Everything Everything: Arc

    Two weeks ago, Everything Everything dropped their sophomore release on the Sony RCA label, Arc, following up on a three year wait since Man Alive (2010). There are a ton of similarities in style, but a lot of critics are saying that they found more of a groove, in terms of song construction that is not so gimmicky, about half way through the album. I think of Everything Everything as this band with really interesting art rock sensibilities, which then are transformed into a heavier rock kind of feel at the choruses. Check out the song "Torso of the Week" from Arc to hear what I mean. The band itself had this to say about their music (courtesy of Wikipedia): "We think of it as pop primarily but I think it’s a little bit more interesting. We try not to make it sound like a lot of things you’ve heard before, we don’t try but it tends to come out a bit like that. We’re not really interested in copying certain genres or anything, so I guess you’d say it’s unpredictable and sort of surprising." Bassist Jeremy Pritchard has said the band's intention is to "to avoid cliche, or the cliches expected of white men with guitars from Manchester" and sums up their sound as "highly stylised and deracinated – we're influenced by everything except 12-bar blues". Higgs counts Nirvana, Radiohead, the Beatles, Destiny's Child, and R. Kelly as some of their very eclectic influences. That should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. I completely agree with pop being the basis for their genre as well. But, I'd say they reach into Alternative, Power Pop and the New Wave bandwagon on this album, the latter of which is surely disappointing.
    What I like about Everything Everything is they are utterly creative. The high falsetto vocals, not foreign to pop/rock I know (i.e. Passion Pit), but Jonathan Higg's voice is clearly different. Plus, their composition creates layers and unique sounds with synths and guitars.The melodies are a little sing-songy, like a child just making stuff up, sometimes, but that adds their own flair to the music also. I prefer their quick rhythmic songs to their slower more melancholy, I think they fall a little flat in terms of depth of melody and creativitiy.
    If you want to do some listening, check out their SoundCloud page, here. Their two singles, "Cough Cough" and "Kemosabe", as well as some remixes are available there. I've not found a full legal stream yet, though you can find it on Grooveshark if you know how to search for it. When I do I'll post a link. For now, check out the song "Kemosabe" under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Their newly designed website is here. Enjoy!

The Last Bison: Quill

    Sorry I missed a week (or more)! Life has been busy, I just got a new job over Christmas, and started this January and got engaged too, so I have been putting things into perspective and putting the most important stuff first. That is not to say I'm done with this blog. I love doing it and will continue to do so. Just don't be surprised if I miss a week here and there.
    Anyway, I recently downloaded the Band of the Day app for my new iPod Touch (you heard me bragging about last post) and to my surprise a few days later I'm staring at a band press photo of two people I know from summer music camp. They happen to be the cello and violin players for a band called The Last Bison, formerly, simply, Bison. Well, I listened a bit and find their brand of folk to be much more to my liking than say Mumford and Sons, yes I just said that, so for that reason and just because I feel star struck I'm currently writing about them. Formed in 2010, from Chesapeake, Virginia, The Last Bison has two records to boot: Quill, their debut out in 2011, and Inheritance (EP), which arrived in October of 2012. The latter includes some retouched songs, plus some new material, which will come out on their sophomore album still to come in 2013. The Last Bison is seven members strong and has a number of photos that show them dressed up in old fashioned clothes, or antebellum as one critic on another blog put it.
    Looking into Quill more, the obvious comparisons to Mumford and Sons come because of the lead singer's voice, Ben Hardesty. They've also drawn comparisons to Fleet Foxes and The Decemberists. A full bio can be read on their website, here. Their song creation is quite poetic--and I don't just mean lyrically--at times though, which fits the idea of a story unfolding as written with a quill. They include different sections, of chamber or almost baroque folk. Listen to "Tired Hands" to hear what I mean specifically. Other highlights on the album include: "Switzerland", which is a rousing tune that is upbeat and has a really nice verse melody backed by banjo and bells; "Quill" has really nice a acoustic/string arrangement and an interesting waltz section towards the end too; "River Rhine" has a gentle flowing sort of feeling and lots of sustained chords on an old reed organ or accordion (can't quite tell which all the time); "In Your Room" has some nice rhythmic chords that are repeated throughout and the strings and banjo are used quite nicely throughout; "Dark Am I" just has a great ending song kind of feeling, especially when you listen to it drop in after the previous song, "Tired Hands".
    Well, listen for yourself, and see what you think about the other tracks I didn't mention. They've all got their moments to be sure. Check Quill out on their Bandcamp site, here. And Inheritance (EP) on their SoundCloud, here. I've put the opening song "Switzerland" over under the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'. Enjoy!

Top #: Albums/Songs of 2012

    Perhaps my favorite post of the year, my favorite albums/songs released in the past year! 2012 edition of course, which was loaded with so many good albums that I seriously had to leave out some really good stuff that I listen to all the time. What helped me in this process of building my favorites for the year was that I kept good notes. I listed all albums in a text document as they came out, kept up to date on when albums were releasing and I do not think missed anything. I also found more places to listen to music legally than every before! Just recently I received an iPod Touch 5th generation for Christmas, so that made it even easier for me to take music with me where ever I go and where ever I have WiFi, thank you Bandcamper, SoundCloud apps and Grooveshark mobile! As opposed to last year, however, I did only start writing this today, so if you're worried my opinion changes tomorrow: (1) I guess I don't care so much, or (2) I don't think they will because I kept good notes, and (3) I have at least been thinking about top albums for a while at least, even if not so much songs.
    Regardless, my observations on 2012 you would find slightly similar to when I wrote up my 100th post, see here, so I won't go into so much detail, except that I'm afraid for all the hip hop influence I hear on the indie stations these days! I understand fun. and other bands taking a purposefully hip hop direction for one album or so, without necessarily losing their sound. But, pure hip hop rhythm and rap-esque singing is somewhat unacceptable in my book. I'd prefer popular culture and indie culture not blend so much to be honest. Maybe it is that indie bands are no longer indie unless they are hidden completely from the public view, which is nearly impossible in today's digital media age. Rant over.
    A few notable accolades to begin:
-Most disappointing album: Freelance Whales: Diluvia. Where did the wonderfully simple and beautiful style of Weathervanes go? Runner ups: Muse: The 2nd Law and Two Door Cinema Club: Beacon.
-Best new finds: Andy Shauf: The Bearer of Bad News and Team Me: To the Treetops!
-Most anticipated release: The Mars Volta: Noctourniquet
    Ok, time for the best (my favorite) albums/songs of:

Top 10 Albums:
honorable mention in no particular order:
Shields - Grizzly Bear
The Bearer of Bad News - Andy Shauf
The Royal Concept - The Royal Concept
Young Buffalo (EP) - Young Buffalo
Oversaturated (EP) - Rubblebucket

10 Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP) - Daniel Rossen
9 Piramida - Efterklang
8 Ultraísta - Ultraísta
7 151a - Kishi Bashi
6 This Is an Adventure - The Lighthouse and the Whaler
5 Happy to You - Miike Snow
4 Ways to Forget - Clock Opera
3 Some Nights - fun.
2 Noctourniquet - The Mars Volta

and the best of 2012 goes to...
1 Valtari - Sigur Rós

There's nothing quite like this release, which is Sigur Rós's first true ambient album in a long time. Listening to a band find their roots again has never been so enjoyable and beautiful!

Top 20 Songs:
honorable mention in no particular order:

"Ekki Mukk" - Sigur Rós

"Hometown Hero" - Andy Shauf
"Animal Life" - Shearwater
"Breaking the Yearlings" - Shearwater
"Run the Banner Down" - Shearwater
“Christmas Unicorn” - Sufjan Stevens
"Carol of St. Benjamin the Bearded One” - Sufjan Stevens
“Madness” - Muse
“Will I Ever Dance Again” - Stepdad
“We Are 1980” - Said the Whale
“Falling” - Digitalism
“Pain From Love” - Rubblebucket
“Remedy” - The Welcome Wagon
“Orpheo Looks Back” - Andrew Bird
“Static Light” - Ultraísta
“Our Song” - Ultraísta
“Bad Insect” - Ultraísta
“Man in the Moon” - Jukebox the Ghost
“Devil’s On Our Side” - Jukebox the Ghost
“What’s Wrong” - Grizzly Bear
“She Don’t Give it Up” - Bend Sinister
“Got You on My Mind” - Bend Sinister
“I’ll Be Alright” - Passion Pit
“Take a Walk” - Passion Pit
“Pioneers” - The Lighthouse and the Whaler
“Nature Boy” - Young Buffalo
“Hold Me Back” - Young Buffalo
“A Piece of String” - Clock Opera
“Hollow Mountain” - Efterklang
“Apples” - Efterklang
“The Ghost” - Efterklang
“Aegis” - The Mars Volta
“Animals” - Muse
“Octopus” - Bloc Party
“Sleeping Ute” - Grizzly Bear
“We Are Young”- fun.
“It Gets Better” - fun.

I know...list gets longer every year right? So, top 20:

20 "Eq Anda" - Sigur Rós

19 “I Am the Antichrist to You” - Kishi Bashi

18 “Chromatic” - The Lighthouse and the Whaler

17 “(Focus) Oversaturated” - Rubblebucket

16 "I'm Not Falling Asleep" - Andy Shauf
15 “Beyond the Valley of the Three White Horses” - Andrew Bird
14 "Return to Form" - Daniel Rossen
13 "Yet Again" - Grizzly Bear
12 "Once and for All" - Clock Opera
11 “Pretender” - Miike Snow
10 “Alouette” - Clock Opera
9 “Devil’s Work” - Miike Snow
8 “Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound” - The Mars Volta
7 “Carry On” - fun.
6 “Gimme Twice” - The Royal Concept
5 “This is an Adventure” – The Lighthouse and the Whaler
4 “Dauðalogn” - Sigur Rós
3 “Valtari” - Sigur Rós
2 “Varðeldur” - Sigur Rós

top honors goes to...drum roll please...
1 “Dislexicon” - The Mars Volta

Has an amazing drop into the song, and still one of my all time favorite bands, The Mars Volta knows progressive rock like no one else. I hope the rumors of their hiatus are not true, though I'm intrigued of the possibility of Bosnian Rainbows.
   Happy New Year! I raise my glass to the hopes of another great music year to come in 2013. Keep reading and keep binge-ing. Hope you enjoyed my list, please do let me know your thoughts or top 10 lists too!