Woods "Bend Beyond"

Woods began in 2005 as a side project of Jeremy Earl, formerly of Meneguar. The album was released last year in 2012 under Woodsist, Earl's very own record label. The title track, "Bend Beyond", captures the essence of the album with folk and rock undertones alongside Earl's falsetto vocal arrangement. I imagine this song to be very radio friendly and the lyrics (Just to see / just to know / just to bend beyond the light) are just as memorable as the melody. The song climaxes with a guitar solo which I imagine the band delves deeper into in a live setting. The second song on the album happens to be my favorite, titled "Cali in a Cup". The harmonica riffs throughout the song are decidedly lo-fi as are some of the other elements that occur throughout the rest of the album album. The lyrics once again shine through the album as being memorable and help to make it a feel-good song.

I'm going to skip to "It Ain't Easy" because it's a more personal sounding song than any of the previous ones mentioned. I especially liked these lyrics: "And ain't it hard to say it ain't easy, looking for different ways to make things stay the same". I felt as if these words came directly from the way Jeremy Earl was feeling at the time and I can relate. "Bend Beyond" is a collection of great songs and the more I listen the more I like all of them. Support this artist (and his label!) so we can continue to hear great songs like this in the future. You can purchase the album here.

"Cali in a Cup"

"Is it Honest?"

Flying Lotus "Until the Quiet Comes"

It's hard to put into words exactly what is going on in the album I'll be looking at today but it's worth a shot. "Until the Quiet Comes" was released by Warp Records on September 26 (my birthday!), 2012. I realized this site was starting to completely lack any kind of electronic music and I hope this album makes up for it. Steven Ellison is the man behind Flying Lotus and he grew up as a laptop DJ / producer until he nestled into the distinct style he has today.

I appreciate "Until the Quiet Comes" because of how quickly the mood changes from song to song how they flow from one to the next.There is a certain sense of continuity throughout the whole album that leaves you wanting more when the last song sounds. I will admit that the first time I listened to Flying Lotus I had found one of his older CDs and it sounded to me like a lot of mashed up sounds that sometimes sounded chaotic. The more I listened I started to understand his song form and it was refreshing to hear something so different than other electronic tunes out there. The vocals are a nice addition to the sound as well and Flying Lotus found guest vocalists to contribute such as Thom Yorke, Erykah Badu, and Niki Randa. Sonically the whole album sounds great and I suggest listening with either headphones or a nice set of speakers. Enjoy, and remember, this is great music and all, but I have noticed that it is NOT the music to listen to if you're stressed out driving in traffic or studying last minute for a test you have to take in 10 minutes. Otherwise, happy listening parties for all !

"Putty Boy Strut"

"Tiny Tortures"

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Everybodys Talkin'"

Today is the day to listen to the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Established in 2010 by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (husband and wife), the TTB is an 11-piece band that has created a blend of rock, soul, and blues that seems reminiscent of a time not so far away. Seeing that Derek Trucks played with the Allman Brothers Band when he was 16 can help to explain the TTB’s sound. The album I’ll be looking at today is their most recent release, titled “Everybody’s Talkin’”. The songs have been picked from a number of their live shows in 2011 to highlight their best performances of each one.

           

 The first track is “Everybody’s Talkin’” which was originally released in 1966 by Fred Neil. The Tedeschi Trucks Band has only released one full length studio album of original material so they do throw in classic blues / Americana covers into their live sets. The end of the first song leads into a Derek Trucks solo which gives you a taste of what’s to come throughout the rest of the album. The solo leads perfectly into “Midnight in Harlem”, a TTB original. The focus in the song is on Susan Tedeschi’s beautiful soulful voice. The lyrical content of the TTB and the way the words flow is what makes this big band truly special. I suggest that everyone listens to this album all the way through rather than just listening to a few songs because it’s a wonderful work of music. Hope you enjoy !

Purchase Here !

 "Midnight In Harlem"

Tame Impala "Lonerism"

-->

Welcome! Today’s album is titled “Lonerism” by Tame Impala. If you’ve never heard of Tame Impala they describe themselves on their website as “psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock music”. Flangers and phasers are in full effect to give the album its’ signature “psychedelic” sound; the atmospheric sounding environments also help to contribute. The first song, “Be Above It”, marks a very different direction the band has taken in comparison to their debut album “InnerSpeaker”. This is because instead of focusing on delayed guitars the band moves into different territory that includes oscillating synths and more in your face vocals. The next song, “Endors Toi”, is more reminiscent of their last album and the drums sound great! The effects on the guitar give the song a classic Impala feel and the album begins to pull you in. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” is another song to check out due to its hypnotic lyrics and bassline.

I chose to share a Tame Impala album today because I wanted the theme this week to be bands inspired by The Beatles. They have always been an inspiration to me and I feel as if they must’ve influenced these two artists greatly (Tame Impala and Father John Misty). It’s interesting to note how different these two artists are from each other even though they’re inspired by some of the same talented people before them. Tame Impala will be playing in Chicago for anyone that is interested on March 6, 2013 at the Vic Theater. Sadly, tickets have been sold out for quite some time and I won’t be going. 

"Be Above It"

"Endors Toi"

Purchase Here 

Father John Misty's "Fear Fun"

Welcome back!~ Got a nice little album to share with you all today. Released in 2012, "Fear Fun" is the work of Joshua Tillman, formerly the drummer for Fleet Foxes. The album is beautifully crafted and it's hard to pinpoint exactly what genre it sits in; my best guess would be somewhere between folk / rock / country. I would suggest listening to some of these tunes on headphones with few distractions to really get the full flavor. The lyrical content is captivating and you can tell Tillman is an "artsy" musician. Many of the songs are pretty dark sounding until "I'm Writing a Novel" comes on; it is much more playful than the songs before it.

I will admit that on my first listen of "Fear Fun" I didn't think I'd play to it again. This is the type of album that grows on you after each and every listen. Certain songs reminded me of John Lennon and the work he produced. The lyrical content from Sally Hatchet specifically made me think of the Beatles lyrically, including this line : "Sally Hatchet lives in a hole in the ground / The longer it keeps raining the more she has to struggle to / maintain a wonderful time / Oh yeah" The end of the song is reminiscent of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" when the orchestra comes in at the end to create tension. "Fear Fun" is an album that is really rewarding to listen to multiple times and you'll notice something new each time

Thanks to SubPop for uploading the whole album to YouTube!!!

(Remember to always support the artist when you can !)

Purchase Here 

Interview Collaboration

Hey everyone, hope the week went by smoothly ! I recently collaborated with Educate with Music Media and Songwriting Tips and Tricks in an audio only interview where we discussed moments where we have recorded our own music and what exactly influences us. All of our blogs are concerned with music and we wish to spread inspiration to other music lovers out there. We hope that this interview will open up your own discussions with friends as to what really inspires them musically. Have a great weekend and we'll be seeing you soon here at An Album a Day.

Blog Collaboration Interview