100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part II

Indeed, when I would ask a tenant if they called 311, I would hear either a Daniel response — “I called 311 until I was blue in the face” — or a response that mirrors the behavior of Justin’s family — “I don’t call 311 anymore. Because I gave up.” In a certain way, both responses are saying the same thing. They are expressions of the demoralization and resignation that people carry with them. In the social universe I inhabit, there’s such a strong belief that you can change things, you can make things happen. But in the Bronx, behind too many of the doors I knocked on, people’s faces are bereft of that sense.

- Elizabeth Dwoskin in NYT


Kisses - Bermuda
Bright and uplifting toetapper, with soaring synths and warm vocals. There's a little balearic beat as well, similar to Delorean. Brilliant stuff from Jesse Kivel and Zinzi Edmundson.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Warpaint - Undertow (mp3)
Lovely post-punk beat, it helps that they are all girls, shrouded by hazy vocals. I love the lead in guitar particularly. The song alternates between a slow dreamy atmosphere with hollow vocals and splendid psych rock replete with guitar riffs. Check out the music video here which is directed by Shannyn Sossamon, who was previously with the band. Nice reunion eh.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Class Actress - Careful What You Say (mp3)
Lush 80s disco and 8-bit beats definitely a plus point in this song. With sultry vocals as well, that certainly scores with me too.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Local Natives - Airplanes
I've got a weak spot for folk rock, which explains Local Natives and Airplanes from "Gorilla Manor" along with the likes of Great Lake Swimmers, Fanfarlo and The Low Anthem. Stringing meaningful lyrics along with a mellow rhythm that soars and dips, it's a heartwarming rendition of a love for a grandfather.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Band of Horses - Blue Beard
This is Band of Horses, every album surely has hits that resonate deep and this is one of them, from "Infinite Arms". Very affecting midwestern-ish, with a grand backing rhythm that anchors this song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Foals - Spanish Sahara
This is one epic track. It starts of with a tender melody that reeks of desolation and emptiness, and Philippakis milks that even further with raw and emotional vocals. The song builds, slowly, drawing you further into the vast expanse of desolation it portrays, then plateauing. It's joined by a dotty urgent synth beat audible in the background, matched by an increasing urgency in the song as well and the boiling pot of emotion spills at around 4:15. Enjoy.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

School of Seven Bells - I L U
Peculiar video set to less ethereal (read: clearer) vocals that was the hallmark of their debut album, I L U draws out it's atmospheric rhythm, playing up on that, letting it expand and fill the room.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Monarchy - Love Get Out Of My Way
Uber groovey dance floor anthem along with others that has marked Monarchy's arrival on the electronic scene under their new name, previously known as Milke.

Listening Directions: Press play and get moving, if movement is restricted, start bopping your head. Repeat.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Frightened Rabbit - The Loneliness & The Scream
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Best Coast - When I'm With You
A hazy miasma of jangly guitar drives this sun-drenched surf pop from the loveable Ms Cosentino and sidekick Bobb Bruno.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

looking into your eyes for a sign

I think this will be my last post in quite a while. Don't have much time to do regular postings since school started, and I miss writing about fantastic songs. I would appreciate if anyone would like to fill in for me as a guest writer, maybe with me chipping in every now and then. I still love this sweet labour of mine and would still very much like to spread the goodness of indie music around.

Isbells - Reunite
Thanks to the anonymous reader who told me about this song. I was thoroughly enchanted by Gaëtan Vandewoude's crisp yet introspective vocals. He sounds like a cross between the folksiness of Fleet Foxes and the pensiveness of Little Dragon, in particular Twice. Gorgeous music with an equally stunning video. They managed to make music sound like an art piece, with subtle yet affecting strokes of the brush on a sparse canvas.

School of Seven Bells - I L U
Straying quite a bit from the dream pop that fueled most of their debut album "Alpinisms", this particular track plays up the expansive soundscape and clearer vocals from Alejandra Deheza.

Sarah Blasko - All I Want
All personal and straightforward, coupled with her smoky vocals, Sarah Blasko hits home with this folksy-acoustic number. She's from Down Under, and for those who don't know yet, she'll be performing a cosy set at the Esplanade Recital Studio on 8 Nov.


With this, I'm taking an unfortunate and indefinite hiatus, until I've figured how to squeeze time for posts. Unless of course, someone who can guest write turns up and offers his/her services. Till then!

we're bound to wait all night

I was sitting across from the rotating sign
For the Liberty Brass Turning Company

Automatic Screw Machine Products


And brooding about our fathers
Always on the make to make more money

Screw Machine Products Automatic


Tender wounded brassy unsystematic
Free American men obsessing about margins

Machine Products Automatic Screw


Selling every day of their God-damned lives
To some Liberty Brass Turning Company

Products Automatic Screw Machine


Until they were screwed into boxes
And planted in plots paid and unpaid

Automatic Screw Machine Products


- LIBERTY BRASS by Edward Hirsch




Menew - Don't Give Up On Us Now
I've got to give much props to the music supervisor, a certain Alexandra Patsavas, of Chuck. She makes the most awesome song choices, totally apt for the situation, emotions, amplifying everything that the scene is trying to portray many times over. Take this song for instance, it cues at the instance when Chuck is tossed into the van after getting caught. He was utterly distraught at seeing his dad being shot by Shaw and everything seems bleak for Team Bartowski, as he says "There's no one left to save us." A glimmer of hope beckons as Devon asks Ellie if she's ready to do this (to save Team Bartowski), to which she firmly agrees. It's very apt in that while Chuck has all but given up, a glimmer of hope came from Ellie, Devon and Morgan, who haven't given up on saving them.

Miike Snow - Billie Holiday
Here's some Miike Snow who seem incapable of doing anything wrong in their eponymous album. Said track was supposedly exclusively available only on the CD release in Japan. It's got Miike Snow stamped all over it, the electro-reverbs with groovy synths coupled with really poppy hooks.

Broken Bells - The High Road
Broken Bells is a collab between Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame and James Mercer of The Shins. Beautiful soulful indie rock song, marrying obscure(?) lyrics about drugs with a touch of electronica to produce a charming song that speaks volumes about the prodigious talent these two have.

School of Seven Bells - Babelonia
Definitely a different direction as compared to Alpinisms. While still featuring the hushed lustre of the twins' vocals, it feels more textured and less dreamy, the expansive soundscape serves as a wonderful medium for their vocals to express themselves.

by then I'd stopped looking for my way out

Oh what a rainy day. It's not a downpour, nor is it a drizzle. It's just right. I could get into the rain and start dancing right now. The patter of the rain on the ground, the shush shush of the rain drops against each other.

Lykke Li - Little Bit
Did I mention she's swedish? haha!

School Of Seven Bells - Face To Face On High Places

Camera Obscura - Tears For Affairs

Here's some ambient music for sampling. And a little nugget. The following two artists are signed on to the same label as School of Seven Bells.
10:32 - Blue Little

Ben Benjamin - Squirmy Sign Language
I like it until about 2:10, before it just sort of spirals downward into random drumbeats and really odd sounds, nothing unlike what you got before the 2:10.

those who say dreams are just dreams

School of Seven Bells - Connjur

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

Miike Snow - Animal

Bat For Lashes - Daniel

THIS MONTH: ALBUMS TO LOOK OUT FOR + TOP 10 SONGS OF THE MONTH

This month marked the marked (and significant) increase in number of cases of the H1N1 flu around the world. oh boy.

Recent notable people who passed away were Farah Fawcett, Billy Mays and of course, Michael Jackson. RIP to yous.

But most importantly, some albums of note that were released this month:

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

God Help The Girl - God Help The Girl






Roundup of my Top 10 songs of the month:

1. School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep

2. Blind Pilot - Go On, Say It

3. Rachael Yamagata - Duet (feat. Ray LaMontagne)

4. Dan Deacon - Snookered

5. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

6. Priscilla Ahn - Dream

7. Home Video - I Can Make You Feel It

8. Au Revoir Simone - Take Me As I Am

9. The Most Serene Republic - Heavens to Purgatory

10. Gregory & The Hawk - Grey Weather

Note that they are in no order. It's really hard to decide what should be in the list and what shouldn't but well, it came down to it and I had to do it.

The Saturday Mix #4

Today's mix will be slightly different. It will have a theme, and that being anything SLEEP-related. here goes!

Late Night Alumni - Seemingly Sleepy
A really 'chill-out' song. and indeed, it's a song I could leave on repeat on a slow ride on the streets late into the night, just looking at the remaining few lights left that dot the silent urban landscape and taking in the cool night air. Just hope I don't fall asleep at the wheel.

Something Corporate - As You Sleep
Vocalist Andrew McMahon has a side project, Jack's Mannequin, which he is currently chiefly pursuing as SC is on hiatus. So for those who wonder why the two bands could have sounded similar, here's why.

Meiko - Sleep
featured her before, enjoy. anyway, turn up the volume on the video, it's a tad too soft on normal volume.

The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Until June - Sleepless

The Postal Service - Sleeping In

School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
first ever repost of a song. reason being that this is a very interesting video set to the song. very tastefully done.
what begins as an unguarded/train of thoughts slowly can become/an addiction to the slumber

Mayday Parade - Three Cheers for Five Years

Vampire Weekend - Campus

Shugo Tokumaru - Parachute
his myspace page. click on the song parachute. as much as i don't really understand most of the song, except for the words "parachute, parachute, parachute", the song sounds really happy to me. like really. interesting song and artist.

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
a side project by Ben Gibbard of DCFC and Jimmy Tamborello (also known as Dntel). clearly, even though it's just a side project, this is still an awesome song, which is testament to their abilities.

School of Seven Bells - Half Asleep
very ethereal sounding song, with dreamy lyrics.
"train of thoughts slowly can become
an addiction to the slumber"