CocoRosie – Lemonade
ASKA – There Are Many of Us
Category Archives: 31 days of good 2010
(31) Days of Good: Day 9
Today’s first pick is by the Canadian five piece dance-punk band, You Say Party. You may know them as You Say Party! We Say Die!, but after the extremely unexpected death of drummer Devon Clifford during a live show, the band officially dropped the “We Say Die” from their name “out of respect for Devon and the evolution of life”.
The bands third full-length album, XXXX, was released early 2010 and is full of moody and melancholic melodies layered with synths and guitar riffs. At first glance, the albums title seems like it is referring to a porn rating, but it’s actually a stand in for the word “Love”. For instance, the opening track There is XXXX (Within My Heart). If you’re not convinced, just listen to the lyrics and you’ll hear what i’m talking about.
My favorite track is most definitely Laura Palmer’s Prom. This track is clearly influenced by The Cure and Siouxie and the Banshees (which is never a bad thing when done right), made evident by the classic synth riffs, the dreamy vocals, and the repeated line “My heart needs a love dance”.
More You Say Party @ yousayparty.com
Next up is a little ditty from the Irish indie electro outfit, Kowalski. I was introduced to these boys by the good people at Paste Magazine, as part of their new music samplers.
They self released, recorded, and produced their sophomore EP, Take Care, Take Flight, from which this track hails from. Get Back is a really good track, full of breathy vocals, irresistible rhythms, and relaxed soundscapes.
More Kowalski @ Myspace
and be sure to check out 35mmBeats for even more GOOD
(31) Days of Good: Day 8
What does the Vancouver-based electro specialist Teen Daze have in common with the recently grammy nominated, lady killer himself, Cee Lo Green? They both had two of the best cover songs of 2010, which consequently earned them a coveted spot on today’s edition of (31) Days of Good.
First, the Teen Daze rendition of Japandroids track, Wet Hair. The heavy guitar-riffs of the original version have been replaced by electronica elements, which makes for a more than successful outcome.
More Teen Daze @ Myspace
Cee Lo may have just received a (much deserved) Grammy nomination for the oh so eloquent track F**k You, but the real standout track from Mr. Green’s latest is the Band of Horses cover, No One’s Gonna Love You. Check out the track below and also be sure to watch the video. But be warned, the video contains some nudity, so NOT SAFE FOR WORK (NSFW).
http://player.vimeo.com/video/13285752
Cee-lo “No one’s gonna love you” from Starr Whitesides on Vimeo.
More Cee Lo @ ceelogreen.com
and be sure to check out 35mmBeats for even more GOOD
(31) Days of Good: Day 7
A bit under the weather, so short and sweet post today.
Fitness Club Fiasco are a synth-pop band that’s been recording in Bristol, England, for the past year (FCF describe themselves as a “a 4-piece synth-pop jungle gym”). In early 2010 they released this single and I was instantly hooked. The best way to describe this track is a fun song that makes you want to dance. According to the band’s Myspace page, they’ll have “a shiny new full length album out sometime when there’s snow on the ground (in Canada)”.
Fitness Club Fiasco – Forest City
[bonus] Forest City – Forest City (Camp America remix)
Purchase via iTunes
This trio originally hails from Puerto Rico, but after different stints found them in different parts of the US, the trio converged in Brooklyn. In 2008, Cut Copy heard some of the band’s songs and handpicked them as an opening act on their North American tour. From here on out, Kordan became a household name in the indie music blogosphere. This year saw the release of Kordan’s debut full-length album, The Longing. My favorite track definitely has to be Closer—a seamless fusion of electro and shoegaze. Enjoy.
(31) Days of Good: Day 6
Today i’m pleased to bring you two favorites of mine that both happen to be from Baltimore, MD. First, the synthpop/post-wave band, Future Islands.
Future Islands have been hard at work since 2006, but 2010 saw the release of their debut full-length, In Evening Air. Known for their rapturous live shows, lead singer Sam Herring’s burly voice, their stripped-down sound, and with definite influences from the likes of Devo and New Order, Future Islands are a force to reckoned with.
In Evening Air (to me at least) is an album that grows on you the more and more you listen and should really be played as a whole. But if you only have time for one track, here’s my personal favorite, Tin Man.
More Future Islands @ Future-Islands.com
This next pick is courtesy of the dream pop duo Beach House. The duo had a huge 2010. After releasing two critically acclaimed albums, they signed with Sub Pop records and released their latest, Teen Dream.
Teen Dream is a dynamic and intense album and definitely a top 10 favorite of the year. My favorite track from the album is Walk in the Park—a track with slow, atmospheric rhythms and haunting lyrics, coupled with an explosive chorus. If you like what you hear below, I highly recommend checking out the rest of Teen Dream, as well as the band’s earlier releases (Beach House and Devotion)
More Beach House @ Myspace Music
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