March 11th, 2010 §
The votes are in and the results have been tallied….let Round 2 begin! The Groove is out enjoying the life of the Caribbean, so I’m going to do my best to put up both sides of the bracket. New match-ups are below. Be sure to get your votes in, and as always, spread the word. To leave your vote, simply click here. Or, if you prefer, just get ahold of one of us by clicking here.
The Needle, Round 2:
(8) “Julian Of Norwich” – Bombadil
Clearly the upset of the bracket, Bombadil’s “Julian Of Norwich” knocked off the heavily favored, synth-heavy sounds of Animal Collective. Spurred on by local support and what I can only assume to be a universal love for minstrel music, the former Dukies put up a strong first round showing. With their impressive lyrics and catchy sounds, Bombadil has already become the Cinderella story as they enter Round 2.
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(4) “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
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In one of the closest matches of the Round 1, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros pulled out the last minute victory over the upstart Generationals. This is going to make an interesting matchup for round two. Both Edward Sharpe and Bombadil combine folk lyrics and toe-tapping music. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros definitely have the advantage in media exposure, however. With recent appearances on late shows and the appearance of this song in a newly released movie trailer, they definitely have the momentum on their side.
(5) “A Mighty Leviathan Of Old” – Vandaveer
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In what was by far the biggest blowout of Round 1, Vandaveer absolutely crushed Yeasayer’s recently released “Ambling Alp.” The Roanoke crowd definitely came out in force, but there is just no denying that “A Might Leviathan Of Old” is an absolutely brilliant song. And in a contest between traditional folk and experimental pop, the folk music has clearly won out.
(2) “Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time” – Fanfarlo
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Fanfarlo’s “Harold T. Wilkins” still remains the most listened to track I have ever posted, and it is clear that their music has maintained its popularity among our listeners. Their clear victory once again leaves me with that unspeakable joy that even a bunch of nerdy kids can can make great rock music. We will see if they can compete with the powerhouse that Vandaveer has apparently become.
The Groove, Round 2:
(1) “Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z (ft. Alicia Keys)
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Probably no surprise here. Jay-Z’s “Empire State Of Mind” was the heavy favorite. Not only does the song have immense commercial appeal, it’s also just a great song. Surprisingly though, it barely won. Bobby Ray’s “I’ll Be In The Sky” was a strong 8 seed, but in the end it could just not compete with the dulcet tones of Alicia Keys and powerful lyrics of Jay-Z. Although it got off to a rocky start, “Empire State Of Mind” is without question still the heavy favorite.
(6) “The Opposite Of Adults (Kids Remix)” – Chiddy Bang
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When the groove first posted this song, he noted that this track stuck with him…and many of you as well. And the results of Round 1 have certainly proven him right. This matchup was another blowout. Chiddy’s MGMT remix has clearly maintained its popularity, but will it be enough to best the powerhouse that is Jay-Z? It’s hard to say. “Empire State Of Mind” has been overplayed a fair bit, and there is just no denying, “The Opposite Of Adults” is tough to listen to just once.
(3) “Alive” – Kid Cudi (ft. Ratatat)
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The Groove matched two new songs against each other in Round 1, Kid Cudi’s “Alive” and Lil Wayne’s “Watch My Shoes,” and the result was one of the closest outcomes of the bracket. In the end, it was Kid Cudi, who won out. The song blurs that line between hip-hop and alternative, and definitely presents a very unique sound for other tracks to compete with. Despite the fact that this may not be everyone’s favorite song from Kid Cudi’s newest album, there is no denying that the Groove has taste.
(2) “New Soul” – Wale
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The Groove said that Wale’s “New Soul” was one of his favorite songs of the year…and while I may be no expert in the world of hip-hop, I can’t help but agree with him. Of all the songs the Groove has introduced me to, this is one of my favorites (as was “I’ll Be In The Sky,” but alas, that one lost out). Featuring a slowed-down, eerie sample of Yael Naim’s “New Soul,” I found this song to be somewhat hypnotic…and clearly many of you agreed. Wale destroyed Mos Def in the votes, and this song is definitely entering the next round with quite a bit of momentum.
I hope I did the Groove proud, and don’t forget to get your votes in!
Posted by the Needle
March 9th, 2010 §
Round 2 is going to get started Thursday, so if you haven’t voted yet, you should do so now! You can vote on the Groove’s half of the bracket by clicking here, and my half by clicking here. Or, if you prefer, just get ahold of one of us here. Anyway, I thought I would put a post up in part as an intermission, but mostly because I have been dying to write about the Portland-based, folk-artist Leonard Mynx for weeks, and I didn’t want to wait until April to finally do so.
Leonard Mynx is one of those rare folk-singers that manages to suck you into his music at the first listen. It would be easy for me to compare him to other such artists. He is capable of the quiet story-telling of Bob Dylan, the atonal rantings of Tom Waits, and even the twang-tinged melodies of John Prine. But I’ve always found such comparisons to be kind of empty, and always a bit off target. To say that he has qualities of each of these artists only highlights his uniqueness from all of them.
