we will sink and be quiet as mice

Been neglecting the blog yet again due to school, but here's a post I managed to squeeze in during this break week.

Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Geniuses at work. It's been a while since Radiohead's last opus "In Rainbows" in 2007, and now they've finally released another album, "The King of Limbs", which clocks in at just over 37 minutes. This particular track features Thom Yorke dancing/moving awkwardly/spasming/insert-what-you-think-is-appropriate. It's nothing overt, a really ordinary beat in the background, such that you won't think much of it. However, Thom's almost permanent falsetto brings a sort of emotive counterbalance to the normalcy of the backing rhythm. Don't expect something massive that would blow you away when listening to this track, more a gentle prod in between ebbs and flows, against your conscious. The first listen is good, but give it a few more listens, it'll warrant infinite repeats.

Peter Bjorn and John - Second Chance
Really fetching track from the guys most famous for their iconic tune Young Folks. Some elements of pop catchy-ness as well as rock riffs abound, it seems right up their alley. And as many have said, the cowbell is a neat touch.

Jamie Woon - Lady Luck
Dedicated an entire post on him a while back, and he's just released a single of his debut album which drops in April. Lady Luck is a downright wicked tune - slick and sensual. Echo-ed and on a loop as the words 'lady luck' rolls of his tongue, the bass beats intertwined with his extremely soulful voice, this is one tune that will make people go all over each other on the dancefloor. I expect some remixes to roll in soon. Pity he didn't win BBC's Sound of 2011 poll. Check out his Al Fresco version here. It's basically him and his vocals while he's on a sampan in a swamp in Cambodia. Exquisite.

oh, go and tell the king that the sky is falling in

In parallel with Jeff Buckley, Radiohead's Thom Yorke popularised the angst-laden falsetto, a thoughtful opposite to the chest-beating lad-rock personified by Oasis's Liam Gallagher. Sounding girly to a backdrop of churning guitars became a much-copied idea, however, one which eventually coalesced into an entire decade of sound.

Without this ... Coldplay would not exist, nor Keane, nor James Blunt.

- about Radiohead's "The Bends" as on Guardian


A while ago, I was into the whole ambient chill out music thing. I just ran them on loops, playing non stop and I was just looking for more and more of the same stuff. Then, all of a sudden, I revisited Radiohead and now I'm having this Radiohead renaissance. Their songs are just massive. Larger than life. At some point, you feel gripped by what they're trying to do and express with their music. It might be retrospective, after you hear what people have said, stripping down the album and analysing it's parts, but really, Radiohead is more than the sum of it's parts.

Here's two songs from each of their seven albums. Enjoy.

Pablo Honey
Radiohead - Creep
A Radiohead classic that is just plain alt rock, which belies what people often associate them with. Anyone knows the movie that this clip is from? Stars Johnny Depp quite clearly.
Radiohead - You

The Bends
Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
Radiohead - Black Star

OK Computer
Radiohead - The Tourist
Radiohead - No Surprises

Kid A
Radiohead - Idioteque
Radiohead - In Limbo

Amnesiac
Radiohead - Knives Out
Radiohead - Life in a Glasshouse

Hail to the Thief
Radiohead - 2+2=5
Radiohead - Scatterbrain

In Rainbows
Radiohead - House of Cards
Radiohead - Nude

there are two colours in my head

Kina Grannis - Valentine
Friend highlighted this song to me. Said it made her smile and brightened up her day. And well, it IS a sweet, poppy and fun love song all rolled into one. Pretty voice and such lovely lyrics, how's anyone to resist? Listen to this, she's American, BUT she's of Japanese, English, Irish, French, Dutch, Welsh and Scottish descent. What a mouthful and 7 ancestry lines? Oddly, I thought she was Greek when I first saw her name.

Pantha du Prince - The Splendour
Splendid indeed. Magic woven into the fabric of this song, with a touch of mystery. The subtle lines of minimality dotted with plinks make this a song to be savoured.

Lifelike - So Electric
Another song that describes itself. Hmms, coincidental or not?

Radiohead - Everything In Its Right Place
It's Radiohead, I don't think I'll do justice by trying to describe the song.

look, there are tears in our lies

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Check out this song by Soft Cell. It's real 80s shizz, harkening from the era of synth pop. And this song came out in Agathe Clery, a movie I watched today. Pretty cool, go check it out.

Radiohead - Harry Patch (In Memory of)
One of the songs that Radiohead dropped, despite claiming that they weren't gonna produce any more albums or songs. It's been on the grapevine that a new album is in the works. Meanwhile, just let yourself go and listen to this marvelous song.

We Are Wolves - Holding Hands
Oooh, rambunctious fun, this is what it is. I like music videos that indie bands make, they're are all so damn interesting. Not that mainstream vids aren't cool, they're mostly CGI stuff nowadays.

Taken By Trees - Anna

silverpop. songs for the aged.

Radiohead - These Are My Twisted Words?
It's a leaked Radiohead song. Leaks are abound nowadays. Oh well. Tell me what you think of it.

The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
This song is good stuff and it could literally lift you into aural nirvana. Period. Ok maybe it was an exaggeration, but it's really good.

Golau Glau - Virtual Boy

Golau Glau - Summer Games
The links for both songs by Golau Glau are direct download, so just right click and Save Link As/Save Target As. I really can't put a finger to their type of music. They sound a bit like Asobi Seksu, but not, Asobi has a more distinct pop-ish feel. Maybe they remind me of Fever Ray (because they're really breaking new grounds in terms of electronic music), but not again. Whatever it is, they brand their type of music silverpop. Well, I've heard of dreampop being used quite often, but this is my first time hearing silverpop. Nevertheless, I feel their music is a like or don't like kinda thing. And so far, my verdict is... that I like them. Virtual Boy has this very strong draw on me, for reasons unknown. Anyhow, for those who find themselves liking them, visit them at their myspace or go to last.fm where all their direct download links are. Alternatively, you can visit their official site. Oh and they like cats and Wales.

Radiohead - Reckoner
a song from one of the awesomest bands of all time, their latest album "In Rainbows"
obviously quite experimental on their part, but comes out well. it's thom yorke. doh!

Rachael Yamagata - Duet (feat. Ray LaMontagne)
Two damn good voices in one song. How's anyone not to like this?