Sun Kil Moon - 'Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes'

I've been a fan of Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, since I first heard "Carry Me Ohio" in about 2003.  That feeling was only reinforced for me when his LP of heartachingly understated Modest Mouse covers, called Tiny Cities, was released in 2005.

Kozelek just released a new track off his forthcoming 2014 album, Benji.  It's called "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes" and, boy... it. is. raw.

The lyrics and title refer to Richard Ramirez, the infamous serial killer, who incidentally died from cancer in June of this year, while awaiting execution on death row.

The song starts with Kozelek's haunting guitar and leads into a nearly stream of conscious-like paranoid reflection on the scariest parts of growing up and growing old.  Soon, Kozelek's vocals start to pile on top of one other in staggered, unnerving layers.  By the time the drum finally kicks in during the last third of the song, it feels like a wave of relief crashing against the rocks.

Fleetwood Mac - 'Silver Springs'

"Time cast a spell on you / you won't forget me;  I know I could've loved you; but you would not let me."

The signature line from Fleetwood Mac's 'Silver Springs' encapsulates the legendary divide that developed between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.  The two had dated and performed together in the band for years, before breaking off the relationship.  They nevertheless remained band mates following the split.

Stevie penned 'Silver Springs,' and she intended it for inclusion on the band's seminal album, Rumours.  But, due to the varying tensions between she and Buckingham, the track didn't make the cut.  It was instead released as the B-Side to 'Go Your Own Way,' another song that memorialized the pain and hurt between the two.

'Silver Springs' starts off slow.  But at about the 2:30 mark, the single builds into one of the most memorable choruses performed by Fleetwood Mac.  Further, it showcases the delicate grace of Stevie Nicks' vocals.

Stream 'Silver Springs' by Fleetwood Mac below:

Dent May - 'Born Too Late'

Dent May's 'Born Too Late' features sentimental lyrics set to a campy back beat.  But don't let the Hipster jade fool you; this single is quite rich, despite all its irony.

Stream 'Born Too Late' in the music player below:

Mayer Hawthorne - 'Her Favorite Song'

Blue-eyed soul at its smoothest, Mayer Hawthorne delivers restrained sensuality with his single 'Her Favorite Song.'   If you like Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Daft Punk's latest album, you'll really dig this melody.

The music video is below:

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: