i post reccomendations (in addition to my reviews) every week on the site i write for-
www.emotionalpunk.com. here are last weeks and this weeks ...
These past couple of weeks have been pretty hectic with the semester coming to an end and some other wacky stuff going on in my life, but I think I'm remaining cool as a cucumber. I've been listening to a pretty wide array of stuff, but mostly the following:
Sunny Day Real Estate - How It Feels To Be Something On (1998, Subpop)This album is so heartbreakingly beautiful. It makes me feel sad to listen to, but in a good way, somehow. The title track is so tragically captivating that words simply do not do it justice. Shame on you if you've never heard this album. An all time favorite of mine, must listen!
Grandaddy - Sumday (2003, V2)I've thrown this one on last week because I like their style on Sumday moreso than the new album (due out May 4th). Their chunky Weezer-esque power chords, spacey harmonies and lyrics about robots are unmatchable. I love this band and I hope that Jason Lytle keeps making music.
Os Mutantes - S/T (1968, Omplatten)Progressive psych pop from Brazil. Kevin Barnes, singer/songwriter and driving force behind of Montreal has cited this band as being his largest influence, and it can be heard immediately as the record begins. If you're into indie pop/psych and you want to hear some of its non-Beach Boys/Beatles beginnings, check out Os Mutantes.
Olivia Tremor Control - Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle (1996, Flydaddy)The OTC is probably the most underrated Elephant 6 band, and their members read like a "Who's Who" list of the 90s indie pop scene. Members of The Apples (in Stereo), Neutral Milk Hotel, and more make up this concept-driven band. The percussion and bells on this album totally sound as if they're taken directly from Brian Wilson's SMiLE sessions. I absolutely love the production on this record.
Well there you have it. If you're feeling a bit scatterbrained and need to relax with some great music that expands the borders of pop and indie rock, look no further than the aforementioned bands and albums.
Dishes are done!! My finals are finished and my grades turned out pretty well. I've been listening to some cool tunes this past week, contradictory to the piping hot weather that has accompanied my Summer break.
Dr. Dog - Easy Beat (Park the Van, 2005)This diamond in the rough was on my top 10 of 2005 and is the basis of my screen name. They blend a Beatles-style psychadelic rock style with a folky bluegrass sound. Live, however, they're a completely different band, playing songs at almost double the speeds that the metronome would clock on their LP. Easily, one of my favorite live bands.
The Teeth - Carry The Wood EP (Park the Van, 2005)This band opened for Dr. Dog and is on the same Philadelphia-based label, Park the Van. Their style is similar to Dr. D's in the way that on recording, they are much more mellow, as opposed to their live show that will completely win you over the first time you see them. The Teeth's tunes are incredibly familiar upon first listen, without being derivative in any sort of way.
Saves The Day - In Reverie (Dreamworks/Vagrant, 2003)My all time favorite album. Constantly spinning in my CD player, rotating in my record player, or doing what things do in an MP3 player or PC. Any words that I can say will never do enough justice for this album. It means more to me than any other album, or any other band, or person, or thing I have ever known in my life.
Beck - Sea Change (Geffen/Interscope, 2002)Beck is an incredibly talented musician that has the ability, know-how, malleability and guts to never make the same album twice. The painfully gorgeous Sea Change is my favorite of his, with its Yankee Hotel Foxtrot-ish alt-country sound. For those of you looking to get into Beck, or for those of you who thought he only rapped about appliances bumping uglies, give Sea Change a spin.
Copeland - In Motion (Militia Group, 2005)Why didn't anyone tell me how good Copeland was? Seriously. All it took was for me to hear "Kite," and I was hooked. It is very rare that, upon first listen, I will know that a song will immediately become an all-time favorite of mine, but "Kite" definitely did it. There really is not a bad song on this album, and it is necessary to say that the production is absolutely impeccable. The soaring harmonies in "Sleep" are so full and rich sounding, and the Sunny Day-esque guitar in "Love is a Fast Song" comes through with undeniable clarity.
All pretty much new stuff this week, as opposed to last when I was digging back into past decades. If you've just finished your finals, enjoy your newly discovered Summer with these great albums. If you're still in high school, these (specifically Sea Change) will help you get through. Peace homies.