There is no Dana; Only Tuunes!

2014 has ended and now we must look back. Listen to my Best of 2014 right here!

It's a Halloween Summer guys.

Neil Jarvis has returned but not without bringing a ton of new music. Click here to read my review of the new album!

New news from Modest Mouse!

The band has announced a new album! Check out all the details here!

REVIEW TIME!

Low Voltage Rangers have a new album! But is it any good? The answer is...

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT // JTF

I talk with JTF about his band and his amazing debut single, Fuchsia.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

MIXTAPES // Best if Played After 2013


Welcome to This Blog is About Music's second annual Best Of mixtape! As an attempt to improve upon last year's mix, Best if Played After 2013 features over 3 hours of great music from 2013 from an even wider range of genres than last year including Post-Rock, Pop, Dance, Chillwave, Surf Rock, Electronic, Rap, Shoegaze, Metal, and others. Check it out sometime and show it to your friends too! Happy end of the year readers.

Tracklisting
"Stormur" by Sigur Rós
"You Already Know" by Arcade Fire
"Night Drive" by Summer Camp
"If You Didn't See Me [Then You Weren't On The Dancefloor]" by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
"Happy" by Robert DeLong
"I've Hated You" by Ghasper
"The Leopard And The Lung" by The Joy Formidable
"Above Us" by Hibou
"I Sat By The Ocean" by Queens of the Stone Age
"Don't Give Up" by Washed Out
"Atomic Man" by Portugal. The Man
"Drove Me Wild" by Tegan And Sara
"Ich schreib' dir ein Buch 2013" by DJ Koze vs. Hildegard Knef
"Say That" by Toro y Moi
"The Mother We Share" by CHVRCHES
"Halo" by Cage the Elephant
"Juveniles" by French Films
"Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood 
"Adjust Glasses" by Kisses
"Compton" by Kendrick Lamar (ft. Dr. Dre)
"We Got It Wrong" by St. Lucia
"One Piece" by Panama
"Redshift" by Darwin Deez
"Time Will Tell" by Blood Orange
"Snap Out Of It" by Arctic Monkeys
"Love So Estranged" by The Bilinda Butchers
"Holding On For Life" by Broken Bells
"T.H.M." by Deerhunter
"Knowing We'll Be Here" by Daniel Avery
"Crashed Out" by Beach Fossils
"The Wire" by Haim
"Desert of Pop" by The Ruby Suns
"I Wanna Know" by Best Coast
"40 Acres" by Pusha T (ft. The Dream)
"Donny of the Decks" by Future of the Left
"The Pecan Tree" by Deafheaven
"Un Nouveau Soleil" by M83
"Life Round Here" by James Blake
"Everyday" by MillionYoung
"Ocean Repeating (Big-eyed Girl)" by Wild Nothing
"Evil Eye" by Franz Ferdinand
"Happy Birthday" by Cloud Control
"Prom Song" by Surfer Blood
"Air Bud" by Kurt Vile
"Demon To Lean On" by Wavves
"Binary Mind" by Ra Ra Riot
"Look at Orion!" by Bibio
"Destroyer" by Sad Day For Puppets
"Play Nice" by Pacific Air
"Ride Your Heart" by Bleached
"6 AM" by Fitz and the Tantrums
"Somewhere" by Yuck
"Raspberry Cane" by Youth Lagoon

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

LISTEN // Old Flame Records 2013 Sampler

There is a new Fall sampler out from Old Flame Records. It features songs from a lot of great talent including MillionYoung, Ing, Yuno, Gross Relations, and more. Currently they are selling it on their bandcamp for "Name your price" which is awesome! So all you poor college students have no excuse to not have this gem! Click the above image to listen to or download it. (and if you do listen to it, make sure it starts at number one. Unless you're a rebel like that...)

Sunday, October 27, 2013

LISTEN // Colours: A Compilation by On the Grind.

This past September On the Grind records released their first compilation, Colours. It features a plethora of great talent from around Manchester and Sheffield England. Some of these artists include Ratfangs, glocks, Cactus Knife, Neil Jarvis, and others. A full band list can be viewed below along with a couple previews of the compilation!

