Download Lesionread’s album, PUSH

Guys, my brother is in a band. It’s called Lesionread. They put out an album, Push, last month.

Push is a colourful mixture of everything Shawn (my brother) and Jonathan Reed have absorbed musically over the last few years. There’s a little bit of Radiohead/Thom Yorke influence in Shawn’s voice (it can’t be denied, no matter how much nobody wants to admit that sort of thing, but this is knowing how much he listened to them and how he started learning about music, and there’s nothing wrong with that) and then there’s groovy, electronic blending of dotted lines with the occasional riffing guitar or other bombastic instrument. Reed delves into spoken word and soothing soul. Things slow down, get experimental. Auto-tuned for a song, even. And that’s just the first half of the album. There’s acoustic guitar, strings, and more in the second half.

Push is a lot to take in, but it’s interesting to see this exploration of learning and exploration itself. It’s different, it’s hard to categorize, but it’s compelling. And I’m not just saying this because Lesionread is 1/2 Lewis.

If you’re looking for something off-kilter and fresh to your ears, download Push on the band’s Bandcamp page.

Download My Morning Jacket’s new single, “Circuital”

Well it’s been a nice morning already! My Morning Jacket have been sending live recorded tracks in e-letters for the last few weeks as a countdown to their new album Circuital, and today we finally get to hear the title song. Our first peek at the album. It’s seven minutes long and at a moderate tempo, with Jim James bringing back his signature high croon. Oh I’ve missed this voice. Even though now I can’t resist thinking about the American Dad episode when I hear the music (great). “Circuital” is more Americana and much lighter in sound than their most recent works. At times I feel it’s a bit safe, but it’s a pleasant song that I’ll be listening to once in a while nonetheless. I think I’ll always like the MMJ with a sharper edge (even with the peanut butter pudding surprise…), but they have a lot of layers that I like to explore. Circuital will be out May 31. The song will be a Record Store Day exclusive too. The band will make a triumphant return to Toronto’s Kool Haus on July 11 and you better believe I will be there rocking out with my dad (hi dad!).

Download the song, read Jim James’ awesome explanation, hear those live tracks & more on NPR.

What do you think?

Concert Review: Foster the People at Lee’s Palace, April 3

It’s not often that a band can sell out a city’s medium-sized venue with only three recorded songs. In this case, Los Angeles’ Foster the People have three really catchy songs and the buzz was strong. The single “Pumped Up Kicks” has been in fairly heavy rotation lately in these parts, which has resulted in periods of days when I can’t get it out of my head. It’s the catchiest song I’ve ever heard about gang violence! So based on that song and hearing the other two — “Houdini” might actually be my new favourite and “Helena Beat” proved to be a worthy encore banger — I was excited. The band had even announced their next Toronto show (June 18 – Mod Club) before they played this one.

I enjoyed the show last night, but I know they’ll do even greater when they come back to the Mod Club. Their audience will know the songs better by then, even more arms will be waving in the air, and the sound will be bigger. They’ll even fit better on that bigger stage.

Last night, lead singer and baby face Mark Foster led the five-piece band with his slightly high-pitched voice and funny dance moves (some quirky shoulder shaking with arms just hanging by his sides). Each member had multiple live duties; everyone but the drummer had different synths to tinker with as well as their guitars, other drums and bass, getting them into this fuzzy pop dream land. The emphasis in Foster the People songs comes from the piano though, which brought me and my concert goer and blogger companion Ricky from The Panic Manual to observe live that the band could be the fresh new Maroon 5 or one of those other OC type bands. Not a bad thing, as these songs are clear concise pop rock pushes and you can’t deny getting your attention caught by the charm. All the other songs they played from their upcoming album — with the set just under an hour — followed that suit. I noticed a lot of songs simply hook onto a lot of  “oos” or “las,” and they all will get your feet tapping.

Like mentioned above, since they do have a lot of buzz on those three songs, the audience didn’t really seem to know what to do with themselves for the rest of it, so the usual energy that should bounce between wasn’t there the whole time. It will be there next time, I see these guys getting pretty big. You might not even have to look out for them, their hooks might just find their way to you first. The show last night was fun and I’m glad I saw them now.

Their album, Torches, will be out May 24.

Listen to the EP here.

Sit down, listen to this: The Albertans

Last Tuesday, I gave you a dance party. Today, I give you something to sit down with and really listen. I’m being a bit selfish, as I can’t really dance because I recently broke my pinky toe and doing such an activity is sadly painful. So I’m making you sit with me. Got that? Good! Anyways, I’ve found the perfect song for sitting and daydreaming this week, so it works out.

The Albertans – “The Wake”

This is one of those songs I’ve been waiting for, and oh it fills me with warmth to just type that. It’s got a groovy bass, fluttering + fuzzy guitars, dreamy vocals, a keyboard pattern that suggests it might be up to no good and simple drumming highlighted by a tambourine. I still can’t completely wrap my head around this goodness. It flows splendidly and has so many layers to unwrap, lyrically and musically. It leaves me with intrigue after every time I’ve listened, I feel like I’m searching for some puzzle piece. They sing of suicide and pressure, so when it all comes together, it’s like you can hear the song’s character(s) opening their eyes.

The band was formed in Vancouver out of members from our prairies and the U.S., but they headed to New York. Now I guess they split their time between the two metropolises. The album that holds this gem of a song, New Age, was recorded in Brooklyn, at Chandelier Studios, and now we have a Canadian tie to the borough’s distinct energy haze.

Just listen for yourself, and join me in my excitement in looking forward to their album. They remind me of Breathe Owl Breathe and Dirty Projectors (a little). There’s also some New Pornographers and Mother Mother similarities in there in terms of the team vocals, but I feel more of a connection to the Albertans than I do with those two bands at this point.

Watch music videos set to old films for “The Wake” & “Megan” & “New Age” and then there’s one of them playing “Mila.”

New Age comes out in Canada on April 19.

Watch tUnE-yArDs play “Doorstep” in Paris

While internet filmmakers all over the globe are partaking in similar styles of filming musicians on the streets, it’s always interesting to see the videos that have musicians in a whole other country than their own. The people on the streets react differently when it’s not their language, and you can sense some hesitation from the musician at times.

Merrill Garbus, aka tUnE-yArDs, has her second album w h o k i l l, coming out April 19. We’ve already heard “Bizness,” but now we get to see her play “Doorstep” in Paris.

HibOO d’Live : Tune-Yards “Doorstep” from Le-HibOO.com on Vimeo.

Also, some hometown reppin’ for “Bizness,” here’s Merrill and her wicked band playing the song at local indie record shop Soundscapes when she was here last summer. I’m still kicking myself for missing this (although I did see her play that night and it was one of the coolest shows I’ve seen).

Concert Review: Braids and Baths at El Mocambo, Toronto, February 19

The following was originally published on Exclaim.ca.

It can’t feel good to have feedback problems during the first song of a sold-out show. But while some bands let their anger through, Braids were able to carry the band into smoother territory.

Their fuzzy electronic mixtures that often come with references to Animal Collective felt closer to the Dirty Projectors and tUnE-yArDs, with back-and-forth harmonies and bombastic percussion. They focused on tracks from their debut, this year’s Native Speaker, and ended on a new one, proving they could make what’s soft on record into something loud and crunchy live. The end effect was dreamy, raunchy, personal and with just enough rock in between the electronic manoeuvring.

But while Braids flourished, Baths was only so-so. The one-man band of Will Wiesenfeld was energetic, focused and cheeky, but his songs felt disjointed, as they were dominated by noises similar to machine gears. The beat-loving Wiesenfeld seemed to have a big DJ influence, and that’s what the crowd appeared to want: a dance party. However, it’s hard to dance to songs that stop and start every five seconds with strange vocals on top. Nevertheless, it didn’t deter most people from trying.

Baths and Wiesenfeld’s other endeavours, Geotic and Post-Foetus, are fun to react to in your own capacity, but live it felt rough. That said, Wiesenfeld did make an effort to interact with his fans, telling them to “get gay” and introducing a track with “this song is about going to hell” while giving two thumbs-up.

Listen to tUnE-yArDs’ new single, “Bizness”

I love tUnE-yArDs. Her 2nd album w h o k i l l will be released in April, and I really really can’t wait.

Yesterday, a British radio show got their paws on a song off the album, “Bizness,” and through the magic of the internet, you can hear it now. I definitely remember hearing Merrill play this song the last time she was in Toronto (by the way, one of the best shows I’ve ever seen).

So without further jabber, let’s just get to the song. LISTEN:

Read an interview I did with the lovely Merrill a year ago on what the new album would be like! Time travel!

tUnE-yArDs will be back May 12, I believe? You better be going.

UPDATE: You can now download “Bizness” here.

RoundLetters’ Top 20 Albums of 2010

Here we are, the final countdown! I’ve finally been able to settle on a top 20 (it’s been an excruciatingly long process) and I thought what better day to share with you my favourite albums of the year than my birthday.

2010 has produced a few absolutely amazing albums in my mind and a ton of great ones. 2010 was also a time when I shirked away from the buzz bands and hype, not only because I didn’t have access to them in a monetary or downloaded capacity but also because from what I’d heard from any of those bands, I just couldn’t understand why everyone went so gaga over them. The ones I’ve picked here haven’t been found on a lot of other lists I’ve seen, but I can back their worth 100%. This year was one year when the music really started to make sense, unlike ever before. Words started connecting to me in new ways, different sounds and instruments caught my attention and moods took over.

So, I won’t go too in-depth, just give top reasons why these records have earned my love. Here ya go:

20. Villagers – Becoming a Jackal

Tearing at the heartstrings with other strings; piano keys play like it’s their last time; a voice like Conor Oberst but smooth, not raggedy; the memory-catching melodies in the guitar of the title track.

19. Wild Nothing – Gemini

New wave guitars; lazy vocals; synths that only come in on the small, right moments; like a modern- day Pretty in Pink or other John Hughes type scenario; “Drifter” and “Chinatown.”

18. Deerhunter – Halycon Digest

Epic sadness; bringing the sadness into beautiful poetry; haunting melodies; the feeling like each song slowly seeps into you and hits the exact point of your body that needed it most.

17. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening

I never used to like LCD Soundsystem, I found it abrasive and almost immature. Now, somehow, I can party with it, move with it, understand it a bit better, which made this album twice as more fun than it already is.

16. Wolf Parade – Expo 86

Theatrical, poetic and unique, this is another album from a band who wasn’t able to catch my attention in the past. Jaunty and oh so ripped and ragged, and yet, it’s cleaner than they’ve ever been. Their rock parade was going strong until the announced hiatus.

15. Hannah Georgas – This is Good

This album taught me how it’s alright and totally possible to be light-hearted and heavy-hearted at the same time. I can be sipping lemonade and cursing at someone simultaneously. Confidence; pop rock; Vancouver; girls with guitars; sunshine.

14. Teen Daze – Four More Years

Pride of the playlist; dreams; attaching to one or many moments with such ease that it’s scary; computers and what computers can do with humans; really working the nostalgic angle.

13. Seabear – We Built a Fire

Sweet, sweet Icelandic harmonies; birds, bears, lions, animals oh my; total cuteness; softness like rolling around in springtime grass without a care; being with friends.

12. Breathe Owl Breathe – Magic Central

Also an incredible amount of cuteness; under the radar; music that comes out of living together, being together; story-telling; childhood and precious adulthood; playing; honest and down-to-earth instrumentation; pop; jazz.

11. Bent by Elephants – This is Water

Made my list of 2009 with a lot of the same songs as an EP, but they came back polished and with more equally beautiful ammo; under the radar; adventurous lyrics; jazzed vocals with guitars and drums holding onto reality; brass section of fun but knows their limits; wanting to cry when seeing them play because it was just so lovely.

10. Hooded Fang – Album

Dance parties, pizza parties, candy, whiskey; not being able to stop smiling when listening; Oh geez, “Green River”; boy-girl melodies; spunky keyboards, bells and guitars; clapping; goofy live shows.

9. Rah Rah – Breaking Hearts

If I was to be in a band, I would want to be in one just like Rah Rah. Super happy party times to ensue with everyone meshing on stage and off, happy yelps of ‘badabada!’; Saskatchewan, you ruled music this year because of Rah Rah & Library Voices; Marshall Burns and Erin Passmore’s voices; the confetti, the pinatas!

8. Scout Niblett – The Calcination of Scout Niblett

The epic strength that comes from this girl and her guitar is incredible and a force to be reckoned with; I want to tremble before her and yet my eyes are wide in admiration; the depth of the lyrics from chemistry to mind reading to plain ol’ being pissed off and coming to terms with herself; the guitar is its own being.

7. Olenka & the Autumn Lovers – And Now We Sing

Lovely folk-country-rock that’s so wonderfully Canadiana; inspiration for storytelling, and storytelling itself; a velvety voice that could be old or new, we could always be fooled; mixtures and textures; being strong on their own without any Basia Bulat references; a band that is so rootsy and in tune to time and scenery.

6. Suuns – Zeroes QC

Not understanding a word that’s said but not caring one bit, in fact, finding that thrilling and mysterious and kind of scary; so many grooves that have to be peeled apart to be grasped in a more literal, horizontal sense because they’re not just vertical at times but everywhere with grooves and blips and bleeps; just being drawn to them not having to think about anything, or thinking about everything.

5. The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

I grew up in the suburbs, and looking back on it, not very fond of it, so I already have that connection; the sure magnitude of this band was undeniable; it was totally deserved, especially after whining about their last album and how it wasn’t as great as the rest of their work; expectations are higher and higher; Win and Regine; “Rococo,” “Empty Room,” “Sprawl II.”

4. Aidan Knight – Versicolour

Newcomer to knock me off my feet, Aidan burst into my life in full colour right at the beginning of the year with a review and interview (in which he dangerously tackled Vancouver bridges), songs so full of heart that it makes you unaware of your own; friendship that came through in clarity of chords, vocal and instrumental; seeing him play live with equal amounts of passion and friendliness; “Knitting Something Nice For You” and “Jasper.”

3. !!! – Strange Weather, Isn’t It?

Many dismissed this album from the weirdos, not taken with their new cleaned-up attitude, lack of swear words and less messy instrumentation. But I found it to be their best work yet, because now we were really getting to know who !!! are and what they’ve gone through in the last year or so. The songs became some of my favourite danceable moments of the year, their shows are always sooo much fun and sweaty and the entire album became my work-out buddy.

2. Junip – Fields

The kind of album that will always let you remember where and when you first heard it: I had just moved into my new apartment, was lying on the floor of my living room trying to stream it off NPR on my iPhone. “In Every Direction” hit me so hard I could barely believe it. The album became my go-to hug and sense of relief, repeating lyrics under my breath in times of need or simply closing my eyes and swaying to the music. Plus, Jose Gonzalez is a musical wonder.

1. Foals – Total Life Forever

Quite possibly my favourite album ever. Never has an album affected me so greatly. I even said so to the clerk at Criminal Records in the spring when I was buying the LP that it would be my #1, and it never faltered. I couldn’t shake it, even as I played it I was still anticipating it. The deep blue underwater, icey gazes and dark mental moments sat with me as I could totally connect. It was one of those albums that got me through a rough time with confidence and I’ll forever be better for it. They’d been a band I was always drawn to and loved, but with this they just took me over. It was one of the first albums I could really discuss with a lot of my friends as well, and new friends to boot. The album feels split in two, acts I and II, I could be revved up first and then taken down after. Guitars oh their guitars have set a force for so many other bands this year, I could hear it over and over, but nobody does it like Foals. They became a voice to a younger generation, fans pledge themselves to them in body art for crissakes, and I’m not on those levels nor do I feel that’s a sense of immaturity, but of understanding and honour. Foals and Total Life Forever meant so much to me this year, no matter how many angry outbursts they had at their Toronto date in September I shook about all that day for. I’ve taken so much from the album and there’s still so much left.

 

If my list was to keep going, it would include records by Plants and Animals, Woodhands, Caribou, The Morning Benders, Glasser, Tame Impala, Land of Talk, Josiah Wolf, Casiokids, Tim Fite, Women, Woods, Zeus, School of Seven Bells, Efterklang and more…

Download new songs from Physical Forms and Gentleman Jesse

mp3 download: Physical Forms – “On the Brink”

“On the Brink” is the B-side to a new 7”, Hoofdriver, with Californian weird rockers Deerhoof. Physical Forms is Regan Farquar, who also goes by the MC name Busdriver. Busdriver sings over a Deerhoof track on Side A. This song, an out of control pop explosion, has all kinds of tempos, blips and bleeps, taking the generally happy kind of music these bands are going for in a new, sing-songy direction.

mp3 download: Gentleman Jesse & His Men – “You’ve Got the Wrong Man”

In three minutes, a few different genres will hit you in the face. At first, you might be all ‘how does this work?’ but then you’ll likely think, ‘hm, this is really fun.’ “You’ve Got the Wrong Man,” from Atlanta, Georgia-based Gentleman Jesse & His Men, will first sound like surf rock, next you’ll hear pop tinges and then punk escapades.

Pharrell says new N*E*R*D album ‘Nothing’ is a “departure”

Before there was Nothing, there were twenty songs ready to be chosen for the next N*E*R*D album. But the trio of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shae Haley decided to scrap them and start over. From there, they came up with all new songs for their fourth full-length. It seems that the refresher was exactly what the group needed to see a healthy progression in their sound.

“It’s different, it’s definitely a departure,” said Williams in an interview with AUX Weekly. “But every album is like a departure in one way. This album utilizes a lot of nostalgic elements from the late ‘60s, early ‘70s.”

READ MORE ON AUX.TV.