{"id":3594,"date":"2014-10-01T13:14:10","date_gmt":"2014-10-01T17:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/?p=3594"},"modified":"2014-10-01T13:14:10","modified_gmt":"2014-10-01T17:14:10","slug":"september-2014-music-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/01\/september-2014-music-update\/","title":{"rendered":"September 2014 music update."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>September was a heavy month for new releases, but a light month for good new tracks. I reviewed <a href=https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/23\/this-is-all-yours\/>the new alt-J album<\/a>, the best release of the month, earlier and haven&#8217;t included them here. Here&#8217;s the newest Spotify playlist, which includes all of the tracks I listed here but two:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.spotify.com\/?uri=spotify:user:keithlaw1:playlist:6Q500TFvIg2N7hkcu63tv6\" width=\"300\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Superhumanoids<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00KHD6E46\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00KHD6E46&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=T45Q6S6JY67R2U2A\">Come Say Hello<\/a>\u201d\/\u201dHey Big Bang.\u201d I was remiss in omitting these tracks from the August playlist. Sarah Chernoff&#8217;s vocals are just incredible, a true soprano soaring over two memorable dream-pop backing tracks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Snakehips ft. Sinead Harnett <\/strong>&#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00MZL7NX4\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00MZL7NX4&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=DACVO2ZOYHFQ4XX2\">Days With You<\/a>.\u201d A soulful trip-hoppy track with unforgettable vocals from Harnett that I first mentioned back in June but that wasn&#8217;t released until the very end of August.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Kooks<\/strong> &#8211; \u201cForgive &#038; Forget.\u201d Maybe the best track from their newest album, reviewed <a href=https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/09\/the-kooks-listen\/>here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strand of Oaks<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00KW9BCXI\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00KW9BCXI&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=BVKKOOMXP7D6ZDVZ\">For Me<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00KW9BCXI\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d I found their new album to be wildly uneven, often far too low-key given their overall sound, but when Tim Showalter cranks up the tempo just a little bit he finds a sweet spot where the contrast between the guitars&#8217; distortion and his lyrical laments is perfectly balanced.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Broods<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00L4JJC82\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00L4JJC82&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=PMWGUMVIFFVFKRUU\">Mother &#038; Father<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00L4JJC82\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>\u201d Not quite as good as their first single, the amazing \u201cBridges,\u201d but boasting a similar combination of a strong melody and Georgia Nott&#8217;s ethereal vocals. This is listed on Spotify but the song isn&#8217;t playing for me right now, so it may no longer be available.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00MZ4X8GW\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00MZ4X8GW&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=JIEQCVTYEDRXTJCP\">Cecilia And The Satellite<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00MZ4X8GW\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d Modern synth-pop, reminiscent of the Hooters (perhaps because that band had a minor hit called \u201cSatellite\u201d too) with earnest vocals at the front of the mix.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tweedy<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00L8XH1QY\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00L8XH1QY&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=RSG37VT3P2RY2WV3\">Low Key<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00L8XH1QY\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d Mostly included just so I can link to <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=29YGcuRk3mM>the video<\/a>, directed by Nick Offerman and starring, among many others, John Hodgman and Michael Shannon.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Max Jury<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00N96QITO\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00N96QITO&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=2AGCIBUGPFIGLNLO\">Black Metal<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00N96QITO\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d A bit precious, perhaps, but I got a laugh out of the lyrics and <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TUXnZQNgx7s>video<\/a>, and the chorus is rather catchy. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Iowa draws on folk and country influences in his better tracks, but at other times veers off towards faux-jazz territory, which I&#8217;d say is the wrong direction for him or anyone else who wants to maintain his self-respect.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cold War Kids<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00LCJ8E7O\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00LCJ8E7O&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=ARCCLCC2OUVBEIJU\">All This Could Be Yours<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00LCJ8E7O\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d I&#8217;ve always found their music to be a little histrionic, mostly the result of Nathan Willett&#8217;s vocal style but also found in their dramatic piano\/drum riffs. Sometimes it works really well, sometimes less so, with this song, released in July as the first single off their forthcoming album, somewhere in between those two points.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Death from Above 1979<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00LIKRDRY\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00LIKRDRY&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=NT7RSCUZYPISBPQU\">Trainwreck 1979<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00LIKRDRY\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d It seems like a lot of music critics\/writers are making of a big deal about this group&#8217;s reunion ten years after their apparently one-and-done debut album, of which I have absolutely no recollection whatsoever. For electro-rock, it&#8217;s not bad, but I&#8217;m a little confused by all the hype; it seems like there are a few dozen U.K. acts putting out similar music right now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ex Hex<\/strong> &#8211; \u201cBeast.\u201d A new trio led by Mary Timony, former lead singer of noise-rockers Helium and member of Wild Flag, Ex Hex just released their debut album yesterday and it&#8217;s full of tight, power-pop tracks that betray Timony&#8217;s post-punk roots but are among the most melodic things she&#8217;s ever put out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Animals as Leaders<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00IL9VGGO\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00IL9VGGO&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=BFZ4UXL4YKZMTPAK\">Tooth and Claw<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00IL9VGGO\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d I think I mentioned these guys a few months ago, and I recognize this is pretty out there even for me, but Animals as Leaders&#8217; highly experimental, technically precise brand of instrumental metal is totally riveting for me as a longtime guitar player and occasional fan of melodic death metal \u2013 which this resembles, just without the growled or screamed vocals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Opeth<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00KJEREHO\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00KJEREHO&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=KWP4GSG4UTIS3RQE\">Eternal Rains Will Come<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00KJEREHO\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d I left this track and \u201cTooth and Claw\u201d at the end since they&#8217;re so unlike everything else on the playlist, moving way into the progressive realm right down to the Hammond organs and psychedelic harmonies. If you only know Opeth from their death-metal past, give this track a listen with fresh ears.<\/p>\n<p>Tracks not on Spotify:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ty Segall<\/strong> &#8211; \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00MRZHV6M\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00MRZHV6M&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;tag=meadowpartyco-20&#038;linkId=DEKGQ5DHWVWNIAJ5\">Tall Man Skinny Lady<\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=meadowpartyco-20&#038;l=as2&#038;o=1&#038;a=B00MRZHV6M\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.\u201d Getting a ton of play on Sirius XM right now, this song is one of seventeen on Segall&#8217;s latest album, with a simple guitar riff over a two-step percussion line that repeats incessantly throughout the song. I don&#8217;t know why they ran Segall&#8217;s vocals through reverb, which makes it sound like he recorded them from out in the hallway, but otherwise it&#8217;s a strong slice of psychedelic rock with an anarchic guitar solo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Telegram <\/strong>&#8211; \u201cRegatta.\u201d An obnoxiously British-sounding act, from the Libertines influences in the music to the lead singer&#8217;s almost indecipherable Welsh accent, so the result sounds like a bit like the Arctic Monkeys replaced Alex Turner with Gruff Rhys. The <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YCk0Q3k55Rk>video<\/a> features the band&#8217;s members wandering around Tokyo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>September was a heavy month for new releases, but a light month for good new tracks. I reviewed the new alt-J album, the best release of the month, earlier and haven&#8217;t included them here. Here&#8217;s the newest Spotify playlist, which includes all of the tracks I listed here but two: Superhumanoids &#8211; \u201cCome Say Hello\u201d\/\u201dHey [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[779,359,852],"class_list":["post-3594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-2014-in-music","tag-alternative","tag-music","entry"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3594"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3596,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3594\/revisions\/3596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meadowparty.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}