All my songs sound the same, at least all the ones I've been working on recently. They all sound like Panda Bear and Brian Wilson singing hooks to 1 or 2 chords (poppy Sung Tongs?). I like the idea that the songs are acoustic and feel very freewheelin'- but they also just sound like really pretty native chants. Pieces of Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, Beach Boys.
I feel like I've been writing songs like this for a long time now. Sometimes I feel like a song needs a basic electric guitar riff to go with it, but nothing rough: Think Peter Buck. It's jangle pop. Even some Rubber Soul or Spoon-esque marijuana fuzz bass is needed at times.
Actually, it all just sounds a strange lot like Galaxie 500.
I also feel like these songs could use ambient organ intros/outros like Automatic for the People.
I really wanted to do something even less poppy w/ more full instrumentation. I remember making a blog-post for a project called "Reality." That would have some flute parts, solo trumpet hooks, and a healthy dose of vibraphone. I still like the idea, but it doesn't fit where I'm going right now.
+ I also made up this song yesterday that just sounds like a usual Ben Folds song, only with quiet Doug Martsch guitar fills. Has a catchy "la-la-la" part.
These days I mostly listen to electronica-dance music and Neil Young.
Writing music is such a drag.
"The total effect is 'Let's Go Away For Awhile', which is something everyone in the world must have said at some time or another. Nice thought; most of us don't go away, but it's still a nice thought." -Brian Wilson
Friday, December 27, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
10 Years of Kanye West
I remember being 14 years old and I believed anything without a guitar solo wasn't good. I was a freshman at Linden High School and sometime Ms. Grant would play Late Registration during class. I remember liking "Heard 'Em Say" and I thought- maybe there is such thing as good rap music. These days I listen I listen to every genre, but I remember Kanye's "Heard 'Em Say" was the first rap song I ever liked. Soulful, melancholia, catchy...
What happened to that guy?
Kanye's voice was first heard on the radio in 2003 with a verse on Twista's #1 hit "Slow Jamz." He rapped about sexual innuendos for a little over 30 seconds while name-dropping Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson, 90s rappers and Cool Whip. Apparently it was enough to get him a record deal on Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella records within the year.
:his solo album works, in a nutshell:
This album was very cheerful and even more cheeky. Commercially popular and critically acclaimed. My mission buddy Elder Funk knows all the words to "Jesus Walks," and I'm pretty he's not the only one. On his debut, Kanye was already causing a cultural stir. Rolling Stone ranked it among their 300 Greatest Albums Of All Time, one of the 8 albums from the 2000s with a ranking so high. I never got the 'bear' thing...
LATE REGISTRATION (2005)- I personally think this one was better. If you can't decide on whether you you want to listen to a cocky rapper or your favorite Curtis Mayfield record, you can chose both with this album. The soul of this album may just be from the direct sampling, but Kanye was producing bigger things and rapping about bigger topics. "Gold Digger" reached #1. That bear was still around...
I remember when this album came out. "Stronger" was the immediate #1 single, although I preferred "Can't Tell Me Nothing." The album's personality was based off 80s-throwback synths. Kanye single-handedly made these shades cool! I love those things!And yes, that bear was on the cover...
808S & HEARTBREAKS (2008)-I think much of the world has forgotten that this album happened. I personally try to. But this has just been universally accepted as his worst work. I think the track "Love Lockdown" is underrated, but I don't even like most of the songs on this album. Plain beats + plain pianos. Nerdy glasses are cool now, but not because of Kanye.
MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY (2010)-
The most important part of the album title is the word "my." I've heard plenty of albums that are more beautiful, darker, more twisted, more fantastical than this one. But this album is definitely his. It's as Kanye as it gets. It's my favorite one by him. "POWER" lives up to its title, coming from the cockiest, angriest man in the music business. More so out of drunken depression than humility, he calls himself a "douchebag" on "Runaway." The album was just so darn loud and legitimately crazy. Critical acclaim up to wazoo- it was the first album in 8 years to get a perfect 10/10 upon release from Pitchfork. It was his first album to have not top 10 singles, but I don't think he was focused on popularity when he made this. As usual, he was more focused on himself.
YEEZUS (2013)- Generally like this album, but I like it less and less every day. I ranked it #11 on my list of favorite 2013 albums, which is lower than where most folks would put it. But I think its minimalism, darkness and volume is only shocking to those who listen to popular rap. I still give it some props for being purposely heartless and overly nasty. I love "New Slaves." But just how unique is this album? Why are critics calling it the best of the year? Who is Kanye West anyway?
:the future of kanye west:
Kanye West is an idiot, a bigot and a wimp. Unlike the best rappers in hip-hop history, he has never experienced poverty or street violence. He may be "artistic" among other celebrity rappers, but seems pretty plain standing next to the underground likes of Death Grips or Shabazz Plalaces. Yet I approve of 5 of the 6 albums listed above. Is it possible to like a guy's music and hate the guy himself? (sigh) Meet Kanye West...
Is he overrated? Yes. But he's done some GREAT stuff. Critics love Yeezus because its release and approach are bold. My buddy Liam Perry said of the album, "Musically it's his worst album, conceptually it's great." This is true. He represents a character in the studio- a different one for each album. I think he's a great artist with great potential. But if you think he's the best, you've fallen into a trap.
I predict a sad future for Kanye. He doesn't have fun anymore. Even cocky people can be fun. Even depressed people can have fun. I've yet to mention any remarks he's ever made outside the studio. Long-story-short: It's all an act. At least it used to be. I'm starting to think that Kanye actually believes all the stupid stuff he says ("I'm the Braveheart of creativity"/"I am the next Nelson Mandela"). I'm a lot more impressed with Kendrick Lamar threatening to murder a list of 11 rappers in the middle of a rap verse. Kendrick just wants a rap battle. Kanye wants an eternal, gold-plated cookie of greatness.
Considering how his latest album is a musical step down from anything he's done before, I think he'll just keep stepping lower and lower. Crude concepts are great and all, but he can't back it up for much longer. The fact that he's already made an album spilling his guts in the studio (Twisted Fantasy) and an album comparing himself to Deity (Yeezus), he has nowhere left to go. I bet his next album is a rap-rock opera with one truly great song as a centerpiece surrounded by awkward turds of music. Coming sooner than later. I might call him a genius if he didn't think so himself. 10 years of this guy... one of the most important artists of our time... but his time is up.
Is he overrated? Yes. But he's done some GREAT stuff. Critics love Yeezus because its release and approach are bold. My buddy Liam Perry said of the album, "Musically it's his worst album, conceptually it's great." This is true. He represents a character in the studio- a different one for each album. I think he's a great artist with great potential. But if you think he's the best, you've fallen into a trap.
I predict a sad future for Kanye. He doesn't have fun anymore. Even cocky people can be fun. Even depressed people can have fun. I've yet to mention any remarks he's ever made outside the studio. Long-story-short: It's all an act. At least it used to be. I'm starting to think that Kanye actually believes all the stupid stuff he says ("I'm the Braveheart of creativity"/"I am the next Nelson Mandela"). I'm a lot more impressed with Kendrick Lamar threatening to murder a list of 11 rappers in the middle of a rap verse. Kendrick just wants a rap battle. Kanye wants an eternal, gold-plated cookie of greatness.
Considering how his latest album is a musical step down from anything he's done before, I think he'll just keep stepping lower and lower. Crude concepts are great and all, but he can't back it up for much longer. The fact that he's already made an album spilling his guts in the studio (Twisted Fantasy) and an album comparing himself to Deity (Yeezus), he has nowhere left to go. I bet his next album is a rap-rock opera with one truly great song as a centerpiece surrounded by awkward turds of music. Coming sooner than later. I might call him a genius if he didn't think so himself. 10 years of this guy... one of the most important artists of our time... but his time is up.
