Cougar Microbes

1. The Decemberists- The King is Dead

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

2. Beirut- The Rip Tide

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

3. Death Cab for Cutie- Codes and Keys

I have been a Death Cab super fan since about 2001. ‘We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes’ is one of those albums that stopped me in my tracks, and ‘The Photo Album’ will always be one of my favourite albums of all time. However, whilst Death Cab’s quirky under the radar indie sensibilities may have been what won me over in the first place, I am unashamed in saying that indie rock pop songs (such as 2005’s ‘Plans’) are often when they’re at their strongest. Which is exactly why ‘Codes and Keys’ is so fantastic- tracks such as ‘Stay young, go dancing’ and ‘Portable Television’ are perfect indie pop for the Portland generation.‘Codes and Keys’ basically solidified it for me: Death Cab For Cutie are most definitely the band that I will never fall out of love with.

4. Bon Iver- Bon Iver

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

5. Braid- Closer to Closed

Okay, so it was only an EP, but if 2011 can be remembered for only one thing, it has to be the welcome return of Braid and their melodic pop accompanied by Bob Nanna’s distinctive vocals. This 4 track EP is hopefully the shape of what’s to come from a full length in 2012- Kinsella-core style tunes with heartbreaking lyrics. Roll on that 2001-era emo comeback..

6. Surfer Blood- Tarot Classics

Another EP, but one that is too good not to mention. Surfer Blood’s follow up to their 2010 debut ‘Astro Coast’, is all kinds of wonderful. ‘Tarot Classics’ is 4 brilliantly upbeat Beach Boys-esque tracks- the kind of songs that make you want to do spontaneous handclaps as you listen along. Main single ‘Miranda’ is Surfer Blood showing they can take the sound they encapsulated on their debut to the next level- polished hyperactivity if you will. With their second full length due next year, Surfer Blood well and truly remain ones to watch.

6. The Horrible Crowes- Elsie

Filling this year’s Hold Steady/Gaslight Anthem void in my life, The Horrible Crowes debut album oozes Jersey and Springsteen sensibilities. This is the kind of record that is made for dive bar jukeboxes, soundtracking ill advised all night whiskey drinking (the above may or may not have been based on personal experience). Brian Fallon’s vocals sound just as affecting as they do on Gaslight Anthem records, but yet benefit from the stripped down simplicity of The Horrible Crowes’ recording style. It’s a rare thing when side projects contain enough good songs to stand along, but ‘Elsie’ most definitely slots into that elusive category

7. Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

8. Bright Eyes- The People’s Key

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

9. Mister Heavenly- Out of Love

An indie-rock supergroup comprising of members of Modest Mouse, Unicorns, Man Man with Michael Cera on touring bass, Mister Heavenly had pretty good odds in producing one of the albums of 2011. Bursting full of upbeat style indie-pop, accompanied by 1950s influences, ‘Out of Love’ is a must listen for anyone who has a remote leaning towards catchy indie rock that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And if that’s not enough, their biography states that Mister Heavenly are ‘very excited by the prospect of their music being used in a big-screen, teen romantic comedy’, which is pretty much all I could ever want from a band’s press release. Instant scene points? Yeah, I think so.

10. Alex Turner – Submarine (Original Movie Soundtrack)

Movie soundtracks aren’t often strong contenders for albums of the year, but Alex Turner’s self composed soundtrack to Richard Ayoade’s ‘Submarine’ is more than worthy of a place in the list. As a huge fan of the book, the songs that Turner produced for the film managed to perfectly encapsulate the melancholy and quirkiness of the story, whilst also showing that there is more to his musical repertoire than just the Arctic Monkeys. All haunting vocals, slow beats and acoustic guitars,especially on stand out track ‘Stuck On The Puzzle’, this a mini album that is most definitely one of the best things to emerge in 2011.

TRACKS:

The Decemberists – This Is Why We Fight by IndieRockReviews

Beirut – Santa Fe by Revolver USA

Death Cab for Cutie – You Are A Tourist by mownoislam

Calgary by boniver

Braid – “Universe or Worse” by AwkwardSound

Surfer Blood – Miranda by SPEAKIMGE8

Behold the Hurricane by SideOneDummy

Fleet Foxes – Bedouin Dress by magic.arrows.blog

Bright Eyes- Shell Games (k-noble booty folk remix) by K_noble

Mister Heavenly “Hold My Hand” Live at KDHX 11/12/11 by KDHX

Alex Turner – Stuck on a Puzzle (2011) by EmergencyBroadcastSongs

“I know loads of you noticed that I dropped the shaker half-way through that song,” announces Jack Goldstein, the unassuming front man of Oxford band Fixers. After a brief apology and deliberation the group reach a mutual decision. “Let’s play it again.”

Most people inside Hoxton Bar & Grill were too busy bopping to notice the slight hitch. They are not complaining though, as the five-piece launch back into an immaculate rendition of ‘Crystals’, a sparse but pulsating slice of pop. This, merged with sweet harmonies, is their signature sound.

The unorthodox decision to replay the same song, to get it just right, is a reflection of Fixers’ craftsmanship and attention to detail, the result of which has seen these boys come far, very quickly. The BBC, NME magazine and the Guardian are all over these guys and it is easy to see why. They layer chiming guitars over electro samples and build up to epic choruses – without straying into Snow Patrol territory.

Every song is greeted with approval from the eclectic mixture of observers, which ranges from hipsters in their twenties to old timers with – evidently – cultured tastes. The set is paced brilliantly with a blend of up-beat grooves and lower key atmospheric moments that keep everybody engaged throughout.

Taken from their upcoming EP ‘Imperial Goddess of Mercy’ the lyrics “I’m in love with a tropical world” on ‘Trans Love’  just about sum up the mood inside the venue. There is definitely an element of sunshine to Fixers’ music.

It seems harsh to pick out individuals in what is so obviously an all round talented outfit, but drummer Michael Thompson is worthy of a special mention. He barely drops a beat all evening and injects an incredible amount of energy, the evidence of which glistens on his forehead as the evening progresses.

After an hour of top tunes, the band closes with new single ‘Majesties Ranch’. This dynamic tune, driven at times by dirty guitar and at times by three-piece harmonies, sounds like something the Beach Boys may have dreamt up if they were touring Africa in the 80s.

As the set draws to a close Fixers thank the crowd politely and wish us all a very pleasant evening. We like Fixers.

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Post by Kenny
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TRACKS:

Crystals by Fixers

Cougar scribe Olivia was already heading to the Isle Of Wight when we asked if she could write a short account for us. Here is what she liked:

If there was one festival I was looking forward to this summer it definitely had to be Bestival. The Isle of Wight based festivity boasted an incredible lineup this year which included some of my all time favourite artists : The Cure, Brian Wilson, Boys Noize, Primal Scream, Robyn and Public Enemy amongst many many others.

Headlining along side The Cure was the Ice-cold-landic Queen Bjork who majestically performed her new album ‘Biophilia‘ accompanied by an Icelandic choir and an intriguing instrument which she claimed to have created. Overall she left much of the tired crowd in some sort of trance-like awe. True to oneself she did not perform her hit ‘ It’s Oh So Quiet‘ ( which she supposedly hates ) and it seems that many would have wished to hear more of her early work such as ‘Bachelorette‘ or ‘Isobel‘. However she did thank us for ‘our patience‘.

One of the highest point of the festival was definitely the return of Public Enemy with the more than enthusiastic Chuck D and hype man Flavor Flav ( and yes, his clock) who managed to make an eager crowd dance on some classic rap tunes, reminding us of their position as moguls of political hip-hop.  To be noted : PE’s guitarist Khari Wynn is probably one of the most impressive guitarist I have ever seen live. Hip Hop music was also represented by the pioneer of hip hop Grandmaster Flash who without doubt managed to give us a good lesson of what DJing should be and sound like.

The most disappointing act was in my opinion, Kelis whose perseverance in going towards electronic music and DJing is seriously starting to infringe upon her work ie: how could she mix Madonna‘s ‘Holiday‘ with the classic ‘Milkshake‘?  and how, how on earth could she play the most annoying song of the summerLMFAO‘s ‘ Party Rock Anthem‘. Please Kelis, stick to what you are amazing at.

Finally the band i was most eagerly awaiting:  The Cure. I genuinely never thought that I would one day ‘stand‘ in front of Robert Smith, one of the leading figures of the post punk/New Wave culture, who wrote some of the most amazing songs in the library of British rock music. Well their performance was as impressive as their career. They kept us dancing and singing for more than two hours playing  their biggest hits from ‘The Lovecats‘ to ‘Boys Don’t Cry‘ and of course my all time favourite ‘Lullaby‘.

Overall this year’s Bestival was a success with some great music and a super atmosphere. I can now say that I saw the Village People ( and had a great time ), the fabulous Robyn eating a banana on stage (once again); even though I managed to miss PJHarvey, Brian Wilson, Chromeo or Modeselektor. I guess I’m going to have to work extra hard to catch them all during the remainder of this year.

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Post by Olivia

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TRACKS:

The Beach Boys – Here Today

The Cure – Lullaby (live)

Bjork – Crystalline

Grandmaster Flash – The Message (Re-recorded / Remastered)

Dancing On My Own by Robyn

Primal Scream – Movin’ on Up

Five friends from Bergen, Norway, came together as the Real Ones 11 years ago while still in their mid teens, and have played ever since, gaining a reputation on the Northern European indie circuit as one of the more colourful live performers around.

With long blond hair, sprouting tufts of beard, and loud patterned shirts, they wouldn’t be out of place somewhere on the American West Coast during the 70’s. Their folksy sounds fuse psychedelic African rhythms with 3 part harmonies, 60’s pop with funky Indo-Chinese sounds, and Mbaqanga with organic rock. Each band member plays a variety of acoustic instruments, creating a rhythmical orgy of guitars, banjo, Bouzouki, Indian Jaisalmer Violin, Wurlitzer, ukulele, and fiddle, probably washed down with copious amounts of akevitt.

From the nostalgic choruses in ‘Every Dog Has It’s Day’ and ‘Lonesome Town‘, to the retro funkadelic ‘Outlaw’, and the delicate tones throughout, these songs are a bubbly collection of intelligent and adventurous, yet strangely familiar tunes.

If you like Wilco, the Beach Boys, and lazy sunny afternoons, you’ll love the feel-good optimism exuded by the Real Ones.

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Post by the delicious Dorian

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TRACKS:

The Real Ones – Every Dog Has His Day

For a little while I thought there was no chance this album would ever make this list such was the level dissapointment I felt after a first few listens.

For most of 2008 and the start of this year I waxed lyrical about WHY?‘s masterpiece ‘Alopecia. With the knowledge that the tracks on ‘Eskimo Snow‘ were recorded in the same session I had expected more of the same. Instead the Oakland combo dropped what is essentially a pop album grounded firmly in sweet melodies and layered with impressive multi instrumental structures that aim for somewhere between the Beach Boys and The Velvet Underground.

Alopecia v.2.0 it certainly is not but once i got over my initial hang up I began appreciating these 10 tracks as the natural evolution to some of the more experimental elements I had seen the band perform live. Yoni Wolf‘s vocals appear to be more reflective and slightly subdued here but scratch beneath the surface and you will notice the same cynical lyrics and curious word games at play.

TRACKS:

WHY? – Even The Good Wood Gone

NEXT: #09 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: Florence + The Machine – Lungs

PREVIOUS: #11 Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2009: George Pringle – Salon Des Refuses

Candy Claws hail from Fort Collins in Colorado; if you are up to scratch with your US geography you will appreciate that the Centennial State is filled with natural resources and wonderful landscapes but certainly does not boast its own seafront, until Hollywood’s various doomsday prophecies come to  fruition, that is.

The bands debut ‘In The Dream Of The Sea Life’ was recorded in various global locations, specifically in places the band felt a strong link to, the album blends a series of electronic samples and recordings of natural sources to create a sound that is anything but artificial.

Inspired by the 1951 Rachel Carson book ‘The Sea Around Us’, the album is a bittersweet ode to the sea evoking the French electro twists pioneered Air (remember ‘Kelly Watch The Stars’?). The use of a vocoder for some of the vocals works is tasteful as is the frequently interlaced sound of the Indian Ocean recorded during the bands sessions in the Philippines.

Despite the significant nautical premise and the band citing of the Beach Boys as one of the bands chief inspiration, this album is a million knots away from the surf rock presented by the Wilson Brothers. Dive in at the deep end and explore it for yourself.

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Review written by the relatively super Mario

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Buy ‘In The Dream Of The Sea Life’ from Indiecator Records here.

TRACK:

Candy Claws – Catamaran