MGMT - "Mother Nature"

The first single from MGMT's upcoming record Loss of Life is the sunny, Beatle-esque track "Mother Nature." It's quite lovely and warm. 

2018 Favorite Albums (20-16)

Continuing my countdown of my favorite albums of 2018:

20. The Amazing - In Transit

This Swedish band continues to impress with their intricate sonic explorations. On their fifth record In Transit they bring more emotion and rawness to the proceedings, but still maintain their massive, oceanic sound.



19. Drake - Scorpion

Yes, it is overlong, stuffed with some filler, and is rather a mess. But what would Drake be without broadcasting everything about his life? He still maintains his undisputed reign over hip-hop, R&B, and pop.



18. SALES - forever & ever

There is something exquisitely sublime about this bedroom/dream pop record. The sleek, sparkling production draws you into SALES' atmospheric world.



17. Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears

I'm All Ears is this year's most gonzo pop record. What's more amazing is that these two women are only 19, and show so much originality and verve. It's going to be very exciting to see what they do in their career.



16. MGMT - Little Dark Age

Where MGMT finally stop hiding the hooks. Brilliant and much welcome return to form.

2018 Favorite Songs (50-41)

It's that time of year again! I will be sharing my list of my favorite songs of 2018 this week, followed by my list of top albums next week. So let's jump right to it, with numbers 50-41:


50. Bearcubs - "Landslide"



Haunting, James Blake-esque track from Bearcubs that revels in a sort of electronic underwater murkiness, but keeping the emotions crystal clear.

49. cupcakKe - "Duck Duck Goose" (NSFW)"



Gloriously filthy rap from the inimitable cupcaKKe.

48. Janelle Monae ft. Grimes - "Pynk"



Feminist anthem from the always evocative Janelle Monae.

47. Let's Eat Grandma - "Hot Pink"



Produced by experimental producer SOPHIE, duo Let's Eat Grandma throw down this slamming track with clattering percussion, buzz saw synths, and moments of extreme beauty.

46. DRAMA - "Fuck Dave"



Although the title of this song makes it sound like this will be a raucous, punk jam, it is actually a somber, Sade-esque exploration of a doomed relationship.

45. Death Cab for Cutie - "Northern Lights"



Death Cab for Cutie go for a "Just Like Heaven" Cure vibe on this driving track that shows the band still has it in them to beguile with their charms.

44. Now Now - "Window"



Swooning synths propel this achingly heartfelt ballad.

43. MGMT - "When You Die"



Goofy, folky synth rock track from MGMT which finds them finally going back to making fun, catchy as hell songs.

42. Johnny Marr - "Hi Hello"



Gorgeous track that borrows from Marr's classic guitar lines in "There is a Light and it Never Goes Out."

41. Matt Lange - "Bleed Together"



Producer Matt Lange evokes a Black Celebration-era Depeche Mode vibe on this moody number.

Jam of the Day: MGMT - "When You Die"

Quirky and charming little pop ditty from MGMT, who have finally decided to stop squandering all their good will and make a decent record, the just released Little Dark Age. It's definitely worth checking out.

Jam of the Day: MGMT - "Little Dark Age"

MGMT embrace their inner goth kid on this spooky, synth driven track.

Video: MGMT - "Alien Days"

Weird song, weirder video.

Videos of the Week

Heading to Vegas today for the first time; wish me luck. Here are some videos that distracted me while the week dragged on:



Solange Knowles dances through a mini-mall in this clip for the stunning mid-tempo ballad.



Tegan and Sara document how many ways you can dump someone without even seeing them face to face.



Simultaneously sensual and terrifying, this clip from buzzy new singer FKA twigs is hard to watch, but is equally hard to look away from.



Jonny Rogoff, the bearish drummer for Yuck, plays tennis with a very unstable older gentleman in this clip.



Another bizarre and weird clip from MGMT.



Bloody clip from PUP.



Cool animated clip from Kvelertak.

Non-Sequiturs

Icelandic actor and strongman contest competitor Hafthor Julius Bjornsson will play Gregor Clegane (a.k.a. The Mountain) on Game of Thrones.  Fuck he's hot.

Nice tight frame.

Nice view.

Smirk.

Love the veins in his arms.

Hot belly.

Just plain hot.

Adorabear.

Dreamy eyes.

I want to play in his fur.

Damn, those eyes are piercing.

Damn, damn, damn.

Lots of fur to hide in.

Ridiculously handsome.

Nice abs.

Grrr and Woof and stuff.

Sexy.

Amazing stomach.

Yes, please and thank you.

Daddy's mad.

Big ole slab of beef.

Beautiful profile.

I'd climb every mountain.

Wow.

Gorgeous.

Dripping wet fur.

Handsome daddy.

Sexy beard.

If you think you are going to be the same person you are now in 5 years, you are sadly mistaken.

Oregano and cilantro should be used sparingly.

Not every conversation has to be some long drawn out argument.

Janelle Monae's new record The Electric Lady is not a good workout record.

