and combination of electronics and lyrics, both of which carry weight and power. 

Star Slinger remix of Coolrunnings: I Am You

Another one of Star Slinger's amazingly delicious mixes to the flavour of Coolrunnings.

Nevergreen: Emancipator

To most folks, it must seem like this young electronic producer came out of the blue (wherever that location is, I've been looking for it most of my life). Emancipator, also called Douglas Appling, played his first live show in July of 2009, opening for Bonobo at the Roseland Theater. Since then, he's toured with Bassnectar,  and drawn crowds at festivals like Trinumeral and Symbiosis, in addition to closing out Sound Tribe Sector 9’s late-night parties in Denver at the request of the band. Emancipator has also landed a Puma sponsorship, given an interview to Rolling Stone Japan, discovered that one of his songs was played at the Beijing Olympics (still trying to figure out how that happened) and his song “Shook,” a mash-up that perfectly mixes Mobb Deep's behemoth-y raps with a haunting-as-ever track from the Icelandic band Sigur Ros, became the highest-rated song on Hype Machine’s “Best 50 Songs of 2007,” and has appeared on Hype Machine as the #2 most popular song in April 2009. Meanwhile, we his fans wait hungrily for the next piece of work.

Tove Lo remix of Hippie Sabotage: Stay High

Tove Nilsson, also known as Tove Lo, is a female singer and songwriter from Stockholm, Sweden, whose style can be defined as an indie-pop mood, with a minimal beat and some stringy-synths,  with a side of agile and witty lyrics. Lo’s favourite subject is love, though she presents it in some naughty ways, but with a classy outcome nevertheless; this is an expression of Lo’s musical identity: a plucky style that’ll knock your socks off for sure!

XXYYXX: Angel

XXYYXX is the alter-ego of, or perhaps better name for Marcel Everett.

Marcel works out of his man-cave-bedroom creating harmonious melodies that provoke emotions and paint rather vivid images of stillness, oneness, and peace. R&B rhythms and various vocal samples are Marcel's staples that donate forward motion to his music, creating open environments that feed into lifelike movement. Marcel has the unique ability to make you feel like you're on multiple trains moving at various speeds in different directions ALL AT THE SAME TIME. His uncommon sensibilities draw on musical elements that make for great music in a modern, if not futuristic context. You get the feeling that if aliens ON ACID lived on a planet made of music, that XXYYXX would be one of it's residents. It's meditative and calming, yet yields, separates, and has some beat. From the abyss of time and space, he creates polar opposites of pulsating breaks, and contours that are rounded by evocative vocal melodies and his awesome skill.

With XXYYXX, space proves to be nothing, as is gravity. The otherworldly music has more patience than the average bear, as Marcel seems to make BPM's oscillate with life and breath. He creates a perfect union between everything good about the last 20 years of R&B, and that of electronic music. With vocals reeling you in, the rest is a question of your mind's eye's scenery. Whether the hook is sped up, slowed down, or both, Marcel's music is all about juxtaposition. Broad notes of low end bass balance the way 4-6 percussion parts pull your ear in various directions, only to reconvene in perfect little pockets. What's unique about this music is how Marcel Everett has blurred history. It's clear from the resulting sounds that he's versed, INCREDIBLY intentional, and is dead set on blending decades through the medium of sound. “I see my music being more experimental in the next 10 years… Music should be free-flowing and expressive.”

If XXYYXX's music gets farther out than where it currently resides, then the future of music is in seriously deft hands. Between claps and snaps, beats and vocals, XXYYXX makes for some delicious audio candy. 

Gespleu Downcast edit of MGMT: Electric Feel

WHO IN THE WORLD IS GESPLEU DOWNCAST?!?!?! 

JMSN: The One

Christian Berishaj, better known by his stage name of JMSN, is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, song-writer, engineer, fire-eater, mixer, producer, videographer, juggler, and all-around renaissance man that lives in Los Angeles, California, but is steeped in the soul of Detroit since birth. 

Brand New: Last Chance to Lose Your Keys

Brand New’s debut studio album "Your Favorite Weapon" was written and produced by the honorary band member Mike Sapone. The album has been more than once described as being “bitter about ex-girlfriends”, with an obsessive concentration on what I like to call “post-breakup angst".

Porcelain Raft: Drifting In and Out

Porcelain Raft is signed to my favorite label, Secretly Canadian. Porcelain Raft is the alter ego of Mauro Remiddi, who specializes in both recording and performing live, utilizing electronics, keyboard, voice, guitars, loops and sampler.

Blackmill featuring Veela: Let It Be

Blackmill is a native of Highlands, Scotland who produces melodic dubstep. Veela is a 17 year old focused on electropop hooks and dance rhythms. Their collaboration produced a chilled out track with deep bass, high melodies and a far out feel.

Keljet remix of The Temper Trap: Love Lost

Keljet is an indie-disco project involving Netherlands natives, Koen Mestrum and Teun Pranger, who have produced various original and remixed songs with astounding awesomeness. The indie-disco ideology that they indoctrinate songs with is infectious, and I don't have an antidote.

The Temper Trap is an Austrailian indie-rock band from Melbourne, though now relocated to London, England. 

Say Lou Lou: Better In the Dark

Say Lou Lou is what twins Elektra and Miranda Kilbey are better known as, though they've been steeped in music since conception, as their father is The Church's Steve Kilbey.

"It feels better in the dark
I feel closer to your heart and nothing can come between us."

Daughter: Youth

Daughter (Elena Tonra) is from North London, UK. Tonra's voice and lyrics are lofty and something that you'd imagine bouncing from cathedral rafters. 

Holy Ghost!: Dance A Little Closer

Holy Ghost! is a synth-pop pair from the city of Brooklyn, New York. What they've done with Dance A Little Closer is a strange little dance bit that if you can sit still during, you probably should see a mortician...because you're obviously dead. 

Arion remix of Diddy featuring Skylar Grey: Coming Home

Arion is a Mississauga, Canada based fellow who's specialty is rap & hip hop, but is renown for his dubstep work, which includes a dubstep Pokémon remix. His use of electronics in this piece enhances the song beyond recognition, and changes it so that it stands on it's own legs rather than leaning on the original.

Skylar Grey's voice is about the only original element, which is about 127% okay, as her Mazomanie, Wisconsin-raised voice is heavenly, as her popularity and her fan-base is soaring towards the heavens. She's rather versitile, being a grammy-award-winning artist for multiple instruments and songs...she's written for Rob Thomas and Avril Lavigne and collaborated with more than I care to list. 

Slow Magic remix of Satellite Stories: Sirens

Courtesy of +Kristen Shive, I discovered a band that's been creeping around my music library since September of last year, with the release of their new album Pine Trails. Satellite Stories is a Oulu, Finland based indie-rock band packed with energy. My ear detected similarities between the new album Pine Trails and Two Door Cinema Club's 2010 album Tourist History, and I like it a lot.

Slow Magic is music from "your unknown imaginary friend." 

Ben Nichols: The Last Pale Light in The West

Ben Nichols is the front-man for the alternative-country Memphis, Tennessee-based gig, Lucero. The Last Pale Light in the West EP was released in 2009, and showcases Nichol's unique voice. The song was recently featured on season 4, episode 6 of AMC's The Walking Dead: Live Bait. 

Coma Cinema: Caroline, Please Kill Me

Coma Cinema is the stage name of Mat Cothran, South Carolina-native indie rock musician.

"Caroline,
I miss you more than I ever wanted
I don't know you but I know you are beautiful."

Rosie and Me: Come Back

Rosanne Machado accidentally started a viral sensation when she released her homemade songs on the internet. Her crisp, clean sound resulted the song "Darkest Horse" being featured on the season finale of OTH, Season 8. The sensation spread into an invitation to perform at SXSW 2012, and she has since been a wildfire across the world, originating in Curitiba, Southern Brazil, using the accelerants of pop-country tunes and heart-filled lyrics to blaze across everyone's hearts and ears. 

