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

We previously featured Amiland‘s wonderful blending of Nas and Beck in ‘Life’s A Bitch, Loser‘. Well, the Illinois native is back on these pages with a new offering to wet your aural palette.

This time he pinches everyones favourite indie rock anthem ‘Float On‘ and adds Missy‘s boisterous ‘Get Ur Freak On‘ to create another kick-ass blend. Looking forward to more mixes soon. TRACKS: Amiland – Get Your Float On (Missy Elliot vs. Modest Mouse)

Les Savy Fav have been underground indie-rock darlings for forever. This is as much a consequence of singer Tim Harrington’s eccentric onstage antics as their DIY ethos – all but one of their albums have been released on bassist Syd Butler’s Frenchkiss Records. After a decade and a half, which includes a year-long hiatus, the 5-piece have released a 5th studio album which may just catapult them into the big leagues.

The release, ‘Root For Ruin’, comes complete with the Fugazi-inspired post-hardcore quirks of previous LSF offerings. As a general rule song structures are consciously more straightforward, with the exception of midpoint ‘Poltergeist’, the result being greater accessibility for the uninitiated. There are elements borrowed from more commercially successful artists; guitars reminiscent of the Pixies, backing vocals veering towards Weezer territory and offbeat instrumentation that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Modest Mouse record. Still the band have not relinquished their edginess entirely and there are plenty of moments where you can feel the tension rising.

The high points on this album are… well pretty much everywhere to be honest. On a personal note rocking opener ‘Appetites’ ingeniously borrows from Silver Jews’ ‘Punks In The Beerlight’, a Cougar favourite. Stopping short of mentioning the entire track-list, ‘Dirty Knails’, ‘Sleepless in Silverlake’, ‘Lips n’ Stuff’ and ‘Excess Energies’ also contribute to make this a master class in dynamics, merging pop craftsmanship with ballsy rock ethos.

You’ve got to feel for LSF. They were forced into a hasty digital release of ‘Root For Ruin’ more than a month ahead of schedule after it was leaked via various torrent sites. As a result it may not have quite the impact that it would have enjoyed were it to have exploded onto the market with a co-ordinated release strategy.

It deserves more, seeing as it is arguably the Brooklyn post-hardcore outfit’s best work to date. Here’s hoping the gods smile upon “les bloody fab”.

—–

Post by back-to-school Kenny

—–

TRACKS:

Les Savy Fav – Appetites

Shepherd’s Bush Empire’s boiler seems to have packed in on this mid-December evening as support act Frightened Rabbit amble onto a cluttered stage, tasked with quite literally warming the crowd up for headliners Modest Mouse.

As punters trickle in the five-piece set about their assignment with an impressive degree of aplomb. Their melodic merging of pop sensibilities with rock attitude is reminiscent of a Scottish Jimmy Eat World in their underexposed Capitol Records days. The captivating dynamics of Scott Hutchinson’s vocals, showcased on the brilliant ‘Keep Yourself Warm’, and the inventive, understated rhythms of brother and drummer Grant are tied together by multi-instrumentalist shoe gazers Billy, Andy and Gordon. Closer ‘Square 9’ sees Grant finally off the leash as the rest of the band leave him on stage to end the set and throw his sticks in the air with a victorious roar. The near-full venue roars back with approval and the gauntlet lies at the feet of their more experienced peers from across the Atlantic.

Modest Mouse open with ‘King Rat‘, the B-side for 2007’s Dashboard recently reborn as a video directed by the late Heath Ledger. The upbeat banjo groove has the younger audience members bopping away beneath our comfy level-1 seats. Singer Isaac Brock apologises early on for throat troubles that sadly limit his vocal range tonight. Though this is an unfortunate feature of this evening’s Modest Mouse performance it undoubtedly improves the further they delve into an impressive back catalogue of material spanning 15 years.

More liable for an apology is the sound engineer for disappointing unbalanced sound throughout the majority of the Issaquah outfit’s set. It is habitual for headliners to be louder than supporting acts; however, certain frequencies approach deafening levels at times tonight. It is a real shame because Modest Mouse carry out their work admirably, projecting real enthusiasm for what they do. On the hyper-speedy ‘We’ve Got Everything’, the enthusiasm borders on over-exuberance, however, most other favourites from ‘Dashboard’ to ‘Bukowski’ are performed almost flawlessly. Dual drummers Plummer and Green locking in and bouncing off each other are a must see. Thankfully, by the time the boys return for their encore the sound has finally been balanced out allowing a smoother transfer of energy from the band to their audience leaving the fans thirsty for more including the surprisingly omitted ‘Float On’.

Ultimately Modest Mouse’s collective character shines through admirably on what evidently turns out to be a harder than desired evening of work. I look forward to seeing them the next time they are in town by which time hopefully Isaac will have had a few cups of lemon tea.

———-

Review by Kenny the Omnipotent

———-

TRACK:

Modest Mouse – The Good Times Are Killing Me

Modest Mouse‘s decision to release a video for their track ‘King Rat‘ may look weird considering the track was originally the b-side for 2007 single ‘Dashboard‘.

Think again, the video was directed by Academy Award Winning Joker and sadly departed actor Heath Ledger. Besides, the video is not only visually stunning but highlights Ledger‘s concerns over whaling off the coast of Australia; kudos!

TRACKS:

Modest Mouse – King Rat