This track has gotten out in the Universe recently and I had to share it. Chvrches, a Scottish synth electronica band, is about to put out their second EP Recover. I really loved their first EP The Mother We Share from 2012 and now this one hasn't let me just as hooked. I didn't think they could make a catchier song after "The Mother We Share" but "Recover" is a pop gem ready to be found. I really can't wait for their synth vibes to make it across the pond.
"Recover" is one of those songs that the chorus and back bone to the song are hard to forget. You will most definitely be hitting repeat after one listen. It's ear crack. Lauren Mayberry compliments the track made by the bands masterminds Ian Cook and Martin Doherty. I'm sure a track like this makes Vince Clarke proud for laying down the foundation when he formed influential bands like Depeche Mode, Yaz and Erasure.
If you missed their first big single, here's "The Mother We Share" from their first EP. I love the use of Lauren's voice as part of the loop at the beginning and the end. These guys know how to produce one catchy dance floor jam. Takes me back to the 80's a bit. I posted the live version so you can get a clear look at how cute Lauren is.
Just watching the new video by The Little Ones makes you thinks it's time for summer. I say that as the Midwest is covered in snow and misery. I do think Los Angeles is finally warming up. I'm sorry folks in other parts of the country and world. Anyhow, The Little Ones are a Los Angeles based band so maybe that explains their sunshine sound on their LP The Dawn Sang Along. It's one of those feel good CDs that just seems misplaced this early in the year. I do hope they get play and at least their first single gets some play. I'm betting some commercial soon will use this song.
"Argonauts" is the sunshine driving song I was talking about from The Dawn Sang Along. I couldn't agree more with the band choosing this song to be their first single on album release. Lucadores surfing the Pacific Ocean. Just perfect.
Ah, it's that time of the year again. No, not tax season but Valentine's Day. Where the single people are either in relief or their loneliness is brought to mass realization. I like to take the former with it being a relief there's no mad scramble to deal with all the BS. But hey, that's me.
Anyhow, for those people in the Valentine mood, I thought to give a little more girl friendly music in the form of Strange Talk. Not sure why they're not bigger. They have that synth pop sound that is very easy to listen to on most occasions. And aren't so shoegaze where there's little danceable structure.
"Falling In Love" is their newest single and a perfect song for today. Happy Valentine's Day. Get out your glow sticks and start falling in love.
And for those unfamiliar with the band, here's a single they put out last year called "Cast Away." I actually like this song a little more than their super club ready song "Falling In Love." This song seems to have a bit more depth. A band worth keeping an eye out for.
Foals are probably one of England's most popular math rock bands. I still have no idea why it's called math rock other than the arrangements being a littler more complex than your standard alternative albums. Anyhow, on their news LP Holy Fire, the band takes a large leap into the alternative pop category with their song "My Number." It's funky and catchy. The rest of Holy Fire is damn great as well. This might have given Everything Everything competition for the best album out thus far in 2013. Things are heating up and the year is starting to look promising. Holy Fire is another of 2013 must pick ups.
"Inhaler" was the first single from Holy Fire. When I heard this song back in November, I knew we were in for a funky fun album. Love the bass line on this song. You still get that math rocky feel behind the funk. And that's one nice sweater or is that a shirt?
"My Number" is their most recent single and damn is it catchy. You can't deny the toe tapping nature of this song. It sort of takes over and you want to be part of that show in the video. This is one of those songs with the proper play can put this band to the masses even in the States. I'm going to have to put them on the "must see live" list.
I can't lie and say I wasn't underwhelmed by Ocean Colour Scene's previous LP Saturday. The album didn't have that same earnest nature and depth as their previous work and I thought to myself that the band is going to get away from what made them great. Well, I'm glad to be proven wrong on their new album Painting. Painting feels more like a follow up to their One From The Modern LP the band released in 1999. And if you're new to OCS then go pick up everything from One From The Modern down. Most people know the band from the song "Hundred Mile High City."
There's not much to show from Painting on YouTube. The entire album is great. There's no need to track down any favorite songs because it's an album in full. My personal favorite moment is probably "George's Tower" which is Painting's shortest song. The power in the lyrics and vocals with the stripped down composition is an epic 1 minute and 22 seconds.
Here's the title track "Painting" from the album. I actually think this is one of the lesser tracks from it. Still a good song but trust me when I say you need to listen to the entire album. What makes OCS great is that they don't follow trends in music they just make what they feel compelled to create. We need more bands like this. Thanks for making almost 20 years of great music so far.
For those unfamiliar with their catalog, I will post a few of their more popular tracks. "Hundred Mile High City" appeared on the Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack and that's when I heard the band for the first time. They're from England, and never made a splash here in the States. That guitar riff is still awesome.
"The Day We Caught The Train" is probably their second most popular song. It's on the Mosley Shore's LP and that might be the one I recommend picking up first.
So, there I was stuck on the 405 about to hit the panic switch and stab the next driver over for being the 60th customer of the day to cut me off. I stopped counting after 60 so maybe it was even higher. And yes, I would never stab anyone in traffic. OK, maybe sucker punch. I'm human. Anyhow, then I decided to finally give the entire new Free Energy LP Love Sign a listen. I forgot how long I was driving after that.
I had scanned through Love Sign since picking it up and I know how much I liked their first effort Stuck On Nothing. Could they follow up that "energy" with another fun LP? Some what, to the "energy" and most definitely to the "fun." Love Sign is the kind of album that flows together so well you have no clue when one song ends and another begins. That makes the album both good and somewhat underwhelming. No track really stands out but the entire thing is pure fun. Some albums just need to be fun. I compare this album to eating savory potato chips. You know you won't get much nutrition from it but damn was it tasty.
"Electric Fever" was the first official track from Love Sign. It really does represent the entire album well. It's the kind of song that needs to be played at halftime during the superbowl. This is about as American as a rock song can get. A nice steady flow of cowbells. At times, they seriously remind me of Thin Lizzy. Just grab a beer and enjoy this song. Cheers.
"Girls Want Rock" takes me back to that classic Cars sound. That opening riff especially will give you that feeling. It's like the summer of 85' never ended. And if girls want rock, well then they'll want this song. The official first full blown FUN LP of 2013.