Leonard Mynx – “Sing Radio”
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Leonard Mynx’s first album, Vesper, is a collection of quiet, story-telling songs each brimming with soft guitar, sobbing harmonica, and subtle horns occasionally interrupted by raucous drum-beats and well-placed feedback. All woven together with vivid lyrics and lively vocals. Recorded with his friend Adam Selzer (who has also worked with M. Ward), Vesper is one of those albums that is impossible to listen to just once. And just to make sure that everyone listens to this album at least once, Mynx is giving away downloads of his songs. All you have to do is email him at leonardmynx@gmail.com…so get on it!
Leonard Mynx – “Northwest Passage”
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And for as good as Vesper is, I find myself more excited to hear the tracks from his upcoming album Le Petit Mort. While Vesper maintains an air of quiet folk, Le Petit Mort is a demonstration of the artist’s depth and development. Recorded again with Selzer, this album is a veritable playground for Portland-based folk artists (i.e. Rachel Blumberg, Laura Gibson, etc.), and it is clear that Mynx has let his imagination, and his creativity run wild. Whether it’s the lovely vocals of “Miss You,” the engulfing noise of “Maybe,” or the quiet mystique of “Song With No Name,” each song presents the listener with something entirely new…something entirely unique…and something always exciting.
Leonard Mynx – “The Bones”
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It is clear that Leonard Mynx has only just begun to experiment, but he has shown a willingness and an enthusiasm to do so, and this is what makes Le Petit Mort so exciting. The album is set to come out sometime in the late spring, and judging by the fact that the snow has finally melted and the sun is out, that can’t be too far away. Keep an eye out!
Leonard Mynx – “Ball Of Fire”
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Don’t forget to vote…and as always, spread the word!
Posted by the Needle
March 1st, 2010 §
Let the first round begin! Below are each of the songs matched up for this week. Just leave a comment or contact us to let us know who your picks are. Vote early, vote often…and as always, feel free to share.
(1) “In The Flowers” – Animal Collective
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The Animal Collective are the clear favorite for this half of the bracket. Their most recent album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, was picked as album of the year by many music critics, and while “My Girls” is more commonly considered the best song on the album, I can’t help but disagree. “In The Flowers” is that perfect mix of moving lyrics, and more importanly, moving sound.
(8) “Julian Of Norwich” – Bombadil
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Bombadil is definitely the sentimental favorite…a real Cinderella story. Not only were they fellow Duke students, but they seem like all around nice guys. There music mixes a broad spectrum of sounds (including a minstrel break in “Julian of Norwich”) and great lyrics. Their win may be a long shot, but what is March Madness without a Cinderella story?
(4) “Home” – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
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It’s hard to believe that Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros jumped to the 4th seed so quickly, but their first album, Up From Below, was pretty amazing, and I just heard this song on the trailer for some movie. There aren’t a lot of “love songs” worthy of the sweet sixteen, but there aren’t many love songs as impressive as this.
(6) “When They Fight, They Fight” – Generationals
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If there is any song that will give the upbeat, cheery “Home” a run for it’s money, it is the equally catchy, even more rambunctious “When They Fight, They Fight” by the Generationals. Picking just one song from their debut album Con Law was tricky, but in the end, this is the clear choice. Just try to listen to this without singing along, and while you’re at it, listen to the rest of the album as well.
(3) “Ambling Alp” – Yeasayer
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There was no question in my mind that Yeasayer’s “Ambling Alp” would make this bracket and with a high seed. I never would have imagined that their follow up album, Odd Blood, could have surpassed their debut album, All Hour Cymbals, but here we are. And with lyrics like these, it’s not hard to see why:
Now, the world can be an unfair place at times
But your lows will have their complement of highs
And if anyone should cheat you, take advantage of, or beat you
Raise your head and wear your wounds with pride
(5) “A Mighty Leviathan Of Old” – Vandaveer
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I was blown away the first time I heard Vandaveer’s “A Mighty Leviathan Of Old,” and every time I listen to it, it just gets better. Vandaveer is definitely the local Roanoke favorite, and you can’t help but have a little hometown pride. So to Mark, Rose, and their worn out boots, best of luck.
(2) “Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time” – Fanfarlo
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Fanfarlo’s “Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For A Very Long Time” is without question the most listened to song I have ever posted. This song comes from the band’s debut album, Reservoir, and once again, it was hard to pick just one track to use. The entire record is fantastic, and the band dangled a man in a straight jacket from the ceiling during their show in New York! If that doesn’t earn you a 2 seed, nothing will.
(7) “222″ – Those Darlins
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The saddest day of my year so far was not getting to see Those Darlins live in Charlotesville because of the crazy snow storms in Virginia. I can only imagine how much fun they would be live, but this song should give you all a pretty good idea. Just be sure to turn it up loud, and always remember, you have to have respect for a band that releases their music on a hot pink vinyl.
Oh, and this is our 100th post! So to all of you that have kept us going with your support, we thank you…and we look forward to the next 100!
Posted by the Needle
February 28th, 2010 §
March Madness is right around the corner, and since neither my Wolverines nor the Groove’s Tarheels seem to have much chance of making the tournament, we have taken it upon ourselves to fill the void with a playoff of our own. So here’s how it works…starting this week, we will pit some of our favorite songs from the past year against one another.
We’ve put together a sweet sixteen of songs leading to the final contest between me and the Groove. Each song has been ranked, but the victors will be determined by our readers. To vote for which song you think should win each matchup, simply leave a comment on the post. Vote early and vote often…and of course, get as many people involved as you can!
So, download the Bracket and get the office pool started! Official matches start this week!
Posted by the Needle
February 24th, 2010 §
There is no denying that music is a job…to be in a band requires a tremendous amount of work. There is a constant struggle to make ends meet, to survive tours, to produce albums. And while all of this is bound to take its toll, there should still be an element of fun, of enjoyment…some of that original spark that made you want to start a band in the first place…that drive to be an artist and to share your creation with the world. Now, I’ve never been in a band, so perhaps this is all a little idealistic, but no matter what you do, your job should bring you at least some joy. The Shout Out Louds have just released their newest studio album, Work, and it seems as though they have lost this joy…have somehow lost that enthusiasm that made them such a great band to listen to.
Perhaps this isn’t overly surprising. After all, the description of the album, which was released by Merge, begins like this:
Shout Out Louds are back at work. It only just dawned on them what the rest of us have known for a long time: they were born to do this. This is what they do. They write songs, record them, and tour. Thats their work. Hence Work, the title of their third album.
Why should it have ever dawned on them that what they do is simply “work?” Why can’t they have continued on in the delusion that what they do is fun? That they are actually getting paid to do something they love? And this seems to be the problem with Work. The album isn’t bad, it’s just a little flat. It lacks the enthusiasm and energy of their first two albums, Howl Howl Gaff Gaff and Our Ill Wills. Gone is the rambunctiousness and energy of songs like “100 Degrees:”
Shout Out Louds – 100 Degrees
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Instead, the songs feel somehow burdensome…they sound just fine, but they are missing that spark of excitement that made the Shout Out Louds so endearing:
Shout Out Louds – Four by Four
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This, of course, doesn’t mean that Work isn’t without its high points. There are certainly songs that leave the toe tapping, that seem as though the band was having as much fun playing them as the listener has hearing them:
Shout Out Louds – Walls
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But these songs are few and far between. Taken as a whole, the album merely moves along. It sounds good, but it doesn’t excite…I guess this shouldn’t be too surprising. Afterall, even the album art makes it seem as though the Shout Out Louds have about a hundred places they would rather be:
Posted by the Needle
February 11th, 2010 §
It’s no secret that follow up albums often fall a little flat. Whether it be Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Fratellis, or any number of other bands, sophomore albums often leave us wanting more. Too often a band tries something new and unfamiliar with disastrous results, or worse, tries to reproduce the magic of their first album…becoming stagnant and hackneyed. But on occasion, some bands build on their initial success, moving in exciting and impressive new directions (see the Arcade Fire, the Pink Mountaintops, or Phosphorescent, for example). A pair of recently released sophomore albums by Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer do just that. With a sense of familiar novelty, both groups have managed to produce fantastic and entertaining new records.
The Vampire Weekend stormed onto the scene with the release of their self-titled debut album in 2008. The quirky lyrics and catchy beats made that album a whole lot of fun to listen to…kind of like a perpetual spring break. The band’s newly released follow-up album, Contra, lacks a little of that playfulness…that inescapable air of youthfulness (for example, you won’t find anything quite so silly as “who gives a f#@% about an oxford comma?”). But this isn’t a bad thing at all. The band seems to have matured and grown a little, and their sound has matured with them.
Vampire Weekend – Horchata
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There is still the ghost of the jovial in this album, but it has been tempered. And despite this, it still works. The sound is familiar, but the effect is completely new and exciting. Now, this isn’t to say that the band has forgotten how to have fun, they are now just having a more grown up good time.
Vampire Weekend – Cousins
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And Vampire Weekend isn’t the only band to have outdone itself with their sophomore album. I’m always a little nervous when a band’s first album is almost too good, and Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals was just that. It always leaves me wondering where the group could possibly go…how they could possibly make great better. Yet with the release of Odd Blood, Yeasayer has done just that. The album’s first song, “Children,” is a distorted, atonal, noisy song that seems to announce to everyone that this album is going to be different. Yeasayer doesn’t try to hide that fact…they shout it from the rooftop! And Odd Blood is different. The strong beats and percussive repetition of All Hour Cymbals gives way to the lyrical, almost ballad-like tracks of Odd Blood…and the change is refreshing.
Yeasayer – I Remember
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Again, the band has managed to hang on to just enough of the familiar to remind us why we loved them in the first place, but they’ve taken it further…or if not further, in an exciting new direction. I can’t say that it’s better, but it is most definitely not worse…it is equally great, and that is saying something.
Yeasayer – Ambling Alp
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Posted by the Needle
February 6th, 2010 §
