Spoon have recorded a classic with "They Want My Soul"

I was worried Spoon would lose it's sound after the 4 year break and Britt Daniel's other side project. Nothing to worry about here Spoon fans, this album is awesome. I literally have not stopped playing it all day and night. It's been following me around from the car to the house and back.  Thanks guys for bringing back hope for the future of music.   They Want My Soul is a must own if you remotely like music.

The entire album is classic Spoon from front to back. I have nothing remotely negative to say.  It has an aged feeling to it.  All the tracks feel lived in and well thought out. The entire set of songs flows in and out so perfectly with a cohesive message.  Because of that cohesive nature, it's really tough to pick out favorites.  All other musicians releasing music today should take note.  This is how you make a full album and not one with scattered mess of singles.

"New York Kiss" is the albums most toe tapping moment.  It's the only song on the album that doesn't sound like their music from the previous decades.  Somehow, Spoon still manage to make this song fit in perfectly with the rest.  That's the real magic of this album.

"Rainy Taxi" and "They Want My Soul" bring back memories of A Series of Sneaks era Spoon.   Spoon give you a brief walk through their discography with all the songs on this album.  You can find sprinkles of each of their previous albums on They Want My Soul and that's what makes this possibly their best complete album to date.   Girls Can Tell was my previous favorite but I might have found a new one to champion.

"Inside Out" is the Spoon's latest video from They Want My Soul.   It's got a lush dream like vibe.  The song creates a very introspective mood, "I don't got time for holly rollers, but then they wash my feet, and I won't be their soldier."   Preach on Britt, preach on!

Best album of 2014 so far in my book.

Zulu Winter we will miss you and thanks for the parting gift in Stutter

Zulu Winter announced their end on June 5th of this year and in late July gave us an album Stutter with previously unreleased tracks as a parting gift.  It's truly sad for music lovers that a band like this calls it quits so early in the game.  I really hope we see more from them as separate entities in the near future.

There's so much talent and potential in Zulu Winter.   It's really a sad event as a music fan and a huge supporter of this band. I've literally been telling anyone I can about their album Language over the last 2 years.  I think I might have annoyed some friends by constantly dropping that album title.  I do what I can do expose people to good music.

Language is a breakthrough album with little flaws. It's easily one of my favorite full albums to be released in the last decade.  Yes, it's that good.  Some of my friends want to compare them to the original Police albums. I could hear a little similarity there especially with Stings voice but I definitely think these guys had their own sound.   Just check out "Silver Tongue" and you can't help but get sucked in.

Stutter technically is their last album to be released after their break and it's just another reminder of what we will be missing in the future.  "Heavy Rain" was the song picked out to be the single off the album and it's a wise choice.  The song has a brooding and somber backbone with a dream like quality.  If you don't own any Zulu Winter, pick up Language first but then after you're hooked buy this album.  

We will miss you Zulu Winter.  I'm really disappointed I never caught the band live.  Hope to see you all create amazing music in the near future.  Thanks for such a fantastic album in Language.  It's in my top 100 favorite albums of all time. Yeah, I like it that much.    

Wolf Alice have a cool alternative guitar rock vibe of the late 90's

I was just talking about Throwback Thursday and then I realized there's been nothing written about Wolf Alice on this blog.   With the release of their new EP Creature Songs, I've become even more interested to hear a full length album from the band.  Just think of them as a band very similar to Veruca Salt from the late 90's.  The same sort of guitar rock with a female lead but of course a bit more 2014.

"Moaning Lisa Smile" is Wolf Alice's first release from the Creature Songs EP.  A nice quick and catchy guitar rock sound.  Their music is pure guitar alternative rock.  I enjoy that about the band. Sometimes a little less gimmick and a bit more to the point music is greatly appreciated by my ears.

I also recommend checking out the band's earlier EP Blush.  Their song "She" really caught my ear.  I listened to that song a good dozen times the first few days I picked that up.  The drums and the fuzzy guitar hooked me from the first 10 seconds.  I think this band has a lot of potential for a fun full length album.

And because I brought up Veruca Salt, I might as well post a song of theirs.  The era when MTV Total Request Live existed.  Actually, the era when MTV played music videos and was Music Television.  Yeah, kids, MTV actually played a ton of music videos back then.  The memorable bungee cord video.  Must've been fun playing their guitars when they were flying up in the air.