Star Slinger remix of Alpine: Icypoles

I've already written about both Alpine and Star Slinger, and I'm still an avid fan of both, as evidenced in this mellow autumnal tune that just keeps spinning and spinning.

Suckers: It Gets Your Body Moving

Suckers is an experimental rock band founded in New York, New York in the grand ol' year of 2009. The merry band of lads is currently comprised of  Quinn Walker, Brian Aiken, Austin Fisher and a fellow named Pan (probably not the half-goat fellow from Greek mythology, but for the love of God, don't quote me). This song is the epitome of movement and the catalyst for life.

Vitamin Strings Quartet cover of Macklemore: Thrift Shop

Vitamin Strings Quartet, chief among other string quartets, is literally the best idea ever. "Hey guys, let's do popular things but without lyrics and on strings!" The result is astounding...and as catchy as the original.

DannielRadall remix of Keep Shelly in Athens: Running Out Of You

DannielRadall is a Mexican producer of...New Wave. I'm sure that's not what you were thinking I was going to type, but nonetheless. He's also a former jam producer from Miami Vice, and he's known as the leading edge of New Wave in his country, being one of the few from the area to actually receive recognition, through the use of some chill electronics.

Big Scary: Twin Rivers

Fade in: start the scene. The setting is 2006. Melbourne. Duo Tom Iansek and Jo Syme, armed with just acoustic guitars and egg shakers, start playing songs together in the living room of Jo’s parents’ house. After a bit of a break, the two reconvened in 2008, this time, with an arsenal of instruments—electric guitars, drums, piano, mandolins and ukuleles—and a bolder, more expansive vision. What began as a few rainy-day acoustical ballads in their first incarnation soon grew into an all-encompassing, genre-defying sound. Before long, the newly named Big Scary were writing whatever they damn well pleased—fuzzed-out garage rock; piano-led pop; intricate, pastoral instrumentals—each piece imbued with an effortless pop sensibility and lightness of touch that would quickly see the duo attract a strong following.

These gifts translated onto the stage where, from the outset, Big Scary proved themselves a remarkably fluid and compelling live act, capable of not only bringing their songs to life, but also of adapting their set to suit the moment.

Gauntlet Hair: Out Don't

Gauntlet Hair is a relatively unknown pair of dudes who are named Andy and Craig, now residing in Denver, Colorado. The pair garnered a fair amount of attention after being part of the Rhinoceropolis-curated block of Denver-based bands that played at the post-SXSW Mexican extravaganza MtyMx. The band’s track “I Was Thinking…” is a pretty insatiable guitar stomp that throws some R&B and soul into the lo-fi revival pot, mixing heavily-reverbed guitars with a simple, but undeniably booty-shaking beat. Add in some Animal Collective-style vocal melodies and you got something that's pretty fantastic.

A Great Big World: Say Something

A Great Big World is the project of Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino, both based in New York. The band, a 2011 viral hit with the song "This Is The New Year", became a rapidly growing sensation, solidified in the world of indie-pop instantaneously. This song, "Say Something", is a quiet little song which simultaneously hits the hammers to the strings of the piano and our hearts. 

Gem Club: Polly

So, you know how back in March I was all excited about Gem Club? I still am. Seriously excited and moved by the gorgeous strings and vocals.

Vega 4: Life is Beautiful

In the vein of recent posts, I thought I'd drop a song from One Tree Hill, too. Just because I can. 

CATHEDRALS: Unbound

CATHEDRALS is an electronic indie pop duo from San Francisco, California; they're SUPER new but have already received a ton of hype, since September of this year!!

Bowerbirds: Crooked Lust

North Carolina is home from the lovely Bowerbirds; the foothills of the Appalachians. This plays out musically, adding in an element that originates high on a hill and echoes down to us flatlanders. This song, along with most of the rest of theirs, have a folk element that is absolutely breath-taking!

I like One Tree Hill, guys, okay?!

"My conscience is an avalanche; majestic, bewildering, and wholly careless." 

