1965 by Zella Day, Review by D What a wistful song indeed. Zella Day has a noticeable , gentle quiver to her voice which is deceptive in that you think she will surely need to inhale a much needed breath before the next bar. But she bridges the song together without audible gulps of air. Her lyrics really plant the image in your head "you had me spinnin in the midnight summer grass". We've all walked on grass at night, it's dark and dewy, damp on your feet, the moon might be shinning a slick of light onto the ground, but we can all conjure that image and she doesn't have to say as much as I have. But I don't see how it is exclusive to 1965 and every time she says "like 1965" , I think "well how would YOU know?". She's not filling any female Indie artist hole in my life, but a good artist with fine writing skills. 7.5/10 D, Scotland
I think sometimes music is so analytical. I dont know why we sometimes degrade a song for not being poetic or cohesive, I know I do it. But when you look at the integrity of music, its about entertainment, about emotion, expression. There’s a lot of buzz about why this song was written and what the words represent, but I’m not going to get into any of that. I think this song is an experimental and listening journey. There is something so refresh and innovative about this melody. The moving parts come together in such an exciting and enjoyable way. I honestly cannot get enough of this song. Wow, its good. (sorry i know)
Everything Everything - I Believe it Now Not on any album, but had its debut on BTSport’s premier league shows this past month. This has an arrogant, anthemtic , kind of “glorious/victorious” feel which is appropriate for a football (soccer) show, considering each game is treated like a military triumph fought by Grecian gods and not by hooligans who are paid too much. The instruments are welded together almost oozing into each other unlike all their other stuff which is a bit more give and take. Idk, this is my favourite band and I lap up whatever they make in between albums.
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k here with a review requested by D. vic mensa is a rapper from chicago and today’s review will be of his song down on my luck. well, he doesn’t really rap in this song, but it does have some promising pieces and parts. i am not really into this artist, he is spinning into too many different identities and directions. he wants to be political statement guy and remix singer guy and raunchy guy and idk. there isnt anything fresh happening here. its dense and not quite on the mark.
Today we are breaking down Garrett Douglas’ sweet little 6 track EP.
This isn’t my initial listen, but my first thoughts were genuine pleasure and ease upon listening. Plus the undeniable bob dylan influences are an absolute delight. this album is warm and full of interesting aspects.
track one- sleepy eyes- so some heavy jack johnson vibes at the kick off with some serious zimmerman transitions going on. my problem though, are these transitions. they sound a bit like a sound bite the local news channel would use to transition from one segment to the ‘kidz corner’ segment. just a bit of a minor feel would give this a nice contrast and grit. other than that this tune is good, vocally and lyrically sound.
track two-hooked- i like this, a nice easy listen with flattering implications and killer walking-bass sounding riffs. the little solo was absolutely perfect for the song. liked the harmonica
track three-untitled- this one might be my favorite. the little transition pieces are candy coated in bob dylans influence without being saturated in him. the strum pattern is absolutely addictive and the lyrics have me melted into a puddle. i loooove this song, wow.
track four-counting on you- this song is really beautiful.
track five-outro-yep.
track six-washington- well hello there mr. electric. looove this song, but the vocals could be kicked up a notch or two louder. your voice almost reminds me of a band i covered a while back bay faction and with your electric vibes, this is killin it.
conclusion- great album if you're into the bread and butter guitar and voice, D isn't so only liked "Washington" - she isn't objective enough. im not usually into the ‘just me and my guitar easy listening’ genre so much but this album was a really pleasant and surprising joy for me.
The Very Best - Makes a King (2015) From Malawi and London and they've already worked with Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend, MIA, remixed Temper Trap, been remixed by Kygo, and featured on FIFA. I love "Mariana" from this album, but this is probably the most popular and soul reviving. 10/10 - D
Stuart Wicke - acoustic guitar (1, 2, 6, 8), electric guitar (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9), bass (7), voice (1 - 9) Isaac Poole - bass (5, 9), electric guitar (1, 3, 6) Cliff Schweickart - bass (1, 3, 6) Andr
@meme-farmer requested review, ok let’s go
track 1-simple beauty
K: there are moments in this song where if this were guitar hero, youd get that little “band momentarily failed” message pop up (specificially around 0.37) and i kind of like these little moments if they felt more purposeful than not. the mesh between the electric and acoustic is a little awkward at times (id consider a little less distortion and a touch more reverb.) the lyrics are so solid and great and yet the delivery at times could use a little more melody. I love the “I take no pleasure” parts. i dont know at times the electric just sounds too harsh and seperate from everything else. like its a non stop solo or something. turn it down, let the band be one and all that cliche stuff. that actual electric solo in the middle was enjoyable but could have used a bit of repeating octaves, i liked the ending solo best. “i know you love something, you’re still so young” ugh, great. from 3.30 to the end i think it was at its peak
D: As terrific as the electric guitar sounds, it does dominate the song and comes off as indulgently rock god-ish.
