2012 In Review: Music
If you know me at all, you know I love music. Going to shows. Meeting people into music. Meeting bands. Making friends. Music is food for my soul. Like any year, I have my favorite albums that stuck with me through the entire year, and here we go!
Mumford & Sons happens to be one of those safe bands that you can listen to anytime of the year and feel good. Their latest album has some really nice songs to listen to including I Will Wait, that stings no matter what type of mood you are in. Also how can you not enjoy a band that plays a banjo as if it were a metal song? Go watch Mumford & Sons play at Red Rocks. While you are at it go watch Big Easy Express, which has Mumford & Sons, Old Crow Medicine Show, and the lovable Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros tour across the US via train.
I am not a hip hop guy in the slightest, the closest I got was being into the Beastie Boys, and the occasional Sir Mix-a-lot song, but really hip hop is not my scene, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist. The first time I heard Thrift Shop, I feel in love the the saxophone hook and the quick lyrics talking about poppin tags and looking for a come up. It was genius. Besides the comical, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tackle questionably one of the most touchy subjects in hip hop speaking openly about homosexuality with Same Love. Touching in every way possible. This song is historic. To make this story even more special, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are an independent local guys from right here in Seattle, and The Heist landed at #2 on the Billboard charts and #1 on iTunes when it was released. No major label support. Amazing stuff.
Tough as nails, two piece garage noise band from Nashville? Count me in. I heard Jeff the Brotherhood U Got The Look from MLB The Show, and they happened to be opening for Best Coast. What I witnessed was a fast paced, garage band, with pop tendencies. Everything I love to listen too. Hypnotic Nights released shortly after that show, and it has become my go to album when going to work or on a drive. Almost every song is fun to listen too, especially ode to drinking and weed smoking floating river down river Sixpack. There is just something enjoyable about listening to these guys. Not to mention the guitarist plays with only three strings!
Maturity. That is how I would describe the latest album from Japandroids, Celebration Rock. I love everything from Japandroids. Post Nothing is one of my favorite albums, but as I grow older, my tastes change and sometimes I hope that the bands that I love mature with me. With Celebration Rock, Japandroids did just that. Mature. They have found a perfect mesh of the things I love about their previous albums as well as bring more structure and soul to their songs. Upon listening to The House That Heaven Built, it becomes apparent that Japandroids have grown up.
Deep Sea Diver is kind of a fluke. I have never heard of them until they happened to be on tour with Wild Belle. I decided to listen to their latest album History Speaks, and found a solid album with great guitar work, solid lyrics, and sultry female vocals. Upon seeing them live, I quickly became a fan. Songs like NWO and the upbeat and fun You Go Running, Deep Sea Diver is another local Seattle band worth checking out if they come to your town.
I’m a sucker for female singers, and have a huge soft spot for Best Coast’s first album Crazy for You and their sophomore album The Only Place is pretty darn good. Just something adorable about Bethany Cosentino singing songs about heartbreak and love of California. As someone who grew up on the West Coast, and lived on the East Coast for a bit, her songs resinate with me, especially the first song The Only Place. I mean how can you not love a song with a chorus of “We got the ocean, got the babes, got the sun, got the waves. This is the only place for me”. Can’t argue with that.
I love Band of Skulls. Guitars. Guitars. More Guitars! The rock blues trio from England just continues to come out with solid albums. Returning for their second album, Sweet Sour, Band of Skulls continues where they left off with catchy dark blues blues inspired songs like The Devil Takes Care of His Own or the haunting duet Bruises. It is rare to find a band blend harmonies so well, and such strong female vocals on a song like Lies. A total package when it comes to a band, great to see live as well. Also Russell Marsden plays some of the most beautiful guitars ever built!
Deep Sea Diver at Neumos
Deep Sea Diver played Neumos last week with Wild Belle and it was a great show. Here is the solo song played during the encore.
Japandroids at Neumos
I always enjoy seeing Japandroids. Growing up right outside of Vancouver, I’m super happy to see a band that I like come out of the time I lived up there that doesn’t sound like 54/40 or Nickelback.
Well Brian and David rocked my face off again. Their light show was great. Great show as always. Check out the photos.
New Music Tuesday – Wild Belle
Since I picked up my iPhone 5 I have been listening to Spotify a whole lot more and my favorite app We Are Hunted came up and I instantly put it on repeat. Keep You by Wild Belle has some of my favorite things.
- Female Singer. Kills me. See Metric, Estero, Poe, Tegan & Sara, Bat for Lashes, Beast Coast, Beth Orton, you get the idea.
- Great beats. Gets you moving with a light reggae feel
- Baritone Saxophone. If it has a saxophone, it already wins.
New Music Tuesday – Moonface
One of my favorite bands the last couple years has been Wolf Parade. I was heart broken when they decided to take an indefinite hiatus, especially when their last show was in Vancouver and I decided not to go. Well part of Wolf Parade is back with Moonface a new project by Spencer Krug. Krug is somewhat prolific when it comes to the Canadian Music scene being involved in such bands as Sunset Rubdown, Frog Eyes, Fifths of Seven, and Swan Lake. For his second album under the Moonface moniker, Heartbreaking Bravery, Krug partnered with Helsinki based Finnish band Siinai. The results is a mixture of everything you hear in his previous projects with a twist from the partnership with Siinai. Check out Faraway Lightning from the album. Moonface will be playing The Crocodile in September. I expect to see you all there.
New Music Tuesday – Austra
I can thank the fine people at Neumo’s for introducing me to Austra. They happen to be coming to Seattle and I clicked the link to listen and it was great. Canada biggest export right now is female electronica music right now with Austra and Grimes. Check it out!
Photos from Japandroids at Neumo’s
Japandroids started our their North American tour last night in Seattle to a near full house at Neumo’s. Back from playing Europe, the guys were all amped up and ready to go and tore right into songs playing for a strong 90 minutes. Being just three hours from their home town, they were quite thankful for the years of support from their friends just a couple hours south of their home town Vancouver. Japandroids played every song from their new album, Celebration Rock, playing songs in a new, old, new, old frequency. Check out photos from the show below.
New Music Tuesday – Best Coast covers Fleetwood Mac
Best Coast came to Seattle last night, and having a huge crush on Bethany, I had to go. I was treated with a great show and this cover of Storms from Fleetwood Mac. Check out the video and photos from the show below.
New Music Tuesday – Everest – Let Go
Well I kinda missed posting this on Tuesday, but better late than never. After searching around the web, I finally found the band that does the song in the Corona Beach commercial that has been stuck in my head. Well it is called Let Go by Everest. It is a fun song. Enjoy.
New Music Tuesday – Explosions in the Sky – Postcards from 1952 Video
Explosions in the Sky are amazing. Nuff said. Watch the video.