Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
I consider this disco-pop masterpiece the highlight of Arcade Fire’s latest album, The Suburbs. This video, which was included in a live webcast from Madison Square Garden in New York City, captures the essence of my favourite band’s highly energetic performances.
Owen Pallett - Keep The Dog Quiet (Simon Bookish Remix)
Canadian musician-singer-songwriter Owen Pallett is currently offering through his website a free EP that includes remixes of three of the most interesting tracks from his latest album, Heartland. While I’m usually not especially a fan of remixes, these six tracks precisely capture the essence of Pallett’s work. As a matter of fact, most electronic musicians involved in this project clearly mastered the art of embellishing Pallett’s hauntingly beautiful string arrangements.
WAVVES - Convertiible Balloon
With his second full-lenght album, King of the Beach, San Diego noise-pop sensation Wavves prove that they’re much more than just a trend. Nathan Williams displays admirable songwriting talent in this collection of joyful tracks that have enough persuasive potential to convince anyone to move to the West coast. The album itself - let alone the context in which I’ve been listening to it - is a heat wave.
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Hype is a beautiful, yet cruel phenomenon. It can make or break a band in a second, transforming some obscure act into the flavour of the month. Of course, there are some things about hype that I will never understand. Take, for example, the Brits’ obsession for the ‘Christmas Number One’, which is basically the last single to top the charts in a given year. Seriously though, what’s so special about the pop song people are listening to while unwrapping the gifts they’ve received? Nevertheless, other hype-related traditions hold a special place in my heart. Among those, the yearly dilemma that consists in determining which single will be the ultimate summer song is always deliciously puzzling.
A perfect summer song must fit a complex series of criteria that go way beyond the simple fact that it reaches a certain level of popularity during the warmer months. Indeed, the lyrics must be obnoxiously brainless (or, at least, they must contain some silly rhymes), and the beat has to be simple enough for everyone around to sing along at your average pool party. In other words, I’m going to level down my usual excitement about The National, Arcade Fire, and Wolf Parade and try to discuss something else than depressive indie rock for once. Let’s see how this goes. Oh – I was just about to forget discussing what topics I believe a good summer song should avoid mentioning at all cost. Personal pet-peeves include umbrellas, girls kissing other girls and liking it, and California girls, or gurls, or however the hell she spells it.
Let the pool be open. Gamble your house, wife and children in betting on what will be this summer’s greatest hit.
Stars’ We Don’t Want Your Body is definitely one of the songs to which I’ve been listening the most in the past few weeks. The band has a long history of catchy tunes, but this very one radically shifts from Stars’ typical melodramatic aura and stands as shameless manifesto for light-heartedness. Amy Millan’s sensual voice embodies the soul of this treasure of pop music, which shall remain a hit for many more warm evenings to come.
The second song that will unmistakably remain as one of 2010’s landmark songs is Dance Yrslf Clean by LCD Soundsystem. James Murphy’s latest (and last) album with the collective covers a wide array of styles throughout various songs that all share the potential of becoming huge dancefloor hits.
Speaking of dancefloor hits, why not add a little Euro pop-dance to the mix? Robyn’s Body Talk Part I features high-quality pop singles, my personal favourite being Diplo-produced Dancehall Queen. I suggest that you start listening to this EP as soon as possible. That way, you’ll be in a better position to bash it and pretend that Robyn is a talentless puppet when this record becomes mainstream and popular. Learn your lessons from La Roux, my friends.
I’m well aware of the fact that this might be a controversial thing to say, but I’m a huge fan of M.I.A’s XXXO. And of Born Free. That’s right – I said it – I love dancing angrily to Born Free. Now can you please stop judging me and let me carrying on with this everlasting bonding moment with my favourite activist?
I’ve already talked at great length about Sleigh Bells on this blog, so I promise not to come back on the matter after mentioning that Treats is raw, aggressive and delightful. The entire album deserves attention, similarly to Montreal-based Misteur Vallaire’s latest record, Golden Bombay. Misteur Vallaire is a collective whose electro-jazz is slightly reminiscent of Bran Van 3000’s glorious days.
I’m pretty sure I’ve covered each and every song likely to draw the crowds’ attention this summer. Really, what else could possibly make us want to wear daisy dukes, bikinis on top? Oh, well.
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I have an unhealthy obsession for Arcade Fire. When it comes to this band, unconditional love and praise is the only possible option. Fortunately for me and my sanity, Arcade Fire’s new album will come out later this summer. Rumour has it that it will have a suburban theme, which is something I’m (undoubtedly) very excited about. An EP, which should be released at some point in the next few days, will be featuring two songs that were already leaked on the Internet: Month of May and The Suburbs. If the entire album is as brilliant as those two singles, it promises to be a tremendous success.
Arcade Fire will be headlining the Ottawa Bluesfest on Tuesday, July 13th, as well as Osheaga Festival on July 31st, in Montreal.
Wolf Parade - Oh You, Old Thing
Wolf Parade has remained one of my favourite bands ever since I had the pleasure of hearing it live in August 2008. It truly embodies the Montreal sound, and certainly can be advantageously compared to other world-renowned local acts such as Stars and Arcade Fire. To say that I was looking forward to hearing Wolf Parade’s third album, nostalgically titled Expo 86, would be a euphemism. Fortunately, this record is an absolute success at all levels. The sound is definitely less pop than what the band had previously presented on Apologies to Queen Mary, but what Wolf Parade loses in effervescence, it gains in consistency and cohesiveness. As a matter of fact, although I adore this band’s second album, At Mount Zommer, I’ve always thought that it lost some of its impact by trying to follow too many different paths all at once. On the contrary, Expo 86 feels like a band’s work and remains logic from A to Z. Once again, Wolf Parade excels in writing songs with complex, multi-level structures. Heart-breaking, yet heart-warming, Expo 86 is pure genius.
Sleigh Bells - Rachel
Sleigh Bell’s anticipated first album, Treats, is now available for digital download. It would be uncontroversial to say that this duo is this season’s “it” band. Given a much discussed series of sold-out live gigs, in addition to pop goddess M.I.A’s approval and public praise, the hype around Sleigh Bells is at its peak. The band’s sound is uniquely young and raw. Songs like “Tell ‘Em”, “Kids” and “Crown on the Ground” brilliantly expose one of Sleigh Bells’ most fascinating defining characters, which is that their songs carry an energy that is common to both dance hits and revolutionary anthems. ’Treats’ truly stands as a coherent work that embodies the multiple facets of a generation whose strength and aggressiveness have yet to be canalized.
My second semester in university being over, I thought this would be a great opportunity to look back at some of the albums that I’ve been listening to those four months. Although most major releases (M.I.A, Arcade Fire) have yet to hit the shelves, 2010 has been an incredible year so far, musically speaking.
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Caribou - Odessa
Without a doubt, Caribou’s Odessa is my biggest music crush of the year. This is one superb example of a coherent record that mixes wisely indie pop and electro. Caribou’s live performance, which I was lucky enough to attend in Ottawa, did not carry the same visionary vibe as the album, but it will undeniably remain as one of the highlights of my summer.
The National - High Violet
I’m seeing The National live on July 31st. After listening a thousand times to their latest record, High Violet, I’m pretty much counting the days before this long-awaited date.
Owen Pallet - Heartland
Formerly known as Final Fantasy, Owen Pallet is the master of strings. Quite frankly, his album Heartland is one of the most beautiful works of orchestral pop I’ve ever heard.
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
Local Natives is my upbeat alternative to Fleet Foxes. Any band that can provide me with beautiful vocal harmonies deserves my love and praise.
Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Love Record
I know I’ve talked so much about this album, but I simply can’t get over how good it is. This record confirms the old saying, “Everything sounds better when there’s a horn section to back it up.” Or did I just make that up?
Jónsi - Go
Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi’s album Go doesn’t contrast drastically with his band’s previous work, but it does offer more personal of an artistic vision.
Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
In my opinion, Plastic Beach is the band’s most interesting album to date. Incredibly diversified and dynamic, it stands as an exhaustive portrait of the state of music in 2010.
Beach House - Teen Dream
Baltimore duo Beach House is the perfect soundtrack to late-night reading sessions. I’m very much excited to hear them perform the bittersweet songs from Teen Dream at Osheaga Music Festival, in Montreal.
Rufus Wainwright - All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu
Beyond any doubt, my love for Rufus has grown a great deal with this incredible album. His voice blends magnificently with the piano in this emotionally charged work of contemporary pop.
jj - no 3
jj is the definition of cool. Their second LP is one of those albums that you have to listen from the first song to the last. jj’s music so heartfelt and honest it actually hurts.
Vampire Weekend - Contra
No shame - Vampire Weekend is the musical equivalent to fun in the sun.
I’m still hesitant with regards to the new Crystal Castles album. Some of the songs (“Celestica,” “Baptism”) are quite enjoyable, but I feel like the record as a whole lacks some coherence. Worse, there’s not much to dance to. On the contrary, new bands such as Delphic and Two-Door Cinema Club offered this year a collection of automatic dance hits that promise to be immensely popular this summer. I’m also very excited for a full-length album by The Drums. Their EP is a true guilty pleasure, quite similarly to Girls’ Album. I haven’t listened that much to Hot Chip’s One-Life Stand in it’s entirety, but I’m completely hooked to the song “I Feel Better”, most probably because of the amazing video that brilliantly parodies 1990s boy bands. MGMT’s Congratulations is certainly the most controversial music-related topic so far this year. I’m a big fan of “Flash Delirium” and “It’s Working”, but let’s face it: this album is obviously not a masterpiece. Another record I have mixed feelings about is Toro Y Moi’s Causers of This. In my opinion, some of his songs are interesting, but most are mediocre. Therefore, I was very surprised to see how better his music sounded when he opened for Caribou in Ottawa.
Here’s to four busy months, and to a promising summer!
The Radio Dept. - Never Follow Suit
Every now and then, I listen to The Radio Dept. and pretend my life is a film directed by Sofia Coppola. Very appropriate wishful thinking, I know.
Midnight Juggernauts have a new album entitled The Crystal Axis coming out on May 28th. Their remix-friendly electro-pop promises to be very popular this summer. Back in May 2008, I had the chance to hear Midnight Juggernauts live at Koko in London on one of this venue’s famous Club NME nights. Consequently, despite the fact that I do not consider this band visionary or particularly original, it will always hold a special place in my heart. How cute is that?
