Archive for the ‘Mp3s’ Category
Telekinesis: Car Crash
There’s nothing like juxtaposition to get me hooked on a song and Seattle-based band Telekinesis fronted by the talented Michael Benjamin Lerner always does a great job writing power pop songs that have darker meanings deep within. Placing himself somewhere between the audacity of Cee-Lo Green‘s “Fuck You” and the melodrama of Jens Lekman‘s “The End of The World Is Bigger Than Love,” Telekinesis is also going to go with the formula which worked on their debut album on the sophomore effort titled 12 Desperate Straight Lines.
The chunky, buzzed pop is perhaps not as geeky as Rivers Cuomo’s lyrical content but there is enough in lyrics such as “Will I die alone?/You know, I’m so concerned/You know, I’m so confused/Like a lost child, a little lost child” that make it hard to believe a song such as “Car Crash” sounds as peppy as it does. Even after a literal car crash (his van) along with some temporary vertigo, the excitement in regards to the upcoming album–which is slated for release on February 15th via Merge Records–is one swarm of hype I’m willing to stay enveloped in. As the title vaguely hints, we’ll be getting 12 more great tunes.
Check the tune from Telekinesis’ upcoming album out below!
White Sea: Ladykiller
If you’ve ever wondered who was behind those amazing female vocals in M83, that would be Morgan Kibby. A talented classically trained pianist, singer, composer, producer and more, Kibby was the perfect feminine touch to Anthony Gonzalez’s electronic dream pop. She has also been in other various bands around Los Angeles including The Ramonovs but her most current solo project, White Sea, has such an outstanding sound it deserves to be singled out from everything else she’s done.
White Sea released an EP titled “This Frontier” for free earlier this year and I can say without a doubt that it came out of nowhere to earn its spot as one of the best local EPS of 2010. Utilizing every bit of her talent, whether it be on keys, guitar or just vocals, White Sea packs in a mean but flirty punch with just five tracks. Songs range from dark disco to opera to pop and more.
In all honesty, White Sea should not be a new name if you’ve read Wild Tonic in the last few months. Her songs, “Ladykiller,” (a song which she originally started working on as a hook for a hip hop artist) and “Mountaineer” (which made my Top 20 Local LA Songs of 2010) were included on the last two mixtapes. If you’ve yet to take a listen and grab the tunes, enjoy them after the jump!
The Belle Brigade: Sweet Louise
If dictionaries were to have photos of bands next to the definition, “charming” would have The Belle Brigade‘s picture next to the word. Although I couldn’t count how many band members are actually on stage, I know that the brother and sister duo who front the band and comprised of Ethan and Barbara Gruska sing folk pop songs that make one’s heart grow so abnormally large that it might burst out the ribcage.
Simply put, The Belle Brigade’s amount of talent could send anyone into serotonin overload. Barbara, who is mostly known for being a drummer (for Jenny Lewis, The Watson Twins, Inara George and more) is finally up in the spotlight with a guitar singing those gorgeous harmonies with her younger brother. Also, Ethan may be called out as her “kid brother,” but he is as much of a leader as his sister in songs such as ‘Sweet Louise” and “Loser.”
The Belle Brigade is currently doing a residency at The Satellite (formerly Spaceland) with The Fling. Once you hear “Loser” live, your life may just change forever.
They’re also working on a full-length for Warner Bros. but take a listen to lilting Americana pop song, “Sweet Louise” for now below!
Eulogies: You Hide
If you’re a fan of Dangerbird Records or just a fan of a good cause, you may have heard of the Pablove Foundation. The local scene makes sure to keep the foundation afloat as the money goes toward helping kids fight cancer. The name of the foundation gets it name from Pablo Castelaz, the late son of Dangerbird Records co-founder, Jeff Castelaz.
Peter Walker of Eulogies, who is Jeff Castelaz’s business partner and best friend, was by Pablo’s side as he took his last breath at just six years old. Although a tragic chapter to add onto one’s life story, Walker did make sure he paid tribute to his feelings during that time and to Pablo through music. This is where Eulogies’ Tear The Fences Down comes into the story – or rather – continues one.
Although the origin of the album comes out of a heavy occurrence, the LP seems to have a very uplifting sound despite dealing with dark themes. Instead of going down a moody Smiths or Cure route of pessimism, the lead single, “You Hide,” sounds more like a celebration of life.
Tear The Fences Down will be released on January 18 via Dangerbird Records. I highly recommend picking it up. Until then, take a listen to “You Hide” below!
Lykke Li: I Follow Rivers
When Lykke Li‘s popularity finally landed in the US, we were all pretty much blown away by her adorable eccentricity on Youth Novels. However, it’s personally been a long time since I’ve heard any new material live up to the power of “I’m Good, I’m Gone.” Guest spots on songs such as Royksopp’s “Miss It So Much,” Amanda Blank‘s “Leaving You Behind” and even a track on Twilight’s New Moon soundtrack (“Possibility”) were nice but there hasn’t been a track of hers that has forcefully grabbed me as much as her first single did.
The Swedish singer has maintained her mysteriousness as well as her coy sensuality but even with the bold, “Get Some” off her her upcoming album, Wounded Rhymes, I still wasn’t feeling all of it. The track is loved by many, many music critics I know (Beck even remixed the track), but it wasn’t until I heard “I Follow Rivers” that my hopes were pulled back up to where they belonged.
“I Follow Rivers” contains lyrics which don’t try so hard and manages to please my ears while combining both her old and new songwriting styles. With a thread of tribal beats that pulls the entire song together, the chorus is also incredibly catchy all on its own.
Take a listen to both “I Follow Rivers” and “Get Some” along with a few remixes below!
