Hayden- Bass Song

If there was one song in the world I had to listen to for the rest of my life, this song might be on the top 10, because every single time I listen to it, I'm surprised by something I hadn't heard the previous time. Just listen to the little placements of sounds during the transitions. The small trickle of the piano, the orchestra in the background rolling like thick swells in the ocean, the low shuffle of the percussion and piano, in some parts the bass imitates the hollow sound of a marimba, even the little noises in the background that let you know the song is human, that someone is there in the room with you. And listen to his voice; the small swells and releases in his musicality is astonishing. If you hear it one time without really listening, and then you listen to it again, really paying attention, its like listening to two completely different songs. And the song is so diverse too. Its a perfect study song, a perfect driving song, even a good running song, but its mostly a nothing song. This song is simply beautiful.

a link to the song will be up shortly.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

What can I say about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah that already hasn't been explained in the band's title? This refreshing group from Brooklyn recently celebrated the one year anniversary of their second album (which I bought and completely ate up)....but I still feel nostalgic about their first, self-titled album released in '05. It's probably one of the only albums I own where I completely love every single one of the songs...a true OCDelicious album. In a way they could be compared to Interpol and Arcade Fire, minus the grave themes and add fun-loving, shuffle-your-feet simplicity. Unlike others, however, Alec Ounsworth's voice (a voice my mom swears only a mother could love) rings refreshing tones in my ears, even at its whiniest. Their use of bells, chimes, accordion, harmonica and other toy-like sounds in a mature, melodic, and modern indie setting offers the world a new form of musical-bliss never experienced before. These two songs, Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth, and Is This Love? are quite enjoyable.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=8540231

Vampire Weekend- Debut Album

When you live in a suburb of phx your exposure to breaking bands is severely limited. You don't hob nob with hipsters. There is no buzz at local hangouts. And all the local bands have perfected their Weezer covers and are working on some new stuff that will inevitably sound like a Jimmy Eat World song. So when the new album by Vampire Weekend was released last week I obviously missed it. But thanks to the powers that are the internet I can feel somewhat included in appreciating this new album.

The west african guitar parts in song like Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa sound something like mid-80's paul simon and the constant beat, steel drums and orchestral arrangements of Walcott give the album depth and personality. This album is warm clever and ocdelicious.

http://earbuds.popdose.com/taylor/Vampire%20Weekend%20-%20Cape%20Cod%20Kwassa%20Kwassa.mp3

http://www.mediamax.com/maxfife/Hosted/09%20Walcott.mp3

N.E.R.D. Everybody Nose

I'm not one for Girl Anthems... usually. There was that stint in the late '90's but who didn't <3 the SPICE GIRLS. I'm not talking about just the music, the whole brand! movie and all. But with a recent focus on manliness, including weekly quotas of ESPN and discussion of "the game", my knowledge and appreciation of the pro-girl has been waining. Thank you N.E.R.D for creating such a catchy song. Bouncing in my cubicle while listening and catching myself singing along to the main tag line "all the girls standing in the line for the bathroom" has returned me to an emasculated state. But the song is so super catchy that is makes me very excited for the full length album from this Captain America group of hip-hop producers. This track is awesome, embarrassing and OCDelicious

https://poptartssucktoasted.sslpowered.com/LP1.21/everyone%20nose.mp3

Built to Spill- Car

I have a strong emotional attachment to this song because it was on a mix cd my brother gave to me for Christmas when he came home from a long awaited visit from college. I was in 7th grade. Besides the radio and my parent's collection of vinyl they've had since the age of the dinosaurs, I knew virtually nothing of the outside world of music; and I was happily awakened to the indie world thanks to my brother's empty, college pockets. Car happens to be track one on the mix. I remember burning the candle til 2 in the morning as I listened quietly to Built to Spill over and over again. They became my meat and potatoes band, the one that started it all, the group that made me want to know what else was out there, which is exactly what this song is all about. " I want specifics on the general idea I wanna think what I should know Want you to do me what to show I wanna see movies of my dreams". Built to Spill happens to be everywhere. These old guys have been around for a while, and pretty much every indie-alt band out there has at least a speck of Built to Spill in them. Its like they created the "Essentials of Indie" manual and every aspiring musician just had to get their hands on it. Built to Spill has a vast range of formations from heart-exploding love songs to fun indie pop songs to 20 minute intricate ballads. No matter what mood your in, if you pop in one of their albums, you'll fill your ears with indie-loving charm.

http://idisk.mac.com/olneyce/Public/car.mp3

Blonde Redhead- Elephant Woman

Although this no-wave group from New York is often compared with Sonic Youth, their two most recent albums 23 and Misery Is a Butterfly makes Blonde Redhead incomparable to any band that I have come across. And there are many, many elements that set them apart from everyone else. Their groves, jazz influenced syncopation and rhythm, and use of exotic instruments and eerie background sounds, place them in the avant-experimental genre. Unfortunately, when some artists enter this experimental and transcendental vortex...they simply produce detached and fuzzy garbage. Not in this case. Blonde Redhead perfectly combines the use of structural compositions with an abstract twist. Their progressive chord changes and dark, romantic themes mystify me. On top of this eeriness that takes you on a trip through the vastness, and sometimes lonely emptiness of the universe is an intensity that grips you, and a violent emotion that leaves you completely awestruck. The song, Elephant Woman, is so full of intensity and emotion its hard to describe how I feel about it....as it is hard to place Blonde Redhead in any classification or with any other artist.

Okay, I finally found a link to the song, but its a YouTube video. And if you don't like the lovely anime graphics, spend your blessed 99 cents and buy it off iTunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRbahynwyEs&feature=related

Hot Chip will leave you breathless

For the past two weeks I haven't been able to stop listening to this electronica band from London. The tight synth beats and ironic rhymes make it addictive. Who would have thought a group of twenty somethings would have such an affect on me. There new album will be coming out Feb 4th and leaks have been coming out on interweb for a minute and with each new track my expectations rise and rise.

Let's hope the new album isn't a disappointment because we all know that disappointment comes from unmet expectations... take my last gf for example.

Ready for the Floor
http://ricky.differentclass.org/uploads/hotchip.mp3


More Hot Chip songs soon if'n you like.