MAYBE HE'S A NICE GUY
My favorite Kanye songs? "Jesus Walks"//"Heard 'Em Say"//"Flashing Lights"//"POWER" to name a few.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
2013: In Memories
(Some cheesy background music as you read this post)
Well,it's been a great year. I feel like I had more fun naturally than I have had in years. This means I don't remember doing as much fun stuff... as much as I remember having fun doing anything I was doing. And for the record, I did darn fun stuff too.
Every season I went through this year was my first season since 2009 without any clinical stress issues. There was a lot of inner rebirth shtuff going on throughout the year.
Here's me and some homies from the summer- Willy C, Robo Rob, Mandrew, Roommate Jake- at "top of the world." Just a few of the many amazing people I met this year.
I didn't do much for the first couple of months. Nothing really happened. But I'm cool with that. I fell in love with the spring colors in Logan.
This fall semester was my only semester as a journalism major here at USU. I worked harder than ever and I guess it payed off. I wrote a bunch of articles for a blog on the local music scene and got to meet some great local bands. I passed Prof. LaPlante's class!
Meanwhile, these homies kept me entertained. Still do.
It was an epic time.
This is just a great picture.
This was taken in the span of 7 weeks where I worked at the ICON factory which had me at work by 5:30 working 10-11 hours a day. I do not miss that.
This is a part of Logan known as "the island." It's not really an island, but it's really pretty & it's where I lived for 8 of 12 months this year. From my apartment, I've either walked or ran by everything in this picture.
My bro Keith got his Masters in Special Ed from some college I've never heard of. This picture is from the last time I saw him before he and his fam moved to Calgary. So far I've gone the whole year without seeing my bro Todd & his fam in Wisconsin. I'll be seeing them around Christmas time.
Not sure how this wound up being the last picture on the thing, but it is. Anyways, I'll be starting my theatre studies at Utah State University next year while working for The Statesman.
2013 was a GREAT year and it's not even over yet!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
MY 25 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2013
Listing songs is hard because there are millions to chose from. Listing albums is hard because I don't have the time to listen to an entire album... somehow, I do.
I've listened to all the albums listed below and plenty more. I wish I had listened to even more though. I don't know everything about music and there are probably plenty of bands that earn a spot on here I may have never heard of. Even having attending an amazing Flaming Lips concert this summer, I wasn't a big fan of the album they released this year. I gave the #25 spot to a guy from SLC who isn't popular in any way at all, but I legitimately enjoyed hearing his album more than other folks there. I listen to too much music recommended by critics and not enough recommended by friends. Any recommendations out there?
25: GOTHEN GOTHEN
24: WE ARE THE 21ST CENTURY AMBASSADORS OF PEACE & MAGIC FOXYGEN
23: PAIN IS BEAUTY CHELSEA WOLFE
22: FADE YO LA TENGO
21: DORIS EARL SWEATSHIRT
20: CUPID DELUXE BLOOD ORANGE
19: THE NIGHT'S GAMBIT KA
18: SHAKING THE HABITUAL THE KNIFE
17: LOUD CITY SONG JULIA HOLTER
16: IMMUNITY JON HOPKINS
15: YOU'RE NOTHING ICEAGE
14: DREAM RIVER BILL CALLAHAN
13: RUN THE JEWELS RUN THE JEWELS
12: VIRGINS TIM HECKER
11: YEEZUS KANYE WEST
10: SILENCE YOURSELF SAVAGES
9: MBV MY BLOODY VALENTINE
8: WAKIN' ON A PRETTY DAZE KURT VILE
7: WONDROUS BUGHOUSE YOUTH LAGOON
6: SUNBATHER DEAFHEAVEN
5: PSYCHIC DARKSIDE
4: REFLEKTOR ARCADE FIRE
3: SETTLE DISCLOSURE
2: RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES DAFT PUNK
1: MODERN VAMPIRES OF THE CITY VAMPIRE WEEKEND
I've listened to all the albums listed below and plenty more. I wish I had listened to even more though. I don't know everything about music and there are probably plenty of bands that earn a spot on here I may have never heard of. Even having attending an amazing Flaming Lips concert this summer, I wasn't a big fan of the album they released this year. I gave the #25 spot to a guy from SLC who isn't popular in any way at all, but I legitimately enjoyed hearing his album more than other folks there. I listen to too much music recommended by critics and not enough recommended by friends. Any recommendations out there?
