Melody Mondays - Order is restored
It’s not my fault. I’ve only been absent one week, tis your perception of time that is a wee bit off. The Mad King was murdered so I had to go deal with that for a bit. Don’t worry I left before the war started between the North and the South. I also needed to help set up Troy and Abed in the Morning—-their production budget is a bit low.
I return from far and wide, from low and high and I bring back two songs on separate ends of the emotional spectrum. The first is from Of Monsters and Men an Icelandic band that broke out with “Little Talks” earlier this year. It always amazes me how well foreign bands can sing in English—it makes me want to try to croon out some songs German to a special Elizabeth Lemon. I don’t have a particular song in mind, but I’m sure it would involve Krapfen! and köstliches Frühstück! I think Little Talks is great, but the following song is just so beautifully arranged and entrancing. The song doesn’t have a name yet, and the video frankly doesn’t have enough views yet. It deserves much much more. By the by, viewing it in HD makes a world of difference.
Of Monsters and Men - Untitled
Martin Solveig - Can’t Stop
The more I hear from Monsieur Solveig, the more I like him. He creates electronic music that’s not “EDM” in the traditional sense—as if there was a traditional sense of it. It’s less trance, less house and more electro-rock, electro-pop, with some tracings of dubstep. The energy is vibrant and full and amazingly, he uses half-beats! The genius! I appreciate how each song on his album, Smash, has a unique sound to it. He isn’t afraid to venture to different styles. And because of that, he’s quickly becoming one of those producers that I want to sniff/lick every song that they create.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Prank on Ron Artest
The best part of this season was Ron Artest. I love having people like this on my team.
Melody Mondays - The Uniqueness of Voices
The Strokes - Under Cover of the Darkness
Even with such a distinct sound as the Strokes have—with their catchy bass lines, and sustained poppy electro-guitar notes— who would they be without Julian Casablancas? It’s unfortunate for the other band members but Julian is The Strokes. Just like Bono is U2. Voices can define a band as much as the music beneath them. Sidenote: Danger mouse is going to be producing U2’s upcoming album.
Julian has a raspy whine to his voice that when described that way should bring up images of Janice from Friends and make you run far far away from his music. But you don’t. He even does the opposite and lulls you in with his note hanging and deliberate nonchalance. When I listen to The Strokes I can almost visualize his voice lifted above the music. Its distinct enough to create spatial separation from something we can’t even observe the space of. I think there are very few “pure” singers that end up being stars or even mildly successful indie acts. Even the classic “crooners” from yesteryear like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin had at-par voices. They weren’t fantastically good, but they were fantastically unique.
Martin Solveig ft. Kele - Ready 2 Go
Upon first impression, Kele from Bloc Party definitely had one of the oddest voices I’ve heard. It’s ostensibly British, not exactly what you would consider smooth/sultry and sort of sounds like he has a fat tongue. But he hits his notes and that’s all that matters. Again his uniqueness shines and his voice is different enough to be interesting but on point enough to be a lead singer for a band.
Martin Solveig does a great job of what i’ll call “subtle” dubstep. He reels in dubstep from the radical and really dischordant noise that a lot of producers put out. He places a wobble here or there to add to the harmony of sound as opposed to letting it run wild in an isolation play. I’d liken a lot of the “experimentation” with dubstep that we hear to picking up a guitar and strumming your fingers raw. My niece does that—and the practice is only allowed if you’re at least 1/2 as cute as she is. Good luck on that front DJs.
Julian Casablancas - I’ll Try Anything Once [You only live once demo]
PS means PLUS SOUND. Here is a PS. I owe you guys because I skipped out on last week =(. You may have heard this song from the advert for Somewhere by Sophia Coppola. It also may have seduced you into watching the movie. If you haven’t and it hasn’t then don’t bother. Listen to this song 30x instead and get more value for your time.
Melody Mondays - Canadian Invasion
Kai - I choose me.
Cue the sunshine, cue the birds, cue the kids rolling in the grass, cue the laughter, cue the joy. Just broke-up? Lost that job? Turn this on and turn on your unabashedly adorable swagger.
This song simply exudes excitement and confidence about life. The kazoo has a lot to do with it. I mean, it’s called a KAZOO. The word sounds fun, so IT better sound fun. I get vibes of Kate Nash’s voice/lyrics meets Lily Allen’s music. And the Lily Allen song that I’m thinking about is LDN.
http://www.collectionsofkai.com/
http://twitter.com/kaieleven11
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kai/134353036621946
Chic Gamine - Don’t think that I can stay.
A bonus for you is this song from Chic Gamine. It demanded to be included on this Canadian edition of Melody Mondays. ”Don’t think that I can stay” is structured like a marching anthem. There’s a background of soft rolling snare drums and a crescendo of horns. Perhaps this is too create the image of the singer marching away from battle with an ex-lover? Or is that reading too much into things. Regardless, Chic Gamine’s voices are pure and mesmerizing and the snare drums bring me back to my elementary school days when I would lug around a snare drum over my 90 lb frame and march for miles. Miles, I say! That should not have been allowed.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chic-Gamine/8226377727
Melody Mondays - Adele “Rolling in the Deep” remixed by Jaimie xx ft. Childish Gambino
Adele - Rolling in the Deep [Remixed by Jaimie xx ft. Childish Gambino]
Nothing has been dominating my playlist lately. Which is why this post is coming a bit late. I figured I would mix it up and use this as an excuse to talk about one of my favorite entertainers du jour. For the life of this blog, I don’t think I’ve ever posted a hip-hop/rap song. Check. I’m biased towards the cast behind this song, who can basically fill in for the Avengers to me. Adele has a powerful, British voice with a lot of range. Jaimie is half of the duo The xx who happened to release one of my favorite albums of 2009. And Childish Gambino is Donald Glover. Yup, TROY from Community and Quipble fame. Here and here. This song is mainly Adele, but this post is about Donald.
I think of Donald’s rapper alter ego, Childish Gambino, as a Lupe light. I can tell that he’s intelligent enough to write pun filled clever rhymes and deliver them on point, but he comes off as a little rough sometimes.
He is officially billed as writer/actor/comedian/musician. During and post college [yes I said during] he was a writer on 30 Rock, then began acting on Community and started doing standup as a side-gig. Sheesh. He has officially been placed on my “I will consume everything you create” list. So far the score is:
- early seasons of 30 Rock - hilarious
- Community - hilarious
- stand up - funny enough to enjoy
- Childish Gambino - good and on the rise
Donald is going to be on an IAMDONALD tour doing stand-up and music all in one. Think Conan’s comedy tour, but you know, way way different. If you’re interested you better go get your tickets here. I tried earlier today and his LA show was all sold out.
This just wouldnt be Quipble without me sneaking in one of my favorite scenes from Community [Season 2 - Episode 2]. I call it “Annie discovers chloroform.”
Melody Mondays - NewVillager “Lighthouse”
Wikipedia says NewVillager is a “multi-media” duo, half from San Francisco and half from New York. You’re not familiar with the term multi-media? I pity you and empathasize all the same. NewVillager is more than just music, they create “music, drawings, animations, performances, films, lectures, books and writings.”
This schizophrenia of interests manages to leak out on the pre-release single “Lighthouse.” It’s a beautiful menagerie of sounds. The song has loads of energy and is the type of song that sounds “full” even on bass-deficient speakers. It’s currently occupying the space for 2011’s version of Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks. Quirky, catchy and fun. Actually, “Lighthouse” is better than “Two Weeks.” The roles are now reversed, “Two Weeks” is the 2009 version of “Lighthouse.” If I had to sum it up in one word it would be: whimsical. If I had to use two, it would be: melodically whimsical. Which is perfect, because it’s Melody Mondays. Enjoy.
Melody Mondays - The Naked and the Famous “Girls Like You”
Hello The Naked and the Famous. Hello New Zealand. Hello fresh, emotive music.
The Naked and the Famous are a relatively new band and definitely on the rise. They mix electronic, with rock, with some interspersed harsher garage-y sounds. You may have heard one of their stand out tracks [“Young Blood” and “Punching in a Dream”] on Chuck [YES] or Gossip Girl or Skins UK. Their songs tend to be used in those dramatic scenes where there is minimal dialogue and maximum expression. Their songs bleed expression. Their album, “Passive Me Agressive You,” although not jam packed with hits, was a pleasure to explore. I have the feeling that they’re the type of band that will evolve in dramatic fashion and I already want to hear what’s next. Not because I tire of the current selection, but because I just want more.
My personal favorite from the album is “Girls Like You.” I’ve listened to this song enough to know exactly how it progresses, yet the progression always enthralls me. The lyrics absent of a melody and a voice are good but not great, but the delivery of them is meticulous and striking. I don’t know why, but the song begs me to listen to it in a large room with the volume up high. Crisp and full acoustics aren’t enough. I need to feel the space between myself and the sound.
The Naked and the Famous - Girls Like You
I demand that you vist KCRW Presents: The Naked and the Famous. The Naked and the Famous stopped by the Santa Monica NPR station to perform a live set of SEVEN of their songs. Full video and audio is courteously provided by LA’s own public radio station. By the by, they are going to be in Los Angeles at the Echo[plex] on April 8-9. Tickets are only $13. LA wins.
PS. Thanks to Julius from down under for the introduction.
Crying is allowed
Especially from laughing your pants off.
A Challenge to Challenging Startup Lawyers
Social wants to be mobile: Quipble on Color.
*An important distinction is that $7 million of the $41 million is venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank. This makes me think that the team didn’t raise an overinflated round and actually has distinct plans to put all this money to use soon. Although, putting money to use doesn’t mean much in the end—I’m looking at you, Webvan.
