[Matador : 2010]
We’ve been needing some respite from the whole art-pop / chillwave movements that have been clogging our playlists. Not that we haven’t enjoyed it but sometimes we get a craving for guitars and some reckless tamborine. Finally the antidote arrived in the form of Harlem. Harlem are from Austin, Texas and not Harlem but misleading band name aside, we struggle to fault the band in their execution of genre of choice: garage rock and roll. Stodgy guitar riffs and raw, muffled vocals are the perfect complement for their instantly infectious, Sixties surf-pop melodies. Think the Black Lips. Think early Beatles. Even Wavves. Think heavy petting in the front seat after a Saturday night at the co-ed dance… Kick off your Harlem education with “Someday Soon”, “Friendly Ghost” or “Be Your Baby”. In fact ‘Hippies’ is crammed with goodness – granted at 17 tracks it is far too generous. Despite that, this album – particularly the first 10 tunes – is cohesive and great quality, and highly recommended.
Ok ok ok, so among the many amazing and not so amazing sites that create these lists we hope that you find something special among our SMALL selection.
In no particular order.
If you don't like reading there is a playlist below that features most of these true tunes to make your own mind up.
Best. AoTW.
“Younger Us” – Japandroids
Power-pop meets punk in an explosion of riffs and lyrics reminiscent of being young, loose and stupid - which is exactly the point.
“Daydream” – Beach Fossils
Laidback, lo-fi, surf rock perfection from one of the best emerging bands of the year.
“Go Outside” – Cults
A Sixties-inspired unashamedly cute and addictive singalong number from a band that’s changed our whole outlook on Cults.
“Albatross” – Besnard Lakes
Wow. Pure, sun-drenched romance served up with Beach Boys harmonies, heart-thumping drums and crashing guitars building to a brass fanfare about first love. We are still desperately in love with this song.
“Zebra” – Beach House
Choosing one track from this sonically gorgeous band is a hard task. A dusky, gentle, summery piece of 1970s California nostalgia with some sweet acoustic finger pickin’. If we could marry one song...
“On Melancholy Hill” – Gorillaz
Electro-pop ditty with an awesome, instantly addictive synthy Donkey Kong videogame riff. Despite high praise, we still think this album is hugely underrated.
“Etchasketch Trees” – Ernest Gonzales
The must-be-discovered genius of Ernest Gonzales is best on display here: his ability to seamlessly combine a beautiful analogue guitar riff and melodic synthesized beats and drones to heartbreaking effect is why we love him so hard.
“Forever And Ever Amen:” – The Drums
The Drums do better guitar-driven 80s New Wave than any other band out there. This song is like the first kiss in a John Hughes movie. Cue slow-mo, and fade out.
“When Your Love Is Safe” – Active Child
It’s almost a corny, late Eighties frost-lens video number, but it somehow eases into the best electronically-enhanced R&B track we’ve heard.
“Spanish Sahara” – Foals
This haunting, slow-build track was the first to be quickly stored into the Pending Folder of 2010 Best Songs. An emotional and sonic experience more so than just a song.
“Round And Round” – Ariel Pink
After endless rotations on our stereo we’re yet to tire of this modern disco track. It sounds like Boz Scaggs. And we shamelessly love Boz Scaggs.
“Subliminal Message” – Happy Birthday
Like a T-Rex love ballad, this has awkward wailing guitar parts and some of the cutest lyrics going: “close your eyes, concentrate, I’m sending you subliminal messages to your heart”. Stop it. No don’t stop.
“O.N.E.” – Yeasayer
We asked ourselves why this addictive song is one of our favourites and this is what we said: The Beegees and the beat. Dance you damn fool.
“Lost City of Gold” – Love Connection
A little known Melbourne band that’s given us endless joy with this indie-pop anthem, perfect for spontaneous dancing in the kitchen – or any other room.
