Five New Radical Tracks: The Weeknd, Justice, Boris and Lana Del Rey

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Very Warm

Early yesterday I saw that The Weeknd’s facebook page put out a post that said “Initiation”, which usually signals something is coming out unexpectedly later that day. True to their tradition, they released a new song called “Initiation” later that day on their facebook and twitter. It’s a RAGER.

As a standalone track, it seems a bit out of place. But if you combine it with their previous efforts, the House of Balloons and Thursday mixtapes, the track fits in perfectly with the material. It’s extremely dark, brooding and there are a ton of creepy pitch changes on Abel Tesafaye’s voice, which hasn’t happened on The Weeknd’s music before. It gives the track an otherworldly quality of evilness or confusion. Tesafaye’s character that he’s playing in these mixtapes has been cracking over the span of the mixtapes and you can clearly hear that he’s disintegrating at this point in the game.

Very interesting. I REALLY want to know how their next mixtape of the year, Echoes of Silence, sounds and if it’s anything like “Initiation”, it’s gonna be the possibly the darkest thing to come out in a long time. I look forward to it.

CHECK DAT OUT:

Also, if you don’t have their first two mixtapes, I HIGHLY recommend that you pick up both of them for free on their website:
http://www.the-weeknd.com/TheWeeknd_HouseOfBalloons.zip

http://www.the-weeknd.com/TheWeeknd_____Thursday.zip

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Second we have two new tracks from the French electronic duo, Justice. I haven’t really gotten into Justice as much as I have other electronic duos from France (COUGH) but still, I respect them that they are one of the most beloved electronic acts in the game. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t not like Justice. I just haven’t delved into them quite yet.

This might be my opportunity to get into them. This morning, I woke to find the most blogged about songs at the moment were two new Justice tracks “Canon” and “Newlands” and decided that I should give them a try. I am very thankful of myself and the internet that I did. These two tracks are supremely well executed electronic dance songs and it definitely has the signature Justice sound. I can see why both Justice and Daft Punk can exist in the same world now: they both have very different sounds but they achieve the same thing. That thing is to rock the fridge out of any listener. These two tracks just put Justice on my radar. Well played, gentlemen.

CHECK CHECK ONE TWO!:
Newlands – Justice

Canon – Justice

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Next is from the Japanese experimental rock band Boris, who released “Spoon” a shoegazy jam that I haven’t heard much like in this past year. The vocals, like any shoegaze song, are very hushed and mixed in with the burning swath of guitars and drums. I haven’t heard much of Boris, but I do know that they are, like my previous entry about Justice, much loved in their community, working with black metal bands like Sunn O))). I thought I’d check this song out and I’m really glad I did.

The lead singer, Atsuo, has a very delicate and glassy voice which foils the abrasive guitars that are crashing into the song. It’s very interesting. I also love that she sings in Japanese (makes sense, they’re from Japan) which gives another element of foreignness into the song. I don’t know, it’s just a combination I wouldn’t really think of listening to. But I did. I’m crazy.

I really like it, I think y’all should check it out as well.

Here’s another song I found by them that they released this year:

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The last thing that I wanted to share was a new track from Lana Del Rey, AKA “Gangsta Nancy Sinatra”. She came out with a new song “Lolyta” which is the poppiest thing she’s released thus far. It still has her signature retro flair on it, but there’s something about it that is a lot different from her past works. Previous singles “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans” are laments, not really peppy at all. This song, on the other hand, is very happy sounding and contrasts her other songs strongly.

I don’t really like it as much as her other songs but it still is worthy to check out. Which is why I’m posting it on the blog. I’m crazy.

Check it out on blah blah blah science RIGHT HERE BELOW THIS YO!!!
http://blahblahblahscience.com/track-reviews/lana-del-ray-lolyta

Here’s her older songs, “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans”

Okay then, I hope you all have a fantastic day.

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Song of the Week: Kelly by When Saints Go Machine

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Very Warm

So I’ve been digging this song for about two months now, but I think this is the first time I’ve featured it on the old bloggity.

This song. My gosh. So good. I can’t articulate it in complete sentences. This song will place high in my Top 100 Tracks of the year list most definitely. It’s just bouncing with good feelings and retro synths. But even with the retro sound, it doesn’t sound dated. This is some definitely futuristic pop music.

Enough of my ramblings. I clearly cannot express myself when it comes to music, apparently.
CHECK IT OUT:

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RADICAL Songs I’ve Been DIGGING

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Very Warm

Here are some songs that have been blasting on my iPod these last few weeks. Some songs are not from this year, mind you.

