Tag Archives: 31 days of good 2012

2012, 31 days of good, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.15.12

December 15, 2012 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

One of the best movies of 2012 also had one of the best soundtracks. The book/movie takes place in the 90s, so the soundtrack is mostly older songs. In fact, only one track was brand new, and it just happens to be my favorite. I’ve listened to this song almost every day for the past two months and it gives me the chills every time (especially as it transitions into David Bowie’s “Heroes”).

“But right now, these moments are not stories. This is happening. I am here and I am looking at her. And she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story. You are alive. And you stand up and see the lights in the building and everything that makes you wonder, and you’re listening to that song on that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite.”

If you haven’t read the book and/or watched the movie, I highly recommend both.

♩Michael Brook – Charlie’s Last Letter [from The Perks of Being a Wallflower Soundtrack]
web//facebook//iTunes

Another soundtrack song, this one from Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie. I loved this movie and Danny Elfman is my absolute favorite film composer. In fact, his score for Edward Scissorhands is my #1 desert island pick. However, my pick from Frankenweenie is not Mr. Elfman’s doing. Though I do love the score, my favorite musical piece from the film comes from the one and only Karen O. You won’t hear “Strange Love” until the end credits, but it fits the movie perfectly. And I can’t help but hope this track is our first taste of a new Karen O And The Kids record (probably not, but a boy can dream).

♩Karen O – Strange Love [from Frankenweenie Soundtrack]

web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

Lastly, the title track from Sera Cahoone’s latest. I was immediately drawn to this because of the title. This particular track, “Deer Creek Canyon”, reminds me of my Dad. I lost my Dad almost 10 years ago, but I miss him now more than ever. This song really reminds me of him. In fact, I used to fish with him (and my Grandpa) in a Deer Creek. Now it’s not the same Deer Creek as in the song, but I like to think it is.

♩Sera Cahoone – Deer Creek Canyon [from Deer Creek Canyon]
web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

2012, 31 days of good, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.14.12

December 14, 2012 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

I now present the top 3 finalists for this year’s “Home” award. Appropriately named after Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ hit song of the same name — a song so good, it’s impossible to hate, even when it’s overplayed and overused.

In 3rd place, Of Monsters And Men with their hit “Little Talks”.

Having already conquered their homeland over the last couple of years, 2012 saw this six-piece from Iceland conquer North America and beyond. The band’s debut LP, My Head Is an Animal, was chock-full of infectious indie folk and pop, but no other track took over the airwaves like “Little Talks” did. I caught the tail end of the band’s set at this year’s Outside Lands festival in SF and they sounded great. Can’t wait to hear more these guys and gals.

♩Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks [from My Head Is An Animal]
[bonus] Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks (Passion Pit remix) [via soundcloud]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

In 2nd place, Passion Pit’s “Take a Walk”.

Passion Pit’s second studio album, Gossamer, was one of my most anticipated releases of 2012. I’ve heard complaints that Gossamer is “repetitive” and not as “exciting” as Manners. I mostly disagree with the claims of repetitiveness — a big pet peeve of mine is when an artist or band releases the same record over and over again. I love this record and it totally lived up to my expectations. You’ll probably recognize the first single, “Take a Walk”, from a certain Taco Bell commercial. A lot of people bitched about this and I love how lead singer and keyboardist, Michael Angelakos, responded: “It’s not about promoting celebrities or giant corporations or anything like that. It’s just airtime…It’s an amazing opportunity. And, honestly, you take what you can get. I say no to about 90 percent of the offers, but we just want people to hear the music at end of the day.”

p.s. see Passion Pit live if you get a chance. I caught their entire set this year’s Outside Lands festival. So good.

♩Passion Pit – Take a Walk [from Gossamer]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

And in 1st place, Kishi Bashi’s “Bright Whites”.