Buy Colours on On the Grind's website!



Bands featured in Colours: A Compilation by On the Grind
The Bell Peppers
Ratfangs
Toucans
Hitodama
Neil Jarvis
Cactus Knife
Glocks
Death Masks


Monday, October 14, 2013

LISTEN // Stream Best Coast's new EP Fade Away on KCRW!

Well the official release of Best Coast's newest EP Fade Away may not be for another week but that doesn't mean you have to wait to hear it. Below you can listen to the full EP courtesy of Best Coast and KCRW!

Make sure to buy a copy of this great indie pop release when it comes out this October 22nd!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

LISTEN // New single from Of Montreal off their upcoming album Lousy with Sylvianbriar

Yesterday Of Montreal shared a link to their new single off their upcoming album Lousy with Sylvianbriar called "Belle Glade Missionaries". It's a psychedelic pop track with an western feel to it.

Their new album which is due out October 8th will be their twelfth full-length. You can preorder Lousy with Sylvianbriar on Polyvinyl Records.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

WATCH // Check out Summer Heart's new video for "Milano" by Jonas Börjesson!


Howdy readers! Hope your day is going well. Earlier this month Summer Heart released a music video for his new single, "Milano", which came out on the 25th of June. Now, a new album was supposed to be coming out pretty soon from the Swedish chillwaver but, in a post to Facebook David Alexander (the man behind all the bleeps and bloops) said "Unfortunately my new album will be a bit delayed due to different circumstances. Therefore I am releasing this brand new song in the meantime."

I guess we will have to wait just a bit longer for the next album but at least we have another new single (i guess it's a single. Maybe like a unofficial single haha) on top of the other one, "Beat of Your Heart" which was also released in June! Watch the video for "Milano" below, made by Jonas Börjesson.

Monday, May 13, 2013

WATCH // Commander Chris Hadfield of the International Space Station sing David Bowie in space.

And just like that, Commander Chris Hadfield became my hero. Happy Monday everyone!

Friday, May 10, 2013

LISTEN // Hear samples of the new Crystal Fighters album Cave Rave!

A few days ago those of you on the Crystal Fighters email list received a new email. In this they had given a link to a sampler of the new album (which can be viewed above). Along with this sampler of Cave Rave there is a included, as they put it, "track by track explanation of what these tracks mean to us," which can be read below. Cave Rave is slated to be released on the 27th.

From the Crystal Fighters:

Peace + Love,
Crystal Fighters
Sebastian, Gilbert, Graham
--
Wave
The song wave is about all life on earth as one, the nature of time, and our collective place in the universe, and other realms. We believe there is far more out there than just the physical world; we are riding on that physical wave, together, but there is a deeper swell which moves all of us, and everything.

LA Calling
This is inspired both by african music legends such as King Sunny Ade and D.O. Misiani but also the spirit of Basque choir music (with their choirs of over 200 men) and of course the txalaparta (the wood blocks we play in our live show), as well as the city where we recorded Cave Rave, Los Angeles. We feel like sometimes life is like a movie, with all it’s twists and turns, heroes and villains, parties and tragedies, and where better to record our audio movie than LA? The subject matter however cryptically spans fast-moving criminal friends in London (now incarcerated - “come out of there”) to peace loving yogi-types in the Basque Hills (“Everyone gather round the world, and give thanks we’re of the world” was a toast given on our last supper in Elgoibar, Spain, where we wrote much of the album).

You & I
This song goes everywhere at once, just like you seem to have to be these modern days, from being on a beach with a ukulele to a black magic séance with a Bolivian charango (a miniature 10-stringed instrument we picked up on our travels and used on this song) to deliriously flying above it all around the world on an aeroplane, the invention that really brought the world together. But all of this insignificant when you discover the intensity and depth of true passion and real love with somebody, “you and me, no one else, nothing else but you and I”. The song draws contrast between the hecticness of life and the purity of joy of love.

Separator
“Can we separate a body from mind and the soul?” This is the main question of the song, is there a path beyond this physical plane for our spirits, and indeed is the spirit world the “change” we are heading for when we are “gone”? There is also, however, a sense of exuberance for and duty to experience the present with full force and extreme love, “foreverlove”, here and now, and forever, way past death, if possible.

No Man
This song is a reflection on memories and all the good and bad things you may have done in your life, and the decisions you took or were taken for you to find yourself where you are today. The lyrics try to capture the feeling of experiencing new revelations for the first time, and the strange combination of emotional sadness coupled with joy you can feel when you’re old world views are left behind, and that initially lonely but ultimately liberated feeling you can feel when walking a new, steeper path.

Bridge of Bones
We wrote this in Berango, Euskadi, as a kind of sequel to the song Xtatic Truth from our first album. It is completely opposite in style to that song, but tries to imagine that “all alone” man still floating alone on the water trying to connect with love in his last moments. We have never done a song like this before and are excited to see where we can go next with new styles having taken the leap with this one.

Love Natural
This is a pure love song set in a sunny place where there positive emotions and feelings of togetherness are running high. When we play live the crowd is so important to us, and their joining us in the realm of ecstatic revelry is of great significance to us, which is why we chose to write a song like this; to celebrate natural love, the struggle but ultimate joy of life, and the sensation of living entirely in the present moment, in an eternal moment of bliss.

Are We One
This song is about the moment one realizes the potential existence of a collective consciousness which unites all beings on earth, and also other dimensions. “When we go up, are we one, are we love?” asks the age old question of what happens to our spirit once it’s current physical incarnation is deceased.

These Nights
This is a thoughtful song about the kind of purgatorial nature of life and indeed nightlife. It’s not hard for us to recollect times of extreme isolation and weariness when at a non-stop party and this song is supposed to add some kind of melancholic optimism to that scenario, culminating in liquid acoustic jungle.

Everywhere
This last song on the record is all about letting your fears about life subside and to experience life and love with the verve and naivete of a child. For much of this album we tried to imagine ourselves living outside of time to seek the essence of nature and artistic creativity without the boundaries of culture as much as possible and to write songs that could have been written at any time.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

NEWS // Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros to release new album this July


Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros will release their self-titled third album on July 23rd in the U.S. and Canada and worldwide July 29th.

“These songs mean everything to me – It’s the rawest, most liberated, most rambunctious stuff we’ve done.” -Alex

Track Listing:
Better Days
Let’s Get High
Two
Please!
Life Is Hard
If I Were Free
In The Lion
Country Calling
They Were Wrong
In The Summer
Remember To Remember
This Life

Monday, May 6, 2013

NEWS // Toro y Moi announces upcoming tour

Today Toro y Moi announced new North America tour dates to go a long with his European dates. So all you non-europeans out there (like me) get excited to see Chaz come to your town and turn up the funk! Full list of upcoming tour dates below. 

05-27 George, WA - Sasquatch! Music Festival
05-30 Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
05-31 Vilnius, Lithuania - Loftas Festival
06-02 Dublin, Ireland  - Forbidden Fruit Festival
06-03 Paris, France - Cabaret Sauvage
06-04 London, England - KOKO 
06-05 Brighton, England - Concorde 2
06-06 Bristol, England - Thekla
06-07 Birmingham, England - Academy 2
06-08 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
06-09 Manchester, England - Parklife Weekender
07-11-13 Mariaville, NY - Camp Bisco
07-12-14 Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
07-15 Millvale, PA - Mr. Smalls Theatre 
07-16 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop 
07-17 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick 
07-21 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
07-23 Honolulu, HI - The Republik
08-03 Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre 
09-07-08 St. Louis, MO - LouFest
10-08 Tulsa, OK - Cain’s Ballroom 
10-15 Nashville, TN - Exit In 
10-16 Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theatre 
10-17 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club 
10-18 Columbia, SC - Columbia Museum of Art 
10-19 Charleston, SC - Music Farm 
10-25 Boston, MA - House of Blues 
10-26 Montreal, Quebec - SAT 
10-27 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre 
11-01 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom 
11-02 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
11-04 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room 
11-07 Aspen, CO - Belly Up 
11-10 Vancouver, British Columbia - Vogue Theatre 

NEWS // Noah and the Whale release a new album called "Heart of Nowhere"

After about a year of nothing Noah and the Whale are back with a new album called Heart of Nowhere. This new LP came out today and is available at various online music stores like iTunes, their website, Amazon, and others. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

NEWS // Active Child releases new single.


Posts have been pretty infrequent these days and I'm sorry about that dudes and dudettes. It's that bi-annual time of the year again when I am completely swamped with work and tests. I'll still do my best to keep you all update on news around the indie music world though. Reviews will be a rare sight however, at least until May when school lets out.

Anyway, Active Child released a new song yesterday on his SoundCloud entitled Evening Ceremony. I personally love Active Child but he's one of those bands that I have to be in the mood for to really enjoy. At first listen this track felt a little slow, but I'm actually really enjoying it now. It picks up a lot the further you get into it. I especially like all the layering. Check it out below!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

NEWS // Generationals announce the release date of their newest thing.


Good news for all you Generationals fans out there. They've recently announced the release date for their newest LP. Heza will be out April 2nd on polyvinyl records.

Download a free song off the upcoming album from their twitter here: http://www.twitmusic.com/generationals/songs/spinoza

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Monday, March 18, 2013

NEWS // Listen to Wavves' new album Afraid of Heights now on NPR.

Notice anything different about the website? Yeah, me neither, looks pretty much the same. There definitely wasn't a complete overhaul of ALL the things over the weekend. I am really happy with the way it's turning out right now. I still have some things to do to make it perfect but it's pretty stellar for now.

Do you know what's also stellar? You can listen right now to Wavves' new album Afraid of Heights in full below thanks to NPR! I'm about a third through it as I type this and so far it's sound pretty damn awesome. A full review will come soon but for now listen to the entire album for free below.

As a sort of post-script: I have that exact same varsity jacket.....just saying...

Thursday, March 14, 2013

NEWS // Hear four new Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs from SXSW.

Happy Thursday readers! If you're there, are you enjoying SXSW? One of these years when I have the time man...one of these years. Anyway, yesterday New York indie rock group Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed a few new songs at SXSW from their upcoming album Mosquito (due out April 16). These songs performed include the title track, "Under the Earth", "Subway", and the new single "Sacrilege" along with other older songs. Watch their performance below but be warned, the audio in this video isn't amazing.  

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

NEWS // Animal Collective reschedules shows due to sickness.

Due to recent sickness Animal Collective will be rescheduling a few upcoming shows, they announced yesterday. Their full post about this can be read below as well as the rescheduled dates.

From the band's Facebook:
"Due to a band illness, Animal Collective regretfully has rescheduled five dates of their North American tour. The dates have been rescheduled for mid-July. All tickets will be honored for rescheduled dates or can be refunded at place of purchase. All other dates will continue as planned."

3/9: Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall rescheduled for 7/9
3/11: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues rescheduled for 7/16
3/12: Covington, KY @ The Madison Theater rescheduled for 7/18
3/13: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works rescheduled for 7/19
3/15: Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall rescheduled for 7/15





Friday, March 8, 2013

NEWS // Small Black releases new single.


I gotta say... I'm not that impressed. It just sounds really lack-luster and unexciting which is not like Small Black. I've been a big fan of theirs since their self titled EP a few years back but, I'm just not thrilled at all by this single and really hope the album wont sound like this.

Now this is partly due to me just not wanting Small Black to stop making chillwave, but not entirely. Even if you ignore what they normally sound like and just listen to this with "fresh ears" it still isn't able to deliver like it should. Although the music might be well done, the vocals sound lifeless and apathetic. I'm not completely giving up hope on this album but we'll see. Maybe they'll surprise me and it'll be fantastic...despite this song.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

LISTEN // Smith Westerns - Varsity

The wait is nearly over Smith Westerns fans. The indie rock band released a new song off their upcoming album Soft Will recently. The new track, which is named Varsity, is a upbeat and almost electronic tune and will be part of the new album, set to be out on June 11 to Mom + Pop. Check the single out below and tell me what you think, I really dig it and am excited to hear the rest of the album.

