I mean this in the nicest sense, when i say that multi talented musician Bobby Birdman is a crooner. Hailing from Los Angeles his real name is Rob Kieswetter and he released an album only a little while ago called New Moods. I bought it on vinyl, (because honestly is there any other tangible form of music that can compare?) and have been listening to it on repeat for about two days. Yes I may have overdrawn my bank account buying it, but if there was one thing that I was going to do that on it would be this album. It’s really good. Not blow your mind make your ears do inappropriate things amazing but still really well done. Filled with various songs that you will no doubt listen to while driving during the summer, with the sun in your hair and your friends are sitting to the right, it is a a very hit you in the chest with beats than give you a break with some stunningly good slow jams album.

And man these slow jams are good.

That is just one of them, and is actually the only real video made for the new album, called New Moods. My main complaint with this album is that I had so much anticipation built up before listening to it, that when I finally got around to it I was slightly let down. I don’t really comprehend why either, and that’s the worst part of it. I think that for me at least this album is going to be alot like “Where The Wild Things Are”. Meaning that right now I am  underwhelmed, but when I listen/see it another three times I’ll probably be moved to tears.

The album is starts off with the synth pop gem Only For a While. Filled with jittering drum beats and Bobby’s voice in all it’s warbly glory it sets the tone for the rest of the album. Overall if I were to rate this album (which in all honesty I think is an overly simplistic way of reviewing music) I would give it an 8.5 out of 10. This will probably change in about two days though, when I listen to it more than three times.

Local dance punk staples Guidance Counselor just released their new album, and holly balls is it good. Like, I don’t think you will understand how good it is, until you listen to it and realize the shear awesomeness  blasting into your ear holes.

Both my brother and I call this band, for next big thing out of Portland. We sincerely believe that they are going to be the next, Starfucker, or Elliot Smith, or…. nope that’s the only famous Portland musicians I can think of. With songs that are this well made and this catchy, I can’t see why they wouldn’t be.

The stand out songs on this album, are in my opinion “Life is Tyte” and “I don’t want to speak”

The first is a pop/dance gem effortlessly switching between joyous and melancholic. Starting out with rippling synth and then building up to a perfectly timed crescendo into a dance hall beat. Ian Anderson’s vocals work magic here, leaning between a melancholic voice that mumbles the words out, and singing joyfully.

“I don’t want to speak” is a synth punk dance masterpiece. Ian’s voice screams and cracks, like a better version of James Murphy over crunchy synth beats, and a driving bass heavy drum beat. With a great breakdown in the middle that then goes into the final moments with cymbals blazing away, it blew my mind the first time I heard it. Especially so since, I remember seeing him perform two years back with only a bank of electronics in front of him, and a microphone to scream his lungs into.

Kudos to Ian, Andy, Brett, Keil, and anyone else who worked on this album. You have created something that is incredible.

This is a video of people getting hit in the face with cupcakes. The song behind it is ” I don’t want to speak”

I went into downtown Portland on Record Store Day about two weeks ago with my brother, where I spent way too much money, and bought fourteen new and used records (I’m trying to build up a collection o.k?! geez sheesh)among them the new Beach House album entitled “Teen Dream”.

It is absolutely stunning.

Lead singer Victoria Legrand has one of those haunting rich voices that gives you shivers the first time you hear it. With a range that can go between smokey low croons, and the highest of high yelps she commands each song masterfully. Her voice reminds me a lot of the singer Nico from The Velvet Underground. But better.

Alex Scally is wonderful at providing simple haunting guitar, piano, and synth riffs to go along with her voice. Shimmering, and dreamy and wonderful, i don’t know what they do to make their guitars make that noise, but i want it. THESE SONGS WILL GET STUCK IN YOUR HEAD FOREVER.

acoustic version of Used to Be off of their last album Zebra

I would highly recommend this album to anyone.

Did you know that there is a new Rogue Wave album that just dropped? Did you know it’s really, stunningly good ? It’s melancholy, and beautiful, and joyous all at the same time. With richly layered guitars, cascading over each other, distorted angular beats that are perfectly timed, and beautifully graceful voices it really is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time. My only issue with it, is that it seems to lean almost a little too much on the teachings of The Shins/Death Cab for Cutie. While some may think this isn’t a bad thing, to me I find it distracting from how good the songs that don’t rely on that formula are. The first single off of the record entitled Permalight is called Good Morning (the Future), and is a electronic twinged  up-beat song with a driving beat and a tendency to repeat itself. While I personally don’t think it’s the best song off of the album, it does seem to be the most mass media friendly. Here’s the video they released with it.

Rogue Wave - Good Morning from Rogue Wave on Vimeo.