Listening To
Listening To >> Francis and the Lights
And the video, which was directed by the keyboardist, is a great example of what you can do with basically no budget if you get creative– the whole thing is a single-take live performance, and the use of light is killer (looks way better in full-screen).
Listening To
Still Loving >> A Fine Frenzy
Listening To
(Still) Listening To >> The Morning Benders
Listening To
Listening To >> Local Natives
until I came across this LA-based band, the Local Natives.
With a sound that hovers between Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, and Grizzly Bear, it’s hard not to like them. But that isn’t to say they’re just they another band jumping on the bandwagon of chorus vocals, Afropop beats, harmonies, etc. Although they do incorporate those elements, their sound still manages to bring something new and intriguing, and I can’t get enough of them.
Listening To
Dolly Parton
I know I’ve already posted this song once, but this is a different video of it, and well, I find myself weirdly fascinated by her.. The song itself is awesome, but Dolly Parton is just unbelievable.
LOOK at what she is wearing!! And her wig! She is like a drag queen but actually a woman!
Listening To
Listening To: Fats
Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame”
I love how he plays piano.
Listening To
Listening To: A Fine Frenzy
Gorgeous song and video!! Love the stop motion.
The song is “Lost Things,” by A Fine Frenzy, the girl is Alison Sudo (who basically is A Fine Frenzy), and it was directed by Angela Kohler and her boyfriend Ithyle Griffiths, who also directed this cute stop motion Kindle ad.
You can listen to the whole album on her website, and it is becoming a fast favorite for me… Feist-ish, but more up-tempo and with more nostalgia.
via Pixels & Arrows, whose picks I always like.
Listening To
Listening To: The Morning Benders
Catchy enough to catch you without a good description from me, there’s really nothing to dislike about their Strokes-meets-60s pop/rock.
But, it is interesting to know that they’ve been touring with Grizzly Bear, and their new album coming out March 9 was co-produced by producer and bassist of Grizzly Bear, Chris Taylor, who has also co-produced for TV on the Radio and Dirty Projectors. And I do love a good collaboration project!
Listening To
Listening To: "Jolene"
“Jolene” – Originally by Dolly Parton, above, the song has been covered by over thirty singers since she wrote it. According to an interview with Parton, the song was written about a tall red-headed bank teller that flirted with her husband too much, and who “must’ve been six feet tall” and had everything that “some short sawed-off little honky like [her]” didn’t. The name, however, came from a little girl she met after a show, and she just liked her name.
Apparently, Jack White did too. He said he was drawn to the “J” sound and it’s slightly accusatory sound due to the associations with the name “Jezebel,” as well as the haunting melody of the song. The White Stripes version, which takes the haunting aspect to a new level, below. The first time I heard the White Stripes version, I thought it was creepy, but I warn you, it will get stuck in your head and come to mind at random times for years to come.
Listening To
Listening To: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
“40 Day Dream”
Reminds me in a major way of Arcade Fire, with the violin and piano leading the way for the guitar and drum, clapping punctuating the song, and choir vocals occasionally elevating the drama. Also, am I crazy, or does his voice sometimes kind of sound like Joe Strummer from the Clash? And for another random reference, I swear there’s something about them reminiscent of David Bowie… is it just the reverb?
Again, the whole album is really good– also check out “Up From Below” and “Janglin” for sure.
“Home”