We Were Promised Jetpacks: Act on Impulse

We Were Promised Jetpacks exudes awesome, via strings, keys and drumbeats. Though a little different from their normal repertoire, Act on Impulse delivers this awesome--ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTLAND. Edinburgh, to be exact. 

Los Campesinos!: Tiptoe Through The True Bits

Los Campesinos! is an indie-rock musical collective originating in Cardiff, Wales. As with any musical collective, their line-up and sounds are rather eclectic and this transfers to their sound, changing from song to song. 

Mogwai: Mexican Grand Prix

Mogwai is a band from Glasgow, Scotland. Most of their songs are elaborations on a single theme, playing it out lengthily, through the use of alternatively loud and soft dynamics, clearly defined bass riffs, and a protruding ambient sound that wavers between dark and grandoise. Their influences are include  The Cure, Joy Division, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, as well as post-rock Slint--even though the band detests the post-rock classification that is given to them.

And, yes, Mogwai is named for the Gremlin, which is spectacular--just don't feel them after midnight, get them wet, or expose them to direct sunlight

Giselle: Silk

Giselle is a native of Sydney who is classically-trained; her music feeds off of classical piano and a passion for exotic instruments. The conglomerate consists of electronic, folk, and dream pop. The use of electronics allows her to paint canvases with organic sounds and pastels comprised of her smooth, child-like voice. Also, if you've heard "Crave You" by Flight Facilities...guess who provided some vocals?! This gal. 

Hammock: (Tonight) We Burn Like Stars That Never Die

Hammock is a post-rock/ambient project involving Marc Byrd and Andrew Thompson who, unlike their post-rock cousins, utilize a sound that is more dream-like that leaves your ears happy. Their sound is densely-textured, and is driven by shimmering guitar-licks, due to the use of delay. Byrd describes it as "There are times when the need to create a thing begins to interrupt your life. And if you don't give in to it, everything else starts to suffer." I'm rather glad that he gave in.

DAY JOY: Talks of Terror

Day Joy is comprised of Michael Serrin and Peter Michael Perceval, both of Orlando, Florida. Day Joy began as a friendship, and has grown through writing, recording and ample use of liquor. 

Phaeleh (featuring Soundmouse): Afterglow

Afterglow is a collaboration between Bristol-based Soundmouse and Phaeleh, with Soundmouse providing vocals and Phaeleh throwing some chill electronics in the background, which results in a rather smooth mellow track. 

Alex Winston: Sister Wife

Alex Winston  is a gal from Detroit, Michigan with a sound that's much her own. This song is so upbeat and peppy, in combination with her voice that result in an eccentric song. She knows the way inside your head--like no one else does.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Lucky Man

Emerson, Lake & Palmer is a hit-and-miss UK based band consisting of Keith Emerson (keys), Greg Lake (bass, vocals, guitar), and Carl Palmer (drums, percussion), which is the obvious source of their name. This band is famous for first their Hammond organ, then their Moog Synthesizer. This band was first introduced to me by a guru of classic rock, a man that I've worked with for the past couple years. Most of his influences musically have originated over the drink, so it wasn't at all a surprise that ELP was from Britain, at least to me. What did intrigue my ear, then my brain and then my Google-fingers was the subtle references to classical music that occur within their tracks.

Roughmath (remix of Vanity Theft): Bit by Bit

Leo Crossing, Roughmath, hails from Farnham, Britain. Leo tried his hand at several things before finally settling into the dubstep role, as the genre became more prevalent. This mix showcases his talents in regards to this particular genre, with some really nice electronic accompaniment and when the beat drops, you feel it! I kinda am curious as to the source of his vocals, though. 

I'm From Barcelona: Battleships

Contrary to what you'd think from their name, the band actually hails from Jönköping, Sweden. This band and particularly this song, are the happiest sounding things in all of existence. And, when I use the term "band," I'm using that loosely, since this band is more of a collective than anything else, being composed of something around 30 members; however, this leads to a ridiculously ecelectic mix of sounds and instruments to back up Emanuel Lundgren, the band's founder, principal singer and songwriter.

