Broken Bells (2010)

I love this download. I can’t stop listening to it. I am big Danger Mouse fan and so/so James Mercer’s band the Shins fan. Demon Days, produced by Danger Mouse, I think is the best release of 2000 – 2009. Broken Bells has that Danger Mouse sound, which I would describe as centering on a clean recording of each instrument. It reminds me more of a classical or jazz recording than a pop or rock recording.

The songs were written both by Mercer and D. Mouse. For Mercer’s part, his voice has more gravitas than his work with The Shins. The sound has a depth wrapped in an indie pop song. I think it’s brilliant!

Must Download:

The High Road
Vaporize
You’re Heads On Fire
October.

I would suggest the whole thing, even though last two songs sound like mediocre songs from a New Wave 80’s band.

The first song, ‘The High Road’, which was also the first single and digital download from the website last year, is a haunting rhythmic ballad and beautifully transitions to their second single, ‘Vaporize’ it speeds up a little and dips into great melodic and thoughtful lyrics into an electric bridge. The next tune, ‘Your Heads on Fire’ is neo-sixties pop ballad in the sprit of the great British band ‘Manic Street Preachers’. Next, ‘The Ghost Inside’, Mercer has a late 70’s falsetto and it almost has a ‘Hall and Oates’ feel to it. ‘Sailing to nowhere’ is punctuated with Beatles sound trick and great strings. I guess you should just listen to the whole thing.

I was surprised and pleased to that this recording debuted at number 7 on the Billboard charts.

I realize that is album speaks to me in that the sound is like some of stuff I like from the 90s, but is different enough to make it interesting. Of course the sound engineering was never as good in the 90’s as it is here. The year is young but this might be the best release of the year.

Contra - Vampire Weekend (2010)

It started to be good year musically with the sophomore release from Vampire Weekend. Contra is an upbeat and intelligent outing for our Columbia University graduates. In true Ivy League fashion there are esoteric and outrageously privileged lifestyle references.

The Paul Simon, Graceland, sound is still there but less. It reminds me of a 60’s surfer band mixed with an Afro-Reggie sound.

Must Download:
Cousins
Taxi Cab

Although, the whole album is good, which more than I can for their first release, ‘Cousins’ and ‘Taxi Cab’ deserve a special attention. ‘Cousins’ is explodes in your ear, It’s fast and they throw a lot at you. It is no surprise that it is the first single, especially of all the tracks on Contra this one most sounds most like ‘A Punk’. ‘Taxi Cab’ is a slow melodic tune, much like a lullaby. I find myself humming the gentle melody while walking the streets of New York City.

Honorable mentions are Horchata and I think Ur A Contra both are sweat and seem to depict a romance set somewhere in Greenwhich, Ct. To throw you a negative ‘A Diplomats Son’, is a tune I have to skip every time it comes up. It sucks on so many levels.

I think the best thing about Vampire Weekend is their youthfulness. We seem to be attracted to music made by young adults; most songs on the radio from young people. I was listening to a somewhat recent Paul McCartney song. I thought it was just as good as some of his Beatle work, but it wasn’t because he just didn’t sound right. There was something hopeful, youthful and something else; Vampire Weekend has that here.