Beirut: Now I am a member of "The Flying Club Cup"

Oh Beirut is one of the most delicious things I listened to since The Decemberists. Zach Condon, a 21 year old child, has created this amazing album named The Flying Club Cup.

The album has the sound of a world traveller. The Balkan and eastern European inspired melodies make the sound extra exquisite. Then you start hearing 1940's-esque French cinema dialogs in the background. And Zach's voice smooths over this exotic musical richness like a velvet curtain which reminds me of his sultry predecessors Jens Lekman and Sufjan Stevens. There is some lo-fi elements to the music, which I think brings out Zach's Brooklyn roots.

Believe me you will not understand how a 21 year old could have such a worldly view? Such a velvety beautiful voice? One of my best discoveries. He has definitely come a long way since his Gulag Orkestar days...

The Golden Age of Iron & Wine: The Shepherd's Dog

My new obsession is Iron & Wine's new album: The Shepherd's Dog. Finally after 2 wonderful EP's, Sam Beam released a full length album. Like Women King, this album is really soulful, rhythmic and hazy but a lot more progressive and rich. Some songs make you want to dance, and all really make you smile.

Sam Beam is a one man band. He writes and sings and plays his songs. This is his first album where he actually sounds like a band, with rich sounds, multiple vocals, jazzy elements and exotic instruments. The contributors (Joey Burns and Paul Niehaus of Calexico, as well as jazz musicians Matt Lux and Rob Burger) make the album rich without shifting the essence of Iron & Wine.

For those of you who do not know Iron & Wine, there are a couple of things that make Iron & Wine so addictive: Beam's voice is soooo soothing and luring. The percussion in the songs is so clever, unique and catchy. And his style is jazzy, lo-fi and a little bit of alt-country.

This album to me is one of Beam's most elaborate and mature works. If you love Iron & Wine you will not be disappointed. If you do not know Iron & Wine, you really have to get this album. You will feel like it will fill the void in your music collection.

Patrick Wolf among the Sheep

I was just looking through Bazaar and saw this Burberry ad and I was sooo surprised

Why?

for those of you who do not recognize the bloke in this picture, let me introduce you to one of the most talented young musicians I have ever met (not literally but figuratively speaking of course): Patrick Wolf

I would highly recommend all of his albums (his latest, The Magic Position came out within this year). He is barely 21 (if that) and he writes his own music. He has a very unique style. He is melancholic, a little pissed off. His music is dancing with violins and pops in your head reminding you, demanding you... Oh so great!

Anyways, what is he doing in the Burberry Fall 07 Campaign I do not know. He's quite the fashionable guy I guess... I like it though... He is not trying to look like a Prada model - he is very much his pissed off aloof self.

Yup buy The Magic Position... Or Wind in the Wires...

An Unlikely Discovery: Christopher Denny

I am not really into country music unless it is so alternative that it is just melancholic good music, like Iron & Wine or Magic Numbers. But I just found a closer to traditional alternative music that is as refreshing as Loretta Lynn.
And without further ado, (not like you haven't read the title of the post but whatever), I would like to introduce Christopher Denny and his amazing album Age Old Hunger.
His lyrics are full of love and his music is stripped from all impurities. It is just heart-felt. He is freakin' 23 people. He has that Devendra Banhart kind of pitchy whine that just makes him so cool. It just really touches you, makes you aware of how urbanly jaded you are. Makes you go back to the days of drive in movie theaters in the summer and root beer floats with a cherry on top.
You need to get this album... It is so good. This guy is going to be Johnny Cash one day... In his own way.

Earlimart releases Mentor Tormentor

I haven't written much about new music lately. Partly because I have been lazy/busy which kept me from venturing and reading about music. (Hey I only blog part time...)
But also, I felt like there was a music lull especially in the type of music I was secretly craving lately.
And Earlimart's new album Mentor Tormentor hit that spot for me.

They are from the LALAland, and I think hail from Silverlake, a haven for musical genius!!! I think sunshine and broken dreams are the nectar of inspiration for west coast bands such as Snow Patrol, Modest Mouse, Death Cab, Elliot Smith and the such...

