Radiohead - Separator

I love how this is simply, fittingly titled “Separator.” After “Lotus Flower” come the two heaviest songs on the album before this lulling song sweeps in. The memorable guitar line shimmers on top of everything and eventually Thom Yorke is singing, “If you think this is over then you’re wrong,” while the entire time he’s been asking to be awaken. There’s something about the way the drums sound – they’re crisp and precise when needed, looming and booming in other parts and they have an impeccable tempo. When the music creeps in and you hear the snare against the sound of background chatter, there’s something great about that for some reason. After you’ve come out of the deep abyss that the previous two songs put you in, this is like the sky opening up only to find that you’re in a deep slumber.

The song itself is probably about a million different things but I think the line, “I wanna slip over and get back under” is probably the most poignant one. Something tells me that a lot of the songs are about letting go and often, our dreams take over our realities and blur them. The words recall a lovely encounter with someone that you still long for and desire but she continues to reject you and so in the end, you want to be awaken from the bittersweet dream of being with someone who can’t give you what you want. There’s uplifting confidence everywhere on the album and it’s such a stunning way to close it all out. – Bryan


(P.S. Apparently there's been talk that maybe Radiohead is getting ready for another album to release to all - which i personally doubt - but it's interesting to note the song's words and how the song title refers to a separation of sounds. Maybe like one album to another...supposedly orders for the album are classified as TKOL1 (The King of Limbs 1?) meaning that maybe TKOL2 is out soon but who knows. Thought i'd share it too.)

Radiohead - Lotus Flower

The new Radiohead album. I’ve been in love with it since Friday night. I pre-ordered my copy after a smart bird told me about it and was waiting for the digital copy on Saturday. I found out about the day before trick later on in the day on Friday so I got home in the evening and next thing you know, I had a fever and was pretty sick. Around midnight I decided to get my copy and listen to it right then and there from front to back as I played FIFA. It was a pretty amazing experience actually. Here I was with a sordid fever, a bad cough and a throat that was killing me and I was getting rewarded with Radiohead’s gorgeous new album. The album was a shock to my ears and it still is, every single sound off it continues to just pour this amazing energy, soul and heart, it’s absolutely beautiful.

I find it crazy when reading reviews that say it’s not that good, or that it’s gonna be their most divisive, that it’s too short, that it’s not In Rainbows. I mean, come on.

So through the weekend, I tried to get better by taking vitamins and drinking lots of liquids. It didn’t work because I found out Monday afternoon that I had a throat infection and well, I was pretty sick apparently. But through that time, The King of Limbs tried to nurse me back to health the best way it could. I’m finally almost better although yes, I still have a small sick vibe ha, and now, I cannot listen to this album without finding something else I love in it. I’ve probably already outplayed the heck out of it but it’s a new album, it takes a lot of listens to finally ‘get’ and yes, it’s a Radiohead album – too – so it’s gonna be awesome, always.

“Lotus Flower” was one of the first ones that I really connected to when it came to the lyrics. But there’s so much going on here. The patterns the percussion plays envelope this circular path where there’s hand-claps, scattered snare parts and a relentless kick-drum that bangs away forcefully and that’s percussion only. All the other instruments shift in and out focus while Thom Yorke’s voice is in the spotlight again. But the words, right, he’s singing about maybe the fact that it feels beautiful when you can feel that empty space in your heart for the one you used to love and tonight, we get to set them free? There’s that affectionate side where you’ll inch up to someone and next thing you know you’re the little toy in their pocket and basically, they’ll do whatever they want with you. And that’s because all you do is balloon their head even more by showering them with love. Radiohead’s songs can also draw various inspirations, Buddhism is felt here, especially with the lotus and the fact that it’s all about accepting your faults, your strengths and everything as whole. And the way he sings, “Because all I want is the moon upon a stick” and how his voice climbs the walls is amazing. I was even more enthused when I found out that they did a video for the song where you get to see Yorke dance the entire time and it is below. They’re amazing for not selling out to vevo, for making such an amazing video on such a basic idea and well, after listening to the songs about 20 times and then seeing a video where Yorke moves to the aforementioned different beats and patterns is amazing too. It’s an amazing song, but I’ve probably already mentioned that and so are the other 7 songs on the album and maybe I can talk about them later. There’s a more ‘professional’ review of the album by me in other publications but here, it’s all from my heart. And why not, ending it all, Yorke offers some advice to this harsh world: “Listen to your heart.” Sounds good to me. – Bryan

The work of Dougal Wilson

I wish I could say I've been up on Mr. Wilson's amazing work for a while, but the truth is I just barely came across it. Born in Heswall, England, Dougal studied physics at Durham University. He went on to work for an advertising agency before moving to London to pursue his career in directing. And Thank god he did. Most famous for his music videos, Wilson also has directed many commercials and even short films. His style is very unique, blending a fair share of classic cinematography with a touch of the avant garde sensibility so many new directors like Michel Gondry and others have. Here are a music video, a commercial and a short film from one of my new favorite directors.

An amazing video shot for Melbourne rockers The Temper Trap's song "Love Lost" from their 2009 LP Conditions. Everything about this video is awesome from the kids lip syncing abilities and heart felt performances to the mad cheesey but right on point choreography!


Having a daughter myself, this commercial almost brought me to tears. Oh and for non Brits, John Lewis is a faceless department store throughout the UK, how ironic.


A truly cool short silent film based on the aria from the Opera "The Barber of Seville"


Okay one more music video from Mr. Bad Ass director. For The Lcd Soundsystem jam "Tribulations".

Holy shit speaking of Lcd Soundsystem, did ya know they're calling it quits!!! Seems like frontman James Murphy is ready to hang up the dancing shoes for record exec shoes. Alls I know is seeing them this past year at ACL makes it all that much sweeter knowing it was possibly one of the last times to ever catch 'em.. The Last song on one of 2010's best best best albums This is Happening, here's the dope ass vid for "Home", also the closer from an amazing show under a sun setting sky one beautiful evening in ATX! -Nick
Bonus Bonus Vid

Grizzly Bear - Friend EP

There are so many superlatives that have already been used before to describe Grizzly Bear’s sound: it’s aesthetically rich and substantial, it’s built around the foundation of four stellar musicians that all take turns singing, playing melodies, delivering harmonies and in the end, they create a truly gorgeous sound. I remember hearing Yellow House and being amazed at its dark palette of colors, that although their music was definitely never ‘bright,’ it was surely colorful. The Friend EP is something they did before Veckatimest came along and it features a few originals by the band, a few covers by the band and a few covers of their music by other bands. I’ve been reminded of them a lot this past week in finding someone else that also loves them, plus Blue Valentine was a terrific movie to see last night and the music in it is 90% Grizzly Bear.

For fun, here is CSS’ cover of “Knife” in its electronically-infused, poppy sheen. It’s cool to hear such depressing lyrics in this upbeat manner:


I’m still not entirely sure on the story behind “Deep Blue Sea” but I’m pretty sure it’s a cover of an old traditional song. I imagine it probably sounds entirely different to the one on Friend. I was gonna post that one here (and say some flowery stuff about how its simplistic nature leads to subtle and stunning beauty) but I can only find the version that’s found on the Dark Was the Night compilation. And they aren’t that different but well, they’re dissimilar for sure, either way here’s that one because it’s still a lovely song:


And so Blue Valentine ends with the choir version of “Alligator,” the same version used on Friend. It’s a downright classical blend of swirling instruments and voices that turn into a huge cascade of sounds. I think the fact that it’s so disjointed and never really in focus is what makes it that much more endearing and then suddenly, when it explodes and the beat kicks in, everything sounds just right. They’ve got such a knack for finding the perfect balance in their music that even when they’re singing “You are my alligator” over and over, it sounds sublime. – Bryan

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin

Back in 1999 when I thought I knew a lot about music one of the first heavy, new, albums for me was this one by The Flaming Lips, The Soft Bulletin. I had heard old records for the first time (stuff from the 60s and 70s) but I wasn’t too keen on knowing what to buy that was currently coming out at the time. All I would go off of was if it got above 4 stars in Rolling Stone or if it was commonly compared to Radiohead. I remember getting lost in the haziness of “The Spark that Bled” and being confused as to whether the wild noises were from the song or maybe the bad speaker system I had in my El Camino. And I remember getting lost in the way the music was equally pretty and stirring in a classical sense (big walls of horns, discord in the string and percussion sections) and forcefully beat-heavy in other parts. Their music sounds so large on this album and as grippingly different as it is, it’s an easy listen from front to back. And looking back, that’s what really enthralled me about the possibility of music outside of my comfort zone: that it could be different and still this amazing:


So at this point, the music purists and snobs start to think and wonder what’s so different about The Flaming Lips. They’ve been used in movies and TV before and they’ve got a pretty stellar following. I still feel guilty and ashamed for not seeing them at ACL last year – although that was to get a close spot for The National so not I’m necessarily regretful – but they’re not the most traditional band either. Midway through the album you get to “The Observer” and its wavy atmospherics; behind a propulsive beat the song blends strings, choral vocals and soaring dynamics to an outstanding peak. So while this is definitely a beautiful piece of music, it’s definitely not the most standard of sounds either.


It’s probably my favorite album by them – by a lot. It’s cohesive and its concept story about being lost in a new territory and waiting for your superman to come is entirely ambiguous and open to various interpretations. Even as epic as their music may seem, the personal ties that you can draw on your own are monstrous. With “Feeling Yourself Disintegrate” the song itself could have tons of meanings behind the absolutely gorgeous music. There’s only four lines and tons of repeating of the title, the guitar swirls behind all of the noise and the culmination of everything – the pieces of structure and all the instruments – is something out of this world. Personally, it’s about getting dumped and apprehending that ‘life without death is just impossible’ and so in life, relationships die. It’s inevitable but still, realizing that something or someone you dearly love is ending/dying is a dreadful sentiment to come to grips with. I hear this now and I think: how could someone not LOVE this? And well, there’s the snob in me again. – Bryan

The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Speaking of that 60s sound, talk about nostalgia when I dug out my vinyl copy of Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys to play today. I used to think of it as my favorite album of all time and while it still has the best song ever created on it, it’s not my absolute favorite but really up there nonetheless. This was the album that caused The Beatles to make Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the one that Brian Wilson made in response to The Beatles’ Rubber Soul. Paul McCartney has been asked about it before and he acknowledges Pet Sounds as one of the best of all time. Still, even in 1967, I can’t imagine how amazing it must have sounded to those fresh ears then; even almost 50 years later and “Sloop John B” still sounds terrific. Right in the middle of the album, it precedes the following song with an upbeat flavor and although it’s a cover on its own, the Beach Boys’ version is still timeless.


Not only is “God Only Knows” my favorite song of all time – the song that holds so much deep sentiment for me – but it’s downright perfect if you ask me. I remember hearing this song on “The Wonder Years” and then finally realizing that it was the centerpiece of Pet Sounds, it was a perfect that match. If anyone remembers that episode, Kevin realizes that at a different school, with new boys to chase her, Winnie is gone…for now at least. And they play this song as he sees another guy walk her on to the opposite bus as they drive off into the night, on separate buses, in different directions. The song’s construction is built around soaring vocals and beautiful harmonies. And the lyrics – beguiling, poignant and heartfelt – are some of the best I have ever heard. They sing about how if she ever left, ‘the world could show nothing to me so what good would living do me?’ It’s that feeling of realizing that if she ever left you, you’d be the most miserable side of lonely ever and well, who knows what it would be like without her. Either way, it wouldn’t be great at all, ‘though life would still go on, believe me.’ – Bryan

