Five Songs For: Death And All His Friends

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“Held”
by Smog

There are certain bands whose musical output is of a developed, acquired taste. And then there's Smog. Bill Callahan's voice is as deadpan as a Wes Anderson character, his music sounding equally understated, often characterized by lo-fi recordings of guitars oddly out of tune. “Held,” though, is something to behold, a rollicking piece of folk rock guided by loud, echoing drums. But even if this song -- from the Knock Knock album -- sounds different from typical Smog, it's hard to dismiss the vocals. That's all Bill Callahan. Regardless, it's a great tune, and Smog is worth checking out. Just don't be surprised if you end up not liking it.

“My Father's Son”
by Ryan Adams

It's not always a compliment to call someone prolific. Uwe Boll, for example, puts out several movies just about every year, and they are all remarkably terrible. But in Ryan Adams' case, his fevered approach to music is something we can appreciate. Though I do enjoy much of his new work, for me his best period will always be the Love Is Hell years. This song is from the same sessions as that album, but it's difficult to track down, available exclusively on a Japanese bonus disc. For such a buried track, “My Father's Son” is pretty darn good, and who can argue with the greatness of a line like “honey, I'm not going to make it out of this bar this time?” This guy sweats music. He literally cannot get away from it.

“The Fear Has Gone”
by Engineers

I really like shoegaze. A lot. Ever since I heard that first Verve album, I've been hooked, and Ride, Slowdive, and of course, My Bloody Valentine never get too far from any of my playlists. There's just something about heavy distortion fading into tons of layers of decaying delay that hits the spot every time. Engineers are a new band in the Slowdive mold, making classic ambient noise with a greater level of accessibility than other bands in the same genre. This song is from their latest, Three Fact Fader, and it also shows a heavy Ride influence with its slow build from the string introduction. If you like what you hear, you might also want to check out The Meeting Places.

“Ladies And Gentlemen (Roll The Dice)”
by Kasabian

The members of Kasabian are now three albums deep into a sound that pulls from sources as diverse as Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, and The Stones. (Well, maybe that isn't so diverse, but you get the idea.) Their latest, the bizarrely titled West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, might be their most focused album yet, in spite of the heavy psychadelia and instrumental experimentation. Most of the band's music gives the impression of a soundtrack to a soccer fight on a dance floor -- with lyrics to match. (A new song, “Where Did All The Love Go?,” starts with the line, “Ever take a punch to the rib cage, sonny?” Awesome.) The track here is one of their quieter ones and, I suppose, perfect for a post-fight recovery. Maybe that was the point. Anyway, the album comes out next week. Go buy it.

“Death And All His Friends” (Live)
by Coldplay

Believers in the trite saying that “nice guys finish last” cannot account for Chris Martin's existence. By all accounts, the guy is completely unassuming. Self-depricating, witty, and rarely appearing haughty, Martin and his bandmates seem the very opposite of arrogant “rock stars.” Maybe I'm naive, and this is all some artificial construct, a very intentional creation for fans who enjoy their “nice” music. But it's hard to deny niceness when a band as massive as Coldplay gives away a live album for free. That is cool any way you slice it. This version of “Death And All His Friends” is from LeftRightLeftRightLeft, available here, and it confirms what everyone probably suspected after hearing the so-so X&Y. Coldplay sounds better live. Their songs were made to be yelled in stadiums everywhere by tons of fans. Somehow, the nice guys pulled off the giant rock star thing. Somehow, I still don't find them annoying. Here's a hilarious clip from the TV show Extras, where Chris Martin makes fun of himself:

Five Songs For: When I Light Your Darkened Door

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“I.O.I.O.”
by The Bee Gees

Yes, that says “The Bee Gees.” And yes, that song, with the bongo drums and without any sign of disco, is by the same band that made the Stayin' Alive soundtrack. And yes (why so many questions?), that song is very, very good. A long time ago, I read an interview with Noel Gallagher of Oasis where he named his top three bands of all time. I know the first was The Beatles, and I forget the third, but I'm certain that I was shocked when I read that The Bee Gees made the list. Imagine my surprise to learn that before disco, The Bee Gees were the equivalent of Australian Beatles, with complex music and even the occasional concept record. Most of the stuff from that era in the band's career is fantastic, and it stands as a testament to the fact that not all musical evolution is necessarily improvement. These guys were even better before the hair spray quaffs and the bell bottom jeans. “I.O.I.O” is from Cucumber Castle, a really good album but an oddity in their discography. At the time of the recording, the band was on the verge of a breakup, and as such, only two Gees are on the record.

