Year End Bands I Never Heard (but everyone seems to love)
Last night was ridiculous. I set an all-time record for procrastination while studying for my Music History final. It’s the time of year when everyone posts year end lists, and I frantically try and catch up on all the “year’s best” music that I had no idea evenexisted. Well,I’d say a good three or so hours passed by the time I got myself away from the computer and actually studied. But I finally did get some solid studying in, and know about 10 new bands as well. So, with no post ideas offhand, I figured I’d just do a little blurb about some of the bands I found that I liked the best. It may be too late for any of them to make my year end list, but they’re still good albums none the less.
Essex Green
Cannibal Sea
If you like Belle & Sebastian, you’ll enjoy Essex Green. I’m a big fan of both B&S and Eisley, so this seems to be right down my alley. Songs like “Snakes in the Grass” and “Don’t Know Why (You Stay)” are stand-outs, but the album as a whole is pure twee goodness. Guy/girl singing, poppy acoustic guitars, synths, and a whole lot of love fill this album. Seeing as all the albums on this mini list I learned about yesterday, this has the be the clear winner, with a solid three listens through. Better for springtime listening, but definately cheers up these cold, icy days.
- Snake in the Grass
- Don’t Know Why (You Stay)
- Rus De Lis (middle of the post)
Vetiver
To Find Me Gone
Vetiver are gentle, Iron & Wine like folk, minus the deep singing of Sam Beam. The singer reminds me of when Voxtrot do their softer songs, hence the reason I’ve always confused the two. Well, last night I finally gave Vetiver’s To Find Me Gone a listen, and it’s excellent. It’s calm, the musicianship is great, and overall I found it a nice alternative to Iron & Wine until Sam’s new album comes out sometime next year.
- You May Be Blue
- Been So Long?(album #3 on the list)
Nathan Fake
Drowning in a Sea of Love
I have no idea why the second half of ‘06 was full of ambient electronic landscape albums. The kind that offer slightly more to bob your head to than Boards of Canada, and that are all surprisingly heartfelt and organic feeling. Dosh reigns supreme in that category for me, but he was soon followed by I Am Robot and Proud, and now Nathan Fake. I wish it was summer and I was on someone’s balcony with this in my headphones, as it’s pretty much perfect for that. But even as homework music, I still found it catching my attention more than I’d wanted as I tried to let it blend in the background so I could study. If you enjoyed Dosh and I Am Robot and Proud, you’ll no doubt like Nathan Fake. If you don’t know either of those bands, then he sounds like Boards of Canada or M83. It’s electronic music with heart.
Subtle
For Hero For Fool
I won’t lie, it’s usually only at the end of the year when I ever listen to too much hip-pop and rap. It’s mainly b/c I don’t know where to look for good rap music, but I’m always more than open to listen to some truely unique rap that goes beyond the commercialized rap of Jay-Z and Kayne. So, Subtle is my first find in the best of the year rap genre, and a good find it is. The guy raps about who knows what, even the people putting him on their lists have no idea, but it’s fun to listen to. It reminds me of the music of Kenna fronted by Dizzee Rascal. What kept me listening besides his crazy fast rapping style was the music itself. Some songs have just downright great string parts in them. I think what it really comes down to is the fact that Subtle sounds like a weird hybrid of Why?, whose album Elephant Eyelash was one of my favorites of last year. Subtle doesn’t capture the same great flow and odd aspects to his music like Why? does, but it’s a solid album regardless.
So that’s the best of what I’ve found so far. If you have any suggestions, throw them my way. I’m compiling my list now and it’s looking to be a good one. I’ll keep this up all week as I find new bands on people’s lists that I enjoy.
By the way, my show went great. A few minor technicalities with the guitar connection crapping out, but overall it was a great first show and I thank everyone that came to see me play. I’ll let you know when I play next.
Nathan Fake - The Sky Was Pink (Leonardo Martin version)
