Top 25 Songs of 2011... thus far

1. Smith Westerns -- "Weekend"
2. James Blake -- "The Wilhelm Scream"
3. Yuck -- "The Wall"
4. Childish Gambino -- "Freaks And Geeks"
5. Julianna Barwick -- "Keep Up The Good Work"
6. Radiohead -- "Codex"
7. The Streets -- "Trust Me"
8. Fleet Foxes -- "Helplessness Blues"
9. Destroyer -- "Chinatown"
10. The Weekend -- "House Of Balloons / Glass Tabel Girls"
11. Tim Hecker -- "In The Fog" (Parts 1 - 3)
12. Kurt Vile -- "Jesus Fever"
13. The Strokes -- "Under Cover Of Darkness"
14. Radiohead -- "Lotus Flower"
15. Destroyer -- "Downtown"
16. Smith Westerns -- "Dance Away"
17. James Blake -- "Limit To Your Love"
18. J Mascis -- "Several Shades Of Why"
19. Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie xx -- "Running"
20. The Mountain Goats -- "Damn These Vampires"
21. The Weekend -- "The Morning"
22. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart -- "Heart In Your Heartbreak"
23. Siriusmo -- "High Together (Album Version)"
24. TV On The Radio -- "Caffeinated Consciousness"
25. Cloud Nothings -- "Forget You All The Time"

-- Greg

The Weeknd -- "House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"

The Weeknd (Toronto-based R&B singer Abel Tesfaye) released a mixtape entitled House Of Balloons last Monday to respected critical acclaim. However, being associated with Drake, I was a little hesitant to give The Weeknd's mixtape a listen, but man was I wrong. Put best by a youtube commenter, after hearing this mixtape "my ear wants a cigarette." House Of Balloons doesn't make the ear want a cigarette in a bad way (i.e. to look cool), but rather a cigarette break for the ear. House Of Balloons and this song in particular, is just amazingly euphoric, but yet pulsing. Imagine snorting coke and then partying for what feels like an eternity at the most amazing club in the world. That's kinda the image I conjured in my head. The point in the middle of "House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" when the beat switches to a darker, more ominous atmosphere, really hits the mark on what I am talking about. I highly suggest House Of Balloons not just because it's good, but also because it is just so unique and fresh. I have read a few people compare this to the XX's debut album in how distinct this record sounds. Given this mixtape gains more exposure, I think it may possibly become one of the most discussed albums of the year (bold, I know).

-- Greg

Childish Gambino -- "Freaks And Geeks"

Where did this come from?! I was first introduced to Donald Glover in Derrick Comedy's classic Bro Rape. He then went on to play Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community... and now he is exploding in the rap game? I was at a party the other night and heard this song to a mass appeal of drunkards who totally dug it. When I asked how the person who played it got into Donald Glover he said, "who the fuck is Donald Glover?" I have realized that this song is good beyond the fact that it is a very talented actor and comedian attempting to rap, it is just good rap... great in fact. Even after hearing "Freaks And Geeks" at least 20 times, I go nuts every time I hear lines like, "e.e. cummin’ on her face, now that's poetry is motion" or "my dick is too big, there's a big bang theory." While many bloggers have been going nuts over albums like Raekwon's Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang or Saigon's The Greatest Story Never Told, Donald Glover's EP under the name Childish Gambino is easily the best rap record I have heard all year.


-- Greg

YOUTUBE: Sexy Sax Man (Careless Whisper Saxophone Prank!!)

It has been confirmed... this is the funniest youtube video...ever!

Siriusmo -- "High Together"

I must admit that I have never been a huge fan of electronic based music. Perhaps this lack of appreciation for the genre as a whole stems from my love of the album over the single; it is as if I feel as though most music today, especially electronic music, is based around the single rather than the album. This notion coming from the idea that music is often "born of the internet" today (electronic music more so than most genres). People today have shorter attention spans and house/grime/dubstep (whichever you prefer) is like a shot of adrenaline to the heart and soul of many music fans. This is something that I totally respect; however it is often tough for me because I rather listen to an album, which in electronic music isn't always the focus. An hour plus of dubstep by the same DJ gets a little boring after a while. Sorry. However, last year brought some serious treats from the world of electronic music to my "nerdcore" world (and no I don't mean the "nerdcore hiphop" genre) i.e. James Blake's EPs, Gold Panda's Lucky Shiner, and Mount Kimbie's Crooks and Lovers.

Fortunately, this year has been no different than our last in terms of really superb electronic based albums. In particular, Siriusmo's Mosaik is an album that I feel that serious lovers of electronica, along with newcomers (like me) can really enjoy. Siriusmo, for those who don't know of his work, is a Berlin-based electronic producer who has been in the game for over a decade gaining exposure putting out singles for labels like Mokeytown. Mosaik, his debut LP, never truly sticks to one style or genre, which is most likely why I really like this record. There are hints of dubstep and house, but you are always guessing what's going to come next. The album is also unbelievably cohesive, which isn't always something I hear and get from many albums that fall under the grand genre of electronica. Their are many songs that I really like on Mosaik, but the one I want my readers to hear is the first, "High Together (Album Version)." When I put this album on while walking to class I didn't know what to expect and I was truthfully kinda hesitant to listen to it. The first forty-five seconds didn't quite intrigue me either (in hindsight, the begining of this song is awesome), but once the song kicks off you just go. Go where?... that's up to you. Enjoy!

