The thing I love about music is when someone comes out with something completely original, even after ALL the music that has been created. It is fascinating and refreshing. Polica is just such a band. Truly unique sound. Polica (pronounced Po lisa) is the Polish word for policy, even though there is no 'c' in the Polish language. Founded by Ryan Olson and Channy Leaneagh out of Minneapolis, they are classified as electronic R&B...that's pretty close, but I find a lot more layers going on in the music than that, including a reggae undercurrent and some goth pop. Check them out below.
These guys were ALL the buzz at SXSW this year. Everywhere I went, I overheard people talking about this band. All the cool kids wanted to see their live show. This album has made numerous EOY lists and for good reason. Infectious roots rock masterfully crafted. Heralding from Athens, Alabama are lead singer Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, and drummer Steve Johnson. Brittany's voice is rugged, soulful and powerful. They've been nominated for a grammy, so be looking for this band to explode in the near future.
Like Freelance Whales, this is a highly orchestrated band, and I just love them for it. These guys made my top 50 back in 2009 with their debut album Reservoirhere. Simon Balthazar and Giles Davis (Giles is no longer with the band) formed the band back in 2006. Current members include; Amos Memon, Cathy Lucas, Justin Finch, Leon Beckenham, and Simon Balthazar. Beautifully orchestrated baroque pop, I hope to see these guys live soon. I worry that their London address keep them from coming to Oklahoma.
These guys made my top 50 back in 2010 here. This Queens, New York band got their start busking in the subway and on street corners. Diluvia shows them with a much more expansive sound, include much more intricate orchestral manipulations and some choral work. The beauty that is produced by this band continues to elate me. With the number of assorted instruments and immaculate songwriting, I hope they make your list as well.
If you've listened to Sarah Jaffe before, but somehow neglected to pick this album up, you are in for a big surprise. Her previous style had been a moody singer/songwriter with folksy roots. This new album still highlights her moodiness, but backs it up with an electronic core and pays homage to her interests in hip-hop as well. Her incredibly beautiful voice and heartfelt lyrics still shine through and I welcome the change. It made for an infinitely more enjoyable listening experience, and I always like to see artists challenge themselves. Bravo! This young woman lives right down the road in Denton, Texas.
This 5 piece out of Brooklyn, in the artistic Bushwick district, are really, just a bunch of friends who play music together. Formerly known as Perpetual Crush, they are Samantha Urbani (vocals), Lesley Hann (bass, percussion, backing vocals), Nikki Shapiro (guitar, keyboards, percussion), Matthew Molnar (keyboards, percussion, bass), Oliver Duncan (drums). This album is so fun and different. A tropicali, disco vibe, with some great dance beats and some punk mixed in as well. It is funny to read bloggers' frustrations with how much music comes out of Brooklyn. I have mentioned the sheer volume in this blog myself. However, I concur, this band is worth checking out.
Heavily inspired by Serge Gainsbourg, Dent May was a former NYU film student. Now living in Oxford, Mississippi, he decided to work on music and art. He owns a 5000 square foot barn called Cats Purring that is being used to develop an artist community. His previous album he was known as Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele. Not as much Uke in this album, but a winner nonetheless. A lot more beatbox and electronic influence pepper this album, but I bet the Uke isn't far away. If you don't know me by now, I am a sucker for late 60's inspired pop.
These guys are out of Brooklyn and their founding member, John Philpot used to play for Presocratics. While it started out as just him, like many bands, it soon fleshed out to a complete line-up. Now he is joined by Joe Stickney and Adam Wills. At one time, bassist James Elliott played for the band before going on to form School of Seven Bells. After several tours, this psychedelic, electronic band has moved away from some of their experimental nature and gravitated to a more pop-driven sound. This does not mean this is a pop record, just that it is much more digestible than previous records.
Next entry is surf rock, Los Angeles based band, Best Coast. They have been in the Top 50 before back in 2010 here. Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno bring us another album of great, love and loss surf rock tunes. In addition to this, they also put out an amazing cover of Rhiannon on the Fleetwood Mac tribute album...Just Tell Me That You Want Me. Watch the video below as they destroy lots of food and musical instruments.
This is the work of a Welsh duo, Tomas Greenhalf and Ryan James from Cardiff. The entire album was produced in Tomas' bedroom, which is pretty amazing considering the immensity of the music. The album is laid-back electronic at points, atmospheric at others and down-right dancy in others. The project was started in 2011 by the pair sharing music files over email. Very impressive first work and I'm happy to see them make the list.
