Scott Pilgrim vs the World - Original Soundtrack
Yea, that's right.. I bought the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack. And you know what else? I bought the SCORE too. Songs by Beck, Broken Social Scene, Nigel Godrich and a host of other quality bands. Why wouldn't someone get this? Even if you hated the movie - a entirely baffling concept - the soundtrack (and score) is a worthy listen. I realize this was created with someone like myself in mind - nerdy, into "indie" music and a sucker for effectively bridging gaps between worlds (graphic novel to movie, british director to american movie success, etc) - but I don't care. It worked. I really enjoy it.
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We Are Trees - Boyfriend EP
Vocalist James Nee sounds like Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen. There, I said it. I hate comparing one band to another but the similarities between the two can be uncanny at times. This four song EP shows a ton of promise. Lulling pop songs through the conduit of ethereal vocals. If you somehow manage to NOT enjoy "Sunrise Sunset" I will be shocked. The overall melancholy vibe here is right up my alley.. really looking forward to hearing more.
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Heartbeater - Slow Waves
Nashville band that has been getting some good local press as of late. Their full-length debut is pretty much the kind of straightforward rock that has mostly been missing from my incoming music as of late. It's got a nice dark edge to it, the overall sound is huge and it's got an enjoyable driving energy to it. Reminds me of the kind of rock I listened to in the later part of the 90's but that's not a slight.. it's a familiar sound that I don't get enough of these days.
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Tallest Trees - The Ostrich or The Lark
I typically tell people that Tallest Trees is the Nashville equivalent of Animal Collective. Unfair? Probably so. Vaguely accurate in terms of giving you a base of what to expect from their sound? Absolutely. They aren't as out there as ole AC and never as abrasive but their sound certain resides in the same family, though way more focused on the pop side of things. I highly enjoy this record - it's engaging without being overbearing, ambient at times without being boring and I'm pretty proud that they call Nashville home.
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Autolux - Transit Transit
It only took six years for their sophomore album to come to light but you can only assume a band like Autolux must take their precious time in creating such little masterpieces. Overall the album is more withdrawn than their debut, Future Perfect. Fewer explosions of frantic energy but that doesn't equate to a negative review; it's just a different vibe. They still stand in their own genre of electronic, ambient sampled, sullen yet pop craft. I was a little bummed that live show staple Disappearing didn't make the cut but this is easily one of those records that I can put on at any time and hear something new and enjoyable tucked into all the textures.
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Candy Claws - Hidden Lands
This is one of the Pitchfork buzz-y bands that sounds inspired by Animal Collective but way mellowier that I will likely neglect ever listening to after a year or so but, for the moment, really brings a great vibe to a working environment. I love the artwork and it basically has that feeling you'd presumably associate with smoking a ton of weed and just hanging out with some pals.
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The Arcade Fire - Suburbs
I don't care if it's overly contrived or obvious or predictable but I completely agree with anyone that says this album is phenomenal. Much like Neon Bible it is best listened to as an entire piece but like Funeral it's got more of a fusion of upbeat songs with dark / macabre themes. Some have judged the subject matter of The Suburbs as being too adolescent but I feel like it's something that a large stock of people can relate to. These guys are three for three as far as I'm concerned.
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Menomena - MINES
Let's start by establishing the fact that I am a huge Menomena fan and have been since album one. What they do is pretty unique. That being said, something feels off with this record. Am I getting used to their shtick? Are the lyrics really as bad on this record as I think they are? Maybe it's a grower and I'm still adjusting to the newness but it certainly didn't grab me like the prior releases. In the spectrum of their releases, this one ranks down there but it's still Menomena.. which makes it better than most of what's out there.
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Dean & Britta - 13 Most Beautiful. Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen
Best known for their work in Luna, these two teamed up to write a score to the silent film tests that Warhol put together back in the 60's. Conceptually, this is fantastic. In execution tho, it's just a somewhat middle of the road / ambient / sullen pop record unless you have the films to watch at all times when listening to it. It's certainly not BAD but as it is intended to be a soundtrack.. it really only seems to WORK when viewed that way.
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The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger - Jardin du Luxembourg
It's just a digital single but the collaboration of Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl is worth mentioning. The A side is a great little French pop number.. super catchy, upbeat and with the tiniest twinge of something lurking beneath. Listen to it, you'll hear what I mean.
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TV Torso - Status Quo Vadis
Remember that band Sound Team? The one with the song TV Torso? Yea, this is the new incarnation of that. Sonically, there are some absolute similarities - guitar tones, upbeat songs with just the right amount of building tension and the undeniably memorable voice of Matt Oliver. My only complaint is that it's just six songs.. too short for the enjoyability it gives. Fortunately there are two free seven inches floating around out there that augment it perfectly.
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Instruments of Science and Technology - Music for Paradise Armor
Knowing this is a pseudonym of Richard Swift gives me the ability to be patient with it and give it a comprehensive listen. If someone sent me this album without said context, I'd delete it immediately.. bored by the lack of structure and noodling explorations. However, since such context does exist I appreciate knowing that one of my favorite songwriters also takes the time to look into other areas of expression; even if the results seem chaotic. It's both ambient and jarring at times; a much different combination than the rhythmic style of the first release under this name. Maybe these sounds will lead down a path towards greater cohesive goodness but it's certainly like I'm listening in on the learning process.
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LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
This shows you how far behind I am in my music reviews. I've been listening to this since the leak first hit and absolutely love it. I realize it's probably pretty predictable for someone my age to find so much right with this release but James Murphy is absolutely influenced by all the right people. This is supposedly the final release from the band and while that would be absolutely unfortunate it's a fine note to go out on. Their sound has matured perfectly from the first record to this incarnation.
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Budos Band - III
Did you hear the previous Budos Band releases? Yea, it sounds exactly like that: Bad. Ass.
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Sharon van Etten - Because I Was In Love
Not the style of music I typically queue up but occasionally you encounter an artist with the perfect voice to express a forlorn state of mind. These songs are sparse and full of legitimate heartbreak; the type you can't fake. Or, if she's faking the expression, she's doing a damn fine job of it. Great for a quiet night.
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The Electronic Anthology Project - The Electronic Anthology Project
Bizarre record. Classic songs from Built to Spill reworked into 80's dance-y synth pop jams. You'd think a band with songs so heavy on the guitar usage couldn't really translate to such a style but, oddly enough, it kinda works. The familiarity of the original songs makes them enjoyable even when coupled with simple drum machine beats, bleeps and bloops. Sure I miss the guitar but a little re-conceptualization is always fun to hear.
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The Books - The Way Out
What can you say about The Books? They absolutely exist in their own genre. There are plenty of bands doing field recordings and found audio with beats... maybe even mixed with their own lyrics and vocals but the catch with The Books is that the two principle members are massively nerdy. Obviously, I say this with absolutely zero negativity - as it creates a sound and execution in their music that no one else comes close to. This album isn't my favorite of theirs but I can still easily say that its a record I enjoy listening to repeatedly; even if its just for pure fascination.
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Yellow Magic Orchestra - XOO Multiples
If you enjoy electronic music in the vein of RATATAT and their ilk and haven't listened to any YMO, do yourself a favor and go out and procure some immediately. It may be a difficult hunt but it's worth it in the end. When these guys are referred to as "electropop pioneers" it's an appropriate title.. In certain circles I'd lose major points for this but I'll take this over Kraftwerk any day.
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Action! - Friend Weakend
Honestly one of the most un-Google-able band names I've encountered in a long long time but well worth it if you stumble across it. This Nashville duo is creating some excellent bedroom pop without relying on the tricks of the "chill wave" crowd. I can't tell if these are somber songs wrapped in a pop vibe or vice versa but it's a great balance. Here's to hoping they don't get overlooked in town.. it'd be a damn shame.
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Inception - Original Soundtrack
Hans Zimmer scores plenty of movies but he seems to really find his proper niche when working with ole Christopher Nolan. If you liked the film, this is great thing to have lying around to fuel your workday. If you disliked the film, you probably won't want to hear this and be reminded of your distaste. I suggest listening with headphones.
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Department of Eagles - Archive 2003 - 2006
I will forever have a soft spot in my heart for the first DoE record for its off the cuff style and humor combined with heartfelt songs. This archive of the years between their official releases shows the band letting go of the humor and focusing in on the style that would define them with In Ear Park. It is incredible that a batch of demos and rejected songs are easily better than so much of the music that I subject myself to. I recall stealing 'Deadly Disclosure' off their myspace page years ago and listening to it obsessively.. I'm glad it, and its similar kin, have a proper home now.
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RATATAT - LP4
I read somewhere that during the recording of LP3 the band recorded at least two albums worth of material and LP4 is the second batch of songs recorded from that time. Unsurprisingly, much of this sounds quite similar to the last album.. but I think it's fair to say that of just about every release from these guys. Each record is sonically familiar to the previous but altered enough to keep it interesting. Other bands try to sound like RATATAT but no one ever nails it like they do.. nothing dramatically new but a highly enjoyable listen as usual.
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Wolf Parade - Expo 86
I've listened through this a few times and find it quite enjoyable but still not somehow as grabbing as the first Wolf Parade record. It's patently unfair to compare one record to another but there doesn't seem to immediately catching songs that the Apologies had. Fortunately, I've got a feeling that with more listens I'll change my mind and find myself highly enjoying it.. I hope.
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Baths - Cerulean
Artsy electronic music courtesy of Anticon. Lots of beats, atmospheric sounds and glitches combined with faux falsetto vocals. While it sounds great there's also a slight bedroom production vibe to it with lots of enjoyable expletives left in from mastermind Will Wiesenfeld. This record has an odd balance between being lazily present and drivingly upbeat. I recommend it highly.. it's a record I listen to over and over.
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Pete Drake - Forever
A very languid album on the whole but it has an indescribable appeal to me. The original Talk Box intermixed with slide guitar and the sweet ballad-y style of the mid 60's is hard to argue with. If you can find it, I suggest nabbing it - there's a good deal of innovation going on here even within the familiar style of the songs.
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