The Aeroplane Over The Sea: Recommendations

Showing posts with label Recommendations. Show all posts

Thursday, August 27, 2015

The Han Toshi

I haven't written in a long time, even though I really want to. I reached a point where I needed to divorce myself from the keyboard when I wanted to talk about school/work lest my thoughts devolve into angry musings that none would care to read. I try to stay positive. That's probably the best way I can sum up my state of mind: I try to stay positive.

Moving on, music is a great way for me to drown out the white noise and feedback loops of futility that have become my job. This year hasn't blown me away with any one release (yet), but there's a handful of things that I recommend people put on their radar. As always, until the year end best-of list, they are in no particularly order.

Jamie xx - In Colour

Jamie xx is one half the duo called (not surprisingly) The xx. Apart

from an album he made with Gil Scott-Heron - just before he passed away, this marks

Jamie's debut solo album. He drops all notions of the subtlety that earned his former band

their well deserved acclaim, but retains his focused and calculating style, just bigger.

My jam: Seesaw [ft. Romy]

Best Coast - California Nights

How was I not supposed to like an album and a band that is essentially

themed around living in Southern California? Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno bring

back their signature style of garage/pop enthusiasm for a third time.The

edges have been softened a bit, but it still feels like something only they could have done.

My jam: Feeling Ok

Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free

I'm new to Jason Isbell, so while I don't have much of a backstory on him

that informs my opinion of his work I probably wouldn't need it anyway. This is

a heartfelt album through and through. Even if country isn't your thing, I think there's

something that everyone can find enjoyable on this record. Check it out.

My jam: How To Forget

Beach House - Depression Cherry

Bands don't get much more reliable than this. Depression Cherry might throw some

fans of "Teen Dream" era for a loop, but I promise you this is forward movement.

Beach House has never sounded more sincere and intricate in their production even

when you take most of it away as they've done here.

My jam: Beyond Love

Tame Impala - Currents

Everything about this band is cool. Their name, the name of their albums (Lonerism), and

the artwork. I don't even need to mention the music because their brand of Psychedelic Rock

does all the talking. It's replete with fantastic hooks and wonderful lyrics that only add

to the discourse of the romantic break-up album. It was a welcome surprise.

My jam: Yes I'm Changing

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

Sufjan is such a wildcard. It feels like he's either got a hat of ideas

for records, or he takes on dares - as in the case of 2010's electronically

driven, "Age of Adz." Whatever the case, he's a prolific lyricist and equally

powerful composer. The inspiration for the album (the death of his mother) might

sound like a downer, but rather than a collection of brooding dark pieces it's more

of a joyful and fond send-off.

My jam: The Only Thing

Purity Ring - Another Eternity

I fell in love with Purity Ring upon hearing their first double A-side that

combined the powerhouse tracks of "Lofticries," and "Ungirthed" together. Simply

describing Purity Ring as an electronic band wouldn't be doing them justice. It's electronic

pop infused with trip hop beats, and a more sinister undertone. It's good, that's what it is.

My jam: Bodyache

Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear

Father John Misty was new for me as well this year. I'll definitely be going back and

checking out his surprisingly huge catalog of solo work. The stage name (as you correctly assumed)

has only been in use for a few years however, with the bulk of his work having been created

under his actual name - Joshua Tillman. This album is at times emotional, sarcastic, and horribly romantic.

I don't want to get ahead of myself just yet, but this is probably the ringer for best of the year.

My jams: Bored In The USA / Holy Shit / I Went To The Store One Day

Seriously, the last three tracks on this album are amazing.

Sleater-Kinney / No Cities To Love

After a long absence Sleater-Kinney returns thrashing into the foreground of

everyone's consciousness. The sound is no less raw, the lyrics are no less memorable, and

their presence is never more desired. Sleater-Kinney returns in fine form with No Cities To Love.

My jam: Hey Darling

The Go! Team - The Scene Between

Despite the dissolution of the team in the band's namesake, Ian Parton has managed

to create a sound that supersedes anything The Go! Team has previously produced.

If I were going to declare any single album as the pop album of the year for me, this one would

be it hands down. It's catchy, full of hooks, and will definitely find you hitting replay more than once.

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Originally titled "Tu Pimp A Catterpillar," (TuPAC) Kendrick has been quoted as saying that Tupac is one

of the rappers that he draws most of his inspiration from whether it be style, or in day to day life.

Kendrick has certainly made a name for himself though with his unique style of rap. "To Pimp A Butterfly" is another link in that chain, which fuses hip hop, spoken word poetry, and even jazz - seamlessly.

