Band Beat (this one couldn't wait!)

What a gorgeous, soothing song. Thank you, Devendra Banhart.

 Image via here

Band Beat

I'm in Piano Heaven right now. Growing up, my grandmother would make me play her organ after supper. It was easy enough to learn, especially since the sheet music had pictures of which fingers to put on the keys. I couldn't get it wrong if I tried. I mostly played hymns (I remember Holy, Holy, Holy and How Great Thou Art were my favorites). Honestly, I hated playing at first, probably because I was "told" to, but after I knew what I was doing, I loved it. There's something magical about playing an instrument . . . you can't believe you're making those sounds, and they're so pretty! 


My grandmother also had a piano that I would "pretend" to know how to play. That sheet music didn't have cheats on it, though, so I had no clue what I was doing. What I did learn how to do was play by ear. I would sing one of the hymns I learned on the organ out loud and then find the right keys on the piano. Pretty daunting, but I was kid who was bored at her grandmother's house. What else would I do?


Anyway! I found a pianist named Maxence Cyrin. He's incredible and plays a lot of covers. I just bought his Novo Piano album. One of my favorites is his cover of The Pixies' Where Is My Mind. Check it out below. He also has a cover of Arcade Fire's No Cars Go. Amazing!

Band Beat

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The Hours is an English rock band that formed in 2004. I'm not totally committed to their sound, but I ran across their new video for "See the Light" featuring Sienna Miller. I'm pretty sure y'all know how much I love her. Anyway. This video was directed by American History X creator Tony Kaye, and I've gotta say, I like it a bunch. Check it out. 

The Hours - "See The Light" 2010 Edit from Adeline Records on Vimeo.

Band Beat

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Maybe I picked Meiko as this week's featured Band Beat because she's a Roberta, Ga., native, and I usually have a soft spot for ambitious women from small towns in the Peach State. 

Maybe I picked her because her music is like a cocktail recipe of two parts Ingrid Michaelson mixed with one part Rachael Yamagata with a dash of Kelly Nash (minus the British accent), and with how tricky my life is right now, this is just the recipe I need to indulge.  

Whatever the reason, she's cute. She's been around for a few years. She probably isn't going anywhere. And while her music and lyrics don't necessarily wow me like, say, Jenny Lewis' does, I'm enjoying it right now. Especially Heard It All Before. And she has some pretty videos too. 

Heard It All Before

I'm so tired of staring at the wall
But I know I got to put you down
And I keep trying to make sense of it all
But I can't keep going around and around
And you know me well; you know me better than this
And I can't be sure if you're something I'd miss

'Cause I've heard it all before
I've heard it all before

I keep finding a little piece of me
Every time we disagree
And your words float like dandelions every other way
I can't keep listening to what you say

'Cause I've heard it all before
I've heard it all before
And I take everything I can
And I'll throw it out the door

Yeah, I've heard it all before
I've heard it all before
And I take everything I can
But I've heard it all before

Band Beat

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The Futureheads. Heard of them? I hadn't until I read a Filter mag review of their new album, The Chaos, which dropped yesterday. They're not new. The English foursome has been around for about a decade, and I wish I'd heard them sooner. They remind me of days long ago when I listened nonstop to bands like Face to Face and Lagwagon . . . it's nostalgic really, and I welcome it. After all, I'm a fool for that goose bumpy wave of happiness that washes over me when I reminisce about the music/events/places/people that made me so dang cheery. Hope The Futureheads can give you a similar feeling. Here's the video for Meantime.

Band Beat

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Here's another group I was introduced to a few years ago, albeit indirectly, via my Nashville buddy. Grizzly Bear's first album, Yellow House, kept me calm many a IAS* outburst. Thank you for that, GB. This Brooklyn-based quartet released their newest one, Veckatimest, at the beginning of last summer, and my fave is Cheerleader. I'm telling you . . . it's mellow (and I mean mellow) and I like it a bunch (and I mean a bunch.) OK, I'm losing it.

Here's a sweet-tastic Veckatimest review from Spin. Read it. And give my fave tune a listen . . . and kindly excuse my craziness today. Thank you.



