Posts Tagged ‘new music’
New Track: Little Hurricane
I was recently introduced to Little Hurricane, a perfectly awesome “dirty blues” band that actually released their first and only album last May.
While I’m a huge fan of their entire album, “Homewrecker,” the first song I heard and one of my favorites by the San Diego duo is “Haunted Heart.”
They have a simple rock ‘n’ roll meets the blues sound. The bluesey rock ‘n’ roll guitar is a simplistic kind of heavy which meets some raw, impressive vocals singing mysterious lyrics.
My initial thought was that they’d be from down South somewhere like New Orleans. I was surprised to learn they were from southern CA. However, while their lyrics and blues sound give off a southern vibe, the guitar and the way the entire album sounds gives off a very California-indie style.
I’ve been jamming on this band for the past week now and am not sick of the album yet. Two of my other favorites are “Crocodile Tears” and “Tear Bucket.”
New Track: Big Tree
I first heard of this awesome little group years ago. My sister went to school with one of the incredibly talented members of the band. I liked them back then, but that was when I was more in a heavier rock stage of my life, not that I don’t still love heavy rock.
Anyway, last time I was home my best friend and I somehow ended up in my sister’s car having a serious dance party to this jam…
I don’t know if it’s the timing of where I’m at with my life, the memory from having so much fun with my sister and co. that night, the fact that Big Tree now resides in SF or the humble happiness the music creates, but I absolutely adore this song.
In this song you can individually hear how each musician contributes his/her talents to the song and yet when you listen to them all together it makes for an even more powerful tune.
In so many ways this song reminds me of moving to California. Yet, it doesn’t make me long for the way my life was when I first put my foot on the gas to leave the East coast. Instead this song acts as a reminder to me that this is the journey. Through the ups and downs life remains so beautiful.
As I’m about to turn 26 I try not to look back. It was a rough year to say the least. I finally feel like I’m at the end of such a dark chapter of my life.
When I came back to San Francisco from Portland last weekend I felt like I was coming home. This is where I’m supposed to be. I have no idea where I’ll be a year from now, nor do a dare venture a guess. To quote the writing on the inside of my Grandma’s memorial service program, “you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.”
Moving to California didn’t turn out how I ever imagined it would, yet I know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. This song has a fabulous way of reminding me of that.
New Track: Phosphorescent
I’ve been listening to Songza’s “Coachella” and “Blogged 50″ playlists pretty much non stop all week. Naturally, my iPhone is now chuck-full of new music again. (FUN FACT: The phrase “chuck-full” comes from ”a person or thing stuffed to the point of choking was ‘choke-full.’ In modern speech this expression has become ‘chock-full,’ or in less formal American English, ‘chuck-full.’”)
A couple of songs by Phosphorescent kept coming up on the “Blogged 50″ and I especially enjoyed them and I really liked the album cover. So, I bought the whole album, “Muchacho.”
“Ride On/Right On” has been one of my favorites thus far:
Whilst working away in my Virgin America headphones at work I can thankfully hear no one else in the office. Every time this track comes on I get that much more lost in the music and instantly start tapping my feet along. I love the beat.
I also really like the 60′s-ish, electric guitar in the background. It makes for a totally…groovy…sound. 
This song is one of the coolest and most unique I’ve heard in awhile. It makes me want to walk right out of my office and throw down at the nearest outdoor party.
Maybe tomorrow.
New Track: Jim James
One of my long-time favorite bands is My Morning Jacket. I frequently come back to their old albums and fall in love with their unique sound all over again. I learned of My Morning Jacket in one of those phases where my sister and I weren’t getting along all that well. She introduced me to them and it totally changed my perspective of her musical tastes.
They are one of those bands that sounds incredible recorded and puts on an equally amazing show usually with lead singer Jim James running around stage. In a cape. He’s awesome.
I was super excited when I learned he was putting out some solo work.
This song really emphasizes Jim James’s voice, which I adore. It’s also got this Paul Simon beat going on in the middle. All in all it’s just a really simple, sweet, upbeat song that displays Jim James’s incredible talents as a musician.
It’s another beautiful day in California and this song only makes my morning that much better. Big smiles.
New Track: Allah-Las
Over the weekend some friends and I celebrated the holiday together, not that any of are particular serious about celebrating Easter. It was more just a time to get together, eat some good food and laugh. It was an amazing time. We have all known each other for a while and it’s kind of like family now. As I get older I’ve realized the importance in having a few good friends vs. a lot of okay ones. I’m truly blessed to have such amazing friends here in SF.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, they’d all be rolling their eyes at this point. 
The point of this post is that one of my dear friends turned me on to some great new music this weekend. Namely, the Allah-Las.
This California band has a sound that is so incredibly unique and unlike anything I’ve heard a modern band produce before.
Right?! Listen to it again. Right now. Just listen.
They’ve got a total California vibe with that classic old school, 60′s, rock ‘n’ roll sound. Reminds me of one of my all time favorites; yes, The Doors.
The whole album is pretty incredible so it was hard to pick just one song. I chose “Catamaran” because it represents some of the classically cool lyrics the Allah-Las have produced.
They’ve apparently been around for a while but haven’t gained much in popularity. I see that changing. Soon.
I can seriously put on this album and it brings me a new perspective to life. I know that’s dramatic, but it’s true. For some reason the whole album just makes me relax and think about the bigger picture. The music relaxes me and the lyrics speak to me.
Music is different for all of us, but even if the Allah-Las self titled album doesn’t change your perspective on life, I highly recommend you download it.
New Track: Lord Huron
My sister recently shared this new artist with me, Lord Huron. (Told you I’ve been listening to LOADS of new music lately.)
His entire album, “Lonesome Dreams,” is phenomenal, but the song “Time to Run” is especially great. Lord Huron’s sound is very unique and unlike a lot of music I’ve heard recently. Very instrumental.
Awesome right?
It’s a truly beautiful and hopeful song that doesn’t allow me to sit still. You can find me managing Palmer Facebook ads and grooving to this song for the better part of the week. Fact.
Check these lyrics:
“I’ve no regrets, I will not ask for your forgiveness
Lower your defense, run away with me and it’ll all make sense
I did it all for you, don’t spurn me after all I’ve gone through
No time to rest, I’m gonna find me a life”
How lovely and romantic?! This song is fabulous.
New music track: Franky Perez & The Forest Rangers
One of the shows I follow is Sons of Anarchy. I fell in love with this motorcycle gang, namely the character Jax Teller, years back when my brother and I caught up on season one over Christmas break.
While the acting isn’t above par per se, the action and the story line keep you on the edge of the seat. Plus it calls to that rebellious side in me. That outlaw, live above the law that we all admire.
The soundtrack is always rocking with an equal amount of rough and tough as well. Including this remake of “Higher Ground:”
I love the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s version of the song as well, but this one really strikes my fancy. I love that the guitar has been turned up and the beat slowed down. It’s the perfect background song for the bad boy motorcycle cast.
For more rockin’ biker tracks, check out the new “Sons of Anarchy: Vol. 2″ soundtrack due out later this month and featured today on Rolling Stone.
New Music Monday: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
This past week was my last one at the Bistro. It certainly was a good and memorable one with lots of pleasant and familiar customers saying goodbye and some good laughs with near and dear coworkers.
One of the unexpected highlights was a surprise appearance at the bar from Grace Potter and her boyfriend/band member! The two were in town for the Grace Potter & The Nocturnals performances at the State Theatre.
I saw Grace Potter at Bonaroo last summer and was totally taken away by how hard she rocks on stage. Not only can she belt out tracks, she does so while running around on stage in 3-inch heels. It’s insanely impressive.
This is the title track off her latest album, The Lion The Beast and The Beat:
It’s kind of a new sound for the band, but that only adds to my interest in them. On each new album, they seem to constantly be evolving and reinventing their sound while keeping rock at their core.
Grace Potter rocks a unique bohemian look, can kill it on the piano while belting out lyrics or rock ‘n’ roll around stage and keep up with the rocking drive from the band. She’s multi-talented and her, not surprising, enthusiastic, fun-loving personality only adds to her charm. She’s a total rock star in my book!
New Music Monday: Dawes
Dawes was one of the very talented bands that opened for Mumford and Sons on the prom the other weekend.
This song, though off their 2009 album, really stood out to me during their performance:
I’m a big fan of the catchy tunes, but the lyrics are really what grabbed me. They are very comparable to Mumford & Sons in that way, though their sound is different- a little more percussion-based.
“So I took what I wanted and put it out of my reach
I wanted to pay for my successes with all my defeats,
And if heaven was all that was promised to me
Why don’t I pray for death?
And now it seems like the unraveling has started too soon,
Now I’m sleeping in hallways and I’m drinking perfume
And I’m speaking to mirrors and I’m howling at moons
While the worst and the worst that it gets.Oh you can judge all the world on the sparkle that you think it lacks.
Yes you can stare into the abyss, but it’s staring right back.”
Definitely a little dark but I’m a sucker for creative writing, what can I say? I love this line: “I wanted to pay for my successes with all my defeats.”
New Music Monday: The XX
I’ve been hearing the new XX single, “Angels,” coming up on various new music playlists and thought it was well worthy of a New Music Monday post.
I first heard of the indie British group about a year ago on iTunes. I liked the description of the band and their sound so I figured I’d give them ago. Their first album quickly was put on repeat on my iPod and totally blew me away. It’s the perfect background music, whether I’m writing, running or just doing some deep thinking. The track Angels stays true to that relaxing and calming vibe.
What I love the most about The XX is that they have a totally unique sound. I feel like there are hardly any other bands like them out there. It’s sexy and seductive and yet can be either calming or thought provoking in an anti-anxiety sense. It’s actually some of my all time favorite music to write to.
I am eagerly awaiting the release of their album, “Coexist,” due out next month. I’m curious as to whether or not any of the songs will top my all time favorites like “Heart Skipped a Beat” and “VCR.”
