You hear his voice and suddenly the last few singer-songwriter records you liked get a lot less memorable. He's got one of THOSE voices. The lyrics measure up to the voice and the production is understated but elegant. He runs his own indie micro-label out of Portland, I'm asking you, what is not to love about Holcombe Waller?
Holcombe Waller - Into the Dark Unknown: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
Ever since I first heard this song over three years ago I've felt that it should be heard closing out a TV show - well, sometimes it takes awhile to make it happen! It was worth the wait though, to hear "Still Alright" by Adam Merrin in this moving episode of The Big C, when Cathy happily discovers that her cancer treatment is working.
I first met Adam as a member of one of my favorite bands, The 88, and he remains an integral part of The 88 today, while also keeping his solo career active.
Adam Merrin - Still Alright: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
This is bedroom pop at its finest - not in the sense of bedroom lo-fi, complete-with-tape-hiss production, but because the feelings expressed are so intimate and open-hearted that I can only picture these vocals being crafted in the privacy of a bedroom. If you like Her Space Holiday and/or Stephen Merritt, and perhaps have a secret yen for Pet Shop Boys, this is the new release for you.
Diamond Rings - Special Affections: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
PS I recommend starting with track 3, the first two tracks get better upon repeated listening, but if you are hearing this album for the first time then those tracks aren't the most accessible.
When I think of Denmark, I think of "Hamlet", one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. But now I have a new Danish icon that is equally brilliant, edgy, and thoughtful, with the added benefit of harmonies and cheery melodies, yay! Meet Figurines via this brand new video of three songs filmed live in their hometown of Copenhagen earlier this year, which makes its debut right here on bravenewworld.net!
Figurines lives set via Vimeo
Figurines live set via YouTube
and, they'll be on the East Coast (of the U.S.) touring in a couple of weeks, lucky East-Coasters!
Figurines - Figurines: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
Outwardly, she may appear to be just another wispy female vocalist. But with heroes such as The Beatles, The Kinks (her new album was recorded in the Kinks' studio in London), and Bjork (she worked with Bjork producer Guy Sigsworth on much of the album), plus a history with indie band The Decoder Ring it's obvious that she can't be categorized quite so easily. I've field-tested her music and its immediately loved by everyone from my best friend's toddler to my most cynical indie music snob friends, so I think she's onto something! Her song "Everything's Okay" closes out The Big C episode titled "Cats & Dogs" airdate (7/25/11), and can be found on The Big C Soundtrack, of course!
Lenka "Everything's Okay" - The Big C Soundtrack: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
I'm slightly obsessed with Tom Vek's music. Perhaps because he keeps such a low profile, in the U.S., anyway. Or maybe its because he spent 5 years (5 years! Is he independently wealthy?) making record #2. I pretty much figured he gave it up. But here it is, just as promising as the first album, all edgy and angsty and mysterious, not quite rock, not quite pop, not quite electro, dark and fun at the same time, how does he do that?
Tom Vek - Leisure Seizure: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
On this long weekend, two short records are intriguing me. Simply put, I wish they were longer! It's not the type of music I normally gravitate to, which would be lo-fi and ultra-modern. They're both a little bit electro, a little bit 70's, maybe even a little bit disco. Barbie Hatch works with the Squeak E. Clean/N.A.S.A. tribe in Los Angeles, and she sings with an authenticity lacking in so much electro-pop these days, with simple passionate lyrics and a rich production style. Chad Valley (the vision of Hugo Manuel, not a guy named Chad) hails from Oxford, England and is part of a loose collective of artists known as Blessing Force. Hugo also has a band project called Jonquil. Both these EP's were a chill accompaniment to my July 4th holiday, so enough talking, go enjoy!
Barbie Hatch - Hypertrophic Heart: iTunes :: Official Site
Chad Valley - Equatorial Ultravox: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site
It's true that this is not a new album -- it came out in January. But I haven't found much else this year that I've loved as much as this album. I keep going back to it time and time again when I need to hear something well-written, gorgeously performed, tastefully produced ... and then theres the James Vincent McMorrow voice. Rank it up there alongside Antony Hegarty of Antony & The Johnsons or Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. Blissful.
