Archive for January, 2011
Two things have hit me hard today: the sheer intensity of this Sydney heat and this brand new track from the ever glorious Fleet Foxes. While other artists have tried to outgun them with the sheer quantity of hamonising voices (Brisbane’s Inland Sea representing with a whopping five vocalists) it’s nice to see that they’re still on top of the game. Classic Pecknold vocals can’t be beat.
Helplessness Blues is like many of the tracks on their first full length in that it’s divided into two clear separate sections. I guess the difference between Fleet Foxes and most other bands is that they’ve effectively managed to write two outstanding songs and release them as one. Even as I write this I recognise that I’m talking nonsense but my eagerness for you to hear this track overrides my desire to be eloquent. Here’s the track. It’s a free download. The new records drops of May 3. Viva Fleet Foxes.
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
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Remember High Highs? Here’s another free track from… them. It’s not much in the way of structure but if you’re looking for something to set your nerves at ease then this could be your goldmine. Whoa. I almost wrote “you’re goldmine”. That would have frazzled all my grammar fans out there.
High Highs – Flowers Bloom
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You’ll like this one. They’re called Dry the River. Crystalline vocals that remind me of something in between Jeff Buckley and Bombay Bicycle Club are the pivotal part of their arrangements. I can’t help but feel that they could be incredible but at the moment they’re just good. That said, they’re probably worth keeping an eye on as I’ve no doubt they’ll release a full length that’ll make women world wide release a collective sigh. They’ve two EPs: The Chambers & the Valves EP (2009?) and Bible Belt EP (2010) so here’s a track from each. Stellar.
Dry the River – History Book
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Dry the River – Bible Belt
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You can purchase Bible Belt EP here but I can’t as yet find a link to buy The Chambers & the Valves EP. Help me out on that one.
There was a time when two artists were flying sky high on top of the country-alt/folk scene. Those artists were Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes and that time was I don’t know, pretty recently or something. Less prominent was a third player in the mix, My Morning Jacket. I don’t know if you ever got the chance to hear My Morning Jacket but let’s just say this; If you didn’t you’re a philistine and I hate you. I actually hate you.
Musical salvation is here and it’s come in the form of a reverb soaked masterpiece. In much the same way God sent Jesus to save a people who’d turned their back on Him, I’m sending you this, a taste of My Morning Jacket’s 2005 album Z, even though you’re sinners. This analogy is really breaking down. When all is said and done though, I’m truly doing you a favour here. When your bud starts talking about the new Fleet Foxes record in a few months and their “epic harmonies” you can smugly look at her and say “yeah… I guess… My Morning Jacket did this like, a hundred years ago though”.
So here are two monumentally gargantuan tracks from Z. Buy the record. Trust me. Be sure to give ‘Dondante’ sufficient time (at the very least 3:30) to explode in yourear.
My Morning Jacket- Gideon
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My Morning Jacket – Dondante
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Yeah, I’ve been crazy M.I.A lately and I’m sorry for that. It’s been a combination of a youth camp and a bad attitude. To make up for my extended absence here is not one but ten songs. It’s a free mixtape from Sucking Lemons, it’s free and it’s worth downloading. Most of them are pretty decent. Highlights include Yellow Ostrich, Dry the River and Dog is Dead (who you may remember from this).
As if that was sufficient recompense for my recent behaviour I’ve also decided to throw in an image of a dog being very silly indeed. Dogs shouldn’t wear clothes! Especially not clothes that make them look like Yoda. There’s no way a dog could ever master the force!
Artists you need to know rn
| 1. 1300 |  |
316 |
| 2. Voidhood | |
259 | 3. jamesjamesjames | |
186 | 4. Zan | |
174 |
| 5. Sesame Girl | |
147 |
