Right now, there is a set of 5 songs that are on infinite (till infinity tires and dies, which should be in a couple of weeks from now) loop in my head. Tunes that hold me in thrall.
I heard the band My Morning Jacket for the first time on their latest album ‘Circuital’. What can I say – I’m left hungering for more. I love the album in its entirety and am held captive from the very first song ‘Victory Dance’. This song slowly lays its grasp on you, weaving its dark magic and finally engulfs you in its sinuous folds.
If that stranglehold is released, it’s only for Adele to sear you with the ferociousness of her vocal attack on ‘Rolling In The Deep’. Adele’s is a rare voice – powerful, passionate and stupendously emotive. Surely, the great voices of Soul have found one to carry their legacy forward. And she combines that with rich song-writing talent. Sample this:
Baby, I have no story to be told,
But I’ve heard one of you and I’m gonna make your head burn,
Think of me in the depths of your despair,
Making a home down there as mine sure won’t be shared
Menwhopause’s (gosh, how I hate that name) album ‘Easy’ – as that title suggests – is a great example of how great cool, underplayed music can sound. This is a band that has eschewed the tendency of bands from India to go heavy/thrash metal. Their sound on ‘Easy’ is typified by ‘Puppet and Paupers’, which brings to mind the beautifully understated and elegant guitar sound of David Gilmour and Mark Knopfler.
TV On The Radio has opted for a mellower sound on their latest album ‘Nine Types of Light’ as compared to their earlier ‘Dear Science’ and ‘Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes’ (yes, I loooove that title). ‘Repetition’ is one of the few really up-tempo songs on this latest album of theirs. There are segments in the song where I felt subjected to a carousal of voices rapidly replacing each other. Brilliant. But that’s not the only reason I love this song – I can’t get over its opening lines
To arrive ahead of its time
Is the fate of the fish
Washed up on the shore
And to round this set up, there’s White Denim’s instrumental ‘At The Farm’. This is a song you want to see/hear live – it lends itself so easily to colossal extended play. Think The Allman Brothers Band’s ‘Whipping Post’ at a concise 5 minutes in the studio exploding into a 22-minute riot at Fillmore East. On ‘At The Farm’, White Denim highlights a barely-in-check double guitar assault backed by one of the tightest rhythm sections that I have heard in recent times.
As is the practice, the accompanying audio file has samples of songs in the order that they’re listed above (highlighted in bold).
DyingNote 
This is great stuff, Santosh, so nice of you to share your enjoyment of music. I hadn’t heard any of these before – maybe Adele on the radio…There is a progression in Puppet and Paupers which actually reminded me of Tom Petty’s “Last dance with Mary Jane”
Keep them coming!
P.S: what happens to bantering ram now?
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Thanks Amritha. I hadn’t heard ‘Last Dance With Mary Jane’ before. I heard that just now after your mention and I can hear some of that progression similarity, although Petty’s song is harder. Thanks for that comment.
bantering-ram remains as it is. DN is music-focused and will be a regular update, but bantering-ram will continue to be random and erratic in its updates 🙂
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Adele’s 21 was a serendipitous find at Landmark about a month ago…what a voice and she seems to hit those notes with such apparent ease. Are any of the other albums in the review (apart from ‘Easy’) available at Landmark or elsewhere in B’lore?
I also just received my latest consignment from Amazon – National’s Boxer, Fleet Foxes’ Sun Giant, Arcade Fire’s Funeral and 2 albums of Blackfield (Blackfield and BlackfieldII)..Any take on these five?
Look forward to more reviews on the blog.. keep ’em flowing!
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TV On The Radio’s ‘Nine Types Of Light’ was available at Planet M, Brigade Road. I’d say, go get it!
If you liked ‘High Violet’, you will love The National’s ‘Boxer’ and ‘Alligator’. Try out the Fleet Foxes eponymous full length. I have it and will be happy to lend it to you. ‘Funeral’ was my intro to Arcade Fire’s music and with a name like that, is it any surprise? 🙂 It’s rated by many to be their best. I don’t care about such ratings. I love that album, period. Unfortunately, I don’t see it – and a few other CDs – in my collection any more. Haven’t heard of Blackfield – thanks, I’ll check that out.
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