Bon Iver - Beth/Rest

Bon Iver is a band...well, I guess technically it's a guy from Wisconsin. Justin Vernon is his name, and he has a knack for creating some really relaxing psych-folk that shares a bed with art rock. For his last album, For Emma, Forever Ago Vernon made it pretty big with the song "Skinny Love" and the woodsy folk album sold incredibly well.

His new album, simply titled Bon Iver is much of the same goodness, but with a little bit of other genres thrown in to the mix including electronic and prog-rock. The weirdest, but also I think my favorite is this song, which sounds like it could be at the end of a John Hughes movie. You know the part I'm talking about? When the main character (I'm assuming Molly Ringwald) finally gets asked to dance by the nerdy, yet lovable love interest. Then they share a dance under the cheesy lasers and disco ball reflections while the synths and echo-ed Vernon lulls them along to a dreamy fade-out. This is a strange direction for Bon Iver, but it still has that Vernon touch to it. Give it a listen, its kind of funny, but also a decent song.

Errant heat to the star
and the rain let in
the hawser rolls, the vessel’s whole and Christ, it’s thin

well Iʼd know that you’d offer
would reveal it, though it’s soft and flat
won’t repeat it, cull and coffer’s that
for the soffit, hang this homeward
pry it open with your love
sending lost and alone standing offers

it is steep / it is stone
such recovery
from the daily press, the deepest nest, in keeper’s keep

all the news at the door
such a revelry
well, it’s hocked inside of everything you said to me

it was found what we orphaned
didn’t mention it would serve us picked
said your love is known
I’m standing up on it

aren’t we married?!
I ainʼt living in the dark no more
it’s not a promise, Iʼm just gonna call it

heavy mitted love

our love is a star
sure some hazardry
for the light before and after most indefinitely

danger has been stole away
…
This is us 

Arctic Monkeys - Baby I'm Yours

Here's an arctic monkeys jam in celebration of their new (yet mildly disappointing) new album Suck it and See. This track is from an older EP but, hey its better than their new stuff. Don't get me wrong though, Suck It is still pretty good its just, eh. Here listen to this, my favorite track from it, and see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKK9JP7UOb8

But this post isnt about the new stuff. Its about "Baby Im Yours." A cover of a motown hit made popular by Barbara Lewis and written by Van Mccoy. I dont feel like describing it so just listen to it, baby.

Baby, I'm yours (baby, I'm yours)
And I'll be yours (yours) until the stars fall from the sky,
Yours (yours) until the rivers all run dry
In other words, until I die

Baby, I'm yours (baby, I'm yours)
And I'll be yours (yours) until the sun no longer shines,
Yours (yours) until the poets run out of rhyme
In other words, until the end of time

I'm gonna stay right here by your side,
Do my best to keep you satisfied
Nothin' in the world can drive me away
'Cause every day, you'll hear me say

Baby, I'm yours (baby, I'm yours)
And I'll be yours (yours) until two and two is three,
Yours (yours) until the mountains crumble to the sea
In other words, until eternity

Baby, I'm yours
'Til the stars fall from the sky
Baby, I'm yours
'Til the rivers all run dry
Baby, I'm yours
'Til the sun no longer shines
Baby, I'm yours
'Til the poets run out of rhyme
(fade out) 
 

She & Him - I Thought I Saw Your Face Today

She & Him (ampersand!) are one of music's greatest collaborations. Zooey Deschanel's baritone voice (maybe. correct me if i'm wrong here music majors) and M. Ward's rough voice are a great combination and when you throw in his virtuoso guitar stylings and her soulful, 50s songwriting you can't lose.

This track is an upbeat piano rumination on falling in love at the sight of someone. Her sorrowful yet playful voice lulls you in to the orchestra swells and swishy drums. The cheerfully sad mood of the song pops out especially  in the surprise whistle solo! Suprise! Whistle!

Also, check out Zooey Deschanel's interview with the guys from Nerdist here:
http://www.nerdist.com/2011/06/nerdist-podcast-97-zooey-deschanel/

I thought I saw your face today 
but I just turned my head away 
Your face against the trees 
but I just see the memories 
as they come 
as they come 
And I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again 

I saw it glitter as I grew 
and love did what I never knew 
I thought this place was heaven sent 
but now it's just a monument 
in my mind 
in my mind 
And I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again 

The cars and freeways implore me to stay way out of this place 
My mother said just keep your head and play as it plays 

(whistling) 

The cars and freeways implore me to stay way out of this place 
My mother said just keep your head and play as it plays 

I somehow see what's beautiful in things that are ephemeral 
I'm my only friend, am I? 
Love is just a piece of time 
in the world 
in the world 
And I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again 
No I couldn't help but fall in love again

Brian Eno - On Some Faraway Beach

Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno. Not many people know the name, but he is responsible for a LOT of good music. Having collaborated on many influential artists like Genesis, Talking Heads, Coldplay and many more, Eno has been throwing his touch into the music world since his early days in the band Roxy Music. He's also added so much to the production aspect of music and his musical mind is still going at it.

