We All Want Someone To Shout For

There aren’t many bands that are able to tap into my mind and connect with me emotionally like The National. With each album the band seems to find new ways to improve. With High Violet, I held the National to sky high expectations, with little doubt that they would live up to them. Look at that, they did.

Terrible Love opens the album, and fittingly so. The National’s performance of Terrible Love on Jimmy Fallon was the first real taste of promotion for the album, after all. The band decided to use the demo version on the album, finding no other takes fitting. It was a gutsy move, but one that paid dividends. This version builds upon itself gaining momentum with every passing second. It’s a grand statement among an album built with them.

Matt and the rest of the band came together to create an album that drips with rich imagery and vignettes that we can all relate to. We have all felt the sorrow that Matt sings about in “Sorrow”. We are used to him describing life as a middle class man. He still does, but now he has a wife and child. His focus is on his family, and now his thoughts are more self-conscious then ever before.

“Afraid Of Everyone” is hidden with elements of Joy Division with it’s vibrant drumbeat. When Matt sings, “You’re the voices swallowing my soul, soul, soul,” you can’t help but get swept up. “Lemonworld” was a song that the band argued over for months unable to decide on which take to use. It turns out that sometimes more is less, especially with such a strong song as “Lemonworld.” It sits alongside “Conversation 16” as High Violet’s finest moment. I don’t think there will be a more beautiful moment on any song this year then when Matt sing’s “I was afraid I’d eat your brains…cause I’m evil”. It’s the type of moment the National have become so great at creating. You almost come to expect it.

High Violet is built with moments that will stop you in your tracks. Moments that deserve to be played on vinyl with good speakers. Bryan Devendorf once again steals the show as the drummer, crafting beats and drum fills that the band would feel lost without. He serves as both the backbone and the heart of the band. Then you have the Dessner twins who use their guitars as another voice in the band.

Matt’s vocals have never sounded better. He learned how to use his voice to complement the band, rather than to stretch it too far, as some felt he did on Boxer. It works like a charm, completely rounding out the band’s sound. They sound stronger than ever.

The National had high expectations to live up to. They came back with a powerful album full of dense songs that improve upon each listen. These are songs that call for listens in the dark with a bottle of wine, ready for quality digestion. The National have given us a piece of art, and it is up to us to truly appreciate it. It is my album of the year right now. I don’t think there will be another album that I will attach myself like I have with High Violet. I dare someone to prove me wrong.

Album Rating: 9.0

[mp3]: The National – Conversation 16
[mp3]: The National – Lemonworld

Jimmy Fallon’s late night show is celebrating the re-release of The Rolling Stones Exile On Main Street by having various bands cover songs from the album. Last night Green Day covered “Rip This Joint”. Watch it below:

Watch Wilco play “Deeper Down” on Craig Ferguson, courtesy of The Audio Perv.

So that’s what a real rock band looks like….

NPR is streaming Treats, the debut album Sleigh Bells that has everyone who listens to new music practically creaming their pants. The album was just released digitally on itunes only, with no leaks. So this may have been the first time we all heard an album at the same time.

I’m going through my first listen right now, and so far, so good.

Try not to go deaf guys.

Before I saw Suckers open for Local Natives last Friday, my only prior knowledge of the Brooklyn four piece was that they were receiving a lot of love from my fellow bloggers. I ended up being quite impressed with their live show, and became set out to get my hands on everything and anything that I could find Suckers related.

Their debut album Wild Smile is set to come out on 6/8 via Frenchkiss Records, and there is one song available for free download. It is “Black Sheep”, a song that caught my attention when I saw them live.It features jittery drums, and frantic guitar picking that oddly wouldn’t sound right without the other. It is an oddball rock anthem that deserves to be played at full volume. Don’t be a sucker.

[mp3]: Suckers – Black Sheep

If you like what you hear, be sure to pre-order Wild Smile on Vinyl or CD from insound right now!

Check out a new demo from Sacramento’s Ganglians. The song is “My House”, and it is a dreamy piece of lo-fi indie rock. Can’t wait to hear the final version ’cause this demo is top notch. I wanna live in their house!

[mp3]: Ganglians – My House (Demo)

The brand new M.I.A. single called “XXXO” was played for the first time on Radio 1 and as expected a radio rip is already up. The a mp3 of the rip can be found via Paranoid Youth. The song like the other two that we have received confirms my suspecions that this 3rd album is going to be different from anything that we have heard from M.I.A. before. It is barely 2 1/2 minutes long, but it sounds like straightforward electronic pop that isn’t too far from Lady GaGa territory. There are some elements of Crystal Castles in there too. Overall, I am digging it. Going to wait for a proper version before I give it a true judgment. This one may have the chops to be a pretty major hit.

Production credits go to Bslaqstarr. According to Alec Curtis from Paranoid Youth “XXXO” will be released on itunes tomorrow. That means it comes out the same day as the digital release of Sleigh Bells debut album Treats. Big day for the M.I.A./N.E.E.T. Recording camp.

Or you can listen to the song here. M.I.A.’s untitled 3rd album is going to drop officially on June 29th. Apparently the new album has been pushed back 2 weeks later to July 13th now.

That’s right guys, I got two copies of Free Energys fantastic debut album Stuck On Nothing to give away. I got one LP, and one CD to giveaway to you. To win it follow these instructions carefully:

1. Post which format you want. Vinyl or CD.

2. Name your perfect summer moment…think of a time where Stuck On Nothing would play as a perfect soundtrack.

I will pick one winner for each format next Monday May 17th. Good luck everyone!

I am excited to present our first mp3 exclusive. Young Empires gave me the privilege of sharing their new song “Glory Of The Night” in mp3 form. Its a different animal than”Rain Of Gold“. While “Rain” busted out of the door, “Glory Of The Night” takes its time. The song builds upon layers of sound that show the bands ability to piece together a magical song that gets better with every passing second. It deserves airplay during the nights darkest hour when all of our burning desires come free.

Young Empires are a young band that have already impressed me greatly. With so many strong demo’s, I can only imagine the greatness that will come out of their mastered studio output. Young Empires are bound for greatness. Get to know them asap.

[mp3]: Young Empires – Glory Of The Night

Watch the music video for Glory Of The Night below:

Check out the official music video for Local Natives uplifting song “World News”. The video keeps this sentiment alive showing the band enjoying life on the beach. Quite an uplifting spirit throughout: