Body Language: “Well Absolutely”

You’d think a mad scientist — some moonlighting hacker who mastered the codes to a complex DJ software — would be responsible for the laser-beam funk that resonates out of every Body Language track. Wrong, it’s just four kids from Brooklyn influenced by Brian Wilson and from the sounds of it; Studio 54 fantasies filled… Continue reading Body Language: “Well Absolutely”

Luray

Considering my affinity for Sean Carey (S. Carey, of Bon Iver fame), I’m disappointed I hadn’t come across his sister, Shannon Carey, aka DC’s Luray, sooner. Sean Carey produced Luray’s new album, The Wilder, out August 27, and you can hear his nuanced touch in the three preview songs below. Not to take anything away from… Continue reading Luray

[Abby’s Road] Strange and familiar fruit

I am a sucker when it comes to nostalgia. For the 4 regular readers I (might) have, you already know this. Just want to put it out there before I start my ramble. Right. Firstly, holiday. We took off a few weeks ago, destination Poland, where my better half once studied and learned the language… Continue reading [Abby’s Road] Strange and familiar fruit

The Day The Music Died: Joe Cocker and ‘The Wonder Years’

“What would you do, if I sang out of tune,” echoes in the hearts of millions as the famous lyrics first penned by Lennon and McCartney (more of a ‘Paul song,’ no question), and later endured by Joe Cocker’s 1969 cover and subsequent opening theme for the classic TV show, The Wonder Years. Clearly, the… Continue reading The Day The Music Died: Joe Cocker and ‘The Wonder Years’

[Hype Hype Hooray] When I Finally Sat Down and Listened to American Idiot

Hype Hype Hooray is a biweekly “critique” of the music scene and the blogosphere that feeds it, told through the lens of Jamie Hale, a journalist who likes music about as much as he likes scotch and a firm leather chair. Please enjoy with a grain of salt. Last May I finally sat down and… Continue reading [Hype Hype Hooray] When I Finally Sat Down and Listened to American Idiot

Novelty Daughter

Novelty Daughter = Faith Harding = Wow. The twists and turns of the experimental production on Novelty Daughter’s debut album are a refreshing and welcome addition to a soulful voice. I am clueless as to what will happen from one second to the next, and that, my friends, is thrilling. Some real fun for a… Continue reading Novelty Daughter

Mellen

Mellen is Mary Ellen Funke (perhaps an all grown up Maeby?!) out of DC. She just released her debut EP, Last The Year, for free on Bandcamp. It sticks with this week’s downtempo, let-it-all-unwind theme. We need some of these weeks when life picks up and we try to steady our feet. Mellen on Bandcamp… Continue reading Mellen

The Falls

An Australian band starting to make noise in the US. A relationship filled with heartbreak. Yet the guy-girl duo stuck together to make music. Foreigny folksy love-talesy guy-girl teams making inroads in the US? They’ll be swimming in American fame by tomorrow. Ok, I may be slighting their music a bit by saying all that,… Continue reading The Falls

Shadow Shadow: “1000001”

Last time I posted about Shadow Shadow (over a year ago!), calling “Riviera” “a stunning new song”, I was entirely unaware of who and what Shadow Shadow was. Now I know it’s Mattias Friberg of Logh fame, and with that knowledge comes “100001” to supplant “Riviera” as the next great Shadow Shadow track. It is… Continue reading Shadow Shadow: “1000001”