live music is good for the soul

I don't know what I would do without live music. It's a vital part of life for me. After getting a taste of the otherworldly effect music has on you at the first concert I ever attended, (it was the American Idol tour 2002. Don't judge me.) I was hooked. The adrenaline, the euphoria of seeing the creators of the music that you hold so dear to your heart in the flesh, the communion of bodies all linked together by the music. For those minutes and hours, everyone has something in common no matter how different we all really are.

So this intrinsic need for live music may be my downfall, but I have taken to accepting that fact. For the week following Coachella, I was suffering from Post Concert Depression where everything about your life pales in comparison to the joy of the shows and the atmosphere of the place. I didn't put makeup on for five days. I sat in my room, lethargic, with no other desire than to watch the videos of Animal Collective's shows that I captured on repeat all night.

Things are getting better and life is looking up but there's still that pain when I think back to the wonderful times I had. It only hurts because I want to go back and know I can't. This will fade in time, I know. It always does.

So what do I do? Keep going to more shows of course. In a week, I'll be seeing the Fleet Foxes (SO stoked) and then three days later possibly seeing Wavves and then five days later seeing the Black Angels. And then...Outside Lands festival. MGMT. Round four baby.

And so for now, it's Friday night and nobody is doing anything so I'll put on a chilled out last.fm station and read old magazines. Maybe watch some mindless TV. Live my life in limbo between the moments where my soul really gets a chance to live.

tyler, the creator - yonkers

OFWGKTA
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All

A crazy bunch of kids from LA who are so so so good. Yes, white girls can enjoy good rap when they find it. I have a secret affection for rap music that you'd never guess on first sight of me. I only listen to it when I'm in the right mood, and since right now I am pissed off for no explainable reason, this is the perfect time.

Tyler, the Creator is one of the members of OFWGKTA and his song "Yonkers" off his upcoming solo LP Goblin is on repeat for me right now. I love the beat and how it's attack and release is so off-putting. It unconsciously gives you a certain attitude when you're walking and listening to it. Believe me, I just did so.

His lyrics are great too, my mainstream music-hating personality quirk particularly loves this little gem:
"I'll crash the fuckin' airplane that that nigga B.O.B. is in
And stab Bruno Mars in the goddamn esophagus"
His articulation is also full of personality, and that's something I really appreciate.

"Oh, not again, another critic writin' report
I'll stabbin' any bloggin hipster with a Pitchfork."

Please don't stab me. Though it would be an ironic death, yes?

Here's the music video, though the song is shortened. (I'm blown away by his performance. Being a psuedo-actor myself, I love his facial expressions.) It's macabre, but suiting.

Tyler, the Creator - Yonkers

last night at the jetty - panda bear

It's been awhile.

I think I need to do this again. I haven't written anything solid just for myself in a long time. Journaling sorta counts.

SO.

We begin again with my current obsession: Panda Bear.

I've been a fan for awhile now, even writing about it earlier, but now with Tomboy finally being released in April (I've already pre-ordered on vinyl. Hell yeah.) my interest has seen a resurgence.

Last Night at the Jetty. I've listened to all six of the already released Tomboy tracks and this one is my favorite. The electronic synth in the background is incredible. You feel as if you are riding on a wave that pushes you forward and then at the last second reels you right back in. Over and over and over again.

"Dreams that we once had
did we have them anyways
seems that we once had
now we'll have them all the time.

didn't we, didn't we
didn't we have a good time?"

Asking earnestly. Didn't we have a good time? Searching for justification. The song opens up and swallows you in. "I know I know I know I know..." Reassurance when there really is nothing and no one there. You know.

"And I'll call you my friend."

"didn't I have a good time?"

Now I don't even know if I can admit that I had a good time. I mean, I think I did. But what has happened in the past may have changed that. I just have to to tell myself. I had a good time. Right?

"Now who could say I'm not just as I was
No one could deny my mind."

I'm still here. That hasn't changed.


That's one thing I LOVE about Noah Lennox and his music. The musical soundscape is not only complex and layered and so intricate, but the lyrics are so poignant. Sometimes simple, sometimes a little vague, sometimes impossible to make out exactly what he's saying but always relevant. Lately I've dove in to his music and its spooky relevance to situations I'm personally living, and it's helped me move on.

I'll try to remember always, always to have a good time. (On that note, I wish to expound my theory that Last Night at the Jetty is a sequel to Comfy in Nautica. Comfy in Nautica is big, anthemic, optimistic. Last Night is almost a reflection years later. Revelations that life isn't always what we plan it out to be. But all that matters is that we recognize a good time and try to have on in the process. Just putting that out there.)

Tomboy will be released in its entirety on April 12th, with all of the current 7" single releases and the other tracks getting a polish and slight rework by producer Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3 who is most recently known for his producing role in (my favorite album ever) MGMT's Congratulations. (So stoked about that.)

Last Night at the Jetty (album version)

and to test my theory: Comfy in Nautica

runaway - kanye west

Good lord, I've neglected this. Since I'm back in the same position that I was in when I started this, it's the perfect time to resume writing since I need that stimulation and sense of accomplishment.

AND I've got a ridiculous amount of music to listen to. 13 albums, over ten hours, to be exact that I am plowing through this Thanksgiving break. I think I'm halfway through...

