Weekly LP Love: Fire Of Love
The Gun Club. A band that was/is pretty under the radar, but one that deserves our utmost attention. Ignore if you will, but Fire of Love, their first full length LP from 81′, will demand it at a high, loud, straight-up rock n’ roll level. Stemming onto the scene after a floodgate opening by The Cramps, this album was said to be groundbreaking for its’ time, being one of the first to mesh punk rock with American blues and country. Jack White sites the band as a huge musical influence... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Jacques Dutronc 1er
There is nothing better than 1960′s French garage rock with hip-shaking beats and ironic French lyrics fronted by a dapper, ultra-cool, blue-eyed young man. Jacques Dutronc’s 1966 debut pop album is full of songs that will have you shimmying across the wood floor. He had something to say about the times in which he lived, but did so with humorous lyrics and his iconic chant-like delivery. This album is the very definition of the French Chanson and yé-yé wave of the 60′s. And here are my 5 LP Lovelies: 1.... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Hymn To The Immortal Wind
Mono is everything a good post-rock instrumental band should be: Goliath-sized builds, inevitable pummeling, and cascading descents all driven by implausible guitar work and strings from another world. This Japanese quartet, who carries around a 28-piece orchestra, knows how to summon an army of sound in a matter of seconds and then retreat just as quickly. Hymn to the Immortal Wind is purely cinematic, with wonderful drama and perfect pacing. And here are my 5 LP Lovelies: 1. Textured Coat 2. Handmade Mustard Velvet Belt 3. Teal Dress 4. Beige... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Here We Go Magic S/T
Bought out of sheer happenstance, this record started out as a pleasantly likable album that slowly burned into a surprise go-to-record for any occasion of the year. Luke Temple’s first release under the HWGM moniker was certainly the most unpretentious indie record to come out of 2009. Think dense Eno-esque multi-track vocals over perfectly restrained acid-folk rhythms, hazy electronica and minimalistic guitar ad infintum. Recorded on a 4-track, this ultra lo-fi album is like basking in a lazy river of sonic bliss that you’ll never want to get out of.... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Shields
This is the fourth album from Grizzly Bear, and I must say coming from someone who has followed their career since Yellow House, I feel the new album is the perfect evolution of this band. They continue to solidify my trust in their talent and stay true to themselves, yet add delightfully unexpected elements and their attention to detail is key for them. The first title of the album is, “Sleeping Ute.” I remember hearing it for the first time when they released the single some months back and being... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: That Rockin’ Gal
Janis Martin was destined to be famous when she was born in 1940. By the age of six, she was able to play basic chords on the guitar and began singing. For much of her young childhood she entered contest after contest and won first place in all of them and in 1956 at the young age of fifteen, she recorded what was to become the biggest rock n’ roll hit of her career, ” Will you, Willyum.” Her stage presence and voice was so strong that she was dubbed... Read The Rest →
Weekly Lp Love: The Observator
Released just yesterday, “The Observator,” has already been well-spun in our home. I have to admit that I am a sucker for anything with droning guitars, lots of fuzz, and loads of reverb. This new record by The Raveonettes, is filled with just that, but add some twanging Americana sounds, synth, and incredible builds. And did I mention the beautifully, heartbreaking melodies and perfect harmonies? The album starts off with what I feel is their best song,”Young and Cold,” a meloncholic yet dreamy 3 minutes and 22 seconds. You will... Read The Rest →
Weekly Lp Love: You’re So Fine
An incredibly underrated R&B group of their time, the gentlemen that make up ,The Falcons, had tremendous talent. Their Flick Records compilation, “You’re So Fine,” is laced with strong and powerful gospel-tinged tones and songs that will get you hoppin’ with love on your mind. Their charming harmonies and soulful music will have you singing their tunes long after the record has stopped spinning. Their biggest hit was in fact, “You’re So Fine,” selling over a million copies. Though a lot of these songs were somewhat drowned out by the... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Love Is Strange
This 1956 record by the dynamic girl-guy duo, Mickey and Sylvia, was an instant success the moment it was released. The record contained sounds never heard before that time with the combination of their two voices and two twanging guitars. They were innovators of sound and extremely skilled musicians. The first single off the album was, “Love is Strange,” and hit number 11 on the US charts and sold over a million copies with it’s classic Mickey and Sylvia call and response style. My personal favorite is the rhythm and... Read The Rest →
Weekly LP Love: Feels
Animal Collective is a band that you either love or hate. Their style is very definitive and in a category all their own. It is experimental, electronic, and avant-garde at times, but in my opinion, well balanced with original, yet accessible melodies and exceptional harmonies. We fall very deeply on the ‘love’ side. There really isn’t anything they have put out that we haven’t liked in their catalog of soon-to-be nine studio albums. ‘Feels,’ is my personal favorite, though when listening to other albums that may tend to wave a... Read The Rest →