This song is a relaxing chill-out song with its lulling piano repetition and calming mood. I'd really like to enjoy this song at night on a starry beach somewhere with a warm breeze rustling through my beard and a cool drink in my hand. And while we're in my fantasy world I also have a super cute nerdy girlfriend and a robot dog with tank treads for feet. Anyway the  lyrics in the song touch on death and finality and come in as almost an afterthought and gently fade away suggesting the feeling could go on forever. Great!

Given the Chance
I'll Die Like a Baby
On Some Far Away Beach
When the Season's Over.


Unlikely
I'll Be Remembered
As the Tide Brushes Sand in My Eyes
I'll Drift Away.


Cast Up On a Plateau
With Only One Memory
A Single Syllable
Oh Lie Low Lie Low.

The Sleepy Jackson -

The Sleepy Jackson are an Aussie band headed by Luke Steele (sounds like a super spy name to me). They formed in 1998 and went through many different lineups, but only produced two full albums. The album Personality (One was a Spider, One was a Bird) is their most successful album and just a solid album. Steele is a great songwriter, but I guess he's hard to work with, hence the lineup changes.

The song "I Understand What You Want, But I Just Don't Agree" is a fun, dancy tune with a full epic disco sounding orchestra and high pitched backup vocals complimenting Steele's unique voice.  Steele's got a thing for flare and it shows with the great breakdown that dramatically builds back up into the chorus. Also, you have to dance like he does when you listen to it. If you don't, you die.

Running home in the bleeding snow,
I played with colours filed as learn alone.
They don't mean bad when they fooled you on the phone.
The way they walked led them to dream on their own.
4.30am in a creeping low, 
I played a courtroom on my witches doe. 
I'd hang on to the only one, 
Where all the lovers turn and pray on the phone.
I understand what you want. 
I understand what you need but I just don't agree. 
Close my eyes and there will be crying.
Clost my eyes and there will be love.
My eyes turn around at you.
I understand what you want.
I understand what you need but I just don't agree.

God Help the Girl - Come Monday Night

God Help the Girl - Come Monday Night

I've been on a Belle and Sebastian kick lately so I thought I'd throw in a little diddy (P-Diddy's future name?)  from Murdoch's side project, God Help the Girl. Plus this girl, Catherine Ireton, is incredibly gorgeous and I want to make out with her voice for hours.

The opening "da da da da da dums" immediately melts you like the Sirens from Clash of the Titans. Whilst your're attempting to collect yourself after being turned into a pool of human-goo a sour piano chord resounds and the guitar, bass and orchestra kick in with a lone high hat keeping the beat. The temptresses continue to keep you in a state of soupy-ness until the end when you melt so much you evaporate into a flesh colored gas and float into the mesosphere when they harmonize the lyrics "Baby you would sleep much better, maybe you would sleep much better."

Come monday night the day of work is done
Tuesday morning lose the grey of ordinariness
Start by putting off your chores
And all the crushing bores
Say your morning prayers
Sing a rousing song
Then sing it on the long walk home

Come monday night we're in a state of praise
Twenty-million boys are caught up in a paper chase
If the weekend promised much
Then it failed to touch
On a single count what i was hoping for
What i was hoping for

Come monday night we turn the telly off
To listen to the silence
Light that comes in from outside
If you could catch it all
And pin it to your wall
Then you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better

Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard

Blind Pilot is an indie folk group of folks from the magical music land of Portland. Their unique sound is matched by their unique 2008 tour in which they bicycled to each venue, instruments in tow. The lead singer Israel Nebeker's voice is very smooth and relaxing and sometimes resembles, dare I say it, Michael Buble... but in a good way! I swear I dont like the Buble.

The song "The Story I Heard" is from their only full length, 3 Rounds and  a Sound (what a cool name). Its a perfect rainy morning drive song with its soft, mellow verses and nicely harmonized choruses. Every so often the full band jumps in unexpectedly adding nice little surprises.

hey JoJo
yeah, I know your name
I thought I saw you
jump the Utah train
but I could not say
I could not say

heard you tried to 
keep your hat on a shelf
marry the women
went off loved someone else
could be as well
I cannot tell
oh no i cannot tell!

hey JoJo
don't you forget your name
might try to keep you 
from the man you have been
so don't go that way
don't go that way

oh 'cause the story I heard
is the people are bored
and the measures you take
to wrestle with your lord
all the money you take
all the memories you spill
will he measure your tongue
will he measure your will
oh now

one of these mornings
we'll be the loudest you hear
you'll write a story with firecracker paper
and disappear
you disappear
and disappear
and you disappear

oh cause the story I heard
is the people are bored
and the measures you take
to wrestle with your lord
all the measures you fake
whether your dead or just still
will he measure your tongue
will he measure your will
oh now

one of these mornings
we'll be
we'll be
one of these mornings
we'll be
we'll be home

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/the_story_i_heard_lyrics_blind_pilot.html
All about Blind Pilot: http://www.musictory.com/music/Blind+Pilot