25: GOTHEN GOTHEN
Monday, December 9, 2013
MY 25 FAVORITE SONGS OF 2013
I hate making lists for songs because it's not like I've heard every song worth hearing in the entire world. I almost ffel like I'm just picking my favorite songs from my favorite albums. I'll probably disagree with my own opinion a year from now. I don't like making song lists...
But I'm gone do it anyway.
25: THE WIRE -HAIM
Because ripping off of Fleetwood Mac is harder than it looks. This band is pretty over-rated, but if you want a perfect pop track that will be stuck in your head all year, you found it here.
"You know I'm bad at communication."
24: A TOOTH FOR AN EYE -THE KNIFE
The best moments on the new album from The Knife are the ones where they sound the least like their older material. I love the unique Indian/African rythms on this track.
"On my doorstep, a screaming hand. I'm telling you stories. Trust me."
23: BRING THE NOIZE -M.I.A
I wasn't a huge fan of the new M.I.A. album, but this song is one of her most powerful to date.
"It's not me and you, it's the banks!"
22: LOVE IS LOST (HELLO STEVE REICH MIX) -DAVID BOWIE/"BY JAMES MURPHY"
This sounds almost nothing like the "Love Is Lost" Bowie originally gave us. That was a good song and all, but I like it a lot better with Mr. James Murphy at the helm, sampling Steve Reich's "Clapping Music" and Bowie's own "Ashes to Ashes."
"Say hello, hello."
21: CONTROL -Big Sean (ft Jay Electronica & KENDRICK LAMAR)
Pusha T's "Nosetalgia," also ft Kendrick, almost made this list. It's a better song by all means, gotta love Pusha T. Big Sean sucks. But Kendrick's verse on here is unforgettable.
"I got love for you all, but I'm tryna murder you!"
20: SONG FOR ZULA -PHOSPHORESCENT
In my mind, it takes a lot to earn the title of "songwriter." Matthew Houck matches all requirements. His voice just breaks my heart on this track...
"My heart is wild and my bones are steam and I could kill you with my bare hands if I was free."
19: NEW SLAVES -KANYE WEST (ft Frank Ocean)
Kanye West hates the world and he's very crude. This is pretty standard "trap" music. This isn't news, but sampling Gyöngyhajú Lány is.
"All you blacks want all the same thing!"
18: SAN FRANCISCO -FOXYGEN
The first time I listened to Foxygen, I couldn't decide whether they were trying to sound like The Rolling Stones, Donovan or Lou Reed. This is not a bad problem to have. Catchy. 60s vibe.
"We were stating on this hill that Jesus came from Israel."
17: ALL YOU'RE WAITING FOR -CLASSIXX (ft Nancy Whang)
I really tried getting into electronic dance music this year. And I did.
"Somebody needs a little more everyday."
16: YA HEY -VAMPIRE WEEKEND
This is slow, joyful, classy, extremely catchy, raggae-esque, quirky pop song about Jesus. Why wouldn't this song be on this list?
"America don't love you." "Ya Hey! Deo Annotate!"
15: SHUT UP -SAVAGES
I only know enough about 80s gothic post-punk to know that these guys sound a lot like Joy Division or Siouxsie and the Banshees. Which is something the world kinda needs.
"You're living like the bullets to the sun."
