Summer adds

So in my last post I mentioned I had been on the road for a while this summer. I didn't have a lot of spare time to look into new stuff. Well now I'm getting back to work…at making some new playlists!! As with past months, I present to you some of the songs I've grown attached to over the summer months. The only difference being that I'm lumping both months into a single post. Here goes:

10. "Drifting" - Nate Eiesland

This is a beautiful song that reminds me a bit of "Bella" by Angus and Julia Stone. Nate Eiesland is a musician who plays with the band ON AN ON and used to play with another band called Scattered Trees. His label, Red Brick Songs, organized a sort of retreat for fifteen songwriters in their stable and watched the magic unfold. This is one of the collaborations, as noted here.



9. "Heavenly Father" - Bon Iver

This is the first new Bon Iver recording I've heard in quite some time. I suppose it will be included on whatever new album the band produces, but for now the only place to find it is on the soundtrack to the Zach Braff movie Wish I Was Here. While I do like the falsetto Justin Vernon, it's also nice to mix in something a little more like "Blood Bank".



8. "I Was Born a Winner" - Freddy McGregor

And now for something completely different. Yes, it's a little piece of 20-year-old reggae. I heard a DJ spinning this a couple of weeks ago and fell in love with it. Hopefully it will keep me warm as the snow starts to fly this winter. Freddy McGregor is almost 60 now and Wiki reports he has released roughly 30 albums. Dude was born a winner.



7. "Ghosts 'n Stuff (feat. Rob Swire)" - deadmau5

Keeping it retro, I can't believe that while listening to The Beat in Vancouver, I stumbled across a deadmau5 track from 2008 that I had never heard before. My original thought was that it was a little derivative of tracks like Wolfgang Gartner's "Illmerica", but then again that track (with an AMAZING video) was recorded three years after this song…so who's zooming who? Some nice vocals from Aussie Rob Swire elevate this track way beyond the instrumental version.



6. "Home (feat. Sam Romans)" - Naughty Boy

This is some happy music right here. Great vocals from Roc Nation signee Sam Romans and a gospeled-up chorus that put a smile on my face every time I hear it. Great pop melodies with a lot of soul…a sound not too unlike that provided by some other guy named Sam who did some other song with Naughty Boy last year.



5. "Emanate" - Phoria

17 seconds. The time it takes from the first harmonized hum until the rhythm kicks in and I reach for the volume knob, turning it clockwise. Quickly. This is such a quiet song with a compelling, quirky percussion until the blast at the end. Oh by the way, Anna Kendrick, maybe this is the beat you were looking for. I checked the wiki page on this fivesome and when I saw comps to Aphex Twin, James Blake and an accolade saying that they were reminiscent of "Radiohead at their best" (I'm sorry, but that's just ludicrous), it definitely raised my eyebrow (not both, 'cause then I'd just look scared). I think I'm going to have to give more of Display a listen.



4. "In the Grass" - Vacationer

Another great summery song. It sounds like something vaguely 80s-ish, but I can't quite place it. Hence my not being a professional music blogger. A super-catchy song that earns bonus points for the flute and horns. If only Vacationer was a Swedish band...



3. "Never Say Never (feat. ETML)" - Basement Jaxx

I'm including the YouTube video as opposed to the Soundcloud embed for two reasons: 1) the Soundcloud tracks from "Junto" aren't available in Canada (boo) and 2) this video is something else. Tw3rk-bot? Twerks per minute=TPM? Classic Basement Jaxx. A great feel to this song for a group that can sometimes make music that's a little less-than-accessible (for every "Red Alert", there's a "Living Room"). I'm looking forward to hearing more off the album.



2. "I Got You (feat. Jax Jones)" - Duke Dumont

Duke Dumont had his first taste of the spotlight many months ago when his "Need You (100%)" was nominated for "Best Dance Recording" at the Grammys. That track never hooked me quite like this one does. The funny thing is that, at first listen, it's tough to pick it out, but this is all one big cut and paste of Whitney's "My Love is Your Love". A great deep house sound and 11 million listeners on Soundcloud can't be wrong, right?



1. "Gold" - Chet Faker

As per usual, I save the best for last. I first heard Chet Faker on Say Lou Lou's "Fool of Me", although apparently his first breakthrough came when his cover of "No Diggity" (who doesn't cover this song now??) went viral in 2011. This song is off Chet's first studio album, "Built on Glass" and has also been reworked by frequent collaborator Flume. The album topped the charts in Chet's native Australia and peaked at #158 on the Billboard 200. I'm not sure if his work will catch on and go mainstream but as I'm sure Vance Joy, The Neighbourhood and Bastille (who have not covered "No Diggity", to my knowledge, but have covered "No Scrubs") now know, it just takes one big break.

Awesome. Music. Videos.

Well, I've returned from a 7-week road trip with my family and I am furiously scouring the Internet for some new music to listen to. My kids' playlist is burned into my brain and even some of the more recent stuff I've been listening to is suddenly sounding stale. Sadness.

One thing that was not depressing was my amazing visit to Seattle's Experience Music Project. I went once in 2000 and had a great time. This time around, we spent 5 hours or so going through their exhibit on Fantasy in Pop Culture, their exhibit on Lego models of some of the world's most fascinating buildings, jamming in the Sound Lab and watching some of the best music videos of all time in the Spetacle: The Music Video temporary exhibit. It was the perfect museum visit for our family. I wish we had had another couple of hours to see some more music videos, but instead, I decided to transcribe some of the lists they had curated so that I could share them with you. If you love a good music video, stick around - this might take a while.

Here are some of the videos that were set up with their own stand-alone displays and/or screens. Most are groundbreaking for one reason or another.

a-ha “Take on Me” (dir. Steve Barron, 1985) (wiki)(YouTube)

O.K. Go! “This Too Shall Pass” (dir. James Frost, 2009) (wiki)(YouTube)

Kanye West “Power” (dir. Marco Brambilla, 2010) (wiki)(YouTube)

Bjork “Wanderlust” (dir. Encyclopedia Pictura, 2008) (wiki)(YouTube - sorry, this is only the 2D version)

The White Stripes “Seven Nation Army” (dir. Alex and Martin, 2003) (wiki)(YouTube)

The White Stripes “Fell in Love With a Girl” (dir. Michel Gondry, 2002) (wiki)(YouTube)

Cibo Matto “Sugar Water” (dir. Michel Gondry, 1985) (wiki)(YouTube)

Radiohead “House of Cards” (dir. James Frost, Aaron Koblin, 2008) (wiki)(YouTube)

There were others, but I didn't get them all down on paper..:(

One large screen was dedicated to showing the following list of videos in their entireties. I believe these videos were singled out for intelligent use of light and shade. Many of these are in black and white.

Jay-Z “99 Problems” (dir. Mark Romanek, 1999)(wiki)(YouTube)

Bjork “Big Time Sensuality (night version)” (dir. Stephane Sednaoui, 1993)(wiki)(YouTube)

The Verve “Bittersweet Symphony” (dir. Walter Stern, 1997) (wiki)(YouTube)

The White Stripes “Blue Orchid” (dir. Floria Sigismondi, 2005) (wiki)(YouTube)

Nine Inch Nails “Closer” (dir. Mark Romanek, 1994) (wiki)(YouTube - yeah, this one's a little NSFW)

Patti Smith “Don’t Smoke in Bed” (dir. Melodie McDaniel, 2007) (YouTube)

Police “Every Breath You Take” (dirs. Godley and Creme, 1983) (wiki)(YouTube)

REM “Everybody Hurts” (dir. Jake Scott, 1993) (wiki)(YouTube)

Madonna “Express Yourself” (dir. David Fincher, 1989) (wiki)(YouTube)

Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” (dir. Stephane Sednaoui, 1991) (wiki)(YouTube)

Sigur Ros “Glósóli” (dirs. Arni & Kinski, 2005) (wiki)(YouTube)

Lenny Kravitz “Are You Gonna Go My Way” (dir. Mark Romanek, 1993) (wiki-super enlightening)(YouTube)

REM “Drive” (dir. Peter Care, 1992) (wiki)(YouTube)

Johnny Cash “Hurt” (dir. Mark Romanek, 2002) (wiki)(YouTube)

Fever Ray “If I Had a Heart” (dir. Andreas Nilsson, 2009) (YouTube)

Nick Cave “Into My Arms” (dir. Jonathan Glazer, 1997) (wiki)(YouTube)

Woodkid “Iron” (dir. Yoann LeMoine, 2011) (YouTube)

REM “Losing My Religion” (dir. Tarsem, 1991) (wiki)(YouTube)

New Order “The Perfect Kiss” (dir. Jonathan Demme, 1985) (wiki)(YouTube)…I don't get this one.

Dizzee Rascal “Sirens” (dir. W.I.Z., 2007) (wiki)(YouTube)

Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (dir. Samuel Bayer, 1991) (wiki)(YouTube)

Ministry “Stigmata” (dir. Ben Stokes, Eric Zimmermann, 1988) (wiki)(YouTube)

Radiohead “Street Spirit” (dir. Jonathan Glazer, 1996) (wiki)(YouTube)

Massive Attack “Teardrop” (dir. Walter Stern, 1998) (wiki-seriously, nothing more to say about this???)(YouTube)

REM “Man on the Moon” (dir. Peter Care, 1992) (wiki)(YouTube)

George Michael “Freedom” (dir. David Fincher, 1990) (wiki)(YouTube)

Marilyn Manson “The Beautiful People” (dir. Floria Sigismondi, 1999) (wiki)(YouTube)

Metallica “The Unforgiven (Director’s Cut)” (dir. Matt Mahurin, 1991) (wiki)(YouTube)

Sigur Ros “Untitled #1” (dir. Floria Sigismondi, 1999) (wiki)(YouTube)

Chris Isaak “Wicked Game” (dir. Herb Ritts, 1991) (wiki)(YouTube)

Sinead O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (dir. John Maybury, 1990) (wiki)(YouTube)

There was one other selection of videos I managed to transcribe, though the plaques didn't suggest any sort of unifying theme. Aside from the fact that many of them are due to Gondry, Jonze or Cunningham. Let's just call these noteworthy, then.

Radiohead “Karma Police” (dir. Jonathan Glazer, 1997) (wiki)(YouTube)

The White Stripes “The Hardest Button to Button” (dir. Michel Gondry, 2003) (wiki)(YouTube)

Beck “Lost Cause” (dir. Garth Jennings, 2002) (wiki)(YouTube)

Lucas “Lucas With the Lid Off” (dir. Michel Gondry, 1994) (wiki)(YouTube)

Cornelius “Music” (dir. Koichiro Tsujikawa, 2006) (YouTube)

Portishead “Only You” (dir. Chris Cunningham, 1998) (wiki)(Vimeo)

Air “Playground Love” (dirs. Roman & Sofia Coppola, 2000) (YouTube)

Unkle “Rabbit in Your Headlights” (dir. Jonathan Glazer, 1998) (wiki)(YouTube)

Manchester Orchestra “Simple Math” (dir. Daniels, 2011) (wiki)(YouTube)

Flying Lotus “Soft Gun Lily” (dir. Timothy Saccenti, 2009) (Vimeo - NSFW)("Making Of" on Vimeo)

Vitalic “Poney Pt. 1 (Birds)” (dir. Pleix, 2006) (YouTube)

Grizzly Bear “Two Weeks” (dir. Patrick Daughters, 2009) (wiki)(YouTube)

Jamiroquai “Virtual Insanity” (dir. Jonathan Glazer, 1996) (wiki)(YouTube)

Eskmo “We Got More” (dir. Cyriak, 2010) (YouTube)

Royksopp “What Else is There?” (dir. Martin de Thurah, 2005) (wiki)(YouTube)

Basement Jaxx “Where's Your Head At?” (dir. McG, 2002) (wiki)(YouTube)

Oh Land “White Nights” (dir. Canada, 2011) (Thanks, wiki)(YouTube)

Chemical Brothers “Star Guitar” (dir. Michel Gondry, 2001) (wiki)(YouTube)

Kid 606 “Sometimes” (dir. Pleix, 2004) (wiki)(YouTube)

MC Solaar “Nouveau Western” (dir. Stephane Sednaoui, 1994) (YouTube)

Bjork “All is Full of Love” (dir. Chris Cunningham, 1998) (wiki)(YouTube)

LCD Soundsystem “All My Friends” (dir. Tom Kuntz, 2007) (wiki)(YouTube)

Wax “California” (dir. Spike Jonze, 1995) (wiki)(YouTube)

The Cure “Close to Me” (dir. Tim Pope, 1985) (wiki)(Vimeo)

Rob Dougan “Clubbed to Death” (dir. David Slade, 2002) (YouTube)

Kylie Minogue “Come Into My World” (dir. Michel Gondry, 2002) (wiki)(YouTube)

Jarvis “Don't Let Him Waste Your Time” (dir. Dougal Wilson, 2006) (wiki)(YouTube)

The Pharcyde “The Drop” (dir. Spike Jonze, 1995) (wiki)(YouTube)

Foo FIghters “Everlong” (dir. Michel Gondry, 1995) (wiki)(YouTube)

Leftfield “Afrika (Shox)” (dir. Chris Cunningham, 1998) (wiki)(YouTube)

Cornelius “Fit Song” (dir. Koichiro Tsujikawa, 2006) (YouTube)

Weezer “Buddy Holly” (dir. Spike Jonze, 1994) (wiki)(YouTube)

God Lives Underwater “From Your Mouth” (dir. Roman Coppola, 1998) (wiki)(YouTube)

Beck “Girl” (dir. Motion Theory, 2004) (wiki)(YouTube)

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck “Heaven Can Wait” (dir. Keith Schofield, 2009) (wiki)(YouTube)

Oren Lavie “Her Morning Elegance” (dirs. Yuval, Merav Nathan, Oren Lavie, 2009) (wiki)(YouTube)

REM “Imitation of Life” (dir. Garth Jennings, 2001) (wiki)(YouTube)

My take-aways: some of my favourite videos while coming of age actually stood the test of time and were on display for me to share with my kids (awesome); video directors frequently go on to direct movies; my kids love Macklemore, though likely not as much as Seattle; a complete confirmation that Michel Gondry is awesome. I can't wait to back the EMP and see what they have in store for me next time...