Album of the Week | Cape Dory - Tennis

For every Christmas in July, there must be an album like Cape Dory, the debut LP from Colorado couple Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, better known as Tennis. The album [out now via Fat Possum records] accomplishes the same rare feat Surfer Blood did almost exactly a year ago: crystallize a chunk of summer adventure that even in the heart of winter transports the listener to a sunnier destination, somewhere off the coast of civilization. As previously noted, Tennis garnered as much buzz as any upstart band in 2k10, and with Cape Dory they validated the hype, producing one of the first great albums of 2k11.
[full review after the jump]

[photo by Joe McCabe, denverpost.com/reverb]

Album of the Week | † - Justice

Timing is everything. Justice understood this fact upon achieving the massive success of their debut album †. It was too easy to cash in and release a filler sequel in 2008. But as more time elapsed, fans and detractors alike wondered if they would ever return. After all, no act has energized or polarized the electronic music scene with the fanfare of Justice since Daft Punk were still making albums rather than film scores. The last known signs of life for their follow-up came on June 19th, 2010, in the form of an interview with Ed Banger head honcho Busy P from Australian site In The Mix, where Pedro had this to say regarding the new record:

“They actually started to work on it not that long ago,” Busy P revealed. “They started on the first parts of it about two months ago, so we’re going to give them some more time to keep working on it.”

While Pedro wouldn’t go into specifics about how far Justice had progressed with album number two, he stressed that he wasn’t putting any pressure on the duo to power through the recording process.

“I keep telling them that I don’t want them to rush things, because at Ed Banger we are free, we can do it our own way,” he explained. “From me being the boss of the label they have all the time that they need.”

“If they need another year to make a record then I would give it to them,” Pedro added, likely sending chills down the electro community’s collective spine. “People always say ‘we’re waiting for the new Justice’, but if you look at some artists like Beastie Boys or Daft Punk, they sometimes take four years between albums, so we’re still on time with Justice. I’m confident in their skills and if the album is out in 2011 then I will be happy.”

This quote certainly whetted the appetite of fans, who could take solace in knowing only a proper sequel would be released if such a large break was needed to achieve their desired vision. Another smart move from Justice and Ed Banger is their reluctance to appear in social media as so many other bands do incessantly with the advent of Twitter as the chief source of musical information and interaction. By avoiding the temptation to stay in the public eye at all times, they have avoided becoming a band reduced to "the people who play that one song from that car commercial." (still a great way to get promoted, but a discussion for another day)


By keeping this mystique and anonymity in an age where everyone instantly knows everything, Justice have the opportunity to keep their artistic integrity and to release an album that will only bolster their career rather than declare it officially fizzled. The latest signs of life from Justice come from Steve Aoki's Twitter feed, where he hinted at new Justice music being spun at Pier 10 in Puerto Rico as recently as last night (January 5th).


The reason this all matters? † (Cross as it had to be renamed by the record company) was one of the most important albums of the recently concluded decade. The album is a microcosm of everything exciting happening in modern music. Consider the following elements:

• Sampling - The kids love mash-ups. Girl Talk gave away his album for free and yet was able to quit a biomedical engineering job to do a national tour. His craft? Samples. † is full of them, and when released it was rumored that there were as many as 300 uncleared samples present in the record. This kind of underground songwriting is at the forefront of music and the use of nostalgia as an expressive weapon only continues to enhance the life of young bands (James Blake, Twin Shadow, Tennis, etc.)
• Branding - In 2k11, branding is more important than ever. The internet is the last frontier of commerce and industry, and Justice is a product of this movement. Gaspard and Xavier both worked as graphic designers before they became rock stars with turntables. Consider also the album artwork, with it's bold logo both expressing a theme of the album (a disco-opera) and simply just being an amazing, iconic image. Think the xx cover. Also, Ed Banger Records maintain their chic through their Cool Cats blog family. How many other labels have cult followings for their fashion lines? Justice are the ones who made all of the hype possible in the first place.
• Fusion of genres - What exactly do you call this music? Why do we label music in the first place? Hybridization has become standard fare for bands yearning to get noticed in the Twitter era. † fits the mold perfectly, sampling over 400 albums, including hip-hop and metal samples, to create a concept album that is both stunning artistically yet works more effectively for the dance floor. Such a bold venture has not been accomplished in electronica to such widespread acclaim since Daft Punk. The effects? Everyone remembers how fun D.A.N.C.E. parties are. And yes, now you always spell it out. 

† is a landmark album. A new generation of electro imitators have followed, but if all goes according to plan, you can witness the triumphant return of Justice in 2k11. But for now, just throw this record on and lose yourself in the show. 

