Tagged: septembrerussell

Does music seem to be more enjoyable when the lyrics are sung in a language we don’t speak? If so, why do you think that is? Could it be because, as listeners, we can put our own spin on the lyrics based on the tone of the music and its delivery? Or maybe there’s more a lyrical complement for the music and production since no one’s specifically caught up in content and meaning; there’s a greater opportunity to listen to and pick out the different nuances that delight us. On Soita Mulle, the fourth album from Finnish indie [...]

In the place of abundant life and constant song through pores of trees spoke ancient time. How we can know this now; these patterns tumble through our minds, refracting themselves through this warm prism and are found projected and manifested in this arching dome. Reads like prose, doesn’t it? Not what I expected from the subgenre of heavy metal, black metal. Or metal period. The above are lyrics from “Woodland Cathedral,” a song by Wolves in the Throne Room featured on Celestial Lineage on Southern Lord Recordings. Wolves in the Throne Room, or WITTR for short, [...]

She’s got a soulful voice, Marling does. I enjoyed the incorporation of her speaking voice into the energetic piano in the background of “The Muse.” Her voice is the star of the track (unfortunately, that fact isn’t so superb in later songs). There’s nice folky breakdown, but it’s not too folky that you think you’re in the country (the remainder of the folk feel is derived somewhat from her voice though, too). The track is the vehicle for the story but it doesn’t pin the singer down in terms of convention or construction. The spoken sections [...]

Why would the category on iTunes for Elite Gymnastics’ Ruin 1 be titled Metal Slime? I’m not a fan of that label, but I am a fan of the music, which is more appropriately referred to as K-pop and that label is more like it for the latest EG album on Acéphale Records . The opening track threw me off about what I would expect from Ruin 1, an album without lyrics, solely creative instrumentals and interesting sound effects. The songs are multilayered, but the music is not messy or sloppy. Ever heard of the [...]

The first Stephin Merritt-sponsored musical experience was the previously unreleased “Forever And A Day,” from Merritt’s latest compilation album, Obscurities . Tracks from The 6ths, Buffalo Rome and The Gothic Archies (all Merritt side projects) are showcased on Obscurities. “Forever And A Day” was gorgeous to me. Somewhat nostalgic because it took me back to The Lady and The Tramp time period (the time period the actual movie is set in, not its release). It was the voice and tempo of the song that made my mind trace such a path; a snowy lullaby with [...]

Got a load of Fool's Gold's "Leave No Trace" album at work. The onset sounded like Ducktails or PB&J. That was A-OK with me, but I gave FG room to differentiate. It did, from Ducktails not from PB&J, once lead vocalist Luke Top's voice dropped onto the track "The Dive." The entire album has that upbeat flare-packed background that I enjoy (PB&J got me started on that and that's why it sticks with me.) There's a lot going on beneath the vocals, but everything is wonderfully dynamic, Top's voice would be missed if there was an [...]

Thirty seconds in and I've already fallen. Fallen for the mathematical term-named album, Parabolas from John Tejada. "Farther & Fainter" gave me a positive impression immediately. I felt like I was behind the scenes of a fashion show-the beat was perfect for the posh sashay of a runway model, posing for the flash of myriad cameras. Or could I have been shopping at Nordstroms, picking out cardigans in the Brass Plumb section? Either place, the beat is cool enough to be that funky background music that makes you want to ask, "Who is this?" [...]

The voice... It came to me in a dream. I didn't quite know from where it came. And then I listened to Ritual Union, the third album from Swedish group, Little Dragon. Lead vocalist Yukimi Nagano's voice has a magical sweet-toned rasp to it. It reminded me of Lykke Li a little bit at first (no song title pun intended there), but her sound carries more soul, dream-like-fantasy-over-intere sting-electroninc-beat-soul. Ritual album can be split, in my opinion. The group could release an album of those same beats and a separate album of just Nagano's voice-the success [...]

I'll be the first to admit that I expected a group when I listened to The Chain Gang of 19742s June 21 release, "Wayward Fire." I didn't get what I thought I would in terms of the number of people involved, but I can't complain about Kamtin Mohager whatsoever. Mohager uses his lyrics and funked up background beats and musical overlay to make listeners think... and move their feet. Should I just break into how awesome "Hold On" is. Sure, it's an 8-minute and 10-second song, but it's worth it's length. The if the shikka-shikkas in [...]

A spoonful of sugar makes the '80s synth-pop go down. I was born in the late '80s. Maybe that's the reason why John Maus' junior album titled "We Must Become Pitiless Censors of Ourselves" was so alluring to me- I don't remember the decade in any special way, so the 'nostalgic' goodness of this album lets me form my own mental play land. "Hey Moon" has a lullaby-like melody to it, inviting you to a place you've been before, but even in its familiarity it is differently. The female vocal accompaniment is crucial and the echo of [...]

All Time Low's "Dirty Work" must be a hyperbole I want to invite you to listen to pop punk band All Time Low's sixth album titled "Dirty Work"  if you're going to be doing something that draws your attention away from the lyrics of each song. I'd call it "Cute Work," mainly because I flashed back to the days I spent folding jeans working at Wet Seal in the mall in high school. There's nothing wrong with that, except for the fact that mall music is mostly heard . Instead, it boosts the atmosphere. No one is [...]

Matt Nathanson uses our ears to complete his masterpiece, "Modern Love". Singing shalala-la. That's what I did. Too bad that's a bit from the track "Come On, Get Higher" from a different Matt Nathanson's album titled "Some Mad Hope" and the urge to be singing said shalala-la came following the first listen of Nathanson's latest album, "Modern Love." Ooops. But it wasn't necessarily a bad thing that hearing the "Modern Love" album caused me to sing one of my favorite Matt Nathanson songs. It means that he's stayed true to that same guitar lullaby [...]