June Playlist

Please enjoy the June edition of my new discoveries. I seem to have caught the music bug once again, after taking a leave of absence from the Internets. Here’s hoping it doesn’t leave me ever again.

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

A great new single from the Canadian indie powerhouse. If the rest of the album follow suit of this single, it will be definitely one of the best albums of the year. To be frank, Black Mirror was a bit of a disappointment, and I am craving the return of the Funeral sound. Don’t know about you, but I think there’s nothing more natural than to move out of Neighbourhoods and move into the Suburbs.

Blitzen Trapper - The Tree (Alela Diane)

Blitzen Trapper is back with a new album, “Destroyer of the Void”, which in my opinion is a great sophomore album. “The Tree” is a great 60s-tinged song with more than a suggestion of influences from Simon and Garfunkel. If you like what you hear, I strongly suggest checking out the rest of the album and listening to the track “Furr” from the previous eponymous album.

Born Ruffians - Little Garçon

This musical tale of two distinct parts channels Fleet Foxes. The way that the melody is almost single-handedly driven by voice produces an illusion of acapela.

Jasper Sloan Yip - Slowly

With the arrangement and voice reminiscent of Jason Mraz (of the early Curbside Prophet fame, not the Soft Rock FM Favorites he has been birthing as of late), Jasper has introduced one of the catchiest tunes of the year to my ear. As if I need any more reasons to like this song, I am almost sure that he graduated from my high school. I am confident within two standard deviations, - that’s 95% for the non-mathematical geeks.

William Fitzsimmons - You Still Hurt Me (feat. The Great Neck South High School Choir)

A perfect balance of Sufjan’s sweetly smooth depression and Cocoon’s simple plucking arrangements makes this song an easy favourite of mine.

Janelle Monáe - Tightrope feat. Big Boi

Alright, now that we’ve covered a bit indie folk, let’s awkwardly transition to some hip-hop. I’ve only heard the single by this tiny ‘Janet’, but it caught my attention immediately. Very funky, booty-shaking, floor-breaking, head-bopping, heart-stopping track.

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

Where do I start to describe the coolness of this track? Take the swagger of a teenage boy who has just got the coolest bike in the neighbourhood, mix it with the frenetic frenzy of students rushing to their seats at the sound of the teacher’s footsteps outside the classroom, add a pinch of nervous excitement of asking out a girl for the first time, compress it all into a music track, and voila!

Crystal Castles - Celestica (Album Mix)

Indie darlings/brats are at it again with the straight-forward aptly-named sequel Crystal Castles II. The track “Celestica” is dark, brooding, ephemeral.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Lesley Gore On The T.A.M.I. Show (Version)

The band’s name says it all. Don’t even think of touching a casiotone, if you are socially engaged. The track reminds me of the early Stars, when they dabbled with electronic. Which brings me to my next point...

Stars - We Don't Want Your Body

I would say this month’s star features are the two greatly-anticipated releases of two greatly-accoladed Canadian bands. Whereas Arcade Fire’s single wets the appetite for the upcoming main course, the musical juggernaut of Stars is unfortunately stagnating creatively. Their new album “The Five Ghosts” is not terrible; it’s simply not terribly memorable and frankly falls short of the inflated expectations. On the positive note, “We Don’t Want Your Body” is the stand-out track on the album. Note the light scatting near the end of the song, a very nice touch indeed.

Tramgirl Karaoke Club feat. maskopet - If Your Time Runs Out

Continuing with the electronic synth theme, I introduce to you Tramgirl Karaoke Club. This song is featured on PEACE, a compilation produced by Buffetlibre and Amnesty International Catalunya, which allows you to download some 180 artists for a donation of your choice. A philanthropic way of finding new music.

Sia - Never Gonna Leave Me

Oh I know, the track sounds shamelessly mainstream pop. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear Kelly Clarkson singing this, or even one of the numerous equally-thankful-for-the-opportunity finalists from yet another season of American Idol.

Bicycle Voice - Freshman

What I recognize as a distinct feature of Bicycle Voice songs is the courage to introduce non-linearity to the melody, voice and arrangement.

Maps & Atlases - Solid Ground

I like the sheer force of this track, it demands to be taken seriously, and after listening to it once, it demands to be listened to again.

Olney Clark - Tea and Thunderstorms

I’m a sucker for orchestral arrangements, but sometimes it can go too far. Not that it’s unpleasant to the ear, but the orchestral intro to this song always catches me off-guard by its grandeur. It almost feels like starting off a classical concert with Pomp and Circumstance – it’s hard to follow up. Still, after the spectacular entrance, the song manages to settle down into more understated tones.

Nina Kinert - Beast

One of the few imports I brought back with me from Norway. The fragility of the melody contrasts with the strength of the lyrical revelations. It almost seems fitting that the song ends on an uncertain note, as if someone has shut the music box right as the melody was about to finish, and our natural predisposition for completion begs for the final note.

Gonzales - Dot

A beautiful instrumental piano piece wouldn’t seem out of place in Amelie soundtrack.

Kate Nash - Pickpocket

Kate’s new album may not be as strong as the debut, but it still has a couple of interesting tracks. This song’s syncopated piano supporting the added stress on the lyrics create an uneven effect with the song appearing almost to stagger to its conclusion. 

Anni Rossi - Crushing Limbs

“A very fun, upbeat song” was what I was going to write until I listened closely to the lyrics: “Fighter’s fingers squished my ribs / Squeezed the guts and let it rip / My barrel’s emptiness is from their crushing limbs”. I guess you know what they say: “Never judge a song by its melody”.

The Morning Code - Silver

I have just read through the titles of the songs and they paint a pretty grim picture – “You Still Hurt Me” (painful breakup), “We Don’t Want Your Body” (worst possible response in the bedroom), “If Your Time Runs Out” (existentialism), “Never Gonna Leave Me” (deluded optimism), “Crushing Limbs” (never a good time) and “The Suburbs” (just imagine living there). If you are getting tired of the tears welling up during this playlist, I’ve included two last songs to simply rawk out with everything you’ve got out.

Wintersleep - Black Camera

The closing track of the June’s playlist is the track of Wintersleep’s latest CD, “New Inheritors”. If you like good rock the way it’s supposed to be done, Wintersleep is essential for your indie rock collection.

Thanks for listening and reading. I hope you have enjoyed it. I look forward to your comments, suggestions, confessions, what have you. 


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