The Needle & The Groove

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

I’ve been a bit out of commission lately. In the past three weeks, I have been in or through thirteen different states, driven almost 5,500 miles, and had three oil changes and two car-washes. While all the travel hasn’t left me a whole lot of time to write any new posts, it has given me a chance to listen to a lot of music that I have been meaning to catch up on…and of all the bands I’ve been listening to over the past few weeks, the one that has stuck with me the most has easily been the Generationals.

The Generationals is the project of New Orleans based Ted Joyner and Grant Widmer, though they are joined by a number of other musicians and performers both on their album and in their live shows. Their debut album Con Law was released not too long ago by Park the Van Records. I first heard of Park the Van through Dr. Dog…I had caught one of their shows a long time ago, and the label was giving away free sampler cd’s to anyone who would take them. And while that first sampler didn’t exactly blow me away, the label has since picked up bands like The High Strung and The Spinto Band…and with their signing of the Generationals, it is clear that the label continues to expand, experiment, and explore in exciting and entertaining new ways.

The Generationals – “When They Fight, They Fight”

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It’s hard to classify the Generationals. Their songs run the gamut, pulling together a range of sounds and instruments that gives each song a unique and exciting feel. And these songs don’t just show a range of creative sound, they pull together influences from several generations of music…everything from 50′s sock hop to 90′s indie rock, all with a new twist…a 21st century hint of novelty. The song “When They Fight, They Fight,” for example, screams of Motown influences from the 60′s. It’s as though the song was ripped straight from my father’s oldies collection…yet the it doesn’t sound old-fashioned or hackneyed…it sounds new and original. Most impressively, none of the songs on Con Law sounds repetitive. “When They Fight, They Fight” might sound like a familiar oldie, but just listen to a song like “Wildlife Sculpture” and you are transported to the synth-inspired sound of the 80′s. The Generationals truly pull from generations, creating an album that is unique yet familiar…novel, yet comfortable.

The Generationals – “Wildlife Sculpture”

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And as if the album weren’t enough to elicit novel nostalgia, the band has also released a video for their song “Angry Charlie.” Ahh, the joys of the Polaroid.

The Generationals – “Angry Charlie”

Oh, and GO BENGALS!!!!

Posted by the Needle