summer mix 09
Sunday, August 16th, 2009
At the halfway point in the last month of summer, here’s a mix of my personal summer soundtrack, or at the least selections from it. Some of the list is obvious, some isn’t; but if there’s one thread through the majority of the tracks, it’s vocals – prominence of and excellence therein. There’s also one instrumental track, but that’s more about my current love affair with the guitar than anything.
GRIZZLY BEAR – TWO WEEKS
When it came out in June, Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest debuted in the Billboard Top 10. Deal with that for a minute. There are always mixed feelings when an indie band breaks through, and it doesn’t really matter how we feel, because nothing will change the fact that the piano chord riff rules and the vocals that harken back to ’60s pop are amazing.
Download “Two Weeks” [MP3]
MIRAH – GENEROSITY
This song is not perfect to my ears. It has me at the beginning but kind of meanders as it continues and loses me, but not to an extent where I can’t still enjoy the soaring strings and aching precision of Mirah Zeitlyn’s voice.
Download “Generosity” [MP3]
NOUVELLE VAGUE – THE AMERICAN
This Simple Minds cover is fantastic. Dirty acoustic guitar and incredible vocals once again prove that this pop project is impossible to ignore.
Dowload “The American” [MP3}
DIRTY PROJECTORS - STILLNESS IS THE MOVE
I'm a sucker for vocals and that's where this group ultimately excels. This song closed their set when they opened for TV on the Radio in May, and I liked it a lot for the same reasons others hated it - the invocation of Mariah Carey-esque vocals. I don't know if you could call me an all-out MC fan, but I certainly do enjoy her from time to time and honestly, listening to this song makes me dream about a situation in which la MC would step away from the auto-tuner and get back to her vocal acrobatic roots.
Download "Stillness is the Move" [MP3]
ZWICKER – WHO YOU ARE (FEAT. HEIDI HAPPY)
From their all-in-all wonderful disc Songs of Lucid Dreamers, Swiss duo Zwicker did well in recruiting Heidi Happy for vocals on two tracks, including this one. Nice, nice, very nice!
Download “Who You Are” [MP3]
CHIC GAMINE – SHAKE OFF YOUR WORRIES
I think I’ve been taking for granted just how enormously talented this quartet is. Four vocalists, one drummer, and a focus and pop precision that the band’s forerunner, Madrigaia, seemed to lack at times. At any rate, this band is much cooler than Madrigaia, and this track is something you should listen to.
Download “Shake Off Your Worries” [MP3]
GENTLEMAN REG – WE’RE IN A THUNDERSTORM
This might make it onto the list for its name alone, because it’s an excellent descriptor for the summer we’ve been having here in Winnipeg. Rain, rain, all the time. And the relentless, disco-y acoustic flavour of this track is good for a sunny day or a rainy one.
Download “We’re in a Thunderstorm” [MP3]
INGRID GATIN – TIN HEART
If I were the sort who made predictions about up-and-comers and other esoteric concepts with regard to the music scene and the local one in particular, I’d definitely point to Ingrid Gatin. That’s why I profiled her for Stylus Magazine this month; that’s why I link you now to this track, which lacks polish but makes up for it with wonderful vocals and harmonies.
Download “Tin Heart” [MP3]
VOLCANOLESS IN CANADA – LONDON IN LOVE (THE BIRD’S NEST)
This track is one of my favourite discoveries of the summer, largely because I wouldn’t have found it at all if I hadn’t been corresponding with the folks at the Brandon Music and Art Festival, where this Saskatoon band performed. Once again, what really takes this track over the top are the vocals. I couldn’t resist making this the soundtrack to my July Video Scrapbook, where it also triggered the obsession of my friend Damian, who was curious when he saw me refer to it as “Prairie folk-rock,” which he equated with Spirit of the West. And to be fair, the first several bars of the song are a poor advertisement for what follows. But then Mitch Lysak starts to legitimately wail, his soaring vocals flying over some compelling guitar rhythms and when he sings, “Your face tonight, in Canada; oh, Canada,” you’re all in.
Download “London in Love” [MP3]
YEARS – ARE YOU UNLOVED
Years is the solo project of Do Make Say Think’s Ohad Benchetrit. It reminds me a lot of early Do Make stuff, but even less muddied by noise and orchestral stuff. At its heart, it’s engaging, beautiful guitar music.
Download “Are You Unloved” [for free at Years' MySpace]
Cross-posted to The Book of Right-On