Steve's Songs of the Summer: 2013 Edition

Summer is winding down, and before we know it, another year will soon be in the books.  It's sad, but it's true.

In terms of pop culture, Summer is the defining era of each year.  Whether it's the Summer blockbuster, or the Summer beach read, Summer--for whatever reason--is the season that each year's cultural worth is judged by.  The kids are out of school.  And the business types who go on vacation are a little more relaxed.  When one thinks back to the good times in their life, summers undoubtedly rush to the front of the line.

The one mandatory pop culture discussion point is the Song of the Summer (hereinafter referred to as "The Song").  The Song is indelibly associated with carefree feelings, and it provides the soundtrack to the warm weather atmospheres of the year.    For example, the Summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college was defined by Eminem's The Eminem Show.  Indeed, I still remember 'Without Me' blaring in the background in the sticky evenings as all of us cooked steaks on the grill.

In honor of The Song, I'm proud to present my favorite Songs of the Summer 2013:

Daft Punk - 'Get Lucky'

This tune hit the beginning of Summer 2013 like a gauntlet.  Taking no prisoners with its discotheque sounds, 'Get Lucky' was Daft Punk's first non-soundtrack album since 2007.  With throwback bass beats and the smoldering smoothness of Pharell Williams, 'Get Lucky' saved even the very worst of dance parties in Summer 2013.



Vampire Weekend - 'Diane Young'
When Vampire Weekend first hit it big a few years ago, I was never much of a fan.  Their associations with J-Crew and the Ivy League never really inspired me.  But when the band released 'Diane Young' this summer, I found myself hooked.  The foursome had finally found the sound us Midwest kids could relate to.  With the Peter Frampton flavored modulated-chorus of "Bay-bee, bay-bee, bay-bee, ..." the band struck a special chord with me. And the undersigned was a huge fan of the band's performance of the single on SNL, which you can watch below.  (FYI - 'Ya Hey' is another excellent song from Modern Vampires of the City):

Phoenix - 'Trying to Be Cool'
'Tell me that you want me, tell me that you want me."  The seminal lyric from 'Trying to Be Cool' serves as one of the most memorable hooks from Summer 2013.  Combine that hook with the all-too-tasty keyboard distortions that buttress the song, and you have yourself a bonafide French Invasion  (not to be confused with the British Invasion).  'Trying to Be Cool' was also performed on SNL in 2013, which is the version featured below.

San Fermin - 'Sonsick'
'Sonsick' busts the mold of the traditional Summer song in many respects.  It's not breezy.  It's not the happiest.  But it has an infectious chorus that affects you vicerally.  It also features a nice array of horns.  During the Summer of 2013 I tended to hear this song on satellite radio at times I least expected to, and it hit the spot EVERY time.  

Temples - 'Shelter Song'

In the same vein as Tame Impala, Brit acid band Temples delivers trippy rhythms and simple, but wonderful, melodies borrowed from The Beatles.

Stream 'Shelter Song' in the SoundCloud player below:

Television - 'Marquee Moon'

If you've ever wondered why the music of The Strokes or Vampire Weekend sometimes sounds too familiar, Television may provide your answer.

Television emerged out of the New York post-punk scene in the late seventies.  It released the ground breaking Marquee Moon in 1977.  Although not commercially successful at the time, the album was decades ahead of its peers and was widely influential.  Indeed, Marquee Moon could be released on Matador Records today and sound just as relevant as anything else being released.

The title track, coming in at over ten minutes, is nevertheless tight and well crafted.  And the climax at the 8:23 mark is well worth the wait

Stream 'Marquee Moon' by Television in the video player below:

Alpine - 'Gasoline'

'Gasoline' is a seductive and ethereal single from Australian group Alpine.  Addictive looping and dreamy vocals add to this tune's charm offensive, as well.

Check out the video for 'Gasoline' below:

The Nazz - 'Hello It's Me'

Before Todd Rundgren was Todd Rundgren, he was one part of The Nazz, a psychedelic outing formed with Carson Van Osten and others in 1967.

'Hello It's Me' was popularized by Rundgren, the solo artist.  But Rundgren had authored the song years prior, and The Nazz recorded it, reaching No. 71 on the Billboard charts.  (The solo version, on the other hand, reached No. 5 in 1973).

Stream both The Nazz version and the Rundgren solo version of 'Hello It's Me' in the respective players below:

Daft Punk (Feat. Julian Casablancas) - 'Instant Crush'

If you like Daft Punk, and you like auto-tuned Julian Casablancas dropping catchy hooks, then you are in luck. Stream the collaboration, entitled 'Instant Crush,' between these two artists in the video player below:

Parquet Courts - 'Borrowed Time'

'Borrowed Time' by Parquet Courts is bouncy and jocular, and definitely worth a few spins this summer.

