Monday 27 February 2012

Five Songs By The National

The National Think You Can Wait

Good Evening

I must admit that I like The National. I think they're one of the most talented Indie bands in the world nowdays, so I can't understand why it took me too long to pick 5 songs by them. Formed in Cincinnati, Ohio on 1999, The National consists two pairs of brothers: Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Scott and Bryan Devendorf, led by the great Baritone voice of Matt Berninger. They released five albums so far, the latest called High Violet (2010). So without any further writing, here're five songs by The National

1) So Far Around The Bend Taken From Dark Was The Night (2009)

2) Brainy Taken From Boxer (2007)

3) Available Taken From Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers (2003)

4) Runaway Taken From High Violet (2010)

5) I Need My Girl Not Released On A Record Yet (2011)

Enjoy

Sunday 26 February 2012

Song Of The Day (26/2/2012): Johnny Cash And U2 - The Wanderer

Good Evening

Today Johnny Cash should have celebrated 80 years. Cash, one of the greatest country singers of the perior century died on 2003, the same year he lost his life long lover, June Carter. I supose that he had a lot of greater songs than this one, but The Wanderer always sounds to me like a song he sang for June. I first heard it when I bough U2's Zooropa (1993) and was surprised to hear that Baritone voice of Cash instead of Bono's. So happy birthday, Johnny, up there...

Saturday 25 February 2012

Five Songs About Kids


Good Morning

Today's pick five is dedicated to kids. There are a lot of songs about them, some of them are ridicolous but other are fascinating or exciting. I chose five songs which represents this issue from different angels, hoping you'd like it too

1) The Twilight Singers - The Twilite Kid Taken From Twilight As Played By The Twilight Singers (2000)

2) Two Door Cinema Club - Kids Taken From Tourist History (2010)

3) Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid Taken From Reign Of Terror (2012)

4) Memoryhouse - The Kids Were Wrong Taken From The Slideshow Effect (2012)

5) MGMT - Kids Taken From Oracular Spectacular (2007)

Enjoy

Monday 20 February 2012

Five Songs By Nirvana



Good Evening

Today, Kurt Cobain, the leading singer of the famous grunge band Nirvana, should have party his forty fifth birthday. Looking back 18 years back, when he took his life and committed suicide, it seems that you cannot imagine modern music without his inspiration. I remember that when I was on high-school, I dedicated my then music TV show to Nirvana, to celebrate the win of music over death. So here are five songs from Nirvana era, an era which will never come back again

1) About A Girl Taken From Bleach (1989)

2) Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam (The Vasselines Cover) Taken From MTV Unplugged In New York (1994)

3) Heart Shaped Box Taken From In Utero (1993)

4) In Bloom Taken From Nevermind (1991)

5) Seasons In The Sun (Terry Jacks' Cover) Taken From With The Lights Out (2004)

Song Of The Day (20/02/2012): Memoryhouse - The Kids Were Wrong

Good Morning

The Candian duo, Memoryhouse, consists of Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion, playing Dream-Pop music, will release their full debut album, The Slideshow Effect on February 2012. While we are waiting for this interesting album, we can hear one of the tracks released so far called The Kids Were Wrong. It sounds very Beach House alike but it still has it's own charm

Enjoy

Sunday 19 February 2012

Song Of The Day (19/02/2012): Cate Le Bon - Fold The Cloth

Good Morning

The second album of Cate Le Bon, an Indie singer/songwriter from Welsh released on January 2012. The album called Cyrk and it's very nice to hear, althought it is darker on some songs, Le Bon's voice is haunting and can't let go. I chose Fold The Cloth because of its great rythem and Le Bon's Howling Guitar. Seems that's not the last time we'll hear from this young artist which often compared to Nico of The Velvet Underground. Her beautiful clip for this sing is recommanded

Saturday 18 February 2012

Song Of The Day (18/02/2012): Brendan Benson - Bad For Me

Good Evening

Today's song of the day is taken from the forthcoming album of Brendan Benson, a member of the new Jack White project, The Raconteurs. Benson, who released for albums through the past years, brings us a power pop ballad, which sounds like Elton John's new song. I found it very catchy, hope you'd like it too

Friday 17 February 2012

Five Songs By The Bird And The Bee



Good Morning

Today's pick 5 comes from sunny California, wishing for some sun here too. The Bird And The Bee are an Indie-Pop Dou consists of Inara George ("The Bird") and Greg Kurstin ("The Bee") who have been working together since 2006. They'd released 3 Albums and 4 EP's. Their last album dedicated to Hall & Oates songs including Maneater with backing vocals by Shirley Manson of Garbage. So without any other hasitation, here are five songs by this great Dou.