“Slide Away” (Live)
by Noel Gallagher

And speaking of Oasis, I should admit that I still think they're the best band putting out music today. And it's not even close. After most people hear that, though, the first thing asked is almost always whether or not the band is still around. Yes, they are, and last year's Dig Out Your Soul is a great album. But after the many times I have had to frustratingly answer that same question, I realize now why it will always be asked. As good as their newer records are, nothing beats their first two. “Slide Away” might be the band's best song, a ballad from their debut Definitely Maybe, and this live version was recorded late last year (or early this year) by Noel Gallagher for a charity event. The addition of a full orchestra does change the song in a way, but it only serves to bolster the soaring beauty of the original. I have a solo acoustic version, too, that is just as great, and the fact that in so many different forms, the song still shines, only affirms its status as a classic.

“Lonesome Swan”
by Glasvegas

Everything about Glasvegas is over the top. The singer's accent is as thick as cold molasses, the music has more reverb than every Coldplay album put together, and the subject matter of the band's songs is all over the place. All these elements go together to create a product that has no right to be, well, happy -- especially with songs about mental instability, abusive fathers, school fights, and what it feels like to be stabbed. But the contrast between the lyrics and the music is of course intentional, and Glasvegas' self-titled debut is one of the most assured you're likely to hear of any band in the past five years. As a group, Glasvegas expects you to buy into their music, and if you can accept its theatricality, you will certainly enjoy what you hear.

“Down From Above”
by Vetiver

This is one of the most chilled-out songs you'll ever hear. The music fades in and seems to float on passing clouds, and before you realize it, it's all gone, fading out in the same direction it came. Vetiver is a folk band that unfortunately got their start playing with the awful Devendra Banhart, but thankfully, the band has distanced themselves with four records of melancholy guitar and rainy day atmosphere. “Down From Above” is from their latest, Tight Knit.

“When I Light Your Darkened Door” (Daytrotter session)
by J. Tillman

There might not be another male singer today with a voice as angelic as J. Tillman's. (I say male in particular only because there might not be anybody with a better voice than Zooey Deschanel. Just saying.) For the life of me, I still cannot get past the fact that this guy plays drums and sings backing vocals for his main gig in the band Fleet Foxes. He's got a better voice than the lead singer! This song, from his solo work, is a great example of the stark beauty invoked by his spare guitar playing and wonderfully unique voice. Damien Jurado has covered it well, but nothing can match Tillman's breathy vocals. “When I Light Your Darkened Door,” along with four other songs, is available for free as a Daytrotter session here. The somewhat boring, if not entrancing video below is for the song “First Born,” off Tillman's latest album, Vacilando Territory Blues.

Five Songs For: When My Time Comes

I decided to upgrade the "Song of the Week" posts on my other (old?) blog to a sort of mini-playlist. With a flash "mixtape" like the one above (which Vox was unable to support), anyone reading this can hear all the songs I mention. Also, each of these posts will include at least one song you can download for free, usually from Daytrotter.com.

"I'm Going To Forget"
by Attack In Black

I don't know too much about this band, but I have really enjoyed the two albums I've heard. This song is the first track off of their Curve Of The Earth album, and if you ask me (which you didn't) they deserve just as much attention as The Shins. They have the same indie rock sensibilities but somehow, less pretension.

"Murder By Mistletoe"
by The Felice Brothers

I decided to give this band a bigger listen when I found out they were playing ACL this year. Their self-titled album, where this track is from, is excellent, and they definitely play the part of The Band quite well. Depending on who you ask, they are either completely unoriginal in their nod to Dylan's Basement years, or they're simply paying respects. I'm still making up my mind, but they sure sound great, either way.

"Ship Of Fools"
by Doves

Doves are possibly the most criminally overlooked band in music today. Seriously. This song is a b-side. Somehow, it didn't make the cut for their new album, Kingdom of Rust, and having listened to them for a while now, I'm still shocked by the omission. They're one of the few bands where everything they put out is excellent, and even on more forgotten tracks like this one, they prove why their musical genius is equal to that of more popular bands like Coldplay or Travis.

"Black Eyes/Prices"
by Damien Jurado

In the last post, I mentioned how Damien Jurado has quickly become one of my favorite artists. He's been putting out music since 1997 (1997!), and his output has been remarkably consistent. Like Doves, even his b-sides and assorted toss-outs are fantastic. This song is from the rare tour-only release Walk Along the Fence. In that collection it was called "Black Eyes," but on the Just In Time For Something EP, the same song was called "Prices." Whatever the correct title, it's a fantastic song. Jurado has the uncanny ability to recognize a great song when he comes upon it, whether it's a six-minute epic or something barely over 90 seconds. I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at this: I can't get enough of this guy's music. Go buy Caught In The Trees.

"When My Time Comes"
by Dawes

This is another band I don't know too much about. I "discovered" Dawes listening to Delta Spirit cover one of their songs on Daytrotter. Dawes had just opened for Delta Spirit on their tour, and shortly after, Dawes also did a session at Daytrotter. This song is part of that session and available free online. The band looks like they know how to put on a great show, and I have to admit, it was pretty awesome to see on their MySpace a live cover of the Wonder Years theme song (viewable below). I'm paying attention.