"Everyone's got bellies full of butterflies,
I just wanted to see you, my honey.
We got everything you ever wanted here tonight,
I just wanted to see you, my honey.

Adventure Club (remix of Alexisonfire): To a Friend

Adventure Club is a Canadian dubstep duo from Montreal. They're influenced by Tiesto, Flux Pavilion, Greeley Estates, Bring Me the Horizon and Skrillex while maintaining their own distinct sound. In this case, the remix is a fairly laid-back mix of the originial, lacking screaming while maintaining recognizable elements from the original. 

CHVRCHES: Now Is Not The Time

Chvrches (which is pronounced churches) is a Scottish electronic band residing in Glasgow who have some serious talent backed up by some serious brains and careers. The vocals and sometimes-synths are done by Lauren Mayberry, who has a Bachelor's in law and a Master's in Journalism; Iain Cook, the guitarist, bassist, sometimes-synths and sometimes-vocals, was with two other bands, as well as a passion for film/television, while the synths, sampler and sometimes-vocals Martin Doherty was a member of another band prior. The two male members were long-time friends, and this project started because of that. Mayberry was known to Cook from her days in Blue Sky Archives and suggested she be vocals for them. Their influences are a bit like the Cocteau Twins, MJ, Depeche Mode and perhaps more.

"Nothing now can ever come between us
As we hide and watch the city burn
There is much that I still want to tell you
But now is not the time to speak of love."

Oberhofer: You + Me (Still Together In The Future)

Oberhofer is a New York City, NY based project of Brad Oberhofer. Brad has been asked on tour with a number of artists because of his aclectic sound and indie feel, such as Sleigh Bells, Neon Indian, and The Morning Benders.

Jacoo: A World of Peace

Jacoo is...very new to the scene. And by very new, I mean that Jacoo is a 17 year old from Norway who spins some chill beats in a pretty profound way. 

Josh Pyke: Middle Of The Hill

Josh Pyke is an Indie singer-songwriter located in Sydney, Australia, who has been compared to the likes of Elliott Smith, with his songs that put human emotion under a microscope, and shows that they're rather complex, abstract, and fascinating. 

Elvis Perkins: Doomsday

Elvis Perkin's (LA, CA) song blend melancholy and uplifting in the same capsule. With his father's death from AIDS in 1992, and his mother being on 1 of the 2 planes that hit the World Trade Center, it's not hard to see why.

Though I forget your name;
I remember your sweet face.

'Til Doomsday, fiddle, I.

Man, I went wild last night;
Oh, I went feeling alright;

Florence + the Machine: Heavy In Your Arms

Florence and the Machine are absolutely delicious, with their heavy indie feel and Florence's RIDICULOUSLY good voice.

"And is it worth the wait
All this killing time?
Are you strong enough to stand?
Protecting both your heart and mine?"

Morgan Page, Sultan & Ned Shepard, BT featuring Angela McCluskey: In the Air

I'd summarize the works of all these artists, or I could just use this AWESOME dance song as an example instead! 

Woods : Back To The Stone

Woods is a Brooklyn, New York rooted band that plays somewhat strange but upbeat indie-rock songs that feature harmonic voices and sounds!

The Veils: Sit Down by the Fire

The Veils, a New Zealand based band residing in London, England that sounds deliciously like The Smiths, Jeff Buckley, and Joy Division in a single capsule.  

The Head and the Heart: Rivers and Roads

The Head and the Heart is a band based out of Seattle, Washington. With most of the band members being Seattle transplants, they write and play songs that speak of the newness of a fresh start, of the ghosts which were left behind, of moving forward, all of which are brimming with a soulfulness and hope for a better life than the one we had all been sold.

Scott Matthews: Eyes Wider Than Before

Scott Matthews started off with an ambivalent relationship with music, but obviously reversed that situation. Maybe it is Britain's magic, or maybe it's just situational, but he obviously pulled out of it and has mastered the art of mellow and chill and embodied it in song form, with "Eyes Wider Than Before."

