You might not consider this to be new music but Merge Records released Mount Moriah’s, self titled, debut album from 2011 on vinyl this week. They also released a new video for Plane, one of the songs from that album.
I love this band and I am really looking forward to their really new album that is planned for release next year. In the meantime, enjoy Plane.
As always, let me know what you think.
Green Day’s new album, Uno, was released this Tuesday. I picked up the MP3 album as soon as it was released and have been listening to it ever since. Oh Love is my favorite song at this point. Let’s listen….
If you like the song you might want to check out the album on Amazon. For this week it is available for download at $5.00 US. Uno is the first of three Green Day albums to be released over the next next few months. I am already looking forward to the other two. Here was Green Day’s announcement of the trilogy.
Let’s listen to one more from Uno….here is my second favorite song so far, Kill The DJ.
As always, let me know what you think.
Good Time, a new song by Owl City (an American synth pop artist), which features Carly Rae Jepsen (a Canadian singer), just screams “Summer is here!” to me. No matter how tired or stressed I am this song makes me smile and want to get up and move.
The Beach Boys have always meant summer and this summer, the surviving original members of the group have patched up their differences and are making one last tour this summer to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Yes….these guys are in their late sixties but they still have the most amazing vocals ever and Brian Wilson at 70 still has more musical genius in his little finger than most of today’s musicians.
This first clip was put together by 46807nipster on YouTube and features We’re Together Again (a 1968 Beach Boys song) paired with the lead off song on their new album Think About The Days.
There was a great story about Think About The Days in the June 21, 2012 Rolling Stone.
“Last May, the Beach Boys got to together at Capitol Studios to test the waters for a 50th-anniversary reunion. The objective that day was to remake “Do It Again” a 1968 single that itself was a throwback to the group’s early sound. But Wilson had something else in mind, too – so he asked the Beach Boys to gather around the piano to sing some new music he had been working on. “None of them knew what he was doing,” says Joe Thomas, a longtime Wilson collaborator who was enlisted to help bring the reunion together. But Wilson kept on – “C’mon guys, let’s go.”
“When he first started playing the chord progressions,” Love remembers, “I was standing there , thinking ‘Wow, that’s cool, that’s a certain type of Brian Wilson chord change.’ I thought, ‘Shit – he’s still got all of his talents intact.'”
Then Wilson began to call out instructions for the vocals – “layering in our voices,” says Jardine. “Somehow he had worked out the entire arrangement in his head. He knew each person’s range, and just stacked one voice on top of the other.”
As great as Think About The Days is, it is the last song on the album, Summers Gone, that is the real masterpiece. I guarantee that Summers Gone is a song that will makes us all cry the first time we listen to it in the future after Brian has left this world. See what you think….
No….I haven’t forgotten that we need to finish up the Southern California Sound Series of posts! I have just gotten diverted by other music over the past couple of weeks. That happens a lot with me so you might as well get used to it 🙂
To get us moving back in the right direction, today I am introducing you to Dawes….some more new music that doesn’t suck. Dawes is a modern day embodiment of the Souther California Sound and I really like their music. They released their second album, Nothing is Wrong, about this time last year and I have listened to it frequently since then. Take a listen to my favorite song from the album, If I Wanted Someone, and see what you think…..
Sometimes groups can sound great in a studio but just don’t have the raw talent to pull off their sound in a live setting. To prove that this is not the case with Dawes, I offer you this live acoustic version of If I Wanted Someone that was recorded in a Chicago alley.
Awesome performance, especially the harmonies!
Over the last couple of years Dawes has spent time backing up Robbie Robertson and Jackson Browne. Jackson in particular has had some pretty high praise for the group stating: “It’s a pleasure to play with these guys, who are themselves some of my favorite songwriters.” As a bonus, here is a clip of Jackson and Dawes playing a new Jackson song called Whose Side Are You On at Occupy Wall Street late last year.
So, while we are on the topic,……whose side are you on????
Check out the new song from Linkin Park’s new album Living Things that is scheduled to be released on 26 June 2012.
I like what they have done with their sound. How about you?
If you are interested in more, here are a couple of live performances of my favorite Linkin Park songs. I particularly liked the acoustic performance of Breaking the Habit!
I discovered School of Seven Bells with their second album, Disconnect From Desire, and that is where I would suggest new listener’s start. I can put that album on shuffle and listen to it for hours.
To introduce you to the group, I have a song from their new album Ghostory. Let me know what you think.
Coming Attractions: Look for the new post in The California Sound series this weekend.
In honor of our lucky #13 post in our Long Song Tuesday series, we are posting some more new music that doesn’t suck.
An amazing 2008 performance of Sun Giant and Blue Ridge Mountains in an awesome location in Paris. I need to thank my son for introducing me to Fleet Foxes. Watch, Listen, Enjoy!
Fleet Foxes are kind of like potato chips in that you can’t just eat one so here is a bonus second song.
So….today I was thinking that most of you that have been reading this blog have probably formulated an opinion about me. These opinions might be along the lines of: “Old fart that is obsessed with old music.”
If you have that opinion, I can tell you that you are half right. I am old but I am obsessed with great music not old music. I post a lot about old music because there is not a lot of new music that is great!
I say all of this to introduce you to some new music that is Great.
Ben Howard, in my humble opinion, is a major new talent. I highly encourage you to buy his new album, Every Kingdom, that was released last year on Island records. It has had a place of honor on my Ipod since I bought it. Let me know what you think of Ben. Also, let me know if you have other new music that you think is great. I will discuss any inputs that I get in a future New Music That Doesn’t Suck post.
Here are a few things that you might have missed so far this year. If you give them a chance, I think you will find some new music that you like. My favorites are Kathleen Edwards, Snow Patrol, and Bruce Springsteen.
I have also include a couple of coming attractions for upcoming releases scheduled for the next couple of months.
1. Todd Snider, In Between Jobs (Album: Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables)
A hard, unblinking look at our country, as it exists today.
Bonus Todd Snider: Conservative Christian……
2. Alex Chilton, EMI Song (Album: The “1970” Session)
Alex between the Box Tops and Big Star. Enjoy!
3. The Cranberries, Tomorrow (Album: Roses)
The Cranberries are back….in a big way.
4. Kathleen Edwards, Change The Sheets (Album: Voyageur)
I have been a fan for years. With Justin Vernon of Bon Iver on board as producer, she has exceeded my expectations.
5. Jackson Browne, Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Album: Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan)
Jackson and Dylan….need I say more?
6. Snow Patrol, The Garden Rules (Album: Fallen Empires)
I love Snow Patrol. This album continues to grow on me.
7. Not An Airplane, Speak In (Album: It Could Just Be This Place)
Alt Country’s version of mini rock operas.
8. Bruce Springsteen, Shackled and Drawn (Album: Wrecking Ball)
Bruce holds up a mirror to the US in 2012. Why has this man not been appointed Poet Laureate?
9. The Jezabels, Endless Summer (Album: Prisoner)
An amazing US debut for The Jezabels!
10. Kevin Gordon, Colfax/Step In Time (Album: Gloryland)
I have been saving this one for a Long Song Tuesday post but Kevin deserves a shout out as one of the best so far in 2012.
Looking Forward To These In The Next Few Months
1. Alabama Shakes, How Many More Times (Album: Boys and Girls – April 10, 2012)
This group hits close to home…literally. This Led Zeppelin cover is not on their upcoming album but it provides an excellent introduction to the group.
2. Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Horse Back (Album: ???)
Do you sit around and worry that no one remembers the art of the jam? Rest easy…the Horse is back. I can’t wait for the new album.
http://www.neilyoung.com/crazyhorsevideo.html
3. The Temper Trap, Rabbit Hole (Album: The Temper Trap – June 5, 2012)
I have to be honest, this first track from the upcoming album by The Temper Trap was a disappointment to me. Still hoping the remaining songs on the new album will be as good as those on Conditions.
thebestmusicyouhaveneverheard 