Tape Deck Mountain: It Goes Down
I’ve always enjoyed Tape Deck Mountain ever since I saw them at Aquarium Drunkard’s Waved Out in 2010. Live, they are ferocious as they are slowly hypnotic; that is a skill every great shoegaze band has and I am just giddy with the two latest tracks from the San Deigo band.
They may have just released their album, Ghost, last November but they’ve been keeping busy enough to release a brand new EP a few days ago titled “Secret Serf” which boasts the very exciting songs, “It Goes Down” and “P.I..” With the latter being slightly more upbeat than the former, both songs make for a very positive foreshadow of what their full-length will hopefully sound like.
With vocals almost hidden in all the fuzz and shredding mania, “It Goes Down” especially pulls one into something similar to an acid trip – ironically not on the beach. Tape Deck Mountain manages some tongue and cheek humor along with some incredible talent.
Take a listen to the two new songs below!
Wise Blood: Loud Mouths
My initial feelings toward Wise Blood aka Christopher Laufman were very similar to the ones I had when I first discovered Kissed Her Little Sister. Leaving me a bit confused yet intrigued as mashup music always does, my ears were begging for more when I heard a few tracks from Wise Blood’s then-free EP, ‘+’. “B.I.G. E.G.O” has an unusual organ foundation similar to one you’d hear in gospel music, and “STRT SRNS” has great pop hook which bounces around in those heavy beats.
I may be a little late in sharing Wise Blood with you but just know this. He’s young and he’s determined to take over the world of pop music through his mashups. Toward the end of 2010, he was definitely one of those obscure, hyped up acts based on his EP alone. Since then, he’s released a few videos with “B.I.G. E.G.O.” even starring Guinness heiress (Daphne Guinness). He’s now also signed to Dovecote Records for an upcoming 2011 EP.
I’ve enjoyed Wise Blood before but it’s this new single “Loud Mouths” that has me really digging his style. Starting out with some choral snippets of the hymnal, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” a couple of chilling screams, and some deep moans, Laufner then comes in with those falsetto vocals on top of a gothic beat and repetitive piano chords. As he sings about throwing “powder up your nose,” it all makes for one nice, heavy, hip-hop tune – even if I swear there is a Celine Dion sample toward the end.
Check out “Loud Mouths,” the B.I.G. E.G.O. video, along with some other tunes from his previous EP below. (Wise Blood also debuted another video a few days ago which you can catch here.)
Family of the Year Music Video: Pysche Or Like Scope
If you’ve ever seen LA band, Family of the Year, you’re most likely used to seeing a large group of guys and gals playing some tight folk indie rock jams. In fact, they’ve gotten such a familial and easy-going vibe about them, Steven Tyler even dubbed the band as the “Mamas and Papas on acid.”
So, it’s a bit of a surprise to see that they’ve recently released a video for a track they never play live. “Psyche Or Like Scope” seemed a bit out of place on their 2009 album, Songbook, which boasted rich, harmonious songs like “Stupidland” or “Summergirl.” However with “Psyche Or Like Scope,” having as much magnetism as it has a nice solid electronica foundation (which still supports the comparisons to Fleetwood Mac), the song found its way up to the top on Parisian radio. It may not be folk, but it’s certainly proof that this band can bend their artistic pencils when it comes to writing great songs in other genres.
The video is laid-back as it is spacey and nicely portrays the feel-good vibes of the band members while it also caters to a more “European” sound. The clip is directed by Mareesa Stertz who got a lending hand from rest of Black Flamingo for the effects.
You can watch the video below as well as grab “Chugjug,” a tune off of last year’s EP, “Through the Trees” (which sounds more like the Family of the Year we locals know). However, if you’re into making new mixes of your favorite songs, the band has put their stems of “Psyche Or Like Scope” up for a remix contest. Take a listen to the tracks below and see what you feel like doing.
Kurt Vile: Jesus Fever
Whether Kurt Vile is playing solo or with his backing band The Violators, there is always a demure quality to him as we take in his simple yet majestic tunes in a live setting. It may be the long hair, which always seems to block any facial expressions of his, that may give off a certain humility but it ultimately never seems to matter when the lyrics and melodies always speak for themselves.
If you’ve gotten the chance to see Vile play a few times, you’ve probably noticed that his confidence has grown as it always should for a great artist. However, the spin he puts on the subject of spirituality is consistently soft as it is always enticing. His latest track “Jesus Fever” continues the theme as he sings of being “already gone.” The 70′s tinted tune combines the usual roots and psychedelia rock Vile is known for, but there’s also a nice gentle breeze that flows through this one making it must-listen-on-repeat addiction. The song is off of his upcoming sophomore LP, Smoke Ring For My Halo, which will be released on March 8 via Matador. If you’re smart, you’ve already pre-ordered the album.
Take a listen and grab the track below!
LA Font: Lone Wolf Boys
LA Font landed on my radar far too late. However, once their music found its way to my pool of local music I enjoy putting on repeat, the band made room for themselves in a seat next to other local favorites such as The Henry Clay People and Death To Anders. Their tune “Fine Lines” from their album The American Leagues also made my Top 20 Local LA Songs of 2010.
I’ve described this band as a “no-frill” band on my latest mixtape because there’s just no better way to put it. Vocals from Danny Bobbe amusingly sneer with the ironic lyrics and the country-punk undertones serve as a wake-up call to all hipsters in Echo Park. LA Font is a band who calls it as they see it through some pop sensibility and garage rock drenched in Slanted and Enchanted influences. Who’s going to reject the truth when it sounds this good?
Take a listen to their beautiful laments in “Lone Wolf Boys” and unabashed declarations in “Fine Lines” below!
