DJ Quik - The Book of David

DJ Quik's newest is self-produced and it shows. It sounds like something out of the 90s. The beats are rather bland and could use a serious beef-up, and, because of beautiful evolution, Quik's voice is just that right amount of high pitched to make it sound like a throwback. That being said, The Book of David is a strong album. Although the beats could use some finishing touches, they come off as interesting and fresh. The focal point of the record, Quik's rhymes, are a force to be reckoned with. His lyrics are aggressive yet respectful, and he gets some support from some pretty big names: Ice Cube, Kurupt, Dwele, and Bun B.

Verdict: 4.2/5. Favorite tracks: Ghetto Rendezvous, Killer Dope, Hydromatic (feat. Jon B and Gift), Nobody (feat. Suga Free), Boogie Till You Conk Out (feat. Ice Cube), Flow For Sale (feat. Kurupt The Kingpin), So Compton (feat. BlaKKazz K.K.), The End (feat. Carry Shider).

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

Okay, this album is awesome. I need to argue in front of a few appellate judges tomorrow so I don't have time to write anything nearly as impressive as this. Read up and buy this album now.

Best, Jonathan

New Deerhunter

Check out this new track from Deerhunter titled "Nosebleed" here.

New Animal Collective

AC is playing Coachella very soon. They're playing a few shows across California and have tried out some new material.

You can check out live videos of a few untitled, new tracks here.

Best, Jonathan

Tonight's action

And that's the end of the NHL regular season.

The Boston Bruins will be facing their archenemies, the Montreal Canadiens, in the first round. This best of seven series scares the crap out of me. As a huge Bruins fan, I don't like when these two teams play. It's the most heated rivalry in sports' history and the Canadiens have the edge historically. A huge egde. But this season the Bruins are clearly the better team. Tim Thomas is having an incredible year, making history with his .938 save percentage statistic. He surpassed goalie great Dominik Hasek's seemingly unbeatable record. They have the biggest defensemen in the NHL and their front lines are versatile, physical, and aggressive. The Canadiens, however, have one thing the Bruins don't: speed. Montreal is a super fast team; if the Bs can't keep up, they're going to have a difficult series.

The Florida Panthers missed the playoffs for the 10th, that's right... 10th, straight season. I'm pretty sure that has never been done before. They fired their coach earlier this afternoon, their goaltender is a free agent starting now, and I'm sure he wants to get the hell out of Florida, they have no veterans on their team anymore especially after trading McCabe, and their young players don't really have much experience. I don't know. This team as a long way to go. I give them four or five years until they become a real contender in the playoffs again.

Regardless, this year is going to be a crazy post-season. The teams are scarily talented.

To win the East: I really want to say Boston. When you look at all the teams in the East, only Boston has not had a ridiculous up-and-down season. Philly has lost Pronger and has slumped recently. Washington is dangerous, but I really think they're going to lose to New York; they haven't played well against the Rangers this season. Even if they get past New York, their weakness is goaltending. That's something that Boston boasts. The Bruins also bolstered their blue line by adding top-tier defenseman Tomas Kaberle and forwards Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly. Basically, they have the team and tools to win the Cup this year.

To win the West: Vancouver. Not even a question.

To win the Stanley Cup: Vancouver over Boston in six games. That really hurts to say, but I think Boston might need to wait another year.

There's nothing like playoff hockey, guys. The only thing I've found to come close is World Cup soccer. But even that pales in comparison. Watch a few games; hopefully you'll see what I mean.

Best, Jonathan

Pictureplane Free Mixtape

I don't know anything about this guy. It doesn't matter though because his mixtape is really dancy and one that shouldn't be passed up.

Altered Zones has put up two of the better tracks for sampling. His remix of "Closer" is as they say in Miami, fire.

Best, Jonathan

New Curren$y

Head over to LFTF to see what I wrote about the new Spitta track that leaked this afternoon.

It's pretty chill, but very unlike his recent two albums. Covert Coup is due out April 20th.

Best, Jonathan

New Incubus and Beastie Boys tracks

A new Incubus single from their upcoming album If Not Now, When? released yesterday. It's titled "Adolescents". Mike has a sick guitar solo as usual and the band has curbed their sound to be more like vintage Incubus. Check it out here.

Also, today the Beastie Boys released a track off their upcoming May 3rd album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2. It reminds me of early 90s' Beastie, which can only mean that the album has the potential to be awesome. Check out "Make Some Noise" over here.

Best, Jonathan

Russ Chimes - Midnight Club EP

Wow. Watch this video. It's three tracks back to back to back. Whoever Russ Chimes is wrote a crazy electronica score over an even crazier video, which documents any lover's biggest nightmare. Seriously, you'll be glued to the video. The music itself is actually really technical. Chimes has a perfect balance among the low, mid, and high ends. The high synth isn't piercing, but rather muffled and strong. The melodies are so damn catchy. The lyrics are simple and universal. And holy crap is the video captivating.

5/5 for the overall experience. Music itself: 4.8/5 for a few moments of lag and prolonged suspension but they were few and far between. My favorite track is the first of the three. Although the second and third are just as incredible.

Best, Jonathan

Papercuts - Fading Parade

Papercuts reminds me a lot of Deerhunter. The only problem is that Deerhunter is really good whereas Papercuts is just okay. Fading Parade is somewhat of a plane jane. He plays a lot of off-beat rhythms and sings off key at certain points on purpose. It is nothing to be proud of and nothing to be ashamed of. It would sound better if he were not intentionally unsynchronized. It would sound better if he didn't strain his voice and just sang in tune. But yeah, you get the picture.

I'll give it a deserved 2.9/5. Favorite tracks: Chills, Marie Says You've Changed, and Charades.

Best, Jonathan

Stream all of Panda Bear's new album Tomboy

Oh yes. Thank you, NPR.

Best, Jonathan

Malachai - Return To The Ugly Side

Malachai is stoner funk. Released in late February, Return To The Ugly Side is dark and creepy. Listening to it makes me feel like it's Halloween in the dead of winter and I have a shotgun. In other words, there is a general and well-mixed blend of uneasiness and stability.

They have a sound that I've never really heard before. I can't even make abstract comparisons to anything. As a result, Malachai is really in a world of their own. They are individualistic enough to be unrecognizable but for themselves; its hard to listen to Malachai without realizing it's them. It's kind of like how when you hear something by Animal Collective you just know it's AC and that it can't be anyone else.

Despite its total unfamiliarity, Return To The Ugly Side is an excellent album. I listened with confusion and curiosity, but it still captivated me to the point that I listened four times straight (it's a quick 35-minute, 14-track compilation). What draws you in is the fact that they borrow from a motley of genres. There really is something that appeals to everyone as long as you can get over the initial moments of unchartered territory.

Verdict: 4.0/5. Favorite tracks: Monsters, Anne, Rainbows, (My) Ambulance, Distance, The Don't Just, How You Write, Let 'Em Fall, and HyperNation.

iTunes is the only place I can find the tracks for sampling. Let 'Em Fall is one of their more normal songs, but it's not at all indicative of their overall sound.

Best, Jonathan

The Weeknd - House Of Balloons: get this R&B album ASAP

Damn, I didn't think R&B associated with anything popular could be mature and innovative. The Weeknd shatters that perception. This trio, consisting of Toronto singer Abel Tesfaye and producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo, have teamed up with Drake and allegedly his producer Noah Shebib, although those rumors have reportedly been claimed false. Regardless of with whom they've worked, The Weeknd has pumped out what I like to coin a "transition album" for R&B. In other words, it contains all the regular characteristics of R&B, but adds new elements that I believe benefit the genre in a way that every artist should start using and building on them in hopes of contributing to the evolution of the genre. Stagnancy is boring.

