new favorite album + new favorite song // Small Black : “New Chain” + Photojournalist
Small Black // “New Chain” : 2010.10.25
genre noise bliss pop punk
sounds like glass helicopter rides through sun rays. the punks are taking ecstasy. broken glass being vacuumed in slow motion. mixed media gallery show opening party. beach pop delayed through thick atmosphere. new year’s eve 2025.
notes music as art as music.
verdict squaring off nose-to-nose with Tame Impala for album of the year.
Photojournalist :
new favorite album // Wild Nothing : “Gemini”
Wild Nothing // “Gemini” : 2010.05.25
genre jangle brit pop
sounds like bike rides through fern forests. John Hughes proms. casettes from ’86. stargazing and sprinklers. Manchester alleys. May Day heat lightning.
notes proving once again that derivative is not a bad thing.
verdict blissfully in love.
see also this superb Kate Bush cover
new favorite album // Wavves : “King of the Beach”
Wavves // “King of the Beach” : 2010.06.13 : Fat Possum
genre psych pop power punk
sounds like resting your head on the sea bed of nails. flight of the navigator space wars. bmx spraypaint. white album noise pop. supersonic sleighbells. helium high fives.
notes if it takes a nervous breakdown to make an album this incredible, I hope he has a few more.
verdict the opposite of a sophomore slump—a triumph of noise an pop.
from the headphones // Race Horses
For those who love Supergrass but wish it had more Beatles more Jarvis and more Welsh.
new favorite album // Twin Sister : “Color Your Life” / “Alternates”
Twin Sister // “Color Your Life” / “Alternates” : 2010.03.30
genre avant folk pop
sounds like philosophy on a cereal box and a walk on slippery rocks. ice cream on the sleeping porch. ghosts in the graveyard. fireflies at dusk. miniature light shows.
notes these guys and gals are not only sharing their music, they’re giving it away along with stems and alternates and open access to their process.
verdict favorite new band of 2010.
new favorite album // Morning Benders : “Big Echo”
The Morning Benders // “Big Echo” : 2010.03.09 : Rough Trade
genre power baroque
sounds like wall of Roccoco. air conditioning and soft carpet. calling for the captain ashore. tea kettle whistles, water glass percussion and kitchen sink acoustics. a platter of ripe fruit.
notes I don’t feel I’m being over the top when I say it reminds me of a good Beatles album. it’s quite obvious this was produced by Chris Taylor.
verdict best album of the year?
“Cold War” :
see also : this incredible video
from the headphones: cymbals eat guitars “why there are mountains”
cymbals eat guitars why there are mountains
genre noisegaze pop punk
sounds like (forgive me) pavement covering modest mouse, built to spill and deerhunter at the same time. rainbow bunnies hopping through overgrown weeds. white noise surfing. flying in and out of thunderstorms in an atmospheric airport lounge. glittery topographical scrapbook maps. the moments halfway between wakefulness and violent dreams.
notes one of the most impressive self-released debuts I’ve heard—the lead guitarist/singer blows me away.
verdict invigorating, passionate, artistic reboot of tried and true indie rock tropes—excellent from beginning to end.
from the headphones: grizzly bear “veckatimest”
grizzly bear veckatimest
genre folk space pop
sounds like gossamar architecture. prog rock angels. a massive mountain at sunset. playing in the church lawn.
notes best album cover I’ve seen in a long time.
verdict absolutely stunning masterpiece.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
from the headphones: swan lake “enemy mine”
swan lake enemy mine
genre death folk glam metal
sounds like angels riding a thunderstorm. peaceful venom. splatter painting the cosmos. seasick wormholes. wounded soldiers in an alternate history montmartre. a drunken barn-raising. birds of paradise fluttering within a rambling glass conservatory.
notes song title warlock psychiatrist most aptly describes the album.
verdict just short of blown away again.
from the headphones: wavves “wavves”
wavves wavves
genre surf punk noise pop
sounds like poppin’ bmx wheelies through smoke machined memories. sunwashed asphalt. wearing all black on hot suburban days. cotton candy right before it gets sticky.
notes song summer goth aptly describes the album.
verdict really, really into it.
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