Pond -- "Fantastic Explosion Of Time"

I rarely write about a record after one listen, but for this band I will make an exception. Pond are a great  little psych band from Perth, Australia. Formed in 2008, like everything in this small world in which we live, I happened to "know" this band before I ever heard them. This is due to the fact that Pond is made up of a few members of Tame Impala, a band that I also adore. Anywho, this newest album by Pond: Beard, Wives, Denim, is thoroughly kickass. Ever felt like you grew up in the wrong generation? Ever wished you grew up in the acid trips of the summer of love AND/OR the cocaine induced era of late 70s glam-rock? If you answered yes to the last two question then this is the record for you. "Fantastic Explosion Of Time" kicks off Beard, Wives, Denim, and it could be one of my favorite album openers of the year. It just totally knocks you out with pure rockage... (I know... rockage is not a word). I expect a huge following for these guys in the future.

Note: refrain from rocking your head too much.. may cause a headache.

Pond -- "Fantastic Explosion Of Time"

MIX: Summer's Cauldron

Here it is, me summa' playlist

1.) Death Grips -- "Get Got"
2.) Twin Shadow -- "Five Seconds"
3.) Punch Brothers -- "Who's Feeling Young Now?" 
4.) Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"
5.) The Walkmen -- "Heaven"
6.) Japandroids -- "The House That Heaven Built"
7.) Cloud Nothings -- "Stay Useless"
8.) Pond -- "You Broke My Cool"
9.) Lotus Plaza -- "White Galactic One"
10.) Chairlift -- "I Belong In Your Arms"
11.) Beach House -- "The Hours"
12.) Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"
13.) Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

12 Favorite Songs of 2012 (thus far...)

The year is more than half way over, which means... well, it actually means very little. However, today it means I will post my favorite 12 songs from this year. Hope you enjoy!

Beach House -- "The Hours"
Bobby Womack -- "Please Forgive My Heart"
Father John Misty -- "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" 
Fiona Apple -- "Werewolf"
Jack White -- "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy"
Japandroids -- "Fire's Highway"
John Talabot -- "Destiny" feat. Pional
Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"
Punch Brothers -- "Movement and Location"
Regina Spektor -- "Small Town Moon"
The Shins -- "Simple Song"
The Walkmen -- "We Can't Be Beat"

Fionna Apple // The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple is so cool. That's truly the only way I can put it. Everything she has ever done is just so inherently badass and awesome that I can't think of a single person who doesn't at least admire Fiona's attitude towards her art. However, this isn't to say that Fiona hasn't had her moments. From sporadic meltdowns to dating David Blaine, her personal life has often gotten in the way of her absolutely stunning songwriting. Fortunately, what is evident on this new album, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, is that Fiona has done some serious maturing an growing up since Extraordinary Machine (2005).

I am sure that for those music nerds out there, you either have already listened to this album or at least heard of its' brilliance, but for those of you who haven't: LISTEN TO IT NOW! It is easily the album of the year thus far. It blows away just about everything I have heard since Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and like that album, The Idler Wheel.. also feels timeless and instantaneously classic in many ways. Its' words are so fascinating and beautiful. The production is stunning. Each song takes you on a beautiful little journey. I can go on and on about what makes this album so amazing, but you should figure it out on your own. I didn't post the whole album obviously but I did post some of my favorites off the album below.

I suggest checking all these songs out to get a feel for the album, but honestly your better off just getting a copy of the album, putting on excellent headphones, and listen to it from beginning to end... over and over again... you will not be disappointed.

Fiona Apple -- "Every Single Night"
Fiona Apple -- "Valentine"
Fiona Apple -- "Anything We Want" 
Fiona Apple -- "Hot Knife"

Songs of the Summer: Kishi Bashi -- "Bright Whites"

Kishi Bashi is the solo project of K Ishibashi, founder of the group Jupiter One and touring member of both Regina Spektor and Of Montreal. With that background the sound coming through your speakers should come as no surprise. This song is nothing short of a perfectly crafted pop song in my book. I challenge anyone to listen to this song and not feel great about life. I also normally don't really care much about lyrics; however, with this song I will also post the lyrics, which I think are so beautiful and imagniative.



"keya keya sorya douse ne,
keya keya sorya douse dame da.
yamerarenai yamerarenai.
douse damedakedo yamerarenai ne"
"keya keya sorya douse ne,
keya keya sorya douse dame da.
taerarenai taerarenai,
douse dame da kedo taerarenai ne"
(in Japanese,
"douse dame da" means "probably impossible"
"yamerarenai" means "can't stop" and
"taerarenai" means "can't take it anymore")

you and me at the edge of the world
with a pretty little smile for me to see
new bright whites and a cage full of ice
and a naked little canopy to feed my disease

and if you're to smile at me
I could cry by land or sea

after you said that you like Big Red
I opened up my mind and skipped a beat
cufflinks and hands in wrong places and faces
and creepy little movies made me weep

and if you're to say to me
what is mine is yours to keep

well you know, I'll have to see
if all the stars aligned we could've solved the mystery
it's a partial fantasy
we're living in a land that went astray from history

you and me at the edge of the bed
looking at the faded pictures for you to see and me to see
murder and colonies, land without rivers
raging in the middle of some sad destiny

take one look to find my eyes
safety's in your inner thigh

 well you know, I'll have to see,
if all the stars aligned we could have solved the mystery
it's a partial fantasy
we're living in a land that went astray from history