If you’ve been wondering why you want Windows 8, it’s because of Kishi Bashi and this commercial. Kishi Bashi is the solo project of singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter K (Kaoru) Ishibashi. K is also one hell of a violinists and put’s those skills to good use as a touring member of Regina Spektor and of Montreal, as well as throughout this record. As Kishi Bashi, K self-recorded and self-produced his debut full-length, 151a, one of the best records of 2012. I was really torn between “I Am the Antichrist to You” and “Bright Whites”, with the latter barely beating out the former for the top spot. “Bright Whites” is one of those songs that always puts me in a good mood. I can’t help but smile and sing along whenever I hear it (even during the Windows 8 commercials).

♩Kishi Bashi – Bright Whites [from 151a]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes

[bonus] Check out the video for “Bright Whites”, which features some of Montreal buddies acting out 50+ famous idioms like “break a leg.”

2012, 31 days of good, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.13.12

December 13, 2012 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

Loud. Hard. Fast. The ingredients for the perfect rock song. Let’s go.

♩Cloud Nothings – Stay Useless [from Attack On Memory]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

♩Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built [from Celebration Rock]
web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

♩The Men – Open Your Heart [from Open Your Heart]
web//shows//iTunes

♩Metz – Headache [from METZ]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes

♩Natural Child – B$G P$MP$N [from Hard in Heaven]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes

♩A Place To Bury Strangers – So Far Away [from Onwards To The Wall]
web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

♩Royal Headache – Girls [from Royal Headache]
facebook//twitter//soundcloud//iTunes

♩Titus Adronicus – Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape With The Flood Of Detritus [from Local Business]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

♩Ty Segall – Thank God For Sinners [from Twins]
web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

♩The Vaccines – Teenage Icon [from Come Of Age]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

2012, 31 days of good, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.12.12

December 12, 2012 Bfay Leave a comment

This entire record is great, it’s hard to single out just one track especially with guest appearances ranging from T.I. and Theophilus London to Little Dragon and Phantogram. “Lines” features the Southern influenced Rocky and Phantogram on the hook. This is the second solo record from Big Boi and is a must have for Hip-Hop fans…but can we please get another Outkast record?

♩Big Boi – Lines (feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram) [from Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors]

web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

M.I.A. delivers yet again with a playfulness that only she can pull off. This was one of my favorite tracks, beats, and videos of the year — maybe even the best video of the year, in my opinion. M.I.A. is currently putting the final touches on her upcoming album Matangi (due out March 2013).

♩M.I.A. – Bad Girls [single]

web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

“Goldie” will have to do for now, because A$AP’s record, Long.Live.A$AP, keeps getting pushed back and is now set to be released Jan 15th, 2013. The Harlem MC has established himself in the rap scene without a major label release. The self proclaimed “pretty motherf**cker” has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hip-Hop with his keen eye for fashion and swagger. More from A$AP to come soon.

♩A$AP Rocky – Goldie (prod. by Hit-Boy) [single]

web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

Pac Div is one of the most underrated rap groups around. I can’t figure out why they haven’t blown up. They have consistently released mixtapes and albums that critics and Hip-Hop heads seem to love but they have yet to receive the accolades they deserve. “Black Acura” is off of their latest album GMB that features the likes of Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar.

♩Pac Div – Black Acura (feat. Mac Miller & Raven Sorvino) [from GMB]

web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

2012, 31 days of good, music

(31) Days of Good: 12.11.12

December 11, 2012 Concrete Opinions 2 Comments

Falling in love with new music is one life’s simple pleasures and 2012 was a fantastic year of discovery for me. I’ve already featured a few of my new favorites this year, including Bright Moments, HAERTS, Porcelain Raft, and Vacationer (just to name a few), and today i’d like to highlight a few more. But first I need to give credit where credit is due. If it weren’t for the following music outlets, my music repertoire would be far less exciting. Big thanks to All Songs Considered, Big Hassle, EARMILK, Girlie Action, Head Underwater, A Heart Is A Spade, The Hype Machine Radio Show, Largehearted Boy, KCRW, Nialler 9, No Fear Of Pop, The Noise Pop Podcast, Oh So Fresh! Music, Paste Magazine, Pigeons & Planes, Planetary Group, PORTALS, Treble in Trouble, Winnie Cooper, yvynyl, and the one and only, Ethel Sale. Now without further ado, please enjoy a small sample of my favorite discoveries of 2012.