House Of Balloons is jam-packed with soul, free-flowing, and eclectic-sounding, but it's remarkably different from other modern R&B releases. There are noises used in the beats which would make even R. Kelly shiver in fear. This is most apparent in What You Need and House Of Balloons - Glass Table Girls, which exude dark auras with interesting cavalcades of backdrop samples that are almost impossible to identify. This occurs throughout the album and although it may be foreign, it works wonderfully. Overall, this album is one you need to buy.

Verdict: 4.6/5. Favorite tracks: High For This, What You Need, House Of Balloons - Glass Table Girls, Wicked Games, The Party & The After Party, and The Knowing.

Animal Collective's Keep mixtape

One track from each of the four members.

Here.

Best, Jonathan

Dancy African jazz

Ebo Taylor is a fascinating human being. A Ghanaian guitarist who really took flight in the 1950s and 60s, his popularity was confined to mostly Ghana as his first international release was no more than a decade ago. His newest release from back in November titled Love And Death is Afrobeat meets jazz meets soul meets funk. Love And Death centers around unison horn melodies that harmonize simply on any given phrase's concluding note (typical of African jazz horns). The melody is repeated a few times and then the soloist kicks in. This is where the album really shines. The melodies are catchy, but they're simplistic. That's all they need to be to provide some type of home base. But when the lead starts, tracks turn into grooves that have dance written all over it. Why? African music is festive and soulful because Africans are festive and soulful people. For example, when my Moroccan family gets together, it takes no more than 10 minutes for my Aunt to get excited about something incredibly trivial and then within seconds the entire family is up and dancing and making noise just to make noise.

Buy this cat's album, break into spontaneous dance, and make a lot of noise. I promise it'll be fun.

4.3/5. Favorite tracks: Nga, Nga; Love And Death; Victory (Instrumental); Mizin; Kwame (Instrumental); Oborekyair Aba; and Obra. That's all but the second track on the album.

Best, Jonathan

New Justice

CIVILIZATION

Best, Jonathan

A psychedelic jam band

One of my favorite aspects of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon is how you can get lost in its psychedelic and jam-like expanses. This type of breakdown can be transferred from genre to genre obviously. If done well, expressions of true passion are most powerfully felt (The Great Gig In The Sky). If done poorly, the listener either gets bored quickly or is left feeling a little cheated. There really is no middle ground.

Moon Duo sounds nothing like Pink Floyd; I want to make that very clear. Mazes, however, centers on the same type of otherworldly improvised stretches that Pink Floyd perfected. A lot of the time it would hit me after a while of my not noticing. I'd be digging a guitar solo or something and then I'd realize I hadn't heard lyrics in quite a while.

These guys don't like to play with structure. Every song is no more than two or three verses and then an extended jam. The tracks rest on simple, repeating hooks, which at first don't seem too exciting, but they really pick up and take shape once the soloist kicks in. For every song I thought I wasn't going to like the break, but I always was satisfied by the end.

Verdict: 3.7/5. Favorite tracks: Mazes, Fallout, When You Cut, and Goners.

Also. Some exciting news. Over the Ultra weekend I met two guys who run a music site called LFTF. I suggest you scavenge. They've been running it since 2008. I'll be contributing to LFTF in the very near future, but the frequency with which I will is still uncertain.

I'm going to go listen to some Pink Floyd.

Best, Jonathan

In the spirit of Ultra

Ultra is in full force and it's awesome. The only thing that sucks is the traffic.

In celebration, I suggest taking a look at A-Trak's Dirty South Dance 2. A-Trak is very similar to Girl Talk in that he takes popular tracks and fuses them together to create intriguing remixes. But A-Trak is also significantly different from Girl Talk in that he turns the tracks on their heads and adds his own beats rather than just putting them together and pressing play on his laptop. It's pretty cool.

Verdict: 3.6/5. Favorite tracks: How Low Can You Bake, She Got a Dumb Donk, Ice Cream On Blast, Vampire Going Ham, and Loonies To Blow.

If you're in Miami, A-Trak is playing tonight at Grand Central.

Best, Jonathan

New Curren$y mixtape

Curren$y and a few of the Jets released a new mixtape today. You can download it here.

Best, Jonathan

A folk rock

Wye Oak is a folk rock group that most certainly has been influenced by dream pop. Civilian is their newest release and third full-length. The duo have a very interesting setup. The frontgirl plays guitar and sings while the other guy plays the drums with his feet and left hand, plays a bass-sounding synth with his right, and sings backup vocals. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Wye Oak's style hinges on transitions from very soft and gentle parts to bursts of high energy and distortion. It makes for a well balanced album. The loud parts don't really detract from the relaxing feel because their folk influence is significantly more powerful than their rock one. As a result, Civilian is great to have around to pass time and to destress. I can just press play and let the pleasant and melancholic listening experience go uninterrupted.

Rating: 4.1/5. Favorite tracks: Two Small Deaths, Holy Holy, Civilian, Fish, We Were Wealth, and Doubt.

Also, my new favorite song here.

Best, Jonathan

New Panda Bear

Animal Collective member Panda Bear releases his album Tomboy on April 12th. People are pretty psyched about it. He released the final single today. You can listen to Surfer's Hymn here. Headphones are necessary.

Best, Jonathan

A great and upbeat experimental rock album

Apparently Parts & Labor has been around since 2002 and have at least seven official releases. I've been missing out on a killer party. The newest release for the experimental rock band, Constant Future, is freaking awesome.

Before I get into that though, I need to give some explanation here. Incubus is probably my favorite band ever even though I don't listen to much like them anymore. There's a general consensus in the Incubus community that their older stuff is excellent, but as they've aged their sound has started to change into something not nearly as good as it used to be. They showed slight signs of life in Light Grenades with the songs Rogues and Pendulous Threads, but it was a sad showing overall. Light Grenades debuted at number one on the Bilboard 200. It shouldn't have. Not even close. People caught on and it still holds the record for biggest drop in rank, from 1st to 37th in the second week. But we who have jumped on the Incubus still follow their every word because Brandon is so hot or Mike is a sick guitarist (holy crap this guitar solo) or Jose is one of the greatest rock drummers ever (fact) or Ben Kenney used to be in The Roots or DJ Kilmore just looks cool on stage while adding foreign sounds. Anyway, the first two songs on Constant Future sound like what Incubus would have sounded like if they hadn't gone so poppy. (Fake Names and Outnumbered).

Constant Future is a marked by a bass that sounds like an alarm, a tinny synth, some weird knob things that one of the guys plays that sounds like wah and distortion-filtered guitar, and just normal drums. Weird combinations, but great sound.

Skin and Bones is a bouncing and swaying tune that makes me feel like a bunny hopping through a field of grass and dandelions. This is probably my favorite song on the album.

Echo Chamber is crazy. The synth is just straight, loud organ, but sounds like the equivalent of what a slightly powered laserpointer pointed at your eye feels like. The organ echos itself in a tunnel-like atmosphere created by echoing drums. Then the singer sings about being trapped in a tunnel-like place.

Neverchanger is heavy but more traditional than their other stuff. It's just drums, knob things that sound like heavily distorted guitar, a synth with a relatively unprocessed effect, glam-rock vocals, and excellent moments of harmonic-filled suspensions.

