HIGH VIOLET!

The National are releasing their new album entitled High Violet May 10th.
They continually create great music riddled with bass tones littered with heart-breaking lyrics and moving melodies.

Listen to some of their new tracks here. NYTIMES
They have tour dates up and will be playing in Vancouver at the Malkin Bowl on September 10th.
Can't Wait.

Fenced in with Horses

Fences - My Girl the Horse


Fences, from Seattle Washington remind me of hardcore/punkcore.
Just replace the heavy guitar riffs, double drum kicks, vocals, and bass with an acoustic guitar.

You'll be left with Fences, simple guitars with emotionally tormented but lovely lyrics, that taste like sugar

The Crying Lights of Antony

When I feel particularly emotional, Antony Hegarty can pull on my heart strings. His voice is lavish, rich and unwavering. Imagine yourself standing in a room full of empty chairs. This music is playing and suddenly it doesn't matter that no one is there.

When I try to describe his sound, I can't seem to place it in a specific genre. It doesn't sound indie, rock or pop.
Perhaps soul? His voice sounds like a chorus full of ambience and body. Movement in body, soul and emotion.
He is one of those artists that makes music that appears and sound flawless.

I admire his bravery to redefine the gender roles and blur the lines of commonality.

In his lyrics we find a reoccurring image, a theme that revolves around searching for something beyond sorrow. There is a positivity that emerges in situations of sadness and conflict.

These lyrics especially:
"Epilepsy is dancing
She’s the Christ now departing
And I’m finding my rhythm
As I twist in the snow"
----
"Cut me in quadrants
Leave me in the corner
Oh now it’s passing
Oh now I’m dancing"

I happened across his music a few years back and immediately thought: Passionate, Sincere and Raw.

His lateset Record is entitle The Crying Light.

http://www.myspace.com/antonyandthejohnsons

Albums on Repeat?

I have a tendency to become attached to certain albums. Its like a cycle of rotating discs. Some weeks I feel emotionally unstable and confused. Other days I feel angst and frustration. At times like these, I turn to these albums I've had on repeat these past few months:

Antony and The Johnsons - The Crying Light (2009)
Listen

Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing (2007)
Listen

Lightning Dust - Infinite Light (2009)
Listen

The National - Cherry Tree EP (2004)
Listen




These albums are brilliant in their respected genres. From beginning to end, the songs have a certain cohesive blanket. Like a comfortable wrist watch, fitted perfectly on your lanky secondary wrist.

Mr. November

I forgot how nostalgic The Nationals' lyrics made me feel.
I keep thinking to myself, "I need to see this band live."
One day, I'll hear Matt Berninger shout out these lyrics,

"I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November, I'm Mr. November, I won't fuck us over!"

I find myself screaming this, in my head and in my throat.
Berningers' distinctive baritone voice can swoon anyone to drop everything and listen.
He is the driving force of this band consisting of two pair of brothers accompanying him.
Their sound is full, broad, demanding and honest.
It punches you in the gut, the moment you hear that low romantic drone, you can't help but to stop and listen.
So listen:

Listen Here

How to be Saints

Photo by Pamela Littky
Tegan and Sara's 6th studio album came out on October 27th, entitled "Sainthood"
To be honest, I didn't quite know what the title meant, and I thought it referred to something religious. I didn't quite like it.

I discovered later, this religious idea was to be based on how to become a person who replicates saintly ideals only to win over someone else's affection.
This, I understood.

Having been a Tegan and Sara listener for the past few years I knew this album would be equally for even more impressive than their previous albums.

My favourite was their 2007 release, "The Con".

There was something so deep and resonating about the themes that underlined the songs off of The Con. Not only were they verging on rock indie tunes but lyrically, they were just so blatantly honest. Its unlike other musicians to write their loves on their sleeves. When I heard the album for the first time, it quickly and permanently became the record I unhealthily obsessed over. Admittedly, I did listen to other music.




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My first impressions of Sainthood amounted to my appreciation for their growth in sound and band mentality. There was a different mood in the songs off "Sainthood" compared to "The Con". The themes related to the acts of pursuing someone, finding out ways to become a better partner, and over-analysing interrelationships with past partners and parents. It was clear that the new Tegan and Sara sound came with their age and maturity.
It sounds developed instrumentally and raw vocally. I particularly love their use of synths on this record. They're heavy and prominent in Sara's songs, especially: Night watch, Paperback Head, and the 80's driven sounds from Alligator.
My current favourites are:
Arrow
On Directing
Sentimental Tune.
These songs are gold.

This is not to say the other songs are not equally brilliant, it goes without saying they do bring a different ingredient to the album's developed sound.

A more detailed analysis of the record in the next few weeks.

In the mean time listen here: