Vocals, many times, are like those unsightly blemishes that seem to pop out at the most inopportune moments. Many times, they’re either hidden below the musical equivalent of Revlon concealer, or altered so dramatically said owner of those vocals couldn’t replicate the tracked studio majic (see what I did there) if he/she gave it their all in … Read more
Happy hump-day y’all. This is our first taste of Wondrous Bughouse, Youth Lagoon’s sophomore album, due March 5 worldwide. Enjoy…sounds like great things are coming!
First impressions are both hard to break, and totally inaccurate most of the time. They’re a very human reaction to some sort of stimulation or another, be it visual or something more ethereal. And as presumptuous, and downright narcissistic as they are, they’re these powerful, lingering feelings illustrated by that brain of yours each time … Read more
All Night, the debut record from Houses, has been out for over a year (Lefse Records), but it took an exceptional turn in support of Youth Lagoon last week to make this blogger stand up and notice the indubitable talent of this Chicago duo. Houses (AKA Dexter Tortoriello & Megan Messina) churn out chilled-out, ambient … Read more
Photo by Graham Tolbert “Baby Missiles” perfectly illustrates everything I adore about musical juxtaposition. ’80s synth pop mixed with country-rock? Yes, please. I’ll have that. The War On Drugs frontman, Adam Granduciel, has a purposefully wobbly delivery on “Baby Missiles” that reminds me a little bit of Mark Knopfler on Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life.” … Read more
Goooood Lawd! This little blog cannot BELIEVE it is almost the start of September – that means the 2011 Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly approaching! Two out of the four of us just celebrated the dawning of LouFest II in Saint Louis. Now, it’s time to start doing liver calisthenics, training … Read more
Back in July, Matt introduced us all to Tyler Powers, also known as Youth Lagoon, the 22 year old, solo musical savant out of Boise, Idaho. Back then, Youth Lagoon’s much anticipated debut LP, The Year of Hibernation, was still two months away from release. On the strength of what we heard from Powers this … Read more
As I write this post, I’m sitting on a patio overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Surfers are lined up just on the other side of the breakers, talking about what surfers talk about, and the sun is just starting to make everything in its presence electric pink. I have on headphones, and I have listened to … Read more
Our favorite album of the year: Bon Iver’s Bon Iver 50 Panda Bear – Tomboy (Paw Tracks) [buy the album] 49 Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore (Razor & Tie) [buy the album] 48 GIVERS – In Light (Glassnote) [buy the album] 47 Admiral Fallow – Boots Met My Face (Lo-Five) [buy the album] 46 The Civil Wars – … Read more
Well, friends, the end is no longer near. It’s here. The end of our Best Songs of 2011 countdown, that is. The real end comes next December, as we all know. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Bon Iver landed the number one spot with the track, “Holocene.” But, amazingly, the song and the record itself … Read more