“Stay Close” – Delorean
The Spanish electro/house outfit makes us think of Album of the Week favourite, Air France, mixed with the accessible hooks of Groove Armada. It’s an instant trip to Ibiza for a breath of the freshest air – and the freshest electronic music - on offer.
“Guillotine” – Faux Pas
What starts as an electronic bliss out, turns into a dark, broken-beat cinematic symphony so nice we’re toying with the idea that this guy could be the Australian equivalent of DJ Shadow.
Genre crossing emcee and renowned raconteur Buck 65 is touring around the globe in the not too distant future including a stint in Album of the Week stomping ground, Australia. We recently caught up with the Nova Scotia native to talk about the best things in life with Buck who provided us with highly entertaining responses full of his trademark naughty charm…
AoTW: What’s the best thing about being Canadian? B65: I thought about it long and hard and for me, what I like best about being Canadian is that I like being an underdog. I've never been comfortable with chanting, "we're number one! we're number one!". There's a lot that's a drag about being from/in Canada and most of the benefits aren't unique to this country. So I'd feel like a boob if I said something like "health care!".
AoTW: What’s the best thing about being handsome? B65: I wish I was handsome. Life is easier for good looking people. But being extraordinarily good looking would probably also be a bit of a nightmare - especially if it didn't matter to you (there's nothing worse than a good-looking person who knows it and lets it be the driving force of their life).
AoTW: What’s the best compliment you’ve been given? B65: Once I was playing a show in France and I was trying my best to speak to the audience in French. I felt like I was doing terribly, but then a girl in the audience shouted, "so sex-EE!!" That made me feel good.
AoTW: What’s the best way for fans to prep before a Buck 65 show? B65: The best way to prep before coming out to a Buck 65 show would probably be to watch "Salo" by Pasolini. Just joking. Don't do that.
AoTW: What’s the best Buck 65 song if you want to introduce the music of Buck 65 to people who have never heard of him? B65: Hmm. Buck 65 gateway drug... Maybe Heather Nights or Days On End from the Dirtywork EP. Or Paper Airplane (that's a new one). Blood Of A Young Wolf?
AoTW: What has been your best pseudonym? B65: Years ago I recorded a few songs under the name Uncle Climax. That's a good one. It still makes me laugh. It's so gross.
AoTW: What’s the best song for love making? B65: I once got slippery while "Screwdriver" by the White Stripes was playing and I felt quite enhanced.
AoTW: Best song for dancing? B65: I always go completely spastic when I hear "Digital" by Joy Division.
AoTW: Best song to get prepped for a fight? B65: How about "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot. I always feel like a bit of a badass when I listen to that one. AoTW: What’s the best rap lyric you can think of (that isn’t your own)? B65: It's hard to choose a favorite rap lyric. B-Luv from JVC FORCE said so many bonkers things. And then there's Kool Keith. How do you pick just one? But I'll go with his lead verse from the song "Ain't It Good To You" from the first Ultramagnetic MC's album, especially the line where he says, "watch the movie, your brain will be the star..." Kool Keith is the greatest of all-time.
AoTW: Who’s the best turntablist out there right now? B65: There are a lot of amazing turntablists in France right now, but I still think D-Styles is the shit. He's on a whole other level.
AoTW: Who’s the best muppet on Sesame Street – and why? B65: Best muppet? I always related to Mr. Johnson. Remember him? Is he still around?
AoTW: What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since you’ve been kind of famous? B65: Easy. I made a song where I mentioned Hala Gorani, who is an anchor on CNN International. She heard it and now we're friends. I pretty much freaked out when I first heard from her.
AoTW: What’s your best physical feature? B65: My best physical feature? Maybe my hands. But that's probably a better question for someone else to answer. Ladies?
AoTW: What’s your best achievement outside of music? B65: Getting married is the best thing I've managed to do with my life.
AoTW: Who’s the best emcee of all time? B65: As I mentioned earlier, Kool Keith is my all-time favorite. You know who I think is incredible though? Edan. He doesn't get the credit he deserves.
