Music Mondays: Broken Bells

 Posted by on 29 March 2010  Music
Mar 292010
 

The Broken Bells are the newest indie super group; the main members consist of James Mercer, lead singer for The Shins, and producer/mixer extraordinaire, Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton) who infamously mixed Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” and the Beatles’ “White Album” and is also one of the members of Gnarls Barkley.

According to the Wikipedia page, they began recording in secret in 2008, and just released their first album this year.

Their sound is a touch more Danger Mouse than The Shins, electronic and sort of dancey. You can definitely hear the production direction of Danger Mouse in the music. But they also seemed to experiment a little, and utilize instruments like horns and the organ like in their song “Vaporize.” I really like the song “The High Road” because it seems to be a great mix of both the musical styles. It’s a head-nodding, slow-jam song; it has a great beat and melodies, and I have been listening to it a lot.

Broken Bells – The High Road

Broken Bells on Myspace.

Music Mondays: Laura Veirs

 Posted by on 22 March 2010  Music
Mar 222010
 

I’m a sucker for soft music, for folk music, and for poetic lyrics. So it goes without saying that I’m a sucker for singer-songwriter Laura Veirs. Hailing from Colorado, her music embodies each of the traits I mentioned, and so much more.

So far, Veirs has released seven albums, many critically acclaimed but not incredibly popular, which seems about to change with her latest release “July Flame.”

It’s full of gentle, guitar-driven songs, with a touch of orchestration, and Veirs’ clear, sometimes plaintive voice.

I especially like her song “Sleeper in the Valley.”

Laura Veirs – Sleeper in the Valley

This song feels like spring to me; it sounds earthy and full of warmth. There’s a definite touch of melancholy and coldness lurking underneath, but more than anything, it feels like hope and growth and the promise of life.

Check out Laura Veirs on Myspace.

(Belated) Music Mondays: The Temper Trap

 Posted by on 16 March 2010  Music
Mar 162010
 

(Sorry guys. I’m unemployed right now, so the days kind of blur together!)

I first came across The Temper Trap while watching (500) Days of Summer — which, by the way, is an adorably charming film.

Digging the beat and vocals of their song “Sweet Disposition” I looked over at Grant and said, “Wow, this song is great!” He gave me a funny look and said, “I’ve had this song on my iPod for awhile. I didn’t think you would like it” all because I told him I didn’t really like electronic music. Except, I do, but there has to be actual singing and not just a non-stop  beat.

Anyway, back to The Temper Trap. They are from Melbourne, Australia, and have released a self-titled EP in 2006, and a full-length album called “Conditions” in 2009.

Their sound is up-beat yet atmospheric, especially with sometimes dreamy falsetto of lead singer Dougy Mandagi. I would probably say their sound is mostly dance/pop with a bit of rock thrown in for good measure.

“Sweet Disposition” is insanely catchy, so have a listen!

The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition

Music Mondays: Joe Pug

 Posted by on 8 March 2010  Music
Mar 082010
 

Before last summer’s Winnipeg Folk Fest, I had never heard of the singer-songwriter Joe Pug. Grant and I were introduced to him at one of the first workshops we went to that weekend. We were just slightly fawning over Josh Ritter (ok, we were totally crushing on him) who was also in the workshop, but one of the breakouts was definitely Joe Pug.

Sitting on the stage, with his words and his guitar, he seemed very similar to Josh Ritter — a folk singer who writes incredibly earnest lyrics — but with a more country-stained sound. Pug’s voice sounded weary and worn out, and wise beyond his years. I was sure to remember his name.

My favourite song of his to date is “Hymn #101.” The poetry of his lyrics is amazing; this might be my favourite:

And I’ve come to meet the legendary takers/I’ve only come to ask them for a lot/Oh they say I come with less than I should rightfully possess/I say the more I buy the more I’m bought/And the more I’m bought the less I cost.

Wrap up his lyricism in a nice package of finger-picking and his world-weary voice, and this song just begs for repeated listens.

Joe Pug – Hymn #101

Pug has released an EP called Nation of Heat, and a full length album this past February called Messenger.

Music Mondays: Ohbijou

 Posted by on 1 March 2010  Music
Mar 012010
 

Ohbijou is an indie/pop outfit from Toronto. The band is led by sisters Casey and Jenny Mecija, originally from Brantford. They’ve released two albums to date, 2006′s Swift Feet for Troubling Times, and 2009′s Beacons.

Ohbijou has had a lot of play on CBC, which is where I first heard the song “New Years.” It’s a song that swells and builds, introducing a little more instrumentation as the song goes on until it comes to a crashing, energetic point. I love when songs do that.

Ohbijou – New Years

Check them out on Myspace!

Music Mondays: Lissie

 Posted by on 22 February 2010  Music
Feb 222010
 

Lissie is an American singer-songwriter from Illinois, now residing in California; she has a huge voice, and her sound is a little bit folk, a little bit blues, a little bit soul and a just a touch of country twang.

The song I’m posting, called “Everywhere I go” instantly grabbed my attention for it’s stripped-down instrumentation, which fully showcases Lissie’s powerful pipes. In doing some research for this song, I found out it was going to be on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, which I’m sure will garner her a lot of well-deserved attention.

But I don’t watch Grey’s, and I downloaded the song weeks ago. I swear.

Anyway, listen, enjoy. I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from Lissie in the next year.

Lissie – Everywhere I go

Music Mondays: The day after Valentine’s

 Posted by on 15 February 2010  Music
Feb 152010
 

Because, really, why should it get all the love song glory?

Here is my favourite recent love song:

Melody Gardot – Our Love is Easy

Gardot is all sexy, smooth jazz, and pure class. I love the softness of her voice, and I especially love the orchestration on this song. It’s a real classic sound, and makes for a wonderful love song.

And what lovely lyrics: Our love is easy/like water rushing over stone/our love is easy/like no love I’ve ever known.

(Melody Gardot, previously)

New Midlake album: The Courage of Others

 Posted by on 8 February 2010  Music
Feb 082010
 

Just moments ago, I opened a new tab to one of my favourite music blogs, Jonk Music, to catch up on what I’ve missed over the last few days, and was pleasantly surprised to see Midlake occupying the top post.

It’s so fitting, too, because I was thinking of the band earlier today; they released my favourite album of 2006/2007, The Trials of Van Occupanther.

The album was essentially on repeat for a year, and Grant and I were even lucky enough to to be in Montreal at the same time they were (with indie-darling St. Vincent as their headliner, before anyone knew who she was).  They put on a fantastic show, then they disappeared for three years.

Well, they’ve probably been touring. But no new material.

Which is why the release of their new album, called The Courage of Others, is so exciting! Their distinctive sound of pretty five-part harmonies, and lush, 70s-style instrumentation seems to have remained intact. I have yet to listen to the entire album, but the first song Acts of Man seems to be a good indication of what’s to come.

Midlake – Acts of Man

(By the way, this is the first of a new weekly feature I’m going to do called Music Mondays. I’ll probably focus on newer artists, or new releases from bands that have been around for awhile.)

 Newer Entries