Recently, veen was kind enough to shout-out to me because he thought I would be interested in hearing #nickdrake. I was very appreciative, even thought I'm already a fan. It's cool to introduce others to the things you think they'd dig. So, in that same spirit, lets use this thread to introduce others to some music.
I'll start with a band from Michigan called The Great Lakes Myth Society. They are fronted by two brothers that I grew up with, Tim and Jamie Monger. It's fun to share the music of your friends, but even more so when it's actually music you would dig even if they weren't your friends.
Both brothers have distinctive voices and song writing styles. Here's a Tim Song called Across the Bridge
Here is his older brother Jamie with Summer Bonfire
From Wikipedia
Great Lakes Myth Society (GLMS) is a musical group from southeast Michigan in the United States. Members include brothers Tim Monger and James Christopher Monger, Fido Kennington, Greg McIntosh and Scott McClintock. They write and perform songs about Michigan, including "myths" from around the area, as well as more contemporary, non-regional work.
The group was formed from The Original Brothers and Sisters of Love, which had basically the same line up, with the addition of Liz Archinvole on violin. GLMS has a similar feel to TOBASOL, whose sound was folk/rock/pop-ish, but with a louder, more rock feel.
Their first record was released by Stop, Pop, and Roll in April 2005. They signed to Ann Arbor-based Quack!Media in 2007 and began recording their second record, Compass Rose Bouquet.
In early 2011, Chevrolet used excerpts from their songs "Midwest Main Street" and "Debutante" on its Detroit metropolitan area commercials.
YOUR TURN
Wisp (Reid Dunn), a one-man band from upstate New York. He does electronic music with a lot of long build-ups and sweet sounding synths that feels like a journey through a fantasy world: Most of the music is written to capture the spirit of his home, Niagara Falls, a tourist trap surrounded by a city of chemical plants, empty buildings, and fading signs: The other is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons / Tolkien-esk landscapes, with titles of Hexenringe (A ring of mushrooms where fairies were said to gather): The Katabatic winds of the north: And the fire of dragons: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/yntzwzldzhn/13_-_The_Fire_Above.mp3 What tickles my toes though is just how damn cute the rhythms are: underhill They capture the imagination of the child in a wonderous, exciting new world that contrasts so starkly with the desolate urban decay of the environment he lives in. Wisp was one of my favorite artists growing up, and I still find myself coming back to his albums when I'm feeling melancholy, excitement, or just want to lose myself to my imagination.
You're description of the first wisp video you posted reminds me of toe, one of my long running favorite bands. They are mostly instrumental math rock kind of stuff from japan. There last album "For Long Tomorrow" they start to have vocals on some songs and it's probably my favorite album of there's but it's really hard to say, I really enjoy all their stuff. The music, at least to me, just seems to embody the existential crisis of living in a post industrial society. That sets really high expectations but check them out. If post a video but I'm on a phone. I'm gonna check wisp out tomorrow at work. Thanks for the post, what you've written about the music has me pumped to check it out.
If you haven't heard of Air before, you're missing out! They're a French duo making very nice electronic. Moon Safari is still one of the best albums I know. Here are some great songs: Note: if you do listen to Moon Safari, skip the song Sexy Boy. I never liked that one, it's the odd one out on the album.
Who likes sad music like a mellowed out Modest Mouse combined with The National? I DO! Attic Abasement which is a great band and I wish more people knew about them. Another band, Mitski just put out an album that is among my runners for the best of 2014. Bury Me at Makeout Creek is amazing and I'm hoping the P4K review and other press help get them more fans.
listen to Foals– balloons, inhaler, olympic airways, my number and then spanish sahara, then cassius, then french open
And lemme just say, this new (not really, but) trend of rap mixed with ballads, pop songs, instrumentals -- it's really great that an entire generation of young musicians are growing up playing instruments and singing but not dismissing rap as a form of expression. The resulting fusion is fun as hell to listen to. Twenty One Pilots another example, or some of Cudi's newer stuff.
One of the many reasons the Minnesota hip-hop scene is awesome. I've seen him in concert twice, puts on a good show, talks to people afterwards... hell he'll be at the bar next to you after the show.
This one is straight for you TNG, and for other fans of Sandro Perri, Cass McCombs, and Bill Callahan type music. Album is called If this Country had a Heart, That's Where I was Born by Ohtis. Self-released in 2008 from two guys in Illinois. Back in '08, it was easily on my year end list. Upbeat music with witty lyrics. Sometimes Ohtis will just sound like a folk-country outfit that plays standard pop tracks until you listen to songs like "Bloodshed on Calvary and Snakes in the Cradle" which is still folk-country inspired, but is a sprawling - shape shifting 6 and a half minute track. Not to mention track #1 on the album. I recommend buying the whole album for your next road trip. Ease into it with these: If this Country had a heart, that's where I was born Lollalollalollalollalollapalooza Curse of the Generations Downtown Your Heart Then try these more adventurous tracks:
bgood79, based on the introduction to that first song, I think you should check this out. The guitar work at the outset reminded me of you. I dig it s_s, it's pretty happy sounding, sounds like good sunny-day music.
The Raah Project,
I dig it, but that video you posted wouldn't work for me. I checked out this song: Nice and chill but with some interesting sound scapes and some great horns.
Ah, that's the song I meant to post! I love the emotion in that track. It really sneaks up on you. One minute it's just background tunes, ad the next I'm making pained faces and singing along.
Bic Runga had some success with the song "Sway", which featured in the movie American Pie. Other than that, you've probably never heard her if you live outside NZ. She has a voice to fall in love with and is a good songwriter too. This is one of my favourites : Listening for the Weather
Yes mk, it is almost as if we "privilege the sound and forget to take the rests."