AoTW: What’s the best thing about winning a Juno award? B65: I think winning a Juno - or any kind of music award - gives a little boost to your record sales. But mostly I'm uncomfortable with the mix of art and trophies.
AoTW: What’s the best thing about beefing with Sage Francis? B65: Sage Francis is the last person in the world you ever want mad at you. AoTW: Which is the best country to perform in? B65: I really like performing in France. Not so much because of the fans or the shows. It's just that the venues are all subsidized by the government, so they're all really, really nice. Playing in deluxe venues makes a bum like me feel like a hot shot.
AoTW: Who is the best 40 year old you know (since – let’s face it – you’re not far off yourself)? B65: Best 40 year old... Here's a few: Jennifer Connelly, Sarah Silverman, Claudia Schiffer, Beck, Pete Rock, Naomi Campbell, Tina Fey, Uma Thurman, Q Tip and Heather Graham. They're all pretty hot.
AoTW: What are your thoughts on vegans? B65: I don't have much of a problem with vegans, but I have a hard time hearing people complain about the food not catering to their needs, especially when in countries where veganism (for example) isn't a common thing. That's a bit annoying.
[Popfrenzy : 2010] Like the word ‘Wolf’ before it, ‘Beach’ has become one of the more popular words used in band names of late, bringing with it a “wave” of summery laidback tunes perfect for oceanside reclining - and Beach fossils is no exception.
Their debut album is filled with lo-fi, twanging guitar tunes that will inspire you to reach for the closest hammock, shut your eyes and wile away the hazy afternoon. By no means is this Beach Fossils another standard ‘chill out’ album, though. It’s definitely got a coastal feel but also has the reverb-heavy pop style and effortless, echoing vocals that sits well amongst the late eighties / early nineties shoe gaze / garage era - if it was hanging out on the sunny shores of LA in the 1960s.
Like one of our other favourite records of 2010, Beach House’s Teen Dream, Beach Fossils have put out a dreamy, dusky, warm and – yeah - beachy debut LP. One of the year’s best.
[Forest Family : 2010] Cults make Sixties inspired pop tunes – group singalongs with twanging guitar accompaniment; cute tales of PG-rated love; and Nancy Sinatra vibes.
We’ve heard a lot of musicians name friends or people they know as their favourite bands. It’s usually because when you have a relationship and familiarity with people you have a special little insight into them – something intimate that not everyone has – and so it makes you like and appreciate what they do. Have you ever had lukewarm feelings towards a band but after seeing them live you get a glimpse of their personality, see their smiles, their charismatic mic work, and you suddenly kind of love them?
You will love American band Cults because they play music that sounds like it comes from friends. We don’t know them. We’ve never seen them perform live. But somehow they sound like a bunch of pals that I WANT to know, I WANT to see. It’s ironic, really, that’s they’re called Cults since actual cults are pretty shit according to most defectors’ reports. At the risk of using a terrible pun, if Cults are as much fun as this one sounds we will happily join.
03.09.10 Twin sister are a four piece from NY that produce beautifully moody pop tunes.
New York five piece Freelance whales have released their debut album. A wonderful record filled with lush vocals and layered pop tunes. If you are a fan of the postal service and Sufjan Stevens you love this. Out now through Dew Process. Download 'Generator ^2nd Floor' for free.
02.09.10
Washed out has a new video. Enjoy.
Our pals at FBI radio are presenting the Changing Lanes Festival which boasts an amazing line up of local Australian acts, head lined by Tame Impala.
We've been listening to Civil Civic a great band from australia now based in London and Barcelona ALOT, please do the same if you can. Run Overdrive by civilcivic
The fantastic PVT have had a new album out and they are gaining well deserved fans across the globe. To celebrate they are offering some free downloads! Check it them out. PVT - Window Remixes (Church With No Magic out now) by Warp Records 24.08.10
Check out 'Echoes' Live. It's an Epic new sing-a-long tune song from the new Klaxons Album Out now through Modular.
