100511

What's It Called?

The Rolling Stones - Miss You

What's The Story?

You could almost say that their lead singer has moves like Jagger.

Miss You is from their best-selling album, Some Girls.

Who's To Blame?

Either a parent or an uncle. Who else gets at you early enough in life to beat the Stones into you?

Why ♥ It?

That refrain. Case closed. It gets played on the keys, the harmonica, the guitar, and most notably, is sung. There's some great funky bass, and I'm sure there are lyrics being sung or some such thing. But that's not why this song is one of the all-time greats.

This song is so much centered around that one part that, when a band I saw this weekend that covered it, I kept trying to exclaim to friends how much I enjoyed the band and their cover of...

...

...

What's the name of that song again?

You know, that Stones song.

I had this conversation 3 or 4 times before someone actually knew, although everyone knew exactly what song I meant when I hummed it.

It takes a special kind of song to be so ultimately recognizable without any knowledge of the title.

100411

What's It Called?

Cold War Kids - Royal Blue

What's The Story?

Cold War Kids are a four-piece indie rock group from California. Royal Blue is from their most recent & most successful release, Mine Is Yours.

Who's To Blame?

Hardly even know 'er.

Why ♥ It?

Royal Blue is what happens when top 40 rock grows up in the 90s and makes it to & through the Oughts.

For example, the chorus is upbeat and instrument-full like something by Counting Crows or Semisonic. Despite this drawing from standard fare from over a decade ago, this song still sounds like it was made this year. Like a Dispatch tune, the percussion is varied & neat, but you could pull it off in its entirety with a set of bongo drums and still not shame the song. The vocals in the chorus are definitely singable, and the breakdown (2:07) with all the hey-heys is short, but great.

Royal Blue is rock fit for beach bums, the airwaves, hipsters, hippies, mix CDs... whoever. I'm sorta surprised these guys don't get more mainstream radio play, but then again, that means you get to be the one to tell your friends about 'em.

100311

What's It Called?

Spock's Beard - As Far As The Mind Can See, Pt. III: They Know We Know (Youtube link)

What's The Story?

Spock's Beard is a neo prog-rock band, a mouthful that says they play music that'll satisfy prog fans as well as fans of radio rock in the 80s. Formerly Neal Morse's band, he departed after the release of their magnum opus, Snow. This is from the bands eponymous 8th album, the third after Neal's departure.

Who's To Blame?

10 to 1 odds that his finger's in a dyke as we speak*.

Why ♥ It?

Ever hear Andy, You're A Star by The Killers? The chorus of this song is nigh-identical to the verse in that one, except the melodramatic vocals and raw guitar sounds are replaced by a polished, full-band sound.

The verse, on the other hand, reeks of determination. Basic & constant percussion backing upbeat, monotonous vocals with repetitive guitar/bass/keys. Not to disparage it, it's excellent; the strength is in the rigid delivery.

They Know We Know is a ride through the country on a sunny day. Bright, peasant, and mostly unchanging--because that's what you want from it.

* = The stone kind.

100211

What's It Called?

Simian Mobile Disco (feat. Beth Ditto) - Cruel Intentions

What's The Story?

Simian Mobile Disco come from the same school of electronic artists as Justice & Daft Punk. They're a duo, with the more noteworthy of the two being James Ford, a producer who's worked with Arctic Monkeys & Florence + The Machine, among others. Cruel Intentions is from their most recent, 2009's Temporary Pleasure.

Who's To Blame?

According to Anderson Cooper, a hub for illicit pictures of kids on the internet.

Why ♥ It?

Cruel Intentions is great movin' mood music that's powerful despite being quiet.

Picture the opening scene of a film. In this opening scene, a montage of shots of a nightclub are displayed. It's not a particularly wild nightclub, but everyone is dressed well, and it's a nice spot. Lots of colored lights that don't strobe, but gently alter color and intensity. This is the tune that's playing in the background during that montage.

100111

What's It Called?

Porcupine Tree - The Creator Has A Mastertape

What's The Story?

Porcupine Tree are probably the Radiohead of progressive rock: immaculately constructed tunes that sound like emotional damage. The Creator Has A Mastertape is a lesser known track from a better known album, In Absentia.

Who's To Blame?

A designer from Holland who married a different kind of designer from Hong Kong.

Why ♥ It?

Porcupine Tree tends towards heartbreak rather than happiness. This song is upbeat and frequently sounds industrial (think Ministry), but still keeps to the essential brooding Porcupine Tree style.

Like 40% of the songs I post here (at least), the bass line in this song is one of the prime draws. Nothing complex, just constant & driving. The vocals are delivered without emotion by design, and sound like dystopia. The guitar features odd sounds and dissonant chords in otherwise quiet atmospheres and during thrash-friendly rock out sections.

The dynamic is admirable as well: the verses feature the aforementioned brooding vocals, driving bass and bizarre guitar, and this gets more chaotic in the prechorus before the full on headbanger emerges with no vocals, the same (now overshadowed) bass line, and the Ministry-sound I talked about.

Don't mind the prog rock label; if catharsis rock was a thing, I'd file it there. It's worth hearing, especially if you feel like breaking stuff.

093011

What's It Called?

The Bird & The Bee - Love Letter To Japan

What's The Story?

The Bird & The Bee are an indie synthpop-ish duo from Los Angeles. They're perhaps best known for their Hall & Oates cover album. This tune comes from the album that precedes that one, 2008's Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future.

Who's To Blame?

A girl I met while peeling potatoes.

Why ♥ It?

There is so much going on in this tune. It sounds like a blur of neon lights at night while in a moving car. Perhaps it's the song's title that conjures that image, but the music definitely helps the mood; especially during the whoa-whoa parts, its upbeat nature just sounds like movement feels.

The song is also really cute-sy in the way that we stereotype Japanese culture. There's a really high-pitched bell sound to introduce the track that is persistent throughout. The drums are processed and electronic, and there are plenty of high dinging sort of sounds. Inara George's voice is candy sweet, and she's singing about love as an ideal, which goes well with this adorable song.

Love Letter To Japan is perhaps a strange indie pop offering at first blush, but this surface oddity doesn't keep it from being easy to love.

092911

What's It Called?

Girl Talk - Oh No

What's The Story?

Girl Talk is the stage name of Gregg Gillis, who (I love this) famously gave up on his degree/work in biomedical engineering to work fulltime on his music mashups. His latest album, All Day, contains hundreds of samples from just about every genre you can imagine. Oh No is the first track on that album, although the whole thing really plays like a mixtape.

Who's To Blame?

A Nova Scotian who looks a little like Girl Talk, and conversely, looks very unlikely to listen to (let alone enjoy) Girl Talk.

Why ♥ It?

Perfect example of the genre blurring you'll catch here: Oh No gets its name from a verse in Ludacris' Move Bitch, and is paired with Black Sabbath's War Pigs for the intro to the track. Hearing Luda rap over that ever-famous power-chord part from when War Pigs' tempo picks up is sheer novelty, but doesn't lose its lustre like some novelty tends to.

From there, through a convoluted sample segue, Dorrough's Ice Cream Paint Job is on display alongside The Brothers' Johnson's Strawberry Letter 23, which is a sick beat that really brings the rap to life. I didn't know either track prior to this mashup, but they're both solid library additions.

Finally, nearing the end, The Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop is used both musically and lyrically: they have the vocals over Slick Rick's La Di Da Di, and then swap to the upbeat guitar paired with Missy Elliott's Get Your Freak On.

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of samples used, but they're the main and memorable ones in the track, and All Day continues with more of the same for an hour or so. If you like mashups, novelty, and hearing either familiar tunes in a new light, or new tunes in a compressed format, Girl Talk is perfect. It's great party music too; even the heaviest ADD will be satisfied.

092811

What's It Called?

Neon Trees - Animal

What's The Story?

This tune was in a tourism commercial for Vegas last week, and when asked if I knew it, I insisted that it was Two Door Cinema Club for like five minutes before I got contrary enough to jfgi. Neon Trees are a four piece from Utah, and Animal was the lead single from their first & only album to date, Habits.

Who's To Blame?

His beard is probably what a playoff beard would've looked like on an Oilers fan in the 80s.

Why ♥ It?

