There is something so honest, so engaging about “Getting It On” by Sales. The Florida duo released their first EP back in September, full of acoustic, simply constructed melodies. In a world where synth is king, it’s refreshing to hear a group so bare in its instrumentals and so intent on exposing emotions in the simplest manner. “Getting It On” is disarming in its intimacy and gets better with every listen. So keep listening. Enjoy.
Voyageur sort of snuck onto the scene with its debut EP a few months ago. The vocals were impactful and promising and held us at bay until one of Voyageur’s newest tracks, “Pharaohs,” an acoustic track that is stripped down to the bare bones, and has more of an emotional blow than an entire orchestra or stadium rock band. Just a piano as support, “Pharaohs” echoes love and loneliness about as good as any other heartbreaking track out there. If you have heartstrings, Voyageur is pulling all of them. Enjoy.
What better way to wish you a merry new year than by making The Merrys our last entry of the year. “We Don’t Know,” the debut single from brother/sister duo, Jordan and Ellie, is a massive folk/pop track that, like a mountain, consumes the entire landscape until it crumbles into the horizon as the song shifts from raucous choruses to delicate harmonies that reveal the vulnerability of the Merrys’ lyrics. “We Don’t Know” has an unshakable familiarity that reminds you of growing up in a small town…or wishing you grew up in one. Warm up to The Merrys on the cold new year. Their music works better than hot chocolate. Enjoy.
Songs rarely reach such heartwarming, comforting heights as those by folk outfit, Mutual Benefit. The 7 track debut album, Love’s Crushing Diamond, released on October 25th, is an experiment in capturing a natural, deconstructed approach to each song while still having every component embrace and encircle the other. The rustic tones and humble choruses generate a familial element, as though you are joining a family as they play songs together after Thanksgiving dinner. “Advanced Falconry,” the first single off of Love’s Crushing Diamond, is about as good as a love poem can get (And oh the way she moves / always on the run / and to look into her eyes / will make a fool of anyone), and is enhanced by a fragile, patient melody that melts into the background. Man, I really need a hug right now. Enjoy.
When the weather shifts towards the fall, we look for things that make us feel warm and comfortable. Little May can help with the transition. The Sydney-based trio’s debut single, “Boardwalks,” has every ingredient to put us at ease (angelic harmonies, rich acoustic guitars, back porch sing-a-long melody). The threesome don’t shy away from being a mirror of their influences, from Fleetwood Mac to First Aid Kit to Fleet Foxes. And when your influences are this good, there’s no way you can be bad. Their debut EP is due out by the end of this year so until then, cozy up and enjoy.
Sometimes, it’s just nice to take a break from the synth pop dominated world and remind ourselves that music not born from a computer still exists. Today, that break comes in the form of “Sons & Daughters” by the London-based artist, Allman Brown. Brown’s music borders on folk, with rich acoustic tones, somber melodies and personal, honest stories. “Sons & Daughters” starts like any standard folk song until indie pop artist, Liz Lawrence, joins in, adding an intimate texture that is both warm and exhilarating. Ok, you can return to your synth pop now. Enjoy.
There are so many songs called “Hero” that the title alone is enough to make you cringe. However, Family of the Year, the L.A.-based quartet, puts a more honest spin on their “Hero,” with a song about not wanting to live up the expectations that come with being the better man. (Let me go, I don’t wanna be your hero/ I don’t wanna be a big man, Just wanna fight like everyone else.) What makes “Hero” such a striking song off of FotY’s sophomore album, Loma Vista, is that it is a soft, acoustic stripped down track stuck in the middle of a rollicking, nostalgic record. Enjoy.
Some bands have the ability to make you feel like part of the family. Such is the case with California’s Milo Greene, the pop/folk quintet that embraces rich harmonies, crisp acoustics, and heartfelt, small town lyrics to create an instant sense of warmth and familiarity. There should be little doubt that the band’s debut album, due out on July 7th, will be anything but the rustic, soulful goodness evident on their first two singles, Don’t You Give Up On Me and 1957. Enjoy.
Typhoon, the 10-14 member indie rock band, originally from Salem, Oregon, has been around for about six years (releasing several albums and EPs along the way), but is finally getting some deserved attention thanks to their grand and meticulous EP, A New Kind of House. Released on March 8, 2011, A New Kind of House has five folk-influenced rock tracks, but it’s The Honest Truth that truly displays the band’s ability to meld guitars, swelling horns, and pianos with Kyle Morton’s strained Vedder-ish voice which makes A New Kind of House feel like catching up with a long lost friend.
I honestly don’t know much about the High Highs, except that the New York based trio released their inspiring 4 song self-titled EP on November 18, 2011. With great harmonies, crisp acoustics, penetrating falsettos, and electronic, folk, and alternative pop influences, High Highs have engineered a promising EP which teases at the expectation of a complex, engrossing debut album.
Best Tracks:
Flowers Bloom relies heavily on hazy vocals to create a foggy, mesmerizing appeal. A detailed arrangement including subtle drums and twinkling guitars chords give Flowers Bloom a rich, full sound while a faint west coast surfer influence helps guide the track towards its fading conclusion. Flowers Bloom also has an old record crackling sound, which is purposely and perfectly executed to make the song seem as though it is a remnant of the past.
Open Season is the star of this EP with atmospheric vocals, catchy guitar riffs and piano keys belting out high notes which infuse a wide-eyed hopefulness into the track. The comparisons to Radiohead, and especially songs like Lucky, No Surprises, and Let Down from OK Computer are inevitable and clearly a compliment to such a gifted new group.
When and Where:
To say that you should put an album on when you want to go to sleep may not seem flattering, but it is a compliment here. The disarming vocals and soothing melodies make the High Highs EP the perfect soundtrack to your dreams.
December 11, 2014
adamkazansky
everythingwehear 