Music I Just Discovered

Music: as I find it, how I found it.

[musicijustdiscovered]

Bibio - Light Up the Sky

I just heard this playing in Urban Outfitters. I was captured the moment those first jangly chords starts. Then throw in that Bon Iver/cheesy ‘80s synth hook and you’ve sold me. It reminds me of Steve Winwood or Steely Dan in their heydays. I also checked out the whole album at work and I have to say - it’s good from top to bottom. I can’t wait to get home and crank it over some real speakers.

[musicijustdiscovered]

I love anti-love songs. Songs like the Civil Wars “Poison & Wine” where they sing I don’t love you and I always will... And this hits the right spots. You expect the lines to be obvious, but they twist in pleasantly simple ways. It sounds like it should be a song of longing, but it’s a song of apathy, which should definitely be a new kind of love song.

[musicijustdiscovered]

I can’t remember how I stumbled upon Blake Mills’ album “Heigh Ho.” But this is the first song on the album and it’s my favorite. I’m jealous of both his guitar playing, songwriting, and his voice. He’s got it all. That vibrato. And the bridge of this song... I can’t figure out how he’s not hugely famous yet.

C’est la vie. He can be our little secret ‘till the rest of the world figures it out.

Favorite moment: 3:17

[musicijustdiscovered]

Hell yeah. Old school garage rock at its finest. Reminds me of the basement and legion hall shows from high school. 

Favorite moment: 2:24. Obviously.

[musicijustdiscovered]

How is this song not world fucking famous yet? Every time I hear it in the office I’m like, “Everybody shhh. Shhh! Shut the fuck up! It’s that awesome song,” which I know isn’t very eloquent (or professional), but it’s how I feel. And you can’t tell me how to feel.

Seriously, I’ve just been listening to it on repeat. 

I think that’s it. Are we good here?

[musicijustdiscovered]

Life in Film’s “Anna, Please Don’t Go” reminds me of Nico’s “These Days,” which is one of my all time favorite songs. And if you don’t know it, do yourself the favor and get acquainted. 

I guess that’s it really... It’s just a well-written tune that deserves a proper listen. It sounds like it would go well over a kinda sad montage in a Noah Baumbach movie... (Squid and the Whale, Frances Ha.)

[musicijustdiscovered]

I kind of hate admitting that I like this song by LANY. (Because I looked them up and they have an article in Teen Vogue.) But still... this melody is sweet.

One of my favorite sounds is the resurgence of this modern ‘80s feel. (Think Beth/Rest by Bon Iver.) I admit it’s cheesy, and I generally find ‘80s music pretty grating, but for some reason this hits me right.

The drum beat reminds me of “She Drives Me Crazy” by Fine Young Cannibals. And I looked up a live version of this song that’s actually even better, but it’s worse quality. The guitar lick sounds way cooler live.

[musicijustdiscovered]

OctaHate has consistently been on my jam list since I first heard it however long ago. Then this video came out yesterday. She already had a video, but apparently hated it. I thought it was pretty cool.

But since we live in the present... There’s this video. And I love it. Of course, I'm biased because I have a major crush on her.

I'm only kinda bummed because she usually has armpit hair and I kinda wish she kept it for the video. (Cause yeah, even her armpit hair is sexy. Because being your fucking self is sexy.)

Favorite moments: 2:01, 2:46

(And here’s a picture of her from the first OctaHate video...)

[musicijustdiscovered]

If you haven’t figured it out, I have a huge folk boner. Which, ironically, would not make a good name for a folk band.

Anyway, I just heard of Radical Face. I didn’t realize this guy was behind the huge hit song Welcome Home, Son. But I’m glad I dug a little deeper and found this gem.

There’s something so alluring about a guy singing for himself in his room in the early morning hours. And these lyrics are phenomenal. It’s the tale of a mute boy who runs away because his parents are so frustrated with him being unable to speak.

Read them while you listen.

Well, as a child I mostly spoke inside my head I had conversations with the clouds, the dogs, the dead And they thought my broken, that my tongue was coated lead But I just couldn't make my words make sense to them If you only listen with your ears... I can't get in And I spent my evenings pullin' stars out of the sky And I'd arrange them on the lawn where I would lie And in the wind I'd taste the dreams of distant lives And I would dress myself up in them through the night While my folks would sleep in separate beds... and wonder why And through them days I was a ghost atop my chair My dad considered me a cross he had to bear And in my head I'd sing apologies and stare As my mom would hang the clothes across the line And she would try to keep the empty... from her eyes So, then one afternoon I dressed myself alone I packed my pillowcase with everything I owned And in my head I said "goodbye," then I was gone And I set out on the heels of the unknown So my folks could have a new life of their own So that maybe I could find someone Who could hear the only words that I'd known

[musicijustdiscovered]

I actually heard this song (Marim) first. But there’s no video or live performance of it yet, so I looked for something else by this guy, Roger Sellers. Turns out his style is pretty broad and beautiful (like I like my... Adele?) 

Anyway, that first song, it’s electronic, it’s rhythmic, it’s circular. It reminded me of Philip Glass and Animal Collective. Very much my scene. But this song is nothing like it. It’s just a damn good folk song. Reminded me of the finger-picking on “Never Going Back Again” by Fleetwood Mac. But his voice is so light. I get the feeling this is the kind of guy you’d want on your spontaneous cross-country road trip. It could also just be that he’s singing this song on a tour bus...

[musicijustdiscovered]

I’ve heard this song all over the damn place. Frankly, I thought I was sick of it until I heard this version. Their chemistry is undeniable. I love watching Esmé flirt with her skirt the whole way through. And her voice always seems on the edge of breaking, but she nails every. damn. note. 

[musicijustdiscovered]

I had never heard of Blogotheque or San Fermin before this. But I was captivated from the first moments of the video - a beautiful woman (AKA ex-lead singer, Rae Cassidy) fixes her hair in wind. She comes in with her vocals and they seem so effortless. When the band comes in, she has to fight to match the power of the horns... and she does. Then after hearing her vocal run towards the end of the song... I fell in love. (With her. Or the band. Can’t tell yet.)

Honestly, I don’t like they’re album work. But I can’t get enough of their live performances. They’re captivating and emotive in a way that not a lot of bands can do. 

Favorite moments: 2:39, 4:05.

[musicijustdiscovered]

I was actually looking up Esmé Patterson when I found this song by Paper Bird. (It turns out Esmé was part of Paper Bird a while back. But then she left. Now her sister, Genevieve Patterson, is in the band.)

Paper Bird is fronted by Carleigh Aikins. Her voice is gravely but sharp as a knife. 

The tune starts slow. I almost turned off during the first verse because I thought I’d heard this style enough before, but I stuck it out and it was worth it. She. Can. Wail. 

Favorite moments: 2:55, and again at 4:00.