If I told you Sufjan Stevens was attached to one of the best hip hop(ish) records of 2014, you might call me crazy. But combine Sufjan with Son Lux and Serengeti, and not only is the self-titled debut one of the best hip hop(ish) records of 2014, it’s easily one of my favorite overall records of the year.
Not that Flying Lotus really needs Kendrick’s assistance when it comes to producing such cool and creative tunes, but it sure doesn’t hurt. And when you’re done here, be sure to check out the track’s music video.
Phantogram teased us the last couple of years with a couple of excellent EPs, but with the release of Voices this year, the NY psych pop duo finally released a proper full-length follow up to the excellent 2009 LP Eyelid Movies. This track in particular really highlights the duo’s signature sound – complex production and infectious vocals.
Halls released one of my favorite albums of 2012 with the debut LP Ark. Wasting little time, Halls dropped Love to Give this year and totally exceeded my expectations. You really need to give this entire LP a proper listen, but if you only have time for one track, “Waves” is a must.
My favorite local (Chico) band right now. I’m obsessed with this song. Even better live…and they just happen to have an EP release show TONIGHT at 1078 Gallery.
I wouldn’t necessarily pin down Wye Oak as dream pop, but it’s hard not to when they release something like this. Between the hauntingly, beautiful melody and vocals, along with some fantastic keys, the title track from Shriek is easily one of the best dream pop tracks of 2014. This is one of those tracks you get lost in.
♩ French Horn Rebellion – Swing Into It (ft. HAERTS) [from Swing Into It EP]
“Here’s how the story goes. Last winter, we did a performance at LowBrau in Sacramento – which has become one of our favorite places to play – and after the show, a group of beautiful ballerinas came up to us, wanting to congratulate us on a show well done. After recovering from shell-shock that such pretty girls would talk to us, we learned that they were members of the Sacramento Ballet Company, and we both began to lament the deteriorating interest the public has in classical music, ballet, and the fine arts.
Together we thought – hey, let’s do something about this ! Let’s collaborate and make something special that is truly fun and artistic – nothing ironic, nothing satirical, just an upbeat and beautiful collaboration using our classical skills. FHR had a track featuring HAERTS coming up, so they sent it to the Sac Ballet, and Rex Wheeler, the choreographer, was immediately inspired. Alexandra Cunningham- the Sacramento Ballet’s social direct was recovering from a ballet-related injury at the time, and hit up all the local Sacramento boutique shops for costumes, and got funding for the dancers from nights at LowBrau, while FHR found the production team, ‘The Strangers’ to put together lights, camera and action. What you see is the final product of working through the internet and on the ground, and we’re so proud of it.” (via blog.frenchhornrebellion.com)
♩ The Apache Relay – Katie Queen of Tennessee [from Apache Relay]
“The Apache Relay’s ‘Katie Queen of Tennessee’ is easily one of the catchiest tunes I’ve heard this year. And in the song’s new video, a troupe of 40 young dancers raise the fun to heights I hadn’t imagined with a blissfully, perfectly choreographed routine.” (via Bob Boilen, NPR Music)
“I was on a train listening to music, getting deep into it, and this girl started staring at me,’ says London-based artist and poet Sofia Mattioli of the genesis of her video for Jamie xx’s ‘Sleep Sound.’ ‘After a while I took my headphones off and she came up to me, started signing and then wrote me a note to say that she was deaf but could almost feel the music by my movement.’ With the germ of an idea from this chance encounter, Mattioli was asked to create a video for the member of The xx and Grammy-winning producer of Alicia Keys, Gil Scott-Heron and Drake. During the course of one day, she danced with 13 members of the Manchester Deaf Centre with ages ranging from five to 27 years old, who responded to the movement of the artist and the vibrations in the air given off by the song. ‘The relationship between silence and music is a big part of what I am trying to express with my work,’ says Mattioli. ‘The first kid in the video, Archie, was bliss—all of them were amazing. I hope this is a project I can develop further.'” (via NOWNESS)
♩ Walter Martin – Sing to Me (feat. Karen O) [from We’re All Young Together]
“Is there a sweeter song or video than this right now? The Walkmen’s Walter Martin has made a family-friendly record, and “Sing to Me” — recorded with Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O — will warm your heart.” (via Bob Boilen, NPR Music)
Merril Garbus, aka Tune-Yards, is one of the most talented, creative, and unusual musicians making music these days. “Water Fountain” perfectly displays said characteristics…and then some.
