the city glimmers underneath the fading light

Monarchy - Gold In The Eternal Fire (mp3)
Having grown up in the time when bubblegum pop ruled the airwaves, by the likes of Westlife, Backstreet Boys, N Sync, Britney Spears etc, so it's natural that I remember Eternal Flame as it is - sung by Atomic Kitten. So, when Monarchy called it a classic, I was perplexed. So a quick google told me it was originally by The Bangles, an all female band harking from the 80s. Fastfoward 31 years later, Monarchy has taken it and meshed it with parts from Gold In The Fire to come up with something really amazing. And apparently they did it to commemorate the royal wedding between a young man and his fiancée (The Economist with not so subtle humour). Anyhow, really flowing piano that ripples gently through like a silent murmur; the duo evoking everything they can with such elegance.

The One AM Radio - Witness
I'm totally digging Hirway and gang. First introduced to me by the show Chuck (it's really got awesome music selections), their latest album has more production - like more elaborate synths, bass and whatnot, but this one from his sophomore album leans towards intimate and personal. It's as if he's singing to a small group of friends gathered around the porch of his house. Very tender vocals that remind me of Kings of Convenience along with a chill vibe that makes you all relaxed, quite apt considering how it helps you enjoy the song even more.

The National - Exile Vilify
The song that was created specially for the computer game Portal 2 reflects how music transcends boundaries. Another piano based song, but grander in scale and complements Berninger's signature baritone very nicely. Somehow it feels very pensive, as if reflecting on something, what with giving up, feeling like a trial and being like marbles on glass.

20 Favourite Albums of 2010: Part II

It's the last day of 2010 and it's been one eventful year. I hope the musical offerings in Singapore get better and better, like it is now, and cheaper too! Go easy on my pocket, you know.

All the best to whoever's reading this and have a rockin' and awesome 2011.



The Morning Benders "Big Echo"


Toro Y Moi "Causers of This"


The National "High Violet"


Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz"


Spoon "Transference"


Pantha du Prince "Black Noise"


Delphic "Acolyte"


Delorean "Subiza"


Deerhunter "Halcyon Digest"


Broken Social Scene "Forgiveness Rock Record"


Drop a comment about what YOUR favourite albums are!

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part V

Everything’s a compromise. For instance, you’re not going to get Marlon Brando to do your script, you’re going to get someone lesser. The room you see in your mind’s eye is not the room you’re filming in. It’s always a question of high aims, grandiose dreams, great bravado and confidence, and great courage at the typewriter; and then, when I’m in the midst of finishing a picture and everything’s gone horribly wrong and I’ve reedited it and reshot it and tried to fix it, then it’s merely a struggle for survival. You’re happy only to be alive. Gone are all the exalted goals and aims, all the uncompromising notions of a perfect work of art, and you’re just fighting so people won’t storm up the aisles with tar and feathers. With many of my films—almost all—if I’d been able to get on screen what I conceived, they would have been much better pictures. Fortunately, the public doesn’t know about how great the picture played in my head was, so I get away with it.

- Woody Allen in an interview with the Paris Review


The National - Conversation 16
Another great track from "High Violet" set to a literal depiction of the song. Oh what gloom and doom, so sweetly done by The National. I love the chorus in particular as Berninger says matter-of-factly "I was afraid I'd eat your brains".
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Beach House - Zebra (mp3)
I'm surprised that Beach House opened for Vampire Weekend, as said in the top rated comment on the youtube video for this song. I would think Beach House is almost as popular and many would have been clamouring for a full set from Beach House as well. Can't get enough from this prodigious duo and can't wait for Laneway!
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

GROUPLOVE - Colours (mp3)
Good old rockin', just having fun together and making music as a group, GROUPLOVE indeed! This song is such a ball of fun.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Ooh, I love this song. Régine Chassagne, who is also Win Butler's wife as well provides vocals for this outstanding track. Taking a more experimental approach, they dip into the electronic pool and come out with Sprawl II to a beautiful outcome. Their rock roots are still very much present, which makes this song even better, even nicer a listen.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Yeasayer - O.N.E
Experimental rock group dishes out what's notably missing this year, experimental random stuff. It's catchy, quirky and tribal-ish, it's fun. Wonder what their performance at Laneway is gonna be like, hope it's gonna be raving!
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
Becoming a Jackal is a heart-wrenching, melodic piece full of lyrical finesse; its the sort of song you want to play on repeat until every last note is engrained in your mind. - Domino Records