My jam: King Kunta

Passion Pit - Kindred

Passion Pit's music feels like the kind of thing one is supposed to eat rather

than listen to. Their pop synths are all so fantastic, colorful, and vibrant that they feel

sweet to the ear. I haven't decided where this one places among their three releases, but

that I have that decision to make at all says something.

My jam: Where The Sky Hangs

Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Newcomer and singer-songwriter Natalie Prass gracefully glides onto the music scene

with her melodic debut album. While it might feel a bit of a slow burn for the 'gotta have it now'

generation, there's plenty to be enjoyed throughout this album. With elements of Chamber Pop, a

twinge of Baroque, and an overall classic feeling, it's something to check out.

My jam: Your Fool

CHON - Grow

Despite hitting a nerve for bands with names that are all caps - seriously - CHON is

pretty exciting. I know every once in a while I recommend something immediately off-putting

and this one will probably be it unless you are familiar with the exquisitely detailed

sub-genre known as Math Rock. Noted for it's at first dissonant sound, Math Rock is hard

to describe but easy to recognize. "Grow" contributes a few great pieces to the style.

My jam: Book

Belle and Sebastian - Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance

I was greatly anticipating getting my hands on this album. Earlier this year I saw

them in Tokyo performing some highlights of this release and of course a ton of old standards.

Any new Belle and Sebastian album is a cause for celebration, and this one is no

different. Their occasional melancholic but always poppy songs have been injected with

a more dance-worthy beat, as the title would suggest.

My jam: The Party Line

Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper

First off, the award for best title ever goes to? Panda Bear follows his previous solo

work with another album that will be on rotation for some time. Constructed as a kind of concept

album that deals with exactly what you think it does, but not in the way you think,

PBMTGR packs a punch. It's chilling while catchy, psychedelic but poppy, and

grabs your attention throughout.

My jam: Mr. Noah

Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon

Okay, I lied. This is the crazy one. Haitus Koyote's "Choose Your Weapon" appears to be

an experimental album. Just by the sheer number of genres and styles that get mashed within

the course of this record (jazz, soul, funk, R&B, and so on) it's incredibly difficult to

give it a singular label - which isn't a bad thing. They describe themselves as

Neo-Soul, but I don't know if that helps.

My jam: Shaolin Monk Motherfunk

(How about that title, right?)

Ratatat - Magnifique

Ratatat is a jam band. This album, like almost all of their work, features no vocals. On "LP3"

there was a jaguar-esque sound on a track called "Wildcat." That's the kind of band

that Ratatat is. Magnifique rolls with crunching guitars that constantly seem on

a path of out-cooling the other - much like their previous work. It has moments of

introversion, but that just means there's breathing room in between.

My jam: Abrasive

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

Seemingly in a competition with Fiona Apple for the longest album names ever, Courntey

Barnett delivers a resounding debut album. It rocks. She rocks. Her voice is amazing, and she

shreds the hell out of more than a few songs here. I don't know much about her, but I'll definitely

be keeping my eye on her after this. Give it a listen if you care about rock at all.

My jam: Pedestrian At Best

The Vaccines - English Graffiti

These guys came out of nowhere for me. Though they've been around since 2010

apparently, I hadn't caught wind of them until the single "Handsome" off this record

was released earlier this year. It immediately became the song of the summer for me

and I had to investigate the rest of the album, where many more gems would lay.

My jam: Minimal Affection

Here's the list one more time, alphabetically:

Beach House - Depression Cherry

Belle and Sebastian - Girls In Peacetime Just Want To Dance

Best Coast - California Nights

CHON - Grow

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

The Go! Team - The Scene Between

Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon

Jamie XX - In Colour

Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass

Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper

Passion Pit - Kindred

Purity Ring - Another Eternity

Ratatat - Magnifique

Sleater Kinney - No Cities To Love

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowe

Tame Impala - Currents

The Vaccines - English Graffiti

Happy Listening.

-J

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Songs To Ride Trains To (Vol. 1)

Hello again. I passed my license test, which we'll definitely be talking about next week on the podcast, but for now I thought I would drop off this playlist of music. It's the first volume of what I have called, "Songs To Ride Trains To," and it really is exactly what it sounds like. I imagine that many people out there will be getting into a bit of traveling around this time of the year and hopefully some of these songs will keep you company wherever life takes you. I slapped together some artwork as well in the event that you collect these pieces and wanted to make an album out of it. Much as I am a stickler about track lists, this one is free form. Cater your mix to your liking, and don't forget to season liberally.

Happy listening. I'm out!

