New month, new band pt. XIII

The Black Angels

I think we may have discovered time travel. If The Black Angels didn't come directly out of the late 60's - early 70's then I'll eat my shoes. I've been a fan for quite a while now, I just never got around to sharing their music in this forum. I haven't yet figured out what sort of 'mood' you have to be in to listen to The Black Angels. Depressed immediately springs to mind, but just as quickly I have to dismiss it because it wouldn't work. Angry doesn't work either...happy? I'm going to go with you having to be in an 'on drugs' sort of mood. This band almost makes me want to dabble in mind-altering substances just to fully understand what's going on in most of their songs (...almost...). Regardless of mood, I think most people will find something they like about these guys. They have a 'drone machine' for crying out loud! I don't even know what a drone machine is, but I can hear it in every song. If you want to be droned at (and 'drone' is the perfect single word to describe this band) then sit back, relax, grab some hallucinogens and enjoy.

New month, new band pt. XII

Joanna Newsom

Now, I'll be honest here, I've known about Joanna Newsom for a long time. When I first heard her I was far from impressed. To me she was just some girl with a really weird voice that played silly little songs on a harp. While that is true to a certain extent, her new album has shown me that she's much more than that. She is just some girl with a really weird voice that plays silly little songs on a harp and does those things very well. She is an amazing harpist and, oddly enough, she can really really sing. I find myself having to stop what I'm doing to just listen whenever she shows up on my iTunes shuffle. I'm basing all of what I'm saying on my experience with her newest album, but I think its a prime example of what she can do. You may have to 'get past' her voice (I had to and I'm glad I did) but when you do you'll find something fantastic.

Under Great White Northern Lights

I've done it. Ive watched one of the best documentaries about one of the best bands to come out of the 00's. While The White Stripes may sit in a very unfortunate second place in my list of favorite bands, it is certainly a close second. Everyone may not be a fan and everyone might not agree with my saying that they're among the best ever but no one can deny that they created music that certainly wasn't like anything I'd ever heard before. The drums aren't always in sync. The guitar isn't always in tune. Jacks voice isn't always perfect. The good news: none of those things matter. If anything, all of that adds that little bit of nastiness that the band uses to melt faces.

I think my favorite thing about the movie is the exchanges between Jack and Meg (or lack thereof). They are the definition of 'polar opposite'. Jack is outgoing, charismatic and just plain loud. Meg is shy, reserved and just plain quiet. Its easy to see how one of the rumors is that they are brother and sister because that's exactly how they act.

The live performances should be (and are) reason enough for you to watch this movie. I would argue that they are some of the best versions of the songs. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The White Stripes are better live. I'm not saying their albums aren't good but, compared to their live performances, their albums aren't good. :)

Basically, what I'm getting at here is this: if you're a White Stripes fan you need to see this movie. If you aren't a White Stripes fan you need to see this movie. If you're breathing right now you need to see this movie.

"...but when it comes to the music, thats not pre-meditated at all. The music is really completely in charge of us."

I have a confession to make...

I read that they're going to re-air the World Cafe that featured St. Vincent. In that article there was a picture of Annie Clark.

...I have a gigantic crush on Annie Clark...

A good cover is a terrible thing to waste, pt. V

This is like the red-headed step child of the series' when it comes to my blog. I've done a few more in the way of new bands I'm listening to and not so much bands that I currently listen to that cover bands that I've never listened to.

This time we have my friend Colin Meloy covering a Morrissey song: Jack the Ripper. While the original version is good, I find that I like the acoustic treatment Mr. Meloy gives it. So lend me your ear and enjoy.

New month, new band pt. XI

The Temper Trap

Greetings, children, all the way from April!

I always seem to apologize for not updating my blog more so I shan't bother doing it here. I will simply bestow upon your eager ears a new musical obsession of mine. This month it comes in the form of The Temper Trap. These gentleman hail from down under which is a first, as far as I know, for my little series here. We've been places like France and Scotland but have yet to venture west. These guys are kind of all over the place. You'll get some very acoustic-y songs followed by some very electronic-y songs. I'll try to choose two songs when it comes to be song-posting time that illustrates this. For those of you lucky enough to have seen '500 Days of Summer' you know who this band is. You might not realize it, but you do. I'll now shut up yap and let you simply listen and enjoy.

New month, new band pt. X

Mumford and Sons

I honestly cant get my head around the fact that we're at number 10 on our journey. I have yet to find out where this journey will have us end up, probably nowhere, but its not about the destination is it? (At least thats what I learned in school...on Fridays...in the cafeteria...)

I would bet that several people could guess what this month's band was going to be. Yes, ladies and gentleman, its non other than Mumford and Sons. These guys were recommended to me by a friend of mine (Tabitha (also not Joel or Richard)). As soon as I listened to the song I was referred to I was hooked. They hail from England and, at least in my opinion, take the American bluegrass sound and give it a British twist. You can definitely here the British influences in their music, but you can equally as well hear the American. Im having a hard time deciding which songs to post so I think I'll go with some of the lesser known ones...or maybe not.

Listen and enjoy, children.