They're coming down to Singapore on Jan 31. Try this lovely brilliant acoustic version here.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Caribou - Leave House
Good stuff from Caribou, still remember what got me listening to him was Hello Hammerheads, which is very different from his deeper electronic stuff now, like Leave House for instance.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes His Shirt Off
Sweet and tender with a conspicuous trombone(?) sound, Pallett is such a delight here. It always seems as if he's teetering on a tightrope, but singing his heart out at the same time.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Stars - Wasted Daylight
A lot of Canadian magic this year. Stars, Owen Pallett, Broken Social Scene, Basia Bulat, Caribou, Arcade Fire and Crystal Castles just to name a few. I just realised in this post alone, there're already 4 of them! Amy Millan's silky vocals shine here, dancing unabashedly amidst the twinkly electronic beats.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

White Hinterland - Icarus
Big booming bass that rattles at the start, toned down subsequently to provide a neat toe-tapping back drop as Dienel's swooning vocals charm the socks of me. Sounds like magic.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

100 Favourite Tracks of 2010: Part I

So the year is coming to a close again, and it's almost ritualistic that one has to consider his/her favourite songs in the past year. 2010 was quite a bumper year, different from 2009 though in the type of music that were released. 2009 saw it's fair share of experimental stuff and folk-inspired rock. Also, indie pop reigned while there was the usual electronic/electropop stuff. Contrastingly, 2010 would likely go down as a bumper year for a particular subgenre called chillwave/dreampop/shoegaze/hypnagogic/psychedelic/you-name-it, and this list clearly reflects that since I so happen to take to this genre. A lot. This year also saw the likes of The National, Spoon, Arcade Fire releasing solid follow ups while there's the same old indie pop and electronic stuff. Without further ado, I present to you my list of 100 tracks, in 10 parts and in no particular order, of 2010.

Note (i): These are my favourite tracks for the year, i.e. I checked my most played on itunes and sorted out those that were released this year. So they might not be the best songs around, but they sure were my most listened to. And I self-imposed a cap of 2 songs max per band/singer.

Note (ii): I was just musing over the fact that Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus can attain such fame from the general populace of the world, while honest to goodness awesome, fantastic, fabulous, you get what I'm saying, music can remain untouched and unappreciated. It's not to say indie music is better then mainstream music, it's just a little sad that only those who are signed to major record labels and are exposed to mainstream media that get such recognition, and many of them might not even write their own music. It's a very interesting phenomenon, that on Youtube, Bieber's highly watched videos, numbering up to hundreds of millions of views, have more dislikes then likes, obviously a concerted effort/campaign by detractors and haters. In a similar vein, many music videos that have garnered dislikes would be met with "x number of justin bieber fans?" So anyway, I have no idea why I have such an intense dislike for Bieber or Cyrus, maybe it just stems from the fact that indie music is definitely not inferior to their music, and yet they are not getting as much attention or regard. And to what end? Cyrus is spotted smoking salvia. Though legal, it does not set a good example to the young kids who idolise her, young American kids and kids everywhere else that the American culture has propagated to. Smoking is legal too, but is it encouraged or healthy? No, definitely not. But then again, if I think about it, quite a lot of indie artists engage in all sorts of raucous stuff which they would have to cut down or do without if they were in the spotlight. That way, they'd prolly rather stay indie, which renders my thoughts moot.

Tell me about your favourite songs or just drop some comments!


The Morning Benders - Excuses
This song really makes you feel warm inside. A wonderfully crafted indiepop gem that is beautiful as it is touching. And this Yours Truly session really shows how tightly knit the indie community is, surely eliciting a smile or two.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Spoon - Out Go The Lights
I love this stand out track from "Transference", very soft rock and tender vocals from Britt Daniel.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Beach House - Norway (mp3)
I still remember when Norway was dropped as a lead in to the album, definitely a huge teaser for the new album. I was extremely stoked too because the same dreamy evocative melodies were still there, better in fact, coupled by Alex taking the vocal lead in this song. Beautiful.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
Matt's baritone is definitely one of the reasons why I listen to The National. And this mellow tune is deeply affecting. Maybe that's why it's often on repeat.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Broken Social Scene - Sweetest Kill
Soft with a little reverb, it's one of the awesome tracks in a fantastic follow up to well, Broken Social Scene.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Sun Airway - Put The Days Away
When this bliss pop outfit put out their little 4 track EP, "Oh, Naoko", I was pleasantly surprised by what they had in them. Their debut album, which features the entire EP, "Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier" definitely doesn't let down. The whole song feels very orchestral-ish with the strong backing which culminates in spectacular fashion at the end. It starts around the 3:15 mark, the strings? and everything else building up steadily to a crescendo and suddenly dips to a murmur after a minute plus. Mmhm.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Vampire Weekend - White Sky
What's Vampire Weekend without preppy catchy uber fun pop hits? White Sky doesn't detract much from their recipe and turns out to be a delightful sing-along song. The high pitch ows and oohs that punctuate a quirky twist in the song.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