James Vincent McMorrow "Early In The Morning": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Yeee-ha! My first TV series soundtrack as music supervisor, AND it is a benefit for cancer research. What could be better? Better would be if I could put many of my favorite bands on the soundtrack. Oh wait, that happened! Delta Spirit, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, Oh Land, Lenka, Buddy, Leftover Cuties and more!
100% of Sony Music's, Sony Pictures' & Showtime's net profits will benefit Stand Up To Cancer, a very worthy non-profit initiative which is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Stand Up To Cancer raises funds to accelerate groundbreaking, collaborative cancer research and utilizes the entertainment industry's resources to rally the public in support of the cause.
The Big C Soundtrack: Official Site and preview :: Amazon :: iTunes
In stores now! I have been incubating this soundtrack with Sony and Epic for months now and its birthday is finally here. Since I curated the soundtrack personally, many of my favorite bands are on here like Delta Spirit, Oh Land, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, Leftover Cuties, Buddy, and some new artists you will be pleased to discover.
When you buy the soundtrack, you support cancer research because Sony Music, Sony Pictures and Showtime will donate 100% of their net profits from The Big C soundtrack to Stand Up To Cancer.
Good soundtrack, good cause, what are you waiting for?
The Big C Soundtrack: Official Site and preview :: Amazon :: iTunes
PS I've also been music supervising Season 2 of The Big C already, coming to Showtime on June 27th!
Okay, its not your Summer anthem album, to play at top volume during your crazy parties. And I don't even know if it would be good for long road trips. But for sitting outside your abode on a warm summer night with your significant other, maybe by the pool (if you have one), with a couple of mojitos or a bottle of white wine, this is the album. It will melt out into the night with its little glitchy sounds and warm vocals and turn the evening magical and memorable. And, repeat. Pass the wine bottle, please.
One AM Radio "Heaven Is Attached By A Slender Thread": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Sometimes its hard to leave the sofa on a Sunday night. But I knew this show would be worth it, and I was not disappointed. It helps that it was at The Troub, the best venue in town. It should have been billed as "Stornoway and the mini-orchestra" since a cello, a triangle, a trumpet, and a saw all made appearances throughout the night. Brian Briggs' voice was the highlight of it all, so lovely and soothing, I could listen to it for hours. And he told stories about the songs, and talked to the audience and was charming and funny the way good lead singers should be. Bring your peppy rhythms and your adorable Oxfordshire accents back anytime, Stornoway.
Stornoway "Beachcomber's Windowsill": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Oh Antlers, how I love thee. Thank you for coming all the way from Brooklyn to play your magical set and close out my week. Voice of angels, reverb beyond all reason, three boys, big sound. It all worked.
The Antlers "Burst Apart": Official Site :: iTunes :: Amazon
Even if you've been to as many live shows as I have, you can still get excited about the June concert calendar which will bring The Antlers, Stornoway, Tune-yards, Swervedriver AND The Mountain Goats all to Los Angeles within 22 days. I think most of these are national tours so even if you're not in LA, your local venues should be filled with good music soon.
The Antlers at the El Rey: Fri, Jun 3
Stornoway at the Troubadour: Mon, Jun 5
Swervedriver at the Echoplex: Sun Jun 19
Mountain Goats at the El Rey: Thu Jun 23
Tune-yards at the Troubadour: Sun Jun 25
And then we'll rest!
I just want to know how it went down in the studio when Allison Mosshart told her producer and band partner James Hince "Let's do a little waltz with a plinky piano sound and some strings." Huh? Wait, what about our signature dangerous-sounding guitars and your emotional screaming vocals? It's these kind of unexpecteded little twists that make The Kills (and their new album) just so damn cool. And don't worry there's still plenty of electric guitar and snarly vocals, in fact Ms. Mosshart is sounding more sultry and velvety than ever without giving up a bit of her edge. Blood Pressures has a slow but steady pace, you can't zip through, I actually find it hard to have on 'in the background'. It's art, dammit, pay attention.
