Only Now / Cayucos

My tickets to the JBM and Cayucas show at Riot Room came in the mail last week! That's the only joy that offsets the horror of the bills and junk mail that usually fill the mailbox. There's just something about receiving paper tickets in the mail instead of an email confirmation with digital tickets that just makes me happy. Like I'm going to a show that's taking place in 2001 or something. Like Michael J. Fox is going to pick me up in a Delorean before the show. 

I have lost my train of thought, as I usually do. I just want you to enjoy the lovely, calming sounds and awesome build-up of JBM's "Only Now" and follow it up with a heapin' helpin' of Cayucas playing a nice summertime jam with "Cayucos."

LP and CD available from WV: http://westernvinyl.com/shop/

Listen to Cayucas - "Cayucos" (Official Audio) by Secretly Canadian | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Doin' It Right / Instant Crush

This wouldn't be a proper music blog without posting something from Daft Punk's new album, "Random Access Memories."
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​I must admit I wasn't thrilled about the album when I heard the first single ("Get Lucky") a few weeks back, but when the album was leaked, I heard a few more tracks and became a happy camper. These two gems are my favorites so far:

from Daft Punk's 2013 album; "Random Access Memories" "Doin' It Right" features Panda Bear, and is written by Bangalter, de Homem-Christo, Noah Lennox. This is for those who cannot afford to buy the full album If you can - SUPPORT - your favorite artists Lyrics: Everybody will be dancing and be feeling it right Everybody will be dancing and be doing it right Everybody will be dancing and be feeling it right Everybody will be dancing tonight..

Listen to Daft Punk - Instant Crush feat Julian Casablancas by alsosprachzara | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Symptoms

Now that Kansas City has made the seemingly overnight transition from winter to summer, it's time to drive around with the windows down and sunglasses on.​ Today's Anthem provides the perfect soundtrack for such a wonderful activity.

Do Atlas Genius (and yourself) a favor and check out their album "When it Was Now" on iTunes. There are some very catchy songs on there that will make you do little happy dances. And that's what life is all about.

Our debut album "When It Was Now," is now available on iTunes- smarturl.it/atlas Subscribe for more new music on YouTube- bit.ly/W8yTQS iTunes - www.smarturl.it/atlas Facebook- facebook.com/atlasgenius Twitter- twitter.com/atlasgenius Tour Dates- atlasgenius.com/tour About Atlas Genius- The members of Adelaide, Australia's Atlas Genius do things a little differently....They set about building a studio where they could write and record music for their newly formed band 3 years before they even played their first live show as Atlas Genius.

Sun in an Empty Room

It's an "emo" thing. It's a part of me that will always be there. I blame the freedom and adventures of the summer of 2002 (still known to a few amazing individuals as "the greatest summer ever") for embedding within me a connection to music like this. I think that summer was the first time I heard The Weakerthans' song "Pamphleteer." It's a brilliant metaphor for hopeless, unrequited love, which plagued me and several of my young adult friends around that time. I always tie that song to my college dorm and my first Mp3 player that held 10-15 songs. Yeah. That's how old I am, kids.

The Weakerthans grabbed my attention again around 2007 or 2008 with a great album called "Reunion Tour." There are some brilliant songs on there. As expected with this band, the album is filled with amazing lyrics. They're simple. They're specific. They brilliantly and creatively describe moments in time that most people can relate to. And the bass lines are great. If you're not going to have a decent bass line in a song, you might as well not write a song. In my opinion, of course. They won't teach you that in music theory class. But they should.
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​"Sun in an Empty Room" is a wonderfully-written, catchy, emo-like song from the album mentioned above. It thoughtfully describes the details of moving out of a rented home. Most of us have done such a thing. But who thinks to write a song about it? The Weakerthans. Thanks, Weakerthans! (Insert cheesy smile and overly-enthusiastic thumbs-up here.)

The Weakerthans - Sun In An Empty Room

So Good at Being in Trouble

Usually, spring is the time that I start listening to more rock and electronic (and cheesy 90s) music as I am able to drive around with the windows down. Something about that just calls for louder, faster music. But sadly, there have been very few opportunities for that here in good old KC this spring. Today is no exception. 
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​But that's fine when songs like this come along. I can't say that I know much about this band, as this is the first song I've heard from them, but I am really enjoying its simplicity and smooth groove. Even when I feel really lame when I realize I just wrote "smooth groove." I will certainly check out more of their tunes and suggest you do the same if you like this track "So Good at Being in Trouble."

Unknown Mortal Orchestra play ATP curated by TV On The Radio this May - on sale now from http://www.atpfestival.com/events/tvontheradio.php

Yesterday Was Hard on All of Us

I simply don't understand how Ke$ha tops iTunes charts while artists like Fink go virtually unnoticed. How is it that I have heard "My Humps" and "Call Me Maybe" hundreds of times against my will, yet no FM radio station that I'm aware of has played or ever will play "Yesterday Was Hard on All of Us"?

This is a song that gives me goosebumps. This is a song that has meaning. This is a song that is skillfully, thoughtfully, and beautifully written and performed. This is a beautiful, moving, interesting song. THIS is a song.

Album version of the lead single from Perfect Darkness

Bright Lights

​It's Saturday! Time to get some upbeat music into your soul! So have yourself some Fine Times... some Bright Lights.

