This one is a thing of quiet, simple beauty. While on tour, Will Wiesenfeld (Baths) made this most recent record under the Geotic moniker. Heard throughout this ethereal record are pieces of "Wind II," a field recording made at 2:00 AM of the Santa Ana winds outside his California home. This record doesn't ask anything of you, and it never will... But it's there for you. Lie down, get a pair of headphones and drift off into this one, friends.
I'm so easily turned off by black metal, and it's been mostly because of the lyrics. Whether I agree or disagree with their subject matter is of no consequence, the lyrics themselves are so often on the 5th grade reading level, that I feel like I'm hacking and slashing at my I.Q. by listening. As for musicianship, I can get the same style and technique in countless other places, so I have no reason to listen to this particular genre. With the release of their fourth studio album, Olympia's Wolves in the Throne Room delivers something nobody saw coming: A refreshing black metal record. Two of Celestial Lineage's seven tracks are instrumental, and the tracks with lyrics actually bring something different to the table. This record doesn't redeem the genre as a whole, but it finally gives the listener something worth listening to.
The eponymous debut of Los Angeles based post-rock duo El Ten Eleven, El Ten Eleven is nine tracks of instrumental wonder. I stumbled upon this band by accident when the third track, "Lorge," captured my attention when it came up on an internet radio station that I'd had set to play songs by and like The American Analog Set. As soon as the synth loop started going, I was hooked and immediately sought out the album from whence it came. Now, my friends, I pass it on to you. Enjoy!
This is the eponymous debut record by Greenville, NC indie septet The Ethnographers, and before reading the rest of this, you should click on the link below and begin the download. No, really. I'm serious. Every second not listening to this album is a second that is seriously lacking in the aural wonder department. Go ahead, click it. I'll wait. Got it? Good. Now we can continue. Where was I? Oh yes... Well, by now you're probably thinking, "What the hell? What makes this record so great?" I'll tell you. This album takes the ingredients to regular old cookies and ends up baking you a giant delicious cake (See? The cake is NOT a lie). The record opens with "The Trouble with Sleeping," which actually opens the door to the record and leads the listener into the first gem in the collection, a song called "Fine and Dandelions," which, like Maritime's "Guns of Navarone," makes the listener feel a sudden need to get up and dance. The combined vocals of lead singers Megan Kennedy and Danielle Eiler, as well as those of keyboardist Sam Hollen compliment each other in a way that's not been seen since Kanye West caught a glimpse of his own face in a reflection. The next track, "The Marathon Runner," reveals another layer of the band, introducing guitar work akin to I Was a Cub Scout's first (and well, only) record. "Avec Moi" is a must for George A. Romero fans, or those who like upbeat and unsullied pop, or those who possess the ability to hear, really. "I Was Young Once" contains vocals that combine Heathers-style harmonies with a lot of balls behind them. "Looking Eyes, Holding Hearts" is a song that sounds like it floats on waves that have been caused by the thumps of a heartbeat, and is then followed by "Grandfather Said," which introduces the listener to the vocal stylings of guitarist Ian Collins, which blends with the other vocalists in an almost uncanny way. We've reached the point where I've decided to end this track by track synopsis because if you'd followed the directions at the beginning, you'd be hearing it for yourself now, wouldn't you? If per chance you're the kid that payed attention in class, but didn't follow directions, then now's your chance to catch up. Besides, who likes spoilers, anyway? For a band with seven members, nothing ever feels cluttered or unbalanced. Everyone in the band has a part that compliments the other six members, which is a rarity in itself, and now you, the listener have been given an opportunity to indulge in said rarity, and this is only the beginning! If this is the band's On Avery Island, I can't wait to hear what their In the Aeroplane Over the Sea will sound like.
This is the only full-length release from New York City's three-piece experimental outfit On!Air!Library!, and what a release it is. Between gaining a bit more exposure by releasing a split with The Album Leaf and going on tour with Interpol, twin sisters Claudia and Alley Deheza and Philip Wann recorded this gem of a record. This is one of the few choice albums that the listener can just let play from beginning to end. No skipping tracks 'round these parts, sir! Nine tracks of shoegaze-y vocals over semi-regular glitches and resonating melodies do a body good.
The second release by Julian House under the name The Focus Group, Hey Let Loose Your Love is a mini-album (the longest track clocks in at 2:19) that's not so mini after all. Taking a cue from documentary and library films of the '70s, this record blends samples, clips, random instruments and ambiance to make a sound collage that is interesting to say the least. Nostalgia and happenstance are quilted together to make something that will stimulate the listener's brain and then some.
Nowadays, the term "post-rock" merits one of two responses. The first response immediately being, "Oooooo! Sold!" The second response, quite the opposite of the first, is the person just rolling their eyes and scoffing. Both are acceptable responses, because while there are quite a few bands out there that bear that label who are very, very good, there are also imitation bands that do anything but flatter their idols. Also, releasing a 4 song album with all the tracks running upwards of ten minutes while playing the same three notes with a flange effect doesn't make you avant-garde or groundbreaking. Just sayin'. Okay, getting back to business... On this, their eponymous debut, The American Dollar take the ingredients that make post-rock so likeable and add a few spices of their own, resulting in the concoction of a wonderful musical soundscape, one that gives the listener a wave of nostalgic comfort and yet still presents and displays their own refreshing originality. On tracks like "Glow," they add a glitchiness reminiscent of Dntel's earlier work, while at the same time not overdoing it. The beauty of this record is the synchronicity of the melodies; everything compliments everything. A little reciprocity is nice every now and then, you know?
A good album for those long drives looking out at the scenery and a great one for the end of summer.
For fans of Mogwai and Explosions in The Sky - Fans of post rocks stuff def check it out, standard but no less epic.
This is perfect. Tinges of "Disintegration" period Cure, mixed with a much more falsetto vocal, and lyrics that are much more overtly romantic.Beautiful and haunting, playing on the edge of aggressive perfectly without rolling over into cliche.
It takes Mogwai/Godspeed to a much more human edge, or Mono with vocals. I find it more honest than Sigur Ros as it tries not to be quite so anthemic.
