Song of the Day: For the Imperiled - Roy Montgomery

For the Imperiled - Roy Montgomery

It's a full moon out today, just as it was when I first heard this song four years ago this November. I wouldn't have remembered that if I hadn't listened to the whole thing in the middle of a field, half freezing in the middle of the night, watching a bank of clouds run parallel to a moon that had a full halo around it in addition to being full and in the middle of the sky. It's a completely absorbing little offering. There's no lyrics, and I doubt there's anything I can add to it through description. All the same, when we have lot's of songs about things, it's kind of nice to have a song that isn't really about anything, but is just mysterious kind of hypnotizing brick of something somebody made.

Song: Here

Song of the Day - Moonlight in Vermont

I'm not really a jazz guy, but I really like what I hear on this track, and on the record as a whole. Very smooth, well rounded and full notes that absolutely delight. Apparently he plays with a pick and three fingers to produce lush full chords, and harmonic arrangements. Again, without being much of a musician or listening to much jazz, I can't appreciate all that that means, but I do really love the full tone and richness that comes with out in such a soothing way. Enjoy.


Song Here

Digging through my Library - Lowrider

For the first time in maybe a year, which is a long time for me, I thought about my top favorite albums. It made me realize I've become somewhat disconnected from my music library, and that I've really just been relying on finding whole new albums on youtube or other places (physical or on the internet) and just casually milling through those. In an effort to reclaim my library I decided I would randomly pick an artist every now and again and pick one song that stuck out to me from that album. Hopefully this is the first of many.

I found Lowrider when I was in a heavy stoner rock groove. I just wanted more and more of that booming, low, drop octave sound played over and over again with teeth rattling amounts of distortion. Through some digging (mostly through following "Katzenjammer10011" on youtube, who has a pretty great spanning library of the stoner rock genre uploaded) I found Caravan and it was just exactly what I wanted. A very buzzy hook with cymbal slamming pacing and  tones that slid up to neck to get those high notes. I loved it. I had zero care in the world about lyrics, which was definitely helpful in experiencing the song. I got the whole album, and probably gave it a once over, but Caravan was the only one which really stuck out. Hopefully I'll have a chance to listen to the whole thing again and begin reclaiming the library. Anyhow, here's the song.

Enjoy

Song of the Week: Bpos - Dope

Nothing like a little bit of positivity to run the week out. Bpos is a collective from San Francisco that reminds me why I love rap groups. Multi-vocal chorus's, different flows, and great energy. So much fun to listen to. Enjoy!

Song: Here

Song of the Week: MF Doom Sorcerers

Slick track from MF Doom. The main sample of the beat is from a funky 70's jazz band called the Blackbyrds. The verse and song credits technically go to KMD (1991!), which is the trio that DOOM was a part of before he had the moniker MF Doom. They sound great, and I'm sure DOOM fans will love to know that there's even more catalog to dive through. Enjoy.
Song: Here

KMD: Here

Album Review: Post-Nothing

This was an album that I picked up mostly because I had heard of the band without having ever actually heard them. And I thought the album cover looked pretty cool, like all the other black and white pictures on this blog. I really was expecting more of an indie rock subtly-gilding-roses Post-Nothing but was pretty pleased to have that expectation turned right on its head. These guys really wail out their choruses, which I've heard before from bands that sound like what I want to call alt-punk-pop, but these guys nail it for me. Sincerely wailed vocals over severely down picked and amplified chords work to produce something that is familiar but also somewhat endearing. The way they sing about hating girls, young guys leaving town, and rocking out, these are all familiar motifs in rock and roll. I guess if I would have one complaint is that they seem to stay fairly in the box with their sound, structure and lyrics. It's not like they don't do any of it well, but I'm not sure their pushing anything or doing anything provocative. A couple of times I kind of wondered if this was really just a creed side band, which sounds pretty bad on the outside, but a well produced, bread and butter, get your common rock tropes here album is pretty much what creed made, and in some ways what the Japandroids are doing. Now on some tracks they do really dig into grooves and let loose on some stuff that is probably too left of center to really fit the whole creed comparison, and when they do that I them best.  I would recommend checking out the whole album as its pretty short light and fun, but the tracks Young Hearts Spark Fire, Wet Hair, and Heart Sweats really made me feel the most energetic and happy listening to them. In a popular video on the power of music, Oliver Sacks quotes Emmanuel Kant as calling music the "quickening art" and although this music is sometimes slowed by how much it plays into common tropes, it's sincerity and lightness really make it a fun and enlivening listen. Try it!

The Veils - Through the Deep Dark Wood

I think if I had to write a pop/rock song, this would probably be my dream accomplishment. It's feasibly achievable with its simple structure, has some great grit and gain of the lead guitar, and has heavy use of toms and snare roll without sacrificing a catchy and invigorating vibe. I think this is the first song off the album, and to make such a strong bold statement instantly I think is pretty cool.

Enjoy.

Also pretty neat is that they put up the link for free download, and its their official profile.