“The Hamilton Mixtape” - Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2009
This is a rap about Alexander Hamilton. It is not a comedy song. If that doesn’t make sense to you, just watch it. It’s really quite spectacular and all the cooler that it’s posted on whitehouse.gov. Thanks to Felix for the pointer.
“Woodfriend” - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, “Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson” (2008)
I’ve started listening through the “LSTN” mixtapes released for free download through Urban Outfitters. Yes, sort of corporate, but there is some pretty good stuff so far (as well as a lot of mediocre stuff). This piece, from Brooklyn’s Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (almost dactylic tetrameter!), is my favorite so far. It’s a floorboard-stomper with heavy guitar distortion in the style of The Black Keys or Dinosaur Jr. Nice bluesy feel combined with some ’60s sounding vocals. This guy may make my short list for concerts.
“Backbone Nuance Give Millions Hope” - luc, “Pea of the Sea” (2005)
A real beauty, via StG. The title is reminiscent of StG’s textual weirdness, and the music is an excellent example of that blog’s thoughtful and eclectic tastes. The artist is Luke Wyland, of the Portland experimental band AU, and I’m interested to here more works from both projects. This is old-time music without sentimentality or cultishness of authenticity. The guitar is pure and honest, but the percussion is adventurous for the style and sometimes boldly breaks time signature. The lyrics are a lovely balance between down-home and allusive. “Backbone” is one of those perfectly short songs that takes just enough time to express its spirit, and no more.
“Rollerskate” - Matias Aguayo, “Ay Ay Ay” (2009)
This is easily one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard all year, and as Perpetua pointed out, it takes a while to even realize that it’s an a capella song. And it’s awesome enough that you won’t even mind! “Rollerskate” is lighthearted and fun, though I do think it goes on for a bit too long after successfully making its point. My favorite part is the little “ow” sounds, which remind me of the music from the old Super Nintendo game Donkey Kong Country. I’m also very impressed with the singer’s (Matias’s?) pitch control on the weirdly modulating eponymous line. Most of all, this song is creative and unique, and I’m excited to hear more of Aguayo’s work.
Mile 8, Lafayette Ave. & Vanderbilt Ave. in Clinton Hill. Pure joy.
“Something Wicked This Way Comes” - The Herbaliser, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (2002)
Happy Halloween!
“Bad Apple” - Apollo Ghosts, “Hastings Sunrise” (2009)
Today’s spookily-named group is Vancouver DIY rock band Apollo Ghosts. Their debut album “Hastings Sunrise” got a lot of critical acclaim in the musicoblogosphere earlier this year. I like their stripped-down sound a lot, although the record is a little hit-or-miss to me. My favorite song of theirs is “Little Yokohama”, but I already posted a link to their stream of it a while back so I figured I’d put my next favorite song. You can hear “Little Yokohama” on their MySpace. On the whole, AG give me bittersweet feelings about the internet’s role in the music world—I’m glad I’ve been able to hear these good songs from a small-time Vancouver band, but it sucks because they never play in NYC!
I’ve said it before: their singer has the best “woo!” in the business.
“Traipsing Through The Aisles” - Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers, “The Confiscation” [EP] (2007)
My third spookily-named band of the week is Oklahoma’s Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers. I first heard them open for Thao Nguyen and Sister Suvi at the Bowery Ballroom earlier this year. They play some very pretty folk-influenced Americana, using a lot of vocal harmonies that remind me of Appalachian music back home. Samantha Crain has a deep rich voice along the lines of Erika Wennerstrom of Heartless Bastards, which I think is well-suited for this sort of earthy music.
The track I posted is not the studio original, but rather from the band’s Daytrotter session. You can listen to the whole thing and download the mp3s here.
“Horchata” - Vampire Weekend, “Contra” (2009)
My second spookily-named band of Halloween week are my Columbia classmates Vampire Weekend! (One of the band is a friendly acquaintance of mine.) This happy little song is about as non-spooky as you can get. I don’t think it’ll change anyone’s mind one way or another about VW—if you liked the first album, you’ll like this; if not, probably not. I take it as an ode to the simple and domestic aspects of love—“lips and teeth” are “to ask how my day went” rather than anything more risque. I especially like the rattly drum near the end.
mp3 via MBV.
