Can't sleep, another lazy entry
Beck - I've Seen the Land Beyond:
Off of what I think might(?) be Beck's first album, One Foot In the Grave, which was mostly very well written and completely unironic lo-fi folk rock. If I had to guess, this is a touching song about the end of the world.
Black Fiction - Magic Hands
I will admit I picked up this band on the name alone (the fact that the album is titled Ghost Ride didn't hurt), and was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it is. Very low-key but intense, with electric and live drums over droning guitar and warped symphonic samples. The melody in this song is carried largely by a sleigh bell, which is wonderful. The lyrics are also pretty great, a touching little bit about the hopelessness of hope
Beulah - Maroon Bible
Now that I think about it, I think I have enough songs with Bible in the title to make a mix CD. But anyway, out of all the (wonderful) bands to emerge from the gaping wound of lo-fi that was the Elephant Six Collective, Beulah definitely had the market cornered on multiple vocal melodies making the song kind of difficult to understand. But the jangly guitar and upbeat rhythm make the understandable parts pretty morbid in contrast. Perhaps it helps that the two members hated each other.
Beat Happening - What's Important
Jangly guitar, lo-fi recording, mumbled depressing lyrics,low-to-moderate amounts of feedback, it really doesn't take a doctorate to notice a theme here. Although Beat Happening does get special notice for being the first band to get national exposure for making just this type of music.
TV on the Radio - Golden Age
Not much to say about this one, other than it has the most wonderful video in existence, a terrifying thrill ride in escalating insanity that just leaves you drained.
Off of what I think might(?) be Beck's first album, One Foot In the Grave, which was mostly very well written and completely unironic lo-fi folk rock. If I had to guess, this is a touching song about the end of the world.
Black Fiction - Magic Hands
I will admit I picked up this band on the name alone (the fact that the album is titled Ghost Ride didn't hurt), and was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it is. Very low-key but intense, with electric and live drums over droning guitar and warped symphonic samples. The melody in this song is carried largely by a sleigh bell, which is wonderful. The lyrics are also pretty great, a touching little bit about the hopelessness of hope
Beulah - Maroon Bible
Now that I think about it, I think I have enough songs with Bible in the title to make a mix CD. But anyway, out of all the (wonderful) bands to emerge from the gaping wound of lo-fi that was the Elephant Six Collective, Beulah definitely had the market cornered on multiple vocal melodies making the song kind of difficult to understand. But the jangly guitar and upbeat rhythm make the understandable parts pretty morbid in contrast. Perhaps it helps that the two members hated each other.
Beat Happening - What's Important
Jangly guitar, lo-fi recording, mumbled depressing lyrics,low-to-moderate amounts of feedback, it really doesn't take a doctorate to notice a theme here. Although Beat Happening does get special notice for being the first band to get national exposure for making just this type of music.
TV on the Radio - Golden Age
Not much to say about this one, other than it has the most wonderful video in existence, a terrifying thrill ride in escalating insanity that just leaves you drained.
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