As stated above, despite its radio appeal and generally maligned teen/young adult audience, Animal is a tune that could easily be by a band your hipster friend was telling you about last week. Neon Trees nail the genre rudiments of singable chorus and a clean vocal line, laid over some power chords and a happy, upbeat chord progression.

But don't think that it's entirely boring.

Having the bass guitar turned up to 11 or so can always give a track an added voice, and this is true of Animal as well. See also from 1:25 until the second chorus for a great quirk in the vocals. For a song called Animal, it mostly wears kitten mittens, but at this point the vocals have a sandpaper moment that'll make you feel better about listening to such a pseudo teeny-bopper song.

You know that 14-year old cousin you have with the jet-black dyed hair, skinny jeans and goofy superfluous glasses? They like this song, but so will you.

092711

What's It Called?

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

What's The Story?

Dire Straits are a fixture on classic rock radio, best known for their hit Money For Nothing, which, alongside being one of the biggest hits of the 80s, caused a stir in Newfoundland (& later, Canada) due to its use of the word "faggot". On the other hand, Sultans of Swing is the song that launched their career while touring with the Talking Heads in the late 70s; it's from their eponymous first album.

Who's To Blame?

The only stonecutter I deal with on a daily basis.

Why ♥ It?

I don't need to explain why this is a great song, but I noticed while listening to it this morning that my favorite part far & away is actually the post-chorus. Most songs have their catchy hooks in the chorus; occasionally, in the pre-chorus, and sometimes even the verse. However, that lovable guitar lick comes most commonly and most prominently after the chorus they play so often. The structure was one that I took time to ponder, and realized I couldn't think of another song that had its best to offer immediately following the refrain. Blogosphere, what are some other songs where the most famous & catchiest part come after the chorus, but before the verse?

Oh, and if you haven't heard this song at all, listen to it right. now. (I probably should've said that first)

092611

What's It Called?

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Buster Voodoo

What's The Story?

These guys are nifty. A fella and a lady from Mexico who grew up loving heavy metal, they moved to Ireland and started a career in flamenco guitar. The album this tune comes from, 11:11 features 11 songs, each inspired by a different rock/metal artist. This one's for Hendrix.

Who's To Blame?

An old friend who's probably a hipster, but has the right attitude about it.

Why ♥ It?

Flamenco guitar in general is wonderful and flexible music. There aren't too many situations where it's inappropriate. What Rodrigo y Gabriela bring to the table is a style that, like both themselves and myself, grew up on the hard stuff.

Buster Voodoo features a wonderfully catchy rhythm refrain that's paired with a catchier lead, plenty of blinding & technical solos, and hand-slapping percussion on the guitars that makes you forget that there isn't actually a percussionist.

As long as you're okay with not having something to sing along to, this song is as good as it gets.

092511

What's It Called?

Pretty Lights - World of Illusion

What's The Story?

Pretty Lights is Derek Vincent Smith, a DJ/producer from Colorado. Known for his intense all-nighter live shows featuring big sounds and (what else) pretty lights, he actually releases all his material for free with a suggested donation because of his extensive sampling habits. This one's from his most recent 2009 full album, Passing By Behind Your Eyes.

Who's To Blame?

Fuck it, he'll have a root beer.

Why ♥ It?

World of Illusion kicks off the album, and it's in the ideal slot as an opener. The beat glitches itself into reality; thirty-five seconds of stutter-step groove before a horn sample that Mike Tyson could enter the ring to. The beat tapers again for another few seconds, before re-entering with a solid groove that's not dubstep, but still pretty dirty. It doesn't have the hooks of a Daft Punk or a Justice, but it'll still hold attention for 3 minutes plus without issue.

One of the shortest tunes by Pretty Lights, World of Illusion acts as a perfect intro: to an album, to an artist, to a genre, whatever. This song is the start of something, and it's up to you to determine what.

092411

What's It Called?

Florence + The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)

What's The Story?

Florence + The Machine are a soulful pop rock group from London. Rabbit Heart is from their critically acclaimed first album, Lungs. Also, they're a rock group with a freakin' harp player.

Who's To Blame?

The biggest mess in the education faculty of 09-10.

(Trust me, that's an achievement)

Why ♥ It?

Two reasons, mainly.

First, the all-encompassing vocals of the song. Florence is no doubt the centerpiece of the group, and the verses traverse from her singing with one powerful voice, to giant choral-effect moments and back again. It's sort of a call-and-answer style (see: live performances of the song), but more importantly, it creates an energy flow.

...Which brings me to point number two, the chorus. The verse bottoms out into a building pre-chorus, and that explodes into a chorus that's really, really loud for this type of music. The drums that were sorta-interesting during the verse are now getting pounded, and it's all about layer after layer of cold-shiver, soul-piercing vocals. It absolutely radiates energy.

The probably-bigot in me would call Florence + The Machine sort of a chick-rock band, but make no mistake: they can blow you away just as well as any bearded, testosterone-laden group, and this song is an ideal example of that.

092311

What's It Called?

Portugal. The Man - All My People

What's The Story?

Portugal. The Man are perhaps the best reason that the rest of America hasn't set Wasilla, Alaska on fire yet. They play an indie rock style that acts as a neat bridge between classic psychedelic rock, and more modern & upbeat indie sounds. All My People is (probably) the best known song from their 2010 release American Ghetto.

Who's To Blame?

He went as trollface.jpg for Hallowe'en last year. Needless to say, I don't trust 'em.

Why ♥ It?

There are so many elements of this song that remind me of something else that I like.

First, the electronic, hip-hop beat intro makes me mumble-sing Snoop Dog-gy Doggggg every time. The verse is trippy, like a less muted Kyuss. The chorus has the vocal style of MGMT with one of those guitar lines that mimics the notes of the vocals, causing the perfect storm of about-to-be-stuck-in-your-head. The post-chorus has a feel good guitar part that sounds like 90s radio rock, before descending back into the hip hop vibe. All of these elements come together to make a track that's hard to pin down, but definitely both likable and memorable.

092211

What's It Called?

Eliot Lipp - One Knot

What's The Story?

Eliot Lipp is an electronic musician from Los Angeles, now based in Brooklyn. One Knot is from his first, self-titled 2004 release.

Who's To Blame?

Pandora is a great timekiller when work is slow.

Why ♥ It?

This song is a downbeat and relaxed number that sounds like some of the more mellow moments of Holy Fuck. The clumsy organ, busy guitar, and I-only-need-two-freakin'-notes bass work well together to create music that's as good in the background as it is the foreground.

092111

What's It Called?

Boston - Foreplay / Long Time

What's The Story?

The only album that sold better in the US than the source of this gem was Guns 'n' Roses' Appetite For Destruction. Boston first hit the selves in 1976, and literally every song from it is still all over classic rock radio today.

Who's To Blame?

An adoptive father in California who I've never met in real life (or IRL, as the kids say)

Why ♥ It?

The reason for the slashed title is because this is actually two separate songs, more or less.

The first couple minutes are full of classic rock wankery. It's an awesome explosion of power chords, cymbals, and an organ solo. It's a headbanger, through and through.

The second part, Long Time, contains exactly the same fare that made Boston among the greatest selling acts of the 70s: Brad Delp with honest vocals & great harmonies, and Tom Scholz with a mixture of acoustic and electric sounds that gel wonderfully. Also, another trademark Boston chorus that the entire Western world had in their head for a decade.

Foreplay / Long Time is like taking the Battle of Helm's Deep from the Lord of The Rings trilogy, and appending the entirety of Pulp Fiction afterwards; it starts by blowing you away, and then gives you what you know to expect from one of the world's best.

092011

What's It Called?

Panic At The Disco - Hurricane

What's The Story?

Well, you've heard Panic. They famously had a great, punk-poppy first album, and then like countless others, had a sophomore flop. Then, 2 members left the band in 2009, and they're now a two-piece. Hurricane is from their third album & first with the new lineup, Vices & Virtues.

Who's To Blame?

...It's something about a pond in my bathroom?

Why ♥ It?

One of the things that appealed to me most about Panic's first album was how often they'd borrow a snippet of another genre into their own music. Lots of string sections, occasional electronic bursts, etc. Hurricane does this in the form of a disco-ball bass that demands center stage. The whole track is lit up by this sound, and by the many crowd sounding vocals. It feels like being in a particularly wild nightclub.

Fans of Panic's radio-ready choruses will find a home here, also. Although that happening bass is still busy funking it up, the rest of the chorus could be any other pop-punk song, as well as the you'll dance to anything hook-bridges that pop up a few times.

I still haven't figured out what it is about two-piece rock groups in the last few years that make them so excellent, but Panic At The Disco are a more-than-welcome addition to the bandwagon.

091911

What's It Called?

Nicole Atkins - Cry Cry Cry

What's The Story?

Nicole Atkins is a singer who has the heavy title of frequently being compared to Roy Orbison, says Wikipedia. Cry Cry Cry is from her newest offering, 2011's Mondo Amore.

Who's To Blame?

He's a Finn, but he ain't Scandanavian.

Why ♥ It?

Nicole Atkins is perhaps a little less known than Grace Potter, so that could give a good idea what to expect.

The vocals in this tune are impressive, as are the lyrics. Lots of held notes & vibrato--it's hard to cite a virtuoso performance in a track like this, but her talent definitely enhances the sound.

However, if you somehow never noticed that Nicole was there, this song still has a ton to offer. Specifically, although the song follows a pretty rudimentary progression, listening to the guitar is extremely rewarding. Like a Hendrix tune, the guitar plays around within the progression in a fashion that's both catchy and interesting; playing the notes you want to hear while never doing the same thing twice.

Cry Cry Cry is one of those songs you can play for anyone who'll listen, and probably get a thumbs up regardless of the audience.

091811

What's It Called?

Mindless Self Indulgence - Shut Me Up

What's The Story?

Mindless Self Indulgence are an interesting four-piece intersection of electronica and rock that comes out sounding crass, but I assure you that's what they're going for. Shut Me Up is the first track from the third of five studio albums, You'll Rebel To Anything.

Who's To Blame?

His nickname comes from the name of the one-blank domino.

Why ♥ It?

This song has a four-chord hook, foolish lyrics, a cheesy synth in the chorus, and all kinds of high notes on vocals. Separated piecewise in this way, you can compare MSI to one thing or another, but the gestalt result is difficult to compare anything to. It's worth hearing.

091711

What's It Called?

disasterPEACE - Jump Error

What's The Story?

disasterPEACE is the musical pseu-diddly-eudonym of Rich Vreeland, one of the better known artists in the chiptune scene. Much of his music can be found on his site. It's from an e-release album entitled Rise of The Obsidian Interstellar.

Who's To Blame?

A chill guy who instructed me in the ways of the day burn.

Why ♥ It?

Not having the advantage of a built in novelty from being from a previously played game, the track has to do something to catch the ear. Maybe it's the album title, and maybe it's a general tendency of chiptune; but this song really sounds like a blastoff into space from your favorite 8-bit game. It's an interesting soundscape, and the song is definitely built around this theme.

The main line (which also acts as an intro) is perfectly catchy. There are a number of cool and different movements which may not last more than a dozen seconds at a time, but they're united and made relevant by having that one riff run as a thread throughout much of the tune. In this way, Jump Error listens like a catchy overture, making it a nice stepping stone into chiptune.

091611

What's It Called?

Noah & The Whale - 2 Atoms In A Molecule

What's The Story?

Sometimes folk, sometimes indie, sometimes bluegrass. Noah & The Whale are another excellent rock offering from London; a great contemporary of Mumford & Sons. 2 Atoms In A Molecule is the first track from their first commercial release, Peaceful The World Lays Me Down.

Who's To Blame?

Perhaps ironically, a good buddy's girlfriend.

Why ♥ It?

A high-tempo acoustic guitar-driven song about anti-love. Something about a tune like this always exudes fun, and this one is no exception.

The percussion in this song is so lovable. It's never loud or busy, but the right beat is always lightly tapping away with the addition of a glock and some tinny-hitting sounds here and there, and it's ideal. Also, as always with Noah & The Whale, the backup vocals add a great element to the tune. Both of these parts are best heard in the bars with breaks from the verses, and the outro.

2 Atoms In A Molecule is at once short & sweet musically, as well as short & bitter lyrically. In one word, it's fun. Check it out.

091511

What's It Called?

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains - Ways To Come Home

What's The Story?

For those who aren't heavy fans, Sebastien Grainger is the voice behind Death From Above 1979. Ways to Come Home is from his band's EP American Names.

Who's To Blame?

Charlie Bravo Charlie Radio Three.

Why ♥ It?

I won't lie, I sought out Grainger's post-DFA work looking for more of that pure energy dance punk with his signature wailing vocals. What I found, however, was some low-key alt/folk rock with vocals like the tamer parts of Black History Month.

The song leads in with a couple seconds of a clean vocal note from Grainger, which kicks in the genuine, unprocessed guitar and percussion. Soon, a fuzzy synth sound enters. That's about it, and this laid back mood pervades the entire song. Aside from the occasional high-energy cathartic outburst (used nearer to the end), the whole thing is absolutely chill.

Especially noteworthy are some of the bridges (see 1:17), where there are a few bars of background vocals and catchy leads outside the main body of the song. These don't disrupt the serene mood, just refresh from it to switch it up and keep things novel.

There are ways to come home, as Grainger proved by reuniting with Jesse Keeler to bring back their high octane dance punk magic earlier this year. However, when you need a come-down from all that testosterone, this track will be waiting.

091411

What's It Called?

Mumford & Sons - The Cave

What's The Story?

Mumford & Sons are a large folk rock outfit from London. They create soundscapes that are at once as grand as their numbers and as quiet as their genre. The Cave is from their debut & only major release Sigh No More, and they share the honor with Biebs as having lost the "best new artist" category at the Grammys to Esperanza Spalding.

Who's To Blame?

Eddie Vedder's #1 fan.

Why ♥ It?

This tune does a great job of showcasing both the big and the small found within Mumford & Sons.

Take first the first couple of verses. The song starts with an honest, blue-collar voice and a guitar. That's it. This quickly begins to accumulate other sounds, with piano, banjo, percussion and backup vocals all being a part of the fun by chorus 1.

Speaking of the chorus, it's an excellent anthem for the self; to sing along to those words and mean it feels great. And it's not hard to want to do.

Take also the latter half of the song. By 2:45 there are multiple horns, multiple guitars, and an epic and triumphant feel develops to close out the tune. The song has blossomed into one of those rare tunes where you can pound your fist in the air to a banjo and a trumpet.

The Cave is feel-good folk rock that's written with the present in mind, but I have no doubt that it'll age wonderfully as well.

091311

What's It Called?

Lady Gaga - Disco Heaven

What's The Story?

Lady... Gaga? Goodness, I had no idea! For you see, I have been on Mars for the last decade, in a cave, with my eyes shut and my fingers in my ears.

This tune comes as a bonus track on The Fame.

Who's To Blame?

They're known for their bagels and their cramped space.

Why ♥ It?

From start to finish, this song captures some of the most admirable parts of the 70s, except that it's on one of the best-sellers of the 00s.

The bass guitar shines aggressively throughout this track: it moves fast, and it hits hard. The vocals are Lady Gaga's standard smooth mindvirus pop-style. In the verses especially, they're brainwashing, with lots of vibrato in the voice and choral/overlaid backup vocals making it sail by almost too fast to appreciate.

The bad news: the chorus to this song won't be staying in your head for weeks on end like, say, Bad Romance.

The good news: The song stands on its own outside of just a catchy main line. It's perfect for playing for friends only to tell them afterwards that they just really enjoyed a Lady Gaga song, or (if you prefer) got Gagarolled.

The really good news: Gagarolling isn't actually a thing.

091211

What's It Called?

The Lost Fingers - Billie Jean

What's The Story?

The Lost Fingers are a pleasant burst of novelty from Quebec. They play well-arranged gypsy jazz covers of popular songs. Billie Jean (originally by Michael Jackson on Thriller) appears on their first commercial release, 2008's Lost In The 80's.

Who's To Blame?

A connoisseur of domestic goats.

Why ♥ It?

Take a pop-rock classic, and reimagine it with a stand up bass and two vocalists who can all sing. It probably doesn't matter what pop-rock classic, it gets serious points for novelty, and bonus points for being able to bridge from a more common taste to a seriously great genre that's a little harder to appreciate.

