Watch the world past me by

The American Dollar - A Memory Stream (Yesh, 2008): video for "Anything You Synthesize"

A surreal look at how life passes us by, set to the music of the ambient instrumental band "The American Dollar". This is about as good as it gets both visually and acoustically.

http://www.onesize.nl/projects/anything-you-synthesize

This is why separatism is a bad idea

Belleisle - Longstanding (Ships At Night, 2008). Some days you need angst filled music to soothe the soul, but other days a gentle lullaby is more appropriate. Belleisle nestles into your ears, softly telling stories of love and warmth with delicate voices and distant acoustic guitars. Beautiful.

http://www.myspace.com/belleislemontreal

I have Marfan's too

Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel (Kranky, 2008). Solo project from the frontman of Deerhunter, Bradford Cox. Has a very spacey, melancholy feel to it. It is ambient in genre, but really indescribable otherwise.

http://www.imeem.com/artists/atlas_sound/

The First Rule of Kus

Jenocide - Slumber Party Mix (Unsigned, 2009). Saw this today when I was browsing through Facebook. Was especially intrigued since I plan to spend some time in Halifax again this summer, and am looking for bands to check out. This is rough on the edges, electro-trash type stuff. Raw, powerul and well, intriguing.

http://www.myspace.com/jenocidemusic

Nouvelle Vague - Bande a Part (Peacefrog, 2006). Coolest band I had never heard of. They play stripped down acoustic versions of 80's new wave tracks. What caught my attention was their cover of "The Killing Moon" by Echo & The Bunnymen. It's one of those tracks that I remeber hearing as a kid, but really appreciating as an adult. The decomposed cover version brings a new sense of desperation to the lyrics, especially "fate up against a will". I am still suprised as to how often this song captures how I am feeling about the world, even 25 years after its original release.

http://www.imeem.com/thetoeyy/music/ORds2-0W/nouvelle_vague_killing_moon/

I saw the sun today

Glitch Mob - Crush Mode Mix (Self-released, 2009). I can't stop listening to this. Its heavy soul thumping beats, catchy samples, hiphop style and dancey electronic all mixed together. You can't help but bounce your head. I have dreams about dropping tracks like this. Amazing.

http://theglitchmob.com/mp3/The_Glitch_Mob-Crush_Mode.mp3

Monosyllabic responses

Trying a new thing this post, I am limiting my description to one sentence...perhaps brevity will have its benefits....

Aether - Artifacts (Exponential, 2008). Aka A.M. Architect, aka artist whose painting I know I almost bought once, this is simply one of the best instrumental beats albums I have heard in a long time.
http://www.myspace.com/aether216

Ane Brun - Sketches (Det Er Mine, 2008). Norweigan singer/songwriter acoustically covers her own album, Changes of Season, beautiful in its lyrical power, it gives a melancholic flavour to the Norweigan diaspora.
http://www.myspace.com/anebrun

Polar - In The End (Warm Communications,2008). Proof (along with Ane Brun above) that Norweigan music has moved well past A-Ha and death metal (both of which are still fun in their own ways), this promising electronic DJ has put out his first release in almost 6 years after suffering a hearing injury. This album has a great minimalist drum and bass feel, awash with reverb and synths. A comeback like this reminds me of "It's All Gone Pete Tong".

http://www.myspace.com/kpolar

Sound not required

Nat Turner by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing, 2005). Yes, this isn't music. But it is an astounding piece of art. Comic book artist Kyle Baker took a childhood fascination with slave revolutionary Nat Turner and turned it a serial graphic novel. There are very few words in this book, most of the story telling is done threw the visual medium. It is amazing how you can look into a characters eyes or hear their screams. Kyle Baker is able to capture the raw fearful emotion that many African-American slaves must have endured. In light of the inauguration of the first African-American president, this book reminds us of what atrocities humans are capable of and that we can indeed learn from our past mistakes.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/07/comics_nat.html

I still don't know what Twitter is.

Now this is an interesting post. I intended it to appear late in 2008, to be followed by a "Best of 2008" post. Instead, the lazies got a hold of me and I didn't have the gumption to post until now, when a friend, who is planning to meet some people he knows from Twitter, requested a list of interesting music he could bring to the discussion. This is a quick dissection of what has caught my attention in the past 6 weeks, I hope to bring you more soon.

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Thieves Like Us - Play Music (Fantasy Memory, 2008). This band completes the artistic trio (1940's book, 1970's novel and 2000's band) of this theme of three people up against the world. The best part is the music of this European threesome doesn't leave that bitter taste in your mouth. Well maybe not at first, until a bit of booze and bile creeps up, to add the edge that reminds you that it was a good night. It is a blend of electronic beats, Joy Division-eseque punk lyrics and Ibizia debauchery. Yes. Let's do this again soon.
http://www.myspace.com/thieveslikeus


Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds and a Sound (Expunged, 2008). These lads caught my attention with the news that they completed a West Coast USA tour completely without the use of powered vehicles . Not only this is impressive, but their music speaks to a spirit not seen in many music acts these days. It is quiet acoustic folk/pop, with a power to speak comparable to Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell. Can't wait to find more stuff by this band.
http://www.3hive.com/2008/11/blind_pilot.php

Stacey Epps - The Awakening (Jakarata, 2008). It is works like Ms Epps "The Awakening" that give me hope for artists like me stuck in professional schools. I think there are a lot of us, being polished away by the academic grind. Stacey Epps manages to pull off a law degree while rekindling the true soulful sound, a sound lost to Motown records tucked away in dusty record stores (some have dubbed her sound as progressive soul, to distinguish it as a new genre, but I don't think it fits). Her career took off with some collabs with MF Doom and Oh No, but as she has stepped into her own, we can see what real talent she has. This is just a beautiful voice, reminding us about love and humanity. Highly, highly recommended.
http://www.myspace.com/stacyepps
http://stacyepps.wordpress.com/

Wax poetic - Swing Swing EP (NuBlu, 2008). Would you believe that Norah Jones is the daughter of sitar legend Ravi Shankar? Would you also believe that Norah was a founding member of Wax Poetic, a jam collective that combined world influenced tonality, haunting vocals and strong rhythms? "Angels", from their eponymous debut, is still one of the songs that changed how I looked at music. Such a diversity of sound, that has evolved, stayed fresh and is always fun to listen too.
http://www.myspace.com/waxpoetic