Sometimes, it’s important to refuel. I have some albums that I slip on every day, and they fit like my favorite pair of jeans. I will never, ever get tired of hearing R.E.M.’s Life’s Rich Pageant, or Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins. That’s just how it is. I don’t necessarily look for them every day, but they always find their way back to me. Of course, which albums stick around the house for a while is really up to the season. Sun Kil Moon works better in Fall and Winter, and The B-52’s are a Summer band. That’s life.
But for all of this, it’s important to keep bringing in the new. Music affords us one of the few, endless adventures in life. There are so many bands – doing so very many things – that there will never be time for it all. You like Indie Rock, do you? Well, there are thousands of bands you have never heard of. No matter how hip. There’s someone, at this moment, doing something in a garage that’s going to be your next favorite song. Shouldn’t everything be like that? It’s awesome, and it’s the reason I’m here on this here website.
So, in this quasi-weekly installment, I’m going to share with you some of the amazing things that have come to me… well, since the last time I wrote this thing. As this is the first time, let’s stick with March. Some of this will be new, and some old, but hopefully it will all be awesome. Let’s get started… if you’ll just follow me:
The first track comes courtesy of a wonderful list put together by the always excellent Slowcoustic. In a review of We/Or/Me‘s Ghostwriter EP, he writes:
We/Or/Me is actually Bahhaj Taherzadeh who is in fact a new resident to Chicago by way of Ireland who breathes beauty and new life into the Singer Songwriter genre for me. Some performers grow on you after years of listening (or trying to listen) and some instantly become a favourite. The latter is the case for me and We/Or/Me when I first heard the EP entitled “Ghostwriter”. 5 tracks of hushed indie folk – sold.
Another review from Sean Michaels over at Said the Gramophone puts it this way: ““Tell Sarah” glows, just of itself, like fireflies in a jar. [highly recommended].” I honestly couldn’t agree more. Have a listen, and then go check out the myspace page for more:
[audio:https://www.shh-listen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/01-Tell-Sarah-2.mp3|titles=We/Or/Me – Tell Sarah] Download
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Also from Slowcoustic is one of We/Or/Me’s label mates on Yer Bird Records: Hezekiah Jones. Listening late at night in my headphones, it seemed that the world went completely still when the first chords were played. There’s a gravity to these songs: delicate, deep, and dusky. The perfect restorative after a long day of anything; or, indeed, a wonderful way to lose yourself in sound. Here’s “Traffic to the Sea” from their 2009 EP Bread of Teeth:
[audio:https://www.shh-listen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/03-Traffic-to-the-Sea-1.mp3|titles=Hezekiah Jones – Traffic to the Sea] Download
Also, here’s a video of “Cupcakes for the Army” from their 2006 Hezekiah Says You’re A-OK:
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Courtesy of NPR’s SXSW Sampler comes Local Natives‘ “Airplanes.” Their debut album – Gorilla Manor – is out this year on Frenchkiss Records (home of Freelance Whales). This band has a bright, poppy sound full of harmonies and horns. Honestly, it’s a bit like someone spiked Fleet Foxes’ tea with a pound of sugar (Mmm…). Actually, for some harmonic reason or other, this track really reminds me of Sigur Rós’ excellent með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust. It’s energetic and engaging, and I’m definitely expecting big things from them this year. Have a listen! And after that, check out a couple of their guerrilla-style videos here.
[audio:https://www.shh-listen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/02-Airplanes.mp3|titles=Local Natives – Airplanes] Download
And here’s the rest of the album!
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Straight outta Luleå – via the Colbert Report – is Movits!
Words really cannot describe this bizarre marriage of the Swedish language, rap vocals, and swing jazz. No, really, go ahead and find something pithy to say about the combination of those three elements. I’ll wait. And while I’m waiting, I’ll remind you that they are also at SXSW (like everyone who isn’t me), and you should go if you want to spend a whole day saying: “Wait, did that really happen?” This song has been stuck in my head for months, and now it can be yours, too! Oh, and you should check out their excellent tour website – you can find the Colbert appearance, and some nifty travelogues. Enjoy!
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Still reeling from Joanna Newsom‘s Have One on Me. Here’s a recent performance of “Soft as Chalk” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
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From NPR, once again, comes “Cleo’s Song” by New York based (Montreal born) JBM. JBM is actually singer/songwriter Jesse Marchant. His first record not even in July is available via his website and iTunes, and will be officially released April 13th on Partisan Records. Recorded in a converted church, the music is definitely evocative of that open , hallowed space. There’s an elusiveness to the sound on “Cleo’s Song” – captured best, perhaps, in the lyric: “And it’s too late, now, but I wrote this down back then…” It’s wonderful stuff, and I hope you’ll like it. Here’s “Cleo’s Song.” You can also hear more, and find out tour dates and the like on his myspace page. And as ever, Daytrotter comes through with a wonderful JBM session.
[audio:https://www.shh-listen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/02-Cleos-Song.mp3|titles=JBM – Cleo’s Song] Download
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And that’s all for this week! Thanks for listening, and supporting this site and these fine bands!