The Band you have to check out:
Fitz and the Tantrums – Pickin’ Up The Pieces.
Their first single money grabber is a great soul infused throw back, mixed male and female vocals and a hip feel. Lately they’re getting airtime on WPGU (champaign-Urbana) and KHJK 103.7 in Houson. The album packaging, physical cd, and the music video for money grabber all feature blue and red lighting effects on black. Check out the video, one or two listens and you’ll be hooked:
Free Streaming Album
Adele – 21 NPR has a free first listen Here. At 22 the girl has some amazing pipes, and wisdom beyond her years.
Best New Album in 2011
The Decemberists – The King is Dead. I always wondered what a band could do artistically after creating a fully realized concept album/Indie Rock Opera. I figured nothing the decemberist did would ever live up to that. Thankfully instead of an ill advised attempt to top it, they went back down to basics – shorter songs, Americana instrumentation, self contained stories, and Colin Meloy’s voice. I was afraid they’d “gone country” with the first single, Down By the Water, but it was much deeper than the topical addition of twang. They’re now on the front lines of the folk/Americana/indie/rock wave, with bands like Mumford and Sons, Avett Brothers, and the Monsters of Folk. Can’t wait to see them live again!
Cool Music Video of the moment
Minus the Bear – My Time
I came across this on youtube as they’re on the same label as Fitz and Tantrums (dangerbirdrecords.com), I’ve never been a huge fan of minus the bear, but their use of color and super fast flashy cuts was a perfect fit to this song. I love the simulated green-yellow-red of the mixer board on people arranged by height, the shoe passing is pretty sweet too.
The EP to find (if you don’t have it already)
Tokyo Police Club – A Lesson in Crime (2006)
I saw these guys at the warehouse Thursday night (The night of the “icepocalypse” in Houston) I was actually more excited to see their opener Some One Still Loves You Boris Yeltson, who I’d never seen live before. I really only intended to stay for about 30 minutes of TPC, because there was a free, Free Energy show across town at fitzgeralds. I was holding out for anything from Lesson in Crime, because the entire EP is amazing – driving bass, lyrics about post-apocalytal-robot-society, super high energy, I’d argue its still their best work. Second song out of the gate was from the EP and I was like OMG I have to stay in case they play more. Two more came when I was about to leave, and maybe it was just the super excited dudes near me, but I felt like the entire place erupted. My friend Neph interviewed the band for The Houston Free Press, check it out here. I love that these guys aren’t to cool to mix their old stuff with their new album Champ.
Good Time Rock’n’Roll
I did make it to that FREE ENERGY show, and if you follow this blog, you know that I ran into them last summer at cactus records, and they were super chill dudes. I still hadn’t been able to see them live, but I had a pretty clear mental picture of catchy pop hooks, and good time rock’n’roll. Well they came through on that in spades – they all had long hair, half were mustached, everyone was having a great time, and honestly I wasn’t sure what decade we were in. The crowd pretty thin on the well founded fears of a city without salt having freezing rain, but that just meant it was real fans and they were there to dance. It was the most fun I’ve had at a straight ahead rock show in ages. They even did a spot on cover of a tom petty song. Last time I saw them we talked about tornadoes and hurricanes, this time while I was buying a bright yellow tshirt from the drummer, the subject was ice and living in the st.louis, party on dudes. If these guys don’t explode this year, there is something wrong with America. Their Album. The Rocks Off Review.
Late to the Party
I finally listened to Kanye’s new album at SPIN’s Behest, and it is awesome, I apologize for doubting that. Finally while writing this I have been listening to LCD Soundsystem’s This is Happening which is also freaking amazing, so there ya go a couple more to put on the pile from 2010.