Varsity - Smith Westerns

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

LISTEN // Wavves - Demon to Lean On

Forgot to show you guys this when it originally came out. This is a new song from beach punk band Wavves and will be on their upcoming LP Afraid of Heights out March 26. For the most part I liked their last album King of the Beach but I wished at times that it wasn't so rough around the edges. This new track from them sounds really refined and put-together and I am excited to hear what Afraid of Heights will sound like! What about you?


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW // Songs for Imaginative People by Darwin Deez

Songs for Imaginative People, the second full-length album from New York based musician Darwin Deez, is like a bottle of wine; it gets better and better with time or in this case play-throughs. It is an album that to some might be a little rough at first but instantly begins to grow on you if given the chance.

Definitely one of the most playful and, as the album suggests, imaginative albums I have heard in recent years. Every single song is creative in it's lyrics and for the most part this a very well done album. Some parts I wished were different but there was nothing that I really hated. It has a rocky start with songs like Moonlit and No Love but the rest of this album is great fun, especially the second half.

You are thrown right into the action with the opening track (800) HUMAN. It's almost as if Darwin is trying to sell you on his new album, something I have never experienced from the actual artist. Usually it's a reviewer (like me) or your friends that try to persuade you into either buying or not buying an album. Now granted the song isn't actually about you buying his new album but it still feels like it's been designed this way. (800) HUMAN is what I was referring to earlier with the wine thing. At first listen I wasn't too pleased at all with side A (songs 1-5). After a couple listens though, this song along with the next one You Can't Be My Girl and the fifth track, Good to Lose started to really grow on me. But the album really shines on the second half especially with songs like Alice, Redshift, and my favorite track Chelsea's Hotel. These tracks really show how Darwin Deez is progressing as a band since their last release. I just wish the first half sounded more like these. Listen to the album below and tell me what you think!

(800) HUMAN - Darwin Deez

Redshift - Darwin Deez

Chelsea's Hotel

Thursday, February 28, 2013

SINGLE REVIEW // The Bilinda Butchers release a new single called The Lovers' Suicide!

Are you guys excited or what? Long-time favorite The Bilinda Butchers have released a new single off their upcoming album The Lovers' Suicide! by the same name and as I've said in the past, it sports a new sound for the San-Fran duo. 

Judging from this track, The Lovers' Suicide! is looking like it's going to be a pleasant surprise. Like a normal BB track that drank too much coffee, "The Lovers' Suicide" is a fast-paced drum and synth driven marvel of what two people can create. It's a change in sound from previous releases like goodbyes and regret, love, guilt, dreams but not a complete one if we can trust what we hear in the second half of their album preview video. Take a listen below and tell me what you think. If you're new to The Bilinda Butchers check one of my favorites here called "Boyfriend".

Monday, February 25, 2013

NEWS // Matt & Kim release the music video for It's Alright


Not sure if soft-core or music video...

Friday, February 22, 2013

LISTEN // Enjoy this stellar new track from Temple Songs

I hope your weekend is as groovy and fun-filled as this newly released track from psychedelic rockband Temple Songs. Whatever you're doing this weekend have fun and stay safe!
Caribbean Moon by Temple Songs

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

NEWS // Check out this year's Bonnaroo lineup.

I still love you Postal Service.  :)


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

NEWS // Crystal Fighters release artwork for upcoming album.

Yesterday Crystal Fighters released the album cover of their upcoming album Cave Rave to their Facebook page. Cave Rave will be the Electronic/House band's third full-length and will be released this May. Listen to a preview track from Cave Rave below and get excited!


Monday, February 18, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW // MillionYoung puts the chill back in chillwave with his new LP Variable.

There hasn't been an album where I have genuinely loved every track in a long long time. Then, MillionYoung released Variable on Tuesday and reminded me that this is still possible to do. With every play-through I find something new that I love about it.  Variable is the Florida native's second full-length album and continues to support my theory that 2013 is the year of change...at least in bands. 

