Tuesday, March 9, 2010

New Song: MGMT - Flash Delirium


(Psychedelic Rock)
MGMT has at last released a new song for us to indulge in.  Off their new album, Congratulations, "Flash Delirium," is a wild new track, that isn't too far off from their last release, Metanoia.  It still has that poppy bliss, and maintains that psychelic Love we've come to expect and love from any MGMT song.  Personally, MGMT is one of my favorite new bands and this track takes a few listens to soke in, but I'm definitely happy with it, and cannot wait any longer for Congratulations, which is due for release next month on the 13th.  Hopefully I can catch them in concert before tickets become obsolete.  I've seen them before, but I want to see them in a closed venue.  Download the free MP3 of Flash Delirium on the band's website.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Music Video: Vampire Weekend - Giving Up the Gun

(Indie Rock)

Giving Up the Gun appears on Vampire Weekend's second album, Contra.  Contra is easily one of the best releases of 2010, so far.  Vampire Weekend burst onto the scene in 2008 with their eponymous first release, which melded the worlds of Ivy League "preppyness" with their distinct love for world beats/African rhythm.  This style is carried over nicely on Contra, but, unfortunately, is not shown very well on Giving Up the Gun.  I personally didn't like this song on the album.  It was simply... too simple.  Too regular.  Nothing about makes it appealing to me, whereas the rest of the album is unbelievable.

The video for Giving Up the Gun is entertaining, however.  This song has nothing to do with tennis, but that's all that is conveyed in the video.  With actors and artists such as RZA, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Jon, and Joe Jonas, it becomes more comedic than meaningful.  I feel it's worth a view.

Buy Contra on CD: Contra or vinyl: Contra

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Music Video: Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt

(Indie Rock, Baroque Pop)

Owen Pallett is a one man genius.  I love his work.  Heartland is his latest release, and the first under his own name.  Prior records were released under the name Final Fantasy, based off the popular Japanese video game series (which is what originally drew me to his work.  With Heartland he used a lot of violin arrangements melded together through digital bleeps, and carried along with his voice.  Definitely a nice album for anyone interested in softer music.

Probably the most popular song on the album, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, is the first track to get it's own music video.  Personally, I didn't find the video that entertaining. It was just off in my opinion. Symbolism? Maybe? Idk, there is a lot of hidden themes it was trying to convey.  Orange soda, stabbing yourself, hockey mask, blowing dust, stacking soap... Anyway, check it out. Great song.

If you like Owen Pallett, or Final Fantasy, get the CD: Heartland or LP: Heartland (2 LP)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor (2010)

(Indie Rock, Freak Folk)


I had friends and family over this past weekend and it's been a great time; for me, and for them.  Like I've mentioned, we went record shopping and such.  This particular album, though, was just introduced to me.  It is Local Natives debut album, Gorilla Manor.  If it wasn't introduced to me by one of my friends, I probably would have let this album float down the stream and into the ocean of unheard items I will never listen to.  But it was, and I am oh so grateful for it.  I fell in love immediately.  The tunes, different as they are (freak folk style), melt effortlessly into your mind, and you'll find that you'll be humming them in your head at the most mundane of times, wishing they were playing.  This is an instant indie classic, for all (cultured) audiences out there, and any occasion, be it on the road, at a party, or to put you to sleep.  It's amazing.  As bands from the West Coast go, I usually don't find myself too amused by artists coming out of the Los Angeles region too often, but this is most certainly an exception.  I just find that many LA bands copy each others sound way too often and there's no originality, whereas I believe most of the good indie/underground scenes come out of the East Coast area.  I am very glad to have given this a listen.  Some of the few highlights you'll find are tracks 1, 2, 4, and 5: Wide Eyes, Airplanes, World News, Shape Shifter.  Not that the rest of the album isn't highlightable, because it ALL is.  It's a wonderful album, but these few songs just catch me by surprise and take me to that fortress of solitude where I can ponder EVERYTHING.  World News in particular is my favorite on the record.  It feels, to me, like their take on A Day in the Life.  Completely different song, but it gives you a glimpse of how they as people perceive the world, just as the Beatles did in their song.  It is equally as depressing and reminiscent as it is playful and new.  Genius.  The whole thing. 9.5/10

Take a listen to World News, and tell me it isn't a beautiful thing:

Buy CD: Gorilla Manor Buy Vinyl: Gorilla Manor (For all you daring souls switching back to it)

Monday, March 1, 2010

Music Video: Pantha du Prince & Panda Bear - Stick to My Side

(Minimal Techno)

Hey all.  I just realized that Pantha du Prince and Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) released a music video to their single Stick to My Side.  It's not the greatest video. In fact I was a little disappointed, but it's not bad either. It's just... really weird. But maybe all you weirdo's out there will like it a little more.  It's a great song by Pantha du Prince, featuring Panda Bear (of Animal Collective), and the video actually does capture the essence that the song is trying to convey (I think...). Anywho. There is a bigfoot-esque character in here that seems to be like friends to this human and the human lets him stay in his house. And later he runs out and finds another monster thing and hugs it incredibly awkwardly. That sums up the video... in the snow.

Support Pantha du Prince (and Noah Lennox). Buy the CD: Black Noiseor buy the vinyl: Black Noise

Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)

 
(Art Rock, New Wave)

 
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I bought myself a copy of Roxy Music's Avalon the other day on vinyl, in the city.  It's a classic example of New Wave at it's prime, being released in mid-1982.  It's considered in Rolling Stone magazine's top 500 albums of all time, which is an unbelievable honor.  After buying this gem, I took a gander at their Wikipedia page and found that this was actually their eighth and final studio album.  It's unusual for a band to end on a classic LP, and this was certainly their magnum opus (great piece).  The artwork is great to look at on vinyl, also, with an almost viking-esque figure looking over the clouds, holding a hawk on his arm.  This picture set the mood for the listen remarkably, because it put you into that fictional "Avalon."

Each song, standing alone, is a sweet listen and trip back into the 80s.  You feel the love that goes into each piece and all those eighties synths and textures, blended with the jazz ensemble leave you feeling... happy.  The title song, More Than This, was very popular upon it's original release and is always featured on movie soundtracks and such.  After your first listen, you'll be belting this tune out so hard... It's funny.  Beautiful album in general. 9.5/10.  You NEED this.


 Buy CD: Avalon