With that said, when I say "gypsy jazz cover of Billie Jean", knowing what both of those things entail probably gives a good mental image of what to expect in this track. I have to give props to the group for the post-breakdown part at around 3:00; they keep playing their instruments, but emulate the style of the original tune almost perfectly before smoothly transitioning back into their own take.

I wanted my closing statement to reiterate the band intro and say something about "pure novelty", but there's a lot more to this (and other Lost Fingers) tunes than just the initial delight of hearing these tunes in this format, and to dismiss it as pure novelty would be shaming the excellent performance found in this track.

091111

What's It Called?

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

What's The Story?

Paul Simon is the man. There's your story.

You Can Call Me Al is one of an array of well-known tunes from his solo album Graceland.

Who's To Blame?

A guy who famously offered to sacrifice his sister in exchange for the dismissal of hallucinations of monkeys in gyrocopters.

Why ♥ It?

The bassline and horn parts are enough, really. Add Paul Simon's clever lyric-writing, awesome background vocals, and one of the most timeless music videos ever, and the result is gold in them thar hills.

091011

What's It Called?

Matt & Kim - Daylight

What's The Story?

Matt & Kim are yet another band that showcase how grand a sound can be had with just two members. Daylight is from their second album, Grand.

Who's To Blame?

Neither a Matt nor a Kim.

Why ♥ It?

This is the kind of song that some will hear and say that it hardly changes at all. Though I tend to disagree, if anything it's a compliment that the song can run almost 3 minutes carried on the same thought and entertain all the while.

The intro is a piano piece that will become very familiar, it lasts for the duration. It's all about subtle changes; I won't point any out, but it's worth listening for when the piano deviates just slightly from the already established progression that's really cool.

The percussion is a great shuffle. I don't know enough about drums to explain exactly what Kim's doing, but the sorta-sounds-like-hitting-the-side-of-the-drum beat meshed with the occasional attention-grabbing snare hit helps the piano to make the song feel like it's walking along on a sunny afternoon in a busy crowd.

Songs that bring in an overpowering fuzzy bass to complement a repeating main line are allllll right. See 2:10 onward.

Daylight is reflective of the title: always happy, always moving, always refreshing.

090911

What's It Called?

Boysetsfire - Rocketman

What's The Story?

Boysetsfire are a generally hardcore punk band from Delaware. (Did anyone else think nothing was hardcore in Delaware?)

If you're wondering, it is indeed an Elton John cover. It's from their 7" EP Suckerpunch Training from 2001. It originally surfaced in 1972 on Elton John's Honky Château.

Who's To Blame?

Dude gives me gamerscore envy.

Why ♥ It?

Although this is a cover by a hardcore punk band, I want to differentiate it from the more well-known Me First & The Gimme Gimmes cover version. Whereas theirs picks up the pace of the song (which ruins the mood entirely in my mind), Boysetsfire keep the slow & introspective style intact for great results.

The guitar tone they use during those slow sections (the intro, for example) is absolutely to die for. It's just raw enough to give those sections an added emotion. This tone turns bright, tight and polished for the more upbeat sections, which fits that mold ideally as well.

Nathan Gray's honest and effortless vocals aren't much like Elton John, but they don't disrespect his legacy either. The background vocals on the chorus would often be out of place in this genre, but are allowed because it's fucking Rocketman, in case you hadn't noticed.

Some will still call a punk cover of this song blasphemy, but it's a novel take on a great tune that isn't afraid to be different while still respecting the song we all know and love.

090811

What's It Called?

Ailsean - Uematsu-San Just Wanna Have Fun (From his website)

What's The Story?

Sean Stone (AKA Ailsean) is a guitarist who lays out some neat remixes & covers of old video game music tracks. Somewhere between most and all of his music is available for free on his site.

Who's To Blame?

Ever hear of Lubos Motl, the physicist/blogger?

Not him. But close.

Why ♥ It?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

The prelude from the Final Fantasy series.

These gel incredibly, and are neatly put together, with bubblegum synth and swanky guitar doing Cyndi justice while delay and distortion effected guitar bring Uematsu into the picture.

Really, this one is worth a listen on title & concept alone, but don't be surprised if it sneaks into your library. Did I mention it's free?

090711

What's It Called?

Phoenix - 1901

What's The Story?

Phoenix won the Grammy in 2010 for best alternative music album. First, France makes the best electronic, and now they're threatening one of the genres North Americans are usually the kings of. (Or at least Brits.) 1901 is a #1 Billboard Hit Alternative single from that award winning album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Who's To Blame?

You haven't heard Electric Feel until you've heard her sing the solo.

Why ♥ It?

A high-swelling synth base, high notes on guitar all over the place, varied high vocals. Everything about this song is high and lovable. (Also, while high)

At the risk of ruining this feel-good gem, try and hear the chorus without hearing him repeat the word ballin' over and over again. I bought the album, I've read the lyrics, I know that he's saying "fold it". That's irrelevant. The great feel of this song combined with a small quirk in the accent has entirely changed the lyrics to turn the tune into into an anthem to a slang word I love a lil' too much.

090611

What's It Called?

Justice - Audio, Video, Disco (Dailymotion video link)

What's The Story?

Justice are the heirs apparent to Daft Punk, or at least another spin at the same great format. They're a French electronic duo whose first album, †, was an absolute smash full of great anthems. Audio, Video, Disco is the name of their upcoming sophomore album due out October 25th, and this was the second single released from it.

Who's To Blame?

That little alien with all the viral links and pictures of cats.

Why ♥ It?

Justice were quoted recently as describing their new album as "a progressive rock record, played by guys that don’t know how to play".

...Sure.

Actually, this song seems to be one of the ones that they were referring to. The high pitched synth and strings sounds layered throughout echo something you might catch in the background of a Spock's Beard or Flower Kings song. The title (and only lyric) is repeated and processed sort of like a Yes track.

But don't let that discourage the hopes of electronic gold. Though layered, the percussion and beat echo of other Justice-style songs. Further to that, the droning piano is something that can be heard in other Justice tunes, as well as in contemporaries (Bloody Beetroots, etc.)

It's not the absolute banger I'm awaiting from the new Justice album, but not every song can be DVNO. Audio, Video, Disco is a solid (if varied) addition to an electronic library and has a good catchy factor, to boot.

090511

What's It Called?

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

What's The Story?

Talking Heads were at the front of the new wave movement in the late 70s and into the early 80s, with big names like David Byrne & Brian Eno on board as performing and producing, respectively. It's from their fourth album Remain In Light, released in 1980.

Who's To Blame?

A straightedge, tattoo-laden amateur triathlete.

(I bet you know seven of those, too.)

Why ♥ It?

Steely Dan's Reelin' In The Years often gets flack from detractors for the bizarre meter (or lack thereof) during the verses. This song isn't for those folks either.

Learning to like this song was sort of like an induction: the instant reaction is sort of a double you tee eff. However, that letting the days go by chorus is catchy, uplifting, and feels great to listen to. So you put up with that strangeness in the verses for that excellent chorus. Then slowly, surely; the droning same as it ever was part starts to catch the ear lyrically, either as a sordid reminder or solemn reassurance. Then you notice the subtle "doo doo" background vocals during the verse that sort of follow the bass around. Those are neat. Suddenly it happens: led by the strength of that chorus, you can sing word-for-word during the frenetic verses and love every minute of it. What remains is simply the task of explaining to your pals exactly why you like such an inane song.

Or at least that's how it happened for me. A song so oddly constructed is probably required to be experienced personally, and that's an essential part of its beauty.

090411

What's It Called?

Paramore - Fences

What's The Story?

Paramore are a band from Tennessee, known for both their catchy pop-punk style and for Hayley Williams' ventures outside the band. Fences is from their second release Riot!, also known as the Paramore album with all their hits.

Who's To Blame?

A forum troll with better taste in music than in humor.

Why ♥ It?

Pop-punk is, as a genre, oft-maligned for its generic factory-produced sound. However, there are a number of bands that, once you get past the stereotypes and the labels, create some pretty neat tunes. Fences is one such example of a gem in the genre.

There's just something about Hayley Williams' voice, and that's probably why she gets so much work as a feature outside of Paramore, this song being as good an example as any. The bass line is a classic walk which is rare for Paramore and bands like them, but a walking bass line is never unwelcome. The guitar in the chorus is great, and combined with the rest of the song's atmosphere, comes off awfully heavy for a song like this. The chord progression in the solo section (2:10) is awesome, and sounds like a briefer Don't Make Me A Target (Spoon).

