Spotify Listen Link: White Denim – D
So, you can click here ^^^^^ OR you can scroll down to the bottom and press play on the little Spotify player there!
Anndddd I've never heard of them. So, here's what the research reveals:
"Spastic Indie Rock Trio" is how Spotify chooses to describe them. Josh, Steve, and James hail from Austin, TX, one of my music mecca places that I have seriously considered moving to just to experience their music scene. They got together in 2005, all having been a part of other Austin bands previously. They finally debuted with a 7" EP in 2007, Let's Talk About It. A second EP happened, and then retooled songs came together for their first full-length album.
This is a band that made more of a splash in Europe, hitting it big particularly in the U.K. This is their third full-length album actually, which we are now apparently finally appreciating in America. Leading up to this, they expanded their sound to become a 4-piece, adding Austin, another guitarist.
My eyes widened immediately upon the start of "It's Him!" The energy immediately exhibited by the band right at the get-go is extraordinary. I was barely paying attention to the lyrics because the music was so catchy right away. As I get my head back together though, I have to say - the grouping of voices is a little tough to handle, just because you're listening to something with too many voices at once when one would have sufficed. Regardless, this is that great recent rock sound that modernizes the 60's for me.
"Burnished" doesn't pull us in quite as strongly, but the strength of this band is quickly appearing to be the guitar work. There's a funk element that is going to bring out all of the hippies to the field, completely getting lost in whatever else may be going on in life. It ends far too suddenly, almost giving me a reason to purchase Spotify premium right now, because that ad killed my groove.
There's a little bit of a moving electronic element for "At The Farm," which totally doesn't fit the title (possibly the point) and I love it. The way things layer and move together is just awesome here. The electronic sound at the start could have very well have just been the humming of the guitar, but it's something new and different. As the song moves on, the verses and choruses are completely made by the instruments, with very clear and distinct sections being played. It's just damn brilliant.
"Street Joy" is a little more slow and steady. Again, I'm having issues paying too close of attention to the lyrics here. Nothing's really standing out on that side of things because of the recording style. The music accompaniment is easy to hear, but lacking emotion somehow - it just having in the air, filling a few more minutes of the album. It's like this is the palate cleanser before the next course.
So, you can click here ^^^^^ OR you can scroll down to the bottom and press play on the little Spotify player there!
Anndddd I've never heard of them. So, here's what the research reveals:
"Spastic Indie Rock Trio" is how Spotify chooses to describe them. Josh, Steve, and James hail from Austin, TX, one of my music mecca places that I have seriously considered moving to just to experience their music scene. They got together in 2005, all having been a part of other Austin bands previously. They finally debuted with a 7" EP in 2007, Let's Talk About It. A second EP happened, and then retooled songs came together for their first full-length album.
This is a band that made more of a splash in Europe, hitting it big particularly in the U.K. This is their third full-length album actually, which we are now apparently finally appreciating in America. Leading up to this, they expanded their sound to become a 4-piece, adding Austin, another guitarist.
My eyes widened immediately upon the start of "It's Him!" The energy immediately exhibited by the band right at the get-go is extraordinary. I was barely paying attention to the lyrics because the music was so catchy right away. As I get my head back together though, I have to say - the grouping of voices is a little tough to handle, just because you're listening to something with too many voices at once when one would have sufficed. Regardless, this is that great recent rock sound that modernizes the 60's for me.
"Burnished" doesn't pull us in quite as strongly, but the strength of this band is quickly appearing to be the guitar work. There's a funk element that is going to bring out all of the hippies to the field, completely getting lost in whatever else may be going on in life. It ends far too suddenly, almost giving me a reason to purchase Spotify premium right now, because that ad killed my groove.
There's a little bit of a moving electronic element for "At The Farm," which totally doesn't fit the title (possibly the point) and I love it. The way things layer and move together is just awesome here. The electronic sound at the start could have very well have just been the humming of the guitar, but it's something new and different. As the song moves on, the verses and choruses are completely made by the instruments, with very clear and distinct sections being played. It's just damn brilliant.
"Street Joy" is a little more slow and steady. Again, I'm having issues paying too close of attention to the lyrics here. Nothing's really standing out on that side of things because of the recording style. The music accompaniment is easy to hear, but lacking emotion somehow - it just having in the air, filling a few more minutes of the album. It's like this is the palate cleanser before the next course.
For the first time, "Anvil Everything" has almost hear-able lyrics. There's one voice, which is kind of a nice change. The voice doesn't exactly stand out in anyway though, amongst the fast playing up and down that makes the song have far more beats per minute than are necessary. There's a bit more grit here though, than compared to the air of pop and happiness throughout the other songs. The guitar is saltier, giving a little more character overall to an otherwise very simple sound.
"River to Consider" brings hippie-ism to a whole new level for the album with a flute or pipe or something. If you're not dancing in the sunshine for this one, something is very, very wrong with you. I believed this is another instrumental track, as the vocals don't come on in until about a minute and a half in. The voice simply serves as another layer here though - I could care less what they're singing about (and that's a rarity for me), because I just want more of the sweet instrumental sections here.
I just finished watching Yellow Submarine, and "Drug" reminds me of it already, even without the name of the song. The sound is trippy in a way. It's probably a little too up-beat to truly fit in with that particular theme or in the film anywhere, but trust me in that the sound is fitting enough to make the comparison. The reverb effects used here aren't my favorite, but hey, keep the spirit/influence alive.
"River to Consider" brings hippie-ism to a whole new level for the album with a flute or pipe or something. If you're not dancing in the sunshine for this one, something is very, very wrong with you. I believed this is another instrumental track, as the vocals don't come on in until about a minute and a half in. The voice simply serves as another layer here though - I could care less what they're singing about (and that's a rarity for me), because I just want more of the sweet instrumental sections here.
I just finished watching Yellow Submarine, and "Drug" reminds me of it already, even without the name of the song. The sound is trippy in a way. It's probably a little too up-beat to truly fit in with that particular theme or in the film anywhere, but trust me in that the sound is fitting enough to make the comparison. The reverb effects used here aren't my favorite, but hey, keep the spirit/influence alive.
"Bess St." has the most simply rock sound going on. Even the vocals have a much more punk sound to them than the rest of the album so far. The grit's finally there and making the vocals so much easier to pay attention to. Here we've forgone the outdoor sound for more of a garage rock sound of the 80's. It's a little off when grouped in with the rest of the songs, but it's a welcome sound that somehow ties in. Plus, the funk guitar line that changes the whole thing up around the two minute mark sort of helps usher back in the dancing.
There's an insane amount of anticipation in my heart throughout "Is And Is And Is." I think it's primarily due to the beat going throughout. The breakout yelling for a few second actually provides some relief, but the beat comes back, sounding like it's going to build somewhere, but taking its damn time. There's got to be a break somewhere, and there never really is, just a slight shift, then a shift back.
The final song to hear tonight is "Keys," which just has a steady beat and single voice at first. Instruments are added in the layers, and the song is just easy to hear as we end. This "Hey There, Delilah" with just a little more going on in each few lines. It could sort of be the ideal encore for a band - one guy starts, and each comes on and adds what they can give, until we're all back together.
Added to My Playlist:
Check it out below!
There's an insane amount of anticipation in my heart throughout "Is And Is And Is." I think it's primarily due to the beat going throughout. The breakout yelling for a few second actually provides some relief, but the beat comes back, sounding like it's going to build somewhere, but taking its damn time. There's got to be a break somewhere, and there never really is, just a slight shift, then a shift back.
The final song to hear tonight is "Keys," which just has a steady beat and single voice at first. Instruments are added in the layers, and the song is just easy to hear as we end. This "Hey There, Delilah" with just a little more going on in each few lines. It could sort of be the ideal encore for a band - one guy starts, and each comes on and adds what they can give, until we're all back together.
Added to My Playlist:
- "It's Him!"
- "At The Farm"
- "River to Consider"
- "Keys"
Check it out below!
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