I've been into some big time music lately, starting with the most recent Peter Bjorn and John record,
Writer's Block. I had heard "Young Folks" once before on internet radio, and Cecil recommended the rest of the tracks so I checked it out. I like it a lot, very catchy indie pop kind of stuff. My favorites are probably "Let's Call it Off," "Amsterdam," and "Start to Melt." Ah what the hell, I love all these songs equally. Thanks Cecil!
I picked up the new Band of Horses,
Cease to Begin, on the cheap the day it came out after listening to a few of the tracks on their
myspace page. Another great laid back record from these guys. I read a lot of My Morning Jacket comparisons but I think BoH makes much more interesting music. "Detlef Schrempf," "Islands on the Coast," and "Cigarettes Wedding" are highlights.
You probably know by now how awesome
In Rainbows is. Great music and a very interesting consumer experience. At first I was a little put off by the variety but it's still so effortlessly brilliant. Now it's starting to gel more as an album with repeated listens. "15 Step" starts the whole thing off perfectly. The "new radiohead album" wonderment sank in just as the guitar came in over the jerking beats and Yorke whine. It just takes off from there: the bridge in "Bodysnatchers" where Thom's voice lilts at the end of each phrase, the guitars grinding out the rhythm over the ticking snare. The echoing vocals and pulsating blips and bloops of "Nude," faintly reminiscent of
OK Computer. The breezy, nautical feeling created by the combination of a rolling, tapping drumbeat and plaintive scales of "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi." The dark growling sadness of "All I Need." The sweeping strings in the beatles-esque "Faust Arp." The groovy, spooky shake of "The Reckoner." The intimacy of "House of Cards." The twanging guitar and insistent bass on "Jigsaw Falling Into Place." The creepy mournful roll of "Videotape." Another excellent record, in my opinion. Huzzah.