Album of the Week: Room On Fire - The Strokes

I just had that feeling when you go track down the artwork for an album you got from a burned CD. "It's a great gesture," you think to yourself as you shake your head when you notice that the names of these new tracks are nowhere to be found. The reason I would go through such a hassle? I wanted to hear the Strokes at the highest possible original quality. It's the kind of ritual that seems silly if you had to re-download the tracks and paid more to get them as a finished version. But above all we must remember, it's the Strokes.


Room on Fire contains some of the biggest Strokes hits aside from their first album consensus-perfection Is This It, released on Sept. 11, 2001 (and taking it's own place in musical history that day.) Not that I would have noticed, being in the 5th grade. I wasn't exactly concerned with indie and garage rock fading into obscurity at the preference of modern techno and electronic acts such as the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers in its place. But it did "save" garage rock or at least remind the public it existed. Fast forward to the release of Room on Fire. We see a band faced with the impossible task of trying to have a second bolt of lightning strike upon them. However, this denim-clad crew decided they were still up to the challenge, and just decided to have a great time and make the most fun record they could while doing it. (Think if the new Kings of Leon album came after Only By The Night but was truly their second album. Actually, that still doesn't make it any better.)


The result is some of their loosest riffs and most beautiful melodies that evoke smoky images of Brooklyn rooms on risque nights. The dichotomy of their love-hate relationships coupled with the struggle for an identity as a young adult creeps into each lyric. The blaring melancholy in the voice of Julian Casablancas as "The Way It Is" plays and peers back to the age of the blues and soul singers exorcising their demons on stage. They even made it onto Rolling Stone, but not with a typical photo putting one member in the spotlight but being considered a legitimate band rather than a gimmick. To be a band like that means to endure to the point of becoming literary or art history in years to follow; to jump off the mouths of well-to-do trendsters and self-promoted intellectuals.

For these reasons, Room On Fire is the Album of the Week. The songs speak for themselves so much that they are memorable best as an entire experience: the true definition of a fine body of work. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words, and with that in mind here is a video of "Reptilia"

ALBUM OF THE WEEK >> UP FROM BELOW

HERE IT IS YOU ASSHOLES

Sorry 'bout that, the publisher has been on my ass all day about this post but IT'S FINALLY HERE SO YOU CAN SHUT UP NOW. So I called dibs on AotW this time and I only had one alby on my mind...the beautiful Up From Below by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.

Where the hell are they all coming from?

Oh.

Tasty, yes? Check the rest after the jump

Album of the Week: Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

On the eve of what is sure to be an unforgettable weekend, with sightings of Deadmau5, Tyrone Biggums, Chuckie Finster, Rico Suave, and what is sure to be thousands of other "celebrities" flocking to the promise land of Lexington, it is only fitting for me to have the Album of the Week be that of Friendly Fires debut album, Friendly Fires. This dance/pop album is sure to be played sometime throughout the weekend, mingled in with other favorites of the HNW dance crew.

Chuckie Finster

Friendly Fires first album is an extremely well put together debut album, that has all you need for a groovy night with some LED lights and friends. With upbeat rhythms, the distinct voice of lead singer Ed Macfarlane, and house-esque leads from keyboard and guitar, it is obvious that this album will keep you on your feet for the duration of the 10 short but sweet songs.

'Friendly Fires'

Starting off with the upbeat and energetic 'Jump in the Pool', the band sets the bar high for the rest of the album, which they go above and beyond. 'In the Hospital' and 'White Diamonds' continue the dance theme, while 'Paris' and 'Strobe' show signs of the band knowing the fans are dancing and give them a little breather. But, don't rest too long, as 'On Board' and 'Lovesick' bring you right back into that dance atmosphere, preparing you for the grooviest of the songs on the album, 'Skeleton Boy' and 'Photobooth', with clear and sing-along-able lyrics and a funky bass line, respectively. Ending the album is 'Ex Lover', a fitting last song for the album, as it is a more chill song that can bring you back into the beginning of the album, as you will most assuredly want to listen to this short album again and continue the fun vibes and good dance.

After listening to the album several times, it is obvious to me why Randall and I had such a great time watching this band at Lollapalooza 09. With a 12 noon start time, they weren't one of the 'biggest' bands playing that day, but damnit were they the most fun. This album translates wonderfully live, and you can't help but dance at the band's energetic and enthusiastic shows.

So, without further ado, grab yourself a fog machine, a strobe light, some good friends, and some of Kentucky's finest, and give this album a listen for an HNW guaranteed good time.

Kentucky's Finest

-Don Vito

Album of the Week... Err.. Late Week - Weekend: In Rainbows: Radiohead

I know, this album of the week post isn't punctual to say the least, but I hope it's what you've come to expect from me. Lately Ive been reminiscing on the yonder years, although I'm only 76 years young (bet you kids thought I was younger with my 'hip' lingo. Just an old man that stayed too long at the party) . Guess you could call it a 'mid-life crisis' of sorts, but I miss the old days. Remember the first time you heard The Bea'les?Led Zeppelin? RHCP? Incubus? Just reminiscing on the days when all music was innocent, now it seems to be all about.... vegetables covered in bodily fluids (via Bloody Beetroots) and murdering rodents? You know what I'm talking about 'Uncon5iou5Rat'. Take it up with PETA.


Harsh Reality of a 'dead mouse'


Well fret no more, Jabronis. With smooth melodies and truly beautiful subtle tones Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' is perfect music for every mood. Seeing as this post is late, it's only fitting that this week's campus soundtrack came out 2+ years ago. To me, Radiohead will always be one of those bands that gained immense popularity truly because of the quality/uniqueness of their sound. Their mastery of virtually all instruments/facets of rock is evident in every record they produce. Characterized by smooth riffs and beats that go 'round and 'round (Via jigsaw pieces falling into their slots), their latest effort is no exception. In Rainbows has an unmistakable sound. They've changed alot since Pablo Honey, and that 'post-grunge' crunchy sound that I love has evolved into a smooth but hard-hitting jazzy sound that I love equally as much or more than.

15 Step - Couldn't ask for a better introduction to a record that is arguably the ode to an entire generation. With a funky beat and silky riff, this one sets off Radiohead's seventh studio album with a bang. This track was also used on the "Twilight: New Moon" Soundtrack, so you're not alone in loving this one. You've got millions of preteen girls right behind you. And one really creepy old guy. But hey, if it means that Radiohead's fanbase has roughly the same demographic as Justin Bieber's, then so be it. More people listening to Radiohead = greatness.

Bodysnatchers - With a hard hitting introduction, crunchy distortion and an overall aggressive timbre, this track reminds me of Radiohead's early days. It's the only one of its type on this record. Not a complaint at all, just makes it that much more special

Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Make what you will of this one. I need not say more.

Reckoner - distinguished by the crashing of cymbals and a tambourine in the beginning, this tune has gained a huge amount of attention on the dance scene. The Twelves and Xaphoon Jones have both produced some great rump-shaking remixes. Seeing as its the weekend, all you Jabronalumps™ and Heffaronis© (Rights to these words cost € 600,000,000) are probably looking to shake your tail-feathers, so heres a great way to enjoy the intellectuality of Radiohead while enjoying the simpler things in life.

Check out Xaphoon's mix of Reckoner that has a splash of Kanye and Lupe Fiasco.

Bonus Track - NEW CLUB BANGER

"The Situation"
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino
The Situation EP

For those of you that have ever been curious about how much the Sitch makes annually, it is expected that he will bring in roughly $5 million in 2010. Take a deep breath. That's more than the president. Guess that means he's damn entertaining? Also, he's promoting a protein-enriched vodka called "Devotion." I dont know about you guys but I can't tell you how many times I've been getting my G.T.L. on when I realized I didn't have time to get home from my workout, style my hair appropriately (Blowout of course), pregame, then head to the club, so this product will be perfect for me. Can't wait to finish lifting weights, chug some hardcore vodka-tein (40% protein by volume!) and head to a night club called something like 'Sexxxtacy' thats filled with' grenadas'. Why hasn't Ed Banger signed this guy yet?

P.S. - This song is everything that's terrible and everything that's good/hilarious, at the same damn time.


Now if you will excuse me, there is a new Always Sunny on, then myself, Don Vito, the KlosterMan, and the infamous Chuckie Fenster have a tri-date planned at the midnight premiere of Jackass in three dimensions (My life). Were just a coupla JaBros trying to make it in Jabronia.

This Week : Album of the Week : Tonight : Franz Ferdinand

Sorry for the delay, playas. We originally tried to get Radiohead to record a new album and let us exclusively stream it and own it and hang out with us and such. However, due to a budget snafu, we ended up just writing about an album that already exists, per usual.

Free Energy Concert Review/Album of the WEAK

WOOH! FUCK YEAH! 21^st POST! WILD CARD! SUCK IT!

Note: My apologies for the delayed review post, but I fell into a wormhole earlier this week and just recently got back. Luckily, I did manage to get back before I forgot about seeing Free Energy this past weekend. Check the review after the jump.

FlyBro : Album of the Week /// New EP from Flying Lotus

Fans of experimental electronic music such as myself have been enamored over the past couple of years with the rise of LA beatsmith Flying Lotus (real name Steven Ellison). His style really fits no genre, (and recently he did a great job diffusing another potentially shitty genre name), but his work melds jazz, hip hop, and other avant-garde electronic techniques for sounds that don't exist anywhere else. Live performances transcend what was believed to be possible by a guy on stage with a laptop, and his Gobi tent closing performace at Coachella 2010 has been hailed as one of the weekend's finest. Not a small feat, indeed.

His most recent masterpiece, the full length album Cosmogramma was released in May and was another genre-busting affair, fusing synthesized trip-hop beats with a symphonic storyline lurking throughout. Thom Yorke, from that one band who sing "Creep", even lent FlyLo his vocals on the track "... And the World Laughs With You" after letting him open some of his solo dates the previous year. 

The amazing thing about this record is the way it unfolds, taking the listener somewhere into the beyond for almost an hour. He achieved such a unique melding of sounds by blending his samples and beats with the playing of live musicians, something he never attempted on previous records. The result is truly game-changing, and it showcases some of the most forward-thinking music I have ever heard. The album, when experienced as a whole, ceases to be music but rather exists as art that at times is monstrous but always slips back into a staggering, indefinable beauty. 

For all of these reasons, the Album of the Week will be none other than Flying Lotus' masterpiece to date, Cosmogramma. Give it a chance and you will discover an artist who is blurring the lines and pushing the boundaries of modern music. 


//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Along with the Album of the Week (and maybe the year?), Steven Ellison found time to produce yet another release. While his remixes can be interesting, (the Weezy mixes, Reckoner), and Cosmogramma was certainly groundbreaking, the latest EP entitled Pattern+Grid World sees a return to form for his previous releases. He chooses to forego any collaborative music and instead sends out another collection of his spacey beats, and they are a good starting point if Cosmogramma is too daunting of a listen. One of my favorites so far is the second track, "Kill Your Co-Workers"

Nothing like some beats to let your mind wander.
Enjoy.

Album of the Week: Sleigh Bells - Treats

Wow, what a weekend. Trenches, crazy girlfriends and their movie scenes, chicken outings, and a Wiz Khalifa look-alike were some of the sights down South this weekend, and as for the sounds, they mostly consisted of lifted rappers. While that is not a bad thing, the VMA's last night certainly were. I have never in my life seen a more irrelevant and marketing driven, passion-less display of "music" since, well, the last time the VMAs were on. (Chelsea Handler's "jokes" helped extinguish the cool part of deadmau5 and his amazing lights showing up. Florence and the Machine also finally got the press she deserves.) The concern is not necessarily for the industry, since their manufactured "superstars" took home "award" after "award" for a staggeringly catered selection of artists. The Grammy's is a laughable event anymore, but the VMAs gladly sunk lower, proving that modern music is in the midst of a considerable identity crisis.

NOT PICTURED : BEST NEW ARTIST

Luckily, there are other new artists cropping up every day, and even luckier, nearly all of them are not named Justin Bieber. The cream of the crop for the "Class of 2010" and for all albums released this year certainly includes the debut record from Sleigh Bells, a duo hailing from Brooklyn (shocker). Their sound has been classified as "noise pop", yet another meaningless genre title given to try to box in artists and describe music using superfluous adjectives. (The main issue with that practice is that music fans end up accepting the opinions of these endless adjectives instead of listening to the music and forming their own opinions. But that's a tale for another time.)

Sleigh Bells are one example where an identity crisis is exactly what music needs, because the result sounds truly fresh and invigorating. Allison Krauss provides lead vocals with hooks that manage to be pretty, violent, and surreal in the span of a chorus. The other half of Sleigh Bells is Derek Miller, whose songwriting and sampling create an energizing blend of metal riffs and pounding hip hop beats never explored by bands actually trying to fuse rap and metal. The result is everything pop music today should be: catchy, fun, innovative, and inspired. 

Sit back and enjoy what will surely be a contender for Album of the Year with this week's feature: Treats by Sleigh Bells

Treats

Album of the Week: deadmau5 - Random Album Title // New: Deadmau5 ft. Wolfgang Gartner - Animal Rights

Time to get wobbly. The ever-impressive beat machine known as deadmau5 has dropped yet another track that will bang the clubs all over the world (or rather, in Europe and LA mostly, since no one else in America seems to know house music exists.) This time he teamed up with another piping-hot producer, Wolfgang Gartner. 