Verdict: 4.7/5. The tracks I talked about are my favorite.

Also, Incubus' seventh studio album is reportedly complete. Sweet.

Best, Jonathan

Happiest tyke ever

Have a little hockey for ya.

When I was a kid, I played with my squirt team during an intermission on the Florida Panthers' home ice at the old Miami Arena. I fell flat on my ass my first step onto the ice. When I opened my eyes, I had 16,000 people laughing at what they just saw. Woo...

Tonight though, during the Detroit Red Wings' game against the Vancouver Canucks, a squirt snuck back onto the ice just before the period-opening faceoff and went for a few casual laps around the rink. The players and referees were all set up to drop the puck. Instead of being just downright rude and scarring the squirt for life, they encouraged him with stick-taps, board-taps, and smiles while the crowd cheered. Must have been the happiest kid ever. Freaking adorable.

Here's the video.

Best, Jonathan

Two jazz singles

Julian Cannonball Adderley was a 1950s and 60s hard-bop era jazz alto saxophonist. He got his nickname, Cannonball, from his eating habits in high school.

I suggest him today because he's a Florida native. He grew up in Tampa and taught at both Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale and at Florida A&M in Tallahassee. It was in Tallahassee in the 1940s that he collaborated with Ray Charles. In the late 50s in New York, he played with Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Cannonball's history speaks for itself; he's a jazz great.

One For Daddy-O and Somethin' Else

Best, Jonathan

The Joy Formidable

Oh my gosh. These guys are heavy and loud. I can take heavy and loud; I had during all of middle school and high school. But The Joy Formidable is just a little too much for me to handle at times. These guys rarely take a break from being constantly in your face. The drummer finds home with his few crash cymbals, the guitarist/vocalist plays either full chords or power chords that are tainted with an overpowering distortion, and her vocals are covered by a relative fuzz. I've been through the album twice now. On my third listen, I had to stop after the third song. It's way too much British rock for one day.

However...

The Big Roar is a good rock album. It's eclectic, attention-grabbing, and if the distortion were to disappear, it has the potential to be awesome. I hear some great harmonies that are unfortunately overshadowed by the exuded Courtney Love-on-more-drugs-than-usual vibe.

If you're a rock fan at heart, definitely check out this album.

Verdict: 3.3/5. Favorite tracks: The Magnifying Glass, A Heavy Abacus, Whirring (very cool music video), Chapter 2, and The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade.

Best, Jonathan

An electronica

Light Years by Dark Party is a non-stop techno party. A wonderful album with a bright, glossy feel and a strong dance attraction. When the duo plays primarily with synths, they're at their best; when they play with voice parts, they're not as great. That's really all I have to say about it.

4.3/5. Favorite tracks: Easy, Patrol Patrol, Fifth, Tina, Status, Feets, and Cab Weather.

Best, Jonathan

Collect me some new Animals

New Animal Collective. Five days. It's a mixtape that you get with the purchase of AC-designed Keep shoes. Officially in excited-Jona mode.

Check out the collaboration here.

Best, Jonathan

Vessels

Vessels' Helioscope is all about energy and building to an explosive climax. The more I listen, the more the drummer shocks me. He's downright awesome. He hammers and pounds favorably on his high toms. What's most impressive though is how he destroys his cymbals, acting as if they're not a couple hundred dollars each. If you decide to take a peak, definitely listen closely to what he does.

The guitars work seamlessly together. They love to alternatively pick and are peppered with echo, distortion, and heavy delay. So what begins as individual notes in harmony with just each other grows into a mass of individual harmonies and chord harmonies. It takes a little getting used to because overall it's very overwhelming and you don't really hear it much in modern music. But if you're familiar with Explosions In The Sky, then chances are you'll appreciate Vessels' technical work.

Not every song is vocal-less and structureless though. They do have traditional tracks with discernable verses and choruses, but they're few on this nine-track album.

Verdict: 4.2/5. Favorite tracks: Monoform, The Trap, Recur, Later Than You Think, Art/Choke (my favorite track), and All Our Ends.

Best, Jonathan

Some jazzy covers of pop tunes and Pomplamoose Music

How many people have videotaped themselves dancing to or remixed Single Ladies? One thing is for sure, it has been way overdone.

BUT...

I randomly came across an excellent version by Pomplamoose Music. They do some pretty nifty remixes, but their jazzy take on Single Ladies stands apart from the rest. Watch the video here.

The same goes with Lady Gaga's Telephone. Pomplamoose completely deconstructs this popular tune and transforms it into something technical and jazzy. Check it out here.

They also have some other great stuff: Another Day, If You Think You Need Some, Expiration Date, and, my personal favorite, La Vie en Rose. Browse their channel for a bit, I spent at least an hour listening to their renditions and originals.

Best, Jonathan

Beans

Beans is a unique rapper. He delves in electro-beats, so they're a little psychedelic. End It All is not a hip hop album you can groove to. The beats are typically weak. He swims in a nebulous environment that would otherwise be uncontainable but is restricted by the beat. It prevents him from going just a little too far off course.

The backdrops are way out there too. And I can't stress that enough. I'd consider them extraterrestrial to the world of hip hop. That being said, they're also really interesting. I've had a couple of "oh, wow" moments. So if you're open to a little bit of a foreign sound, then definitely have a listen.

He relies on his wit to write lyrics and to freestyle. As a result, his raps resemble something from greats like Aesop Rock or MF DOOM. But I still must warn, Beans' spits some weird stuff. His lyrics are almost like rapid-fire poetry. Sometimes they can be crude and aggressive, but that's honestly the best way I can describe it.

A little part of me thinks it sounds like questionable 90s' hip hop, but better.

Verdict 3.3/5. Favorite songs: Superstar Destroyer, Gluetraps, Air Is Free, Hardliner, and Hunter (this song is so crazy).

Best, Jonathan

Some stellar jazz

I have a few great jazz singles to share. They're all by Bireli Lagrene, a French jazz guitarist. I saw him live with my brother up in Montreal during the city's world famous Jazz Festival a few years ago. He was unbelievable. I've never seen anyone solo using only the tuning knobs. That's right... no fingers on frets. He just down-tuned and up-tuned strings. That's some ridiculous talent right there.

C'est Si Bon, Stella By Starlight, Donna Lee, Summertime, Crazy Solo Piece, and Isn't She Lovely.

Best, Jonathan

Musée Mécanique: a folk-pop

What's one of those albums that you always have around? One of those "go to" albums that never lets you down. There aren't many that have such a strong gravitational pull, but I'm going to share one of my favorites. Musée Mécanique's Hold This Ghost is one of those records that I can never take off my iPhone because I know I'm going to want to hear it very very soon.

Musée Mécanique hail from Portland, Oregon. They're named after a historic penny arcade in San Francisco. They've toured with Beach House, Laura Gibson, Iron & Wine, and M. Ward, and have been featured on an NPR All Songs Considered episode. Pretty good resume.

Here's a crash course of their late 2008 album: Hold This Ghost is melancholic to say the least. Rabwin's voice is intimate and elegant. Underneath, subtle electronics create a lush backdrop. Hovering over the bells and synth are various orchestral instruments. This five-piece group loves their strings and woodwinds. One of the most noticeable parts about this album is how meticulous it is, there are a lot of overlooked details to the point that I hear something new every time I listen. This album is also very organic; you can hear fingers open and close valves and fingers slide along guitar strings.

When Hold This Ghost released in 2008, it wasn't as praised as I would have expected. It was given modest ratings. I disagree. I think this is one of the most wonderful pieces of folk-pop around. A second record is due in the Fall of 2011.

Verdict: 4.7/5. Favorite songs: Like Home (live video), Two Friends Like Us (the real song), The Things That I Know, Fits and Starts, Somehow Bound, and Our Changing Skins (the real song).

Best, Jonathan

New Teen Daze

Yesterday I wrote about Geotic's Mend. That same afternoon, Teen Daze had posted his Reinterprets Selections From "Mend" By Geotic to his Tumblr. Cool coincidence. 

Teen Daze's version transforms Geotic's classical, organic, serene, and complacent style into something with a steady beat typical of chillwave. He remixes in two main ways: he plays with sequencing by taking different parts of the original songs and screwing with their order and fiddles with the tracks' speeds to produce a much more upbeat feel. He also adds a creative drum track and a little organ, but other than that there aren't many different sounds separating Geotic's version from Teen Daze's. Because he doesn't really change the instrumentation, Daze manages to maintain a beautiful backdrop, without detracting from its serene feeling.

Daze really juggles only a handful of the original tracks; it's a quick four-song release. You can download Teen Daze's remixes for free here. Even the album artwork is a new take on Geotic's artwork. I also liked how all the song titles are in French, although I have no idea why. I give it a 3.7/5.

Best, Jonathan

Geotic

Every now and then I'm in the mood for something totally and utterly ephemeral. Something that is serene and complacent. Something that just makes you happy because there's nothing else needed to complete a moment. Geotic unequivocaly captures that feeling. Mend, Geotic's newest release, is 50 minutes of straight "close your eyes and pretend you're staring at the midnight sky above Mount Everest or pretend you're on a cruise ship staring at the setting sun over a vast and calm ocean" type of music. It's shockingly beautiful and you have no choice but to get caught in the atmosphere.

This album took a total of four days to make. From a musician's standpoint, four days in the studio is bragging especially with a great product. The frontman, Will Wiesenfeld from Baths, favors electric guitars. He layers them to produce non-overpowering yet easily mesmerizing tracks. The harmonies are what got me. Every time I would think a track was getting too repetitive, I'd find myself still humming along in anticipation of the measure's resolution.

I don't want to overanalyze this album because its beauty lies in its simplicity. I also recommend you don't overlook this album for the same reason. Everyone has those moods when they just want to get away from it all. This album is the perfect companion.

Coincidentally, one of my favorite artists, Teen Daze, has today released his chillwave remixes of Geotic's Mend. I'll write about that later hopefully.

4.2/5. Favorite songs: Unwind, Beaming Husband, Find Your Peace, Disrobe and Come to Bed, Our Awe, I'll Have Come and Gone With You, and We've Mended.

Best, Jonathan

A great experimental group called Celebration

Celebration is definitely unique. Hello Paradise features loudly recorded but softly mixed distorted guitars, an organ with crazy effects, a steady bass, punk-sounding drums, and a hidden piano. Seems simple enough, but they go off on the most adventurous of tangents by inserting some random instrument to add a psychedelic feel. Only one instrument changes the whole atmosphere of a song. It's really interesting. Some might classify them as alternative or rock, but they're just bizarre enough to be experimental.

The first song starts off with a short, Middle Eastern sounding riff. It then quickly changes into a light cymbal roll with some really weird keyboard. I didn't care much for that part, but then it pulls back and turns into a head-bobbing, measured rhythm. The vocals are definitely odd but they fit well with Celebration's overall anything goes, no limits attitude. This pattern of faster-than-noticeable changing parts happens frequently on Hello Paradise.

Hello Paradise is an album you'd have to listen to for it to make sense. You can download the whole record here... you just have to name your price.

4.4/5. Favorite tracks: What's This Magical, Junky, Honeysuckle Blue, Shelter, and Kilamanjaro (no idea why they misspell it).

Best, Jonathan

A Scottish-folk

I have been listening to King Creosote's newest release Thrawn for the past few days now and have enjoyed it for the most part. But there was something about it that rubbed me in a weird way. I couldn't figure out what was making me uncomfortable to the point that I couldn't fully enjoy the album. Something about it seemed very ethnic. It was only until I started writing that I realized they're a Scottish group... sooo Scottish. The influence of their heritage is put to good use, adding a really nice touch to the underlying folky-feel. At the same time, however, their sound is not strictly Scottish-folk. They've definitely streamlined, but not too much. I don't know much about Scottish music besides the fact that it's typically festive or that it involves some beautiful, natural-redhead singing in the middle of a meadow with butterflies flapping around. King Creosote definitely satisfies those two stereotypes, but not in stereotypical fashion. Thrawn is marked by audibly strummed acoustic guitars to give it that neat folky feel, light drums and tambourines, a typical Scottish flare, and lyrics conveying tales about home. As a result, we're treated to a really good album.

Have a listen to some of the tracks on their MySpace. Verdict: 3.8/5. Favorite songs: You've No Clue Do You, King Bubbles In Sand, Little Heart, My Favourite Girl, And The Racket They Made, and No One Had It Better.

Also, happy pi day! I'm about to get my key lime on.

Best, Jonathan

The Beach Boys' The Smile Sessions finally to see the light of day

This is kind of a big deal. The release is probably the biggest news the music world has received since Michael Jackson's death... and that's not an understatement.

For those of you in the unknow, Brian Wilson is the mastermind behind pretty much everything The Beach Boys produced. He was never on stage or in the albums though. Why? He was crazy. In 1967 he had a complete breakdown and the original Smile album was never completed. Wilson receded into the shadows. In 2004, Wilson released his version of Smile. It's a wonderful album, but none of the original Beach Boys are featured in the record. It's just Wilson and his extremely talented band. If you don't have the 2004 version of Smile, you have to get it. It's one of the most beloved albums in rock music history.

Here's the big news: Billboard has announced that Mark Linett, who mixed Wilson's version of Smile, and Alan Boyd are slaving away on The Smile Sessions for a release in the near future. When asked about the release, Wilson said, "I'm thrilled that The Beach Boys' original studio sessions for Smile will be released for the first time, after all these years. I'm looking forward to this collection of the original recordings and having fans hear the beautiful angelic voices of the boys in a proper studio release."

Definitely keep a look out. This album is sure to be awesome.

Best, Jonathan

An awesome electronica track

I put this in my last post as a gift for readership, but it deserves its own recognition. I've had it on repeat all morning. Kk, back to work.

Best, Jonathan

This weekend

I have to take a little break from posting this weekend because I have a ridiculous amount of work to finish by Sunday night. One or two posts may find their way into the mix if they cover something particularly good though.

A couple of stats to mull over:

1) The site is getting closer to 1000 hits by the day (not per day, but in total).
2) It has been viewed consistently by people in at least 15 countries (Regions: all over North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia).
3) It has been viewed in general by people in over 25 countries.
4) Google, Twitter, Facebook, Icerocket, Pingy, and a few others have been used to get to the site.
5) Some readers have set up RSS feeds (I'm feeling the pressure on this one).

Truly appreciated. Another warm thank you to all: here. I'll be back in full force on Monday.

In other news, for those of you in the Miami area, Marley Fest is today. Most of the Marley family is performing, but in my opinion Major Lazer is the real reason to head out to Bayfront Park.

Best, Jonathan

An indie-something-or-other

The Luyas are relatively new to the indie music scene. Forming in 2006, they quickly gained recognition in their homeland of Canada with the release of their first album Faker Death. The frontgirl, Jessie Stein, has one of the most foreign-sounding voices around, resembling that of an eight year old girl. It reminds me of the twins in The Shining and like a less intense Dolores O'Riordan; it's eerie yet enchanting. Stein also plays a unique instrument that adds a supernatural element to their newest work, Too Beautiful To Work. The Moodswinger resembles a guitar but it's actually a zither because it doesn't have a neck and therefore no frets. It also has three bridges, one of which is a moveable rod intended to divide the 12 strings as the player sees fit. The instrument was created by request. Members of the band Liars contacted Dutch luthier Yuri Landman to make them an instrument. So he made two, one for the band and one for himself. Copies have been subsequently made. Anyway, back to Too Beautiful To Work. This album is kind of weird. They're incredibly repetitive but don't repeat sections like most songs that repeat verse and chorus progressions, so they manage to deter boredom and push the line between creativity and insanity. The majority of this album is quiet and pleasant, but at times they can build a whirl of unexpected noise that doesn't last long. They also consistently incorporate orchestral instruments to color their tracks; without them this album would be incredibly dull.

It's hard to rate and explain Too Beautiful To Work because The Luyas' sound as a whole is something I've never really heard before; it's weird but really pretty at the same time. They may take some getting used to, but others may not even give them a shot. Have a listen and see what you think. Verdict: 2.9/5. Favorite tracks: Too Beautiful To Work, Tiny Head (this video is crazy weird and crazy cool), Cold Canada, and What Mercy Is.

Best, Jonathan

A funk group with a crazy name, and by request my favorite song

Oh my gosh these guys are awesome. The Screaming Headless Torsos (SHT) formed in 1989. Originating with one of the most inventive guitarists David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, one of the most pitch-accurate and soulful singers Dean Bowman, and who I consider to be the greatest drummer in the world Jojo Mayer, SHT literally took off in 1995 with their release of 1995. From there on out, Paris, London, Madrid, Tokyo, and any other major city you can name were canceling shows at their popular venues to accomodate these guys... talk about star-power. Since the release of 1995 though, they've fallen off the map. Jojo has gone on to win Best Drummer of the Year awards and form his own jazz-fusion group, Nerve (also in the above video (Nerve's website)), that has a dedicated slot at a nightclub in New York City. I have no idea what Bowman is doing, but he is no longer touring with SHT. Fuze, however, has not abandoned his brainchild and continues to amaze and freak with his unorthodox arrangements and ridiculous effects.

1995 deserves a 4.6/5. Favorite tracks: Vinnie, Word to Herb, Blue In Green (a Miles Davis cover, but I only realized it when Bowman's melody kicked in), Hope, and Something (a The Beatles cover).

Someone asked me today what is my favorite song ever. I've always had favorites, but one masterpiece has always towered over every other. Enjoy.

Best, Jonathan

I scream, you scream...

I mentioned a few days ago that Battles announced the June 6th release of their newest album, Gloss Drop. Today, they released a single, Ice Cream. The song is typical Battles, upbeat and giddy with the doubling of instruments to vary the tones and harmonies. It's making me want June 6th to come faster. Hurry. Up. Please. Kthxbi.

Best, Jonathan

Langerado early-bird tickets sold out in less than an hour, sad news from Alice in Chains, and a video from the most outlandish hip hop group ever

The title says it all. The next chance to get tickets is June 1st. Instead of being $75, they will be $150. Hopefully by then a preliminary lineup will have been released.

Sad news for Alice in Chains fans. Mike Starr, the band's longtime bassist, was found dead in his home yesterday. A cause of death has not been reported. He was 44.

The members of Die Antwoord are hilarious. They embody the ridiculousness of the rap world. They criticize it in a way that you can't really tell if they're joking, but in interviews it's abundantly clear they're acting. Their beats are good, their songs are catchy, and their accents are intriguing. Watch the video for Rich Bitch and see what I mean.

Best, Jonathan

A blues album

Sonny Smith lives in San Francisco, CA. He is a grade-A hippie. In 2010, Smith concocted a project to create 200 songs for 100 fictitious bands and invited about 100 artists to produce the artwork for the records of the fictitious artists. The project premiered at Gallery 16. This sounds like an insurmountable idea, and I would not have been surprised if Smith half-assed it. He didn't. Each song actually has a different character. I can't even conceive of how he was able to accomplish such a ridiculous task. I also have no idea where to find all 200 songs, but he has released a Volume II of his project. For the 10-song "100 Records" Volume II: I Miss the James, Smith gets really bluesy and at times really weird. But overall, this album is full of soul. His style is reminiscent of a story-teller and as a result his songs sound a little folky, which adds a great touch to the album. Here's an interview of him describing his project with video of the gallery. It's actually pretty interesting to learn about his process and how he eventually completed the exhibit.

I give this album a 3.6/5. Favorite songs: Cabezas Cortades - Teenage Thugs, Prince Nedick & the Conks - Back in the Day, and Hank Champion - Broke Artist at the Turn of the Century.

Best, Jonathan

Happier news

Trademark and Young Roddy have released two more tracks this week, bringing the total to seven. They're clearly living the Jet life.

Here and here.

Update on Pacioretty: Critics are saying probably no suspension for Chara because it was a natural play between the defenseman and forward, there was no malicious intent, and it wasn't an inherently dirty hit. Chara is just a monster at 6'9'' 280 lbs, and Pacioretty was unfortunate enough to chase the puck against him. The league will look at it, so we have to wait and see what the commissioner officially concludes. Reports say Pacioretty is conscious, moving his hands and feet, and is talking. Doctors are running tests to determine the extent of the injury.

Best, Jonathan

Tonight's action

I'm going to keep this short, mostly because it's not about music, but tonight something very scary happened in the hockey world. The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports, faced off today in Montreal. In the dying seconds of the second period Zdeno Chara, the biggest player in the NHL, collided with Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens. Pacioretty was down and completely unresponsive. He was carried off on a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. You can watch the video here. Try not to scream.

Updates have confirmed that Pacioretty is in the hospital and is able to move his extremities.

Best, Jonathan

Festivals!!!

This week has been a big week for music festivals.

On Saturday, Pitchfork announced that their three-day passes sold out in ONE FREAKING DAY. That has to be some kind of record.

Today brought even bigger news for those specifically in South Florida...

1) Langerado is back! Langerado is a baby of a music festival. It started modestly in 2003 as a one day festival at the Stadium Festival Fair Grounds in Fort Lauderdale, FL. There were 3,500 fans in attendance to see 15 bands on three stages. It was held annually, gradually climbing up the music festival chain, until 2008. In 2008, the festival took on a completely new character with over 85 bands playing on at least 5 stages with over 100,000 fans in attendance over the four days. My friends and I attended the second day at the Big Cypress Indian Reservation and had an absolute blast. This was the last year before it was cancelled in 2009 because of a lack of ticket sales, which has since been attributed to the recession. But, it's now 2011 and Ethan Schwartz and Mark Brown have revitalized the festival. The dates are set for October 8 - 9 at Markham Park in Sunrise, FL. Early-bird tickets go on sale TOMORROW at 11 am. There have yet to be bands announced, but Schwartz and Brown have said there will be 22 bands ranging from indie rock to electronica to modern roots over the two days. Click here for more information.

2) The third phase of the Ultra lineup was also released today. Admittedly, this is not as exciting as Langerado's rebirth, but it is still worthy of excitement. Click here for the complete lineup. It's sure to be a crazy weekend.

Best, Jonathan

An electronica

It's hard to find electronica artists that don't have the same pounding bass permeating through an entire album to the point that it sounds like one giant song. It's also hard to find one that doesn't repeat the same high-pitched squeal that makes me actually want to sit through a fire alarm. Example. The name of the game there is looping and static-ridden boom-tap beats. But then there are the guys that never make it into the clubs or onto TV. The simple answer for that is because it's not easy enough to follow for most of mainstream America. Guys like Justice, who have reached success in comparison to others, will never be replaced at the top of the formidable electronica/techno pyramid, but there is plenty of room for smaller groups to support their weight. British producer Lone has recently come out with his newest album titled Emerald Fantasy Tracks. I pressed play and was immediately greeted with something I thought I was going to hate. I thought, "Ah crap, not another asshole with a computer." Then the first song developed... and transitioned... and dropped... and switched rhythms... and altered samples... and altered bass hits... and altered melody lines... and, well, you get the picture. This guy is the real deal. This kind of electronica takes hours upon days upon weeks upon months upon years to perfect, fiddling with every piece of equipment you could possibly imagine to get the right sound. I envy people who can rise above Garageband, Logic, and SoundStudio samples. Even if someone were to use them, playing with their tone, intensity, and sustain requires enough dedication and musical prowess that I can appreciate the product. Bottom line is Emerald Fantasy Tracks contains incredibly technical work characterized by beautifully intricate melodies and beats with a woozily giddy and tropical feel.

I'm obviously very opinionated about this type of music. Techno and electronica, if done right, can be some of the best music out there. I urge you to take a few minutes to listen to Lone. He is one of the best electronica artists I have encountered recently. Try to compare his beats to those of popular artists. You should find they follow the same rhythms and beats per minute as any of the songs that you hear in a club or bar. Lone, however, does not repeat samples to death and diversifies his melodies.

Verdict: 4.3/5. Favorite tracks: Cloud 909, Aquamarine, Rissottowe_4, and Petrcane Beach Track.

Best, Jonathan

A dream-pop and a nifty single

Young Galaxy is a dream-pop trio from Vancouver, Canada. Shapeshifter is their third album in four years, and their fifth release in five years. They've opened for Arcade Fire, Death Cab For Cutie, Stars, and Peter, Bjorn, and John. I've also read they've been compared to Pink Floyd. Now that I got that stuff out of the way, here's my take:

Pink Floyd? Hell no. Not even close. Shapeshifter is just okay. It's full of amorphous and ephemeral sounds and segments that you think will develop into any type of drop, but the drop never comes. I'm big on music developing into some sort of climax and then gradually descending, and this album doesn't really do that. A good way to describe it is a constant barrage of stagnancy. This trio works with what they have, a bass, a guitar, and a synth; they rarely travel outside the box (although they do incorporate elements of jazz and funk that had my foot tapping every now and then). Now, that being said about the music, the lyrics on this album are either really insightful or totally emo and abstract. I can't decide because the music itself is really dull, and it may be shedding some false light on the words. If you need more evidence of how I feel about this album, try this on for size: I wanted to stop it short but forced myself to finish it out of courtesy. Do yourself a favor, check out this track. If you like it, I suggest you somehow find this album for the cheapest price possible. Verdict: 2.4/5.

Bibio tracks ARE up on YouTube. My bad. Here's my favorite track on the album so far, Anything New. You should definitely buy this album when it drops on March 28th.

Best, Jonathan

Talib Kweli singles

I can't stop listening to the new Talib album. It's wonderfully repeatable. These three songs have especially been on repeat. Treat your drumdrums to something special peeps.

Mr. International

Wait For You

Ain't Waiting

Best, Jonathan

90s' alternative with a twist

Hello Echo is the name of the band and Hello is the name of the album. This group is straight alternative - Third Eye Blind, Eagle Eye Cherry, Soundgarden, Eve 6, Semisonic... they will probably conjure up memories of middle school like woah. At the same time though, Hello Echo is not living in the past. They've subscribed to the same sound as Local Natives, adding the modern elements of more distortion and more experimentation to the once and still beloved 90s' classic alternative sound. As a result, these guys can sometimes push the limit between alternative and rock, occasionally but not constantly veering on the loud side. This is a wonderful album to play while poolside with a few cocktails, while relaxing at the beach, while playing volleyball, while grabbing a bite to eat, while in your car, while getting ready for the day... it's an all around solid listening-to record. Sean Aylward, the frontman and guitarist of this trio, shines on Hello. His work is a combination of lead and rhythm. The styles are not distinct but rather effectively intertwined (Aylward does some crazy work on Stone, one of the heavier tracks). It makes for some great chemistry between him and the bassist and drummer, whose lines are pretty simple in comparison but are still impressive in retrospect.

Verdict: 3.8/8. Favorite tracks: When Push Comes To Love, The Coming Days, Stefano, Disconnect Me, and I Came Back.

Also, if you haven't yet, you should check out my post on Bibio's Mind Bokeh. I think it's a wonderful album that should be given a listen.

Also x2, expect this week and weekend to be a little slow. I'm going to be a busy bee.

Best, Jonathan

Not yet released album: Mind Bokeh by Bibio does not disappoint

Mind Bokeh is not available in stores yet; it will be soon though. Because of that, I can't provide any sample listening links, but there is an audio sampler out there provided by his label that can give you an idea. It opens like an old British mystery movie staring Jack the Ripper. Sounds of a horse's hooves clanking on cobblestone streets cloud the track along with a nebulous backdrop that sounds like pouring rain. Bibio then establishes the beat and his natural propensities take control. Almost every note, every pitch, every solitary sound that is associated with the underlying beat is different from the rest, especially upon transition from four or eight complete measures to a new sequence of measures, and that is what makes Bibio a master at creating memorable drops and consistent beats. He layers and layers on this album, more so than on his previous compilations, and he's flashy. For someone who is notorious for remaining rather low-key with his beats, more interested in how various and seemingly conflicting sounds work together, Bibio uses Mind Bokeh to mark a noticeable change in his approach. It becomes ridiculously clear how he is now influenced by many popular producers from the track Anything New. It reminds me of something Diplo or Lupe Fiasco would use to sing or rap over. Really good stuff. He also gets a little Middle Easterny with Wake Up!, a little funky with Light Sleep, a little rocky with Take Off Your Shirt, a little tropically with K is For Kelson, a little creepy with Mind Bokeh, a little folky with More Excuses, and he ends the album in typical Bibio experimental and crafty fashion with Saint Christopher. This album has so much; it's difficult to get bored.

Mind Bokeh deserves a 4.4/5. I don't give it a 4.5+/5 because, to be honest, his beats are still potentially too experimental. But that being said, if you go beyond the myriad of sounds, his beats are second to none. Favorite songs: Anything New, Light Sleep, Artists' Valley, K is For Kelson, and Saint Christopher.

I was asked the other night what I've been consistently listening to recently. Answer: Wire, Destroyer, Kisses, Houses, Talib Kweli (if you missed my post on his new album, Gutter Rainbows, you should check it out; this album is unbelievable), Animal Collective, Curren$y, Jazz Liberatorz, and a few miscellaneous (jazz, blues, rock, folk, etc.) depending on my mood.

Also, take a look at this music video for Contact High by Architecture in Helsinki. I want that chair.

Best, Jonathan

Trademark and Young Roddy: four more slick beats with chill vibes

Yesterday marked the release of "5-0" by these two members of the Jets crew. Now there are four more slick beats with chill vibes...

Here

Here

Here

and...

Here.

Best, Jonathan

Talib Kweli's Gutter Rainbows

"We gonna take over Google. I'm gonna come up with other shit called Giggle." This hilarious little ditty finishes the intro track and segues into a flashy and self-aggrandizing second track. What a fun way to start an unbelievable album. Talib Kweli's Gutter Rainbows is one of those records people like me have been waiting for. It unstales hip hop. It's like a punch in the face from a 6'9'' 260 pound guy reminding you how great hip hop can be. I'm so glad I started my morning with this 50 minute treat. It's a great album to get into, to really indulge your inner hip hop soul. There's something appreciable about a person playing a real bass, acoustic drum/electric kit, keyboard, and guitar to go along with the electronic parts. It makes the beat sound so much better; it's a naturally-felt rhythm that computers can't capture. In On One uses a rhyme about Kurt Vonnegut. So Low uses as a beat Sometimes by Noisettes, which I put up in a prior post. He mentions novelist Paulo Coelho in Mr. International. He references Voltaire in Cold Rain. Tater Tot is probably one of the scariest songs I've heard since something from Immortal Technique. Yeah, by now you get the feel of the album and don't need me to describe it. Each song is completely different from the next, and it would take forever to go through all the different feels, and beats, and bass lines, and guitar parts, and organ parts, and features...

Easily a 4.8/5. Buy this album ASAP. Favorite songs: Gutter Rainbows, So Low, Mr. International ("Hey how you doin' /  We all gonna be like a bunch of little Fonzies /  Who's Fonzie? / He's coooool." Thank you Henry Winkler), Wait For You (an awesome groovy jazz feel), Ain't Waiting, Tater Tot, How You Love Me, and Self Savior.

Best, Jonathan

The singles just keep coming, and this one is the happiest song I have ever heard

Umkay... this song is hilarious, silly, and obviously a giant joke. But Chocobear just texted me, "Please, please youtube convertible balloon by wavves. Kinda reminds me of you." First off, thank you Chocobear? Second, I love Wavves. Their first album, Wavvves, is a freaking awesome noise-pop one-man project. What makes me approve even more of his antics is the fact he's dating Best Coast's frontgirl (and Best Coast is fantastic). His second album, King Of The Beach, came out a while back and houses Convertible Balloon. Have a listen and smile more.

Best, Jonathan

From Curren$y: a slick beat with a chill vibe

I'm beaching and researching for my appellate brief when Curren$y relays this new track from his Jet setters companions, Trademark and Young Roddy, via Twitter. Slick beat. Chill vibe. Here.

Best, Jonathan

Com Truise

Com Truise can best be described as melodic electronica that is borderline chillwave. The frontman, Seth Haley, is a master at synth and is heavily influenced by 80s' sounding computer nostalgia. Upon first listen of Cyanide Sisters EP, it becomes abundantly obvious how incredibly meticulous Haley is. He scanned this album for any and all signs of imperfection and as a result his tracks are flawless. He knows what sound he wants and he knows how to manipulate his synth to get it. But there is a difference between a record void of blemishes and a great record, and this one is the former and lacking a little in the latter. This EP is his debut, and that's exactly what it is... a start. He is promising, but after listening to this EP it seems pretty barebones and not creative. At the same time though, Haley shows signs of versatility. He goes from the dreamy-riddled track "Cyanide Sisters" to the heavy and anxiety-full "BASF Ace" to the percussion heavy "Iwywaw" to the classical guitar sampled "Norkuy". In other words, this guy has a lot to offer, it's just apparent he's holding back a little. But that's okay because he is due out with a full-length at the end of this year. I expect better things from this producer with the future release.

There are two versions of the Cyanide Sisters EP. One is a basic seven track that you can download for free here (scroll down the page to find the download link). The other contains a different seventh track and four bonus tracks, but for that one you must pay. I give Cyanide Sisters EP a 3.5/5. Favorite songs: Cyanide Sisters, Slow Peels, and Norkuy.

Best, Jonathan

Some jazz singles before the weekend push

Charlie Hunter learned how to play guitar from Joe Satriani. Satriani is a guitar great, playing for rock legends Deep Purple along with various other groups (he also taught Steve Vai, another guitar master). Charlie Hunter, however, went the jazz route. His claim to fame is his trio, the Charlie Hunter Trio. He has released 32 albums and each one of them has something spectacular and different to offer. On his fourth release, Natty Dread, and this time with his quartet, he does an excellent variation of Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry. He and his band mirror the same rebellious and nostalgic feel asserted by Marley, and his guitar cries beautifully as it's peppered with delay and the lightest bit of flange. You can listen to it here.

My favorite Charlie Hunter album is Ready... Set... Shango! Again with his quartet, he pumped out this nine track album in 1996. The first two tracks are excellent. Ashby Man is a groovy tune with upbeat drums, breathy and flashy horns, and technical guitar. Hunter establishes a ridiculously catchy melody that is rooted in both a lead arrangement and some triads. He solos fluidly in the open spaces. Check out Ashby Man here (same song, just released on a different album). The second track is named Teabaggin'. Rather risque, I know. The track also sports an awesome groove, but it's a little less subdued than Ashby Man. I've scanned the interwebz for the track, but I can't find it. You might have to delve into iTunes for this one.

Best, Jonathan

An album I didn't want to end and Wiz Khalifa is still king

I was not floored with Beach Fossils' What A Pleasure EP. I did really enjoy it though. It weighs in at a timid 23-minutes long. This Brooklyn-based surf-pop group is well versed on the difficult-to-balance relationship between bass and guitar, and they test its limits on this album. The bassist's riffs draw you in and hold you wherever in is. The bass is hidden, but once you find it, you never lose it. It becomes a little hard to stand back and hear a track as a whole once trapped, but then the guitar does something cool and whips you back into reality. The guitars use very little effects so they sound natural. The best part about the guitars is the great alternate picking (I counted only two rhythm parts). The guitarist chose not to make his parts perfect, but it's barely noticeable when he rarely misses an up-pick. The vocals are not what I had expected after hearing the guitars. They're a little too soft for my taste. A more assertive vocalist would probably sound better. As for the drums, they come in two main packages. The general sound is that of typical indie drums, which is very simple and plain - they set the beat and don't do much more. The first package is bass and snare centered. The second is tom and hi-hat centered. Combine all these and you have something that's very good, but not great. Two things happened immediately after the album finished. 1) I wanted more. I love this kind of psychedelic surf pop. I find it incredibly soothing and just the right amount of distracting. 2) Beach Fossils sound a lot like Real Estate, except they're a tad more upbeat, they're not as good as Real Estate, and their recordings are better quality. Verdict: 3.8/5 (very good, but not great). Favorite tracks: Moments, What A Pleasure, Distance, and Adversity.

I'm a big fan of Wiz Khalifa. He has worked closely with another favorite of mine, Curren$y on the How Fly mixtape. On Wiz's latest release, Cabin Fever, he raps about how he can get your girlfriend to cheat on you with him, how he's better than you are, smoking marijuana, bitches, sex, money, and cars. I'm one of the few people who thinks his lyrics are useless. He has a way with rhyme, and there he is creative, but his lyrics get boring when all he does is rap about the same thing over and over. But that's not the reason to listen to Wiz. Wiz is known for his beats, and on this mixtape he does not fail to deliver. They are solid and unusually simple. The bass is deep and heavy and the high end is experimental and plain. Wiz doesn't need much more to make a great beat. Check out the second track Cabin Fever. This mixtape came out not long ago. And guess what? Wiz is dropping Rolling Papers, his third studio album, March 29th on Atlantic (in association with his normal label, Rostrum). Should make for some good head bobbing. I give Cabin Fever a 4/5.

Best, Jonathan

A single, some randoms, and an epic video of an acoustic Phoenix performance under la Tour Eiffel... and Laffy Taffy jokes

Shingai Shoniwa really sounds like Macy Gray. Her voice is shockingly similar. It's soothing, raspy with a hint of vibrato, and full of soul. She is the frontgirl for the Noisettes, a London based indie rock band. They're not rock in the conventional sense of rock though. This group is heavily influenced by jazz and blues, and on Wild Young Hearts it's noticeable the moment you push play. The first song on this album is fantastic. The drums are played with brushes, the acoustic guitar is jazzy and finger-picked, the bass is simple and supportive, and Shoniwa's voice shines in the most impressive of ways. These guys are awesome and naturally talented. You can listen to Sometimes here. Here is a video of them playing the same song live to demonstrate their abilities and energy. Definitely take a look. 4/5.

Minks - By The Hedge. I don't know what this Boston indie pop group was thinking. It's not that this album is horrifying, it's just meh... okay, I guess. Some of their songs are disjointed, unpleasing, and frankly quite "ew... no." The guitars are all over the place without a home-base, the drums pound away without any creativity, and the vocals are strained and sustained whines that detract from the rest of the band. Other times though, they resemble bands like Real Estate and Wild Nothing, which I really like. They are guitar orientated, building comforting melodies and rhythms that secrete the notion that there's nothing better than being where it feels like at home. I can't really get into this album, but some might. Here is a taste of one of the better songs. I'll let you decide from there. I give it a 2.5/5.

Callers - Life of Love. You know that song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane? Now name the singer of Jefferson Airplane at that time. If you can, I'm impressed. If not, read up. Grace Slick is an icon of the folk rock genre. What made her special was her psychedelic penchants and unreal voice. One of her close friends was Janis Joplin. If you haven't heard of Janis Joplin, you need to seriously reconsider what music you listen to. Anyway, the vocal style of Sarah Lucas, the frontgirl for Callers, is a fusion of Joplin and Slick's style. At this point, this album might seem pretty good. I mean, how can it not be being compared to Joplin and Slick? Don't let that fool you. There is a questionable distance between Lucas' vocals and the instruments. She towers over everything. It sounds funny, especially because her voice is so unique. This is not to say that her voice is bad. It's actually unbelievable. In addition, the other band members are clearly skilled; the guitarist is especially gifted. But all together, there's something wrong. I'm literally finding myself being all Jewy and saying, "Oy, I cannot do this." It's a mundane album full of empty space and incoherent arrangements. If it's any consolation, I'd see them live because I think their sound is interesting, but I wouldn't pay more than $25. Here's a taste. Verdict: 1.8/5.

Watch this video of Phoenix courtesy of La Blogotheque. I'm super jealous of the bride and groom.

Jokes to tell while sharing an awkward elevator ride courtesy of Laffy Taffy:

#242: What is black and white and red? A sunburned zebra.
#20: What do pigs give on valentines day? Valenswines.
#209: What do ghosts like on their beef? Grave-y
#214: When is a boxer like an astronomer? When he sees stars.

Best, Jonathan

Rock on

Long distance does work! No Joy is proof. With one member in Montreal and the other in L.A., No Joy was burdened by multiple time zones and virtually the entire diagonal distance of the US. The two traded tracks via email and MySpace until Mexican Summer got wind of their recordings on MySpace. Within a year, the band expanded to a quartet and recorded their debut album, Ghost Blonde.

These guys rock hard. The guitar and bass are fueled with more distortion than I would know what to do with, but they also have an airy feel as they are sometimes pumped with echo and always with reverb. As a result, there is almost a constant static that pervades the album, but it definitely does not subtract from the listening experience.

The name of the game is repetition to the point of getting lost in the repetition. It's incredibly easy to be engrossed in a track and then to doze off. It doesn't necessarily lose your attention though; in fact, it's quite the contrary. Their tracks are hypnotic and spacey. That might sound like a contradiction, but I swear it's indicative. This perception has a lot to do with the frontgirl's vocals; she mumbles and pushes out her voice while maintaining a whiny, but not nasal, tone. Her sustained notes travel uninhibited above all the instruments. Her lyrics are incomprehensible for the most part, but that's okay. These factors combined make for some beautiful harmonies, and the harmonies make a boundless pool for some aimless mental swimming.

All in all, this album is actually really good after a second or third listen. This group is excellent at forming the right chord arrangements as to not overload the harmonies among instruments. If you overload the harmonies with all that distortion and reverb, it's going to sound like garbage even if every note is in harmony with the others. They find a pretty great balance. Verdict: 4.3/8. Favorite tracks: Heedless (this song is freaking awesome), Maggie Says I Love You, Indigo Child, Untitled, and Ghost Blonde.

Best, Jonathan

Some singles

Animal Collective is probably the most ground-breaking group since The Beatles changed rock. Say what you will about their ridiculous structure, unorthodox arrangements, and incomprehensible lyrics, it is irrefutable that these guys have an incredible talent, recognizing useful sounds and incorporating them into empty spaces to create the most bizarre and awesome melodies and rhythms. What's wonderful about this former 4-piece, then former trio, and now again a 4-piece is each one of the four has a distinct style and they are clearly distinguishable when solo. Not only that, when listening to AC, it's easy to recognize who wrote the basis for any one of the songs.

One of its members, Avey Tare, is a silly man. His stage presence is marked by floppy gestures and random yelping at times. In his latest release, Down There, Tare coveys sentiments that are relatable on the most basic of human levels. You feel for Tare on this album; he has clearly gone through something that shook the core of his soul. As a result, the album is dark and introspective. Another interesting aspect of Down There is Tare's overly-experimental nature. He does some weird things: mumbled samples, abrupt and loud interruptions, spaced-out beats, and garbled rhythm tracks. I've been listening to this album since late October. There is a lot of which I do not approve, which is unheard of for anything associated with AC. But two tracks have really popped out at me.

Laughing Hieroglyphic begins with a mumbled and petrifying sample, a quick and fleeting loud scream, and then a nebulous backdrop with the continuing sample that sounds like someone talking over a loudspeaker a couple hundred miles away in the Amazon rainforest at night. There is a strong aura of mystery. It segues into what sounds like a tightly wound string that becomes increasingly tightened until it reaches its tipping point. The percussion, all digitized, sounds like he took a garbage can from out back, slapped it a few times, and cut out the reverb and sustain. So freaking weird, but I love it. As I said, these guys have a knack for exploiting and manipulating all sounds. You can listen to the track here. Verdict: 4.5/5.

The second track I have revisited is Cemeteries. It begins with what sounds like a rainmaker but clearly isn't. It's too tinny to be a rainstick. The only other consistent part besides his vocals is something I cannot identify. It plays like a keyboard with a muffled-timpani drum effect, but I don't even want to take a stab at where or how he discovered the sample. Cemeteries exerts a languid feel; you could fall asleep to it but it would probably give you nightmares; it has an eerie undertone. The vocals, however, suggest reflection and nostalgia with a hint of fear: "Looking back on old days / Sleep foreign / Ice cold / Look away, not looking forward / Cemeteries, I saw." This is truly a beautiful song. Have a listen here. Verdict: 4.7/5.

One of the other members, Panda Bear, has a solo album due in April. Keep a look out.

Best, Jonathan