Tag: NYC

“Petrol Station” by Sorcha Richardson

Sorcha Richardson eloquently brings you back to your summer love and then breaks your heart when she reminds you of where you are now with her track “Petrol Station”.

Partially PBR&B a la BANKS and George Maple, Sorcha’s voice is simultaneously soothing and passionate, blending with the light riffs at the 1-minute mark and then standing out strongly at the start of the chorus a 15 seconds after.

Singing “If I, If I never told you that I wanna hold you, that I wanna hold you, I just wish it was old news” and “My rib cage is bruised, but that side of love we tasted, You find that stuff you chase it”, Sorcha travels back to the moments that stand out with a past unrequited love or possibly a passionate but fleeting experience. It’s that time when you keep thinking “Fuck, there will never be a love this amazing.”

But by stating “I’m not holding out For anything better,” Sorcha also reminds you that you will carry that love forever – “Can we just stay here forever?”

“Ride or Die” LP by Heartsrevolution

Finally coming out of hibernation to announce that HEARTSREVOLUTION is releasing their single “Kiss” next week just in time for Valentine’s Day and their debut album “Ride or Die” on April 15!

It’s not a track that will be on the album, but “Pop Heart” from the “REVOLUTION RISING (SING-A-LONG) MIXTAPE” is definitely a favorite HEARTREVOLUTION track.

The dance punk band combines shrill but playful vocals with a fun punk-inspired beat and lyrics rife with social commentary – like the breakdown of romance through technological advances in communication via “Pop Heart.”

“Chamakay” by Blood Orange

Blood Orange‘s Dev Hynes released a new track this week – “Chamakay,” which features Caroline Polachek of Chairlift.

The epitome of cool and suave, Blood Orange mixes his vocals with his female duet partner to use his voice to give the track a soft but deep foundation of vocals that then is juxtaposed by Caroline Polachek’s breathy higher pitch.

Tribal Beats – International Roundup

I’ve been really into bands that integrate a “tribal drumming” sound into their music, so here’s a roundup of some bands around the world with tribal beats:

“Big Heat” by THUMPERS (London, England)


THUMPERS considers themselves “co-ed alt. pop” amongst other mashups of music styles. They use their tribal drumming beats to create a very Jamaican-influenced offshoot of dreampop. That combination with quick high-hats make you mistake guitars and synths for steel drums in the background.

“Unconsolable” by X Ambassadors (Brooklyn, NY)


Tape One by Young Fathers (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Young Fathers adds tribal drumming to their hip hop beats to give a fuller background sound complementing their rap.

NEW: “Tear Us Apart” by Ghost Beach

This morning, Ghost Beach released their latest track “Tear Us Apart.”

I know that the genres are technically different, but NYC-based Ghost Beach’s Josh Ocean sings in a slightly hurt moaning way that Blood Orange (AKA: Dev Hynes) ocassionally does but with a more rock-inspired overdrive distortion to those moans. (At least that was one of my initial thoughts on my first listen.)

Other favorites of mine from Ghost Beach are “Miracle” (a song that’s really cute about having a crush) and “Too Young” (a song that’s always really confused me because it seems like it might be about getting involved with someone who’s just the typical “young and naive” but might also be about pedophilia).

P.S. You can download their latest track and a bunch of others on their site: http://www.ghostbeachmusic.com/

Friday I’m in Love Song: “Postcards from Italy” by Beirut

I forgot to post a BoxSpeaker Music Blog Friday I’m in Love Song yesterday! Here it is:

“Postcards from Italy” by Beirut.

I saw them in October with my friend Daria.

I almost started crying during the concert because 1) it was just the best concert I’ve ever been to, and 2) it reminded me of when I was 17 and stupid and in love.

I was 17. She was 27. It was just stupid puppy love. She taught me about Beirut and Neutral Milk Hotel and moved to New York.

Lana Del Rey “Diet Mtn Dew”

There are many reasons I like “Diet Mtn Dew” by Lana Del Rey.  First of all, the sound is a mixture of Sneaker Pimps’s trip-hop style, Sia‘s fullness, and Mozella‘s soul.

Another reason I like this song is that it mentions NYC.  I mean, I kind of have a soft spot for New York.  However, that aspect of my listening habits is for another blog post.

Anyway, “Diet Mtn Dew” is one of those songs you can play during a lazy Sunday afternoon while lounging on your couch with the window open a few inches to let the white linen curtains softly flutter.  It’s relaxing.  Just keep your tea next to you on the coffee table.  Yes, that mod Ethan Allen coffee table.  You’re just sitting there in your Banana Republic blouse that’s a shade between soft yellow and barely green.  Lips parted slightly like you’re Scarlett Johansson.

That’s how you listen to this song.

http://www.myspace.com/lizzygrant

Here is a Youtube video for the song.  I’d rather link you guys directly to Lana Del Rey’s site for music.  However, I’m not sure if her Myspace page has “Diet Mtn Dew” because the music player is not showing up completely.

Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt

When you hear “[ride friendship.],” you will think “it is like Broken Social Scene but on coke. Yes, that is exactly what you will think because I am you, and you are me.

If you listen to them, you will realize that the previous paragraphs is 99% perfect, with the missing 1% attributed to the fact that the second sentence is actually a run on.

Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt is one of those bands that you cannot, should not, must not feel content with only listening to on the radio/computer/Myspace/etc. You have to go to their shows to get the full effect.

What are you missing out on by just listening to them while sitting at home or in your car?

The light up snow men.  The Christmas lights.  The box of costumes.  The sax player in a kangaroo suit.  The huge blanket lined with lights used to envelope the crowd as it is told to belt “YOU MAKE MY HEART EXPLODE!”

THE PARTICIPATION.

If Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt were a mass media/communications term, they would be actually be a sentence that involved “convergence,” “participatory culture,” “synergy,” and “web 2.0.”  They really change concert-going from a technically passive internalizing of a music event to a forty-five minute indoctrination into the new style of fan involvement.

The singer does not even stand on stage.  In fact, he is in the crowd actually telling everyone to come closer, to leave no empty space between itself and the adventure.

Click here to start your road to a complete experience of them.

P.S. How could you NOT want to see a band with “Pigeon”  and “Dance” in their name?

P.P.S. Can I have my media studies degree now, please?