Miike Snow - Paddling Out

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Some new Miike Snow for ya.

146,512 plays

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Cloud Nothings - Stay Useless

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Cloud Nothings - Stay Useless

The first single taken from the new Cloud Nothings Record, “Attack On Memory”.  You can preview the whole thing here.

This is the record I wish my band would have made when I was in high school.

Raw and driving and dynamic.

Kind of reminds me of In Utero meets Dookie.

Really good stuff.

I have a feeling this record is going to be a big one this year.  Similar to how Is This It and Silent Alarm were received.

We’ll see.

2,565 plays

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Max Roach Quintet - Baden Baden (Featuring Abbey Lincoln))

This is incredible, and the top comment pretty much says it all:

“This is superb music, played by Master musicians.

Notice how they are dressed. Tuxes.

Very classy.

Check out Max’s drums.

See what can be done with a small be-bop set, kids?

No need for a 20 piece drumset.

Oh yeah, you also need the talent to PLAY that be-bop set ~

Thank You, Max ~”

The only thing I would add is that bass solo is bananas as well. 

Total pros.

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Top Songs of 2011

So here’s a list of some of my favorite songs from 2011 in no particular order.  I also made a more robust playlist on Spotify if that’s more your speed.  However, I also wanted to link to some of my other favorite songs that didn’t make it on either of these streaming services this year, so here goes nothing:

So yeah, it’s been a good year in music.  Lots of great records, songs and shows.  Looking forward to more in 2012. In the mean time, I’d love to hear your thoughts about the list.  What did I miss?  What were your favorites?  What are you looking forward to next year?

Regardless, I hope that you have a happy holiday and an outstanding new year!

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Was hoping to hear Via Chicago, but this was incredible… The Metro / Chicago, IL / 16 Dec 2011 setlist (Night 4): Sunken Treasure Wishful Thinking Art of Almost I Might I Am Trying to Break Your Heart One Wing Company In My Back Ashes of American Flags Shouldn’t Be Ashamed Either Way Born Alone Capitol City War on War How to Fight Loneliness Too Far Apart Red Eyed and Blue I Got You Dawned on Me I’m Always in Love Hummingbird .. Whole Love Heavy Metal Drummer Box Full of Letters ELT Standing O Kingpin Shot in the Arm .. Dreamer In My Dreams Poster design: D.R. Sapperstein and Pfahlert Creative

Was hoping to hear Via Chicago, but this was incredible…

The Metro / Chicago, IL / 16 Dec 2011 setlist (Night 4):

Sunken Treasure
Wishful Thinking
Art of Almost
I Might
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
Company In My Back
Ashes of American Flags
Shouldn’t Be Ashamed
Either Way
Born Alone
Capitol City
War on War
How to Fight Loneliness
Too Far Apart
Red Eyed and Blue
I Got You
Dawned on Me
I’m Always in Love
Hummingbird
..
Whole Love
Heavy Metal Drummer
Box Full of Letters
ELT
Standing O
Kingpin
Shot in the Arm
..
Dreamer In My Dreams

Poster design: D.R. Sapperstein and Pfahlert Creative

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Alain Alex - Wait

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Alain Alex - Wait

A nifty little track off of Alain’s terrific, wide-ranging debut EP “Coward Kidz”.  Kind of reminds me of what would happen if Vampire Weekend were fronted by Frank Ocean.

Yeah that’s right. 

If you like the sound of that, you’re most definitely going to dig much of what the young Jack-of-all-trades from Boston, MA has to offer.  He lists Broken Social Scene, The Weeknd, and G.O.O.D. as influences, and you can certainly hear aspects of each in what he is trying to do.  The EP mixes pop, soul, electro, hip-hop, dance, and rock ideas into a unique and refreshing mash of modern indie music.

While I enjoyed the creative use of ideas and textures, the EP felt a little unmoored at times, with the most notable example being the track “Lies”, which felt somewhat out of place on the record.  Alain could perhaps benefit from a more focused thematic approach that emphasizes his notable talent for melody and phrasing.

Regardless the kid is really good. From what I understand he’s just getting started and does everything himself, which is impressive considering the amount of range and polish on this EP. I’m looking forward to hearing more of what he puts together, and hopefully he’ll make it out to Chicago for a show sometime soon.

You can check out the rest of Coward Kidz on his Bandcamp, and follow the comings and goings of Alain Alex on Facebook and Twitter.

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