14: SHE FOUND NOW -MY BLOODY VALENTINE
My Bloody Valentine release their first piece of new music in nearly 22 years, and this was the first thing we heard. Pure Magic. (+ dig the lack of rhythm for 5 minutes of your life)
"I wonder how that you find out..."
13: AIRGLOW FIRES -LONE
This year's finest release from R&S records sounds like... elevator music... at a club...
"What?"
12: CHAMAKAY -BLOOD ORANGE
I freaking love this song. It's as smooth and silent as R&B can get with it still getting away with being called "R&B." The instrumentation is enjoyably fluffy, as is the production.
"I see you're waiting for a girl like me to come along... baby, go your own."
11: GOD MADE THE WORLD -COLD CAVE
Everybody and their dog wants to make an 80s synthpop hit these days. I don't think Wesley Eisold aims for the "hit" factor on this as he tries to refine the sounds of 80s darkwave. He nails them both here. This song is just so darn depressing and uniquely stale... yet so easy to dance to.
"God made the world, but I made this song."
10: RETROGRADE -JAMES BLAKE
James Blake's voice on here is sexier than ever. Am I aloud to say that? Anyways, Blake polished up his soul & pop senses on this track, yet still manages to give you the chills like his classic old stuff.
"Suddenly I'm hit!"
9: HANG ON TO LIFE -ARIEL PINK (ftJorge Elbrecht)
I can't believe how high this song is ranked. Ariel Pink has this ability to make his songs sound like background music to crappy 80s TV programs. And I love it. It's one of his dreamiest, most emotionally dramatic tracks he's made. This song needed to happen.
"You screwed the pooch, now face it."
8: WAKIN' ON A PRETTY DAY -KURT VILE
Kurt Vile is a songwriter. He's a long-haired stoner-rock guitarist. He's both. You'd probably be more likely to hear this song on a classic rock radio station than on this list. This is a song for everyman. I haven't heard an acoustic guitar sound this crisp in a long time.
"Don't worry 'bout a thing. It's only dying"
7: REFLEKTOR -ARCADE FIRE
There's a noise at the climax of this song- about 4 minutes in- I've never heard that noise before. Meanwhile... this song is epic, catchy, funky, dark- Arcade Fire did not disappoint this year.
"We fell in love when I was 19, and now we're staring at a screen."
6: WHITE NOISE -DISCLOSURE (ft AlunaGeorge)
Disclosure's album Settle was one of my favorites of the year. Every song on their sounds the same: They all sound like hits. This one I think had the most guts (bass?) to it and the synth echoes are the murkiest. #2 hit in the UK- never heard it on US radio once.
"I know you're smart. You spin me round like a knot."
5: MUTE -YOUTH LAGOON
This song blew my mind the first time I heard it, and was a personal favorite of mine throughout the year. On this album, Trevor Powers sometimes tries too hard to sound weird, but his voice on this track is the sound of emotional, youthful wonder. Sick guitar riff through the second half of the song, too. Epic, psychedelic, lo-fi stuff.
"I never listen, I never listen..."
4: BLURRED LINES -ROBIN THICKE (ft Pharrell Williams & T.I.)
The definition of the "feel-good hit of the summer." You know every line. You know what he's talking about. You can play it on your sister's keyboard (and you don't even know how to play keyboard.) It has more cowbell. It's so simple- almost too simple. While Katy Perry was working her butt off to make her annual radio-perfect turds of music, Robin Thicke was doing something other pop stars should be doing: Nothing. Pop stars take themselves too seriously. If you're worried about making money, just play 4 chords on the keyboard and sing about sex.
"Baby, can you breathe? I bought this in Jamiaca!"
3: GET LUCKY -DAFT PUNK (fy Pharrell Williams)
We're up all night to get lucky.
"We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky!"
2: DOIN' IT RIGHT -DAFT PUNK
Oh hey, look, it's Daft Punk again! This song is ranked so highly because I thought it was going to suck. I love Panda Bear and I love Daft Punk. When I heard about the collab, I thought it would be Daft Punk trying to be weird and hip. Instead, we have the perfect copy-and-paste set up for one of the most memorable songs of 2013. Or 1983. Lennox's voice always sounds distant, as it does here. This time, his voice is trying to reach the other end of the dancefloor- a dancefloor covered by everybody dancing (you, your dad, French robots).
"If you lose your way tonight, that's how you know the magic's right."
1: STEP-VAMPIRE WEEKEND
This is only Vampire Weekend's third album and Ezra Koenig sounds like he's the oldest, wisest man in the business. This song covers all memories of ex-girlfriends (and random 90s California hip-hop groups) you need. Koenig delivers line-after-line on this song. http://rock.rapgenius.com/Vampire-weekend-step-lyricsDoes name-dropping make you a truly great artist? No. Only if you're being sincere. This song is nostalgic as a yearbook but built like a museum: Just smile, think about the good old days and don't anything.
"Everyone's dying, but girl, you're not old yet."
But I'm gone do it anyway.
25: THE WIRE -HAIM
Because ripping off of Fleetwood Mac is harder than it looks. This band is pretty over-rated, but if you want a perfect pop track that will be stuck in your head all year, you found it here.
"You know I'm bad at communication."
24: A TOOTH FOR AN EYE -THE KNIFE
The best moments on the new album from The Knife are the ones where they sound the least like their older material. I love the unique Indian/African rythms on this track.
"On my doorstep, a screaming hand. I'm telling you stories. Trust me."
23: BRING THE NOIZE -M.I.A
I wasn't a huge fan of the new M.I.A. album, but this song is one of her most powerful to date.
"It's not me and you, it's the banks!"
22: LOVE IS LOST (HELLO STEVE REICH MIX) -DAVID BOWIE/"BY JAMES MURPHY"
This sounds almost nothing like the "Love Is Lost" Bowie originally gave us. That was a good song and all, but I like it a lot better with Mr. James Murphy at the helm, sampling Steve Reich's "Clapping Music" and Bowie's own "Ashes to Ashes."
"Say hello, hello."
21: CONTROL -Big Sean (ft Jay Electronica & KENDRICK LAMAR)
Pusha T's "Nosetalgia," also ft Kendrick, almost made this list. It's a better song by all means, gotta love Pusha T. Big Sean sucks. But Kendrick's verse on here is unforgettable.
"I got love for you all, but I'm tryna murder you!"
20: SONG FOR ZULA -PHOSPHORESCENT
In my mind, it takes a lot to earn the title of "songwriter." Matthew Houck matches all requirements. His voice just breaks my heart on this track...
"My heart is wild and my bones are steam and I could kill you with my bare hands if I was free."
19: NEW SLAVES -KANYE WEST (ft Frank Ocean)
Kanye West hates the world and he's very crude. This is pretty standard "trap" music. This isn't news, but sampling Gyöngyhajú Lány is.
"All you blacks want all the same thing!"
18: SAN FRANCISCO -FOXYGEN
The first time I listened to Foxygen, I couldn't decide whether they were trying to sound like The Rolling Stones, Donovan or Lou Reed. This is not a bad problem to have. Catchy. 60s vibe.
"We were stating on this hill that Jesus came from Israel."
17: ALL YOU'RE WAITING FOR -CLASSIXX (ft Nancy Whang)
I really tried getting into electronic dance music this year. And I did.
"Somebody needs a little more everyday."
16: YA HEY -VAMPIRE WEEKEND
This is slow, joyful, classy, extremely catchy, raggae-esque, quirky pop song about Jesus. Why wouldn't this song be on this list?
"America don't love you." "Ya Hey! Deo Annotate!"
15: SHUT UP -SAVAGES
I only know enough about 80s gothic post-punk to know that these guys sound a lot like Joy Division or Siouxsie and the Banshees. Which is something the world kinda needs.
