Music Overlooked in 2013: Part 1

Music Overlooked: Since January is often empty when it comes to new music (and pop culture) releases, it's easy to check out what songs you many have missed in the previous year. This is a short series on the bands and songs that I did not heard about or get a chance to get out in 2013.

Secret Colours "Blackhole"



This Chicago group, which formed in 2010, describe themselves as "the bastard seed of 60s psychedelia and 90s Britpop bloodlines." The psychedelic vibes are present in their sophomore release, Peach, but they don't dominate enough to interfere with their performance.

The History of Apple Pie "Don't You Wanna Be Mine?"



Coming out of London, the history of this band began on Myspace, where they posted tracks to share with friends and prospective listeners. This is what shoegaze would sound like if it was a bit more cheerful.

Cub Sport "Paradise"



This summer-style jam is great for those who are enduring the aftermath of the record-breaking snowstorm and subsequent colder-than-the-Arctic wind chills. Oddly enough, the song was released in June 2013, when it's winter in Australia, which is where Cub Sport is from. (They hail from Brisbane.) It seems like they are in an eternal summer mindset, which works well for their breezy and slightly calm pop-rock.

Best Songs of 2013 by Chicago Artists

     This past year saw the release of some outstanding music by numerous local acts, including new albums from JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Ezra Furman, the Orwells, and Cameron McGill. All these acts are widely known outside the Windy City area. The Orwells have embarked on a lengthy promotional tour that saw them perform on the British TV show ''Later...With Jools Holland'', perform Halloween night at Sub-T, and they have are about to go on an upcoming tour in the UK. JC Brooks & the Uptown toured Europe. Ezra Furman left the Harpoons behind to create his strongest work yet, Day of the Dog, and is about to embark on a tour of the British Isles and European Union. He is set to perform at SPACE in Evanston on January 5, along with Cameron McGill, another musician who went solo after his time with his Cameron McGill and What Army and Margot & The Nuclear So and So's. 

      This list also includes many acts that are not as well known as the ones already mentioned. We have todayshits, a prolific lo-fi band that has recorded and uploaded dozens of tracks on their Soundcloud page. There are The Flips, a hard rock band that recently released their newest album, A Deep Harm but Shining, thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. There is Bonzie, an 18-year old singer-songwriter who has already been compared to Cat Power and Neutral Milk Hotel. There is whysowhite, Yancey Boys, The Noise FM, etc.

      And these are only 20 songs by 20 artists and bands. There are dozens of other tracks that could be here, but many are unavailable to embed or download at the moment. But here is a great selection of the finest music released in 2013 by Chicago's finest musicians.

Album Review: Dream Shake's "Dream Shake"

Dream Shake/Dream Shake/Frenchkiss/2013

Each song title on Dream Shake's self-titled debut is named after a woman. What does that mean? Are they ex-girlfriends, conquests, high school crushes, or simply nine ladies that singer/songwriter James Nee promised he would write and record songs for?

The track "Buffy" hints that these names are loosely connected. The fast-paced guitar-heavy tune and the eight others are homages to fictional females from pop culture. You have the aforementioned vampire slayer and characters from various TV shows, such as "Friends", "Degrassi Junior High", and the NICK series "Cailtin's Way."

"Coraline", which I immediately think of the character from the Neil Gaiman novel and film adaptation, reminds me of mid-1990s Sonic Youth, a dreamy and mysterious track that sounds like it was created out of an impromptu jam session in the studio late one night. Clocking in at just over four minutes, it would be a delight to hear this track for a few minutes longer, much like a Sonic Youth song.

The guitar riffs that build up to each song's climax, or chorus, and Nee's soft yet confident vocals bring a dreamy, intentionally nostalgic aura over the course of 30 minutes--the length of a TV episode.

Nee, formerly of the pop/rock band We Are Trees, is a Virginia Beach native who claimed in an post on the band's website that no one will get the references, stating he is "too nerdy for real girls." Well, the nine women here should be flattered that a musician has written some well-executed, short but sweet love songs in their honor.

Grade: A-

Recommended tracks: "Buffy", "Rachel", "Coraline"

Album review: M.I.A.'s ''Matangi''

M.I.A.| Matangi | N.E.E.T./Interscope | 2013

It has been over three years since M.I.A. has released an album, and the back-story for Matangi is almost as enciting as the musician's work on this release. After delaying Matangi's release for being "too positive", she threatened to take the album from Interscope and release it herself. (Luckily, she has the backing of the  record giant, at least this time.) Though one could understandably be concerned for an artist who has openly courted controversy (i.e. flipping off viewers during the Super Bowl halftime show) to suddenly possess a sunny deposition.

Can you believe that "Bad Girls" was released almost two years ago?!

The singles released over the past eighteen months are here, but the deep cuts are also worth the wait. Her collaboration with The Weeknd in "Exodus"/"Sexdous" are some of the album's finest highlights, an instant R&B radio hit waiting to happen. Musically, the album is all over the place. "Bring The Noize" has those fast-paced verses that suddenly sound like they are going in reverse. There is a roll call of countries in "Matangi" over clattering percussions. There is chanting, a boxing bell, personal lyrics about her struggles, and more. Even though she doesn't have Top 40 radio in mind, the frantic yet familiar "Come Walk With Me" would be refreshing to hear on the FM dial in moderation.

M.I.A., who named this album after the goddess of music, Matangi, does not wish to concentrate her energies or concerns on what else is going on in the music industry. Noting that this is her "spiritual album", Matangi is a vastly compelling piece of pop music that only reinforces that she is at the top of her game, no matter how long she is away.

Grade: A-

Recommended tracks: "Exodus" (feat The Weeknd), "Come Walk With Me", "Bring The Noize", "Lights"

Album Review: La Luz's "It's Alive"

La Luz | It's Alive | Hardly Art | 2013

This all-female quartet from Seattle (whose name is Spanish for "The Light") have released their debut album, and it sounds almost nothing like Seattle, a city with a dreary climate that is still best known for (and trying to get past) its grunge heyday. The key word is almost.

On the surface, this is a light, surf-pop record, like Best Coast or the newest from Washed Out. But once you get past the upbeat riffs and the four-part harmonies, there is some sinister undertones and medleys, especially in "What Good Am I?", a slow and steady track that would fit well in a mixtape for a late night drive or in a 1950s jukebox for heartbroken lovers. It sounds like it came out of a film noir. 

This is immediately followed with "Sunstroke", a short and quick-paced instrumental with an organ player to accompany the haunted house aura. "Pink Slime" has a nostalgic yearning for the days of So Cal in the early 1960s, when surfers were kings of the waves and the Beach Boys were soundtrack of their lives.

The title track, which further emphasises the haunted rock that they hide underneath the surf pop, is the strongest track on the album. This song would fit well in a 1960s teen surfing flick that took a wrong turn and became a suspense or horror thriller, or a psychotic acid trip (like Head or Easy Rider). Maybe zombies pop out of the sand and start attacking the blondes on the beach.

UPDATE: The band have cancelled the rest of their tour after being involved in a severe car accident. A fund has been set up to help pay for bills, new equipment, van, etc. For more info on how to help or to find out more about the band, go here. 

Grade: B

Recommended tracks: "Sure As Spring", "What Good I Am?", "It's Alive"

Album Review: Best Coast's "Fade Away"

 

Best Coast

       Just a year after the release of The Only Place, Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno have new music ready, a "mini-album" (or EP) titled Fade Away (released through Cosentino's own Jewel City record label). With plans for a new LP next year, this seven track selection of songs about heartbreak portrays Best Coast as a band growing up.

''This Lonely Morning'', the opening track and single (and one of the highlights of the seven-song EP), is most likely her most mainstream friendly single to date. It is definitely more polished in terms of production and lyrics than the adolescent "Boyfriend" or "Crazy for You", but not too polished to be thrown into the increasingly-generic stadium rock that is crossing over into Top 40 and "adult contemporary" radio.

According to a press release, Cosentino was musically inspired by Mazzy Star, Patsy Cline, and My Bloody Valentine. She was also inspired by Ambien. Yes, the same stuff that people use to treat insomnia. Does this mean this record will help you fall asleep? Nope.

The reference to Ms. Cline sounds out of left field, until you hear the track "I Wanna Know", with lyrics that sound like they could have belonged to the country queen's catalog. "Tellin' lies it's a big surprise/Gazing into each other's eyes." And then there is "Baby I'm Crying", which fits perfect in a jukebox to play at a nearly-empty country bar on a dark and lonely night. It would be interesting to hear these tracks covered by a country singer, or at least performed by Best Coast as an acoustic version.

With the exception of "This Lonely Morning", each song on here is at least over three minutes in length. There isn't a rush to throw on speedy guitar riffs and too-easy choruses to complete the song and move on. The best example of the slightly-slower paced Best Coast is on "Fear of My Identity", the best song on Fade Away. The lyrics tell a story about confusion and fear that is both personal ("The hate is getting darker/And the fear is growing larger") and universal ("The fear of my identity/Is standing right in front of me").

Fade Away is more calm, confident, and content with itself than the all-over-the-place and over caffeinated atmosphere of Cosentino's previous work. 

Best Coast 
Fade Away

Jewel City

Grade: B+

New Music Tuesday

New music! Here are five songs to check out this week. Create a playlist, or improve one. All track are available to purchase online or stream at various streaming services.

Tune into my radio show on chirpradio.org on Tuesdays 12-3pm, and check out The Attagag podcast at Soundcloud.

Best Coast "This Lonely Morning"



Random fact: Their upcoming EP, Fade Away, arrives on October 22. Check back here for a review later this week.

Ezra Furman  "My Zero"



Random fact: Furman began her musical career performing with the Harpoons, which met in 2006 and began performing while attending Tufts University in Boston.

Album: Day of the Dog

Chrvches "Lies"



Random fact: The Scottish synth-pop band performed a stellar cover of Whitney Houston's "Ït's Not Right But It's Okay" for BBC Radio. Check out here.

Album: The Bones of What You Believe In

Slushy "SF Gals"



Random fact: Slushy hail from the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Way to go local talent. You know who else is from Logan Square. These guys....

Brother Ember "Electronicsh"



Random fact: The same studio Eric Sherman and Co. record is the same studio where The Attagag records.