Produced by: Howard Redekopp Label: Light Organ Records Artwork by: Rob Carmichael at SEEN Studio

Terracur

A gorgeous, fairly simple lead guitar always gets me. So this song got me.

I want to write something thought-provoking about this song or tell you more about this band. But the unfortunate truth is that I don't know much about this group. And I don't have anything specific to share about this song. It's just a good song.

Social Studies - Terracur from the album Developer, releasing November 13, 2012 (Antenna Farm Records, ANT542) Engineered by Eli Crews, produced by Eli and the band.

Simply Simple

Keep it simple. Simply simple.

Listen to Simply Simple by Mother Mother | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Kelsey Hutton

I have dozens of incredibly talented friends. Painters, jewelry designers, writers, software developers, beer-brewing geniuses, teachers inspiring others, fellow photographers, and musicians. Each art and skill they possess amazes me. Not unlike the art of photography, these diverse specialties require passion, dedication, knowledge, and (I believe) a God-given blessing to execute. I admire each of these talented individuals for the amazing things that they cultivate and accomplish.

But one person stands out to me.

Maybe it's because of the love that I've had for her long before she revealed her skills to the world. Maybe it's because I know that her talent is pure, sincere, and continuing to grow. Maybe it's simply because I am moved by her music; I'm inspired by knowing that somewhere in the mysterious depths of the soul is the ability to create and perform this magical entity we call a song.

Anyway. The point is that I think she's great. And you might, too.

Listen to A Sailor's Curse by Kelsey M Hutton | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Listen to Time With You by Kelsey M Hutton | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Listen to Inattentive Blindness by Kelsey M Hutton | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Song for Zula

I have a really, really bad habit (as I'm sure most of us do) of listening to songs I love too much in a very short period of time. And then I don't like it quite as much. It's all my fault, and I know I do it. But when that right chord progression, that right melody, the great vocals and lyrics come together, I just don't want to stop hearing it.

So I have decided that I won't listen to Phosphorescent's "Song for Zula" on repeat.

But I have listened to it three times this morning. I can't help myself.

Taken from forthcoming album 'Muchacho'

Enemies

In another life, I was a talented musician with a gorgeous voice. And I was taller (but that's not the point I'm trying to make right now). Anyway. In this other life, I made music that sounds just like this.

Hannah Georgas stole all of the songs that I wrote and performed in my other life. I might need to take legal action.

www.hannahgeorgas.com

Post-War

This masterpiece by M. Ward may be the best song to snuggle to. And I am a strong advocate of snuggling. Snuggles make the world a better place.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Snuggle.

M. Ward - Post-War

Half Moon Run

This week's audio obsession is Montreal's Half Moon Run. Good things come from Montreal. I know this because I'm not from Montreal. And I've never been there. Anyway. Their album "Dark Eyes" is fantastic. Each song is its own journey with its own style, which makes the whole album a nice, smooth adventure. It's like a pleasant mix of Fleet Foxes, TW Walsh, and Radiohead, but with originality and catchiness that makes it almost a crime to compare it to other artists. Among my favorite tracks from their album are "Call Me in the Afternoon" (warning: some explicit lyrics) and "Nerve."

Listen to Half Moon Run - Call Me in the Afternoon by troubles i've seen | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Listen to Half moon run - nerve by katrenacat | Explore the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and creators of music & audio.

Proceed to Memory

How wonderful it is to hear new sounds from the beloved, and much-missed Pinback! It's been a few years since they've released a new album, but "Information Retrieved" has proven to be well worth the wait. "Proceed to Memory" is one of those tracks that I prefer to listen to in my car when I'm alone. Because I sing (yell) along with it. And I sing beautifully (horribly). And I know all (about 70%) of the words. My yell-singing is mostly off-pitch nonsense, but it's fun nonetheless. So take a listen at the link below. And imagine that I'm with you, yelling along.

Artist: Pinback Title: Proceed To Memory Album: Information Retrieved Order CD/LP here: http://temporaryresidence.com/descriptions/trr179.php iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/information-retrieved/id560183281

Wildest Moments

As an amazing year sprints toward the finish line with arms raised high and sweat dripping down its spine, it's time to reflect upon what happened. What changed. What we lost and what we gained. Mostly, this year was amazing for me. Overflowing with blessings that dissolved any heartache and positivity that rebuilt some hurting relationships. But that's not what we're here to discuss. This is about great music.

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite singles of 2012. And I have to share a link to the video so you can enjoy it as well. The song is beautiful and fairly simple. And the video, aside from being a one-take shot that is masterfully orchestrated, is quite simple as well. And I appreciate the often underrated power of simplicity. Plus, you gotta appreciate this gal's amazing hair.

The first anthem. It must be major.

A properly executed image can evoke emotion and awaken a memory. It can transport the mind to a moment the body never experienced. A photograph has the power to uplift, to motivate, to teach, and even to change the observer. An excellent song does just the same. Photography and music are equally important in my life, so my goal is to present you with a chance to hear a variety of fantastic songs. Maybe a new single that's caught my attention. Maybe a song I've loved for years that's been stuck in my head. Hopefully, whatever it is will bring you joy, remind you of beloved people or moments, or simply motivate you to pause for a few minutes and enjoy some sounds.

The first anthem has to be fantastic. And I think it is. It's one I'm sure you've heard, but one I never get tired of hearing: