Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
CATEGORY: MP3 - Music Reviews
Beside the epic first track (Is There a Ghost), the latest Band of Horses release proves to be a bumpy second album. Fans of Everything All the Time will notice a much more subtler and reserved tone on Cease to Begin, as none of the songs travel into that stratospheric, echoed territory that touched most of their previous album. What is most disappointing about this is that, despite the shift in tone, the new songs still follow the band’s old formula, essentially making them less interesting versions of what you’ve already heard. There are even some downright misses in this bunch (Marry Song, Window Blues).
A snooty blogger might suggest they have titled the record Everything All the Time B-Sides, whereas a nicer, more compassionate one would simply consider this a mistep in what is hopefully a great musical career. Plus, that first song is just so epic!
[mp3] Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
Update from Freedom Town
CATEGORY: MP3
Hey, how have you been? Long time no talk. I’ve so been enjoying my freedom from my mp3 posting duties!
I’ve spent my time listening to a handful of records, all of which I’ve purchased with my own money strange enough. Unfortunately, the bulk of what I receive to review is pretty uninspiring. Most of it comes from upstart labels whose artists are still trying to figure out what they want to do. Some records have been pretty interesting (check out Patience Please, they’re fun!) but none of it comes close to capturing my attention the way new records from the National, John Vanderslice, and M.I.A. have. I’ve even found myself addicted to Tegan and Sara’s latest guilty pleasure of a record The Con. Back in Your Head is sooo catchy!
Hands down the sweetest thing I’ve heard recently is the Bat for Lashes record, Fur and Gold. The thing is so haunting and eery. Even the slow piano ballads, which normally are the downfall of female piano pop acts, are great here. Check out the creepy fun video for the single What’s a Girl To Do?.
I recently heard the new Band of Horses mp3 on their Myspace page. I know a ton of band members have left but I really hope the rest of the cd is better than this.
The real reason I decided to pop my head in and post is because I’ve just heard the most hilarious intro to a song EVER. Seriously. Download this new leaked Britney Spears mp3 and laugh your bottom off.
[mp3] Britney Spears - Gimme More
The Handsome Furs - What We Had
CATEGORY: MP3
Truthfully, the thing I enjoyed most about Wolf Parade’s critically acclaimed Apologies to the Queen Mary was Dan Boeckner and his unique singing voice. Perhaps that is why I consider myself a fan of Boeckner’s other band the Handsome Furs. The voice is there in all its glory, hovering above a desert of drum beats and accoustic guitar (which are provided by Boeckner’s real life spouse Alexei Perry). Unlike some of SubPop’s other recent releases (*cough* Jenifer Gentle *cough*), this is some good old fashioned indie rock I can get behind.
[mp3] The Handsome Furs - What We Had
And just because:
[mp3] Jenifer Gentle - Electric Princes
Dntel - Dumb Luck
CATEGORY: Editor's Pick - Music Reviews
Before he became known as the less familiar half of the Postal Service, electronic songwriter Jimmy Tamborello was arranging his bleeps and clicks under the name Dntel.
His first album, 2001’s Life is Full of Possibilities, featured Tamborello’s electronic glitch-pop layered underneath several guest vocals from artists such as Mia Doi Todd, Strictly Ballroom guitarist Chris Gunst, and the more familiar half of the Postal Service, Ben Gibbard. This collaborative element added an interesting variety to his textured landscapes and is featured once again on his latest album, Dumb Luck.
Almost six years in the making, Dumb Luck is filled to the top with indie rock’s brightest young stars: Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, Grizzly Bear’s Edward Drost. Even Mia Doi Todd returns for another go round. Add to that appearances from Fog’s Andrew Broder, Lali Puna’s Valerie Trebeljahr and Markus Acher, Arthur & You’s Grant Olsen and Sonya Westcott, and Mystic Chords of Memory’s Christopher and Jennifer Gunst, and you have a record that works simultaneously as an electronic pop album, a killer who’s who compilation, and a reminder that before ‘Such Great Heights’ Jimmy Tamborello was very much alive and making some great music.
The immediate stand out tracks are Jenny Lewis’ ‘Roll On’ and Conor Oberst’s ‘Breakfast in Bed’, however this may vary according to the listener’s familiarity with each vocalist. In the end Dumb Luck’s strong suit lies in its ability to draw all the different vocals into one cohesive whole. The bleeps and glitches float beautifully behind Jenny Lewis’ country drawl, Conor Oberst’s wavering and fragile storytelling, and Edward Drost’s airy voice.
The marraige between Tamborello and his friends works so well you may start confusing your favorite vocalist as ‘the singer for Dntel’.
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