Is it pop? Is it punk? Don't be fooled by the label, this song rocks either way.

090311

What's It Called?

Thee Internet - Babe (Soundcloud link)

What's The Story?

Thee Internet feature some of the same crew as Repartee, focused primarily around their bassist Tyler Lovell. I have to admit that I haven't had a chance to get out and see them yet, but I love what I hear on Soundcloud. It's from the Identity Crisis EP.

Who's To Blame?

Women are better at the glam rock look, anyways.

Why ♥ It?

This vocally curious song is worth it just for the surf rock guitar riff. It's one of those hooks (see also: Rebel Rebel) where it can comprise the backdrop for much of the song and it's acceptable because it just doesn't get old.

090211

What's It Called?

Idlers - Jiggerman

What's The Story?

The Idlers are the sort of band that get away with charging $15 cover to one of their shows downtown and still fill the place. They're a reggae outfit with a large cast to keep things interesting and outside of the usual it's-all-the-same-damn-song stereotype about reggae. Jiggerman is from their first full-length album Corner, and you can grab their tunes from their website.

Who's To Blame?

The cooking network's biggest fan?

Why ♥ It?

Like I said above, it's got the grooving feel of a reggae tune with some funked up percussion and an active horn session. Catchy vocal harmonies and great stoned energy. The lyrics offer a small slice of home. If you've ever heard a reggae tune and liked it, this is worth the listen.

090111

What's It Called?

Surgeon - Spectrum (Direct download, posted on their facebook wall)

What's The Story?

Anyone under the age of 30 in St. John's has probably seen Hey Rosetta! more times than they care to count; this is a side project that involves their drummer and bass player. They have a CD offering of some sort that's been in the works for a while, but is yet to have a release date proper.

Trying to pigeonhole the genre that Surgeon fits into is best related through story; at their last show, they were covering King Crimson's Red, and it was then that someone told me it was actually a cover and not one of their songs. It fit in so seamlessly with their instrumental post-rock style that they fooled me.

Who's To Blame?

A bass player whose name is routinely, affectionately and drunkenly shouted at bands he plays in, and occasionally at bands he doesn't.

Why ♥ It?

The song starts mysterious and busy, with the drums sounding like seconds ticking away and the guitar fidgeting in ambiance. This is quickly replaced by a dark, heavy movement reminiscent of Russian Circles or Tool. They play within this framework for a minute or so before a chord at 1:36 that sounds so hateful and cool that it's worth its own sentence. The busy guitar returns, but is now accompanied by an effect-laden bell sound.

The best part of the song is probably the reinduction into heavy at around 2:30, that brings tempo and soaring lead guitar with it. The dynamic between slow/moody and fast/heavy is done impeccably.

The sad thing about a band like Surgeon, though, is that it's hard to capture just how impressive the music is as a recording. What you hear in the track is played effortlessly live, with the only deviations being by design for flair. It's always great to be able to see a band of that quality live so frequently because they're local.

083111

What's It Called?

Mark Bragg - Which Doctor

What's The Story?

Mark Bragg plays an eccentric brand of rock that's strangely appealing. Which Doctor is the ninth track from his album Bear Music, and it can be bought along with his other work (as well as a free preview of his new single) on his website.

Who's To Blame?

While trying to think of a description for the guy to blame, I noticed that I know too many engineers.

Why ♥ It?

Gogol Bordello have a name for themselves as a band playing punk you're not going to hear anywhere else, and for a tremendous live show. Although his music may remind of those crazy old gypsy punks, Mark Bragg can certainly claim these same things about his music and his show. Hell, Which Doctor is an accordion and a few extra string-and-strum instruments short of sounding like something from the same album as Start Wearing Purple, although the organ adds a great mood instead. The vocals and lyrics match this quirky mood perfectly, with lots of background yells, along with the brooding main vocal you might hear from a Matt Bellamy. The best part of this tune, though, is where there aren't any lyrics: the chorus-type part that's carried on oh-ohs and ow-ows. Having words fill those slots would probably ruin just how catchy the track actually is.

The first time I saw this band, this is the only song that I was really coherent enough to remember. It was in my head all week, and remains my favorite tune by Mark Bragg. You can imagine the jumping around and dancing that goes along with this (and most any tune at a Mark Bragg show); it's worth going out of your way to be a part of.

083011

What's It Called?

Repartee - Brother (Link is to their MySpace, you can find it there)

What's The Story?

Repartee were named the Newfoundland Herald's band to watch in 2011. They play an unabashed breed of power pop, and are more than just another Metric or New Pornographers-style band. They have an EP out, with an LP release coming up in September.

Who's To Blame?

A guy who, on an 8000km+ road trip, we affectionately nicknamed "Piss Break".

Why ♥ It?

Here is a short list of things that are really catchy about this heartfelt-yet-dance-rock-y song:

• The main guitar riff during the verses.
• The percussion during the verse; starting with a series of determined hits, and growing into a quick-paced beat and back again.
• The crunchy guitar riff during the pre-chorus.
• The silky high vocal parts in the pre-chorus and chorus.
• The vocal harmony found in the second half of each chorus.
• The bass guitar at... well, pretty much any time, but especially during the breakdown just after 3:00.
• Everything else in the breakdown. It probably doesn't actually sound like it, but I always file it next to the Peanuts theme in my head.

I could continue, but if seven parts of one song that will get stuck in your head aren't enough, then I give up. Seriously, if you want to hear something that sounds like some of the bands mentioned earlier with a bit more emphasis on instrumentation, all while keeping a foot-movin' hustle in mind, these guys are worth a listen or nine.

082911

What's It Called?

Pathological Lovers - Best Served

What's The Story?

The Pathological Lovers are a new-ish band that have a large following in the city of St. John's, probably based at least somewhat on the renown of longtime local musician Jody Richardson. Best Served is the lead single from their debut album Calling All Favours, and it has a frigging hilarious music video. I think you can find their album on some online vendors, and if interested, their site is here. If you want a genre, they labels themselves as "Melodramatic popular song/other rock".

Who's To Blame?

A waiter who loves the word easement, and parking his jeep on whatever ones he can find.

Why ♥ It?

This song seems a bit long for a radio-ready single at 5 minutes plus tax, but it actually works to keep the novelty for that long while having all the choruses and hooks you'd expect of a single.

I'd be remiss not to mention the lyrics to this song up front. They're easy to miss, but clever as hell and a lot of fun. For a long time, the only line I ever noticed was No one gets laid lying on the couch, get out and lower your standards for a little while, but there are plenty more where that came from.

When I hum this (and most Lovers songs), I often catch myself humming along to the keys. The effect that Grant King uses on this (and most Lovers songs) is bright and stands out while still complementing the guitar perfectly.

The breakdown at 3:00 that moves into a slow dance bit at 3:25 is cool. No fancy adjectives here, it's just cool.

If Kings of Leon had a great keys player, a different singer, wrote clever lyrics and were more upbeat, Sex on Fire may have come out sounding like this. Or maybe not, but fuck it--I really haven't heard many/any big label bands up this alley, and this tune is a great radio-ready showcase of that.

082811

What's It Called?

Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds - Khaki Dodgers

What's The Story?

This quartet of cool cats are a folk rock unit that you can party to and/or listen to at a family affair. They've got one album out (which can be acquired on the band's site), and another is anticipated. Khaki Dodgers is the fifth track on that first, self-titled album.

Who's To Blame?

The only other ginger in sight at the show last night.

Why ♥ It?

When I think of the folk rock I love the most, it's the ability to enrich a song with more than just a guitar and poetry. Johnny Cash livened his tunes up with some of the best stories you'll hear musically, and bands like Mumford & Sons have a large cast to have a big sound. This song represents a hardworking intersection of those two strategies.

The song tells the story of Hornell's own grandparents and how they met, and of a hockey team in a nearly-dead industrial mining town in Central Newfoundland. The song starts slow and styles almost like a hearthside story, with the guitar-and-poetry already discussed. However, after a verse or so, the rest of the band joins, and as the song rolls along from verse to chorus to verse to chorus, it gets more and more intense. They keep this momentum until, by the end, it's used for a couple breakdowns with mandolin solos and heavily strummed instruments that really put the rock in folk rock.