But I shall resume this with the song I am currently listening to. Runaway by Kanye West. And it's so damn good. His latest album got a 10.0 from Pitchfork, which is a big fucking deal. I've almost listened to all of it, all of which is great, but the real highlight is Runaway, a nine minute epic which was made into a 35 minute epic video (which I really need to see).

The song begins and is anchored by a simple keyboard plucking melody that is basic in all senses, but it's crisp, clear notation gives the song a stark and simple dimension that is so unique compared to the lavish production quality of many hip hop songs today. Then this shouting voice echoes and spins around your head while Kanye asks you to raise your glass to the douchebags, scumbags and assholes of the world. And you can't help but oblige him. I also love the ending with some real psychedelic electric guitar work covering the plunking piano in a fantastic swirl.

I really respect Kanye for his music, which allows me to look past his outward persona which can be overbearing at times to use a grand understatement. He's really got a finger on the pulse of all types of music. He has Bon Iver guest on the album for god's sake.

For another highlight of the album, check out Nicki Minaj's verse on Monster. Mind blowing.

owen pallett - A man with no ankles

Oh oh oh Owen Pallett, how strong my love is for you. You make me wish I never gave up the violin six years ago.

I am busy in catching up with the complete discography of Mr. Pallett and I'm just waiting on Heartland at this point to officially add it to my iTunes. My friend and I are doing a music exchange program in which she introduces me to amazing artists I've usually heard of, but never listened to before. One of which is Owen, and my love for him has only grown exponentially. His two albums as Final Fantasy are just brilliant. I love the sweet simplicity of Has A Good Home and the orchestral sounds of He Poos Clouds (which in my opinion is one of the best album titles ever). So needless to say, I can't wait to get Heartland in the mail.

Anyway, since I'm almost caught up, I can listen to his new stuff too without feeling overwhelmed by what I haven't listened to. His latest EP comes out today actually, and I've only listened to the opening track so far and I love it. But it's Owen, so I didn't expect anything less. Owen has a flair for melodic lines that refuse to get out of your head but in the best way possible. You'll walk around humming his tunes unapologetically. "A man with no ankles" is no exception. It falls nicely into my library of Owen tunes. I will be getting the rest of those tracks of A Swedish Love Story shortly.

Oh and I can't wait to see him live in less than a month. A small venue, incredibly low ticket prices and his only headlining show in the States as of right now. I can't wait. How can you ever say no to that face?:

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

OK, I'm promising myself I'm gonna update this more. I get into this lazy funk at night after a long school day where I just wanna bum around on FailBlog for hours on end or repeatedly refresh all my social networking sites until I get sick of seeing no updates.

So anyway, Deerhunter's new album leaked and so naturally I went looking for it. I found it streaming on NPR (which is coincidentally where I first listened to Congratulations and my love affair was basically born. Thanks NPR!) I've only listened to it all the way through once, but I love it. Sadly I was listening to it while writing a narrative for a class and therefore not fully absorbing everything, but from what I did pay attention to, it's wonderful. I could sit and vibe out to it all day.

Standouts are definitely the opening track Earthquake, which is very jarring at first with it's syncopated backing rhythm, but it's balanced out nicely by a calm, constant guitar line and reverb-y vocals. Starts out small and gradually swells. Love it. Also, a running theme lyrically (from what I could make out, that is) is the fear of getting old. Which is a fear I have. Ugh, getting old, no thanks. I want to be twenty forever. Basement Scene is a lament about not wanting to wake up, get old, be forgotten by friends. The beat is one you just want to sway to. It feels very vintage to me. The same sentiment gets echoed in the opening lines to the closing song, He Would Have Laughed, "I'll be bored as I get older." Getting old sounds like a real drag. Seriously. I agree. Again, the constant beat in the background holds together the various sounds being played with here, guitars, drums, tambourines; it's a beautiful clash.

Overall, there's a full sound throughout, that feels really throwback, 60's garage psychedelia with heavy guitars and lots of reverb mixed with other elements. Shall definitely be giving this quite a few listens.

Violens - Another Strike Restrained (Sadguitarius Remix)

The internet is an amazing thing.
Seriously, for the occasional hassle/ eating up of my spare time, it's such a wonderful thing. How else would I find all my music?

I discovered this band awhile ago and downloaded a few songs, but since my iTunes library is always being updated, their stuff got pushed to the side a little. Until now, when a fellow music enthusiast I know posted about them and rekindled my interest in them.

Violens (pronounced vy-lenz via their twitter page) is a band from New York with quite an intersting sound. And by interesting, I mean if you don't like loud and brash sounds, then don't listen to them. Heavy guitar riffs and harsh keyboard sounds, coupled with transcendant reverb creates quite the aural battlefield. See Violent Sensation Descends and their newest single Acid Reign for some blow your ears off awesomeness.

But the song of theirs that is currently on repeat for me is off their Summer Mixtape (which is available for free on their website). Another Strike Restrained (Sadguitarius Remix) is so so so good. I have no idea what the original sounds like, but I love this remix. I love the deep bass strumming in the background that just keeps going and going paired with the reverb/synth combo that gives the song a feeling of being intimidated, yet intrigued at the same time. Love it. Listen to it. You'll be hooked too.

Plus, Sadguitarius is a nom de plume of sorts of Ben Goldwasser, and, well, he's brilliant.

Download for free:

Summer Mixtape

Another Strike Restrained (Sadguitarius Remix)

Acid Reign