In Your Ear-5.24.11

The xx, XX

After coming across a couple of songs from this group, I checked out the full album. Not sure how to describe the music. At times dreamy, at times pulsing, at time electro-pop. I didn't really pick up any new tracks, which was disappointing. The album wasn't horrible but it's the sort of thing that is great background music but nothing that's gonna get you four or five stars on your iTunes.

Fav tracks:

Intro

Crystalised

Night Time

Black Keys, Brothers

I finally listened to the latest album from the Black Keys. I picked up the Live at the Crystal Ballroom DVD over the holidays and loved it.

This album starts strong (especially Everlasting Light and Howlin’ for You) but fades towards the end (in the fine tradition of modern music). Some of the tracks really grab you and have an energy that can't be ignored, but for the most part it seems muted somehow. It’s worth a listen and great for chillin out on the back porch with a beverage.

KEXP podcasts

Wow. What can I say about the latest ones I’ve listened to? I can't bring myself to delete them from my ipod because I just to listen to them over and over again. The hit all types of music and make me wish I had time to track down these bands and really search out music. Alas I don't have that sort of time, so I'll take whatever they give me while trying to break free from my ingrained playlists.

Here are some amazing tracks to find:

Episode 235

The Hundred in the Hands—Pigeons

PS I Love You—Facelove

Episode 236

Steve Wynn & The Miracle—Resolution

Episode 249

THE WHOLE EPISODE

1. Charles Leo Gebhardt IV - Teach My Heart

2. The Cute Lepers - Noisy Song

3. Beach Fossils - What A Pleasure

4. Craft Spells - Party Talk

5. Crystal Stilts - Shake the Shackles

6. Moon Duo - Mazes

7. My Goodness - Blackout Baby

8. The Kills - DNA

9. Yarn Owl - Seashell Wind Chime

In Your Ear-4.6.11

Yuck

So driving around town listening to NCAA basketball games, I switched to the Impact during commercial breaks. I usually never listen to the radio, but accidents happen. The song playing grabbed me so I stayed to the end to find out who it was. The track was The Wall by Yuck. Seriously, that’s the name of the band. A name like that takes some stones. Sort of like Shitty Beatles.

So I took a listen to their self-titled album on Grooveshark. Not too bad. Besides The Wall, the track Operation was pretty good. The band’s sound seems to recapture the alternative sound of 90’s. Think Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth.

I’ll probably give them a try.

Phoenix

During my early Pandora listening days, I fell in love with a track called Napoleon Says by Phoenix. There was another track that popped up but wasn’t nearly as good.

During the drive up to the church retreat, Ryan and I were talking about music that we were listening to and he mentioned Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. I told him I hadn’t heard of them but had heard of Phoenix. When I got into the office the following Monday, I did a quick search. Turns out that was the album name so I checked it out of the library.

It was a decent album, especially good for having on the background while doing work. Really liked the track 1901. There is also an instrumental track—Love Like a Sunset Part I—which is great. Another song to check out is Lasso.

I think there is one more album that I haven’t heard, so I’m going to give that a listen.

Recent tracks on I’ve stumbled onto:

• A friend from high school and college replied to my last music post and suggested some songs which I checked out on Grooveshark.

• The Lonely Forest "Turn off this Song"
• Hypnotic guitar sucks you in and then track kicks off.
• The Joy Formidable "Whirring"
• Energetic song that drives along. Heard a little Arcade Fire vibe which is fine.

• Amanda at work suggested several bands to check, one of which was The xx.
• Intro
• Instrumental track that totally chills you out.
• Stars
• Dreamy track that would fit right into an indie movie.