*IAS stands for Instant Anger Syndrome. Oh yes, I occasionally have it. And so do you, admit it.

Band Beat

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Neon Indian is a Texan band whose music is composed by Alan Palomo (formally VEGA, remember?) Anyway, their debut album, Psychic Chasms, dropped in October. It's very synth-y and psychedelic-y, so if you're not into that, beware. I like the mellowness of it and need that in my life right now, so it's been steadily streaming through my headphones at work. Check out Terminally Chill and chill.

Band Beat

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Everyone has heard of Kate Nash, right? Sure, her voice is a little nasel-y, and sometimes her British accent is so thick I can't understand some of her words, but her songs are so dang catchy that it's hard not to torso dance in the car, especially whilst listening to Foundations. (P.S., this song is really fun to play when you're ticked at your manfriend.)

My Nashville buddy introduced me to her first album a few years ago, and I immediately bought it. She releases her second album, My Best Friend is You, April 20, which features songs like this one. (I told you. Catchy.)

Band Beat

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Listen, listen, listen! This New York-based "shoegazer" (can someone tell me WTH that means?*) band Apollo Heights is currently at the top of my Cool Music Now List. Wikipedia describes them as: twin brothers, Daniel and Danny Chavis, who play experimental rock music. They cite AR Kane and My Bloody Valentine as a major inspiration. Cool, huh? (Sorry for the super short post . . . I'm in a hurry!) Enjoy!

Check out a live performance of Everlasting Gobbstopper!



*Edit: Wiki says shoegazing is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s.

Band Beat

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Charlotte Gainsbourg (love her) + Beck (like him, but not as much) = IRM, the newest full-length album by CG. I recently heard about this collaboration (which apparently started a few years ago) and thought, "Hmm, strange." Naturally, I was a little skeptical because, let's face it: Beck can be so stinkin' weird sometimes. BUT! I gave some of the album's songs a listen and was surprised. I had no idea CG's voice was that pretty! I especially like Time of the Assassins. Check it out below!

Band Beat

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Sister Crayon (cool name, right?) began as Terra Lopez's solo act. She said in a Bay Bridged interview that she spent the first two years making songs by herself in her bedroom. "I did my solo thing for two years and met Dani (from the band The Wishing Well) last year. She started playing drum machine for me. Genaro (keyboardist) just recently joined us. I like that Sister Crayon has developed into something bigger. I still am the only one who plays in the small recordings I make in my bedroom, but live the two of them play."

The Sacramento, Calif., group's sound has been compared to the likes of Bjork, Mazzy Star, Portishead and CocoRosie with elements of The Postal Service. Sounds brilliant just reading it, huh? I thought so. I especially love their tune Souls of Gold. Don't you want to get up and dance when you hear it?!

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Band Beat, a day late

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Photo by Allison Michael Orenstein

I've been out of commission for what seems like forever . . . but I'm back! And feeling good! (Let's hope it lasts.)

I just heard El May for the first time, like, a few days ago, and so far, I'm likin' what I'm hearin'. And her website is so dang cute! On it, her bio reads: El May is Lara Meyerratken. Lara provided keyboards, drums, guitars, percussion, vocals and atmosphere for many stellar rock and roll acts like Ben Lee, Crooked Fingers, Luscious Jackson, Luna, Britta and Dean, Nada Surf, and Sneeze. Check out a live version of Don't You below.

Band Beat

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OK, this Band Beat is really for Bradford. He loves Stereophonics, and well, since his birthday's right around the corner, I've been thinking about all the things he likes. Stereophonics is one of them, fo' sho'. I, for one, didn't like these Welshmen at first. But they've grown on me, especially Could You Be the One from their newest album, Keep Calm and Carry On. Check out this teaser!!! It's seriously pretty, right?!

Band Beat

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From this website, where you can purchase the album and/or the video:
The Hope for Haiti Now global telethon is also an extraordinary digital album including performances by Alicia Keys, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Shakira, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Beyoncé, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Emeline Michel, Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge, Rihanna, Dave Matthews, Neil Young and Wyclef Jean along with a bonus track from Jay-Z, Bono, the Edge and Rihanna. You can also own the two-hour telethon video.