Stream 'Borrowed Time' in the SoundCloud player below:

Cayucas - 'High School Lover'

'High School Lover' is infectious slacker rock at its best.  Coming in at three and a half minutes, it's the pogo tempo that really sells this song.

Stream 'High School Lover' by Cayucas in the SoundCloud player below:

Phosphorescent - 'Song for Zula'

Phosphorescent is Matthew Houck.  And Houck has hit it big with his breakout single 'Song for Zula.'

'Song for Zula' is one of those epic songs that only get better with time.  Indeed, I think each time I spin this track, I find myself a little more touched.  Be prepared for this song to begin pervading the scores of hip indie flicks and the background music of foreign car commercials--badges of honor for the alternative bands of today.

Stream the wonderful 'Song for Zula' in the SoundCloud player below:

Haim - 'I'll Try Anything Once'

This is a skillful cover of "You only Live Once" by singing sisters Haim, although this deviation is entitled 'I'll Try Anything Once.' 

Stream the Strokes cover in the YouTube player below:

Kurt Vile - 'Wakin on a Pretty Day'

The new single from Kurt Vile comes in at a whopping nine and a half minutes.  But it doesn't feel quite that long.

The tune features a leisurely pacing; with just the right balance of volume and tempo, of guitar and vox. 

Stream 'Wakin on a Pretty Day' in the SoundCloud player below:

Django Django - 'Hail Bop'

Art popsters Django Django hit indie radio pretty hard in 2012 with their goofy, but infectious,  ''Default.'  Now, they've dropped 'Hail Bop,' a much more serious -- and more focused-- foray into driving electro pop.

Stream the robust 'Hail Bop' in the SoundCloud player below:

The Lonely Note on Spotify

We've just created a new Spotify playlist featuring all the great songs we've posted over the years.  Go to Lonely Note Radio to begin streaming today!

Local Artist Spotlight: Trouble Lights

Rural Iowa might not be the first place you'd expect to find intelligent, electronic-based dance music.  

Then again, it probably isn't the first place you'd expect to find unique ethnic cuisine, sustainable living and a school for transcendental meditation.

But there it is: Fairfield - nestled in the cornfields of southern Iowa.  It's a small town of less than 10,000 with a diverse and rich arts and cultural scene and home to the Maharishi University of Management (a school started by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the famed guru of The Beatles). 

Director David Lynch has held annual "Weekends for World Peace and Meditation" at the campus since 2005, featuring world-renowned musicians and speakers.  

Last spring, Lynch's foundation website heralded a new music video from a Fairfield duo called Trouble Lights, and since then, the band has burst onto the local music scene. 

The video, for the song "Safe With Me" (directed by Geoff Boothby), was heads above other videos I'd seen for local artists.  In fact, the professionalism and appeal of the song and video had me do a double take as to why I'd never heard of this group before.

Trouble Lights is the project of vocalist Adrien Daller and musician Philip Rabalais.  It's highly-charged electronic pop music with powerhouse diva vocal melodies from Daller, who studied musical theatre in the UK before returning home. The resulting sound falls somewhere between the classic pop of The Eurythmics and the dark theatricality of Lady Gaga.

The group recently released their debut album, The Endless Prom, on Maximum Ames Records (home to Leslie Hall, The Poison Control Center, Christopher the Conquered and more)

Below is the music video for Trouble Lights' latest single, "Ready".  It's a steam-powered, head-on-collision of dance grooves.  Once the chorus hits with the "Whoa-oh-oh"s, the party is full speed ahead. 

Watch it here:




For more on Trouble Lights, visit their official website.

And be sure to check out these other Fairfield, IA artists:  Greg Brown, Jefferson County Green Band, Surgery, Utopia Park and Little Ruckus.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Swim & Sleep (Like a Shark)'

'Swim & Sleep' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra weaves an unforgettable guitar hook throughout its entire production, and the effect really sells the song.

Chill out and stream 'Swim & Sleep' in the SoundCloud player below:

Foxygen - 'Shuggie'

'Shuggie' by Foxygen reminds me of some of the quirky--yet brilliant--singles that gained radio traction in the mid-1990s. Songs like 'Girl Like You' by Edwyn Collins, and even 'Whoever You Are' by Geggy Tah spring to mind. Perhaps it's because 'Shuggie' borrows heavily from the prevailing musical themes of the sixties while managing to shapeshift halfway throughout the tune?

In any event, watch the video the intriguing 'Shuggie' below:

Bear in Heaven - 'Sinful Nature'

'Sinful Nature' is some fine chilled-out synth rock.  The seductive introduction pulls one in, while the subsequent chords and verses hypnotize its listener.

You can stream 'Sinful Nature' by Bear in Heaven in the SoundCloud player below:

Ty Segall - 'Thank God for Sinners'

Taking a page from the Elephant 6 recording collective, Ty Segall revives lo-fi garage rock in his recent single, 'Thank God for Sinners.'  It's half slow burner; half fuzzed out space jam.  The guitar work inspires, and the melody is tasty.

