Sunday, March 25, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Gnarls Barkely- St. Elsewhere
Hip hop is not dead. If it is then Gnarls Barkley is the undead zombification of the rotting corpse that is hip hop. And guess what, zombies are cool!
First of all I know what you are thinking. I set up this blog to review indie records and maybe in the process help introduce people to the incredible wealth of music out there on indie labels. I'm pretty sure you can get Gnarls at the local grocery store if not for 10 bucks at Best Buy.
This is for good reason though. It is for a lack of a thesaurus really really good. It is exactly what mainstream music needed, something bold but not too bold. It is something new but really not that new. Think of reimagined music that your weird old uncle would have had in his Pontiac. Soul has never been this hip.
This album is chock full of soul, weird funky beats, a Halloween vibe (did somebody say zombies?), and a runaway hit single that just will not go away. The video for Who Cares? is funny and weird at the same time. How can you not like a lonely Dracula walking the streets of present day New York?
My favorites include Go-Go Gadget Gospel, Who Cares?, Just a Thought and Storm Coming.
The beats are are all chopped up and the whole thing just feels very new. It's definitely not your daddy's soul music. I found out that Danger Mouse actually produced it and I'm not surprised. Everything that guy touches turns to gold.
Get it. It will be next to whatever those hacks the Killers have put out.
First of all I know what you are thinking. I set up this blog to review indie records and maybe in the process help introduce people to the incredible wealth of music out there on indie labels. I'm pretty sure you can get Gnarls at the local grocery store if not for 10 bucks at Best Buy.
This is for good reason though. It is for a lack of a thesaurus really really good. It is exactly what mainstream music needed, something bold but not too bold. It is something new but really not that new. Think of reimagined music that your weird old uncle would have had in his Pontiac. Soul has never been this hip.
This album is chock full of soul, weird funky beats, a Halloween vibe (did somebody say zombies?), and a runaway hit single that just will not go away. The video for Who Cares? is funny and weird at the same time. How can you not like a lonely Dracula walking the streets of present day New York?
My favorites include Go-Go Gadget Gospel, Who Cares?, Just a Thought and Storm Coming.
The beats are are all chopped up and the whole thing just feels very new. It's definitely not your daddy's soul music. I found out that Danger Mouse actually produced it and I'm not surprised. Everything that guy touches turns to gold.
Get it. It will be next to whatever those hacks the Killers have put out.
Peter Bjorn and John- Writer's Block
I bought this album with a quick and determined click upon hearing the 30 second sampling offered by itunes. It is not the best album ever but then again how many are? I'd have to give it a 6.5/10.0. It stands on it's own two feet but I find myself already "forgetting" about it.
The standout in my mind is definately the 2nd track Objects of my Affection. It is heartfelt and genuine...though bittersweet. It is the jewel of the album followed only by quirky hook infested jingles that so often populate indie records.
They are nice enough though. The song "Start to Melt" is fun with a wierd distorted 60's background. Unfortunately the song doesn't really go anywhere. Know what I mean? It's kind of the same feeling I get when listening to a jam band. I think to myslef, they are really good and I like the feel of thier stuff... but Geez why am I so BORED?
Ok enough Swedish bashing, the glass is slightly more full than empty.
I guess the novelty of their goofy swedish accents faded a little faster than I thought it would. I probably haven't learned my lesson though. Curse you Itunes.
The standout in my mind is definately the 2nd track Objects of my Affection. It is heartfelt and genuine...though bittersweet. It is the jewel of the album followed only by quirky hook infested jingles that so often populate indie records.
They are nice enough though. The song "Start to Melt" is fun with a wierd distorted 60's background. Unfortunately the song doesn't really go anywhere. Know what I mean? It's kind of the same feeling I get when listening to a jam band. I think to myslef, they are really good and I like the feel of thier stuff... but Geez why am I so BORED?
Ok enough Swedish bashing, the glass is slightly more full than empty.
I guess the novelty of their goofy swedish accents faded a little faster than I thought it would. I probably haven't learned my lesson though. Curse you Itunes.
Beirut- Gulag Orkestar
This is my vote for the best album of 2006. Why? First of all, it is one of the few CD's to remain in the upper layer of the stack i keep tucked away under the dash. I have to admit the shmaltzy horn solos just never get old and I find myself humming them months after first hearing this soon be indie classic.
It is -gasp- DIFFERENT. This a good trait for an indie record. The album is an attempt to meld east european gypsy music with folk-pop and topped off with a slight but noticeable electronic sheen. There is everything from horns, accordians, synthesizers to cow bells... all coming together to create one of the most genuine performances I've heard in a long time. It even brings to mind references to the mother of all indie albums- In the Aeroplane over the Sea.
This shouldn't be surprising because half of Zach Condon's band is actually from Neutral Milk Hotel! There is definitely a resemblance. In fact I loved the album so much I bought the follow up EP- Lon Gisland. It's funny how a misplaced spacing can make a phrase sound so foreign. It is kind of metaphor for what he has done with his brand of gypsy pop.
Now for the short and sweet of it. The album starts out strongly with loud spanish horns set to the broken beat of some eastern bloc funeral. The ethnic tone is set and like most great albums the mood is predominately introspective with some notes of somber remembrance(The Canals of Our City) and some of unbridled joy (Scenic World). The album then ends with a beautiful electronic sequence set to the sound of applause. Perfect.
There are four highpoints in the Gulag and Lon Gisland combined work- Postcards from Italy, the two versions of Scenic World, and Elephant Gun. If anything the singles Postcards and Elephant Gun can be downloaded from the indiepop podcast.
It is -gasp- DIFFERENT. This a good trait for an indie record. The album is an attempt to meld east european gypsy music with folk-pop and topped off with a slight but noticeable electronic sheen. There is everything from horns, accordians, synthesizers to cow bells... all coming together to create one of the most genuine performances I've heard in a long time. It even brings to mind references to the mother of all indie albums- In the Aeroplane over the Sea.
This shouldn't be surprising because half of Zach Condon's band is actually from Neutral Milk Hotel! There is definitely a resemblance. In fact I loved the album so much I bought the follow up EP- Lon Gisland. It's funny how a misplaced spacing can make a phrase sound so foreign. It is kind of metaphor for what he has done with his brand of gypsy pop.
Now for the short and sweet of it. The album starts out strongly with loud spanish horns set to the broken beat of some eastern bloc funeral. The ethnic tone is set and like most great albums the mood is predominately introspective with some notes of somber remembrance(The Canals of Our City) and some of unbridled joy (Scenic World). The album then ends with a beautiful electronic sequence set to the sound of applause. Perfect.
There are four highpoints in the Gulag and Lon Gisland combined work- Postcards from Italy, the two versions of Scenic World, and Elephant Gun. If anything the singles Postcards and Elephant Gun can be downloaded from the indiepop podcast.
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