We Have Everything – Young Galaxy

Hearts on Fire – Cut Copy

Stargasm – Mastodon

Especially Me – Low

Bright Lit Blue Skies – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Four Winds – Bright Eyes

As Young As Yesterday – Korallreven

The Mariner’s Revenge Song – The Decemberists

Money on the Floor (Feat. 2 Chainz, 8Ball & MJG) – Big K.R.I.T.

 

 

Mr. Hyde – S/he

 

 

Te Amo – Atlas Sound

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Radical! — St. Vincent, Nerves Junior.

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Very Warm

Hello all,

I haven’t had a review in some time, have I? Well, I thought it might be a good time to break one out now since there are some wickedly awesome albums out and about right now.

The first one I’d like to talk about is St. Vincent’s third album “Strange Mercy”

>>>>>>>>ALBUM STREAM AT NPR<<<<<<<<<<

This album is… incredible. To say the least. The amount of emotion Annie Clark puts out in this record is more emotion than both of her previous albums combined. Not to say that those two albums were bad, they are actually really good. It’s just that St. Vincent has topped herself once again, which is impressive for any musician to do.

This album is her most guitar heavy album yet (as far as I can tell) and she uses the guitar as a weapon of unease. You hear the sporadic, crunching guitar lines in “Chloe in the Afternoon” and it just puts you in a feeling of unease. It’s really odd as too, to hear Clark’s voice, which is smooth and heavenly akin to a beautiful angel’s. Same with “Cheerleader”, which seems like a slow, calm song in the beginning, but snaps into a violent plead: “I-I-I-I don’t want to be a cheerleader no more.” Both of these are great tracks on the album with some unease. Well, a lot of them contain that feeling; but when paired with these nervous guitars and low-lying electronics, it turns into something sinister.

Sinister is a good word to describe a lot of the sounds here. There is some dastardly dark stuff on this album – unconscious feelings and thoughts that aren’t out in the open but in the mind of whomever is saying the lyrics. Could it be Annie or some other character saying these lines? Take “Northern Lights” which starts off like any normal song, but it breaks down internally and externally near the end with crazy, distorted breakdowns and melting vocal melodies. This is one of my favorite songs on the album just for the hectic mess that it is.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are other extremely beautiful songs on the record as well. The title track is something I cannot explain: I love it so much. The drop off of the chorus is perfect, which is followed by a robotic guitar line that makes the whole thing tied together. “Champagne Year” is also beautiful and is unlike the entire album in terms of guitar lines. It seems devoid of all that sharpness but it still has tinges of creepiness.

This album is awesome. Straight up. It did not disappoint me at all and I’ll see it place very high in my favorite albums of this year, unless a ton of better music comes out this year, which I don’t think will happen. I seriously recommend picking this up. Seriously.

THEE SCORE:
95/100

Top Tracks:
Just get the album.

Next is Nerves Junior’s debut album “As Bright As Your Night Light”

I like to call this album “The Most 90’s Radiohead Sounding Album Since 90’s” due to the fact that it sounds a lot like old Radiohead and pulls it off brilliantly. I don’t want to say these guys are a Radiohead cover band or that they just sound like Radiohead. They sound like a good, new band that combines A TON of influences in to one, cohesive project that’s pulled off wonderfully.

Let’s see what they got in terms of influences of the songs: they have some 00’s alternative (the good kind) on some songs; they have classic rock guitar licks and sharp, snappy vocals (“Nails to Scratch With”); they have some orchestral folky songs; some slow building burners; you name it, they got it! Seriously!

This album is great because it doesn’t really sound like anything that has come out in the past few years. Everything that has come out recently has been following the same formula so that they can achieve a great radio hit or commercial fame. Well this band probably wants fame as well, but they don’t go along with that formula. It doesn’t sound robotized, it sounds like the band is having FUN in the studio recording all these songs. The last time I heard a legitimately FUN album was both Battles’ “Gloss Drop” from this year and Fang Island’s self-titled debut from last year.

This album is a great time and Pretty Much Amazing loves it. So if you want a more convincing review of it, go over to PMA and read their review. I like this album but they do a better job of articulating themselves. Maybe since it’s their job.

You know what? Scrap that Radiohead comment. These dudes are RADICAL in every sense of the word. I keep listening to the album over and over to find that every single song is unique in its own way. There really aren’t any songs that blend together into another one to make them unintelligible. They each have their own souls and carry their weight with the others. They have all kinds of genres up in here and they all pull it off with flying colors. The only reason I made the Radiohead comment is because the singer’s voice sounds kind of like Thom Yorke’s, in a way.

This is a radical album. I can honestly say it will place highly in my end of the year list. If not, one of the members killed my family or something. If that doesn’t happen, Nerves Junior, you have just earned yourself a spot on Warm Visions’ favorite albums of 2011 list. It’s not much. At all. But still. Nice.

THEE SCORE:
89/100

TOP TRACKS:
Champagne and Peaches, Swimmer’s Ear, As Bright As Your Night Light, Nails to Scratch With, Get Left in the Dark,  Kale, Downtown Lament

HAVE A GREAT DAY

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Catching Up: Some Good Tracks

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Very Warm

Good News, Everyone!

I realize that CBK hasn’t been very active these past few months and there have been a few good reasons for that. For one, I moved from Michigan to Connecticut so before that I was trying to pack the month I had left in with as much fun as I could manage.

So with that, I’ll leave you with some of the best tracks and albums I’ve encountered in these past few months. Notice that I’ve come across a lot more than I’m going to post and I’m just giving you the cream of le crop of when I was inactive. This means you’ll probably see tracks on here you’re familiar with, if you’re on top of the music scene; or even a casual lurker. You’re welcome.

Albums will be coming later, for all of you who just CAN’T WAIT. AM I RIGHT? No? Oh, alright. Just listen to the music.

RADICAL TRACKS

 

Active Child – Hanging On

 

Araabmuzik – Streetz Tonight

 

 

 

Beat Connection – In the Water

 

 

Bjork – Crystalline

 

Burial – Stolen Dog

 

Clams Casino – I’m God

 

Crystal Antlers – Two-Way Mirror

 

Cut Copy – Blink and You’ll Miss a Revolution (Toro Y Moi Remix)

 

Das Racist – Michael Jackson

 

Gauntlet Hair – Top Bunk

 

Gorillaz – Bobby in Phoenix

 

Handsome Furs – Damage

 

Lana Del Rey – Video Games

 

Little Dragon – Ritual Union

 

M83 – Midnight City

 

Moonface – Shit-Hawk in the Snow

 

Neon Indian – Polish Girl

 

St. Vincent – Surgeon

 

Vinh Ngan – Remand

 

When Saints Go Machine – Kelly

 

Wild Beasts – Invisible

 

 

Hope you enjoyed all of the songs! Most of them are available for free download elsewhere or on the soundcloud player.

Thanks and have a great day!

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Warm Visions’ Favorite Albums of 2011 (So Far)

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Very Warm

An unnatural phenomenon went down when I made this list.

For one, there’s 2 hardcore albums (Fucked Up and Iceage), there’s a hip-hop album and an r&b album. If we were to rewind a year or two, you would not see a single rap, hardcore or r&b album on this list.

The craziest thing is that the hip hop album is #2 and the r&b is #1. My tastes have obviously evolved into a more encompassing view.

If one says that I could not possibly enjoy all of this music, well then you are mistaken, friend.

Have a look around, take a listen to some tracks, they’re all very good I guarantee it. I’ll update this by the end of the year! Good fun time, huh?

25. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

How Can U Love Me?

24. Austra – Feel It Break

Lose It

23. Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread

You Make the Sun Fry

22. Hooray for Earth – True Loves

True Loves

21. Grouper – A | A

I Saw A Ray

20. Iceage – New Brigade

New Brigade

19. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

The Words That Maketh Murder

18. Fucked Up – David Comes to Life

The Other Shoe

17. Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine

New Beat

16. SBTRKT – SBTRKT

Sanctuary

15. Cults – Cults

You Know What I Mean

14. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Beth/Rest

13. Yuck – Yuck

Get Away

12. James Blake – James Blake

The Wilhelm Scream

11. Battles – Gloss Drop

Ice Cream (feat. Matias Aguayo)

10. Ford and Lopatin – Channel Pressure

Emergency Room

9. Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

Weekend

8. Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Pharaohs and Pyramids

7. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Helplessness Blues

6. White Denim – D

Drug

5. Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact

Mindkilla

4. Panda Bear – Tomboy

Afterburner

3. Tune-Yards – WHOKILL

Bizness

2. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

Are You… Can You… Were You? (Felt)

1. The Weeknd – House of Balloons

Loft Music

THOUGHTS? POST BELOW! THANKS!