Stream 'Thank God for Sinners' in the SoundCloud player below:
 

The Rosebuds Cover Sade

Anyone who knows me knows I have a major soft spot for Sade.  

Sade's ultra-chill, smoothed-out R&B struck a chord with me very early in life.  Back in 1985, I would bob and sing along to "Smooth Operator" from the child booster seat in my parents' van.

So, when I heard that indie-rock act, The Rosebuds had covered her 1992 album, Love Deluxe, in its entirety - and released it for free -  I was delightfully curious to say the least.   

One listen to the opening track, "No Ordinary Love", and I realized what a beautiful tribute this is.  To cover an entire album so effortlessly, and with the depth of emotion found here must truly be an act of love and respect from the artists.

According to The Rosebuds' bandcamp page, they covered the album to commemorate its 20th anniversary:

"To say this album is a constant influence to The Rosebuds and the records we've made over the years would be an understatement. We’ve always been fans. Ivan’s been covering Sade songs since I’ve known him--he sings them in the house, he sings them while driving, he sings them with or without a guitar in hand, he sings them when he doesn’t even realize he’s singing aloud. It’s the language he hears music in."

You can download The Rosebuds' LOVE DELUXE below, and I whole-heartedly encourage you to do so.

Wild Nothing - 'Paradise'

Eighties college radio lives on in Wild Nothing's 'Paradise.'  Atmospheric stoicism rules the day on this track, with colorful synth effects interacting quite wonderfully with Jack Tatum's vocal production.  Listen to this one on headphones if you want to catch all the sonic nuances.

Stream 'Paradise' below:

Alt-J - 'Fitzpleasure'

Dub-popsters Alt-J have produced a dynamically raucous tune of a song in 'Fitzpleasure.'  This is one of those singles you just can't quite put your finger on, as it spans many different genres in a short four minutes.  Nevertheless, the final product is rich and inspiring.

Stream the video to 'Fitzpleasure' below:

Pinback - 'Proceed to Memory'

Dirge rockers Pinback are back with a solid single, 'Proceed to Memory.'  This is one of those songs that builds up kind of slow but smoothly morphs into a likeable head-nodder.

Stream 'Proceed to Memory' in the SoundCloud player below:

Juxtaposition: Glenn Frey vs. Taylor Dayne

Maybe it's just me, but is Taylor Dayne's "Tell It To My Heart" a dance club reincarnation of Glenn Frey's "The One You Love"?

I know that sounds like the most absurd hypothesis ever, but humor me for a second...  

Several years back, I was on a caffeine-fueled roadtrip in the middle of the night and heard "The One You Love" on a schmaltzy soft-rock FM station.  I remembered the song from my childhood, but couldn't remember the name of the song or the artist.  The melody rang tinny in the back of my conscious for nearly two years before I realized it was by former Eagles songsmith, Glenn Frey (say it with me now: The "H" is "O").

The only reason I held onto this smoother-than-smooth, yacht-rockin' heartbreaker for so long was because it reminded me eerily of Dayne's dancefloor megahit from the early '90s.

Even if you don't buy into my crackpot theory, give the videos a watch, because they are both pretty spectacular relics of their respective times.

Glenn Frey - "The One You Love"

Taylor Dayne - "Tell It To My Heart"

Tame Impala - 'Elephant'

Tame Impala maintains 'I Am the Walrus' aesthetics on its newest single from most recent album, Lonerism.  'Elephant' has crunch, distant vocals, and perhaps most importantly, a driving beat that never drops.

Stream 'Elephant' in the SoundCloud player below:

Grizzly Bear - 'Yet Again'

Grizzly Bear has returned with a new album and a very solid single.  'Yet Again' is textured and atmospheric.  It's a tightly wound studio production that carries very well over to radio.

Stream 'Yet Again' in the SoundCloud player below:

Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti - 'Only In My Dreams'

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is known for the quirky, but 'Only In My Dreams' is a lovely tune of a song.  The recording lacks none of the psychedelia inherent in most of the Ariel-led collective's previous offerings, but it is probably one of the more palatable singles they've produced thus far.  So tasty!

Watch the video to 'Only in my Dreams' below:

Forgotten Gem: Blur - 'There's No Other Way'

In keeping the 90s Britpop hit parade alive, today we present the video to Blur's 'There's No Other Way.'

'There's No Other Way' was Blur's second radio single, was released in 1990, and reached Number 5 on the U.S. Modern Rock charts.  (The single reached the overall Number 8 slot in the band's native Britain).  Contrary to the band's later work, 'There's No Other Way' was emblematic of the Manchester-based "Baggy" or "Madchester" subgenre of raucous dance-influenced music popularized by other Britpop bands such as The Happy Mondays and The Stone Roses.

The video to the single is entertaining, showing an angry Gen-Xer (Damon Albarn) sitting at the family dinner table, brooding and scowling the entire time.  Juxtaposed with the peppy melody, the video's visuals sharply depart from the happy-go-lucky feel of the immediate musical surface.

Blur, of course, went on to record a number of mega hits in the next two decades following the release of 'There's No Other Way,' and they went on to rival Oasis for the crown of European Kings of Rock in the 1990s.  And following the dawn of the new millennium lead vocalist Damon Albarn established Gorillaz, and the rest, as they say, is history.

You can watch the video to 'There's No Other Way' in the video player below:

Forgotten Gem: Pulp - 'Help the Aged'

"Funny how it all falls away"

Jarvis Cocker's band, Pulp, followed up its breakthrough album, Different Class, with This is Hardcore.

'Help the Aged' is a tender slow burner featured on Track Four of Hardcore that oscillates between benevolence and stark truths.  "You can dye your hair, but it's the one thing you can't change," sings Cocker, in reference to the one constant none of us can escape:  our own mortality.

Structually, 'Help the Aged' slyly begins as the usual ballad, but steadily marches toward a bombastic melody with a stunning hook.  It doesn't hurt that the lyrics are stirring and poetic.

Watch the video to 'Help the Aged' below, and while you do remember, "Help the aged.  Because one day you'll be older too."

Zedd - 'Spectrum'

Electronic dance music has become a dominant force in the pop and rock music scenes as of late. The cult followings of Deadmau5 and Skrillex by today's youth are a partial testament to that.

'Spectrum' by Zedd is another electronic dance tune that balances house beats and catchy hooks with a likable vocal. Check out the video to 'Spectrum' below:

Sky Ferreira - "Everything is Embarrassing"

Sky Ferreira's latest single, "Everything is Embarrassing", is one sumptuous slice of indie electropop.  The lyrics are memorable, the beats are fresh and the hook is undeniably classic.

"Everything is Embarrassing" is to be featured on Ferreira's upcoming, October 2nd EP, "Ghost".  The EP is intended as a lead-up to her debut album, "I'm Not Alright", which is scheduled for released late this year.

For more on Sky's music, visit:  www.skyferreira.com

Forgotten Gem: Ash - 'Burn Baby Burn'

In 2001, I played Ash's 'Burn Baby Burn' incessantly on my portable music device.  Not quite emo, not quite punk, not quite grunge, 'Burn Baby Burn' was a thrash guitar-laden anthem incorporating power pop vocals, all within a strict three-and-a-half time limit.

By contemporary standards, 'Burn Baby Burn' might sound like an All-American Rejects rip-off.  But back in 2001, the tune seemed innovative to me, and I remember it garnering some decent radio airplay here in the States.

For old times sake, you can watch the video to 'Burn Baby Burn' below:

Forgotten Gem: Ween - 'Freedom of '76'

Ween was panned for not taking rock music very seriously.  But in 1994, when the duo released Chocolate and Cheese, critics took another look.  Was it possible to successfully fuse humor with decent songwriting?  The album seemed to answer that question in the affirmative.  

'Freedom of '76' is a track from Chocolate that, on the face of it, is a quasi-parody of seventies soul, but that serves as a solid chillwave predecessor in the end.

Stream 'Freedom of '76' in the player below:

Ween - Freedom Of '76 .mp3

Gotye - 'Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra'

By now there have been countless covers made of Gotye's impressive 'Somebody That I Used to Know.'  Gotye, himself, seems to be reluctantly impressed, and just posted this video mashup of many of the renditions in the video below:

Sponsored Post: Little Caesars Pizza - 'Fishing'

Check out this humorous spot from our most recent sponsor, Little Caesars, in the video below:

Forgotten Gem: School of Fish - '3 Strange Days'

Lighter and fluffier than their grunge counterparts, School of Fish delivered the power pop-tastic '3 Strange Days' in 1991.  And unlike their alternative rock contemporaries who were digging deep into the songbook of punk, School of Fish reached all the way back to Woodstock, implementing psychedelic guitar licks and power hooks.

After '3 Strange Days,' School of Fish faded from the radar.  Tragically, singer Josh Clayton-Felt died of cancer in 2000 at the age of 32.

Watch the video for '3 Strange Days' below:

Forgotten Gem: Liz Phair - 'Supernova'

On the heels of her breakthrough Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair released follow-up Whip-Smart just a year later.  'Supernova' was the sophomore album's flagship single, but it oozed of perfunctory pop hooks and formulaic production value when compared to the Exile collective.

Nevertheless, for as much as 'Supernova' seemed to mimic the alternative radio shtick of the time, it sounds refreshingly underground by today's standards.   Modern "Alternative" often sounds too polished, and modern "Indie" often gets lost in its own digital abstraction.  'Supernova,' on the other hand, is a back-to-basics ode to garage punk and songwriting.  It stands on its own merits.  And for that, I find 'Supernova' quite endearing.

Check out the video to 'Supernova' below.  (Try not to laugh too hard at all the nineties tropes):

Joss Stone - 'The High Road'

Joss Stone killed it on Jimmy Fallon Thursday night when she belted her silky smooth rendition of Broken Bells' 'The High Road.'  Dare I say, I enjoy this version better than the original.

Although I wasn't able to locate the Jimmy Fallon video clip for posting here, I've done the next best thing and embedded the SoundCloud stream to Joss' studio cut of 'The High Road' below:

Forgotten Gems: Archers of Loaf - 'Harnessed in Slums'

The Archers of Loaf may not have garnered the same level of indie-rock stardom as many of their early-'90s counterparts, but that didn't stop the influential Chapel Hill, NC band from making a lot of noise.

With a sound as angular and pop-centric as Pavement, but owing equal credit to the pure noise of Sonic Youth and the raw energy of the Pixies, the Archers strutted the line between melody and discordance like few of their contemporaries.

While the band's 1993 debut, Icky Mettle could still be considered their best and most important album, I have an affinity for their follow-up, Vee Vee.  On Vee Vee, the band plowed straight ahead with such a genuine lack of restraint that songs come off as contorted and misshapen, yet strangely and perfectly balanced.  "Harnessed in Slums" is a great example of the group's ethos, and an often overlooked indie-rock gem.

Watch the video for Archers of Loaf's joyfully raucus, "Harnessed in Slums" below:

Natalie Duncan - 'Sky is Falling'

Upcoming pop songstress Natalie Duncan advances torchy, bluesy jazz with her slow burner, 'Sky is Falling.'  Delicately searching, Duncan brings forth a credible sense of melancholy amidst a backdrop of optimistic expectation.  Her first album, Devil in Me, is set to drop July 24.       

In the meantime, watch the music video to 'Sky is Falling' below:

Childish Gambino - 'Heartbeat'

Like most folks, I first encountered Donald Glover as "Troy," the jock character on NBC's groundbreaking comedy, Community.  On the show, Glover plays a goofy, silly guy who's into playing in imaginariums and treating the "real world" with genuine contempt.

I had heard for awhile that Donald Glover had a side project rapping under his alter-ego, Childish Gambino, but I was never real motivated to listen to his stuff because of typecasting:  I couldn't separate the serious rapper allegedly portrayed by Childish Gambino from the totally not-very-serious character of "Troy" from Community.

This all changed when I had the pleasure of catching at random the video to 'Heartbeat' on CoolTV, the only television station that actually seems interested in playing music videos right now.  When I watched the vid I was, surprisingly, pretty darned impressed.

Unlike the absurd "Troy," Childish Gambino in 'Heartbeat' lays down lyrics with a distinct viciousness not replicated by other rappers.  Certainly, the overall cadence is akin to Kanye, but the emotional delivery is undoubtedly reminiscent of Mr. Slim Shady, himself.  The hook is auto-tuned enhanced, but the artificiality is mitigated by the mean lines Glover drops all throughout the song.

Stream the video to 'Heartbeat' by Childish Gambino below:

Father John Misty - 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings'

'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' has really struck a chord with me as of late.  Sung by J. Tillman--pseudonym Father John Misty-- the tune is wistful and soothing and folksy and generously proclaims "Jesus Christ" all throughout.

You can watch the video for 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' below:

The Wombats - 'Jump Into the Fog'

'Jump Into the Fog' has steadily earwormed its way into the playlists of many alt-rock radio stations as of late.  To be sure, the looping keyboard riff has a lot to do with it.  But the song is also solid, containing a manic melody.

Check out the video to 'Jump Into the Fog' by The Wombats below:

Glenn Mederios - 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You'

Sometimes, the perfect prescription for a lazy Sunday is a schmaltzy love ballad. In 1987, Glenn Mederios had a hit with his rendition of 'Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You.' The corresponding video is heavy on slow motion, horse riding on the beach, playful water fights, and, perhaps most importantly, uncomfortably long centershots of the vocalist belting out the tune's prolific chorus.

 Watch the video below:

Behind the Sample: Nancy Sinatra and Robbie Williams

In the final moments of last night's Mad Men season finale, Don Draper sits down in the lounge and orders an old fashioned.  Just moments afterward, a couple of young and attractive females proposition the show's protagonist, asking if he's alone.  Before we can discover the Ad Man's answer, the scene blacks out, and Nancy Sinatra's 'You Only Live Twice' saunters in the background, carrying the show out on a hopeful--albeit muted--note.  Will Don continue living the virtues of his new life with second spouse Megan?  Or will he revert to the not so virtuous ways of his past?

As I was taking in this final scene, I had that all too familiar nagging feeling.  I knew I'd heard this song before, even though I never really had.  Thankfully, it only took me a few moments of self reflection to realize that 'You Only Live Twice' featured the same sampling as the late-nineties smash 'Millennium' by Robbie Williams.  In 1999, I probably heard Robbie Williams' take on the sampling only a few hundred times.  Conversely, I had never encountered Nancy's version, even though it was the theme song to one of the Sean Connery Bond films.  Nevertheless, I felt a little sheepish having not realized until this moment that the most iconic part of 'Millennium' was borrowed from another song 22 years its senior.  

Below, I've posted videos to both songs.  Listen to the two of them in succession to discover the music behind the sample:

    

Carly Rae Jepsen meets Third Eye Blind

"Here's my number. So call me maybe." Carly Rae Jepsen meets Third Eye Blind. Enough said. Watch the mashup below:

The Men - 'Open Your Heart'

The Men are a post-punk group from Brooklyn.  Their latest single is 'Open Your Heart' from the album of the same name.  True to form, the track's melody consists of Blitzkrieg beats and assertive guitar.   Some clever vocal bridgework provides a tight, but inviting, framework for some rewarding listening.

Stream 'Open Your Heart' in the SoundCloud app below:

 

Yuck - 'Chew'

After taking 2011 by storm (at least in the world of Indiedom), Yuck returns with its newest material in the form of 'Chew.'  The band continues its Ode to the Nineties tradition it successfully established last year by including a fair share of fuzz and reverb.

Stream 'Chew' in the Soundcloud app below:

Fiona Apple - 'Every Single Night'

The great Fiona returns after a long hiatus. Her latest single is entitled 'Every Single Night' and features the controlled delicacy she has always been adored for.

Stream the track in the Soundcloud app below:

Caught On Tape: Nirvana on Top of the Pops (1991)

One of the best television performances from any band would have to include the mockery that was Nirvana's 1991 appearance on the British show, Top of the Pops.

Following the incredible breakthrough of Nirvana's single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the band was thrown into a whirlwind of unexpected fame and attention. The single catapulted the band from indie-rock heroes to crossover alternative pop culture icons.

The band's audience changed overnight from seedy punk rock clubs to arenas full of teenage girls and jocks - something frontman Kurt Cobain allegedly sought to rectify later with the band's less-accessible, but equally magnificent follow-up album, In Utero.

In the wake of newfound fame and success, the band was asked to perform on Top of the Pops - a chart-toppers countdown program, which featured pop stars miming their hit singles to an audience.

Cobain's general distaste for corporate puppetry influenced the band to use the opportunity as a platform for poking fun at the show's formula.

When Nirvana aired on Top of the Pops, Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic barely attempted to mime their guitar parts over the pre-recorded backing track. In fact, Novoselic spent most of the song wildly spinning and throwing his bass above his head and catching it.

Cobain took advantage of the show's live microphone to sing the entire song in a monotone, Ian Curtis-style vocal.

The hilarious resulting video has since become a cult favorite amongst Nirvana fans and serving as a great reminder that the band's troubled late-frontman, Kurt Cobain, also possessed a keen sense of humor.

2:54 - "Scarlet"

This cold and lusty breath of atmospheric shoe-gaze goes by the name of "Scarlet". It's by 2:54, a British band, helmed by two sisters. There's a certain fragile carnality and heartaching adolescent angst behind the sleek veneer and dense rhythms of Cocteau Twins-meets-Mogwai post-rock.

You can watch the equally cool and ethereal video to "Scarlet" below:

2:54's self-titled debut album is due out on May 28, via Fiction Records. Visit the band's official site here for more information.

Bonus: listen to the band's latest single, "You're Early", via SoundCloud.

Grimes - "Oblivion"

Grimes, aka: Claire Boucher, is a Montreal-based artist who's been making waves all over the blogosphere as of late. And for good reason.

Grimes' latest music video is for "Oblivion", a track off her LP, Visions.

"Oblivion" sounds like Blondie's "Heart of Glass" thrown into a blender with Abba and Nine Inch Nails. If that seems like a strange cocktail, it's surprisingly not. The result is a rather eerie and unsettling, yet relentlessly poppy dance track.

In the video, Grimes is shown bouncing around (albeit somewhat out-of-place) to various testosterone-laden circumstances -- an arenacross show, a football game, a mosh pit, a locker room of half-toweled dudes... All the bare-chested revelry is an interesting complement to Grimes' quietly pristine vocals.

Watch the new video to "Oblivion" below:

Duncan Sheik - 'She Runs Away'

Duncan Sheik was one of the "Sheikiest" balladeers of the nineties. His mega hit, 'Barely Breathing,' moved millions of copies and provided millions more young ladies with romantic inspiration.

