"Rio" - Hey Marseilles

Rio is not a Duran Duran cover. I was pleased to learn this after downloading the free single from the bands website http://www.heymarseilles.com/.  What "Rio" is, however, is a very pleasant, melodic and catchy song.

A plethora of instruments were used in making "Rio", but the intro is nothing more than a smile enducing cadence of clapping hands, partnered soon after with an acoustic guitar.  A cheerful explosion of music erupts into the song.  I don't think any listener would be able to fight back a grin at the least, upon hearing the joyful sound.  It's a colorful combination of piano, xylophone, string and bow instruments, drums, and horns. Vocally, and lyrically, I'm immediately reminded of a cross between Michael Stipe of REM and Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, only the music is much more worldly and elegant.

"Rio" feels like it could teach you to waltz, just by listening, or maybe even river dance.  It could brighten your day, no matter how gloomy you're feeling. Undoubtedly, you'll find yourself swaying back and forth, humming along, as if you've been brain washed by the spiked punch.  A blend of cultures and style, "Rio" is more than a song, it is an experience that can be enjoyed by all.

"I am the changer" - Cotton Jones

There's something relieving about discovering new music that sounds like it was released in the 1970's. Maybe that's because I'm a traditionalist? I just like to know that the comforting, quality sound of music that my dad surrounded me with while I was a child isn't a dying genre. Cotton Jones is so convincingly 1970's, that if I hadn't seen them on youtube, I wouldn't have believed they were a newer band, or as young as they appear to be.

Delicately, the acoustic guitar introduces the soft, melancholy song.  The nylon strings almost sound like a lullaby. With a sincerity in his voice, the vocals start in with a soft drawl, that reminds me of a much toned down Warren Haynes.  Soon, a female voice, soothing and slightly drawling as well, begins to harmonize.  The two together produce such a beautiful sound, I feel a flutter pass through my chest. The hair of my arms stands on end. Emotions, not my own, maybe theirs, begin to flow through me. Maintaining the easy tempo, the song progresses with humming, and la la la's, and I find myself joining them, without actually making the decision to do so.

If you're into The Eagles, Wilco, Badly Drawn Boy, Neil Young or something along those lines, this is your new band for sure!

"The Recluse" - Cursive

For some reason I keep putting off buying this CD, and each time I hear this song I feel like an idiot for that. Cursive sounds like a potent concoction of The Cure and Modest Mouse, with a touch of Pinback.  High treble guitars pluck out the catchy rhythm section, while a simple, yet effective drum line, alternates between kick bass and snare.  The bassline is intricate, rhythmic, and a little funky, almost mimicking the rhythm guitar. In the background, violins and cellos play soft, beautiful accompaniment. Vocally, the band mixes up a blend of sounds.  The verse is whispery, and choppy, keeping you intrigued, waiting for a climax. A call and answer approach is used for the chorus, alternating between the whispering voice and the singing voice.  Sometimes there's a female harmony as well.  "The Recluse"  sounds as if it could be a track from Modest Mouse's The Moon and Antarctica (ie. back when they were awesome!) and for that, among other reasons, you can't help but love it.

It's a hum-a-long, bob-your-head kind of song.  Easily, you can get wrapped up in the tempo, and the music.  Possible side effects to listening to this song include, speeding tickets, goose bumps, and enjoyment.

"This Must Be the Place" - Miles Fisher

Alright, it's a cover song. Though I will always love the Talking Heads version (the original) the most, this is still really cool. Oddly enough, my boss is friends with Miles Fisher, who is also the man in this video who happens to look just like Christian Bale, or sometimes Tom Cruise.  Must suck to look like that. Ha.

Musically, the cover is fun, up tempo and loaded with synth.  What I love about this song more than anything, however, is the video.  It's not just any old music video. Fisher actually does a remake of American Psycho, and crams it into a video that's under 5 minutes long.  Who ever http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1115909918293398765directed and filmed the video did an excellent job lining up key parts of the video with appropriate lyrics. One of the greater moments of the video involves a 3-way with two models, one of which is the daughter of Patty Hearst.

I was skeptical when I first heard about the synching of this song to such gruesome content, but it works surprisingly well. The obvious choice for Talking Heads songs would have been "Psycho Killer", which makes the use of "This Must Be the Place" so much better, and unexpected!

For your enjoyment, I've attached the video.

"Blister in the Sun" - Violent Femmes

Don't get me wrong, the Violent Femmes are a good band. I like their music.. I just hate Blister in the Sun. It hasn't always been that way though. I liked the song in middle school.  But now, the more I hear it, the more I loathe it.  I hate listening to people sing along to it, I don't like the lyrics, and I don't like his voice.  I hate when people use this song as a party song, a bar song, a driving song. Every possible use of this song has become unoriginal, over done, and flat out annoying.  The only thing that's left to do with the song is retire it, but that doesn't seem to happen.  Instead, it seems to become more popular every year, as if it were a recent hit.  Can we somehow erase this song from the music catalog and just remember the Violent Femmes for "Kiss Off", which is by far a superior song, and still a sensational hit.  The more I hear Blister in the Sun, the less I enjoy the Violent Femmes, and I really want to like this band.  Can we somehow start a petition to replace Blister in the Sun permanently with Kiss Off? Someone help me out here, please.

"Lasso" - Phoenix

I have been a Phoenix fan for a couple of years now, and purchased the Wolfgang Amadeus album not long after its release in May of 2009. At first I was addicted to Lsiztomania and 1901. I mean, seriously addicted. Truthfully, I may still be. But, those addictions seem to be subsiding and are now being replaced by another track from this disc, called "Lasso". I really liked this song when I first bought the CD but I was blinded by the other two tracks, and didn't give it equal opportunity. Now, however, I just can't get enough of this song. It has the funkiest, craziest bass line, that I have to bob my head to, and the vocals have such a unique rhythm and style. The chorus is so catchy that I found myself singing it all day long - even in those moments when I zone out and there shouldn't be anything going on in the ol' noggin (you know the moments I'm talking about!)

When of the more impressive facts I'd like to share about Phoenix is that they are from France, but sing all of their songs in English, and do it in a very American way. No accents, great use of the English language. I'm totally jealous. I seriously envy people who are bilingual.

If you haven't heard this band, check 'em out. They have a sound that just about everyone can enjoy!

ps. Soon enough I'll be posting something I don't like, just be patient.

Farewell Milwaukee

Wow, I love this band! They remind me of Ryan Adams (my favorite recording artist), crossed with the Damnwells and Damien Rice. I accidentally discovered this group on Pandora the other day, and now I can't get enough of them. The music is smooth, and easy. Though they are from Minneapolis, the sound could easily be mistaken as southern. I guess they're another great band to fall under the label "Alt-Country", which has been made popular by Wilco and Ryan Adams.  The vocals are smooth, harmonious and calming and the music much the same. Even the live recordings on youtube, completely stripped of production, percussion and bass, are amazing. Just two guys jamming together on acoustic guitars, singing in harmony, some really heartfelt stuff. Really love it!