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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Triple J Hottest 100, 2014

10. Wildcat! Wildcat! - Hero

This is tha JAM!

9. Snakadaktal - The Sun II

Burst my lungs

8. The Shins - So Now What?

I had this crazy idea

7. #1 Dads - Return To {Ft. Tom Snowdon} 


I'm just having a hard time, yeah.

6. Dustin Tebbutt - Bones 



5. Husky - I'm Not Coming Back


4. Bon Iver - Heavenly Father



3. Asgeir - Higher

I lift my mind to the sky and I let it take flight

2. Glass Animals - Gooey


right my little pooh bear

1. The Kite String Tangle - Arcadia 

you were trying to make it work,
you were sleeping in my shirt, Arcadia.
sometimes things don't come full circle
I was hoping that you'd care
I was distant, I was scared, Arcadia...


Monday, March 31, 2014

6. WASHED OUT - PARACOSM

6. WASHED OUT - PARACOSM

My oh my, Ernest Greene is extraordinary.

Ever since I heard the song, "Feel it All Around" from the 2010 EP, Life of Leisure, I have been hooked on Washed Out.

Paracosm is the second album from Washed Out, their first, Within and Without being released in 2011 when I did my first ever uni exams. I interchanged between listening to Washed Out - Within and Without and Bon Iver, Bon Iver during those winter months and both albums hold very special places in my heart... I digress.

We are introduced to Paracosm with "Entrance" which is an instrumental track with birds as backing (?vocals) then we are drawn into the glorious second song, "It All Feels Right" and I can assure you when listening to that song, it does all feel right.

The album follows the same pretence as Within and Without and you know what? that's totally ok. There are some new sounds from Greene but it's always good to stick to what you know.

Dreamy, ethereal and even poignant, this album ends with "All Over Now", the perfect ending to an almost flawless album.

Well fucking done.

listen to
Don't Give Up

It All Feels Right

All Over Now


7. VOLCANO CHOIR - REPAVE

7. VOLCANO CHOIR - REPAVE 




If anyone knows me well or has read this blog, they'd know that I have a big, big, big thing for Justin Vernon (Bon Iver mastermind)... my affinity for his music does not stop with Bon Iver, I am as equally enchanted by Volcano Choir. 
Volcano Choir's original line-up consisted of Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Daniel Spack, Justin Vernon

and Thomas Wincek. Mueller and Wincek both left the band and Matthew Skemp on bass was added. Volcano Choir formed in 2005 and the band released their debut album, Unmap in 2009. The followup to Unmap, Repave is so dense and heavy yet it has a kind of spiritual air to it. 

Repave features Vernon's trademark falsetto-prone and at times husky strains are as evident as ever. 

This album is a delight, I wouldn't expect any less from Volcano Choir and indeed Justin Vernon. 



Listen to 
Byegone

Comrade

and 
Tiderays

8. LORDE - PURE HEROINE

8. LORDE - PURE HEROINE 


If you were to describe this album in one word it would have to be "cool". 

This debut album from the 17 year old Ella Yellich-O'Connor from New Zealand is freaking COOL. 
You really have to hand it to Ella, she has made a pretty awesome name for herself.

Drawing upon themes that may not necessarily mirror her life, they have most certainly struck a chord with her fans worldwide. 

Again, I was lucky enough to catch her perform at Laneway festival and she did not disappoint her adoring fans. She's a unique, fresh and exciting new artist and I can only predict that her successes are only going to grow. 

With a hip vibe Ella's debut album is freaking awesome. This outspoken teen is the real deal! 

listen to 
Tennis Court

400 Lux

and of course
Royals

Sunday, March 9, 2014

9. BORN RUFFIANS - BIRTHMARKS

9. BORN RUFFIANS - BIRTHMARKS 

"I belong to no one
Like the watermelon 
Rolling with momentum, spitting out its seeds
Buried under snow and waiting just to show us
How it grow and knows how yummy it will be

I belong to no one
A song without an album
Long forgotten maxim spoken to the sea:
I belong with no one/ I belong with no one/ I belong with no one...
you belong with me"
Born Ruffians - Needle
I have followed Born Ruffians ever since I first saw them live at Laneway festival in 2009 - when they toured to promote their first album, "Red, Yellow & Blue" (2008) and I fell in LOVE with them. They released their second album, "Say It" in 2010 but I didn't get to see them when they toured in 2011 but I digress.

Birthmarks is an album that is definitely different to their older more acoustic based tunes and definitely explores singer Luke LaLonde's vocal range a whole lot deeper. He's pretty damn amazing and he makes these tunes sound oh so sexy - don't believe me? listen to the album and you'd understand why I swoon. I can guarantee you won't find many bands who have such a distinct sound as Born Ruffians do. If you've never heard of them then this is your chance to right your wrongs! 

I don't know what exactly makes this album so good but it definitely helps that I want to get up and dance to the majority of tunes on this album - there are some melancholy exceptions, see: Never Age & So Slow which is about a person's battle with cancer. They lament, 

"oh, so slow
slow like a thunder roll
my pollution rolls off the earth into a hole
black and white slow mo
treat it with the chemo
but it breeds and grows
and it comes
so
slow"


My favourite tunes are:
"Needle"

"Permanent Hesitation" 


"So Slow" 


10. FRIGHTENED RABBIT - PEDESTRIAN VERSE

10. Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse



Frightened Rabbit are a bunch of cool dudes from Glasgow, Scotland who formed in 2003. The band currently consists of Scott Hutchison (vocals, guitar), Billy Kennedy (guitar, keyboards), Grant Hutchison (drums, vocals), Andy Monaghan (guitar, keyboards) and Gordon Skene (guitar, keyboards).

I recently saw them at Laneway Festival as well as their sideshow. I've seen them a couple of other times over the years and they're fantastic, though Scott did exclaim at Laneway, "We're fat, we've got bad hair and you'll probably hate us. Fuck it we're playing for you anyway." Which really couldn't be further from the truth - everybody loved them! A solid dance fest was had.

I just love the fact that Scott Hutchison sings with hints of his Scottish accent - it's really cool and the lyrics are very thoughtful.

Their 4th album, Pedestrian Verse did not disappoint hence why it is in my top 10 albums of 2013.

Sometimes the greatest albums come from tried and tested sounds for bands and although Pedestrian Verse does step away from previous sounds heard on the likes of Sing the Greys (2006), The Midnight Organ Fight (2008), and The Winter of Mixed Drinks (2010), you can still feel the same moods and effect that Frightened Rabbit are known for.

My favourite tracks include "The Woodpile"

"Late March, Death March"


Monday, January 27, 2014

Top 10 albums of 2013

So I have decided to do a series of individual posts talking about my top 10 albums of 2013.

Previously I have had one big post but there were some incredible albums released last year and I have lots to talk about.

I hope 2014 is just as good for music - I always get excited at the prospect of a new top 10 for the new year when January comes around.

Keep your eyes peeled for my top ten coming soon.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Triple J Hottest 100, 2013

It's that time of year again where we vote for our top 10 songs of the year, they go into a massive pile and we find out the top 100 songs of the year before on Australia Day (January 26 for all of you overseas punters) and lament the fact they missed our favourite songs, then we vow never to vote in the countdown again but every December we just can't resist putting our 2 cents in. Without further ado, here are my top 10 songs of 2013.

These songs also happen to have some pretty damn cool film clips to go with them. Great success!

10. Frightened Rabbit - The Woodpile



9. Big Scary - Twin Rivers


8. Volcano Choir - Byegone


7. Vance Joy - Riptide


6. Born Ruffians - Needle


5. Local Natives - Heavy Feet


4. Clubfeet - Everything You Wanted


3. CHVRCHES - Recover


2. Cloud Control - Dojo Rising


1. Big Scary - Luck Now


Wednesday, November 20, 2013

a mixtape for november

November is upon us yet again and in Australia it means that it's 1 month closer to Summer! My favourite.


The Monument. (Washington, D.C. January 2013)

  1. The Middle East - The Land of the Bloody Unknown
  2. The Shins - Sealegs
  3. Cloud Control - Dojo Rising
  4. CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share
  5. The Seabelies - Armour 
  6. PVT - Window
  7. Pinback - Syracuse
  8. The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
  9. Cults - Go Outside
  10. Cloud Control - Scar
  11. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Fright Night (Nevermore)
  12. Vance Joy - Riptide
  13. Yeasayer - Henrietta
  14. Grizzly Bear - Speak in Rounds
  15. M83 - We Own the Sky
  16. Thieves Like Us - Forget Me Not
  17. Belle & Sebastian - Your Cover's Blown
  18. Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
  19. Clubfeet - Everything You Wanted
  20. Washed Out - Feel It All Around
  21. The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (a bonus track for good measure) 

Friday, September 6, 2013

a mixtape for september

Welcome to Spring or as I like to call it SEASON OF DEATH BY POLLEN!

Shameless plug for a tight little band outta Sydney, Ginger & Drum (I may be a tad biased) but these guys are pretty damn cool. If you're around Sydney on the 14th of September I suggest you check out their EP launch at FBi Social! 


  1. Sunny Levine - No Other Plans (Ft. Young Dad)
  2. Ginger & Drum - Cowboy
  3. CHVRCHES - Recover
  4. Cloud Control - Dojo Rising
  5. Animal Collective - In the Flowers
  6. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
  7. Big Scary - Twin Rivers
  8. Mr. Little Jeans - Rescue Song (RAC Remix)
  9. Clubfeet - Heartbreak (Ft. Chela) 
  10. Ben Folds - Draw a Crowd
  11. Craft Spells - Party Talk
  12. Vance Joy - Play With Fire
  13. Scott McKenzie - San Francisco
  14. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
  15. Chairlift - I Belong In Your Arms
  16. Bombay Bicycle Club - Lights Out, Words Gone
  17. Washed Out - Don't Give Up
  18. Born Ruffians - Too Soaked to Break
  19. Kisses - Midnight Lover
  20. Big Scary - Final Thoughts with Tom & Jo 
listen to this mix on 8tracks