'She Runs Away' never escaped the shadow of 'Barely Breathing' on Duncan's self-titled disc, but it was nonetheless an enchanting groove.  Soft strings interpose the chorus, while Sheik's pleading vocal hooks and steel guitar seal the deal.

Take a trip to a time of pre-9/11 bliss and watch the video to 'She Runs Away' below:

Super Bowl Ad: Samsung feat. The Darkness

By far my top candidate for best Super Bowl commercial this past weekend was this Samsung stunner featuring The Darkness and their infamous mid-aughts hit, 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love.'  (This commercial is also my candidate for worst segue ever, but it still works).

See for yourself how great this ad is below:

Gotye - 'Somebody That I Used to Know'

Gotye is one of the big "new acts" of 2012.  Born in Belgium and raised in Australia, Gotye--aka Wally De Backer--presents a contemplative and layered joy of a song.  The call and response, in particular, really sells this one.

Watch the video to 'Somebody That I Used to Know' by Gotye below:

Local Artist Spotlight: The River Monks

The River Monks are a splendidly multi-talented indie-folk collective, hailing from the capital city of Des Moines, Iowa.

Des Moines, after all, is French for "The Monks" (or perhaps, "The Moines", if you ask a local). The city gets its name from the Des Moines River which flows through its downtown. In the 18th century, a group of Trappist monks built huts and used the mouth of the river for catching fish, which led French explorers to name it Le Riviere des Moines.

This interest in the origins of the state's rich history speaks to the local pride of The River Monks. This is a young group of locally-grown musicians who've found a pull to make their mark on their own city's musical landscape. With every grassroots performance, the band has gathered a loving fan base.

These performances are warm, humble and inviting. Delicate 5-part harmonies resonate over layers of guitar, ukulele, banjo and glockenspiel. Percussion crescendos into triumphant fits of passion and jubilant trumpeting, then instantaneously backs down to reveal an even deeper sensibility beneath.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know these artists a little bit better over the past few months and after seeing them play again last night, feel confident that they deserve to be heard beyond their home state. Which is great, because they are just about to embark on a month-long tour both South and West.

For details on where you can catch The River Monks on the road and to purchase music from their terrific debut album, Jovials, visit the band's Facebook page or Bandcamp page.

Listen below to samples of the songs, "Pelica" and "Fall Hard" by The River Monks:

Pelica by THERIVERMONKS

Fall Hard by THERIVERMONKS

He's My Brother, She's My Sister

He's My Brother, She's My Sister is the odd, yet aptly named musical collaboration of brother and sister Rob and Rachel Kolar.

The group's energetic folk-a-billy lifted the crowd at The Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa last night.

Rob and Rachel share vocal duties with a rich, soulful kinship. Rob's on guitar and kick-drum. Rachel's on tambourine. The songwriting is strong and the harmonies are vibrant and very catchy, but it's the rhythm section that truly rounds out this band.

Aaron Robinson and Oliver Newell fill the air with slide guitar and upright bass, respectively. Oliver is especially lively - dancing and smiling jubilantly from behind his hand-painted bass.

But it's percussionist Lauren Brown who could be vying for the title of Hardest Working Lady in Showbiz. She thunders on drums, sure. She also tap-dances the majority of their live performance. On top of a bass drum. You get tired just watching her, but it's fabulously entertaining.

As I watched the performance last night, I thought, "This is happy music." I could see it on the band's faces. As I watched them careening through jangly melodies like a band of glammed-out gypsies, it was awfully hard not to smile, myself.

Fans of acts such as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Tilly and the Wall should most definitely give He's My Brother, She's My Sister a deeper listen, particularly at one of their great live shows.

He's My Brother, She's My Sister is currently on tour. For dates and more info on where to find their music, visit: www.hesmybrothershesmysister.com

Watch a performance of "Tales That I Tell" by He's My Brother, She's My Sister below:

Lana Del Rey - 'Born to Die'

After years performing in clubs in New York City for crowds of ten or less, Lana Del Rey is finally receiving the exposure she deserves.  Indeed, she is slated to perform this Saturday on SNL.

The sixties-inspired vocal siren is scheduled to drop her major label debut later this month.  And one of my favorite singles from the forthcoming album is 'Born to Die.'

You can watch the official video to 'Born to Die' below:

Cass McCombs - 'The Same Thing'

'The Same Thing' is the latest slow burner from the fretful, but charming, Cass McCombs.  Full of shoe gaze haze in the beginning, the single really hits its stride right around the 2:04 mark with blooming chorus and fragrant pipe organ.

Watch the video to 'The Same Thing' below:

Mastodon in NYC

Merry Christmas all!! Or as Tae and I would say, Happy Birthday Jesus!! Hank here, I'm still alive, not dead (yet). Posting from my new locale of Fort Myers, FL.

Just thought I 'd post a pic of myself (at left in the 'Ohio' t-shirt) with Lonely Note supporter Kellen, hanging out with the lead singer of Mastodon, Brent Hinds.

We were in NYC for a wedding, and just happened to be walking down the street, and we noticed the band outside of their hotel. Kellen and I recognized Brent by his trademark head tattoo. Was a very cool dude, very friendly and appreciative of our support. They were in town to play that night at Terminal 5, headlining the show with Dillinger Escape Plan as openers

I have previously seen Mastodon, opening for Deftones and Alice in Chains at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis 2010. As you can imagine, the show was PHENOMENAL. Funny thing about the Mastodon set: Brent, Troy, and Bill all had the "Mastodon" look: shaggy hair, unshaven, rugged-looking like they had been on a tour bus for 2 weeks straight. Then, when the set was over, the drummer Brann stood up: He had on khaki shorts, a t-shirt, and what looked to be frosted-tips on his hair, almost like he was in an Abercrombie commercial. Hillarious!! Great set though, and they were super cool in NYC, so definitely nothing bad to say about them!!

Any of the readers have any good stories about seeing or meeting Mastodon, or any other good band stories?? I would be interested in hearing them. I have previously met Jared Leto and 30 Seconds to Mars, as well as their opener Saosin, and of course Tae and your trulys favorite, The Goodyear Pimps, but other than that no other back stage or up close personal encounters with any other bands (that I can remember??)

Well, from Tae, Steve, and myself at The Lonely Note, we wish you a very Merry Christmas 2011 and Happy Holidays. Here's to a great 2012!!

Prince - 'Another Lonely Christmas'

Now for a festive post.

The b-side to the single 'I Would Die for U,' Prince's 'Another Lonely Christmas' is one of the most melodramatic Christmas songs out there. With schmaltzy lyrics about banana daiquiris and hokey hooks, 'Another Lonely Christmas' is nevertheless a cool and soulful holiday ballad.  Prince belts out his signature falsettos and vocal runs amidst killer guitar and bright piano licks.  It's a delight.

Stream 'Another Lonely Christmas' below:

	Prince - Another Lonely Christmas .mp3

St. Vincent - 'Cheerleader'

St. Vincent, a.k.a Annie Clark, hits her mark with her latest album, Strange Mercy.

One ear-catching track from the long player is 'Cheerleader.'  It begins innocently enough, with subtle hints of 'A Day in the Life' at its very outset, that quickly morphs into the expected trappings typical of most indie darlings.

But suddenly at the 0:50 mark, the track turns on a dime, blasting into sonic ecstasy while simultaneously proclaiming, "I don't want to be a cheerleader no more!"  The low-fi oscillates to the high-fi, and guitars, drums, and electronic dirge all kick in to chasten the listener with its glorious noise.

Stream 'Cheerleader' below:

	st. vincent cheerleader.mp3

Scars on 45 - 'Heart on Fire'

'Heart on Fire' caught me by surprise.  I was scanning SiriusXM when I settled on The Spectrum.  When I heard 'Heart on Fire' I thought it was a very strong alt-pop single, and I enjoyed it.  It was only later that I discovered the track was featured on Grey's Anatomy, a show I do not watch.

Anyhow, 'Heart on Fire' by Scars on 45 is respectable.  Watch the video below:

Friends - 'Friend Crush'

'Friend Crush' is an electronic jaunt by Brooklyn outfit Friends, and is about a protagonist who, as the title suggests, wants to be someone else's friend.

But don't let the blatant simplicity fool you.  'Friend Crush' is textured and clever.  Cloaked in electronica, it's nothing more than an all-American pop song.

Stream 'Friend Crush' below:

	Friends - Friend Crush .mp3

Those Darlins - 'Screws Get Loose'

"Whoaaaah. Screws get loose!"

You'll be singing along in no time after you listen to 'Screws Get Loose,' the perfunctory--but perfect--single by Tennessee's Those Darlins.  Slightly rockabilly, but mostly garage punk, 'Screws Get Loose' burrows itself nicely.

Watch the video to 'Screws Get Loose' below:

SebastiAn - 'Embody'

SebastiAn's 'Embody' is the embodiment of cool.  (Pun intended).  But what else would you expect from French electronica?

Watch the video to 'Embody' below.

Dark Dark Dark - 'Dadreaming'

In another late discovery, I also recently came across 'Daydreaming' by Dark Dark Dark.  The tune is quiet, pure, dark, focused, and beautiful.  Lead singer None Marie Invie's voice dances between raindrops, delivering Fiona-laden emotion and power.

Stream 'Daydreaming' below:

	Dark Dark Dark - Daydreaming .mp3

Great Northern - 'Home'

I was a little late in discovering Great Northern's 2007 single 'Home.'  And despite my late adoption of this cruisin' tune, it's a strong track that was a few years ahead of its time.

Stream 'Home' by Great Northern below:

	Great Northern - Home .mp3