Top of the Blogs – August 7th, 2008
Each week (or whenever we have time) we take a listen to some of the top songs from elbows, review them and then give our selection of alternative tracks that we believe should be getting more recognition.
Cold War Kids – Something is Not Right With me
The Cold War kids are gradually starting to impress more and more. Their first album Robbers and Cowards was one of the most listened to of 2006, and this might be one of the most anticipated albums of this year. Judging by this song, they have gone a little more raw in the production and let the knots come a little untied. The vocals are forced and harsh adding to the feeling of desperation and anxiety that comes through in this song. I saw them perform this at coachella and they really got into it.
Very sparkly and shiny song about two silver trees. People don;t write enough songs about silver trees anymore.
Tricky brings it back to something sounding more like Maxinquaye or Pre-millenium Tension. It’s not a disappointing return nor is it very memorable either, just kind of there. It brings back memories of sitting on my couch at the wee hours of the morning listening to “Hydroponic” or “Christian Sands”, it’s good for moments like those. This song could also easily be off a Portishead album circa 1995.
Chloroform/Thunderstorm, Controled Chaos/Confused Energy, Weather Charts/Playing Cards, System/Guarantee — Wilderness/Cosmopolitans, Science/Astroplanes, Stops/Astronaut, Drifting/Explain —- Miracles/Electrical, Sickness/Modern Joy, Western Medicine/ Danny Callahan, Bone Marrow/Little Boy… etc, etc.
Conor Oberst serves up some really well written songs on his new solo album and this is one of them. There are some definite duds too, like the “boots” song which I have to turn off immediately every time I hear it, very cringe-worthy, but the songs that are good are some of the best he’s put out.
Kings of Leon continue on their evolvement towards a heavier brand of their previous southern rock n roll with this song. Fuzzy guitars, sharp drumbeat, and a harrowing bass line really make this song move. They are a good live band, and every new album they put out I expect to be disappointed but end up enjoying them even if I still like the first couple albums the best.
Even if Of Montreal have lost a little weirdness or their unique quality on this track, they have made up for it in disco catchiness. This song has been compared more to Scissor Scissors, which is pretty right on. I’m not sure I like the direction they are going in, but It’s also hard for me not to want to move around to this song a little.
I really enjoy this song, kind of reminds me of Mike Ladd, although if Mike Ladd is like New York Electricity, The Streets are like London Fog, a little more laid back but still with a poetic edge. For some reason I always think their music would make a great soundtrack for a Guy Ritchie movie.
I can’t get enough of this album right now, and if I had it on Vinyl it would be well worn out by the end of the year, I suspect. Hamilton Leithauser isounds more like a drunken lounge singer than ever before. With his own take on Dylan’s rough delivery and the bands songs coming through like you are listening down a tunnel, or a dark bar alley, this album has a shitload of atmosphere.
Tricky – Council Estate (Drums of Death Remix)
If your into generic club remixes then you’ll like this.
Some songs that we think deserve some more attention:
I like this song just because it is called “Cockles”, is that a shortened word for Cock Ankle? We will never know. The singing on this song is my least favorite part, but it blends in well enough to the washed out, fuzzy guitar noises and tribal beat. The song is rough, it’s not immediately accessible but it’s that roughness that eventually becomes a noisy revelation after a few listens.
Marching Band – Feel Good About It
Do you think the swedes are sick of their own brand of pop music? I wonder if all the kids over their are going to candy parties where everyone is wearing bright colored cardigans and white pants or if they have had a backlash and are now dying their hair black, wearing eye patches, and dressing in black bodysuits covered with zippers. Who knows, but it seems like a new Swedish pop band comes out every month, and they are rarely not good. Marching Band have a really good album out that you can listen to over at Spinner.com.
David Vandervelde – I WIll Be Fine
It sounds like Vandervelde has lost a little of that 70’s rock he had going for him with the previous album and has gone in a softer direction with the few songs I have heard so far. Although I liked the more rocking david, this song seems to keep sticking in my head and I can’t ignore it’s jazz/rock guitar goodness. It also reminds me a little of the Carpenters.
Just a good quality folky song with the acoustic guitar strum, harmonica, and protest-era Dylan rhyme scheme. Sometimes you don’t need to be weird to be good, pretty standard folk never gets too old if done right.
Ahhh, Hope Sandoval still makes me melt. This isn’t a cover of the Rolling Stones song as I thought at first.. (at least not that I recognize). You think there could ever be a mazzy star reunion?
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Tags: Uncategorized , top of the blogs
Oh, Thanks! Really amazing. Greets.
on August 15th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Actually, cockles are edible bivalve mollusks. See this traditional Irish song ( my mum used to sing it):
Cockles and Mussels
In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
She was a fish-monger, but sure ’twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
She died of a fever, and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
on September 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
haha.. thanks for that great peice of information. I will be using the word cockles all day now.
on September 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Hi, Look at the pics of my new emo hair style
in http://tinyurl.com/59ps64
on October 21st, 2008 at 6:44 pm