Hailing from Austin, Texas, Wolfgang has taken the blogosphere and the electro scene by storm over the past year or so, consummated by his appearances at Coachella and several other festivals this season. His take on Beethoven's 5th Symphony is always a crowd-pleaser, and in general his take on Electro House draws comparisons to Justice. (For the Justice haters, sorry you are too old and washed up to have fun. Let the children techno.) Gartner also just scored a number one club hit with his new track "Coscindo", so the timing of this collaboration could not be any better.


The beauty of this new track is that it represents a genuine middle ground between their two contrasting styles to form a beautiful harmony of a filthy, funky hook and the trance-y bass mastery that only deadmau5 can equal.





You're welcome.


NEXT UP! ALBUM OF THE WEEK


and the winner is....... deadmau5. Again. 
Next week, deadmau5 will serve as the House Act (lolz fitting since he plays house music) for the MTV VMA's on Sunday, September 12th. It is definitely the most irrelevant award session that somehow I watch with giddy anticipation every year. Never fails. Anyway, now that deadmau5 has been tapped and every douchey frat boy and tween Twilight fan will know his name by next week, you owe it to yourselves to at least know why he deserves this fame. 

Released in 2008, Random Album Title remains deadmau5's finest album. While it doesn't pack the poppy punch of "Ghosts N' Stuff", as a whole it showcases his true style and unique take on house music. Random Album Title blurs the lines between trance and house, with each song slinking along different beats, building slowly and teasing big drops throughout. Such a technique is one that deadmau5 has mastered live, slowly raising the energy bit by bit until the room is ready to explode. There really is a mental journey taken from the beginning of "Sometimes Things Get, Whatever" to the dreamland in which the album concludes. If you take the time to listen to this one all at once, by the time you hear the glimmering vocals of "I Remember" and the climax of "Arguru", you will be in a world of swirling dance magic. 


Take the time to let the beats build and infect your brain, where they will stay for a long while, and try not to be too hard on the man for taking his shot at the big time. After all, if it gets more people dancing, what better artist to show everyone where to start? (I'm looking at you, Daft Punk. Get to it.)

Album of the Week: Aha Shake Heartbreak

Greetings friends. School is back in session, meaning my amount of sleep, diet, and health in general are all slowly declining. However, this is no reason to despair, because Labor Day Weekend is almost upon us. Normally this weekend serves as a chance to do nothing except labor over a grill and some cold ones and celebrate the dying embers of summer one last time.

When I noticed that Kings of Leon (and The Black Keys!) were descending on Cincinnati on a Saturday night of Labor Day weekend, I immediately began to hunt for tickets. The Kings delivered one of the defining performances of Bonnaroo 2010, and frankly, their career, this past June, so I reveled in the opportunity to relive that night and see them once again.

Kings of Leon @ Bonnaroo 2010

Vito and I saw Kings of Leon on the initial leg of the Only By the Night tour, (for their most recent studio effort), and we witnessed a band that was truly on the cusp of becoming massive. Everyone is familiar with their Top 40 hits "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody", two songs that were overplayed to the point of disgust much like any songs that reach a top spot on the chart. The fact that Kings of Leon were capable of reaching such a wide audience is the truly amazing part about their most recent album. They had little to no buzz in the United States except for a hardcore following before Only By The Night released, and as a new twist to their body of work it became one of their greatest critical successes as well as the obvious financial and popular victory.

With the major label marketing that came along with this newfound fame and success, the band was thrust into arenas instead of small clubs and theaters, and became one of the new generation of headlining festival bands. This also brought negativity in droves by those who simply became annoyed by their music and also from elitist fans who claimed they "sold out." I must take this opportunity to put the focus back on what got this band to where they are: their music. In particular, HNW will begin to focus on albums that need to make their way back into your iPod rotation, and with the concert on Saturday, Kings of Leon's sophomore effort Aha Shake Heartbreak represents a perfect starting point.

This album captures a band at the peak of their creative vein, where they managed to build off of their exciting debut and yet still tighten and advance their sound to create one of the tightest  Southern Rock albums this side of My Morning Jacket. The beauty of Aha Shake Heartbreak is that it showcases their catchiest songwriting coupled with stories and themes of a band who was truly engulfed in their music. The Followills, including brothers Caleb (lead vocals/guitar), Nathan (drums), and Jared (bass) along with cousin Matthew (guitar), represent a unique story of a family who ventured through European success after American rejection and lived a rock lifestyle that goes unseen in this modern era.

from left: Matthew, Nathan, Jared, and Caleb Followill

Next time you see or hear Kings of Leon, take a moment to appreciate them for how far they have come, for both the mature direction they inevitably must head as well as the reckless, youthful music they never would have survived. To begin the Album of the Week series, the Album of the Week player is now filled with music from Aha Shake Heartbreak.