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Warm Visions’ 25 Best Songs of 2011 (So Far)

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Very Warm

Cool Stuff! So I just thought that I’d inform my 10 or so readers of how my Top 25 songs of this year is filling out. It really has been a great year in terms of music and it’s so different from last year! Let’s dive right in, shall we?

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Kaputt – Destroyer

Too Much MIDI (Please Forgive Me) – Ford & Lopatin

Sons of Stone – The People’s Temple

Make Some Noise – Beastie Boys

Ripe – Givers

Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now) – Portugal the Man

Burnished – White Denim

Chorus – CoolRunnings

I’m God – Clams Casino

Drover – Bill Callahan

Bad Kids – Lady Gaga

Wildfire – SBTRKT & Little Dragon

Ice Cream (feat. Matais Aguayo) – Battles

Broken Bone – Iceage

Black Night – The Dodos

Pretty Poly – Teebs

Whirring – The Joy Formidable

The Great Pan is Dead – Cold Cave

Families – John Talabot (feat. Glasser)

As Bright As Your Night Light – Nerves Junior

Benediction – Thurston Moore

In The Air III – Tim Hecker

 

This is in alphabetical order, so I don’t give anything away. (DERP)

Afterburner – Panda Bear

 

All Die Young – Smith Westerns

 

Baby’s Arms – Kurt Vile

 

Belong – The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

 

BTSTU – Jai Paul

 

Bizness – Tune-Yards

 

Get Away – Yuck

 

Glass Jar – Gang Gang Dance

 

Glitch – Brian Eno

 

I Follow Rivers – Lykke Li

 

I Never Learnt To Share – James Blake

 

Lady Luck – Jamie Woon

 

Live Those Days Tonight – Friendly Fires

 

Montezuma – Fleet Foxes

 

The Morning – The Weeknd

 

New Beat – Toro Y Moi

 

Perth – Bon Iver

 

Pharaohs and Pyramids – Cut Copy

 

Santa Fe – Beirut

 

The Words That Maketh Murder – PJ Harvey

 

True Loves – Hooray for Earth

 

Under Cover of Darkness – The Strokes

 

Ungirthed – Purity Ring

 

Yonkers – Tyler the Creator

 

You Know What I Mean – Cults

 Feedback is appreciated! Thanks!

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Daily 5 Songs You Should Be Required to Own #4

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Very Warm

 

1. Can’t Tell Me Nothing – Kanye West

One of the most badass songs by one of the more known badasses, Kanye West. The fact that this song is so confident (like Kanye) and ridiculous (like Kanye) make it perfect in that sense. It’s a song that Kanye uses to model his life after. Or maybe the song is modeled after him. Probably the latter. Also, the music video is incredible.


2. Fireworks – Animal Collective

I associate most of my favorite songs to the moment I listened to them, so it’s no mystery why I like Fireworks so much. Not only is it a great song, makes you sit and think. Another reminiscing song, my favorite. Well, the memory I pair it with is a great bike-ride I had around my suburban/rural community and the sun was setting. It was my first bike ride in about 4 years! Just flying around on the bike, sun setting, warm weather, this song playing in the headphones. Makes me really appreciate life and how we have it.


3. Buddy Holly – Weezer

“What’s with these homies dissin’ my girl? Why do they gotta front?” This song has 90’s written all over it and that’s a good thing. If Weezer hadn’t formed, we would have been deprived of some amazing alternative rock! I don’t know what is so good about this song, but the first time I heard it, I knew I loved it right away. Also, the video is incredible: Spike Jonze put Weezer into a Happy Days episode. Awesome


4. Born Under Punches – Talking Heads

Freaky, visionary, insane, creative, nuts: Talking Heads. If this band didn’t happen, so many other bands wouldn’t have been created. Their influence reaches on all realms of music, not just rock. This bridged all genres of music, creating one homogeneous mixture of jazz, rock, and all sorts of future technologies from another time period. This song is out of sight and really makes you marvel at the creativity of some people when they create music. Now think about music now. Kinda sad, isn’t it?


5. If Looks Could Kill – Camera Obscura

Feel-good song of the decade, this song brings out the happiness in all who listen. The bubbly twee of the Scottish group cannot be beat when it comes to sunny, summery pop. That didn’t make sense. It doesn’t have to. It’s a good song. LISTEN

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Daily 5 Tracks You Should Be Required To Own: #3

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Very Warm

I’m le tired, I’m not going to write large reviews for these.

Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) – Arcade Fire

This was the first Arcade Fire song that I listened to on the entire bus ride home from school my freshman year. The song mystified me from the start; I didn’t know music could sound like that.