Broadcast - Tears in the Typing Pool

I have much more to say about Broadcast but here’s “Tears in the Typing Pool” because I think it’s pretty amazing. There’s such a sadness to the way Trish Keenan’s voice sounds on this song and I can’t think of any other Broadcast song that sounds like this one. I read a review that mentioned how Tender Buttons was far more stripped-down than before and “Tears in the Typing Pool” is a fitting example of that transition. I can’t get over how gorgeous her voice is and how she sings, ‘roo-oo-oom,’ and especially this line:

“The letters are sighing, the ink is still drying
I told you the truth and now I sigh too.”

I read somewhere what Keenan saidthis song means but it’s open-ended on so many levels. I have my own interpretation but I just wanted to post it because it sounds so good, so late at night; its emptiness is almost that much more mesmerizing. – Bryan

Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

I love that cover and how its simplicity stands out at you. I love how the trees probably took the most time but the street's buildings and vehicles stand out probably the most. If you look closely at the right side, there is a red tint in one of the windows, the only shade not in grayscale. And well, the lettering too, that’s great. It’s always the simple things in life that matter the most, Bibio’s Ambivalence Avenue has a way of proving just how simple beauty can be so well done. I love the bigness of “Sugarette” and how it just explodes off the black and white canvas that Bibio has presented. On the previous song, “Haikuesque (When She Laughs),” he tenders towards a soft guitar and atmospheric blends to make up a misty demeanor but on “Sugarette,” through its own hazy introduction, the booming bass is what instantly stands out to you. Perhaps this is where Ambivalence Avenue shines over Bibio’s other albums – there’s a larger-than-life sound to his music this time around and the imagery was astounding – but whatever it is, “Sugarette” is definitely one of the highlights.


Here is the remix version of “Sugarette” by Wax Stag, found on The Apple and the Tooth. It’s a lot more dance-heavy but it manipulates the melody in such a way that it comes off as fresh and inviting, instead of over-polished. The effects are far more entrancing and well, it’s a great song on its own.


So after “Sugarette” neatly caps off the first part of the album, “Lovers’ Carvings” comes dashing in with a gentle guitar that simply swoons around a sunny, warm melody. The first half of the song follows this subtle and serene flow before Bibio brings in the drums and vocals on the back-end. The song’s so simply done that it’s downright stunning because of it and the words showcase the feeling of carving your initials with a lover and even as they fade away over time, “the meaning will never disappear.” But even at that, there’s so much to get lost away in when it’s this lush. – Bryan

Peter Bjorn and John "Young Folks"

Have you ever met someone, started talking with them, and in short, things seemed to have just, “Clicked”. That the resulting conversation from said meeting, which may or may not have included a number of adult drinks has come to a conclusion that the night for the two of you due to the awesomeness of your meeting shall not end at the close of whatever establishment you may have met at. Maybe this person became your beloved spouse... probably not. Maybe your “significant other” or whatever the hell the kids are calling it these days?? Maybe, but still probably not. One night stand?? Still, it’s hard to say... Actually, there’s a pretty good chance you didn’t even get a shot at getting into this persons’ chones! But that’s neither here nor there. What is here though, is an amazing ode to the very conversation that occurs during such chance meeting. The sheer rush of meeting someone you’re really really fucking into. Hoping the whole time your drunk ass isn’t just imagining that they digg you too, and then realizing that they actually do find you interesting and for someone reason has listened to you blabber about god knows what for who knows how long. The rush of realizing that the both of you are in no hurry to part ways.
Well this is how Peter Bjorn and John apparently imagined the conversation. It goes a little like this... -nick
Peter bjorn and john -young folks by amnyam

Boy: If i told you things i did before
told you how i used to be
would you go along with someone like me
if you knew my story word for word
had all of my history
would you go along with someone like me

