Drunken Attraction

I love you Bradford Cox...As you go crazy in Minneapolis

Caddywhompus: The Weight ,

I love every song these guys have created.  No, I’m not being hyperbolic.  I honestly love everything these guys have created.  Luckily I was able to see them in concert at the Project Lodge.  Me and 2 of my friends.  And some of the members of the band prior who stuck around.  It was sad and I wanted to give them mucho dinero just to make up for the less then stellar fan fare.  But I instead bought a shirt with a picture of Michael Phelps that says something like We Blaze these Nuggz, not having any idea what that meant.  

I heard a band recently and I thought, Damn it, I wish these guys were Caddywhompus.  I think it was the Fatty Acids, who were great musically and when the lead singer can keep his voice at the right pitch, are amazing.  But damn, how I wanted them to be these two guys from New Orleans who may never make it up North again. 

Here’s the best part.  All of their songs are free. FREE.  So take a chance and download their albums,Here, rock out to them, and of course let me know what you think.  It won’t change my mind about them, but I would love to be able to have a larger fan base for them if they ever do make it back.  

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires

February 15 @ High Noon Saloon

Adv. $15, DOS, $17 18+

This man stores up his soul to be showered upon people as he performs. He makes me weep for the strength and grief in his voice. Like passion and heart in your music? Don’t miss Charles Bradley in Madison

Here’s my list.  I start slacking towards the end with my album descriptions, but like writing a term paper 2 hours before it’s due, it’ll have to do.  Feel free to comment, add albums, disagree with album choices (You’re wrong) or other stuff that empower you.  

Best Albums of 2011

SBTRKT – SBTRKT – I love British DJ’s and I think a few of them, including SBTRKT are doing amazing things. With songs like “Wildfire” and that make you want to freak out on the dance floor to the low tempo “Hold On” and “ Trials of the Past” that beg for you to take the freak to the bedroom, this album takes you through some smooth moves and heart racing paces.

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming – M83 – This band was made to be heard live with hundreds of screaming, dancing fans and this album is close to capturing that feeling. This is definitely some smart 80’s synth sounds with airy male vocals and a driving beat. All you need to do is add the fog and ecstasy and you got yourself an ethereal journey. And that this is a double album makes it twice as long.

Aabenbaringen-over-Aaskammen – Casiokids. Remember when Of Montreal was lovely and romantic? These guys remind me of that. Their first album was done totally in their native language Norwegian which normally would hinder them from selling a good number of albums. But it did and this band became one of the best bands to ever come out of Norway. This album has some English songs, but I still find those in Norwegian to have some of the best emotions behind him. My favorite are “Det Haster” and “Golden Years” but I have to say this is probably my favorite album of the year.

Wounded Rhymes – Lykke Li. Jesus. Can this woman get any more amazing. Her voices sounds like it has grown up since her last album, but instead of being some sex crazed wacko like Rihanna, she became a dark sad soul. But though her lyrics and soulful voice may convey weariness, her music makes you want to sway and twirl within that darkness. She is one of my favorite female vocalists and I think she went into a great direction with this album. Trying to find 2 songs that I like the most, I realize that it would be more like 7 songs, so I recommend just getting the whole album.

Last Night on Earth – Noah & The Whale. I love Charlie Fink. And I love that every album he puts out is a reflection of his life at that moment. I take this as a sign that his music truly comes from his heart and you can hear it in his voice and in the music. And this album takes us out of the funk that he was in on his last album, “First Days of Spring” and makes almost every song into an inspirational song. Having a day in the slumps? Put this album in and I promise you that you will be feeling better by each song.

Special Affections – Diamond Rings. God this album makes me want to be a Canadian. Actually, this album wants me to marry John O’Regan and then become a Candian. With his feminine, lithe figure contradicting his powerful baritone voice, its everything I could ever want in a man. Oh yeah a,nd this album is great. Dark, Seductive and simple, each song tugs on your primal feelings in some sense. I hope this isn’t a one time thing and he will continue. I recommend to not just listen to the album but to see his videos on Youtube.

Who Kills – Tune-Yards. Better production then her debut album, Bird Brains, this album still has Merrill’s voice sounding one moment like she is whispering to you and the next that she is shouting out to the world. Slightly political, slightly inspirational, her album makes me feel like life is still beautiful as long as we see what makes it depressing and learn how to deal or dismiss. “Bizness” and “Gansta” are two of my favorite songs.

Cults – Cults - CUTE!! Cute boy/girl duo that had me at Jim Jones videos and passionate high school ballads. They are coming to Madison and you all better be getting excited. I’m trying to think of more to say about this album, but the word “Cute” is the only thing coming to mind. I definitely get a 60’s girl group sound from it, if that helps. You just want to dance with these guys and possibly make eyes at the cute person that may be next to you. “Go Outside” is my favorite track.

Castlemania – Thee Oh Sees – Speaking of older rock sounds, Thee Oh Sees is is a dirty garage band where you can imagine that their shows smell of stale PBR and sweaty bodies. There’s guttural male vocals with heavy reverb and hard strumming guitars. In my Laymen terms. Although I don’t think every song on the album is a winner, sometimes going into screeching guitars, I recommend checking out “ I Need Seed” to get what I think is one of the best songs on the album.

Blue Songs – Hercules & Love Affair - Shane O’ Neil penned it correct. This is gay music that makes me proud to be gay. Probably because it sounds like darker disco music sung by a torch song loving drag boy/girl. Love it.

Torches – Foster the People. Ok, you all have heard that one song over and over and over again. Well if you are burnt out on that song and haven’t given the entire album a chance, don’t miss up the opportunity. This album is another great stadium dancing production where you just want to get a group of friends together and sing along with each song. I’m glad that one of those amazing bands we listen to actually made it to the radio. Now if they would only play one of their other songs, I’ll feel better about it.

Honorable Mentions/Albums “I heard” were Awesome

Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes – It’s good. I just may be getting over folk rock :(

Ceremonials – Florence & The Machine – I don’t think she gets the height on her vocals that she did with Lungs, but still a good turnout.  

Adventures - Germany Germany - It may be mostly trance music, but I love it anyway. 

Hey all.  If you are still following me, Thanks.  Without stable internet connection, it has been slightly difficult getting on here and posting.  But with Winter coming, I’m hoping to have more time to do posting.  I did check out some shows that are coming to Madison and Milwaukee and wanted to post them on here.  Let me know if any of you are planning on going to any of them!!

October 2nd - Besnard Lakes - High Noon Saloon - $10

October 3rd - Twin Sister- Union South -9pm

October 4th - Born Gold (formerly Gobble Gobble) - Frequency - 8:30pm

October 13th - Smashing Pumpkins - Pabst Theater

October 16th - MEN- Frequency - 9pm

October 18th - Man Man - High Noon Saloon

October 19th - Gang Gang Dance - Majestic

October 28th - Gold Panda - Empty Bottle, Chicago

November 5th - Star Slinger - Union South - 9pm

November 13th - Noah and the Whale - Turner Hall - $15 - 7:30pm

November 19th - Jezebels - Lincoln Hall

November 23 - Thee Oh Sees - Empty Bottle

Black Moth Super Rainbow, September 9th, Majestic Theater

$15 Advance

$18 Door

I’m slightly in love with both Tobacco and Black Moth Super Rainbow, two projects that are led by Thomas Fec.  I was extremely excited to meet him and his musical partner at the Tobacco show that was at the High Noon a few months past.  His music is amazing and beautiful and I can’t wait to trip out to it when they come in September.  If you missed him in the Spring, I recommend you don’t miss this show.  

