Next to design, my most passionate interest has to be music. I listen to music as much as I can and always enjoy recommending new music to others. In the last month or so I have been hearing some great new stuff that I wanted to share, so I thought I would assemble a list of my favourites. The first thing I need to preface this with is the fact that I am an album person, not in the sense that I listen to physical albums, but I listen to music as an album not as singles. I know that I must seem old fashioned in the world of mp3’s, but I still think music is best enjoyed in the traditional album format. All that aside, here are some of my favourite albums from the last month (some of which are soon to be released).
Bishop Allen - Grrr…
While this album won’t be out until March 10, my girlfriend and I were lucky enough to see them perform a bunch of their new songs last month at the El Mocambo. If you haven’t already hear of Bishop Allen, they are a great band that has a very pop driven sound that is catchy and complex. From what I know the band came together when the two main members met while studying at Harvard. Their previous two full length albums are also great and worth checking out. This new album is really tight and filled with really well crafted songs. Seeing them live added a whole new dimension to their music, something I hope to see integrated into their future records.
Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic
This is a new band that made a big impression on me with their debut album and unique sound. The band is lead by a guy named Luke Temple whose voice bears a real similarity to Paul Simon. However this fact soon fades away after the first track. The album has a kind of dreamy trance quality to it that reminds me a lot of Deerhunter. The album has a some instrumental tracks, but the majority feature some vocal elements.
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Like Here We Go Magic, Animal Collective definitely has a unique sound. I have followed the band for their past three albums, but for anyone who hasn’t heard them before, Merriweather Post Pavilion is a really accessible first listen. However in that same light, their music is completely different from anything else. Sounds and voices surround you as you listen to this album. Lush, is the best word I can think of to describe the rich sounds that fill this amazing record.
Antony & The Johnsons – The Crying Light
Antony Hegarty is the lead singer for this band. The reason I love their music so much is because of his completely unusual voice. There really is no description that does it justice so please just give it a listen. This new album continues in the same vein as their earlier work, but also takes it in some new directions. It is always encouraging when an artist gets better over time, transforming their music along the way.
Various Artists - Dark Was The Night
This complication album was assembled to support the Red Hot Organization, a charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. The album features 32 exclusive songs featuring a huge array of artist from the Indie music scene. It will be released on February 17. I have been lucky enough to hear a few of the songs and would highly recommend it. One of the standout tracks is an epic ten minute track by Sufjan Stevens, which hopefully gives a glimpse of his next record.
M. Ward – Hold Time
I have never really been a huge fan of M. Ward until this release. While I liked his sound, I was never captivated. Hold Time is a really varied record that bounces around stylistically but is well connected by M. Ward’s rich voice. The instrumentals backing him are just as rich, reminding me a bit of old film scores. Some covers and lots of references to music of the past enhance an overall nostalgic feeling. It will surely receive critical acclaim when it is released on February 17th.
Honourable Mentions
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