Better...Huh!? Is that better hj?
It was this until someone pointed out my flawed understanding of what this guest week was about...
Continue reading Phantogram – Black Out Days
(4 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
Loading... From her album Parts of Speech. As talked about in last week's FMD, the hip-hop songs are great while the ballads are meh. This is a great song and one of my faves from the album.
Dessa's vocals aren't the easiest to hear in this version but I thought it was a pretty good representation of her live show. After the break I included a version with easier-to-follow the vocals.
Continue reading Dessa — Fighting Fish
(6 votes, average: 7.17 out of 10)Loading... httpv://youtu.be/TLTQjhW55jA
I debated between 3 videos for this, but ultimately this one won out. Because gurl singers (for Pepper). Also, I couldn't find a version of The Preature's "Is This How You Feel" that I liked (seems for them, live <<< produced?)
I'm throwing a bonus video your way too:
Continue reading Haim – The Wire
(7 votes, average: 7.86 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz9W-9A4T-g
Some great jazz crossover albums were released in 2013, but none hit me harder than Gregory Porter's Liquid Spirit. I just got tickets to see Porter in Chicago next month, where he's opening for Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spaulding, & Leo Genovese. I think the last time I was this excited to see someone live, it was Keith Jarrett.
(6 votes, average: 7.67 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo2QI4EWC98
After agreeing to do this, I remembered I have only heard one new thing from 2013. I picked up Within the Frozen Design by Winter Storm because it sounded interesting and I have entirely too few albums and bands based around winter. Also, this is pretty good stuff and a change of pace within the symphonic metal realm from bands like Epica and Nightwish. (sorry about the lack of live-ness of this video. It was the only video from the band I could find. Also, that is the drummiest looking drummer I have ever seen.)
Continue reading Winter Storm – Wasted Feelings
(6 votes, average: 7.33 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLzPBl0JO9A
In 2014, I listened to more pop music than I did in the last 5 years combines. Mostly because the radio at work was stuck on the pop station. I must say, I wasnt a fan. But songs like Daft Punk's "Get Lucky", The Lumineers "Ho Hey" and "Stubborn Love" and the Imagine Dragons "Radioactive" stick out and are part of my semi-regular music rotation.
So why did I choose another Franz Ferdinand song? Because I absolutely loved this album. And I love this song. My interpretation is its about a megalomaniac who lost all his friends and is going crazy because he is just loving himself and no one else is there to feed his ego.
Enjoy.
(5 votes, average: 7.60 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03zQ_ZzGcgE
I think the last show I saw at First Avenue in 2013 was Black Joe Lewis, but I could be forgetting one. He's got a pretty fantastic red guitar.
(5 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F7R6nBCe10
I was all set to put "Song For Zula" here, but when I woke up this morning, something with a little more 'zip' felt right. I know bootsy spun one of his other songs earlier this year, but I couldn't help myself.
I've never been a huge fan of Ty Segall, but his bass player put out one of the few best guitar pop-rock albums of the year. So many good hooks to be had here.
(8 votes, average: 8.13 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hi_7JIpbCU
Somewhere between Nirvana and METZ. I listened to quite a few noise/rock/punk? albums this year, but I think this band from Baltimore was my favorite of the bunch.
(5 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)Loading... httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClugMhMbrRg
I saw Jason Isbell open for Todd Snider at the Fitzgerald this past summer. He was awesome. Just him and his guitar.
He used to be one of the three singer/songwriters in Drive-By Truckers and co-wrote two of their best albums (Dirty South, Decoration Day). DBT definitely misses him.
He was basically kicked out of the band due to his alcohol issues and the fact he was getting divorced from the bass player. This album was recorded after he had gone through rehab and many of the songs tell stories that could have been heard there.
There is one bad word in the song but it does fit the story.
(7 votes, average: 8.29 out of 10)Loading...