Bloom

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The album title just gave me an excuse to include a pretty flower.

 Beach House released a new album earlier this month titled Bloom, and that's truly what they do in this album. It's like all Beach House albums before but at the same time it's not. The songs on this album are so much more evocative and even more thought provoking than their previous works. Somehow, they just keep getting better and better.

 It's both dreamy and troubling at the same time - the album as a whole basically takes you to a moment before a storm - before some trials and walks you all the way through until you reach the other side - until you reach the calm. But unlike other artists who just write full out epics, Beach House uses their unique charm to tell this story. All at the same time, I felt like I was progressing into the future, in the present, and immersed in nostalgia. It has that perfect balance that makes you feel sentimental, confused, and yet somehow still hopeful for what is to come. 

This might be my favorite album thus far this year (Franz Ferdinand -you have a lot to live up to.) As usual Victoria Legrand's vocals are the epitome of perfection and Alex Scally's intricate guitar intertwines with the most delicate precision. This album just does so many things right. The album as a whole is stunning and really, there are no dull moments. 

In the opener "Myth"  - the single released earlier this year, Legrand sings "it's never as it seems" and indeed it isn't. Part of the magic of Bloom comes in it's ability to create a world separate from this one. In the songs of Bloom, you are transformed to another place - somewhere the sky is always bright and you are running around in the sunlight in a field, but then still reminds you of the reality. The mix really creates emotional conflict and causes you to feel really connected with the albums. "Lazuli" the synth toys with your head just a little and is completely tranforming - it's a strong followup to "Wild"."New Year" is probably my favorite song on the album and is exquisite - Legrand truly shines. "On the Sea" is the perfect track for just laying down on the middle of the floor in a room and staring at the ceiling thinking.

Beach House has done it again.

The Power Within

Wow, it's been a long time since I've done a post. Anyhow, I was listening to some stuff on Spotify and I came across the new album by DragonForce called The Power Within. I'm relatively impartial with Dragonforce, I don't actively search out their stuff, but I don't have a problem with listening to it. It tends to be extremely repetitive and a bit too happy for my taste, almost, as my friend Maria so eloquently put it, like video game music. So, without further ado, allow me to talk about this new album.

DragonForce recently acquired a new vocalist named Marc Hudson, this album being his debut album with the band. He's actually part of the reason why I even bothered to listen to the entire album. Those soaring beginning notes in the first minute or two of the first track reminded me a lot of Rob Halford from Judas Priest, whose voice I absolutely adore. Sadly, instead of going all Halford-esque for the rest of the tracks, I feel like Hudson is holding back quite a bit making him more of an average vocalist instead of an incredible one for me. Also sadly, I hoped that the new band member would cause them to explore a new musical structure, however, instead of doing so, I find that the same themes are still repeated in their songs. You could call it their "signature thing" but it just doesn't do it for me. Of course, the guitar solos are technically incredible and the shredding passages are mind blowing as always. So, all in all, if you're looking for a typical DragonForce album with a slight change, this is probably a great album for you. If you expected a radical change, I wouldn't recommend it. Oh, I almost forgot, DragonForce sounds incredibly happy. It's probably some of the happiest metal I have ever listened to, and I have listened to a lot of metal. So again, if you're into that sort of thing, definitely check it out.

Oberhofer/Kaiser Chiefs/Cold War Kids

Recently, I've been listening to a hodge podge of things...kind of strange because most of the time I listen to same playlists for a month straight or I listen to 2 or 3 albums for an entire month. Anyways, after Coachella I resolved that I needed to start listening to more diverse material...and this week, it seems it's been a non stop back and forth game with Oberhofer, Kaiser Chiefs, and Cold War Kids. With some occasional Chopin Nocturne thrown in and some Debussy for good measure. Don't ask. My erratic playlist this week:

"Nocturne No.2 in Eb Major Op.9,2" - Chopin (Yes, remember this? It's the random nocturne from the middle of the Muse song "United States of Eurasia")

"Addicted to Drugs" - Kaiser Chiefs (Kind of sums up my relationship with life right now...confusion and denial)

"Haus" - Oberhofer ("I want to build a house with you/ a house with you" - I've been walking around humming this all week...)

"Louder Than Ever" - Cold War Kids ("I can hear you/louder than ever/whisper to me/help me remember")

"Sprawl II" - Arcade Fire (yes - this again. Still can't get over Regine de Chassagne's vocals. Love/hate thing...)

"Deux Arabesque: Arabesque No.1 in E Major" - Debussy (The running melody is arguably one of the most calming things ever...makes me think of water.)

