Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Mixing the Madness

It's been a weird week which means I'm in a weird mood and of course, means I'm listening to some weird music. I'd been digging into a lot of really experimental stuff, almost as though I were searching for the perfect song to define my mind and in doing so, wrap everything into a neat little package. While the intended result fell short, the song existed and gradually found its way to me.


I was playing around with some new sounds with coworker and good friend Paul when we began to have an impromptu listening party for inspiration. Here, he introduced me to Son Lux, aka Ryan Lott - a colleague from Paul's past at Indiana University. While I was blown away by the world that Lott's music spanned, one song in particular stuck out and has been occupying my mind to the point of near obsession.

While the original is already brilliant, it was a remix of the song Weapons done by Nico Muhly that would ultimately grab me by the cortex and drag my mind around. Rapid panning strings chaotically build over jazz-infused break beats, all breaking way to a beautiful, ambient surface on which the song continues to play for nearly 4 glorious minutes.


-The only things I hate about myself are the things I can't see

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Backward Sound Forward

I've been tripping on a lot of old tunes these days - stuff that sounds really grimey but lets the absolute soul shine through. Been listening to a lot of old blues recordings, gritty acoustic stuff and early rock and roll.


Today was a day of obsessively listening to The Sonics. One of the original 60s garage rock bands, they blew up out of Washington and arguably laid the groundwork for future generations of grunge rockers. They played a lot of covers and blues/rock standards, however, they played them with such fury and intensity that I don't think anyone would have really called them on it.

As an aside, some of you may recognize the song below from another one of my obsessions, The Black Keys. While the keys did a monster cover of this song in 2003, I prefer the Sonic's version. However, the original song was actually an old R&B number by Richard Berry.

And now you know...


-Go right ahead, deliver me in chains

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Feather Beatings

You'd think that after spending years and 3 full albums as a cartoon, Dan the Automater would be sick of it?  Alas, apparently not.


Dan's latest project, Pillowfight, with Emily Wells is a unique departure from the Gorillaz with some similar undertones.  The trademark beats and eerie melodies are still present, however, Pillowfight has a distinctly more comical, lighthearted and groovy feel.  I'm curious to see where the project will go, but damned excited for the album to creep it's way out.


-Your self control just let go, so was it my fault?

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Sludgeheads Rejoice

It's a new year and I'm going to take the opportunity afforded by my first post to do a shitty job. There you go... I'm setting expectations low for 2013.


Truth be told, I already kinda screwed this one up. I managed to give an honourable mention for EP of the year to a band that I hadn't even been kind enough to share yet. I am of course referring to The Great Sabatini. In addition to having one of the most amusing band names ever, this band creates a wall of sound that is both unique, intense, catchy and deadly. They've been around since 2007, which makes me a little pissed off at the Shaking Judy & Big Fat Pie boys for not sharing sooner (or they did and I was too drunk and forgot). I honestly do want to describe this band more, however, their sound is best described as genre-defying. Their songs are often sporadic, unsettling and completely unpredictable, yet through all the madness, they still stumble across tune that completely captivate.

Best of all, while Matterhorn, their latest EP, can be purchased through bandcamp for a measly $8, my personal favourite, The Royal We, can be downloaded for free.

So, what are you waiting for?


-A) I love you, B) I hate you... C) ?