#cdclub

Well it’s been a while since i posted, but I listened to this mix throughout the fall, winter and spring & the music is still in my head.  This mix ended up more dance/pop then some of mine, but also features tracks from a couple soon to be classic hip-hop albums.  Less sad songs, and more up tempo stuff so turn it up to 11.  As always if you want to hear the track or see the link to a video or live performance, just follow the link and enjoy.  Feel free to comment and share what you’re listening to? 

1.  TV Set - Spoon - single

As soon as the thumping drumbeat comes in I was hooked on the cover of The Cramps.  The link is to a live performance of the song on Conan that is just sick.  That performance features a longer guitar solo that’s pretty amazing and worth the watch.  The song also features in the terrible Poltergeist movie remake that I did not see.  Pretty dark lyrics though so it mighta worked in a horror film?

2.  TV - Coleen Green - I Want to Grow Up

Continuing with the TV theme on this mix, this is just a pretty basic alt indie rock song by LA artist Green.  I really like the lyrics as another Gen X child raised by the Tele.  “TV is my friend, and it has been always there for me in time of need”  Yup, been there.

3.  The Song Condemns Itself - Born Gold - single

This song has so much energy to it, just like the band.  BG was an opener for the opener of a show I saw last year @ 9:30.  Three guys behind keyboards performing like they just had 10 red bulls topped off with some ecstasy.  Really really fun act I can't wait to see again.  The link is to the official video that I can’t even try to comprehend. A man appears to birth a head of lettuce?

4.  Airstream Driver - Gomez - A New Tide

Even though this blog tends to focus on new stuff, I really try to not ignore older music.  This classic from like 7 years ago still rocks.  I’m doing the lists to keep up with artists, so as I type this I’m searching what ever happ[end to the great British group.  They appear to still be around but their last album hasn’t that well received.  Hang in there boys.

5.  King Kunta - Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Normally I post videos links to the track, or live performances.  For King Kunta I posted Lamar talking about influences to the song which I thought was really interesting.  Everyone’s heard of KL now and the album won tons of awards.  So I think it’s cool to hear the dude breaking down his music

6.  Kill Paris ft. Royal - Illenium - single

This song is practically an R&B jam vocally, which is normally not my thing, but I like what the DJ, Illenium (San Fran DJ Nick Miller) does with the track.  Very smooth, with some dubstep to it.  Nice chill music.  He’s a DJ I’ve always dug because he does a lot of really great remixes.

7.  World Spins Madly On - The Weepies - Say I Am You

Another oldie but goodie.  If 10 years is really that old?  I guess it is in the music world.  This song is on my list because I was reminded how great it is when it appeared on the amazing Netflix show, Sense 8.  That show had an amazing soundtrack, and i can’t wait to listen to the music in the second season.  Beautiful stop action/claymation video of the track from the folk/pop band comprised of a married couple out of Massachusetts.

8.  Don’t You Worry - Lucy Rose - Like I Used To

Rose is a talented singer/songwriter form the UK.  I discovered her via a random download and just fell in love with the sound of her voice.  Like many artists I think Sony produced her latest album and it appears they raised the production values, while trying to force her into a pop artist.  What a shame.  Her melodies are better stripped down in this link to a live version of the track.

9.  Sore Eyes - Braids - Deep In the Iris

A really interesting sounding synth heavy alternative rock band out of Calgary.  Another artist discovered as an opener at a show.  Focus of the band is the powerful vocals of lead singer Raphaelle Sandell-Preston.    Video link gives a shaky but entertaining taste of their live act.

10.  Death - White Lies - Death EP

This English band sounds like an 80′s progressive throwback.  Heavy Cure, and Echo & Funnymen influence in the WL sound.  Like they came from another era.  This song also produced a whole album of solid remixes. Might be a good song to listen to as you break out that old HS yearbook.  Unless you’re a millennial then I’m sure it sounds pretty “new and hip”?! 

11-20 (Honorable Mentions):  Just a list and links.

11.  Vulcan, AB - The Rural Albert Advantage - Mended With Gold

12.  Close Your Eyes - Run The Jewels - 2

13.  Chapel Song - We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships

14.  Reaper Man - Trevor Sensor - download

15.  I Don’t Need a Reason (Mampi Swift remix) - Dizzee Rascal - download

16.  Best People In the World - Elephant - single

17.  Ultraviolence (Hook n Sling remix) - Lana Del Ray - single

18.  Don’t Look Down - Matt Pond PA - The State of Gold

19.  Blaze Up the Fire - Major Lazer - Peace Is The Mission

Summer has come and gone, but I managed to listen to some good stuff while it was around.  It was more of a case of rediscovering some artists I know well then finding a lot of new stuff.  But in an age of come and gone, that’s pretty OK too?  As always if you want to hear the track or see the link to a video or live performance, just follow the link and enjoy.  Feel free to comment and share what you’re listening to?  Long live CD Club:

1 & 2.  Highway 1 (Interlude) & This Ain’t Me - Augustines - self-titled

This is both the instrumental into to their fantastic album, along with a fave song from it.  The link actually doesn’t have either song, but is instead a KEXP live performance.  They remind me of a blue collar American rock version of Mumford and Sons.  Lots of emotional, anguished vocals, and this live performance in a dingy studio still gives me the chills.  Great band and one of my favorite albums in a long time.