Tarkio: Keeping Me Awake

Tarkio...wait, isn't that the guy from the Decemberists? OH MY GOD IT IS! Active from 1996-1999, the band was a pleasant alternative-country set, with enhancement from Colin Meloy's creative writing. Like anyone who's gone to college, Colin was once a frustrated college student, too.

"Leaving this behind was my first mistake
and I’m not so strong
to be satisfied by all the things I’ve done
by all the things it threw away."

Margot and the Nuclear So So's: Broadripple is Burning

Margot and the Nuclear So So's is an Indiana-based 6-piece band focusing on indie-rock and orchestra-pop with clear vocals, and interesting lyrics.


"Don't look at me that way,
'cause I'll be hangin' from a rope;
I willl haunt you like a ghost."

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone: Optimists Vs. The Silent Alarm

CFTPA was an unlikely project of Chicago-bound Owen Ashford, unlikely because it blends blues-soul with keys, which sounds like a terrible idea, but it isn't. It's rather quite the opposite AND IT IS SO CATCHY!
His songs are a blend of playful keys and rather in-depth character studies, summed in a neat line of lyric.

"skeletons of cigarettes and empty cans and bottles"

Damien Jurado: Sheets

Damien Jurado is an indie singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington who (like Jason Molina) is associate with Secretly Canadian. His work has been featured in items such as One Tree Hill, which boosted his popularity with the following of the show, as well as made me watch (oh dear, there goes my life) JUST to see the song in action. His indie-folk sound and gorgeous lyrics catch me, every time.

"Is he still coming around like an injured bird needing a nest?
A place to rest his head in a song you'll regret
Lord knows I don't want to compete
But I still sleep in the very sheets he's been in"

BASTILLE featuring Ella (cover of TLC and the XX): No Angels

Four whopping names come together and cover an amazing 90's and a separate haunting song in a spectacular fashion; the result is an amazing  mashup cover!!!

Lucy Rose: Middle of the Bed

I had the pleasure of seeing this gal with City & Colour in Nashville last night! Her voice is stellar (her stage presence paled in comparison with Dallas', but come on, she'll grow into it) and her lyrics are spectacular. Lucy Rose (Parton) is a rising British folk singer with a serious set of pipes. She released her first album in September 2012, and has since toured with Bombay Bicycle Club, Noah and the Whale and City & Colour. I can't wait until more people find out how awesome she really is, with her hauntingly melodic vocals and her telling lyrics!

Jacob Plant (remix of Oh Land ): Sun of a Gun

Jacob Plant, Britain, does an excellent job remixing an already awesome song, taking a track that's somewhat reminiscent of Katy Perry, with a doo-woop feel and throwing in some electronics that just mesh oh so well. They take the accents that already exist, and amplify them, playing the snap concept. 

Passenger: Let Her Go (Acoustic)

Passenger's Let Her Go showcases Mike  Rosenberg's melodically-clean picking, his crisp, clear voice and his amazing choice of subjects, as well as his song-writing abilities.

"Love comes slow,
and it goes so fast."

"Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low."

AJ Rafael and Tori Kelly (cover of Taylor Swift): Taylor Swift Medley

For the record: I in no way support Taylor Swift. She might throw some decent tunes out and look good doing it, but she's a terrible person. I know one of the fellows that she's dated and he doesn't say nice things about her personality (I'm sure there's a song about him--he's no angel, but he's a good guy) and she's worse to work with in the business.

Now, that aside, I've watched AJ grow over the years and his voice, energy and passion for music couldn't be better. Berkley has taught him great things. This medley is well done, as are his other medleys and covers, capturing the mood and sound of each song. In this instance, Tori and AJ's voice work together quite well, and I'm excited to see what he produces in the future!

Gregory Alan Isakov: Amsterdam

Gregory Alan Isakov is a native of South Africa, who moved to the states and discovered a passion for music. He now resides in Colorado and writes and performs some of the loveliest lyrics. His mellow voice and choice of topics makes for a mellow (if saddening, for those of us who aren't in love) experience. 