Loser – Beck

Another Beck song, only not remixed this time. Probably the most well-known Beck song, this is where he got his start in the 90’s. A slacker/stoner rock gem. Beck isn’t feeling that vibe in his music any more, but he did sure attract some attention after he released this lo-fi masterpiece!

One Armed Scissor – At the Drive-In

This is the first song I’ve featured on here that is pretty HARD rock. This is a pretty kickass song right here, it’ll rip you out of your chair and make you want to kick stuff over. Don’t do that, but think about yourself doing it. Still kinda satisfying, right? Nonetheless, this is a crazy song that energizes even the most down-in-the-dumps sadsack.

Search & Destroy – The Stooges

This is raw, powerful, rebellious music. All teenagers need this song, cause this is freaking electrifying. You think this crappy rock coming out now is helping you rebel against society? Iggy was doing it right back in the 70’s. It’s funny, I was at a tailgate for my school’s female lacrosse team and this came on one of the stereos. I pictured my dad doing the same thing, back when he was my age, chilling out with friends within a circle of cars in a parking lot, grilling hotdogs, being rebellious… That’s a kind of reality I want to happen.

Helicopter – Deerhunter

One of my favorite songs from last year, Deerhunter bring out the chills of a dark winter day, sitting at home with a fire in the fireplace. Only it’s not really happy but not sad. More like melancholy; reminiscent. More nostalgia. Woah. This song is definitely modeled after a slow, dark day; but that doesn’t mean you can only listen to it in that climate. Listen to it all the time. I do.

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Daily 5 Songs You Should Be Required to Own #2

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Very Warm

1. Red Sector A – Rush

This is my favorite Rush song, which is a feat since there are SO MANY RUSH SONGS and a ton of them are really good! Don’t worry, there will be more Rush songs on these lists, but for now it turns out I showcase my favorite first. The draw to this song: the title, why wouldn’t you listen to a song called Red Sector A? I think that’s such a cool title! Also, this was the first time I heard 80’s synth pulled off in a song I liked (it was freshman year, I was uneducated), and that really drew me in. Then after listening to the lyrics, you can tell it’s a reference to the Holocaust or some sort of imprisonment. Apparently Geddy Lee’s mother was in a concentration camp at one time, so it is mostly about the Holocaust. Heavy lyrics aside, this is a kickin’ song that people need to get on.

2. Bit Rate Variations in B Flat (Girl Remix) – Beck

I love Beck. He’s probably my favorite musician due to his spontaneous sounds his albums embody. He then made an EP with some electronic producers with remixed variations of his most popular songs from his album “Guero” called “Gameboy Variations.” It’s called Gameboy Variations, due to the fact that it sounds like it came right out of a Gameboy or NES game. This is fantastic for kids like me, who grew up listening to songs like this, with the bleeps and bloops of 8-bit games. This song takes on the appearance of a Beck song while being coated in a Nintendo-style sauce. Sounds good to me! Sounds good to you.

3. See the Leaves – The Flaming Lips

Hardhitting, this groove will stay in your head through and through. Did that make sense? Doesn’t have to. This song is nuts; all of the percussion, twinkling synth notes and the relentless guitars smashing into your brain like a freight train. This band definitely leaves their past few releases on the road on this song; ditching their wonderful song-writing and sentimental melodies for crazy, psych-rock blast chaos. Crazy alcohol rainbow pig.

4. B.O.B. – Outkast

HURR DURR PITCHFORK

What was that? I don’t know. Oh well, this song is my favorite from Outkast, not just because it was featured on Pitchfork. This song cohesively evolves so many times you’d think that it would be separate songs. BUT IT AIN’T! Andre 3000 and Big Boi come in their prime with their speed rapping over booming percussion, chorus, a freaky guitar solo, and insane DJ scratching skills. This song is like a sonic buffet, so much to offer and you WANT IT ALL.

5. Gold Soundz – Pavement

HERP DERP ANOTHER PITCHFORK, YOU PITCHFORK WORSHIPER

It isn’t wrong to like music that Pitchfork posts. Doesn’t mean I’m a worshiper. ANYWAYS. This song is pretty much perfect, I think. When I saw them live at Pitchfork Music Festival last year, I’m pretty sure they ended with this in their set and it was bliss. All of the days events culminated into one euphoric moment that was spent with dear friends in the presence of thousands of music lovers and one of the greatest bands of the 90’s. Nostalgia is one of the greatest things and one of the worst things. In this case, it’s one of the best. Also, the video is awesome. For once.

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