New Goodbye – Hey Rosetta! – An inspired mix of Midlake, Kingsbury Manx, and, them again, the Gin Blossoms that comes across like a pastoral dream embedded in rock. They are at Bowery Ballroom September 7th and I plan to be there. Great coda which descends into noise.SONG OF THE WEEK
Gold Skull – Miniature Tigers – The electronic bops in the background might lead you to the expectation Neon Indian performed production duties and you’d be right. But the song is all pop hooks, the “look aways” bring you right back to the beginning each and every time.
Outerspace – Noun – Is to prog what Screaming Females is to punk: a move forward that rides Marissa Paternoster distinctly, alarming and somewhat overwhelming singing to the end of the track. Guitar solo and the get is brilliant.
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry – “Let’s go all the way tonight, no regrets only love”. Yeah, look. This is the sound of modern pop and if the blur of drums and synth are familiar, and if Katy is a dope, the name of the song alone should make it the topic of conversation near the top of Billboards Hot 100.
Long Way Down – Dion Roy – Suddenly all I can see is superior songwriters. This has the clang and charge of 90s rock and Dion has one of those voices that sounds touched by, if not sadness, maybe sympathy. A beaut.
Moneygrabber – Fitz And The Tantrums – Sure, it’s good if you’ve never listened to the O’Jays. However, if you have, it is an uncomfortable melding of the original and the borrowed.
Ready To Start – Arcade Fire – As controversy rages at rock nyc as to whether we should download the album illegally or not (we didn’t), every song is revealing itself now. Wim may well be an arrogant asshole, but with a sound this big, the drums are near the top of the mix, he has every right to be.
Champagne Life – Ne-Yo – The difference between this by the numbers hip hop produced dancer and everybody elses, is Ne-Yo has the best falsetto in the business. He reminds me of the late great Luther Vandross.
Tomboy – Panda Bear – I am not a Panda Bear fan but I may have to check my attitude if only for the oddly doctored acoustic guitar here. Background music for front ground rock fans.
Aston Martin Music – Rick Ross, Drake and Chrisette Michelle – Chrisette channels her inner Aaliyah in the excellent chorus and Drake doesn’t rap which is always a plus. Rick does rap and he knows how.
Just The Way You Are – Bruno Marx – Great verse but he loses it on the chorus.
Disappear – 12 Stone – Heavy metal for people who don’t like heavy metal.
You’re Not Alone – Mavis Staple – Ry Cooder produced her 2007 album. Jeff Tweedy produced her current one. Guess which one you should buy. I dare you. I double dare you.