Cougar Microbes

1) Gotye – Making Mirrors

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

2. Adele – 21

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

3. The Decemberists – The King is Dead

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here

4. Rufus Wainwright – House of Rufus

A massive 19-disc box set of all the magic of Rufus—live performances, albums, singles and b-sides. Even though I could never afford this, it makes the list for best releases. And my Christmas wish list.

5. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here.

6. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

I have always surrendered to anything written by Paul Simon, but this album has charm and wit in spades. He even managed to hold back on that penchant for African drumming.

7. Florence and the Machine – Ceremonials

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here.

8. City & Colour – Little Hell

Although I’m the first to admit this album doesn’t top City & Colour’s previous efforts, it says a lot that it still crushes most other releases of the year.

9. Cake – Showroom of Compassion

Made the Cougar Microbes Top Albums of 2011 list here.

10. J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

I’m not usually brave enough to name a favourite album, but this year it was easy. Mascis brings the power of Dinosaur Jr, the simplicity of bare and honest lyrics, and then his godlike guitar virtuosity, to bear in this true 2011 masterpiece.

TRACKS:

Eyes Wide Open by Gotye

Adele – Rolling In The Deep

The Decemberists – This Is Why We Fight

Calgary by boniver

The Afterlife by Paul Simon

Florence & The Machine – What the Water Gave Me (DhARMA Edit)

City and Colour – We Found Each Other In The Dark

J Mascis – Not Enough

Having waited for Florence + The Machine to release a followup to 2009′s excellent ‘Lungs‘ album our wish was finally granted with ‘Ceremonials‘.

This followup from Florence Welch and co. merits a spot in our top albums of the year because it combines great songwriting skills, something that is becoming rare these days, with an impressive production job from Paul Epworth.

The musicians often duel with each other in what is a considered and well crafted album but they always allow Florence‘s characteristic wail to be the albums leading light.

Our boy Mario mused that “at a time when artists are seeking to sound like “the last big thing” Florence + The Machine continue to be a bit of an anomaly. It is for this reason and many others that ‘Ceremonials‘ it can be appreciated by indie kids and Adele fans alike.”

Cougar regular Emily added ‘Ceremonials’ to her list as ”another guilty pleasure that I’m not ashamed to admit. I wish there were more energetic and euphoric music on my iPod, but Florence is a start”.

TRACKS:

Florence & The Machine – What the Water Gave Me (DhARMA Edit)

To celebrate the release of Florence + The Machine‘s ‘Ceremonials‘ album we have a copy of the album and related goodies to give away to one reader.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to comment on THIS post in the Cougar Microbes facebook page stating your favorite red head in history is.  The winner will be picked at random on the 9th of December.

GOOD LUCK!

TRACKS:

Florence + The Machine – No Light No Light

In 2009 the magnificently flamboyant Florence Welch burst onto the music scene with her band’s first album ‘Lungs‘. No need to recall the success attributed to Florence + the Machine that year: 2009 was underniably their time.

Even though Florence hasn’t released any new material since she has stayed active releasing mostly remixes and live recordings and making many memorable appearances more recently performing the new track ‘What the Water Gave Me‘ at a Chanel runway show.

Three years later, Florence and her Machine are back with a new breathtaking album named ‘Ceremonials‘. Faithful to the magical, eery atmosphere that characterized them, this album is the perfect second chapter.

Whereas ‘Lungs‘ was very musically diverse, ‘Ceremonials‘ is more like one long ballad, following Florence through storms or mountains. In my opinion, three songs stand out on this album: ‘Shake It Out‘, the gospely/ pop song which supposedly refers to Welch shaking the regrets and things haunting her; ‘What The Water Gave Me‘, the first single from the album and which is said to be inspired by Virginia Woolf ( who drowned herself in a river), and finally ‘No Light, No Light‘, which I find to be one of the most powerful songs I have heard in a while.

What I have always particularly enjoyed about Miss Welch is that she does not simply count on her incredible voice to make up the music. She creates an atmosphere, with brimming drums, organs, harps and vocal chorales that all mix up perfectly to create a sound that touches gospel, celtic melodies, goth, rock and plain pop.

Indeed, just as ‘Lungs‘ sounded like nothing else around at the time or indeed before ( no matter how often she can be compared to Kate Bush), this album delivers the same uniqueness.

Now I just cannot wait to see her perform this album live!

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Post by Olivia

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TRACKS:

Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out

Florence + The Machine released ‘Lungs‘ well over 2 years ago now but the remixes keep coming.

Here’s a new one by DJ/Producer Revolvr giving ‘You’ve Got The Love‘ a decisive dub feel.

Get your hands on the remix by following the Soundcloud link.

TRACKS:

The behemoth that is Florence + The Machine‘s ‘Lungs‘ album shows no sign of halting down with miss Welch and co taking their hypnotic sounds to more and more audiences.

The band are currently taking on a huge summer tour which has seen them hit the major US cities including a 3 night stand at LA‘s Greek Theatre culminating tonight. If reports from the previous shows are to be believed we are in for a treat.

To celebrate the latest US stint of the tour Cougar Microbes has a vinyl copy of ‘Lungs‘ to give away to to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is become a fan of our FB page and like THIS post.

The winner will be picked on June 22nd and the album will be mailed to you right away. (unfortunately we can only mail to US addresses for this one so keep that in mind when entering).

GOOD LUCK!

TRACKS:

Cougar Microbes is 2 years old this week! A lot has changed on these pages since this first post but the enthusiasm for new music remains the same.  Thank you to all the regular readers, the great artists we’ve featured and everyone who has contributed an article.

TRACKS:

Florence + The Machine – Dog Days Are Over (Breakage Remix)

Massive Attack – Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix)

Of all the British starlets that burst onto the airwaves in 2009 miss Florence Welch was the undisputed champion for me. This time last year I remember only the track ‘Kiss With A Fist‘ and a cover of Cold War Kids‘ ‘Hospital Beds‘ were readily available on the internet or elsewhere.

A year on and Florence + The Machine have won several awards and been nominated for a few and the songs are ever present on TV and radio. I think it is a great achievement for the South Londoner’s songwriting ability that the album tracks on ‘Lungs‘ are as good if not better than those that were eventually released as singles.

TRACKS:

Florence + The Machine – Cosmic Love

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