Girl: i did before and had my share
it didn't lead nowhere
i would go along with someone like you
it doesn't matter what you did
who you were hanging with
we could stick around and see this night through


Both: and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' 'bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you

Girl: usually when things has gone this far
people tend to disappear
no one will surprise me unless you do

Boy: i can tell there's something goin' on
hours seems to disappear
everyone is leaving i'm still with you

Both: it doesn't matter what we do
where we are going too
we can stick around and see this night through

and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' 'bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you

Interpol - Antics

I finally got out of my Spencer Krug kick with some snow and a day off from work. It’s a little strange really in that I’m at home and not really sure of what to do with myself. But so I’ve gotten tired of listening to music on the computer speakers because it sounds so bad and I decided to grab something on vinyl and just blast it off the stereo speakers. I remember listening to Antics in 2004 and loving its dark undertones and currents, and how everything swirled around their lead singer’s spectacular voice. I remember reading how this was ‘light Interpol’ as compared to the supposed ‘dark Interpol’ on Turn On the Bright Lights and well, I was still confused. Interpol’s always had a dark sound – and it’s a genuine darkness too, unlike what all the haters say – but on a few songs on Antics, I guess, they shine some light on the ominous snow.

One of the instantly recognizable songs is “Slow Hands” and its hugely dance-able rhythms and patterns. Not to mention that the words are some of the easiest to sing along to; but what really makes it stand out is how well everything seems to fit together. It’s kind of about being awe-struck with someone and realizing that there is so much going on around you that you’re missing out on. He sings “And I might stop and look upon your face…disappear in the sweet, sweet gaze” in where he simply gets lost by her “charms & grace.” The guitar is the stunning melody that always drives through and I especially love the way the instruments come in and out of focus before exploding on the choruses. All of it’s so well done, I wish I knew how to play guitar so I could sing “You make me want to pick up a guitar and celebrate the myriad ways that I love you” and actually mean it. Ha, until then.


For the longest time, I always thought of Interpol lyrics as some of the best around. It wasn’t until most recently that I found out they aren’t really that good? I’m not sure but I love the honesty and sincerity in something like “C’mere.” I remember being deeply in love listening to this song and lines like “Oh, how I love you, and in the evening, when we are sleeping” are easily affecting because of how they pinpoint just how beautiful normal life can be. The ‘oh how I love you’ line is so endearing, in how you get lost in her gaze (like mentioned before) and you just need to tell her how much you care for her. I still love the song as much as I ever did before – I’m glad it didn’t lose that luster and glean – but I can appreciate it for its overly lovely presentation now more so ,too. It’s a nice soundtrack to a snow day in. – Bryan

Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer

Speaking of Spencer Krug, Sunset Rubdown is his main gig – his main band in which he has now released three stellar albums with. This album, Dragonslayer, is easily still my most favorite album of all of 2009: it has heart, it has poignant stories, it has tremendous dynamics and diversity and it definitely has some of the most uplifting moments I could remember on any album from that year. I remember buying this and I think it’s the only vinyl I own that is autographed by all the band members; they were amazing to see live and even that experience still seems surreal. I tend to canonize things too much but in respect to what else came out, this is probably still the best album Krug has been involved in, in my opinion of course. And although this is the only song I will mention here, because it’s just so long and because I just found this amazing video for it, the entire album feels like one huge, gripping ride.

The last song, “Dragon’s Lair,” is not only the perfect kind of closure you would want – epic, plenty of different moods and a spectacular theme – but it’s this ten-minute beast of a song that is a thrilling ride all on its own. The story circles a dragon slayer who is realizing that at this point of his life, “it’s time for a bigger kind of kill.” He bids goodbye to his lover but in the most confident of ways, “I am sharpening my sword…so you can take me to the dragon’s lair, you can take me to Rapunzel’s windowsill.” And in the end, it’s still a love story on its own as he sings, “I see your face…when I close my eyes.” – Bryan