Brit Alterna Pop at it's best

I started listening to this album last week and have to say it's an easy listen. Sometimes you don't want your music too deep and complicated yet you don't want it dumbed down like 3 Doors Down or Nickleback.  Both suck on multiple levels I won't get into. Anyhow, for those of you needing a fun pop-rock album that's an easy listen here's Spector with Enjoy it While It Lasts.

Their first single is a punchy and bouncy song called "Celestine."  It's a toe tapper and it might just be one of those summer guilty pleasure songs.  I know it isn't great but it's catchy.   And yeah these guys sound a lot like The Killers from the Hot Fuss era.

Most the tracks have the energy and bounce of Spector but there are a few more slower bpm songs in the mix.  I personally like the song "Law Low." It's a pretty decent stab at a ballad.  It's an introspective look at a relationship that's run it's course. I actually like the stripped down version down they did for VEVO.  

Most likely the next song they'll push will be "What You Wanted."  It's a catchy song with a nice chorus.  Not sure there's a new to expand on it. Just take a listen below.

I wonder if it will get play here in the US.  I'm sure they've made some waves in their home country. Pick up this album before they get noticed here in the states and appear in tv shows and car ads.  The LP just came out.  If you liked Hot Fuss this will definitely get some play for the rest of the year. 

Speaking of The Killers this new track of theirs "Runnaways" might be my other guilty pleasure song of 2012.  And The Killers is our answer to England's Coldplay. Suck it Coldplay. We have The Killers. They're just as annoyingly catchy as you. 

MNDR's first full length album.

MNDR just released their first full length album Feed Me Diamonds.  She was most notably known for her vocals on the Mark Ronson song "Bang Bang Bang."  She's got a nasally sort of singing style that might not attract some listeners but I think her delivery is all her own in the synth scene.

The album has one strong layover from her single releases a year back, "I Go Away."  I definitely played that song a few times. The new tracks on this LP actually hold their own next to that song. "Burning Hearts" has a flashback sound I'd link it to a heavy Yaz influence.  "Stay" is another favorite of mine on Feed Me Diamonds.  Synth heavy but then again this entire LP is. If you don't like that kind of music then skip this review and don't bother clicking on any of the links.

All tracks on this are on par with "I Go Away."  If you like that song then pick up this LP.  I can't really recommend just a few songs.  I'd say the ones I mentioned and the song "Sooner or Later" as a personal preference.

If you like MNDR then Niki & The Dove is a must buy.

Here's a live version of "Stay"by MNDR.

And a track from Niki & The Dove "The Drummer"

Favorite Cover Song of 2012 so far

I posted this song on my twitter handle earlier in the month but had to talk about it here.  I'm a big Stevie Nicks fan. She had a sound of her own and with Fleetwood Mac she was just amazing. The songwriting skills of that team is seriously unmatched today.  The music and lyrics are timeless.

Anyhow, enough ass kissing with Fleetwood let's jump to the cover.  I won't lie about my huge crush on Lykke Li.  The crush runs more on the voice sides of things.  I want to take her voice out to dinner. Would that be an odd request?

Her cover of "Silver Springs" is pretty damn dead on with Stevie Nicks.  She really gets the song and you can tell when she delivers every lyric.  Nicks has a witchy quality to her music and delivery and maybe Lykke is the answer to that. This comes from a cover's album of Fleetwood Mac songs. The rest get no where near this ballpark unfortunately.  I posted the original and the new version for comparison. Would love to hear people's thoughts.

Lykke Li's cover of "Silver Springs":

Fleetwood Mac's "Silver Springs":

A New Spoon LP, sort of

The Divine Fits just put out their first LP A Thing Called Divine Fits this week.  I have been waiting for a new Spoon album and this is what I have to hitch my wagon to.  It's not exactly Spoon but have to say damn close. Brit Daniels(Spoon) and Dan Boeckner(Wolf Parade) have teamed up to put out this eclectic and entertaining album. Not sure it's as rich as any Spoon LP but I think it holds it's own.

The sparseness of Brit Daniels' composition can been heard on every track. I think he had more influence on this LP than Boeckner.  I don't remember Wold Parade ever being so sparse.  There are several tracks on this that are definite keepers.  "Baby Get Worse" has a serious Spoon feel to it circa Transference.  The minute the guitar kicks on this track you know Daniels was behind the wheel.

And then for the serious Spoon fans like myself the track "Flaggin A Ride" took me to a happy place.   It sounds so much like a B-side track from A Series of Sneaks which I really dig.  It's nice to have Daniels on vocals on this track.

I know "Would That Not Be Nice" was their first single off A Thing Called Divine so I won't really get into talking about that track.   It's a damn good song and worth checking out on youtube.  Anyhow, to finish off my review of this LP I really liked "For Your Heart."  It's a synth driven track unlike anything that Spoon would do or Wolf Parade.  Maybe that's why I really enjoyed it. It was really unexpected.

This was worth the wait and will get heavy rotation on my iTunes for the rest of the year.  

One of the Albums of the Year

If you haven't heard of the Funeral Suits yet, well then you must be living outside the UK. Not sure about their US footprint yet.  I haven't heard much about them here. I think it was NME that first led me to listen to them.   This new LP Lily of the Valley is just a pleasure to listen to. Perfect song crafting with volumes of sound.  Sometimes their tracks run simple in progression but most times they lead to a nice layering of guitars, synths, and vocals.

I highly recommend giving this LP a listen to if you like Radiohead, The Verve, and Blur. Yeah, they have that Brit alternative sound with a nice touch of newness about them. 

Their big track so far seems to be "All Those Friendly People."  They've crafted a cool video to go along with this really catchy song.  I've listened to it on repeat at first when I got the single.  The album came out in the summer but I really think it has a nice fall feel to it.  Maybe it's the muggy British weather we see in the video. 

The other video they released for this album is for the song "Colour Fade."  Odd enough I could see myself jogging like the girl in the video while listening to this song.  It's a simple track but shows their growing talent with catchy songs and knowing when to really break a song and rebuild it again. 

The last track I'm posting is their latest video.  Honestly, I think their entire LP is great and these songs don't even show the range they display.  It's on par with what the Maccabees put out this year.  I just hope both bands can catch in the US. Here's "Florida."

 

 

A little bonus. If you haven't heard of the Maccabees then get to youtube and start checking out what NME pretty much hailed as the best album of the year way back in January. The year wasn't even on track yet and the gauntlet were already on the ground. These guys are legit.

Holy Other's Held LP

Holy Other is a UK garage R&B group. I'm not fully sure but I think it's just one guy making most the music. If you like something chill in the background while you read or write Held is for you.  Sometimes I like a good LP that doesn't have lyrics jamming my mind while I'm trying to be creative.   But this music isn't for everyone. It's not catchy like Miguel or Twin Shadow.  I'd say it's more in the range of Sigor Ros

On Twin Shadow's LP it was too hard picking up an LP because it was so good. On this one it's hard picking one out because honestly they all sound the same. Most songs are pretty short but blend in with each other so you don't really notice the difference.

Here's the title track.

If you're looking for a chill-out music this LP might do the trick.

And there was Twin Shadow

I can't stop listening to this LP.  I started jamming to it on my trip to Chicago. I'm sure I walked a good dozen city miles during my trip to this one. The album is called Confess and honestly there's not one wasted moment.  It sends me through a time machine to a good part of the 80s.  A place where pop music had some sense of artistry and synth didn't mean auto-tune.

Anyhow, my personal favorites on this album if I was held at gun point and made to choose.  "Beg for the Night" has a very funky bass line and the track is just a great blast to 1984 I can't stop thinking of that era.

And then there's "Five Seconds".  What a great music video which I've linked below.  If you don't think this track is catchy then damn man you don't have a pulse.  Between the funky bandits and his 80's biker punk look, this music video might just have it all. OK, maybe not all. It could've used a scene where they hit a seedy night club with neon. And more shoulder pads.

There are so many more great tracks. Narrowing this down to just three has been tough but here is my last must have track from Confess. But honestly this is a full purchase. Don't short change on a few tracks. You will be cheating yourself.   I hear a very Corey Hart vibe on this. I plugged in a Corey Hart song for comparison. I'm sure you can see the small influence there. And no it's not a dis. I'm a child of the 80s.

Corey Hart's "Never Surrender"   The last track was more like "Sunglasses at Night" but that would be too obvious. 

Miguel might just blow up this year

The second artist on the list Miguel. He put several smooth flowing EP's out this year.  Not sure why he didn't just put one complete LP but hey I'm not an artist. Maybe he was wanting to wet the public's appetite for his new LP out in October of this year.

Of the three LP's the most catchy would have to be Art Dealer Chic Vol. 2.  Just take a listen to "Arch n Point" and judge for yourself.  It's got a prince vibe to it and so does Miguel throughout this mini EP.  Where's Frank Ocean is more Marvin Gaye, Miguel is definitely channeling more Prince. 

In no way am I suggesting that his other EP's aren't worth checking out.  I just prefer Vol.2. He's a talent on the rise and I see him just getting huge with his new LP.  Maybe even a household name.



Here's the track from Art Dealer Chic Vol. 2 worth a listen or two.

Here's a track from Art Dealer Chic Vol. 3 that's definitely channeling plenty of Prince vibes.

I wanted to kick off this music blog with a trend I've hitched my wagon to lately.  It's come to my attention that there's a new wave of R&B trending through the hipster crowd.  I'd call it underground R&B but they're pretty well known.  This crowd includes Frank Ocean, Miguel, James Blake, Twin Shadows(yeah I'd say their music is in the same bloodline), How To Dress Well, and Holy Other.

Frank Ocean just released his LP channel ORANGE in July of this year.  I will have to say it stays true to form with a level of maturity from him.  The key tracks for me would most likely be "Crack Rock," "Lost", and "Bad Religion.  He kicks out a nice 9 minutes plus song that actually is worth listening to the entire way. Overall I'd say this album is one of the year's premiere R&B albums. Not sure it will get the play of the rest but it's the most eclectic with inspired lyrics.

Check out his track Lost for a taste of the LP.

Mission statement of this blog

 This blog was started for my own personal love of music.  Music has been my friend and muse since  my first creative thought.  It's the foundation of my creativity. When I write there has to be a song running behind accompanying my thoughts.

I will most likely blog what's playing in my iTunes and iPhone as we speak.  Sometimes I might kick out a few classics and talk about music that inspired something that's more current.  Anyhow, let's get to the business at hand.