Where other bands might have failed in improving their sound, MillionYoung succeeds. This new album puts the "chill" back in chillwave and all one has to do is listen to tracks like "Lovin" or "Reciprocal" to hear this. Variable isn't a drastic change from previous releases but it is a change nonetheless. Songs in here sound more "dance-able" and remind me of bands like Toro y Moi. Not that the older songs weren't, I mean you how can you not dance a little to "Cynthia" or "On-On" (the list keeps going), but these new songs ooze a certain electro-jazz feel that is new to the band. 

If you haven't bought Variable yet you get it on iTunes, Amazon, and many other places. Listen to the album below and tell me what you think! 

Friday, February 15, 2013

NEWS // The Postal Service release new single.


A Tattered Line of String is the newest single from The Postal Service off their upcoming 10th anniversary  re-release of 2003's Give Up. Scheduled to be released this March, Give Up will include all the original songs fully remastered along with two new songs and covers by The Shins and Iron & Wine.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

EP REVIEW // Hypnagogia by LAKE R▲DIO

Caden is at it again. This last Friday the chicago based witch-house artist released a new EP which keeps up the relatively new tradition of giving releases technical names that start with H. Hypnagogia is his newest release and is a currently free (who knows for how long) 6-track EP on his Bandcamp page.

This newest release is almost an experimentation of new ideas especially with the last track, Bleeding Thumb.  It seems that a lot of artists are experimenting with different genres these days. Tegan And Sara put out an electropop album, The Bilinda Butchers will be doing the same soon (although not completely electropop), and now LAKE R▲DIO. Now, don't let that confuse you, there isn't a single electropop song in Hypnogogia if that's what you were thinking. In fact for the most part, this EP is a pretty standard LR release, so fear not old fans.

The strongest track on here has to be the heavily layered and warped track Please, but the majority of Hypnogogia is good. Along with that, other good songs are the opening track Ghost Translator, and the re-release of Community College after it's first appearance in last year's anthology, Hypoxia. Overall I would say I enjoyed listening to this EP but, there are a couple songs I could never really get into like YR LOVE, and Opal Eyes. I will admit that my dislike for YR LOVE is mostly due to my dislike of the song he's sampling in it but as for Opal Eyes, there just wasn't really anything that caught my attention. I felt the beginning dragged on for a bit too long but after that first minute and 30 seconds the song gets a lot better.

Lastly, the final track off this EP is an interesting one. Bleeding Thumb is the least electronic of all the songs and features a new sound from Caden. This song while a nice and relaxing break from the normal music released by LAKE R▲DIO feels incomplete, or if not "incomplete" then at least interrupted due to it's abrupt end at 1:41. This song could and would be a lot better with just a simple adjustment of when the song ends. All things considered Hypnogogia is yet another great release from LAKE R▲DIO. What do you think?

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

NEWS // MillionYoung releases new album Variable.

Happy Tuesday readers! And man, is it a happy Tuesday or what? Not only did we just today get a new album from long-time TBAM favorite MillionYoung, but today also marks the release of Darwin Deez's new album Songs For Imaginative People! MillionYoung's newest album, Variable,  is the Florida native's second full-length album and features 10 completely new songs, two of which can be heard below. Make sure you head over to Amazon or Old Flame Records to buy this album and then check back here later for my review. 


Millionyoung - Lovin by Old Flame Records

Monday, February 11, 2013

NEWS // Strange Talk release their debut album Cast Away.

I know, I know, I along with a lot of people were upset that Tegan And Sara released an electropop album but that doesn't mean I don't like electropop. In fact, one of my favorite electropop artists, Strange Talk, has just released their debut album a couple of days ago. Cast Away is the Australian band's newest release and first full-length album. This 11 track album is currently available on iTunes and other online music retailers as-well as in stores. A full review will be coming soon but for now listen to the first two tracks off of Cast Away below. Happy Monday readers!


Cast Away by Strange Talk

Falling In Love by Strange Talk

Saturday, February 9, 2013

ALBUM REVIEW // Heartthrob by Tegan And Sara

Tegan And Sara released their newest album Heartthrob not too long ago and it has been met with split reviews. From what I've seen listeners are either in love with it or hate it, some calling it their worst release to date. I wouldn't go that far as I found a lot of songs in Heartthrob to be quite enjoyable but, in the end I would have to say that I am disappointed in the direction Tegan And Sara have gone in this newest release.

Heartthrob is the band's seventh full-length album and their most accessible at that. It is tailored for a wider audience then most of their other releases and has what some would call a "top 40" sound to it. Is this bad though? Well, it depends on your personal taste in music. If you are someone who listens to a lot of indie music because you don't like what mainstream music sounds like (for whatever reason, let's not "soap-box" here) then you might be unimpressed with this album. In the end though it's not some horrible icky "mainstream" thing. In the end it's just an indie electro-pop album which honestly, actually has some really good songs on it. Songs like "Closer", "Goodbye Goodbye", and "Drove Me Wild" are all very catchy and very entertaining songs which are definitely worth a listen. What do you do think?

Friday, February 8, 2013

SINGLE REVIEW // Hit Me Up Again by Summer Heart


It's Friday and you're surfing the web for some good chillwave to tide you over until MillionYoung releases Variable on Tuesday. While searching you stumble across a band called Summer Heart. Cool name and nice artwork, but is the music good? This genre of music isn't for everyone and takes skill. You don't just wake up one morning and make chillwave. Well, I guess you could, but the quality of said music would be questionable.

Hit Me Up Again is the newest release from Summer Heart and features two songs, the self titled track Hit Me Up Again and one other track titled Stockholm. This is a must buy for anyone who loves or even likes chillwave. In fact, remember that friend that you wanted to show some chillwave to? Well forget showing them that old Washed Out album, this is where it's at. Both Hit Me Up Again and Stockholm deliver and are well worth their price. Stockholm, a more classic chillwave track, has to be my favorite of the two though. The beat, the lyrics, all the layering, it reminds me why I listen to electronic music. What do you think?

Thursday, February 7, 2013

NEWS // The Bilinda Butchers announce new single.


Yesterday The Bilinda Butchers (no affiliation with MBV aside from their love for them, hence the name) announced news of an upcoming single that is due to be released in early March. The dream-pop band released this two-part teaser of the upcoming single featuring new music (with almost a new sound) and clips from Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan

The teaser for The Lovers' Suicide! sounds great, it really does, but what's up with that first half? That doesn't sound at all like the Bilinda Butchers I fell in love with, and then fell in love with even more when goodbyes was released last fall. Is this a hint that the band is slowly changing it's sound? I mean don't get me wrong, I have faith in them. Regardless of what genre they are The Bilinda Butchers will continue to put out great, quality music but, if they did steer more towards electro-pop as this video could be suggesting, I would miss songs like Little Leaf. Luckily, the second half of this video assures me that they wont completely change.



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

NEWS // Line-up for Sweetlife festival announced

Monday, February 4, 2013

NEWS // My Bloody Valentine releases new album "m b v"

Well it's finally here and it only took a little over two decades. My Bloody Valentine released a follow up to their 1991 classic Loveless this past week called m b v and it has already broke the internet with it's epicness. Upon hearing the news that the Dublin based band would be releasing a new album, people all over scrambled to their computers in an attempt to get their hands on this long-awaited LP causing the band's new and still buggy website to crack under the pressure. For the next couple of hours eager fans waited patiently (and not-so-patiently) for the website to go back up.

Well now the website is back up and has been for a while so we can all sleep easy now that we're able to buy, listen, and fall in love with m b v, even if it is a whopping $16. If you are like the many who are unsure whether you want to shell out that much cash for a 9 track album (a price which is almost doubled if you want a vinyl!) then don't worry there are still ways of hearing the album. MBV has also uploaded the full album to Youtube so you can find it there while you wait for the price to go down.

A full review of m b v will come in the future but for now I'll say this. My Bloody Valentine and a lot of shoegaze music for that matter can be hard to listen to if you are unfamiliar with what shoegaze sounds like. It's a very dense and layered genre of music and requires multiple listens to experience completely. I for one love the genre along with it's cousin dream-pop and think that this is a great example of what shoegaze is. Just remember that if you start listening expecting to hear really up-beat and fast rock you're going to be disappointed. These songs are as obscured and dreamy as the album cover that accompanies them. 

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Toro y Moi - Say That