What?!?  What?!? In thy Buttocks!!  I know, I know.  It’s been awhile since I’ve done another blog posts.  Blame laziness.  Blame society.  Blame the want and need to be outside since I feel like I can without being killed by Wisconsin Winter.  But anyway, It’s the 6th month of 2011 and I need to get my favorite albums so far this year out there.  And of course, I want to hear about everyone else’s albums so I don’t feel like I’m missing out on some awesomeness.  I still feel like I should do some more searching of albums that were released this year, but pfffft.  I’ll do that some other time.  

So in no particular order because hierarchies are stupid, here’s my favorite albums so far of 2011.

1.  Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

I’m glad these guys came out with another album.  With Mumford & Sons coming in after them and blowing up a lot bigger, I was worried that they would disappear.  But they’re back and their beautiful harmonizing and fun folky music is back.  

2.  Noah & The Whale - Last Night on Earth

Little known or cared about fact, I started this blog because of these guys.  I knew they were coming to Madison from the U.K. (with some other U.S. tours in between) and I felt like there wasn’t anything getting the word out that they were coming to the Majestic.  I still believe the turnout wasn’t very good for these guys, and I did feel slightly awkward being the oldest guy there who wasn’t a chaperone for the high school kids.  But it was worth it seeing and hearing them live.  With this album, Charlie Fink got out of his funk and wrote about the other side of a broken heart.  The side where you start seeing love in another and that old bitterness starts going away.  And I’m glad for it.

3. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes 

Although most critics were happy that she has matured with her music, I have to say I miss the fun, superficial songs that was prevalent in her debut album, Youth Novels.  But with this album, LykKe Li sounds like she got a little bit of Charlie Fink’s melancholy and some youthful cynicism.  With songs like “ Sadness is a Blessing” and “Unrequited Love”, I wouldn’t put this album up there in the “feel good” category.  But Lykke Li’s voice is what makes her songs, and with these more serious and darker songs, they have a more Mazzy Star wonderfulness to them.  I like it, but I do hope she gets a little happier for her next album.

4. The Naked & The Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You

Although technically released in 2010 in the U.K., they released this album worldwide in March 2011.  So I’m going on that.  They are from Australia, they are very young and they have mastered quite a few pop music sounds to create a great, non boring album.  I say that more on a “I love this album” and less on a “I can stand this album”.  You will hear some MGMT.  You will hear some indie pop familiarity.  But they do each song so well, you will wish that your favorite bands in these genres would still release music this good.  Saw them live opening up for the Foals and definitely more people were there for them then Foals (I didn’t like Foals last album).  If you haven’t given this band or this album a listen, I suggest you should.

5. Black Lips- Arabia Mountain 

Self disclosure, I have not listened to much of this album.  But I do know that I love the Black Lips and I don’t expect anything else except some great garage rock from these guys.  Their catchy lyrics and Cole Alexander’s guttural vocals will swoon anybody who swoons at dirty tight jeans rocker boys.  That they make out on stage and one of them is naked on the cover of an album kind of has me favorite them a little more. 

I feel like I may be forgetting some albums, but don’t know for sure.  Do you guys know of some good albums that were just released this year.  I have heard the new Battles album is good, but haven’t listened to all of it yet.  

MUSIC FAN'S MIC//: Beirut announce new album.

musicfansmic:

Beirut have been busy this past week. Following the shock announcement of their comeback single on Friday (which hit the shops this past week), the band have now followed it with an announcement of details of their long-awaited comeback album.

Four years have passed since ‘The Flying Club…

Peter Bjorn and John

I love free shows.  Who doesn’t?  But other then a few festivals and WUD, you hardly find free shows here in Madison.  But Majestic along with FM102.1 are bringing these guys in to play for free (well, free for us) on King St.  

August 26.  Mark your calendars!

Sometimes searching for new music in other regions of the the country, I forget how awesome some of the musicians in Madison are.  Peaking Lights I’ve seen once and remember being blown away by them.  I also know they have shows or did have shows in a small shop they own.  I should check up on if they are still doing that.  Love this song and definitely need to get this album.  

Peaking Lights - Amazing & Wonderful from Not Not Fun on Vimeo.