D'awwww.

Also, R&B and hip hop records need to do away with the skits. Annoying.

Trent Reznor gets better looking as he ages. And I had no idea he was pocket sized like me.

I hate when people say "I know just how you feel" when it comes to death of a loved one.

Andrew is all moved into my place, and now comes the fun part of getting the cats acclimated to one another. Missy, my cat, is being her usual bitch self and hiding under the bed and hissing and growling anytime one of the other cats gets near her. Escada is being sweet, but runs away from Missy any chance she can. And poor, deaf, partially blind Halbert just wants to be Missy's friend, and has no idea she is hissing/growling at him.

America today.

Always interesting when someone's real personality decides to come out.

I have a very large personal space. I cannot stand it when people encroach on it.

Beards are great, but the only downside is that food gets all over and in it.



Some things are so simple and perfect, like this piece of music from Aphex Twin.

I would love to know how much money Mr. S Leather makes during Folsom Weekend.

Reading patent documents makes me question my will to live.

Remember when MGMT actually had hooks in their songs?

The meeting shall come to order.

If you think about sex it can make you forget you have to pee.

If one more person tells me to smile in a picture, I am going to punch them in the throat.

Naming your band Diarrhea Planet is ok if you are some sucky garage band, but when your music is actually good, it does a disservice to you.

I just can't find men with long hair attractive.

Indeed.

To me, responding to someone's message with "k" either shows indifference or that you are trying to be a dick.

Goldie Hawn has had so much work done, however, she obviously is going to the right people. She looks fabulous.

There is real power when people fear you.

I have a feeling Miley Cyrus is still feeling pretty good about the joke she pulled at the VMAs, and laughing all the way to the bank.

Your cute for the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"I hate on everything that you say
You know I don’t see all the things that I cry
You secretly hide love
And finally when I have myself fall
Hard for you I see you trying to pretend
Like I’m making it up
This is what it feels like
This is what it feels like

Burn it down, burn it up
Burn it now, burn it up
This is what it feels like now
It’s been enough
Burn it down, burn it up

And when my love is totally made
You said that you couldn’t sleep cause
Of what I told you
I got you off hard
Ands then when you said you felt the same
You prone away
Started acting like me when it was too hard
This is what it feels like
This is what it feels like
This is what it feels like

Burn it down, burn it up
Burn it now, burn it up
This is what it feels like now
Scared enough
Burn it down, burn it up

Burn it down, burn it up
Burn it now, burn it up
This is what it feels like now
Scared enough
Burn it down, burn it up

Burn it down, burn it up
Burn it now, burn it up
This is what it feels like now
Scared enough
Burn it down, burn it up."

BANKS
"This Is What It Feels Like"

"How's that
how's that feel

Everything

How's that
how's that feel

Everything

That feels good
in my
That feels good
so so amazing
I want you
in my
Oh, oh, you

On my
How's that feel
You feel right
That's so amazing."

FKA Twigs
"How's That"

"Grey stares beneath the moon
Tonight I’ll be dreaming of you
People and rhythm instead
And there you’ll be
There you’ll be inside my head

Hmmm, I will dream of you
Hmmm, you’ll dream of me too
Hmmm, your hands, they’re on my face
Hmmm, there would be no better place

Some miracle man must have shot me
While I wake. I never ran fast enough
Oh my mistakes
Would you really want me
In the light of day, that very same man
Shot flaws right through my face

Hmmm, I will dream of you
Hmmm, you’ll dream of me too
Hmmm, your arms curled round my waist
Hmmm, there would be no better place

Could you have your arms around my
Could you have your arms around my."

London Grammar
"Interlude"

Appealing Things

My morning telephone call from Andrew on his way to work
My new neoprene harness
BANKS
FKA Twigs
The trailer for the movie Her from Spike Jonze
Carmen Dell’Orefice
Blood Orange

Annoying Things

People who are negative Nancys about everything
Name droppers
Necklaces on men
Cats fighting
Summer ending

Video: MGMT - "Your Life Is A Lie"

Eccentric video for the first single from MGMT's upcoming self-titled record. The band seems to be continuing down the odd path started with their second record Congratulations and away from the hooky indie pop of their debut.

Canyons: Keep Your Dreams - Album Review

Canyons
Keep Your Dreams
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Aussie duo Canyons, Leo Holiday and Ryan Sea-mist, can easily be lumped into the prog/psych/electro rock category housing artists like Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Yeahsayer. But where those bands have a more pop-leaning slant, for the most part, Canyons embrace being completely weird and experimental, and actually the more bizarre they are, the more fun they are. Where they attempt to make more traditional pop songs is where they lose what makes them so distinctive in the first place. The first single off Keep Your Dreams, "See Blind Through," is a prime example of where they hit things perfectly. The song, a fat slice of deep house, comes complete with slinky bass-synths, acid house synth stabs, and chopped vocal samples.



"Blue Snakes" loops a slithering sax line around thumping beats, whooshing synths, and rave vocals.

Canyons - Blue Snakes by modularpeople

And by far the weirdest song on the album, "Under A Blue Sky," is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink melange of disco beats, saxophones, twinkly keyboards, vocodered french vocals, and even elephant noises.

Canyons - Under A Blue Sky by modularpeople

Some of the more traditional songs have promise. "When I See You Again" has a David Gray acoustic-electro vibe that actually fits the driving force of the song.

Canyons - When I See You Again by modularpeople

And I enjoyed the shuffling, slackertude of "Tonight."

Canyons - Tonight by modularpeople

Often though, the songs seem like overwrought demos in need of a severe critical ear. "My Rescue" is all build with no release, the vocals too wispy and nasally to carry what is meant to be a distinctive "moment" on the record.

Canyons - My Rescue by modularpeople

"And We Dance" is another kitchen sink song, but instead of being cute and charming is unfortunately 7:00 minutes of mismatched genre hopping and dreadful pacing.

Canyons - And We Dance by modularpeople

"Circadia" and "The Bridge" attempt to evoke pastoral IDM and acid house, respectively, and fail to make much of an impression with either.

Canyons - The Bridge by modularpeople

Keep Your Dreams is far from a failure, but is mostly an exercise is not knowing what works best for your band and making an unholy mess of things. There are elements here that, if they had kept on script, would have made for a much more cohesive listening experience. It's difficult to write this band off yet based on this album, and one can only hope they realize what their strengths are and stick to them.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.

Videos of the Week

Brrrrrr. Here are the videos of the week that are keeping me warm against the winter chill:



New video from The Big Pink. Not sure I like this more poppy sound they are going for, but it is a pretty good song.



MGMT's gorgeous cover of the Bauhaus track "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything" gets an equally gorgeous animated video.



One of the best tracks off the debut album from WU LYF gets an interestingly suspenseful video.



Video from King Krule, the 17 year old singer-songwriter wunderkind from the UK. He is one to watch.



Hyesterically anachronistic video from the German industrial band. Directed by Jonas Ackerland.



One of the more beat heavy tracks on the new Drake cd.



Bizarre video from Los Campesinos!



Sounds like a dance act from the heyday of Factory records.

Foster The People: Torches

Foster The People
Torches
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Foster the People received a lot of online buzz for their first single "Pumped Up Kicks" which also featured heavily on KROQ's programming. That song, a catchy, upbeat ode to a high school gun toting psycho, sort of sums up the band in a way; there is something familiar and inviting about them (their music travels in indie pop/dance punk/rock styles of contemporaries like Cut Copy, Phoenix, and MGMT) while adding an odd twist to a lyric or a melody that keeps things fresh. When they are on their game, they put forth excellent sing-a-long singles that stand tall alongside their brethren, but too often, their tracks are done in my lazy songwriting and tepid melodies. There is definitely enough here for interest, but it almost seems that the album was put out too soon to capitalize on the success of "Pumped Up Kicks." A little more time in the studio would have probably benefitted the album.

"Pumped Up Kicks" is most listener's likely entry point to the band, and it is a fine single, though I am still bewildered that it is so successful as it is merely a catchy pop song, with a rather morbid subject matter.



It is not even the best song on the album. Album opener "Helena Beat" is far catchier, Mark Foster's falsetto (which thankfully is used sparingly) careens around a frothy, spacey disco track.



Unfortunately, the album is front loaded with all the good tracks. "Call It What You Want" coasts along on a piano driven melody that seals the deal with a catchy as shit chorus.



"Waste" is a lovely almost ballad, with Foster strangely sounding like a forlorn Lykke Li. It is a simple melody bouyed by some interesting effects in the background. Killer chorus as well.



Deep into the album there are a couple of standout tracks. "Hustling (Life On The Nickel)" is a dense slow burner, with lots of squeltchy electronic effects.



"Miss You" is another standout, using a darker musical palatte with proto-electro percussion, buzzing synths, and Foster's haunting vocals.



But too often, the band regurgitates the same melodies and structures, which lends the album a monotone quality over the long haul. Not to say the other tracks aren't catchy, as they are like the flu, it's just that some of the tracks are not as distinguishable over the better tracks.

"I Would Do Anything For You" borrows almost the same beat and melody from "Pumped Up Kicks" just giving it a lighter, 70s yacht music feel that doesn't suit the band at all.



"Color On The Walls (Don't Stop)" just never goes anywhere, sticking to an annoying pattern filled with odd animal noises as percussion that grates on one's nerves. "Warrant" starts off promisingly with an angelic choir of synths, but gets bogged down with an overly simple, traditional musical bed of pianos and drums. The song tries to build to an anthemic chorus, which instead comes off anemic.

Torches comes with enough good will and skill to not fully go off the rails. Sticking to a tight template, the band definitely knows its way around a hook, and given more time and less pressure to get something out on the market, I think there is enough here to show that this is a band to look out for in the future.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.