These guys had a show last night that stated that they weren't breaking up; they were friends with benefits. It's this kind of character that runs through their songs and performances, and it attracts bars full of twenty-somethings routinely whenever they play.

Themes!

I'm thinking that to spice this thing up, I'm going to do theme weeks once every so often. Trying to set a limit or timeframe on it (e.g. once a month*) will only box me in and probably cause the quality of the posting to suffer, so I'm going to do theme weeks once every whenever-I-damn-well-feel-like-it.

Anyone who knows me in real life (i.e. most of my readers*) knows that I spend a lot of time downtown locally catching shows in various states of inebriation. So, for the first theme week, I'm going to go with bands that can often be found playing in downtown St. John's. Pretty broad, but picking seven of my favorites shouldn't be too bad.

Stay tuned!

* = Fun fact: I had to run across my bedroom to the poster I have of The Oatmeal's When To Use I.E. In A Sentence to actually write the above without screwing it up.

082711

What's It Called?

!!! - Steady As The Sidewalk Cracks

What's The Story?

!!! (pronounced "chk chk chk") are a raucous dance-punk band from Sacramento. Steady As The Sidewalk Cracks is from 2010's Strange Weather, Isn't It?

Who's To Blame?

One of the few locally owned/operated record stores left on Earth.

Why ♥ It?

!!! are pretty hard to empirically quantify. The aforementioned record store had them listed as electronic, Last.fm calls them dance-punk. Whatever your flavor, this tune is a great showcase of what they bring to the table.

The verse has a constantly moving vibe, but keys and percussion alike seem an underwater afterthought. This is clearly intentional, as the first chorus seems to breach the surface of this mood; the processed drums and keys during the verse are left raw, and the bass kicks in with a groovy edge. Catchy. As. Balls.

As the song keeps moving, the vocals and drums are now more real, and make the rest of the tune all the more rockin'. Also featured is an elongated horn solo that somehow fits perfectly in an electronic dance rock song. It's breaks like these from either convention or common sense that makes this song and this band so attractive as well as hard to pin down genre-wise.

Regardless, you can dance your face off to it, so who cares about all that other stuff?

082611

What's It Called?

DJ Hero OST - Feel Good Inc vs Hollaback Girl

What's The Story?

DJ Hero was approximately where the ____ Hero series jumped the shark for most gamers, myself included. However, some of the mixes that came from the OST are gems.

Who's To Blame?

If our high school yearbook had a "most likely to become Indiana Jones", the guy would have been a shoo-in.

Why ♥ It?

If you asked fans of newer music to make you a list of catchiest bass lines, Feel Good Inc would almost assuredly be a common thread. And, if you could convince those same people to make a list of catchy guilty pleasure songs and actually share it, Hollaback Girl would be likely to make an appearance. Take Activision's pocketbook, assemble a team of all star DJs and producers, get them to collide those two songs, and this mix emerges. And, unlike many of the DJ Hero mixes, the scratching doesn't feel like a cheating way to blend two songs, it's used tastefully with great timing.

If you like either original track, chances are that you'll like this mix just as much or more.

082511

What's It Called?

The Fashion - Like Knives

What's The Story?

The Fashion are a recently broken-up band from Denmark. I have to steal Wikipedia's adorable description, that "their musical style has been compared to a mix of The Rapture, Beastie Boys, Head Automatica, and LCD Soundsystem". Like Knives is from their self-titled second (and, tentatively, last) release.

Who's To Blame?

It wasn't not on an episode of Gossip Girl.

Why ♥ It?

That four chord main riff is cocaine, and The Fashion know it. Every now and then, they let the focus drop for some other instrumentation, but it always remains like that bad habit. The vocals are catchy like Black Kids, the drums have the same kooky energy you'd hear in the Arctic Monkeys, and the bass is fuzzy like The Killers.

Like Knives doesn't offer anything entirely original, but it does indie rock staples just right.

082411

What's It Called?

Foster The People - Helena Beat

What's The Story?

Foster The People are a young three-piece group from Los Angeles... whoa, deja vu. Helena Beat is the intro track on their only album Torches.

Who's To Blame?

An environmental engineer who, I can attest, likes at least some plants.

Why ♥ It?

A close friend recently remarked on Twitter that everyone sounds like MGMT now. However, since MGMT consciously decided to stop sounding like the MGMT that everyone loved, it's great that some other acts have stepped up to the task.

Now, I'm not saying check this tune out for another Kids or Electric Feel. It still has a distinct voice and doesn't come off at all like a ripoff. However, from the quirky little drum intro, to the following synth sounds that scream of Ratatat, to the high-enough-to-be-female-but-is-actually-a-dude vocals, to the bouquet of post processing in the noisy chorus, to the bizarre breakdown mid-track that re-enters with just vocals, to the funky-as-fuck bass after that breakdown. to... see where I'm going here?

This track takes all the appeal of 2008's indie rock success story and repackages it into a fresh format that you'll still love. It'll be hard for this track to shine in the public eye like Pumped Up Kicks, but damned if it doesn't deserve to.

Just a note on the same band double-post here; I couldn't do Foster The People without acknowledging their smash single that, honestly, is a great tune. However, it would be an absolute shame to pass this track up.

082311

What's It Called?

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

What's The Story?

Foster The People are a young three-piece group from Los Angeles. Pumped Up Kicks is their smash single, hitting #8 on the US charts. It's from their debut album Torches.

Who's To Blame?

I spent 8 hours in the woods with the guy this weekend only to discover I didn't actually know his name.

Why ♥ It?

It's a fun tune you can bring home to mom.

I really don't have a library of ways to explain why this song is great. It sounds just like something you could hear from similar indie one-hitters like Peter, Bjorn & John or Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros: spaced out indie vocals, a prominent whistling part and competent & catchy instrumentation.

Somehow, though, I've managed to go all this time without hearing it, and that means there's a chance that you have, too. Check it out!

082211

What's It Called?

Pantera - The Art of Shredding

What's The Story?

Pantera were one of the heavy metal bands that caught the tail end of the 80s to keep metal legitimate into the next decade. The Art of Shredding is from their infamous first major label release, Cowboys From Hell.

Who's To Blame?

His nickname in high school was Beavis, despite having Butthead's hair color and style. Figure that one out.

Why ♥ It?

Humor me here; check out the first minute of this track. Many credit Pantera with a niche genre of "groove metal", and this intro is a poster boy for that. The drums and bass signal heavy metal, but the guitar has a catchy voice that plays around a neat set of chords.

From there, the song kicks into full thrash metal fun, with parts that sound just like Master of Puppets, a signature high-octane Dimebag solo, and some of Phil Anselmo's best metal screams.

Even for longtime fans of Pantera, it's really easy to shut off CFH after the first half and go on to something else--I've been guilty of that too. Just check this track to remind yourself what you're missing when you do.

082111

What's It Called?

deadmau5 - Raise Your Weapon (Madeon Remix)

What's The Story?

Raise Your Weapon is an uncharacteristically extra-dirty half-dubstep beat from deadmau5's third album, 4x4=12.* More importantly, Madeon is only like 17 and is getting acclaim from some heavy names on the electro scene, including (but not limited to) deadmau5 himself, Skrillex, and Rob Swire (Pendulum).** This mix was on an album of Raise Your Weapon remixes.

Who's To Blame?

My fantasy football nemesis for the impending year.

Why ♥ It?

Forget everything about the original Raise Your Weapon. The remix mostly features the vocal line from the original. Whereas the original sees the vocal as sort of a gem among the rocks, the remix has a real Justice-like feel with the intensity, overarching organs, and slappy bass pieces. What results is a song that feels much cleaner and lighter than the original without losing vocal intensity.

The whole thing is great, but the chorus merits a highlighting all its own. It's mostly a funky breakdown, but what Madeon does is take snippets of the original vocal, run it through an autotune type filter, and play them almost like an instrument. The impressive part is the halfsecond of angelic vocal that almost every layer stops for, but not long enough to miss a beat. It's a series of small releases that feel absolutely awesome to listen to. After a couple rounds of verses and breakdown bliss, the bridge at 3:20 (You won't feel a thiiiiiiiiing) has the perfect soaring feel before the song tapers out.