1) Again & Again Taken From The Bird And The Bee (2007)

2) Witch Taken From Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future (2009)

3) Maneater Taken From Interpreting The Masters Volume I: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates (2010)

4) Preparedness Taken From The Bird And The Bee (2007)

5) Last Day Of Our Love (No Link available) Taken From One Too Many Hearts (2008)

Enjoy

Thursday 16 February 2012

Pick One: Anna Calvi - Surrender (Elvis Presley Cover)

Good Morning

When Elvis Presley recorded his cover for an old Neapolitan song called Turna A Surriento, I don't think he thought it would be such a great hit. On the other side, I was really surprised to find Anna Calvi's cover for this song. Clavi, One of the newcomers of 2011, took it to Cabaret-Like style on her Blackout EP and it sound great. Have a nice day....

Pick 5: Five Songs By Au Revoir Simone


Good Evening

I love Electronic Dream-Pop. That's the kind of music which makes me wake up smiling for a bright new day. Au Revoir Simone, A Brooklyn Based trio features Erika Forester, Annie Hart and Heather D'Angelo, makes sweet dream pop music for about nine years since 2003. They released three albums so far and it seems that we'll hear more from them. So for those who like this Trio and those who haven't heard them yet, here are five songs by Au Revoir Simone.

1) Fallen Snow Taken From The Bird Of Music (2007)

2) Boys Of Summer (Don Henley cover) Taken From Blalock's Indie Rock Playlist: July 2011 (2011)

3) Another Likely Story Taken From Still Night, Still Light (2009)

4) Stay Golden Taken From Versus Of Comfort Assurance & Salvation (2005)

5) A Violent Yet Flammable World (Live) Taken From The Bird Of Music (2007)

Enjoy

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Pick One: Damien Jurado - Museum Of Flight

Good Evening

The first time I've listenned to Damien Jurado song Omaha, I was amazed by his soft voice and great lyrics. Nowdays, You can hear his new record called Maraqopa (2012). Jurado, an American Indie Rock singer/songwriter, Has released music madein his hometown Seatle since the mid 90's and had made a lot of changes in style during this period of time. From His latest release I've choosen one his more communcative songs called Museum Of Flight. I love the rythem of this track, what do you say about that?

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Pick One: Damien Rice - One (U2 Cover)

Good Evening

It's Valentine's day eve and it's pretty cold outside. Before I'll go to sleep with my choosen one, there's a song that I would like to dedicate for that beauty which lights my life for twelve years nowdays. One, originally sung by U2 on their Classic album Achtung Baby (1991), has been covered by Irish singer, Damien Rice. His Version is something between Johnny Cash's version and Bono. It seems that he was broken hearted when he sang that one, maybe he thought about his beautiful Ex-girlfriend, Lisa Hannigan. You can hear it on Akh-toong Bay-Bi (2011), a project made for Q magazine for the 20th anniversary of the original....

So this is my Valentine's eve song, What do you say about this version?


Monday 13 February 2012

Pick One: School Of Seven Bells - Lafaye

Good Evening

Earlier this week I've had a chance to listen to School Of Seven Bells' new song, Lafaye, Taken from their forthcoming album Ghostory (2012). This Indie-Pop New-York Based Trio, which formed by Benjamin Curtis and the identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, Made something hazey Cocteau twins sound-like single. I love the rythem of this track, Do you too?

Sunday 12 February 2012

Pick One: The Twilight Sad - Don't Move

Good Morning

On my morning walk today, I've listenned to the new record by the Scottish Indie Trio called "No One Can Ever Know" (2012). It's an ear blowing record as usual and it seems that I'll walk with it for a while until I'll understand the words spoken through this heavy Scottish Accent. So Here's the first one from this brilliant album called, Don't Move

Saturday 11 February 2012

Pick 5: חמישייה של Kathleen Edwards

תוך כדי דפדוף קצרצר ב-NPR לפני כחודש, נפלו עיניי על אלבום של יוצרת אינדי קנדית בשם קתלין אדוארדס (Kathleen Edwards). האלבום נקרא Voyageur ומסתבר שמדובר באלבום הרביעי של העלמה הזאת מאוטווה, קנדה. קריאה של התקציר העלתה כי ג'סטין ורנון (Justin Vernon) מבון איבר (Bon Iver), שהוא גם בן זוגה לחיים של אדוארדס, הניח את ידיו המופלאות על האלבום הזה, שמכיל בתוכו הרבה רגש, חלקו מתפרץ על גיטרות חשמליות וחלקו עושה זאת בשקט עדין במיוחד. לאחר כמה שמיעות של האלבום, הוא בינתיים נכנס לרשימת הפייבוריטים שלי השנה, וכבר ציינתי זאת ברשימה הקודמת בו נתתי ייצוג ל-Chameleon/Comedian הנפלא. אז הנה חמישייה של אדוארדס, תהנו...
השיר Alicia Ross הוא כנראה אחד השירים המצמררים ששמעתי לאחרונה. אדוארדס שרה מנקודת מבטה של נערה צעירה: "אמא, האם את יכולה לשמוע אותי? בעת שנגררתי בסיגריה האחרונה של היום. הוא משך אותי כל כך חזק, ממפתן הדלת האחורית שלי". מכאן, די ברור על מה השיר מדבר והניגוד בין ההרמוניה שבשירתה של אדוארדס לבין המילים הקשות שהיא מטיחה אל המיקרופון רק מתעצמת עד סופו של השיר בו היא מסכמת: "והוא השכיב אותי בגינתו, כל השנים האלה, ראיתי אותו משגיח בי, הוא לקח אותי, אמא, כדי שלעולם לא אוכל לספר לך על זה, ועכשיו אני נערה שאת פניה לא ישכחו". אליסיה רוס הייתה בת 25 בעת שנרצחה לאחר אונס בעיירה שקטה בשם מרקהם באונטריו, קנדה, בבוקר של חודש אוגוסט 2005. השיר, כמובן, מוקדש לה ומסופר מנקודת מבטה. קשה שלא להתרגש לאור ההבנה שהשיר מגיע מהמקום הכי כואב שאפשר לתאר. השיר הזה מופיע באלבומה השני Asking For Flowers מ-2008. 
Copied Keys מתוך האלבום השני שלה, Back To Mine מ-2005, מדבר על המורכבות של היחסים בינו לבינה. "זו אינה העיר שלי ולעולם לא תהיה", היא שרה וממשיכה, "זו הדירה שלנו מלאה בחפצים שלך, אלו החיים שלך ולי יש מפתחות משוכפלים". השיר מתנגן על הגבול של קאנטרי רוק ואינדי עם נגיעות של פולק, בהחלט שיר מעולה שלה.
For The Record סוגר את אלבומה האחרון Voyageur מ-2012. הוא מתחיל בצורה אינטימית עם צלילי פעמונים ואורגן מינורי, אליהם מצטרף התוף באיטיות וגיטרה שמייללת חרישית מאחור, הבונים יחדיו בלדת נסיעה שמתיישבת היטב עם שמש שוקעת בצד ימין של הרכב. שיר נהדר שמדגיש את קולה של אדוארדס לצד עיבוד של ג'סטין ורנון, שמשחק אותה קצת נייג'ל גודריץ' בשיר הזה. 
Chameleon/Comedian, לעומתו, הוא כבר לגמרי שיר של בון איבר שהתפלק לאלבום הזה, עם כל היללות ברקע שמאפיינות את שיריו של ורנון. אדוארדס שרה "אינני צריכה פאנץ' ליין" בעודה מדברת על הגבול הדק בין קומיקאי לזיקית. הגיטרה האקוסטית מצטרפת ליללות ואפשר אפילו לשמוע את קולו של ורנון מלווה ברקע. פשוט שיר פנטסטי מאלבום שעוד יותיר רשמים בסיכומי סוף השנה. 
את הרשימה בחרתי לסיים עם Goodnight California, שנשמע לגמרי כמו שיר בוקרים, בעיקר כשמצטרפת המפוחית בסוף השיר. באלבום Asking For Flowers היא הביאה את הקאנטרי רוק שלה לדרגות גבוהות מאלבומים קודמים וזה ניכר כבר בעיבוד המצויין של השיר המסיים הזה. זה בקלות היה יכול להיגמר כמו שיר של שריל קרואו (Sheryl Crow), אבל זה הרבה יותר טוב...
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