CHVRCHES are a Scottish electro pop band based in Glasgow. The trio has been generating quite a bit of buzz on the blogosphere and I expect a big 2013 for them.

♩CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share [single]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

Desert Stars is a 5-piece band from Brooklyn. Built on the creative output, and impressive lead vocals, of Janelle Best, the band dispatches a very dreamy/shoegaze/lo-fi sound. The band just finished recording it’s debut with a Spring release expected.

♩Desert Stars – Boys I Like [from Boys I Like/Farewell Decade]
web//facebook//twitter//tumblr//shows//bandcamp

Drop Electric is an experimental rock band based in Washington D.C. and NYC. As All Songs Considered puts it, “a ‘Sigur Ros-ian’ band with an epic sound.

♩Drop Electric – Empire Trashed [from Drop Electric Sampler Platter]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes

Goldroom is Los Angeles-based producer Josh Legg. “Fifteen” is the perfect Summer song — great production, soothing synths, and dreamy vocals, courtesy of Australian singer Chela.

♩Goldroom – Fifteen (feat. Chela) [single]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

London producer Sam Howard, aka Halls, released his debut album Ark this year. “White Chalk” is quite possibly be the most beautiful song of 2012. Definitely a favorite of mine, easily in my top 10 tracks of the year. I’ve listened to “What Chalk” more than any other track this couple of months. The production, along with the vocals and classical piano chords, are superb. I especially love what Howard writes in the liner notes of Ark — “I hope you find a source of positivity from within the themes of isolation and death found on the album.”

♩Halls – White Chalk [from Ark]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes

“The Minneapolis trio Now, Now has mastered the art of magnification: It takes small moments and invests them with larger meaning.” – NPR Music’s 50 Favorite Albums of 2012

♩Now, Now – School Friends [from Threads]
nownowband.com//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

Pacific Air is an indie pop band, consisting of brothers brothers Ryan and Taylor Lawhon. After changing their name from KO KO, the duo released their debut EP LONG LIVE KOKO this last Fall. Leadoff track “Float” is one of the most infectious and catchy dream pop tracks of 2012.

♩Pacific Air – Float [from LONG LIVE KOKO EP]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

Patrick Watson is a Canadian singer-songwriter who’s been making music for over a decade. This is one of those discoveries I wish would’ve happened years ago.

♩Patrick Watson – Into Giants [from Adventures In Your Own Backyard]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

“Over the last few years, I’ve realized that my experiences are not singular. I’m writing for people, not just me.” – Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) via A Heart Is A Spade

♩Perfume Genius – Hood [from Put Your Back N 2 It]
web//facebook//twitter//shows//iTunes

“Simple in structure and free of flash, it’s the style that has us craving more. They blend a punkish retro vibe with a head-nodding new energy and a pop sensibility.” – Pigeons & Planes

♩Shadows On Stars – Now You’re Mine [from Shadows On Stars]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//iTunes

Power-pop garage rock from Passion Pit’s Ayad Al Adhamy. I live 3 miles from the beach and I go maybe once a year, which makes this song fitting.

♩Team Spirit – Fuck The Beach [from Team Spirit EP]
facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp

“‘Mtn Tune’ is the ideal summer anthem. Complimentary vocals, dancy synths and a guitar/drum combination that reminds one of The Neighbourhood — this song has it all. Be it on a beach or in your back yard, let Trails and Ways guide your dance in the sun, and inhale the blissful existence of summer.” – EARMILK

♩Trails and Ways – Mtn Tune [single]
web//facebook//twitter//soundcloud//shows//bandcamp//iTunes