I told a coworker about this song, and a couple weeks later he was telling me about how he'd bought $250 headphones the previous day, and one of the first things he did was listen to this song and hear a whole new tune. I'm no hardware audiophile, but I'd already thought this remix was a whole new tune. With layering like that, I hope Madeon makes a career of it.

* = Stand back, I have a math degree. It's true in base 14!

** = Needless to say, Madeon is from France.

082011

What's It Called?

The Hold Steady - Sequestered In Memphis

What's The Story?

The Hold Steady are a 4-piece (nee 5-piece) indie rock outfit from Brooklyn that Wikipedia affectionately identifies as "heartland rock". Sequestered In Memphis is from their fourth studio album Stay Positive, their last where Franz Nicolay claimed membership with the band on keys.

Who's To Blame?

If you're reading this blog on a BlackBerry, he may have had a part in it.

Why ♥ It?

If there's one word to describe this song, it's fun. Everything about it carries a great mood, and from 0:01 through to the end, it's hard not to get sucked in along with that mood.

There are an array of instruments working together and doing different, interlocking things that make this tune great, and there isn't a single regrettable facet. A few examples though; the guitar tone and riff sound a little reminiscent of Do The Evolution (see 0:28), except rather than using this for a chaotic mood, the song adds organs, horns and group vocals to flow in an upbeat fashion. The guitar licks found in the song are fun, and would appeal to classic rock fans. The chorus piano is incredibly uplifting. The breakdown to group vocal and subsequent piano roll to bring it back in (starting around 2:40) is a tried and true staple, used perfectly.

Lyrically, the song seems to tell the story of a drunken hook-up in the Southern US that led to legal trouble, and it unfolds to the listener like an episode of a happy-go-lucky 90s sitcom. I almost wonder if the entirety of the lyrics are written as an excuse to be able to sing the ultra-fun-to-say title. If so, The Hold Steady can be absolved completely, because the song has one of the most singalongable choruses you'll ever hear.

Ya know what, if there's one thing I don't want to do while listening to this tune, it's hold steady. I'd much rather sing and dance around my room when no one's looking, thank you very much.

081911

What's It Called?

LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great

What's The Story?

LCD Soundsystem are a now-unfortunately-defunct group from New York City. Someone Great is from their second of three releases, Sound of Silver.

Who's To Blame?

Someone great. Duh.

I caught a drumstick at a show once, and gave it to her!

Why ♥ It?

Build.

Progression.

This song uses patience to set up an intense beauty.

Ambience. Seconds later, a drum beat. A few more seconds, simple bass notes. More time, keys with flare. Finally, a minute and a half in, vocals and a glockenspiel. The glock shadows each and every word. At this point, they could've called the song Ham Sandwich and it would still have a heavy, dreary effect.

Of course not though; with lyrics like The worst is all the lovely weather / I'm sad, it's not raining / The coffee isn't even bitter / Because, what's the difference?, the song is aware of its mood and plays into that lyrically. The deliberate form continues for what seems like just a moment, and then one is left to wonder where the last 6 minutes got to.

Gotta be sad sometimes to be happy sometimes. Might as well listen to some great music while you're at it.

081811

What's It Called?

Hot Hot Heat - Jedidiah

What's The Story?

Hot Hot Heat are a four piece from Victoria, BC. Jedidiah is from their fourth studio release Future Breeds. (I almost feel bad that this is the best flavor text I can muster for such a fun band.)

Who's To Blame?

A guy whose last name sounds best when "ski" is attached to the end of it. It's all about the two syllables.

Why ♥ It?

The guitars in this song sound great. The acoustic guitar gels with the busy electric noise of the rest of the band. I specifically love that little lick that's played during the choruses. (Trust me, you'll know what one I mean)

The lyrics are a little masturbatory, but being someone who uses the word "masturbatory" in a sentence, I've no room to judge. Besides, they add to the novelty of the track; try and count the number of other songs that rhyme "pornographer" and "oceanographer".

Jedidiah is a delightful and odd little tune that really has to be heard to be appreciated. Quickly, there's no time to waste!

081711

What's It Called?

Holy Fuck - P.I.G.S.

What's The Story?

Holy Fuck is an electronic post-rock band infamous for having a Canadian prime minister use them as a talking point excuse to cut arts funding. P.I.G.S. is the last track on their latest release, Latin.

Who's To Blame?

We've been known to call his car the Phillenium Falcon.

Why ♥ It?

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's boyfriend demands silence during Desperado? And she counters by trying to do the same during Witchy Woman? P.I.G.S. is my Desperado, and I've been known to shush people over it.

I've said this about more than one song featured on this blog; this song is all about the structure, and ultimately, the ending. The song spends a minute carefully constructing a backdrop, and then another half minute filling in the gaps. From 1:30 until around 2:50, a main bassline and lead synth sound emerge as parallels, rising and falling, though in constant ascent. At 3:00 (literally halfway), the song just bottoms out into an almost exact minute of interlude. The bass-y refrain enters to begin a new build. Another fifty seconds; the higher refrain returns. In this second swelling, things move faster, and rather than taper to a breakdown, the song builds to a scorching crescendo at 5:27 that, not unlike the solo to Stairway, makes the last 5 minutes of your attention feel like an investment rather than a waste.

I'll close with a fun thought exercise. However you choose to genre-fy Holy Fuck, just try and imagine the centerpiece ending on an entirely different stage. I can hear jazzy brass horns trumpet the notes to close their encore, a thrash metal band destroying power chords with their balls to the wall, a string section erupting with strength that could back Tchaikovsky's cannons, or a hip hop artist closing with a silky & fast-talking hook. It's this transcendence that helps make this song one of my absolute favorites.

081611

What's It Called?

Alberta Cross - ATX

What's The Story?

Alberta Cross are a band formed in NYC with members from both North America & across the pond. ATX is the lead single from their first album Broken Side of Time.

Who's To Blame?

The largest hippie drum circle in a field that I've had the joy of experiencing.

Why ♥ It?

The main attraction for most who like this song is the chorus. It rocks out, has soaring vocals and guitar, and you can guiltlessly bang your head to it a little. Pay attention to the inflection of singer Stakee's voice. The first time through, the word "home" is a solid, unremarkable yell that suits the mood. Check out the chorus at 2:46, though: the first time he sings "home", there's a marked updraft in the vocal, bringing more energy to the equation. Sometimes it's these little things rather than the big things that make a track stand out.

The verse guitar, if a little repetitive, is another example of little things at work. The song features the most casual chugging rhythm guitar riffage, but the palm mutes and pedal effects rarely fall in the same place twice, and this freestyling method gives the verses a laid back feel for such a driving, high energy song.

Check out the sound at 2:21 that sounds like a cross between a slide of the guitar and a piece of alien technology. Cool, eh?

This song is a rock anthem contender laced with fun-to-catch subtleties that could easily make these guys the next big thing. Or not, but then they can be our little secret.

081511

What's It Called?

Skrillex - Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites

What's The Story?

Sonny Moore, known better these days as Skrillex, is the former frontman of the hardcore post-rock outfit From First To Last. Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites is the title track from his second electronic effort.

Who's To Blame?

deadmau5 spends more time on Facebook than I do, and in between pictures of his gear, Minecraft, and his cat, he occasionally posts a snap of his fellow producer friends.

Why ♥ It?

Primer: this is dubstep. Not for the electronic moderate. I only dabble myself, but I've seen people who know a slew more about good music than I try and figure out what exactly is up with this genre to no success. A matter of preference, to say the least.

This song, specifically, is all about dynamic. The name alone suggests it; mental images are conjured of Tinkerbell fighting Gollum. Skrillex takes this a dubstep further, infusing this whole idea right into the tune itself. The intro sounds much more like the former, riding a sunny synth line until about 0:40. This is where the elevator to hell drops in an instant, and the dirtiest of the dirty beats emerges. What Skrillex does here that's so appealing, though, is alternate from monster to sprite. Every fourth bar (give or take) has the main sunny synth line act as a transition, contrasted against three bars of grime. The listener jumps out of this cycle for a break back to sunshine & lollipops mid-song (1:40 or so), before another deluge of intensity, followed by a casually tapering outro on the synth again.

The WUB WUB WUB of dubstep is to electronic what the scream and growl are to hard rock: not everyone will love it, and that's legitimate. Either way, this creative song is a great place to dip feet in the water rather than just jumping right in.

