Cougar Microbes

It was an eye opening moment when Radiohead released ‘In Rainbows‘ and gave their fans the choice of at what price to purchase it at. The moral implications of this were far greater than one might think in this disposable era.

Jonathan Dagan aka J. Viewz decided his latest project would be as modern and intelligent as the music of that he produces. In the early stages of this mini masterpiece, fans would pay for an album in advance and release a song a month, sent digitally, before culminating the album and producing a twenty six page booklet with beautifully thoughtful artwork. This would leave fans with a full package, yet by giving them small chunks of a whole, leaves fans desperate for the next song and in turn, a sense of longing for the finished piece.

Musically it is a very exprerimental yet expressive album, lying somewhere between Neon Indian, Passion Pit and Zero 7, up beat electro pop backdrop sometimes submerging beneath a watery haze of chillout lounge, and minimalist soul.

‘Meantime‘ is a great example of these two themes melting together, with Japanese house synths and soft vocals rolling like two colours of smoke above a solid lanscape of straight beats.

As time goes on, genres will get harder and harder to define and redefine, and J. Viewz is no exception. The trip-hop meets go-go dance funk of ‘This City Means No Love‘ and the Peter Bjorn and John meets late eighties LA hip-hop of ‘Salty Air‘ both don’t feel out of place, and even compliment each other. They are as unpredictable as the times of music ahead.

‘Building A Home‘ is a beautiful slab of creative layers, energetic and bold, yet thoughtful and stark. What follows it is in my opinion the strongest song on the album and keeps these themes alive. ‘Far Too Close‘ is as pop as it is creative.

While straying far from each other, each track on ‘Rivers And Homes‘ is undeniably J.Viewz.

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Post by T.R Wicks

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TRACKS:

building a home. by J.Viewz

Nada Surf‘s new album’The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy‘  shows the NYC band haven’t lost any of their melodic charm. Featuring guest appearances by musician Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices) and produced by Chris Shaw (Wilco) the band show an exceptional ability for remaining evergreen.

Take the excellent ‘When I Was Young‘ for example; it builds classically, starting with a simple jangly acoustic intro until it delivers you into a beautiful rock crescendo of crashing drums and striking guitars.

The nostalgic lyrics stay much in sync with the concept presented in the title, sweet listless thoughts concerning previous states of mind are front and center as Matthew Caws sings. As the chorus repeats “what was that world I was dreaming of“, and the music swells it is hard to ignore ones own youthful misgivings. The tones of the rock ensemble are spot on. The track is masterfully mixed, showcasing each instrument appropriately and without bombast.

The band will be beginning there latest national tour March 20th in Los Angeles, CA. The album . ‘The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy‘ is out now.

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Post written by Cole

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TRACKS:

Nada Surf – When I Was Young

Chairlift seem to do what most electro pop bands cannot, and that’s edit themselves. The critically acclaimed ‘Does You Inspire You‘ along with its heavily promoted single ‘Bruises‘ was subtle in it’s use of synthesizers and reverberated sound.

The Latest album ‘Something‘ is comprised of much lusher and moving arrangements with a backdrop of retro midi synths and themes of uncertainty and human greed. The eighties reverberation only reinforces the darker shades from this era from the unshakable motivational moods of the times, to the corporate greed and oppression.

This album is in no way claustrophobic though, it is exceptionally wide and poignant, evidence of a band at the top of their game and brimming with confidence. The warmth of this this record is what shines through and I’m sure Ghandi would’ve have something irritatingly wise to say here.

Singles ‘Sidewalk Safari’ and ‘Met Before’ are fantastic examples of this production along with the modern chic indie pop, lying somewhere between Cocteau Twins ethereal ripples and Blonde Redhead‘s stylish cooing. ‘I Belong In Your Arms’ is bold and concise and, much like the whole album, is unbelievably catchy.

The addictive bass lines from ‘Amanaemonesia’ and ‘Wrong Opinion’ should back the single pillars from this album perfectly, offering not only a record that would suit a cult 1980’s B-Movie, but also a dose of dream pop to shake your arse to wildly.

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Post by TR Wicks

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I Belong In Your Arms by Chairlift

Met Before by Chairlift

The Black Keys – El Camino

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

As a die-hard Ryan Adams fan – hello! – I have nothing bad to say about his latest creation. He can do no wrong. He’s always had the ability to defy genre, and his forte is in crafting timeless classics. And by classic I mean, modern day Neil Young – there I said it.

This time around, on ‘Ashes & Fire‘, he discards all pretense, offering up a series of stripped down ballads and a few crystallized pop songs (see: “Lucky Now”, “Invisible Riverside”, “Chains of Love”).

If you’re a sucker, like I am, for his folk-Americana roots, then be sure to give the title track a few spins. There’s nothing like those few opening verses. I don’t know what’s more thrilling – that or the laid-back love song, “Dirty Rain“.

If his “Wonderwall” cover taught us anything it’s that Ryan Adam‘s can be at his best when he pulls back, and for the most part ‘Ashes & Fire‘ is one of those albums: it’s strength is in its subtleties.

Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

Little Dragon – Ritual Union

Yukimi Nagano’s vocals give major soul to this otherwise electro outfit, and the resulting combination is thoroughly modern. This Swedish band’s recent collaborations with the Gorillaz and SBTRKT are only bringing more attention to their own releases – and rightfully so. Nagano delivers a current take on R&B that’s outside the mainstream.

Must hear: “Little Man”, “Please Turn”, “Nightlight”.

My Morning Jacket – Circuital

Rich and free-wheeling rock n’ roll with masterful arrangements.  “Circuital” is an overall solid album, full of peaks and valleys, providing the listener with a complete experience.

Key Tracks: “Victory Dance” “Circuital” “Wonderful” “Holding On To Black Metal”

Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

The Smith Westerns self-titled debut album came as a breath of fresh air in all its fuzzed-out, adolescent glory. So with the release of the more fully realized ‘Dye It Blonde‘ there was a bit of an adjustment. Though the sound got cleaned up all the flirtatious lyrics and wonky guitar remain.

Yuck – Yuck

Wilco – The Whole Love

How do you begin to review a new Wilco album?  This is a band that’s tended to the hearts and minds of listeners everywhere for 17-freakin’ years!  They’re in a class of their own.

What stands out is how inventive they are. This album in particular explores some ambient noise moments that would be space-age if not leveled by Jeff Tweedy’s down-to-earth vocals. ‘The Whole Love‘ is a rhythmic dreamscape that covers a lot of turf. It’s masterfully refined pop and melancholia sandwiched between two starkly different 10 minute tracks, beginning with a wicked melt-your-face guitar solo and ending gently with a lullaby. Delicious!

The Kills – Blood Pressures

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

TRACKS:

Ritual Union by Little Dragon

Dirty Rain by ryanadams

Circuital by My MORNING JACKET

Smith Westerns – Weekend

Get Away by Yuck

Wilco – I Might

The Black Keys – Lonely Boy

Calgary by boniver

The Decemberists – Down By The Water

The Kills – Future Starts Slow

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

2. M83- Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

3. The Strokes – Angeles

On their latest album, The Strokes never promised to be anything other than themselves. Although rarely wandering from their earnest and melodic rock and roll, ‘Angles‘ is another visceral slice of slick indie.

4. Lykke li – Wounded Rhymes

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

5. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

6.Tieranniesaur - Tieranniesaur!

Tieranniesaur have the perfect mix of dirty dance riffs and pop melodies, ‘rockblocker‘ off their debut album was the perfect summer drunken night, and one of the coolest songs of the year.

7. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part II

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

8. Alexander – Alexander

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

9. The Whip – Wired Together

The Whip really nailed their sound on wired together. It saunters with unshakable confidence, delivering atmospheric and avante garde synth pop whilst never getting above it’s station.

10. White Lies – Rituals

Even without the atmospheric density and grit that covers ‘Ritual‘s outer punk rock layers, it is an album of solid songwriting. Its fog only creates a more complex and moving second album.

TRACKS:

Calgary by boniver

Midnight City by M83

01-Rockblocker by tieranniesaur

The Whip: Keep Or Delete

White Lies – Strangers

I Follow Rivers by LykkeLi

Gil Scott-Heron And Jamie XX – NY Is Killing Me

Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold) by Beastie Boys

ALEXANDER – Truth

1. M83- Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

2: Kanye West & Jay Z – Watch The Throne

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

3: Atlas Sound – Parallax

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

4. Thurston Moore – Demolished Thoughts

For those who don’t know Thurston Moore he’s the genius behind Sonic Youth. With his solo work he offers something very different from the raw material that characterizes his band. This album is very personal, folky and acoustic, oh and it’s produced by none other than Beck. Perfect on a rainy autumn day.

5. John Maus – We Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

John Maus sometimes sounds so stereotypical that we might wonder if his music is just a big joke ! Everything is exaggerated and weird, from the way he inserts strange sounds when you least expect it, or his obvious nonstop mimicking of Ian Curtis. It’s a lot to handle, but somehow it works perfectly.

6. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

7. Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

8. Nicolas Jaar – Space is Only Noise

Jaar is only 21, but he already released one of the most acclaimed and talked about album of the year. I think that says it all.

9. The Kills – Blood Pressures

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

10. Metronomy – The English Riviera

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

TRACKS:

Atlas Sound – The Shakes

John Maus. Hey Moon

Benediction by Thurston Moore

Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise If You Can See (Dave Aju Remix)

Metronomy – The Look

Jay-Z & Kanye West – Ni@#as In Paris ft. T.I. (Remix)

Midnight City by M83

The Kills – Future starts slow [vinyl version] FullHD

Need You Now by cutcopymusic

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

1. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

2. Adele – 21

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

3. Cliff Martinez with various artists – Drive (Original Movie Soundtrack)

Drive the film was bad-ass. Ask all my friends, I was obsessed with it. The soundtrack is very much a reason for the films incredible machismo. The 80s derived pulses are all encompassing. Walking down the street with this soundtrack in your headphones makes you instantly feel indestructible (warning: this can be dangerous is Los Angeles).

4. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

5. Grouplove – Never Trust a Happy Song

When I first met Hannah Hooper of Grouplove she was describing to me how she envisioned Grouplove’s tshirts (which the company I was working for was creating). We talked about color and I complimented the artwork she brought into the screenprinting shop. Before she and Grouplove’s manager left our office they set down a copy of their EP, which included versions of “Naked Kids” and “Colours“. The EP was brash. I waited close to a year to hear ‘Never Trust a Happy Song‘ and wasn’t disappointed. The album features the energy bands like Arcade Fire seem to have lost (or perhaps matured out of).

6. Black Keys – El Camino

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

7. Destroyer – Kaputt

Kaputt was gorgeous. It is a modern headphone album reminiscent of Animal Collective’s ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion‘. Tracks like “Downtown” pair 80s saxophones with distinct harmonies. The music is entrancing and layered deep enough to find new surprises with each play.

8. Tyler, The Creator – Goblin

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

9. Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter IV

‘Tha Carter IV‘ for me is a classic hip-hop disc. Lil’ Wayne was by far 2011s boldest rap star. While Kanye and Jay-Z were busy declaring there dominance with world tours and a sub-par album, Lil’ Wayne was reminding us “How to Hate a Bitch”. The album is offensive, honest and on “How to Love” Weezy shocks us with a track that is so sensitive it is hard to believe it is coming from a Young Money Millionaire.

10. Drake – Take Care

Drake’s second full length album was nothing if not grandiose. A-list cameos and production alongside Drake’s smooth (and occasionally morose) rhymes made for 2011’s most accessible disc.

TRACKS:

St. Vincent – Cruel

Adele – Rolling In The Deep

Nightcall (feat. Lovefoxxx) by Kavinsky

Calgary by boniver

Grouplove – Tongue Tied (Gigamesh Remix)

The Black Keys – Lonely Boy

Destroyer – Song For America

Tyler The Creator – She (feat. Frank Ocean)

Lil Wayne Featuring Cory Gunz – 6 Foot 7

Drake – Headlines

1 – Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

Mogwai yet again releases an amazingly ambient yet centrally driving album filled with anticpatory progressions and songs that blend sonically disparate sections as if they were just one melodic chorus.

2 – Yeasayer – End Blood

Yeasayer’s ’End Blood‘ EP made the list thanks to its incredibly different acoustical musings from previous efforts. Described by the band as “two ideas that didn’t fit on (2010 album) Odd Blood” its a radical shift for the relatively newly established band, and hopefully the sound of things to come.

3 – Tech N9ne- All 6′s and 7′s

4 – Ashtar Command – American Sunshine

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

5 – Das Racist – Relax

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

6 – Sbtrkt – SBTRKT

7 – Yelawolf- Radioactive

8 – Atlas Sound – Parallax

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

9 – Sean Douglas –  If We’re Dying

Sean Douglas fills a void in pop music with somewhat of a Billy Joel and Elton John have a threesome with The Fray sort of vibe.  The emotions behind the songs are clear, the musical backing to his excellent and punchy voice is melodic and radio-ready, and the album as a whole works as a thoroughly orchestrated composition.

10 – The Difference – We Are Not The Same

TRACKS:

Mogwai – Mexican Grand Prix

Yeasayer – Swallowing the Decibels

TECH N9NE feat CEZA, JL, USO, YELAWOLF, TWISTA, BUSTA, D.LOC, TWISTED INSANE – WORLDWIDE CHOPPERS

“Mark IV (ft. Joshua Radin)” – Ashtar Command

Das Racist – Rainbow in the dark

SBTRKT – Wildfire

Yelawolf – The Hardest Love Song In The World

Atlas Sound – The Shakes

“Unconditional” – Sean Douglas

Out Of Order by The Difference