Nick Jonas, "Nick Jonas"

After reviewing a couple indie rock records, I think it's time to dig into a pop record. Nick Jonas's debut solo record is probably the most interesting top 40 release of the past few months. Like most people, I first heard his hit single "Jealous" on the radio when I was driving over winter break. After hearing the song a couple times, I couldn't get it out of my head. Not just because of the melody, but because the subject matter is very relatable.  Most people who have been in a relationship can admit to being jealous of their partner at one point or another. And most of the time, it's over something that's plain stupid, especially in the selfie-obsessed digital age we're living in. I thought it was pretty cool that a song on the radio was talking about this new social-media inspired type of jealousy (the lyrics "I wish you didn't have to post it all/I wish you'd save a little bit just for me" seems to be about others liking and commenting on his girlfriend's photos), since most of the time these feelings go unspoken. The combination of the lyrics and the catchy, r&b/pop sound made it stand out to me compared to many other dull songs on the radio. I was very surprised the first time I learned that this song was by a Jonas brother. I honestly don't remember any Jonas Brothers songs, and haven't thought about them in years. But I did know they definitely weren't an r&b band, and I probably didn't have a high opinion of them because of their Disney label. But here I was, appreciating a song by Nick Jonas. I heard the rest of his album a couple weeks ago when a friend of mine bought his record on vinyl. We spun it on my turntable, and the first song impressed us right away. "Chains" is probably my favorite track on the album. It's less r&b than "Jealous", and he actually sounds not unlike a male version of Lorde on this particular song. The drop on the chorus is completely unexpected at first due to the minimalistic verses, and it's pop perfection. While many of the songs on the album aren't as catchy and may be considered pop "filler", there are a couple gems. The uptempo, 80's-sounding "I Want You" adds some variety, and the smooth ballads "Push" and "Warning" are very emotional and well-executed. While I don't particular like every song on the album, it's also not a genre that I listen to very often, which could be why many of the tracks didn't catch my attention. Despite some "filler" tracks, this record is definitely refreshing. If you remember the Jonas Brothers, then I recommend listening to this record. Even if you don't like pop music, you have to admit that the guy can actually sing. He also had a hand in writing most of the material on the album. Overall, Nick's album shows that perhaps the Jonas Brothers weren't a talentless, made-for-TV band after all.

Click here to watch the "Chains" music video!

Why?, "Eskimo Snow"

Okay, so I know I used the word “underrated” in my post about Mimicking Birds' Eons. And trust me, I also get really annoyed when people call any album or song or artist they like “underrated”. But I cannot describe this album without using the word, so I apologize for that. WHY? is probably my favorite band on the planet, along with Modest Mouse. My brother showed me a song by them a couple years ago, and I ended up becoming the one obsessed with all music composed by Yoni Wolf (WHY?’s lead singer/rapper). While fans of WHY? tend to worship their earlier albums Elephant Eyelash and Alopecia, Eskimo Snow is not only my favorite WHY? record, but one of my favorite records period. Eskimo Snow was not well-received by fans when it was released in 2009 because there is no trace whatsoever of the hip-hop sound and electronic experimentation that they became known for. Maybe this doesn't bother me because I didn't listen to WHY? until two years ago, so I already knew that they went on to make the most hip-hop oriented album of their career after this album was released (Mumps, etc.) But whatever the case is, Eskimo Snow is plain underrated amongst WHY?’s own fanbase and in the rest of the indie world. While hip-hop and zany production had previously been integral to WHY?’s sound, stripping these elements away somehow resulted in one of the most beautiful straight-up indie pop/rock records I've ever heard. The melancholy, piano-based opener “These Hands” sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the album. Sad, but still lyrically witty and oddly uplifting. As the album progresses, there are hints of post-rock (“Against Me”), folk (“Even the Good Wood Gone”), and even a loud, Built to Spill - esque 90’s rock tribute (“Into the Shadows of My Embrace”). These are all genres that WHY?’s previous albums never tackled, but they somehow pull it all off with great ease. In some ways, this album proves that Yoni’s signature lyricism can make any WHY? record sound great no matter what the music sounds like. However, it would be foolish to say that the instrumentals don’t contribute to the greatness of this record. Two tracks found near the end of the record, “Berkeley by Hearseback” and the title track “Eskimo Snow”, are two of the most beautiful indie songs by any artist. “Berkeley”, a song about Yoni’s obsession with death, uses a combination of acoustic guitar, piano, xylophone, light percussion, and a touch of gentle electric guitar to create an instrumental that any music fan could get lost in. The lyrics accompanying this astounding piece seem bizarre and maybe even off-putting at first, but after a few listens they make perfect sense. “Eskimo Snow”, the short but reflective album closer, should by all means be an indie classic. It’s similar in vein to Death Cab’s “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”, or even a somber Elliott Smith track. But this simple song hits the core like no other WHY? song (except maybe “Berkeley”) and few other indie songs in general. Yoni’s brief closing statement is the hopeful declaration “I’m still here”, yet he sound more and more worn each time he sings it. This perfectly summarizes the mood of the entire record, making it one of my favorite album closers.

Hopefully this write-up will convince you to check out this largely unrecognized, great record! I could go into much more detail about this album, but I think this post is already long enough…



Click here to listen to "Berkeley by Hearseback"
Click here to listen to "Eskimo Snow"

Modest Mouse, "Coyotes"

Yesterday, Modest Mouse released a second song from their upcoming album Strangers to Ourselves, titled "Coyotes". For those who don't know the whole story about Modest Mouse, I strongly suggest that you go back and listen to their earlier material. Their first three records contain an eclectic mix of overly emotional, scrappy, indie rock (my personal favorite being their third record, the psychedelic Moon and Antarctica). These songs from the late 90's and early 2000's strike a chord with me both lyrically and musically more than most other music out there. When they broke into the mainstream in 2004 with "Float On", which is how many fans including myself discovered them, their style shifted dramatically. While I do enjoy a good number of post-2004 Modest Mouse songs (they were the first ones I discovered, after all), the angst, emotional depth, sheer beauty, and instrumental experimentation that made up their earlier work is blatantly missing from most of these songs. Only two or three of these "newer" Mouse songs are truly on par with the quality of their "older" songs in my humble opinion. Fast forward to 2015, and Modest Mouse has not released a new record in 8 years for unknown reasons. But with the recent announcement of Strangers to Ourselves, Modest Mouse have been coming back into style with their popular new single "Lampshades on Fire". I was a bit disappointed with "Lampshades", although I was honestly not expecting much because I was not impressed with their last record. The funky, dance-rock of "Lampshades" is enjoyable, but sounds very similar to most other songs on their last two records, and nothing like the older material that I've come to love. "Coyotes", however, is a different story. I haven't been this moved by a Modest Mouse song in a very long time. Isaac Brock's lyrics might not be as clever as usual, but he more than makes up for that by using superb imagery against a reverb-heavy wall of guitars that reminds me of my favorite tracks from The Moon and Antarctica. The song's overall soft nature and gentle vocal-line is also a nice change of pace from the majority of tracks on their last record, which featured many frantic songs with 'shouty' vocals. Try not to be heartbroken when you listen to Isaac sadly repeat "and we say we're in love with all of it / and we say we're in love with everything" at the end of the song. It's not a fun song like "Float On" or "Lampshades", but it is overflowing with emotion like the Modest Mouse I love. After hearing this track, I can now truthfully say that I'm excited for the new album.


Click here to watch the "Coyotes" music video and hear the song!

Mimicking Birds, "Eons"

Mimicking Birds is a band that I discovered a few years ago through their connection with Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock. Being a fan of Modest Mouse, I tend to keep up with artists that Brock signs to his label Glacial Pace. Immediately, Mimicking Birds stood out to me for having a sound of their own. The folky, droning psychedelic acoustic looping guitar parts with the gentle yet cynical vocals and lyricism of Nate Lacey makes for what I could best describe as "doom-folk". While many of the songs on their first album Mimicking Birds were very compelling, the pessimism and "droning" quality of the music began to sound a bit repetitive as the album progressed. I was pleasantly surprised when I first heard the lead single from Eons, called "Bloodlines",  over the summer. It is refreshingly different from the songs on their debut. For one, it's happy. "Bloodlines" is just as emotive as many of the brooding songs on their first album, but it actually makes you feel good. Another major difference evident on this track is the addition of delay-drenched electric guitars and prominent electronic effects. Too often, guitar-oriented bands tend to incorporate electronics in an attempt to refresh their sound, but do so by adding distasteful synth-leads and uninteresting drum-machine beats. But Mimicking Birds uses very subtle synth chords that compliment their new use of delayed guitars. The result is a blend of their original subdued "doom-folk" and a prominent, ethereal post-rock sound that work perfectly together. It's very rare for a band to adopt a new sound yet still sound like themselves, but on Eons, they do just that. Even if the new sonic landscape isn't for you, Lacey's detail-oriented lyrics about the universe and life's intricacies are as strong as ever. And while the single "Bloodlines" shows a new, positive side of the band, there's still plenty of darkness on tracks like "Water Under Burned Bridges" and "Wormholes". Even though this record was released in May, 2014, I did not listen to it front-to-back until very recently. But I am very glad that I did, because Eons may be one of the most underrated releases from the past year.


Stream Eons for free here!

Introduction!

Hello there! So... my name is Nick Raymond. Music is my main interest and passion. 90% of the time, it is the only thing that I want to talk about. So, I figured I would post my opinions on this blog instead of boring everyone else who could care less about the new long-awaited Modest Mouse single, or that local band Speed Trials that nobody knows. The main posts on this blog will be somewhat like reviews: write-ups about music that catches my attention (hopefully in a positive way). This could include new music, or songs/albums that have been around for years that just have not captured my attention until now. These posts will likely cover a wide variety of artists and genres. I am interested in indie/local rock music, as well as top 40/pop, hip-hop, and basically everything else you can imagine. The one genre I cannot find interesting is country (sorry), but perhaps I will discover something in the coming months that will change my mind! While others' music is the main focus of the blog, I will also devote a section to my own music. This section will not be updated as regularly, but will be there for anyone who is interested. Enjoy the site!