3.  All of Me Wants All of You - Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

I could find several versions of this beautiful track performed live but none had the simple folky stripped down sound of the recorded version.  A beautiful heartbreakingly sad album, dedicated to his parents.  I’m glad after a really bad experimental album, Sufjan has returned to his roots and his signature sound.  This is an album to drink to, maybe in the dark?  No happy songs to be found here.

4. Catch Me - The Jezabels - Prisoner

A little late on this band, the album is several years old.  The Aussies have a pretty standard pop rock sound.  This live version doesn’t do Hayley Mary, the lead vocalist justice.  Her powerful sound is what really makes the band kick, and in this video she needs more volume, come on audio guy?!

5. Flood on the Floor - Purity Ring - Another Eternity

Another of my favorite albums of the year, PR can do very little wrong.  Their live show at 9:30 club this year was also my favorite show of 2015.  Their lighting grid alone must have cost $$.  Worth the price of admission.   The link is to another fan video of another show to get a sense of the stage.  Enjoy.

6. Precipitation - The Dodos - Individ

The Dodos are just a really solid sounding indie rock band,  The duo of Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, looks a little like two young high school kids jamming out in their parents’ rec room.  Actually these guys are experienced vets, considering Individ is their 6th LP?!  The link is to a KEXP live version of several other songs off their album.  Here’s a audio only version of Precipitation.

7.  Jackrabbit - San Fermin - Jackrabbit

This is a song that’s just catchy as hell.  Best of luck getting it out of your head.  San Fermin calls themselves a a baroque rock band out of Brooklyn.  Now I normally always buy the albums of the artists on my list, but I couldn’t bring myself to in this case.  I really like the vocals of Charlene Kaye, but the truth is I just can’t say I dig the band as a whole, especially the other vocalists. Just my opinion, but this track is still strong.

8. Blockbuster Night, Pt. 1 - Run the Jewels - single

Cant lie.  Heard all about the buzz on this rap group.  It wasn’t until I was watching an episode of Silicon Valley, and this track came on over the closing credits.  Great stuff.  The whole album is pretty good, but by now everyone knows all about RtJ.  Since I’m a parent, requisite warning that you’ll have to teach your kids some new words if you blast it around the house though?

9.  I Love Lucy - Big Phony - Kicking Punching Bags

Just dig the lyrics in this sad little ballad.  A story about a girl that losing it slowly.  Maybe its depression, drowning in a bad relationship or just the monotony of life?  BP is a singer/songwriter out of NYC who writes beautifully mellow music. The song also reminds me of my grandmother (RIP), who also watched Lucy, just to set the mood?  Appropriately sad & odd video.

10. Dona Nobis Pacem 2 - Max Ricter - The Leftovers (Music from the HBO Series)

The funny thing is that the music, this track especially is the ONLY thing I like about this show.  I think Max Richter is an immensely talented neo-classical composer, and this is his take on a hymn of unknown origin.  Translated from the Latin it means, “bring us peace.”  If only the overwrought, bland show was worthy of Richter’s beautiful composition?

11-20 (Honorable Mentions):  Just a list and links.

11. Sprinter - TORRES - Sprinter

12. Blank Ocean - Meishi Smile - single

13. Strange Enough - Verite - Echo EP

14. When I Was Done Dying - Dan Deacon - Gliss Riffer

Awesome animation, no two Dan Deacon songs sound the same!

15.  Echoes - Pillar Point - download

16. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit - Kindred

Just no way you can be in a sour mood listening to this band.

17. Emperor (remix) - Wilsen - Magnolia remix EP

and finally 3 repeats by three great artists and great albums:

18. Prisoner - The Jezabels - Prisoner

19. Walkabout - Augustines - self titled

“the unexamined CD is not worth listening too”

Socrates said that. Or at least he would have, had compact discs been invented. We would have agreed. 

Modern literature has a relatively clear division between two intentions for consumption. One is to be enjoyed over time and digested as an experience, often powerful enough to alter the very way we think. Novels usually fall into this category. The other exists to satisfy an immediate occupation of the mind, and discarded upon completion; magazines. We say “relatively” clear as “relative” to this discussion, admitting that the distinction is not always such. 

The same distinction exists far less in music. Some may say that classical music fills the role of novels, while pop music does the job of the magazines. We will argue that point fiercely, and if necessary, engage in battle. 

Over the past century, musical artists of all types have blessed us with countless beautiful albums that can offer an equally potent experience to that of any piece of literature. 

To highlight and dissect the experience of some of our favourite CDs, the SWaP CD Club was born. It happens every month with a small contingent of friends and colleagues with the discussion being available to download in mp3 format. Easier still, subscribe to the SWaP podcast in iTunes and it will all be done for you. All that’s left is to listen. 

We hope you will always listen with fresh ears and hear new things. 

Tim & Hugh