Jason Molina: A Sad Hard Change

Autumn Bird Songs was a vinyl I sought and COULD NOT FIND, when it was released. I should have pre-ordered it, but I lacked the information. Frantically, I searched for a brief time after its release to acquire my own copy (it'd not yet been released via CD). Then, one sad March day, I received news that Jason had died. Instantly, I was able to digitally acquire a copy, download it and fall into the rich tenor of his voice and his strings. I was not the same for about a month; I'm fairly sure this whole album was on repeat most of that time.


"I am not the same but you can't follow
I am not the same but you can't follow
I see the sun no more
and I see the sun no more.
'Been a sad hard change
It's been a sad hard change.
Had I known
Had I known."

Walk off the Earth (cover of Malvina Reynolds): Little Boxes

Walk off the Earth is a Canadian indie-rock band with an independent attitude, even though they're now signed onto a record label. Walk off the Earth has a reputation for doing some awesome low-budget videos, such as this cover, which includes an insane amount of boxes.

The song itself is a satire of the dysfunction of suburbia and the lack-luster life it produces, and they cover it in an interesting (if not apropo) fashion. 

Water Liars: Fake Heat

Water Liars is a Misra collaboration between songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Justin Kinkel-Schuster (St. Louis, Missouri) and the multi-talented Andrew Bryant (Oxford, Mississippi), who convened and with one microphone, recorded Phantom Limbs. This album IMMEDIATELY grabbed Misra's attention, who has signed breakthrough acts like Shearwater, Great Lake and Swimmers. The result of the collaboration is nothing short of hauntingly magical tenor. 

Hem: Half Acre

Hem is an American folk group from Brooklyn, New York with heavy roots in Bluegrass, Traditional Shaker, Jazz, American Folk Music, Gospel, and even classical! Hem is really not label-able, as they fit in so many areas of music, making them suitable for several audiences and settings.

Half Acre is really no exception.
"I am holding half an acre
Torn from the map of Michigan
And folded in this scrap of paper,
is a land I grew in."

Katie Melua: Two Bare Feet

For my inaugural posts on Spades' music blog I'm going back to one of my jazz favorites. Belted out by a sweet little Georgian girl raised in Great Britain glorifying the days of the speak easy and prohibition. Nice video to go with just to top it all off.

I was introduced to Madame Melua several years ago by someone I was in a relationship with. The relationship ended but I gained an appreciation for this lady out of it. Melua has an excellent understanding of jazz canon and a certain penchant for re-addressing them. A flare for the dramatic serves well in her videos and the musical constructions on which they're based.

Enjoy,

Moses

One Direction

I'm kidding. Well, sort of. I've posted a lot of songs, without really having a direction. The easiest thing to do, with anything, is criticize it and move on. It's easy to tell what's bad and what's good, but what's much harder is the ability to distinguish these two things and iterate it into a logical and non-belligerent fashion. One Direction, for example, is a band I've never heard, and likely will not (barring me being captured and forced to some new form of torture that requires you to be strapped down and to listen to music you don't want to).

It's bad to attempt to change horses mid-race or boats midstream, but it can be done with some skill and dedication. Nothing, and definitely not this, is impossible.

Goals of this blog:

1. Introduce
2. Educate
3. Touch

In order for this to be effective, WE will introduce a song, or band and then expound on why WE think that they're worth the space/advertising on our blog, with the liberal application of commas and hyphens--we love them here.

The next part falls on you guys. Touching is something that we're doing through this, but you have to spread both the word so WE can touch more, but you have to do some torch-bearing yourself. If you agree with it, pass it on. Nothing's so good that it should be kept all to one's self, but should be shared with friends, enemies, lovers and strangers.

Our audience is you. We don't care who you are. We don't care about your skin color (race is a social construct!), what languages you speak or whether you have a crooked nose. That's not our concern. You're our reader, and you ARE important, and you can make a difference. Introduce, educate, and touch.

With this in mind, future content will follow these criteria and past content will be edited based on them.

PVST