081411

What's It Called?

Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Wrestler

What's The Story?

Does It Offend You, Yeah are a five piece British electronic/electronic rock group who have just released their second full length album. Wrestler is the seventh track from that offering.

Who's To Blame?

Dude's facial hair grows more in a day than mine does in a month. Best beard farmer I know.

Why ♥ It?

If you check out this tune and the intro track sounds familiar, you aren't alone. It's Paul Heyman's locker room speech before underdog wrestling federation ECW's first pay-per-view, as seen in 1999's documentary Beyond The Mat. Like or lump wrestling, it's easy to see how this spoken piece is a motivational kick in the teeth, and its selection goes beyond just the song's title.

The intro to the track actually sounds like an intro tape for a concert; the subtle background along with Heyman's speech creates a great anticipation. When the spiel ends and the song proper begins, the main line is cheeky and catchy in a way that echoes more of a techno sound than an electronic rock sound. The main line stays constant while the rest of the band plays around and has a lot of fun in the song.

As if an intro-tape-worthy start and an upbeat tune aren't enough to get the blood flowing, the band pulls a breakdown and re-induction at around 2:00, replaying the full Heyman sound byte and kicking the tune back in twice as hard before playing it out 'til the end. It's not long enough to lose the momentum that the song starts with, but it's not short enough to go unnoticed.

Wrestler is an electronic rock jam that's a perfect pump-up piece before a run, before a night out, before a game; anything worth anticipating.

081311

What's It Called?

virt - Get On The Bus

What's The Story?

virt is an online moniker for Jake Kaufman, a sound engineer and music enthusiast based in Los Angeles and best known for his takes on video game music. Get On The Bus is from Bound Together, a collection of rearranged tunes from Nintendo's classic RPG, Earthbound.

Who's To Blame?

A friend who worked on and/or with that black hole device they have in Switzerland.

Why ♥ It?

In Earthbound's storyline, there's a group called the Runaway Five, a jazzy group with a funky big band sound and a Blues Brothers personality. This track runs though many of the game's main themes reimagined as if they'd been played by a real life Runaway Five, and as such, comes out sounding like an overture.

The piano is jazzy, the organ and horns are swingin', and the bass is funky. These are all amicable traits in any jazz band-style sound, and hearing familiar midis explode into this soundscape is great. My choice favorite of this is when the tune blows into the title theme at about 2:05 in a grand, seamless fashion. Then, at around 2:50, they play the Runaway Five's theme, and it really does feel like a Blues Brothers sorta thing. This runs to a neat organ solo around 4:15, and transitions to an almost-random guitar solo that still fits the mood. The meat is definitely at the center of the tune, but the intro and outro, like any good overture, still hold interest.

I usually have a hard time telling if a remix of music from an old video game is great because it's great, or if it's great because I loved the old music when I was 10. This is one case where I have no doubt that the first of those is true, and this song is worth checking it out whether you know what's coming or not.

081211

What's It Called?

Arcade Fire - Empty Room

What's The Story?

They won 2011's Grammy for album of the year, and David Bowie has said many times that they're one of his favorite bands going. This is the fifth track from the winning album, The Suburbs.

Who's To Blame?

A singer who always seems to both hate and love people as much as I do.

Why ♥ It?

Anyone who talked music with me prior to three months ago would probably believe that someone killed me and wrote this entry. I have long been a detractor of the Arcade Fire; I respect them as musicians, but my driving complaint was that they had so many members doing so many things that it diluted anything they had going for them, and they just bored me personally.

This is the song that singlehandedly changed my mind.

It's hard to be bored with the pure elation coming from the string section in this tune. From start to finish, never wavering; one could dance and fight and fuck all for those few notes played over and over again at such a high pace. The vocals are exactly what indie rock staples like Arcade Fire are often known for, a male and a female vocal collaborating to deliver emotion, and at this tempo, the emotion is heavily positive. The chorus/hook (1:02, 1:46), both lyrically and musically, feels like a triumphant downfall, recalling the hard moments at a high watermark of manic contentedness. The fade at the end of the song is well-picked, and could really be the only way to end the song without a jagged letdown.

If you're not an Arcade Fire fan, give this one a try as a gateway drug. If you're a fan of only early Arcade Fire, reconsider this one*. If you're a fan of the band and the song, my work here is done!

* = this means you, hipster.

081111

What's It Called?

The Faint - The Geeks Were Right

What's The Story?

The Faint have been playing electronic rock in a new wave fashion since Talking Heads were still kinda cool, and well before the genre's recent resurgence. The Geeks Were Right is from their eighth studio offering, Fasciinatiion.

Who's To Blame?

A nifty little website named for a catastrophic chest of myth.

Why ♥ It?

The intro of this song kind of leads you to believe it could be a poor man's Helicopter; boasting a catchy lead guitar riff that's heavy on treble playing over a run of the mill backing sound. That alone would make it worth a listen.

However, as soon as the guitar cuts and the verse hits, there are some tasty subtleties that are easy to miss. The drums have different fills to introduce a number of bars which are never complex, but are rewarding to follow. The fuzzy bass of the song seems to play the same note over and over, and the difference could go unnoticed. With a specific attention, though, it turns out the ultra-fuzzy effect just hides the constant clever changing of the bass sounds. Lyrically, the song follows this processed futuresound, and talks about robots and plastic islands and it's just generally wacky. Then, once all this begins to set in, the Helicopter-esque guitar from the intro returns and doubles as a chorus.

So, with that said, you can take what you want from this song. I've made it clear that this would gel in a playlist with Bloc Party, but if you wanted to slip it alongside Mr. Roboto, you'd be well served.

081011

What's It Called?

Broken Bells - Citizen

What's The Story?

Broken Bells are a duo formed by the producer Danger Mouse & by James Mercer, best known for his work with The Shins. Citizen is from their self-titled debut album.

Who's To Blame?

A recently departed roommate.

(...Not dearly departed. He just moved out.)

Why ♥ It?

If it's raining, if work sucks, if your significant other's a jerk, if your significant other fails to exist; right from the heartwrenching intro chords to the entrance of the dark lyric This is a day / without a trace of reason, this song resonates with hurt. Fans of The Shins would expect no less from James Mercer. And, in Shin-like fashion, the chorus manages to pick up the tempo without really consoling the listener. Great, unified mood music from start to 3:07.

I neglect to say start to end, because the reason this song first caught my ear is the outro. After playing what could be any sad song, Broken Bells turn the last minute and a half of this track into something memorable. It starts with just the main progression on guitar and a drumbeat, and adds a droning hum. This continues, and other instruments (piano, bass, horns) are invited to add something to carry the sad tune out. It's almost like a funeral procession for the song, and could perhaps rival Exit Music (For A Film) for a feel-bad finish that you almost hate to love.

A Blogger's Lament

To be a blogger, whether it be a personal blog, a blog about something you love; whatever, is an experience. A blogger pours somewhere between a few minutes and a few hours of themselves into a piece hoping that it might reach people. It's a wonderful thing; you've got an end product, and whether ten people or ten thousand people read what you've written, you've made some sort of ripple in the water that is the world around you.

...Well, that's the dramatic and picturesque version.

The reality is that everyone and their brother has three blogs and follows three hundred others. The reckless abandon of putting a piece of yourself out into the world turns into reckless abandonment once you realize that next-to-nobody read it or cared.

I have to admit that, as of 101810, that was why I finally gave up; the enjoyment I was getting out of blogging wasn't worth the time input to me. I left this blog as a tab on my web browser's link bar, and it acted as an occasional sad reminder of something I enjoyed, but not that much.

That is, until recently, when a friend asked me out of the blue what happened to my blog. She wasn't the first to ask, but it was the length of time that her memory persisted that caught me off guard. Others have mentioned it as an aside when talking about blogging, but in this instance, it was an out of the blue "why don't you do it anymore?" The reason that I'd quit back then just wasn't a good enough answer to that question.

So, back to the ten-or-ten-thousand measure at the start of this post; I find myself re-energized to write for whatever audience I merit. I came back and finished the long tagging-my-backlog-of-posts process that I started and that probably helped drive me away from the blog in the first place, and I've experienced music more frequently and personally this summer than at any other time in my life. I can't promise that I'm here to stay, but I do feel compelled to give it another go.

Stay tuned!