"Boxing Champ" - Kaiser Chiefs (Can't seems to forget this...there's something about it that's just so haunting...I think it just makes me feel...so helpless...but that's not always bad, is it? Some perspective.)

"Landline" - Oberhofer (So twinkly. I just can't get over  it).

"Everlasting Light" - The Black Keys (It makes me feel something...and I don't know why.)

"Hang Me Up To Dry" - Cold War Kids (One of those songs that you just WANT to dance to.)

"Heat Dies Down" - Kaiser Chiefs (Incredibly catchy.)

"Cruising FDR" - Oberhofer ( There's just so much youth and vitality in this song...It's exploding at the seams with bratty attitude.)

"Audience" - Cold War Kids (Makes me feel so alone...but not in a bad way. Poignant in a strange way.)

Pinning for Coachella...

Like the wet noodle that I am, instead of being at Coachella, I spent today streaming it. Lame, I know, but IT WAS FANTASTIC. I managed to stream the Arctic Monkeys and the Black Keys and both were amazing. Tommy also spent the day streaming...(as far as I know). I was a little disappointed that EMA was not available for streaming...

Anyhow, I'm super excited for the Arctic Monkeys encore and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds tomorrow. Also looking forward to Florence + the Machine and Real Estate on Sunday...and of course NEXT WEEKEND - where I get to do this ALL OVER AGAIN.

I love that Coachella is now two consecutive weekends.

mixtape

Organized with 3 songs each by 4 of my favorite British bands. Painstakingly made to flow by our top engineers smoothly adhering to the 22 minute limit of sides of vinyl records, with no more than 2 songs by the same artist on a side. Faster upbeat songs on side 1, slower somewhat more CONTEMPLATIVE songs on side 2.

Side 1

Magical Mystery Tour ROLL UP FOR THE MYSTERY TOUR

Stay Young (Faculty Mix) COME WHAT MAY WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE

The Hardest Thing IT NEVER HAPPENS THAT WAY

2+2=5 ALL HAIL TO THE THIEF

Elephant Stone THERE'S A HOLE IN MY DREAMS

Listen Up SAILING DOWN A RIVER ALONE

Side 2

Penny Lane BENEATH THE BLUE SUBURBAN SKIES

Underneath The Sky IT BELONGS TO A FRIEND OF A FRIEND

Bye Bye Badman GOT NO QUESTION GOT NO LOVE

Prove Yourself I'M BETTER OFF DEAD

When I'm Sixty-Four YOU'LL BE OLDER TOO

Exit Music WE HOPE THAT YOU CHOKE

Drumroll please...

Green Day is releasing a new album!!! To be more specific, THREE ALBUMS!!!

http://www.greenday.com/node/7541

So. Freakishly. Excited.

Of Monsters and Men

You might of heard of this band by now...and I have fallen in love with their album and sound. Although many call them the new Arcade Fire, I would have to disagree. Whereas my feelings for Arcade Fire are at best lukewarm, the music Of Monsters and Men is like a cataclysmic explosion in comparison. If anything, the way that they utilize vocal harmonies is more reminiscent of The xx. Sunny melodies, sweet harmonies, and catchy riffs with plenty of brass to balance, Of Monsters and Men epitomize everything that an orchestral sounding band should be. Intertwined with catch melodies, there are heavy guitar riffs and copious amounts of distortion that create a perfect atmosphere that has clearly has large ambitions but seems far from ambitious. And of course, there is the band name. The literary geek in me can't help but smile at the allusion to Of Mice and Men, and in a way their music makes me feel like the book did - part heartbreak, part mystery and definite startling beauty.

Some of my favorite tracks from their newest album - My Head Is An Animal.

"Mountain Sound" - Some what reminds me of The Cults - in the best way possible. Bouncy and pop influenced with just the right touch of auxiliary.

"Little Talks" - The cinematic masterpiece of the album that has probably received the most attention, that is more than deserved.

"Six Weeks" - The riff on this song is fantastic and the great vocal harmony doesn't hurt either.

"Love Love Love" - I love love love how Nanna sounds both desolate but hopeful in this song that effortlessly blends heartbreak with moving on. Her voice is exquisite and the roughness and vulnerability is beyond perfect. The soft acoustic guitar with the twinkling of bells is absolutely adorable.

"Your Bones" - Has a sort of Beatles throwback vibe to it and is glowing reminder of years past.

"Yellow Light" - A delicate and beautiful end to an amazing album. It makes me think of walking through a serene forest and just stopping to peer at the cracks of light that filter through the branches.