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The ongoing listening series otherwise known as The Well-Played List features the most listened-to, jammed-out songs, albums and artists of the week as submitted by the CL Music Team along with a rotating crew of tastemakers — local music promoters, record store and venue owners, music fans and scenesters, DJs, musicians, and a radio personality or two; check the past several editions here. Audio and video included, along with any applicable show information. And on that note, what are you jamming this week? Tell us in the comments…
LEILANI
Hundred Waters, The Moon Rang Like a Bell (2014) The cooing ethereal vocals touch something in my heart and make me sigh a little, dreamily, lightly melancholy, grateful that such loveliness exists. The music from this Gainesville outfit is down-tempo indietronic art pop that makes for good late night writing.
Primus, Primus and the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2014) I don't think you could've picked a better band to take on the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory soundtrack. It's creepy, weird, sinister, and hilariously rather fun. Mike Dillon does his usual ridiculous fantastic vibes stroking, Claypool's deep groaning basslines and off-beat lowend antics joined by cello scratching and bowing (fungi ensemble = Dillon and cellist Sam Bass). My review hits the site tomorrow; Primus hits Ruth Eckerd Hall next Wed., Nov. 12. I can't wait to see them do this thing live...
Run the Jewels, RTJ 2(2014) Everyone is creaming their pants over the second El-P and Killer Mike collab (check out Andrew's review here). I'm still rather fond of the first album from the hip hop superduo (so smart! so well-produced! so much doggone fun!), and am just getting around to listening to this one. So far, so good.
Trans Upper Egypt, Trans Upper Egypt (2014) This came out today and from its first raucous dissonant notes, I was in. Yes, I'm going through a mind-fuck music phase (put it in my ear and make me go WTF?, please) — and this band fulfills all the quota necessary; hard to decipher vocals, moments of noise carried on a rather grooving yet discordant basslines that sometimes turn kind of surf-y in nature, warped sci-fi bloops, whirrs, echoes and squeals, tempos just bouncing along. In other words, trippy to the nth degree but with a hard kick. Only just getting into this thing but curious to see where the roller coaster goes. Check out lead-off track "Opinion" below. Another track, "Mountains," in this week's New Music Tuesday! post...
JULIE G.
Mr. Gnome, The Heart of a Dark Star (Out 11/18/2014) The co-ed Cleveland duo's yet-to-be released full-length (review coming soon) is the first to perk up both of my ears in a month or so. Singer/guitarist Nicole Barille, and drummer/pianist Sam Meister deliver a spirited, sometimes eerie, atmospheric rock that swirls and builds like a twister in the dust bowl. Recorded with the band 's own DIY label, El Marko Records, the new material has a more organic feel than their 2011 debut, Madness in Miniature, that doesn't diminish, but enhances, the band's fantastical appeal. Pre-orders for the new album are now available on CD and vinyl at the band's online store at a discounted price for a limited time. Should appeal to fans of Cat Power and others who crave a little more oomph from their indie-psychedelic rock. Mixed by engineer Kevin McMahon (Walkmen, Titus Andronicus, Swans, Real Estate).
GABE ECHAZABAL
Gerard Way, Hesitant Alien (2014) Can't stop listening to this fantastic new solo album by the ex-My Chemical Romance frontman. Way has left his darker, heavier side behind and is tinkering with more melodic, pop-friendly sounds on his debut solo release. Experimenting with strains of classic New Wave, unabashed power pop, and Beatlesque melodies, Hesitant Alien is a catchy, memorable blast of energy and hooks that bears repeated listenings. I like it. I like it a lot.
JACK SPATAFORA | Founder, aestheticized presents; DJ, Soft Rock Renegades.
I've been listening to a whole mess of Jukebox The Ghost!!! Their new self-titled album is out now and it's something else! Highly recommended for any and all fans of Ben Folds Five, Jack's Mannequin, Guster, etc. AND... they're playing Crowbar on Sat., Nov. 8, with COIN and Mike Mains & The Branches! 7 p.m.! All Ages! Tickets here. "Sound of a Broken Heart" below.
ADAM KUHN | Music fan and scenester with discerning taste | Front End Designer, Big Sea Design & Development
Mannequin Men, Mannequin Men (2012) Chicago's Mannequin Men have made more than a few garage-y bar rock albums now, but this self-titled LP marks a turning point into more mature sounds, wiping much of their previous sneer and attitude away without losing their edge. They've imparted their Replacements-meets-Stooges sound with a dose of heavy jangle and the kind of pop hooks that make slacker burnout heads nod between Parliament drags.
Sonny and the Sunsets, Tomorrow is Alright(2010) Throwback garage-y doo-wop rock n' roll that pleasantly plods along with heavy nods to late '50s kitsch. There's nothing challenging about this record but that's exactly why I love it. Borrowing members from San Francisco heavy-hitters Thee Oh Sees and the Fresh and Onlys, Sonny Smith leads the group through tales of love gone wrong and alien encounters with an endearingly playful sloppiness.
Hookworms, The Hum (2014) One of my favorite bands of 2013 returns from Leeds with more of the same rowdy organ and guitar driven psych. Vocals are unintelligable androgynous yelping drowned in enough reverb to fill a canyon, but really they're an afterthought here: the main attraction is the looping layer of melodic drone that persistently drives forward at the merger of punk rock and krautrock. These guys are breaking no new ground, but have managed to improve their already winning formula. Word is their live show is not to be missed. #pleasecometotampa
Clik here to view.
The ongoing listening series otherwise known as The Well-Played List features the most listened-to, jammed-out songs, albums and artists of the week as submitted by the CL Music Team along with a rotating crew of tastemakers — local music promoters, record store and venue owners, music fans and scenesters, DJs, musicians, and a radio personality or two; check the past several editions here. Audio and video included, along with any applicable show information. And on that note, what are you jamming this week? Tell us in the comments…LEILANI
Hundred Waters, The Moon Rang Like a Bell (2014) The cooing ethereal vocals touch something in my heart and make me sigh a little, dreamily, lightly melancholy, grateful that such loveliness exists. The music from this Gainesville outfit is down-tempo indietronic art pop that makes for good late night writing.
Primus, Primus and the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (2014) I don't think you could've picked a better band to take on the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory soundtrack. It's creepy, weird, sinister, and hilariously rather fun. Mike Dillon does his usual ridiculous fantastic vibes stroking, Claypool's deep groaning basslines and off-beat lowend antics joined by cello scratching and bowing (fungi ensemble = Dillon and cellist Sam Bass). My review hits the site tomorrow; Primus hits Ruth Eckerd Hall next Wed., Nov. 12. I can't wait to see them do this thing live...
Run the Jewels, RTJ 2(2014) Everyone is creaming their pants over the second El-P and Killer Mike collab (check out Andrew's review here). I'm still rather fond of the first album from the hip hop superduo (so smart! so well-produced! so much doggone fun!), and am just getting around to listening to this one. So far, so good.
Trans Upper Egypt, Trans Upper Egypt (2014) This came out today and from its first raucous dissonant notes, I was in. Yes, I'm going through a mind-fuck music phase (put it in my ear and make me go WTF?, please) — and this band fulfills all the quota necessary; hard to decipher vocals, moments of noise carried on a rather grooving yet discordant basslines that sometimes turn kind of surf-y in nature, warped sci-fi bloops, whirrs, echoes and squeals, tempos just bouncing along. In other words, trippy to the nth degree but with a hard kick. Only just getting into this thing but curious to see where the roller coaster goes. Check out lead-off track "Opinion" below. Another track, "Mountains," in this week's New Music Tuesday! post...
JULIE G.
Mr. Gnome, The Heart of a Dark Star (Out 11/18/2014) The co-ed Cleveland duo's yet-to-be released full-length (review coming soon) is the first to perk up both of my ears in a month or so. Singer/guitarist Nicole Barille, and drummer/pianist Sam Meister deliver a spirited, sometimes eerie, atmospheric rock that swirls and builds like a twister in the dust bowl. Recorded with the band 's own DIY label, El Marko Records, the new material has a more organic feel than their 2011 debut, Madness in Miniature, that doesn't diminish, but enhances, the band's fantastical appeal. Pre-orders for the new album are now available on CD and vinyl at the band's online store at a discounted price for a limited time. Should appeal to fans of Cat Power and others who crave a little more oomph from their indie-psychedelic rock. Mixed by engineer Kevin McMahon (Walkmen, Titus Andronicus, Swans, Real Estate).
GABE ECHAZABAL
Gerard Way, Hesitant Alien (2014) Can't stop listening to this fantastic new solo album by the ex-My Chemical Romance frontman. Way has left his darker, heavier side behind and is tinkering with more melodic, pop-friendly sounds on his debut solo release. Experimenting with strains of classic New Wave, unabashed power pop, and Beatlesque melodies, Hesitant Alien is a catchy, memorable blast of energy and hooks that bears repeated listenings. I like it. I like it a lot.
JACK SPATAFORA | Founder, aestheticized presents; DJ, Soft Rock Renegades.
I've been listening to a whole mess of Jukebox The Ghost!!! Their new self-titled album is out now and it's something else! Highly recommended for any and all fans of Ben Folds Five, Jack's Mannequin, Guster, etc. AND... they're playing Crowbar on Sat., Nov. 8, with COIN and Mike Mains & The Branches! 7 p.m.! All Ages! Tickets here. "Sound of a Broken Heart" below.
ADAM KUHN | Music fan and scenester with discerning taste | Front End Designer, Big Sea Design & Development
Mannequin Men, Mannequin Men (2012) Chicago's Mannequin Men have made more than a few garage-y bar rock albums now, but this self-titled LP marks a turning point into more mature sounds, wiping much of their previous sneer and attitude away without losing their edge. They've imparted their Replacements-meets-Stooges sound with a dose of heavy jangle and the kind of pop hooks that make slacker burnout heads nod between Parliament drags.
Sonny and the Sunsets, Tomorrow is Alright(2010) Throwback garage-y doo-wop rock n' roll that pleasantly plods along with heavy nods to late '50s kitsch. There's nothing challenging about this record but that's exactly why I love it. Borrowing members from San Francisco heavy-hitters Thee Oh Sees and the Fresh and Onlys, Sonny Smith leads the group through tales of love gone wrong and alien encounters with an endearingly playful sloppiness.
Hookworms, The Hum (2014) One of my favorite bands of 2013 returns from Leeds with more of the same rowdy organ and guitar driven psych. Vocals are unintelligable androgynous yelping drowned in enough reverb to fill a canyon, but really they're an afterthought here: the main attraction is the looping layer of melodic drone that persistently drives forward at the merger of punk rock and krautrock. These guys are breaking no new ground, but have managed to improve their already winning formula. Word is their live show is not to be missed. #pleasecometotampa