-- Greg

Siriusmo -- "High Together"

Shufflin' On A Sunday Afternoon: Noah and the Whale -- "The First Days Of Spring"

This morning I immediately began thinking about what song I would post for "Shufflin' On A Sunday Afternoon," but luckily my iPod did the thinking for me. Oddly enough, this was the first song I got on shuffle this morning and it just felt so right considering the time of the year. If you enjoy this song, which I will assume you will because it is amazing, you should also listen to the album, which shares the same name as this song. There are many albums and songs that I will like a lot and often obsess over, but this is a rare album and song that I and many others fell in love with on first listen.

-- Greg

J Mascis -- "Several Shades Of Why"

Since 2008 there have been three folk albums that I have obsessed over: 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver, 2009's Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle by Bill Callahan, and last year's The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man On Earth. When I think about these records and then think about what folk album I will possibily fall in love with this year, one of the last musicians that really comes to mind is J Mascis. J Mascis, for those of you who aren't familiar with him, fronts Dinosaur Jr., who are "alternative rock" legends in my mind. It is precisily this reason that I wouldn't expect that Several Shades Of Why, released just a few days ago on Sub Pop, would be a folk record that I would like... a lot. Mascis sounds as experienced as he sounds refreshing on Several Shades Of Why. I think the album art for this record really says a great deal of how the album plays... and I don't mean weird. It's as if Dinosaur Jr. took a nice long nap on a cool winter's day.

-- Greg

COVER: Fran Healy -- "River" (Joni Mitchell Cover)

Winter is finally coming to a close, which normally would excite me (the cold and I do not get along), but I gotta say that I think I may actually miss the winter a little and it is mainly because of songs like the following. Joni Mitchell's "River" is not just one of my favorite Christmas (or winter) songs ever, it is just one of my favorite songs ever. It is a breathtakingly beautiful song and covering it ain't easy. However, Fran Healy, a super under appreciated singer/songwriter originally in Travis, really hit the mark in his cover of the song for A.V. Club's Holiday Undercover. While many of you will just skip the video until Healy starts playing, I recommend watching the beginning, in which Healy discusses his relationship to the song and Joni. Fran Healy is just awesome. If you like this please check out Healy's most recent album and Travis.

-- Greg


Fran Healy covers Joni Mitchell

Shufflin' on a Sunday Afternoon: The Equals -- "Hold Me Closer"

I was first introduced to this song through NPR's end of the decade podcast about a year and a half ago, which is fantastic (highly suggested). This song is obviously not from the past decade, but actually from 1968. Carrie Brownstein explained that the past decade was truly remarkable because of the internet, most specifically youtube. One can now hear something and view/listen to it immediately, which is truly something to marvel at. So, long story short, I loved "Hold Me Closer" when I first heard it, but seemed to forget about it for about a year, until yesterday I was stumbling around the intertubeweb and BOOM! I find The Equals' "Hold Me Closer." For those of you who aren't familiar with The Equals, they are a North London based soul/pop band who came to popularity in Europe during the mid 1960's. While "Hold Me Closer" never reached the acclaim that "Baby Come Back" did, it is still a truly fantastic fun party song. I love it!

-- Greg

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx -- "Running"

When I first read of the Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx project I, like others, was ecstatic to hear the finished album, I'm New Here. I saw two relevant creative forces (well... at least its's amazing for Gil Scott-Heron to still be a relevant force in music) combining two very distinct sounds to create something fresh. However, when I heard the first single, "NY Is Killing Me," I wasn't the biggest fan (sorry, don't kill me). I don't know. It just felt kinda forced. Nevertheless, I still got a copy of the album and it finally hit me when I heard "Running." The sound that Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx are putting out to the world finally clicked when I heard "Running." It's an absolute gem. Unlike my first listen of "NY Is Killing Me," which left me feeling a slight competition between the old and new worlds of music, "Running" is rather a meeting place for both. It is poetically creative as it is compositionally (from a production stand point). I can't get enough. Give it a listen.

-- Greg

YOUTUBE: "Year of the Beard"

Respect the beard.

Julianna Barwick -- "Keep Up The Good Work"

Ready for a good pun....I mean a terrible one... "keep up the good work," Julianna Barwick! Man I'm creative... I hope my terrible attempts at humor do not stir you away from the artist I am about to discuss. Julianna Barwick is a Brooklyn (via Louisiana) singer, who I honestly do not know much about. All I can tell you is that her most recent release, which I believe is her first full-length LP, entitled The Magic Place, is astonishing. Along with many other bloggers/music nerds, I found out about this album because of it's "Best New Music" status at Pitchfork. Since I read that review, this album has been playing constantly at my apartment. Barwick's sound is based around large arrangements of her own voice looped, along with few instruments. Some songs enlists the accompaniment of a piano or guitar, while others are simply many Julianna Barwicks singing at once. The angelic quality to this woman's voice is just simply unmatched. The second I heard "Keep Up The Good Work," it was as if an angel came down and said, "post about her. She is the chosen one." This song, along with the rest of this remarkable album, has touched me in such a divine way. Certainly an album that I will come back to throughout the year, Julianna Barwick's The Magic Place is a must listen. I highly recommend listening to "Keep Up The Good Work" and giving the rest of the album a chance.

-- Greg

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place - Keep Up the Good Work (asthmatic kitty) by pdis_inpartmaint

200th Post: 50 Most Influential Albums On Our Lives Pt. 1

200th Post! Wow!! Really can't believe this. When I started this blog with Mike I would have never expected to have come this far with such a receptive following. Thank you to all those who support and read the site.

For the big 200 I decided to do a special little post that I am calling a "musical autobiography" of sorts. For my education course here at school I had to write an "educational autobiography," which had me discussing the most important educational experiences in my life. So, I decided to do something in a similar vein for this post. This post is a list of the 50 albums that impacted and influenced my life most. This list was certainly not easy to organize, but it was far simpler than attempting to do what I think are the 50 "greatest" or "best" albums of all time because that is just simply impossible for me to determine. Furthermore, these are the 50 albums that impacted my life most in the order that I felt appropriate. Some of these albums may have changed my view of a particular genre, while others may have simply been a personal favorite of mine throughout the years, but there is no doubt in my mind that the top albums on this list (perhaps the top 5 or 10) forever changed how music has impacted my life. Enjoy!

Quick Sidenote: I wrote Pt. 1 because Mike plans to do Pt. 2 for the upcoming future. Stay tuned!

50.) Modest Mouse -- The Moon & Antarctica
49.) The White Stripes -- White Blood Cells
48.) Shugo Tokumaru -- Exit
47.) Chicago -- Chicago Transit Authority
46.) Pavement -- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
45.) The Strokes -- Is This It?
44.) Sonic Youth -- Daydream Nation
43.) Fishbone -- Truth And Soul 
42.) Minutemen -- Double Nickels On The Dime
41.) Nirvana -- Nevermind
40.) Radiohead -- In Rainbows
39.) Wilco -- A Ghost Is Born
38.) Sufjan Stevens -- Illinois   
37.) Radiohead -- The Bends
36.) Pink Floyd -- Animals
35.) John Coltrane -- My Favorite Things
34.) Radiohead -- Kid A
33.) The Beatles -- Help!
32.) David Bowie -- Hunky Dory
31.) Santana -- Abraxas
30.) Fountains Of Wayne -- Welcome Interstate Managers
29.) Steely Dan -- Aja
28.) The Rolling Stones -- Sticky Fingers
27.) The Who -- Tommy
26.) Beck -- Midnight Vultures
25.) Pink Floyd -- Meddle
24.) The Beatles -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
23.) The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- Axis: Bold As Love
22.) Prince -- Purple Rain
21.) Ben Folds Five -- Whatever & Ever Amen
20.) Belle & Sebastian -- If You're Feeling Sinister
19.) The Who -- Who's Next
18.) Spoon -- Kill The Moonlight
17.) The Replacements -- Tim
16.) XTC -- Skylarking
15.) The Flaming Lips -- The Soft Bulletin
14.) The Notrious B.I.G. -- Ready To Die
13.) John Lennon -- The Plastic Ono Band
12.) The Who -- Quadrophenia
11.) Television -- Marquee Moon
10.) The Beatles -- Rubber Soul
9.) Queen -- A Night At The Opera
8.) Radiohead -- OK Computer
7.) Marvin Gaye -- What's Going On
6.) The Clash -- London Calling
5.) Pink Floyd -- The Dark Side Of The Moon
4.) The Beatles -- Abbey Road
3.) Bruce Springsteen -- Born To Run
2.) Ben Folds Five -- Ben Folds Five
1.) Wilco -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

-- Greg

Ladies and Gentleman...zeh Strokessss

Here from their highly anticipated new album Angles is the video for the single "Undercover of Darkness."



--Mike

Top Fifteen Albums of February

1. Radiohead -- The King Of Limbs
2. James Blake -- James Blake
3. Yuck -- Yuck
4. The Streets -- Computers and Blues
5. Cloud Nothings -- Cloud Nothings
6. Nicolas Jaar -- Space is Only Noise
7. Tim Hecker -- Ravedeath, 1972
8. Julianna Barwick -- The Magic Place
9. PJ Harvey -- Let England Shake
10. Toro Y Moi -- Underneath The Pine
11. Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie xx --We're New Here 
12. Bright Eyes -- The People's Key
13. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead -- Tao Of The Dead
14. Isolée -- Well Spent Youth
15. Telekinesis -- 12 Desperate Straight Lines

 -- Greg