The Pass - Colors
Delectable synthpop with catchy beats display dance music sensibilities that make The Pass an awesome boppy listen.
[myspace] [last.fm]

Small Black - Despicable Dogs (mp3)
One of the many in this whole chillwave movement, Despicable Dogs presents a trippy psychedelic journey to a fantasy land of huge mushrooms and fancy little elves that populate said land. They say, "Take a bite of them mushrooms." "Go on," as you hesistate. And then you realise these mushrooms are exactly what the song does, different means, same end.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

Toro Y Moi - Low Shoulder
Less dense than the above, featuring heavily on a strong bass that rattles my CPU instead, along with squeaky loops that might egg you into a dance. There's reason why these chillwave-y songs hit home with me. Much love.
[official] [myspace] [last.fm]

i tell you miserable things after you are asleep

In the wild land around the farm, there is constant change, yet it feels timeless. The beeches and hemlocks along the creek look the same. The ship-rock that always seems to be sinking in the middle pasture hasn’t sunk an inch in all this time. This is a rabbit year, but these look like the identical rabbits I saw a few years ago.

None of this is true in the garden. You can plant for shape, color, scent, whatever you like. But unless you confine yourself completely to annuals, you’re cultivating your consciousness of time. Every garden leaves the traces of its origin in the gardener, which means that it’s hard to look at even the maturest beds and borders without remembering the digging and planting and waiting it took to bring them to this point.

- Garden Time by Verlyn Klinkenborg


Ra Ra Riot - Boy
Ra Ra Riot having laid low for a little, except for Wes Miles who was active with Rostam Batmanglij as Discovery, are back with a new offering simply titled "The Orchard". Apparently the tracks have been out for a little more than a couple of weeks. A real nippy number, it's perky and Wes Miles' vocals drip with earnestness and longing. The hooks are definitely present but their signature strings are pretty much non existent here. Obviously, these guys are back and ready to roll.

Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic
You know what they say about the apple not falling too far from it's tree. Well, it's analogous to some extent. It's real rambunctious pop, with lovely interplay between their strings and drums/guitar. It segues real neatly as he croons about over-dramatic girlfriends that is beyond his comprehension.

Yeasayer - Madder Red
Yeasayer are up with their usual unusual stuff. The tribal melodies that permeate is part of the overall package that is an experimental yet folk-ish sound balanced with some slightly vague lyricism. The might seem pretentious and thought of as trying too hard initially, but I actually warmed up to the song after 2 listens. If you strip away the heavy sounds, the song might actually appeal to even more, but this is Yeasayer for you. Here's the official video. But it is really queer and disturbing (in a non gory/grisly manner). Check it out if you want, but it's highly likely to put one off.

The National - Conversation 16
I'm not exactly sure why I'm only posting this song now. Somehow, their new album "High Violet" didn't register with me. I don't know why. But the odd listens here and there, and suddenly I'm taking to most of this album, particularly Conversation 16. I think it's understated brilliance. Introspective and mellow; sombre yet glorious, the drums fill out the very little space left by Matt Berninger's deep and curiously affecting baritone. It resonates within you, and singing about zombies, be it metaphorical or literal, makes you wonder what is going through his mind. It could be an epiphany, but whatever it is, this is utter satisfaction.

let's not try to figure out everything at once

The National - Fake Empire

Mackintosh Braun - Wake Up
Chuck (the show) brought my attention to this song of theirs. Here was fantastic and this revels in the same electronic soundscape. Pleasant and easy on the ears, with a simple beat that makes you tap your feet, I really think these guys are one to look out for. This is what they said of their album, "The idea was to create an album that you didn’t have to skip through, hopefully this is one of those albums for people."

Scanners - Salvation

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers I
One of the most underrated bands of last year, they were stellar and slipped under the radar of most. Raw and filled with vivid imagery (not very pleasant ones), the outcome is a gritty and tight song that makes one feel disconsolate.