A little Throwback Thursday with Mercury Rev

I was listening to Polyphonic Spree and then suddenly was in the mood for Mercury Rev. They fall in that same unique dreamlike category.  I miss Mercury Rev actually.  It's been a good six years since their last album Snowflake Midnight but their music still sounds new and noteworthy.

Deserter's Songs was my first introduction to the band back in 1998 and that album is a rare one from that era that has none of that 90's stank.   At the time, they sounded completely alien but a good 16 years after the album release they sound much more at home.  Funny, how some music that does well in it's own era tires quickly.  Other albums that may have been out of synch with the time of release find new legs 20 years later.  That's where I put this album.

If you haven't listened to Mercury Rev before, I highly recommend picking up Deserter's Songs LP.   "Opus 40" was my personal favorite song from the album and it got a nice remastering not long ago.

The Wind and The Wave a band to keep an ear out for

I caught The Wind and The Wave opening for Jamestown Revival last Thursday at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.  I didn't know anything about this band and was pleasantly surprised.  An Austin based band with a nice mix of southern-soul-rock and country vibes.  I was most impressed by Patricia Lynn. I think this band has potential because of her amazing voice.

Their performance was a lot of fun and they played a nice variety of songs.   I think the lack of a drummer really hurt their sound and show to be honest.  They played with a taped drum track and it took away from their sound.  I wish they would've just played stripped down acoustic instead and just dumped the backing track.  They are good enough not to need it till they find a touring drummer.

Here's "My Mama Said Be Careful Where Lay Your Head" by The Wind and The Wave.  This is one infectious soulful tune and has me excited to hear a full album from them.  Just wanted to post this song and then the acoustic version.  I just want to say, I think they would be great on tour without the drum track.  You be the judge.

Here's the same song but acoustic.  Would you enjoy this song just as much without the drum track?  Check them out on tour with Jamestown Revival.  Patricia Lynn is talented and wish the band great success.

NO with their album El Prado pay homage to my favorite LA wine bar

I had a good laugh when I saw the name El Prado as the band No's album title.  I honestly didn't know they had anything to do with Echo Park and thus the name paying homage to a local wine bar.  I love going to this place pre shows at the Echo. I'm betting the guys from the band have spent many a nights pre show at the same establishment.  El Prado is fun little wine bar hidden away on Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park and the album isn't too shabby either.

So, let's chat about the album a little.  It's a damn good debut from these guys.   I can see the comparison to bands like The National and Editors.  I also hear a touch of Interpol in there at times with  certain chords on a few tracks.  All great comparisons in my book. There's nothing purely original out there and being compared to good preexisting bands is a good start.  When people online want to bitch about a band being too much like The National or Editors, I hate to brake it to them but those bands aren't all that original either.  Guess no one remembers Joy Division and Echo and The Bunnymen.

"Leave The Door Open" was actually the first video I caught from El Prado.  Most of the video atakes place in El Prado wine bar for those unfamiliar with Echo Park.  It's a nice moody track and probably sounding the most like The National on this album.

"Monday" is my favorite tracks from the album.  I think it's the Interpol vibe that really gets my ear on this track.  The upbeat tempo and the throwback guitar riff to the 80's is fantastic.  This song made me a fan of El Prado.  Hope they make a point of releasing this song as a single with a video.

Spring Offensive's cover of Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" is fantastic

Spring Offensive put out a fun cover for Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home" song a month back on YouTube and I have to say it's great.  I'm going to sound crazy ignorant for a moment here but I had never come across the original prior to hearing the Spring Offensive version(yes, I live under a rock it seems).  I had to backtrack and then listen to Drake's original version after that listen.

Honestly, I think the original song is just ok by Drake and the video is extremely violent for no reason.   Anyhow, Spring Offensive have invented a fresh sounding song from a rather ordinary pop R&B song.  I think it's pretty cool when an indie band takes a crack at a pop hit and actually makes the song their own.

And for those not familiar with Spring Offensive, I highly recommend you picking up their album Young Animal Hearts.  If you like Zulu Winter and The Maccabees, you will most definitely want to check out this album. I think it's one of the year's best so far. "The River" is one of my personal favorite songs from this album.  It's the darkest track but I love the imagery.   This is a must buy for any guitar-brit-rock fan.