track 2-love death-
K: i dont know why i get such a barenaked ladies taste in my mouth. this song goes in so many directions. the foundation is really great but the guitar creeps over it too much. the solo at two minutes was absolutely grrreat though. the groove of this song works but when there are too many layered parts and the electric just screams over everything it gets really claustrophobic. not to say there aren’t some incredible things going on there.
D: I really liked the pace of this song, it’s very driven, jarring and gritty - strokes and arctic monkeys comes to mind. The acoustic guitar was nice but ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ with all that’s going on in the background. Great though!
track 3-dreadful things
K: by far my favorite so far. this would be a great place to rest and place some roots. drums are way too separated and generic from the rest of the band. there needs to be a slow slow quick balance there. i cant really describe it because i dont play the drums but i play the guitar and rhythm is everything. here drums are the biggest issue, too loud and too rushed. this song would be killer if that could just find some consistency.
D: It starts out eerie and solemn and then the band’s established energy comes back. I have to agree with K about the percussion- I also don’t play drums but the time signature is constantly changing (it seems) and it sounds like it impacts the rest of the band; reaching those high/low notes for the vocalist and just the rest of the band keeping up and not rushing.
track 4-wyoming-
K: i like this song. everything is working together and all the parts are matching and fitting. lyrics are great, vocals sound pretty good. i would change the falsetto in the ‘you’ chorus, not bad just not right.
D: Same and I wish it was longer!
track 5-i will let you down-
K: oohhhh my god beautiful. neil young ish good rock vibes and it’s trans-formative. when things get into that little slow jam and jump back into the chorus its just lovely. i lied before, the roots should be planted here.
D: This is really well constructed and developed; everyone is cohesive, the lyrics are relateable and real.
track 6-friends-
K: get it bass solid here. i like this song, although again the guitar parts could be a little more standard and less solo-ish sounding. pick a FEW repeating parts for verses/intros and keep it tight. i like this song a lot, lots of great things are working together here. ‘dont get me wrong’ beatles vibes but as a compliment? really good here.
D: The tempo change was a good shout.
track 7-east main-
K:hey hey, this is a pretty good intro til the electric strum pattern gets too carried away. i like this song a lot. the instrumental guitar parts sound goooood and the bass here is really nice too. a really solid tune all over.
D: This is my favourite; great electric tune and the lyrics read like the Book of Proverbs. The cymbals at the end make the outro sound ever so microscopically messy
track 8-i love you too
K: the electric guitar is not always necessary. i would consider getting a few more distortion/reverb pedals because these parts are starting to blur together. im not exactly sure how i feel about this one.
D: I’d like to hear more of the acoustic but like ‘I will let you down’, this is all really cohesive.
track 9-bethany
K: greattt intro, great song, great bass.
D: I would have to agree. Great lyric ‘Darkness is darkness no matter how strong’.
overall-
K: lacks identity and i want to say preparation without sounding like this was just put together overnight. there are so many good moments like in bethany, dreadful things, i will let you down.. there are just a few kinks instrumentally that arent always skill but sometimes taste and selection and engineering of the layering in the track.
D: Yeah, the thing I found with the vocal was it felt like I was in a crowded, bustled room and was being serenaded to from across it. Voice is committed and follows through but it isn’t expressive enough to match the evocative lyrics.
K: this album is really honest and really muddy in that good kind of way. I would listen to bethany and i will let you down (D: East Main , too) again but that’s probably it. i enjoyed vocals mostly but needs some distinction (conviction is there 100% )
D reviewing “Creeping” by the London sister duo “2:54” for K.
Bit daft band name if I’m being honest.
This band is very doomy and heavy on the riffs. It wouldn’t surprise me if they wore black moth eaten cloaks on stage and looked like they didn’t want to be there.
The song starts and indeed continues for a while with guitar riff,riff, riff etc and then gradually builds to a spunky angry sound that supports the vocal really well and vice versa.
I enjoyed how committed to the doom that they are; it gives me hope they won’t be easily persuaded to hook up with Calvin Harris and compromise their integrity.
But, this song takes a few listens to get into.
They have previously supported Wild Beasts and the xx so they’re one to watch.
Seal - Killer That bass...... "Solitary brother,is there still a part of you that wants to live? Solitary sister, is there still a part of you that wants to give?" - D
So i just found out about these guys. badbadnotgood are a Toronto-born group of young jazz musicians. What I like is that they keep it alive, they make it cool, they make it fresh and collaborate. They dont keep it close, they are so far from the box they can’t even make out a shape anymore. this particular track struck me because it reminded me of a simpler time. it reminds me of the sixties movie sound effects and soundtracks. Day’s voice adds that candy coated element. This track in particular strays a bit from their jazzier roots but it still holds a strong foundation. Other must listens are off their new IV album are “Confessions pt. II” featuring rapper colin stetson, and the all trans-formative “And That, Too.” if this is where jazz has gone in 2016, i feel a little better about the world. the mix of old and new is just so well balanced and full of direction.
” my thoughts all go black, they get trapped on a page
Then reality comes like a slap to the face
I’m dying to be, man, I’m dying to stay
I’m finally free while I’m flying away ”
found out about angel haze through a buzzfeed article, and at first I wasn’t too sure about her until I heard this song. This is what I feel like is the embodiment of modern rap. I really like the combination of these really sort of indie sounding remix tracks layered under a significant rap. There’s something so personal and relatable and poetic about angel haze, which consequently is everything I think a good rapper should be. she also has a great singing voice which makes her the total package. she doesnt even need a feature, she takes care of all of the parts and pieces. this song is strong, catchy but also relevant and full of substance. Overall a good track and a great artist.
hear her break it down in her own words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lToLyItLI8
This really sounds like the Cranberries meets Shiny Toy Guns. It is a delicate electro quasi classical pop star gaze song.
The mixture of the electro beats mimicked by the constant back and forth of the violins anticipates some kind of clash, an inevitable peak. But, it doesn’t . Which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a super good thing for house/trap/drum&bass djs because this song would be a roof raiser if remixed.
It is a lovely song nonetheless and has made me want to listen to more of Snow Ghosts.
spotlight on some artists who have been killing me
Lapsley- ~key tracks: hurt me, station, falling short (basically everything) ~ she is the most refreshing and underrated female artist i have heard since lorde ok? she is talent and innovation and different and great. her music just gives you something really really essential.
the Strumbellas- key tracks~ every single song on the Hope album, every single song~ they are my new obsession, i’ve had them in my car on repeat for weeks and their lyrics with their acoustic, unplugged honesty is really really charming and warm.
Oh Wonder- ~key tracks: landslide, livewire, DRIVE~ so these guy girl duos where the guy sings low and monotone and the girl has a ‘character’ voice are really too abundant and talent-less and vanilla but something about oh wonder keeps me coming back for more.
Director: Tarik Saleh I Never Learn. Out Now... CD/LP: http://smarturl.it/lykkeli-onlinestore iTunes: http://smarturl.it/lykkeli-itunesdeluxe Amazon: http://...
K here doing a review of this little gem, No Rest for the Wicked by Lykke Li. Let me just say that I have had my reservations about this artist. Kind of reminiscent of a want to be Sia-(who isn’t quite on my top 10 either.) Anyway, if I could say anything to this girl it would be CAN YOU ENUNCIATE? Because I genuinely don’t know what she is saying, and it isn’t an accent thing, I never mind when artists like the 1975 or everything everything let that shine through with a vengeance, but sometimes you have artists like Lykke Li who are just whining. Anyway, I also feel that the lyrics of this song are quite empty for the tiny piano key, twinkling verses crescendo- ing into these big kettle drum sounding choruses. to me its very generic. The intro verse is actually very compelling and i really like that it isnt your usually ‘you hurt me’ but rather ‘i hurt you’ but then we get to the chorus which feels like every song every written. Ultimately there are good bits and not so good components.