And so we begin. My first entry is just an amazing folk artist. The band Horse Feathers (named after a saying, which the Marx Bros. movie was also named after) is basically Justin Ringle. The backing line-up is Nathan Crockett (violin, viola, mandolin, saw), Dustin Dybvig (drums, keyboards), Angie Kuzma (violin, back up Vox) and Lauren Vidal (cello). They are out of Portland, Oregon. This is their fourth album of haunting melodies. Prior to this they have put out Words Are Dead, House With No Home, and Thistled Spring. I loved the first album when it came out, but this one may be the best one yet. Reminds me a little of Sun Kil Moon, but a lot more Appalachia. Lots of banjo and fiddle in these tunes and should make the folkies happy. Awesome animated video below as well as a song you can download. Enjoy.
Well, it's finally that time of year. It's only been about six months since my last post, but the music goes on. With the addition of the radio show, my life has gotten a little busier and it has changed the way I listen to music some. However, I have still based my top 50 on play counts. I prefer it this way. You get a peek into what I like to listen to and I don't wax on about how artistic an album is and neither one of us can barely make it through one listen. I have now been doing this long enough that bands are making repeat appearances in my top 50 countdown. The interesting thing is that they weren't in the same spots they were last time. Lots of great music this year. So, here we go...let the countdown begin!
...I am currently hosting a radio show. It combines my two greatest passions: wine & music. It is currently Mondays from 7-8pm CST on The Spy. You can also listen on iTunes under the 'Radio' tab. Click on 'Alternative' and go to The Spy. You can also listen on Roku. You can also listen on your AppleTV or your iPhone via the SpyFM app. It is called Tasting Notes and you can find it on Facebook here. Now you can also listen at KOSU on the FM dial at 91.7 in OKC, 107.5 in Tulsa and 88.3 in Stillwater. On this show, I pair music and wine. It turns out that this is a fairly recent scientific phenomenon. Many journal articles have been written and you can read about this phenomenon here, here, and here. We do a locals only show once a month, in which I showcase an Oklahoma artist with an Oklahoma wine....which have gone surprisingly well. I typically feature a varietal and find music to accompany that varietal. But, I must say, I find this approach akin to picking a wine for a wine dinner and have the chef build the food around the wine. In the future, I would like to pick a genre of music and pair the wine or wines around that. I think that would be infinitely more fun. Plus I would get to delve more deeply into the music aspect of the show. You can follow me on twitter @winedr. While this is no excuse, it is at least a reason to my gross absence from this blog. Working full time, moving, kids and now a radio show make it difficult to keep the blog up. However, it's not like I've done any better in the past. If you would like to listen to past episodes at your own leisure, you can do so at soundwisepodcast.com. Here you can listen at leisure with a bottle of your choosing...or message me or browse the facebook page to see which wine we used for the episode. It is still pretty crazy to me, logical person that I am, that a song can dramatically alter both the smell and taste of a wine. Hope you enjoy the show.
Well, it's been a few months. Work has been crazy busy and now, with a radio show once a week, time to blog is almost non-existent. I've been wanting to do this for awhile and was only going to keep it limited to five. However, when I started looking at what I'd missed, I found ten with virtually no effort. To put it mildly, last year was a great year for new music, and this year is shaping up nicely as well. So, without further ado, here's ten more albums that could have easily made the top 50, I just haven't listened to them until now. These are in no particular order...I hope you enjoy.
1. Other Lives - Tamer Animals
I've been fortunate enough to see these guys three times already this year. They reside in Stillwater, which is apparently a mecca for great musicians and creativity, because Stillwater is also the home to Deerpeople and Dead Sea Choir, who are amazing in their own right. It's so crazy how big these guys are getting. They just got off tour with, none other than, Radiohead. Tamer Animals is their Sophomore effort and received loads of accolades. Very happy to put a local band on my blog.
This is a band I ran across in Dallas and who call Fort Worth, Texas home. At the core are Dan and Kelsey Bowman, who are a husband and wife team and a constantly rotating cavalcade of musicians. The more I listen to this band, the more I love them. As close as they are to us, I have yet to see them on a roster here in OKC, but that doesn't mean they haven't. They are certainly excellent candidates for The Blue Door and the house concerts going on in the city. Perhaps I will have them come play my house after I move. They play this Saturday at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton
Saw these guys at SXSW this year and they just completely blew me away. I bought their recent LP, which is a complete cover of Steely Dan's 'Aja' album. That, in and of itself, was enough to sell me on the band. The Canadian band is shoegaze and have been gaining a lot of acclaim.
I discovered these guys by accident and have never turned back. The Rhode Island duo focus on Eastern European folk, but have no problem incorporating other forms of folk from around the world into their music. They just got through playing a mind-blowing show in El Reno last month.
An electo-pop duo from England, Jeremy Warmsley and Elizabeth Sankey produce digital melodies that draw heavily from the 60's surf rock and 80's synth-wave. A great name to remain obscure, because, try typing 'summer camp' into google. Check out the video below.
A five-piece from Santa Barbera, these guys incorporate goth sensibilities in with their dream-pop, electro sound. It makes for a wonderful convergence. They have been here twice within the last year and made a big splash at SXSW. Mostly because the lead singer has a flute strapped to his back.
Another band I found by accident out of Sydney, Australia. They are classified as indie rock, folk and psychedelia. Which basically means, they defy genre and have crafted a unique sound. They have received loads of acclaim in Australia and have been supported by Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend and The Magic Numbers to name a few.
Saw these guys at SXSW and they are just, simply amazing. They are branded as folk, but it's not the traditional folk sound you might be accustomed to hearing. Another Australian band out of Melbourne, these guys craft beautiful songs that stick with you. They will release their album in the US in July.
An indie rock band from Philadelphia including Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel. This is their sophomore release and is just incredible. Again, I can't believe I fucking missed this. This is the second album from Secretly Canadian; which means I need to pay more attention to them.
Givers is a band out of Lafayette, LA and is indie rock with an African worldbeat influence. It's probably what attracted me to it, was the Ladysmith Black Mambazo style instrumentation. This will probably be a new segment for me in years to come, mostly because there are always bands I miss throughout the year that hit my attention in the first few months of the new year. So much music...so little time.
The recent uproar over the SOPA/PIPA (and now ACTA) legislation has given me time to think about the state of the music business. Everyone knows by now that the music business has been 'suffering' since the advent of file sharing on the web, at least, if you listen to the RIAA. I am not saying anything new by trashing the RIAA. However, I do want to remind everyone that it is the 'music industry' that has manufactured artists and music through the 80's and 90's and shoved them into our face via radio, television and music stores. This is not really an open letter to the monolithic music business that churns out garbage. No, this is more a letter to the rest of the recording artists. The ones that actually try to put out a quality product. The internet has caused, what I see, a renaissance in music. Whereas it might have taken an independent label recording artist close to ten years to get a decently large fanbase, new artists can rocket ahead in just a year's time after their first release. How does this happen? Free music. Now, I am not saying that artists should give their music away for free. I am an individual who spends every spare penny I have on the music industry. I go to concerts, I buy merchandise, I buy special limited edition prints, I buy music, a lot of music. If, however, I was just limited to what I was buying, as I was twenty years ago, my musical enrichment would suffer. People like music. I love when I walk into a restaurant or store and hear some obscure band playing over their speakers and that band has had no radio time, no record label deal, no advertising. It has all happened through file sharing and the speed of communication on the internet. In just five years time Austin City Limits Music Festival has gone from selling out maybe a month or two before the festival to selling out in hours, or less. This is happening at music festivals all around the country. Not to mention small festivals (like Forecast) have grown from 200 people to 25000. Concert venues are selling out bands faster and faster. Just in our little berg of OKC, I have seen an increase in concerts coming through our city in the last five years. Record stores are experiencing a rebirth due to the recent popularity of vinyl. There is no way you can convince me that pirating music is hurting artists. The RIAA business model simply doesn't work. Music is and always has been a shared experience. I have, since I started listening to music as a teen, shared music with my friends. Recording music off the radio, making cassette tapes for my friends (with my dual cassette drive), and burning CD's. Now I can copy my entire library from one hard drive to another in the amount of time it used to take to copy a cassette. Now, I understand that the MPAA does not operate under the same principles I have laid out. Pirating of movies should stop. Movies can't go on tour and can't merchandise in quite the same way. As for the RIAA, give it up! Find a new way to make money, like so many others have. You fleeced us for years on CD's and shitty artists. So, recording artists, the only way these things stop is if you stand up and fight with us. Start your own label, join an independent one or talk to your label about it's participation in file sharing. Services like Spotify and Grooveshark and Pandora are revolutionizing music even further. Prosecuting file sharing companies, censoring content on the web, etc. is backwards thinking. We want to see forward thinking. Quit trying to take us back to the way things were. We hated that. I like being able to listen to new music at my leisure and to explore bands. As Spotify takes hold and services like Soundcloud and Grooveshark proliferate, we are able to listen to more and more and with the Spotify add-on in Facebook, we can even watch what our friends are listening to. Let me put it this way, the old way resulted in me knowing and liking a few dozen artists and spending my money to go see a few of them live and buy their merch. Now, because of services like Spotify and the ease with which I can obtain music, as well as the rise of music blogs like this one, I know and like hundreds upon hundreds of bands. I now try to cram as many live shows as I can each year trying to see these bands live and buy more merch, because they've gotten better at putting out stuff people want. Enjoy the renaissance of music with us artists. Please don't let the RIAA take us back to that dark time. It's time for change and only you can change it.
Thanks for stopping by. I listen to entirely too much music and love sharing music almost as much as I love listening to it. The purpose of this blog is to do just that and bring you along the journey with me.
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