Well back to Earlimart's album. I think the way I would describe it is an LA version or a more kicked back and whimsical version of Radiohead... I am not sure whether you will see the connection but strangely I do... It is ethereal and has that deep sullen melancholy that does not take sadness so seriously. And I think more importantly, as it gets rainy and grey out, this band will pump that lush pop through your ears that does not clash with the mood but gently elevates you from whereever you are... Yup highly recommended...

Dappled Cities is worth the visit

Dappled cities is a quirky name for a quirky band with an album named Granddance. Why Granddance you might ask? Because the whole album makes you want to dance and bob your head and sing in the shower. It is indie pop at its best. Catchy like Broken Social Scene and unique like Wolf Parade, sometimes as enchanting as Arcade Fire (album #1 more like). And surprisingly enough, this band hails from a location you would not have guessed: i.e. not Canada: drum roll... Australia...

Granddance's opening song, Holy Chord got me hooked from the first three seconds. Fire, fire, fire is an instant hit. I really would love to see them live. Rumor has it that they are scheduled to come to the US pretty soon. Somebody keep me posted unless I don't do my homework!!!

St. Vincent says Marry Me

And I suggest all of you to say, I do, to that proposal. Don't be afraid of commitment. This album is absolutely worth it. Annie Clark's brand spankin' new band, St. Vincent is the band I have been waiting for, it feels like.I love female vocals in alternative music. But Annie Clark, not only delivers that dreamy woman lead in her songs but the multi instrumental joy that she contributed to Sufjan Stevens and Polyphonic Spree. Finally stepping into the limelight, she is just marvellous, as if she was born to be the next Tori Amos. I am having a hard time categorizing her music as pop, jazz or alt country or any other genre. She is so unique and just heart felt, makes you feel like you do when you are sitting with a cup of tea by the radiator cuddling in a blanket, watching snow come down.

Do not compare her to Feist who seemingly might have a similar path. Playing with a multi instrumental band such as Broken Social Scene, when Feist went solo, she opted for the simplicity of melody and power of words. Annie Clark on the other hand, creates a rich melody and layers that with angelic lyrics that can almost would overwhelm you at first because of its power and depth.

She is so comfortable in her lyrics and style that it is almost hard to believe that this is her debut album. Marry her and live happily ever after...

Of Montreal is coming to your town

How awesome is Of Montreal's Hissing Fauna album? Are you sickly obsessed or what? Yes yes, I absolutely am. The album should be the soundtrack of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim time. It is so yellow, green and red with a streak of black. It is an energizer bunny on crack. It belongs to no genre but I would like to call it "manic at the disco."

I think this album is interesting in that the first time you listen to it, it is far more digestible than the previous Of Montreal albums, which may make you think that it is more mainstream. Yet it is not. It is just as absurd and experimental yet a lot more personal and personable. The album is flourished with instrumental madness and Kevin Barnes sounds like your gossiping whimsical friend. (oh not to mention some of the depressingly ballad-like songs on this album that makes you think, Kevin, who hurt you so bad???)

And aren't we dying to see them live? Ohhh yess yess, here comes the good news!!!! They are kicking off their world tour in the fall and are probably coming to a concert venue near you.

More info about the tour for the detail oriented ones: (Yes they are they are coming to Boston they areeeee!!!!!!!! Wheeeee, October 12th it is! At the Roxy that is!)

The National is coming to town

And I missed them. Well for those lucky people who had a chance to see them at the Middle East, I want to say, I am jealous.

Their first album, Alligator was good. It was just the perfectly created music album. I just did not feel the umpf that would make it wonderful. I appreciated how great National is but did not get obsessively attached to the album the way I usually do with most of the new bands that I see as my proteges. I need to defend them, help with their viral marketing they deserve. With National, I just quietly found them good.

Oh, but that is until they released the Boxer which is something else. It is darker, more complex, their voice and soul discovered. I feel like they are not playing safe any more. They decided to let go to unveil their true awesome self. So now they are one of my favorites but probably not a protege because they are past that band-ling stage.

The lead singer has a dark voice that whispers poems in your ears. It is like walking on the asphalt of a desolate street in a big big city where the moon frolicks skyscrapers. And that is all you can see besides your shadow and the silvery reflection of the asphalt.

The drums are just as captivating as the lead singer's voice. The beats are clever, pushing the limits and declaring the drums as the mood setter.

