Röyksopp
So here’s the thing. I’m going to be a shameless attention monger right now. I need more Twitter followers so get on that would you? The boys all have like a 100 more followers than I do and I am mad jealous. Help me out kids. Go type in LindsH and click, click, click. As one of my co-workers said yesterday, “You get to learn that Lindsay hates children and loves hockey players.” What could be more relevant than that? (I do love hockey players. True story.) Hours of fun. I promise you. Anywhoo, music. Yes? Yes.
Over at Pitchfork, they’re streaming a song off St. Vincent’s new album “Actor” due out May 5th. It’s called “The Strangers” and hot damn is it good. Annie Clark’s voice is as sweet and softly powerful as ever and this particular track adds a lovely, echo-y quality to the vocals as well. It’s a very ethereal touch… which actually isn’t a far stretch for her whole persona. As always, the various instrumental layers scream “Sufjan Stevens!” so it looks like the influence he holds over his collaborators remains strong. Trust me. At the point where the song descends into some buzzy guitar feedback and mallet crescendos, you’ll see what I’m saying. (Can a song descend and crescendo at the same time? I think yes.) But that’s not a criticism at all. I love the song and cannot wait for Clark’s new album.
Disappointment of the week: I thought I would like the new Cursive LP “Mama I’m Swollen” but sadly I am very “BLAH” about it. I can’t even really explain WHY I don’t like it. I am just not feeling the excitement when I listen. It’s not doing it for me. Anyone else? Ever listen to music and just go, “eh.” You can go judge for yourself over at Largehearted Boy who is streaming the entire album. One of my favorite music blogs and majorly helpful when you are decided whether or not to make a purchase. (Yes I still buy music! SHOCKING.) Adrian feel free to chime in here. I’m sure you have a different opinion. Or some musical schooling for me.
New Röyksopp? Featuring Lykke Li? Um. YES PLEASE! Do yourself a use favor and listen to “Miss It So Much.” I am so in love with that little Swedish songstress. Her vocal styling is one of the best things to emerge out of the 2008 year and they fit in perfectly with the electronica background of this group. It’s so wonderfully confusing. The lyrics are sad but Lykke is cute and happy and Röyksopp is fizzy and poppy and… WHAT JUST HAPPENED IN MY BRAIN? I dunno. But I lllliiiiikkkkkeeeeeee it. Röyksopp’s new album “Junior” will drop March 23rd and is clearly going to be worth our time.
Well by now everyone and their mom is in love with the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album “It’s Blitz!” that came out yesterday so let’s hop on that bandwagon. I will say, I was never their biggest fan. (Yah I know, you can crucify me in the comments section. WHATEVER.) Aside from the requisite “I-have-Maps-on-my-iPod-and-know-who-Karen-O-is” I have never really given them a good proper listen. Who knows why? I have lots of stuff to do. I am aware that they took a new direction with this album (and I am glad that someone noticed the inevitable comparison to Chrissie Hynde in this video) and my final judgment is… EXCELLENCE. Have I become desensitized to my hate of synthesizers? I suppose so. They’ve infiltrated everything and now I am abandoning my long-beloved acoustic guitar for more spazzy beats. (That doesn’t mean a free pass for you Autotune! You’re still in the doghouse.) But I am particularly enjoying this video because Karen O seems so deliciously carefree. And I find the whole album is attempting to carry across this same sort of feel as well. Really digging it. Perhaps I should spend more time with this group and get better acquainted over all.
OK kiddos. See ya next Wednesday. Also let me now what you think in the comments section. I’m thinking of running with some genre-themed “Stuff iLike” features. Would you be interested?