All proceeds from album and video sales will go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme and Yele Haiti Foundation.

Go on and do some good!

Band Beat

Yesterday was a disaster for me, and Band Beat suffered for it. I've gotten quite addicted to posting Band Beats every Wednesday, so I actually felt bad that it didn't get posted yesterday. Alas, here it is! And I want to wish Boo a very, very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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Zach Braff (yep, you read that right) turned me on to Rachael Yamagata a couple of years ago. He wrote pretty highly of her music in some article, so I decided to check her out. She was born in Virginia, and according to Wikipedia, she's a Yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese American.) And that right there explains her incredible beauty! Neat, huh?

Her rich, deep voice is perfect, especially when I'm feeling depressed. I've been hitting repeat on Elephants, the first track on her two-part Elephants . . . Teeth Sinking Into Heart. Check it out!

Band Beat

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I couldn't possibly do one more Band Beat without featuring the beloved Asobi Seksu. I found them through Fefa (muchas gracias, FA!) a couple (or a few?) years ago and have loved them ever since. The first song of this New York quartet I loved was Thursday, and I have to say, I'm still really LOVING it! I've listened to a couple of tunes from their new album, Rewolf, and so far, so good. Frontwoman Yuki Chikudate's voice pulls it off every time. Check out one of their newish tunes called Blind Little Rain!

I had to post this fun video of Goodbye!

Band Beat

Image via their awesome website

When I first heard Department of Eagles last summer, I didn't think I was going to like them and was just about to write them off when I listened to No One Does It Like You, and . . . sold. I wish I could say more about them, but I really have to get back to work as my deadline for a certain college publication is looming. Check out their bio on their sweet website!

Band Beat

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I love these high-pitched dudes from Cambridge, Mass., and since I've been in a Passion Pit kind of mood, I decided to post them in Band Beat. They remind me of everything summertime, of lightness, of torso-dancing with eyes closed and fingers snapping. Love them. I think they're movin' on up (didn't they play at the VMAs this year?) which is super, right? My favorite tune of theirs is Sleepyhead from their album, Chunk of Change. If you listen to this without torso-dancing, we need to talk.

From a review in Paste Magazine:
"Passion Pit’s falsetto vocals sound like Bon Iver being sampled and sped up by Kanye West."

Band Beat

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Ever hear of Pandora Internet Radio? M'kay, if not, tune in now. My co-worker, Paula, turned me on to it a couple of weeks ago, and it's super addictive. It's also where I heard Sweet Disposition by the Australian band, The Temper Trap . . . and fell deeply in love. (Wasn't it featured in 500 Days of Summer too? I'll have to investigate.) How can you not like it? See for yourself below! And check out this album review from Pitchfork.

Sweet Disposition
sweet disposition
never too soon
oh reckless abandon
like no one's
watching you

a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh

just stay there
cause i'll be comin over
and while our bloods still young
it's so young
it runs
and we won't stop til it's over
won't stop to surrender

songs of desperation
I played them for you
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh

just stay there
cause i'll be comin over
and while our bloods still young
it's so young
it runs
and we won't stop til it's over
won't stop to surrender

a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs(won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a moment, a love (won't stop to surrender)

Band Beat

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The xx is a foursome from South London whose single, Basic Space, has become quite popular this year. I love singer Romy Madley Croft's voice, particularly in this single. And bassist Oliver Sim's voice? Hot. Below is a snippet of a review from Pitchfork. And check out the Basic Space video below that!

Strongly influenced by modern R&B-- the group made hay with an early cover of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops", while UK copies of xx come packed with their version of Aaliyah's "Hot Like Fire"-- the xx use a drum machine to complement their copiously tidy compositions. Unlike contemporary R&B fetishists Hot Chip or Discovery, who have clearly spent long hours internalizing Timbaland, the Neptunes, and other radio cognoscenti, the xx incorporate more abstract elements of the genre: a liberal use of bass tones and an unwavering focus on sex and interpersonal relationships.

Image via Illegal Tender Magazine