And now I sit here wondering how wonderful it should be to see them live. Oh how was it? Was it as good as I am afraid it is?

White Rabbit Alert

White rabbit is my favorite candy. It's a vanilla thingie wrapped in rice paper sold in japanese delis. I could eat them in massive quantities.
And that lovely feeling they give me, a new band named White Rabbits has provided me without the calories. Ohhh, I don't know why I am being so lame with my puns today. I really don't know.

But folks, seriously, listen to White Rabbits, as starters their wonderful song "Kid on my shoulders" from their album Fort Nightly.

It is a hip shaking, head bobbing debut of Rabbits singing sweet sensation. The piano is in a minor key, creating a deep suspense within the upbeat melody. The more you listen, the more the mystery wraps you in its ivory fingers. Oh so delightful.
I haven't done my research but I think this is White Rabbit's first album. If it is, it indeed is a huge success. (Disclaimer, it is not that I haven't done my homework. There is hardly any information on them on google - so I suspect they've ought to be new)

I think their name is probably not inspired by my favorite candy but the 60/70's staple psychedelic song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane (has a billion cover versions, one that I know by Patti Smith)

These boys do sounds like they listen to great music and have been inspired by great music. The lead has such a lovely modern voice with elements of pure brit pop. They have elements of the Cure, David Bowie. They sound both 70s and Gen Y.

So the short of it is, really, this is such an awesome album. Makes me really happy. Oh the tango of it all... Captivatingly beautiful

Spencer Krug's Dream

Yesterday, I have discovered one of the merits of Cambridge: Middle East. It is an interesting place. A restaurant run by a couple of cute grandparentsy middle eastern peeps who serve yummy middle eastern food. And sometime after 8-10 pm it is also a music venue. It is a weird scene: The juxtaposition of these dipped-in-sugar grandparents dancing to alternative music along with Boston's alt crowd, who is surprisingly stripped from hipster bingo elements.

Anyways, I was there last night, due to a late night greasy food crave. I then discovered that in an hour, Sunset Rubdown was playing at the venue. It was an awesome food for body and mind combo.

And Sunset Rubdown was actually pretty cool. Much cooler than I gave them credit for when I listened to them months ago when their album Shut up I am dreaming came out. I still think that Spencer Krug did not stray too far from his Wolf Parade days but he is still a genius with plenty of talent to spare for two bands. I thought that the difference between Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown is a touch of Decemberists that Sunset seems to channel. Shut up I am dreaming is a hip swinging, head bobbing glam pop hit. I love it! The band is excellent at taking an almost Avril Lavigne worthy (in a good way I promise) catchy tune and adding a wealth of instrumental goodness, that is enchanting and addicting.

They are a humble band with a few jokes up their sleeve as well. They were very engaged with the audience and were funny without being cocky. Spencer sounds like your nerdy alternative best friend. They are awesome to see live.

Rocker's Trinity

I was listening to Arcade Fire's Neon Bible last night. I am just blown away by that album. After their flawless album Funeral, I was expecting a downturn. The type you anticipate after a really mind blowingly awesome album. Like the Dears or the Scissor Sisters... The band either tries too hard to be different or to preserve their sound and the album is a flop.

So then I came up with a theory that am still feeling out. I think what it takes to have a legendary band is three consecutively awesome albums. Third album is the death of a hyped up band that does not have the genuine stroke of genius. And after leaving that bad taste in their fans mouths, the band either disintegrates (significantly better way to keep dignity) or releases their forth album, a.k.a. the joke album, that destroys what is left of their reputation and makes them an ultimate target for chuckles. Subjectively, after Strokes, Cold Play and Interpol released their above categorized "trying too hard" second album, they were slowly approaching their inevitable death and the third and failed album sealed the coffin for them. Whereas The Decemberists after releasing the Picaresque went over the 3rd album hump. Or Wilco and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album... Or Blonde Redhead and Misery is Butterfly... Or Elbow and Leaders of the Free World... Ahhh thinking about these albums just makes me happy.

The bar is set up really high after the second awesome album release. To overcome that and deliver a third hit is the sign of a musical genius. And that's why I love the Decemberists!!!

Good luck Arcade Fire. I am looking forward to the next one because I am soaking this one up.