-J

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Music: The Year So Far

We made it. Or at least I did. We're halfway through the year, if you can believe that. That having been said, I think it's high time I posted concerning music that's been on my radar up till now. Many of them have secured a place as year end favorites already, but the die is yet cast and nothing would make me happier than to have too many great choices to pick from. I should also mention that this is in no particular order. It's just a giant list of stuff that I've listened to and some thoughts. Almost all of it is stuff I liked but December is when I'll put together a top 25 for the year.

So, here's what I've been listening to so far:

All Hail Bright Futures by And So I Watch You From Far Away

Well right off the bat, we've got a mouthful. I really enjoyed this album but it makes for tough conversation. People get bored of listening to me before I finish saying the band's name and (god willing) album title. If anyone out there is of the Math Rock persuasion I think this would definitely be up your alley. Hailing from Belfast, Ireland, these guys have tagged their music rather underhandedly as "alternative instrumental rock Belfast" via their bandcamp page. It's much more than that! I wouldn't go so far as to say experimental, which is what you'll get from Wikipedia. All in all, it's a pleasant mix of instrumental shredding and high spirited choral backings with enough variation to keep it engaging and fun along the way. Check out "Rats On Rock" for a taste.

Anxiety by Autre Ne Veut

In what appears to be an age of R&B reinvention, we've slowly been receiving excellent output from artists such as Frank Ocean and The Weeknd (Not a typo). Autre Ne Veut picks up in a similar vein but exhibits a slightly more electronic vibe than the former artists. The result is just as enjoyable however. At certain points we're treater to frantic, and quivering synths. Other times it scales back and slower sweeping melodies dictate the mood. Even the moments of bouncy synths matched with a slight twist of eccentricity somehow line up extremely well with the soulful vocals. One highlight for me would have to be, "Gonna Die". If you're only going to youtube one song from this recommendation, make it that one.

Cerulean Salt by Waxahatchee

Apart from having a fun artist name to say, Katie Crutchfield AKA Waxahatchee, seems to have crafted a grungy summer album that feels like a slightly melancholic surf rock record. At times this album has the spirit of a laid back Pixies album, crossed with the sound of Best Coast. Regardless of what it "sounds" like however, Katie definitely maintains an introspective attitude throughout the entire piece. The whole work altogether might be a bit slow and I can totally understand how that puts people off an album that I've described as being "summer", but that shouldn't be a reason to prevent you from hearing this album out in full. A personal favorite would have to be "Misery Over Dispute".

Comedown Machine by The Strokes

Nope. Okay it's not that bad as Angles, but I was hoping for a Strokes comeback rather than a letdown. I'll still keep the faith for more good work in the future. "All The Time" sounded promising. The single "One Way Trigger" felt like cover of Aha's "Take On Me" for a minute. . . I don't know if that earns or loses points.

Desire Lines by Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura definitely played it safe with this release. It doesn't go too far in either direction, and comfortably fits within the rest of their catalog. It'll probably go mostly unnoticed but perhaps that's just what a decent record does. I think I'm pretty sold on Tracyanne Campbell's charming vocals and lovey dovey lyrics. Even if this isn't Camera Obscura's best record it maintains the bar all the way throughout. I'd say this is a great record for some easy listening to, especially if you're doing some work and need something to casually listen to. It sort of reminds me of that scene from High Fidelity where Barry accuses Belle & Sebastian of being "sad old bastard" music. While I'm not really either of those three yet (we're all getting older) I can still sit down and enjoy this record without being blown away. Maybe you will too. "Do It Again" is probably the most derivative song from album's mold of slow and steady wins the race.

Dreaming In Key by Applescal

This one is a purely electronic work, so if that scares you, go ahead and skip right along to the next entry in his list. For anyone interested, this album doesn't thrash about in its digital execution. It carefully establishes moments of synthetic droning that are slowly expanded upon as each song runs its course. This probably seems like standard fare for something that could be describe as a "techno" album. In practice though, I would say it plays out much more sensibly than that, and never treads the waters of bombarding the listener with far too much to hear. Rather, playful harmonies dance along the wayside as the repetitious sequences develop the deeper into each song you go. Altogether the collection of songs on Dreaming In Key reminds one of the way a single lightly salted cracked only pushes the desire for another. "Thanks For Fun" demonstrated this appeal well. It's a song that so desperately wants to give you more, but holds back knowing you'll stay the whole way waiting for it.

Endless Fantasy by Anamanaguchi

Though the name of this New York based band can be tough to sound out, the music is decidedly easier to swallow. Anamanaguchi is likely one of the only bands flying under the "chip tune" flag that can be said to have slipped into more open, noticeable territory. I hesitate to say the dreaded "M" word, because mainstream they are not, and mainstream chip tunes (as a whole) is not. There's a really easy way to tell if you're going to like this band and its output: First, did you play video games as a youth? Second, did you like the music? If you answered yes to both then chances are you'll have a pretty good time with this album. Utilizing actually modified video game consoles essentially in place of effect pedals, Anamanaguchi creates music that thrives in the real of digital bleeps and bloops but has the sensibilities of rock/pop that might surprise you upon listening.

II by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

I honestly thought I was going to have a bit more psych stuff on this mid-year "what I've been listening to" list. Even if the psychedelic scene isn't your deal I'd say that this album is at the very least a pretty interesting listen. It's far more rock oriented than something like The Flaming Lips' latest, The Terror. Most often relaxed throughout the listen, there are occasionally bursts of more engaging moments such as the 70s inspired funk licks on "One At A Time" and even changes pace a bit with the fuzzy, distorted riffs from "No Need For A Leader". On the whole, there's a lo-fi quality mixed with the psychedelic tinges at work on every song. The result is extremely enjoyable.

Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend

This album was so damned good that nothing so far has shaken its current spot as my number one pick so far. Check out my in depth analysis of this work here.

Wondrous Bughouse by Youth Lagoon

This one caught me off guard. It's taken a bit of time to fully appreciate in the way that I admired Trevor Powers' first album but this one is certainly not without its fascinations as well. The Year Of Hibernation fits slightly better into the formative genre known -quite aptly I believe- as Chillwave. Lo-fi sensibilities, glowing, radiant textures that are accompanied by soft dissonant vocals. This album is distinctly psychedelic. At first I didn't know how much I would've liked that. I love psych music, but I was such a huge fan of his original album that I was worried I would just be prejudiced towards the music because there was a concerned effort to not replicate himself. I suppose I cannot be upset about that, especially when he demonstrates that there's plenty of talent in his mind left to be tapped into. Even as the album dips into areas that sound more like acid trips to the carnival such as "Sleep Paralysis" everything just seems to fit in place.

Bankrupt! by Phoenix

What an uphill battle these guys have had. You don't just come back from an album like Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix with any old collection of songs. I almost feel bad because after having written that, it was hard to imagine that it would get any better. Sadly, Bankrupt! is not 'better' but it's not horrible. It's chock full of great songs and it still has all the whimsical pop, textured synths, and lofty vocals that make their work so accessible. It just feels like a Phoenix album, which is perhaps the best compliment I can give. If this album had come out before Wolfgang, then it would be considered fantastic, and then Amadeus would be the crowning achievement. As it stands, this albums plays out as the younger brother living in the shadow of its towering older sibling. It's not fair, but you can do your part by giving this album a chance and discovering that it's quite good by yourself. Also, "Bourgeois" is a song that feels like it came right off of Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, it's amazing.

We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic by Foxygen

I will excuse the unbelievable length of this album's name because of how fun it to listen to. This album has influences flying all over the place. At first you might be keen to accuse these guys of ripping off former acts, but I find that this album sounds rather like a humble expression of what they themselves must have enjoyed. "No Destruction" starts off with a drum that almost gives an impression of early 60s R&B them quickly pulls out sounding a bit more country/folk and maybe even a little bit Dylan with the vocal work, but later jumps to a more typical rock beat. The album describes itself as both an homage and tribute while changing pace enough within each song itself to feel fresh and original. A personal favorite off this album has to be "San Francisco".

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

The hype machine was cranked up to 11 in the weeks leading up to the release of this album. There's definitely more to be said than I'm attempting in these short paragraphs. Perhaps the easiest way to define this album is to say that rather than making a pure electronic or even dance album, they enlisted the help of former greats of the 70s, utilized antiquated recording techniques, and brought a few current surprise artists along for the ride in order to create a modern day disco/funk record. Quite a gamble for a group that had a pretty solid image working for them already. The good news is that it totally paid off, and we now have a meticulously crafted, tremendously intriguing album with great depth and what I believe will be a lasting quality. "Touch (feat. Paul Williams)" is perhaps the greatest song on this album. Just wait for that instrumentation to explode all over you.

Untogether by Blue Hawaii

A relatively new band, Blue Hawaii's debut LP has fast become a favorite of mine. Created from members of the band Braids, Untogether is largely an ambient album scattershot with otherworldly vocals that feel like spiritual transmissions. I can only hope that this project continues and produces even more fruits of this kind. The album is at once minimalistic, playing with gentle harmonies, and at others slightly droning, swimming in dark undertones that course through the prescribed atmospheric illustrations. It remains curious enough throughout the whole listen to keep your attention. "Try To Be" is my recommendation.

Obsidian by Baths

Baths' first album was a bit of an welcomed obscurity when it was first released in 2010. It was an electronic album that contained elements of downtempo leanings, trip-hop structures and had shifted between popping enthusiasm to moments of warm, relaxing melodies. While Pop Music/Fale B-Sides was technically the second release from this LA based musician, it was a sort of intermediary work composed while on tour, rather like Gorillaz's The Fall right after Plastic Beach. Obsidian is a much more focused work dramatically expands the scope of what Will Wissenfeld is capable of producing. Very little of the album contains maximalist composition, having been replaced with darker, moodier, and more methodically paced songs replete with a heavier focus on lyrics, not the just content, but actually putting more focus on the words themselves as well. It feels almost as though it is the emotional 'night' to Cerluean's 'day', and is worth at least a listen, if only for that.

Monomania by Deerhunter

Another album that was a tremendous change of pace from its previous iteration which no doubt has created a polarizing attitude toward it. Whereas Halcyon Digest was at times ethereal and more dreamy in its soundscapes, Monomania is without a doubt far much more of a noise rock album that screams and punches at every turn it possibly can. There's still a bit of that HD Deerhunter on this album, but most of those moments are pushed into the background rather than being the point of the work. I can definitely understand the trepidation towards this one, especially if you were as big a fan of the last album as I was. I think there's plenty to find in this album though. It might not happen on the first listen, but it definitely has its merits. You can certainly feel the effort to put a specific aesthetic into this album based off track titles referencing Americana such as leather jackets, junkyards, and even the motorcycle fading off into the night on the title track "Monomania". It won't give you much insight as to the rest of the album but, "T.H.M" is a good one.

The Island Come True by L. Pierre

This will probably be the most obscure of all my mid-year suggestions, but I'm sticking to it. Aidan Moffat formerly of Arab Strap has worked for several years under the moniker of Lucky Pierre (L. Pierre) creating sample based, electronic music. This side project apparently got its start because of a challenge that former band mate Malcolm Middleton set out against Aidan to release solo material. Moffat definitely did and ventured far away from Arab Strap's indie, alt-rock sounds which were very respectable and formative for the indie scene in Glasgow after their years. The album (The Island Come True) defines itself within the aesthetic of washing up along the shores of a clandestine locale. At times the album creates a storybook effect with magical textures and an increasingly lo-fi quality as it moves deeper into the tracks. As the album closes with "The Kingdom" all of the lo-fi overlays drop out completely and leave the listener with a jungle-like soundscape, as if to bring us both to reality and fantasy at once.

Pedestrian Verse by Frightened Rabbit

I think Frightened Rabbit has become one of those bands that doesn't let me down. Whether it be because of how purely talented they are, or just an alignment of my own tastes is something that I might not ever know. Lyrically, the album was still written entirely by Scott Hutchinson but the duties of composition were split across all the members of the band. Even with this being the case it never fails to feel like a Frightened Rabbit album, which might be attested once again to the contents of the lyrics covering all manner sorrowful subjects. Probably most easily discerned is the breakup up Hutchinson experienced during the course of this records creation. There's plenty of emotions to be experienced if you give this one a shot.

Lady From Shanghai by Pere Ubu

Okay I know I said I was only going to drop a single obscure one. But Lady From Shanghai is worth putting up on this list. It's probably the biggest stretch that I'll ask anyone to make so far. Despite having labels like ' Experimental Industrial Rock' and even having reported influences from ideas such as 'Musique Concréte' I think they are a tremendously listenable band. And I'm not trying to take the band down a peg, or anyone for that matter, because of their musical tastes. I think like any field of art, members of a particular group can provide various levels of accessibility, and no matter where said acts fall on this spectrum they are all just as important and necessary as the others. I realize I haven't talk about the album yet! It's extremely varied, and from track to track you'll get the industrial, almost Krautrock-esque vibes, and then on the next you'll run into New Wave influences, but while also dropping that Musique Concréte (noise, basically) into the mix to create a blend that is something else altogether.

Trouble Will Find Me by The National

I think I'll stop here with the short reviews. There's just too many and this post is taking me quite a while to put up! The National. What can I can say? They've got great music; the lyrics are both emotional, full of power and occasionally humorous. The instrumentation has never been an issue with these guys, once again being a generally high quality band. There's not much room to go wrong with this one. Give it a shot.

Wow, this post is getting really long. From this point on I'll trim off the writing and just post pictures of stuff that I think you should consider.