Freelance Whales - 'Weathervanes'

I forgot to post this on the day the album came out!

We briefly spoke about Freelance Whales in a earlier post. Their debut album 'Weathervanes' is in now in stores. It leaked months ago (i think it was relesed in europe a while ago, or its just getting a proper release today) and it has gotten good reviews around the internet. This band knows how to use space as an insturment. They don't rush the music. The first song 'Generation 1st floor' takes almost 2 full minutes before any words are spoken. They let the music start slow with plucking banjos and soft walls of sound, then let it expand and build up. They have a Sufjan Stevens like production value, everything sounds so clean and real on this album...I can only hope that they live up to it when playing live. They are been seen playing subways in NYC, now touring the country. Check out their dates at their Myspace. Buy the album HERE.

Freelance Whales - Generator 2nd Floor

Freelance Whales | MySpace Music Videos

Cloud Nothings & Speaker Tree Records

Speakertree Records is an independent record store in downtown Lynchburg, VA selling new and used CDs, vinyl LPs and 7”s. They specialize in smaller label releases, vinyl LPs, handmade goods, and magazines. They can special order almost any CD or in print LP that you are looking for and get it in quickly...I got my order of vinyl in four days. I would not call Speakertree a label, but they have released one album, Cloud Nothings 'Turning On' on January 19th.

These boys know how to jam. Messy lofi fuzz, catchy hooks and riffs followed by exploding guitar jams..total head boppin music. I feel like Cloud Nothings did exactly what they needed to with this album. A new band making a short record filled with fun fuzzy pop songs that you can listen to on a car ride with your friends. I only wish it was longer. Clocking in at < 30 min, it left me wanting more. I flipped it back over and started again.

Cloud Nothing's - Can't Stay Awake by berman1125
 

Buy the album HERE and receive a free mp3 download of the album.

Find out more about Speaker Tree Records & Cloud Nothings and support physical media!

http://speakertreerecords.com/Site/Home.html
http://speakertreerecords.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/speakertree
Cloud Nothings Myspace
Cloud Nothing Twitter

Laura Marling - 'I Speak Because I Can'

This blog loves Laura Marling. One of my first blog posts was about her. She is a stunningly beautiful young folk singer from England who's debut album 'Alas I Cannot Swim' sends chills down my spine. New Romantic and Ghosts are perfect tracks. Her new album has just hit stores and 'I Speak Because I Can' shows a more mature Marling. 'Devil Spoke' is the lead track and it's exactly how you should open this album. It starts off lonely and slow, then builds to a much faster pace with a lot of acoustics (love the banjo). I first thought it would be hard to top the debut and I don't this this album is better as a whole then Alas....but Laura did succeed in making a very strong sophomore album. She continues with the struggle of being an independent woman, being in relationships and how to be comfortable in her own skin. Her voice and lyrics carry the weight of a woman who has been through a lot...oh wait...she's 20. Rumor has it, she's already working on her third album.

Buy the album 'I Speak Because I Can' Here

Album Review: Toro Y Moi – Causers Of This

You know that feeling? After listening to the opening track of an album, you just get know that it's going to be a fantastic listening experience from start to finish. Well that's how I felt after listening to the opening track 'Blessa' off of Toro Y Moi's debut album 'Causers of This'. It has warped beats, dreamy vocals, and eventually moves into an electronic jam sphere. The entire album is drenched in exotic synths and heavy dance beats.

If you are trying to place Toro Y Moi aka Chaz Bundick into a musical category, he can be compared to the likes of other DIY lo-fi pop projects like Neon Indian, Washed Up, Emil and Friends. 'Lissoms' has that straight up Animal Collective/Daft Punk dance floor vibe to it. It really gets your toes tapping and is currently my favorite track. 'Freak Love' is a musical whirl. Repeating vocals and crackling white noise, it sounds like a record being spun at a very weird and fast pace. The song goes round and round in non stop rotation. I also really love 'Low Shoulders'. It has a real good summer feel to it with very catchy synth hooks. This album is a full-blast indie dance anthem if you will, a perfect way to welcome the new decade.

Also check out Chad's blog, he takes some really cool pictures http://www.toroymoi.blogspot.com/
Head on over to his MySpace to check out tour dates and more info. Hoping to check him out in Boston on March 27.

Key Tracks:

Toro Y Moi - Lissoms by berman1125

Toro Y Moi - Blessa by berman1125

Toro Y Moi Low Shoulder by berman1125

Spoon - 'Transference' Review

Spoon is a band with a shitload of albums, like 10 or something like that. I admit, I was a little late to the bandwagon. I got their album 'Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga', that came out in 2007. You might know the catchy song 'The Underdog' from the movie 'I Love You Man'. This band is one of the most popular in indie-rock. Spoon uses a clean mix, tight guitar licks, a little out there but listenable vocals, and bashing drums as their formula for most of their albums.
Each song has a bit of experimentation to it. 'Is Love Forever?' has some crazy multi tracking vocals and 'Who Makes Your Money?' is almost too chill (actually its perfect). I also really like the usage of the piano in this album. It sounds so good on 'Written in Reverse'. They jam out on 'I Saw The Light' too. 'Trouble Come Running' sounds like the type of song that could get some love around the internet. This may not have the swagger of past Spoon records, it might not be their best album to date, but it's another enjoyable Spoon album. 7.5/10

Key Tracks: NPR hooked it up, you can stream the entire album Here