The Dutchess & The Duke are back this month with a follow-up to one of my favorite albums from last year, She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke. The sophomore effort, Sunset/Sunrise came out earlier this month, and has been on heavy rotation over the past couple of weeks. Check out album opener, "Hands" below. These guys have always been able to tap into that late 60's folk rock movement, and this track/album is no different. First thing that always comes to mind with Dutchess/Duke stuff is Beggar's Banquet era Stones, but they borrow from everyone making great folk rock during the late 60's (which is a pretty large group of folks). Still too early to see if this will stand up as well as their debut, but I don't see me tiring of it anytime soon.
Some more of that affluent east coast island pop/rock that was so damn hard to stop listening to last year can be downloaded (for free) at the link below. Feel free to hate them, but it is most likely just jealousy. If this track, and their stellar debut album, is any indication, these guys are legit. New album drops January 2010.
Check out a couple of tracks from Scottish band, Frightened Rabbit's, 2008 release, The Midnight Organ Fight. Pretty straightforward acoustic rock doing the whole heart-on-your-sleeve thing. Nothing groundbreaking (but really what is anymore?) Kind of stuff you want to get drunk and sing along to with your buddies.
Music is an interesting thing. There are only 7 true notes. Every song ever written is based on those 7 notes, as well as the subtle shades of grey that lie between them.
So it's nearly impossible for anyone to truly be original, but oftentimes, upon listening to the radio, it is nearly ridiculous how closely some songs resemble others. Most of the time I chalk this up to simple chance, but it is still quite an interesting phenomenon.
Usually these songs are easy to figure out because the world of 'popular' radio is populated with derivative songs written by 'professionals' who follow a formula. However, on occasion a band will rip (or borrow) a bit of another song to create something a bit more interesting and a bit harder for the average listener to originally place.
Below are a few such songs. Enjoy the deja vu.
Coldplay - In My Place vs. Ride - Dreams Burn Down
Coldplay are a bit notorious for using bits of other bands material to create a new song (like Oasis), and "In My Place" is probably the most obscure of their rips (I give Kraftwerk a bit more weight than Ride in the popularity poll). Still though, those drums, that jangling guitar... it's eery.
Oasis - Cigarettes and Alcohol vs. T. Rex - Bang a Gong
At least Noel Gallagher owns up to it. He knows he steals and he's proud of it. The way he does it makes it into a sort of an homage... still though, c'mon man, moving it down on the scale a bit doesn't change what it is. Still prefer your song... "what's the point in finding yourself a job when there's nothing worth working fer?"
Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams vs. Travis - Writing to Reach You vs. Oasis - Wonderwall
Maybe it's because their album, "The Man Who", was phenomenal, or the fact that they actually reference "Wonderwall" in the song's lyrics, but I don't have as much of a problem with Travis redoing "Wonderwall" as I do with Green Day's rip... or maybe it's just the fact that everyone in the country creamed themselves over an album that's 75% a ripoff.
Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia vs. Brian Adams - Summer of 69
Here they go again.
Green Day - American Idiot vs. Korean Pop?
Ok, this one is most likely just coincidental.
Green Day - 21 Guns vs. ELO - Telephone Lines
Next album.
Alright... this post got away from me and really devolved into a green day slam, didn't it? Ah well... slam on. 21 Guns just really set me off... or maybe it was Tre Cool's plastic face on MTV Hits.
In case anyone thought that there wasn't any rock and roll going down this summer, the Dead Weather (Jack White's other other band - he's the drummer in this one) have released a pretty filthy blues rock album, Horehound. Alison Mosshart (of the Kills) handles most of the lead vocals on Horehound, and she somehow manages to be terrifying, possessed, and rather hot all over this thing. Meanwhile, White may be commanding the skins, but his presence (as always) is most definitely felt. The whole record is pretty heavy, but this cover of Bob Dylan's "New Pony" is something else.
Seeing as summer is in full swing here, I figured I would post five summer jams that have come out this year. 2009 has been a great year for music thus far, and there is no lack of great tracks out there to soundtrack your summer. Something about the summer lets us put our pretentious ways aside and relax a little. A great summer jam will get people out of their seats and out on the (proverbial) floor. You will notice all of these songs are upbeat and easy to sing along with. So roll down your windows, turn up the volume, and try not to sing along to these five summer jams. I dare you.
YACHT - "Psychic City (Voodoo City)" Electronic duo, YACHT, puts out a pretty straight-forward pop song with speak-sing verses and a refrain that you will not be able to get out of your head.
Discovery - "Osaka Loop Line" Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot's Wes Miles make up the electronic/R&B duo, Discovery. Sounds crazy, but it works. The group's whole debut album, LP, is made for the summer, but this track in particular has a sort of Postal Service meets the effervescent production of Vampire Weekend thing going on.
Animal Collective - "Brother Sport" The obvious summer jam picks off of AC's 2009 release, Merriweather Post Pavilion, are probably the stellar "My Girls" and (the more appropriately titled) "Summertime Clothes". However, I think the main summer number here is album closer, "Brother Sport". In true AC fashion, this one is all over the place with looping beats and synths that build a thick wall of sound. At about the three-minute mark though, when you think your Ipod is stuck, the noise clears out and AC shut it down with some of their classic Brian Wilson-esque harmonies (on repeat, of course).
Japandroids - "Young Hearts Spark Fire" I know this is the second time this track has shown up. That should be enough explanation of why you need to check it out. Straight-forward two piece rock and roll outfit turns up the distortion and the lays down the hooks.
The Very Best (ft. Ezra Koenig) - "Warm Heart of Africa" Yet another Vampire Weekend alum showing up here. This time it is lead-singer, Ezra Koenig, guesting on The Very Best's "Warm Heart of Africa". It is the East Coast charm of VW meeting the West African pop of The Very Best half-way in the middle.
Not really sure there is much I can add that will do this clip justice. Just check it out. Spectacular track from a spectacular album (Veckatimest). Have listened to this particular song about 40 times (the album, in full, about 25 times) in the past month and those harmonies floor me everytime. Gonna be a battle for album of the year this year. Lots of great bands putting out great albums.
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