The Kills "Blood Pressures": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Two awesome female singers were featured in Castle's "Pretty Dead" episode - one has millions of fans and the other you can say you were among her first. A beauty pageant dance number clearly called out for Lady Gaga "Born This Way" as the opening song right before the poor dead girl was discovered. Close to the end of the episode, a touching tribute to the victim was accompanied by Laura Browne Sorenson's "I Will Think Of You".
This episode first aired on May 9, 2011.
Lady Gaga "Born This Way": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Laura Browne Sorenson "I Will Think Of You": Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Seventeen days since the new I'm From Barcelona CD came out and its already my go-to favorite for the summer. (And by the way, they're from Sweden.) There's up to 22 people in the band at last count but it never sounds chaotic (except in a good way), just fun and upbeat and irresistable! Good luck all you other bands dislodging this from the top of my Summer playlist!
I'm From Barcelona - Forever Today: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
A little background ... it was likely the summer of 2000, 10 years ago now, that I was experiencing the perfect summer night in Los Angeles. The Frames had probably just played somewhere to about 5 people (this was pre-Swell Season) and people were gathering at someone's house in the valley. They had a hot tub, and yes, I was in the hot tub with Glen Hansard. No hanky panky though, just drinking some beer and talking about music. I did start to think I was in heaven though, when I heard someone behind me with an acoustic guitar beautifully playing an impressive song that began "If I could trace, the line that ran, between your smile and your sleight of hand, I would guess that you put, something up my sleeve. Everytime I see your face, the bells ring in a far off place, we can find each other this way I believe... Come and find me, now ..."
Just sitting around at a house party, Josh Ritter wasn't even playing it to anyone in particular, just playing it. I thought "Am I a little too drunk or is that just about the best song ever?" Subsequently we were introduced, (he said he was from Idaho, I said "the band?"), addresses were exchanged, an EP came my way shortly and in the sober light of day I listened to "Come And Find Me" again and decided it pretty much was the best song ever. Fast forward through 11 years, five stellar albums, at least 8 or 9 incredible live shows, a lovely friendship and many more 'best songs ever', I have the great pleasure of placing the first song I ever heard Josh Ritter play into a TV show called Castle.
You can hear it the almost-romantic scene between Castle & Beckett in the episode titled "To Live And Die In L.A.", that first aired on May 2, 2011. Find the archive on ABC's Castle site.
Josh Ritter "Come And Find Me" (Don't stop with this song ... it only gets better): Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Other awesome (if I do say so myself) music in this episode:
Ferrari scene: The Californias "La La La" Official Site
Pool scene: Sloan "The Other Side" (This band is great! I recommend all their CDs!) Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Closing: Pearl Jam "Breathe" Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Until next week!
Sometimes you just need a little gritty blues rock to kick off a noir-influenced detective series. Blues Explosion fits the bill this week with "Burn It Off" as Castle and Beckett delve into a mystery involving competing pizza franchises in NYC.
Closing out the episode, the lovely Lindsey Ray and the talented A.M. team up on a song called "Anchor Of Love".
This episode first aired on April 4, 2011 and is titled "Slice Of Death".
Blues Explosion (now known as The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and do check out their incredible catalog): Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Lindsey Ray: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Three months into 2011, and plenty of good music to entertain us already! Here are my favorite recent new releases (and one I overlooked from last year!), in alphabetical order.
Acid House Kings - Music Sounds Better With You: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Adam Haworth Stephens - We Live On Cliffs: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Bright Eyes - The People's Key: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Cold War Kids - Mine Is Yours: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
The Dears - Degeneration Street: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Iron and Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean: Official site :: Amazon :: iTunes
James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Robert Pollard - Space City: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Sara Lov - I Already Love You: Official Site :: iTunes
Skywatchers - The Skywatchers Handbook: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
The Strokes - Angles: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Tapes 'n Tapes - Outside: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
The Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Voxhaul Broadcast - Timing Is Everything: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
Walk The Moon - I Want I Want: Official Site :: Amazon :: iTunes