"You're living like the bullets to the sun."
14: SHE FOUND NOW -MY BLOODY VALENTINE
My Bloody Valentine release their first piece of new music in nearly 22 years, and this was the first thing we heard. Pure Magic. (+ dig the lack of rhythm for 5 minutes of your life)
"I wonder how that you find out..."
13: AIRGLOW FIRES -LONE
This year's finest release from R&S records sounds like... elevator music... at a club...
"What?"
12: CHAMAKAY -BLOOD ORANGE
I freaking love this song. It's as smooth and silent as R&B can get with it still getting away with being called "R&B." The instrumentation is enjoyably fluffy, as is the production.
"I see you're waiting for a girl like me to come along... baby, go your own."
11: GOD MADE THE WORLD -COLD CAVE
Everybody and their dog wants to make an 80s synthpop hit these days. I don't think Wesley Eisold aims for the "hit" factor on this as he tries to refine the sounds of 80s darkwave. He nails them both here. This song is just so darn depressing and uniquely stale... yet so easy to dance to.
"God made the world, but I made this song."
10: RETROGRADE -JAMES BLAKE
James Blake's voice on here is sexier than ever. Am I aloud to say that? Anyways, Blake polished up his soul & pop senses on this track, yet still manages to give you the chills like his classic old stuff.
"Suddenly I'm hit!"
9: HANG ON TO LIFE -ARIEL PINK (ftJorge Elbrecht)
I can't believe how high this song is ranked. Ariel Pink has this ability to make his songs sound like background music to crappy 80s TV programs. And I love it. It's one of his dreamiest, most emotionally dramatic tracks he's made. This song needed to happen.
"You screwed the pooch, now face it."
8: WAKIN' ON A PRETTY DAY -KURT VILE
Kurt Vile is a songwriter. He's a long-haired stoner-rock guitarist. He's both. You'd probably be more likely to hear this song on a classic rock radio station than on this list. This is a song for everyman. I haven't heard an acoustic guitar sound this crisp in a long time.
"Don't worry 'bout a thing. It's only dying"
7: REFLEKTOR -ARCADE FIRE
There's a noise at the climax of this song- about 4 minutes in- I've never heard that noise before. Meanwhile... this song is epic, catchy, funky, dark- Arcade Fire did not disappoint this year.
"We fell in love when I was 19, and now we're staring at a screen."
6: WHITE NOISE -DISCLOSURE (ft AlunaGeorge)
Disclosure's album Settle was one of my favorites of the year. Every song on their sounds the same: They all sound like hits. This one I think had the most guts (bass?) to it and the synth echoes are the murkiest. #2 hit in the UK- never heard it on US radio once.
"I know you're smart. You spin me round like a knot."
5: MUTE -YOUTH LAGOON
This song blew my mind the first time I heard it, and was a personal favorite of mine throughout the year. On this album, Trevor Powers sometimes tries too hard to sound weird, but his voice on this track is the sound of emotional, youthful wonder. Sick guitar riff through the second half of the song, too. Epic, psychedelic, lo-fi stuff.
"I never listen, I never listen..."
4: BLURRED LINES -ROBIN THICKE (ft Pharrell Williams & T.I.)
The definition of the "feel-good hit of the summer." You know every line. You know what he's talking about. You can play it on your sister's keyboard (and you don't even know how to play keyboard.) It has more cowbell. It's so simple- almost too simple. While Katy Perry was working her butt off to make her annual radio-perfect turds of music, Robin Thicke was doing something other pop stars should be doing: Nothing. Pop stars take themselves too seriously. If you're worried about making money, just play 4 chords on the keyboard and sing about sex.
"Baby, can you breathe? I bought this in Jamiaca!"
3: GET LUCKY -DAFT PUNK (fy Pharrell Williams)
We're up all night to get lucky.
"We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky! We're up all night to get lucky!"
2: DOIN' IT RIGHT -DAFT PUNK
Oh hey, look, it's Daft Punk again! This song is ranked so highly because I thought it was going to suck. I love Panda Bear and I love Daft Punk. When I heard about the collab, I thought it would be Daft Punk trying to be weird and hip. Instead, we have the perfect copy-and-paste set up for one of the most memorable songs of 2013. Or 1983. Lennox's voice always sounds distant, as it does here. This time, his voice is trying to reach the other end of the dancefloor- a dancefloor covered by everybody dancing (you, your dad, French robots).
"If you lose your way tonight, that's how you know the magic's right."
1: STEP-VAMPIRE WEEKEND
This is only Vampire Weekend's third album and Ezra Koenig sounds like he's the oldest, wisest man in the business. This song covers all memories of ex-girlfriends (and random 90s California hip-hop groups) you need. Koenig delivers line-after-line on this song. http://rock.rapgenius.com/Vampire-weekend-step-lyrics
"Everyone's dying, but girl, you're not old yet."
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Some Lists Before I Make My End-of the-Year Music Lists
I've noticed a few leading music critics have already done their lists for 2013's album of the year.
I plan on making a list of MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2013, and even a short list for SONGS.
I am 100% sure what it's going to look like. I will have it up in about a week.
But until then, I thought it'd be appropriate to share a couple of different lists...
8 ALBUMS FROM LAST YEAR THAT I STILL ACTUALLY LISTEN TO:
#8- Godspeed You! Black Emperor- 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
#7- Death Grips- The Money Store
#6- Beach House- Bloom
#5- Fiona Apple- The Idler Wheel...
#4- Swans- The Seer
#3- Japandroids- Celebration Rock
#2- Frank Ocean- Channel Orange
#1- Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city
(i also listen to the occasional Flying Lotus, Converge, Tame Impala and Cloud Nothings these days)
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE NEW DECADE:
#10- my #2 album from this year 2013
#9- Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues 2011
#8- Frank Ocean- Channel Orange 2012
#7- Destroyer- Kaputt 2011
#6- my #1 album from this year 2013
#5- LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening 2010
#4- Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2010
#3- Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city (this is my #1 on a good day) 2012
#2- Beach House- Teen Dream (same here) 2010
#1- Bon Iver- Bon Iver 2011
WHY DID I POST THIS? TOP 3 REASONS:
#3- I think about this a lot more often than I'd like to admit
#2- Needed a break from homework
#1- Actually, I'm getting back to that RIGHT NOW.
I plan on making a list of MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2013, and even a short list for SONGS.
I am 100% sure what it's going to look like. I will have it up in about a week.
But until then, I thought it'd be appropriate to share a couple of different lists...
8 ALBUMS FROM LAST YEAR THAT I STILL ACTUALLY LISTEN TO:
#8- Godspeed You! Black Emperor- 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!
#7- Death Grips- The Money Store
#6- Beach House- Bloom
#5- Fiona Apple- The Idler Wheel...
#4- Swans- The Seer
#3- Japandroids- Celebration Rock
#2- Frank Ocean- Channel Orange
#1- Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city
(i also listen to the occasional Flying Lotus, Converge, Tame Impala and Cloud Nothings these days)
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF THE NEW DECADE:
#10- my #2 album from this year 2013
#9- Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues 2011
#8- Frank Ocean- Channel Orange 2012
#7- Destroyer- Kaputt 2011
#6- my #1 album from this year 2013
#5- LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening 2010
#4- Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2010
#3- Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city (this is my #1 on a good day) 2012
#2- Beach House- Teen Dream (same here) 2010
#1- Bon Iver- Bon Iver 2011
WHY DID I POST THIS? TOP 3 REASONS:
#3- I think about this a lot more often than I'd like to admit
#2- Needed a break from homework
#1- Actually, I'm getting back to that RIGHT NOW.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)