Byron Black - Autopilot Off

Pop-punk? Really? I like pop-punk?! 

Well it seems so.

 First off, I discovered this band about 4 days ago, but hadn't really started listening till yesterday. Please excuse me if I know nothing of this band or genre. 

In the beginning of high school I was going to the local car wash and buying rap mixtapes from the Jamaican dude (5 for 20 bucks). 

Well actually I had my mom drive me, but whatever. 

Needless to say, I never hopped on the blink 182 train, or fall out boy, or all time low, or new found glory, or yellowcard (I don't feel like italicizing or capitalizing all of those). 

I think you get the point. 

Well anyway, I found this band on a share thread and couldn't stop listening to the track over and over. I immediately downloaded the album, and was very happy with what I found. 

Oh Shit, I think I’m going through my pop-punk phase now.  

Autopilot Off never seemed to quite gain the overwhelming popularity of the other bands mentioned, but damn is their stuff catchier. Their music is also classified as skatepunk, which totally makes sense. Brings me back to playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games or something. After reading up on these guys, turns out their music was featured in a bunch of early 2000s videogames. 

This four-piece best friend band took a huge hiatus that they technically still are on. However, as of June 20th of this year, they released that they are working on writing and recording new music.

 Autopilot Off has two full lengths and four smaller EPs. The only one I have gotten through is their 2004 Make a Sound, which Byron Black is the 11th track on. 

Every stride
Wears the soul more thin
Until it's slowly worn down to nothing

Prowler - Bohren & der Club of Gore

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Late night drizzling rain in New York City - can anything be more cinematic? Well yeah, a soundtrack to fit the mood. 

Want to feel like you’re throw onto the set of Scorsese's Taxi Driver, check out Bohren & der Club of Gore. 

This atmospheric four piece jazz group from Germany is the perfect soundtrack to falling asleep. Don't hold me responsible for any murder mystery, film noir, deceive dreams that their music formulates. 

I'll leave it to the last.fm tags to describe this group most uniquely: Bohren & der Club of Gore is classified as dark ambient, dark jazz, funeral jazz, or doom jazz. I'd call it night music.

 I never thought I'd find myself enjoying a saxophone so intensely, but that surely seems to be the driving instrument for me. Originally the band featured a guitar instead of a saxophone, being that the group derived from a group of high school friends' original hardcore band. The group set out to make a more unique style of music. They chose the name Bohren which translates to drilling from German. They desribe themselves as an “unholy ambient mixture of slow jazz ballads, Black Sabbath doom and down tuned Autopsy sounds." 

Case and point: this music is eerie, but strangely comforting if you are nice and cozy in you’re bed listening to the rain through your window. On the other hand, I don’t know how comforting this music would be while walking down a dark deserted alleyway in the bowery after some rainfall. 

If you can't get to sleep, don't reach for the nyquil. Load up some Bohren and let the slow atmospheric jazz play you off. 

Since the band has been around since 1992, figuring out where to start in their discography is pretty tricky. I would suggest their 2000-release Sunset Mission.

Viices - M∆DE IN HEIGHTS

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Rediscovering an artist is one of those things that can make your day. With music being so easy to find and download these days, an album or artist can be buried in your library for god knows how long.

 This the case for me and this electronic duo ::M∆DE::IN::HEIGHTS::. Try to type that in without cutting and pasting it into a google search. 

Kelsey Bulkin lays down ghostly falsetto vocals over glitchy downtempo trip-hop beats produced by Alexei Saba. Not much is know about this artist besides their previous projects, and is presumably nothing more than a collaboration. Their website, simple as it is, states 2010-2011. 

Besides humorously being tagged as "mythical filth pop" (which actually kind of makes sense), Made In Heights can most accessibly be categorized as Witch House. 

I'll let last.fm explain it: “Witch House” (Juancarlitos House, Drag) is a mostly electronic music movement of 10s, found of memory manipulation, which typically incorporates elements of hip-hop, dubstep, electro, IDM, gothic, shoegaze, and ritual ambient/ethereal/noise/drone music, often with a slow tempo and a lo-fi aesthetic meant to evoke a dark, sinister, occult, or juancarlitos mood. 

I know, I know, a whole lot of pretentious genre talk, but I do think it does describe their sound rather well. 

This track entitled viices, is the second off their APORIA: IN THESE §TREETS EP. The spacy, otherworldly beat meshes nicely with the poetic lyrics depicting a couple driving through the dark suburban streets. The lyrics in the chorus get even wilder, as the couple takes a trip through space. 

Although this duo isn't widely popularized, the production on this album is top notch. Be sure to check out this EP and their full length self titled.

got an angel sleepin in my pocket/wrapped around my finger/picture in my locket/read his mind cuz baby i’m a psychic/we ride every night through every light because we like it/see the future drivin in my rocket/fly to other galaxies/stimulate our eyelids/enjoy the ride now baby i’m the pilot/hear the engine revvin all the demons they survive it

Legends of the Hidden Temple - Milo

Hip-hop and rap are still relatively young genres in terms of being widely accepted. In its latest years, hip-hop has been diced minced into even more specific categories, starting first with gangster rap, and now so far polarized that genres like nerd-rap can become popular. 

21 year old Rory Ferreira, otherwise know as, Milo is a self-proclaimed Rapsmith. His music can be defined as nerd-hop, or conscious hip-hop. Milo isn't afraid to show off his expansive lexicon and deep philosophical enlightenment.

 Milo's musical catalog becomes increasingly more personal after each release. It feels quite like reading his sarcastically witty diary (oh wait, guys write in journals right?).   

Milo is a relatively new artist releasing his debut mixtape entitled "I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here" on November 1st, 2011. This release took the Internet music world by storm with its relatable and poignant pop culture references. February 19th, 2012 (OMG, a year and a day ago), marked the release of "Milo Takes Bath." A clever pun, being that the album was limited to rapped over instrumentals of glitch-hop artist Baths.

 With the Milo hype building, and music reviewers anxiously awaiting, the expectations for his latest release we're rather high. Milo responded to this hype with a monster double EP named: Things That Happen At Day/Things That Happen At Night. Milo writes on his Bandcamp that the dense release is, "a double-ep exploring duality and responsibility. It is unavoidably obtuse, overwhelmingly self-important and I am not sorry.” 

Although this particular track is a bit scatterbrained, it's easy to tell where Rory is coming from. Legends of The Hidden Temple, the 4th track off TTHAD, is an obvious reference to a 90s Nickelodeon game show, which me makes reference to deep in the track. 

Milo nonchalantly speaks to a unnamed love interest on this particular track alluding to the things he could have possibly done differently-all over a beautifully produced glitchy electronic track with heavy and saddening strings. 

Milo's catalog covers some interesting and less touched upon topics like long distance Internet relationships. The best part is most of the music is free to download, and if not, it's free to stream.

Tell myself I’m not a jerk
Tell your mom I’m not a jerk
Shy away from jobs, borrow money, anything that works,
That isn’t work

Fortunate Son (cover) - Sound City Players

Yesterday morning I woke up with one thing on my agenda: Grab Chipotle with a few High School friends.

By 6pm I was on a train with 65 dollars drained from my bank account and print out tickets to see Dave Grohl and The Sound City Players. If you aren’t aware, Dave Grohl, yeah that dude from Nirvana, recently released a documentary he himself directed called Sound City. Sound City is the recording studio where a myriad of billboard records were created. Dave decided, while recording, that he wanted to make music with as many each of these artists that he interviewed.

 Being Dave Grohl, he was able to get essentially everyone on board, and is now sporadically touring the album with these huge names. Besides all of the touring members of the Foo Fighters,  Grohl’s Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic, Alain Johannes (Eleven, Queens Of The Stone Age), Chris Goss (Masters of Reality), Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine), Lee Ving (Fear), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Rick Springfield, John Fogerty, and Stevie Nicks were present. 

The lineup of the show was anything but traditional, but somehow worked. With no opening band Dave was able to keep the attention of the audience by bringing out his players in 4 to 5 song spurts. Each player was introduced by playing a clip of their interview from the Sound City film on a screen that covered the entire stage. The screen was quickly lifted to reveal the each artist. It was hard to deny the magic that was created in that shit-hole of a studio.

 Single after single the crowd ate it up. What amazed me the most was the diversity of the crowd itself, I found a few over the hill rockers to my right, a middle age group of friends to my left, two business professionals behind me, and a few teenyboppers in front of me. Chanting the catchy choruses to these influential chart toppers was something I’ve never experienced before, or might ever experience again. 

Waiting in the seemingly never-ending coat check line my friend and I instantly reminisced about the show with a few new friends over the wafting smell of body odor and kebab trucks.

 So much for Chipotle, but we did enjoy some late night McDonalds before our trek home. So above is a link to these legends take on CCR’s Fortunate Son. The record is not released, so fan shot live stuff is all we have for now. This particular clip is not from the show NYC show (crap footage is crap) but it'll do. 

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son

Everything You're Breathing For - The Parlor Mob

Rock and Roll is dead right? Wrong! Well, I think The Black Keys already proved that, but blues-rock band, The Parlor Mob are keeping that notion alive with remarkable steeze. 

I was introduced to this band by my friend Chris, whose college buddy opened for these guys when they were playing under the name What About Frank?.

 The Parlor Mob is a five-piece outfit with a loveable garage sound and personality. Linked above is the third track off their debut And You Were A Crow entitled Everything You're Breathing For. 

Being as enveloped in their music as I am, choosing the right track to showcase was Hard Enough (HAHA, get it? ... Nah didn't think so). Well this track, although from their far less masterfully recorded album, is an example of the raw sound you can expect from these guys live. 

Trust me, you see these guys play when you get the chance. They're New Jersey based, and often play in NYC. Seriously though, check out some live footage of them if you like what you hear. Personally, I can't listen to these guys without (poorly) trying to mimic Sam Bey's emotive cymbal crashes, and bouncy snare hits. If you want groove, these guys got it, but after they've got you moving, they'll throw you for a loop and hit you with a powerful ballad.

 Mark Melicia's high registered vocals, David Rosen and Paul Ritchie's tasty guitar licks, Anthony Chick's tight bass lines, and Bey's punchy grooves are tough to argue against. All masters of their instruments, it's hard for me not to compare these guys to Zeppelin at some moments. 

With only two albums I'd certainly suggest listening to both straight through back to back. Both are cathartic in their own right, and there is an obvious and undeniable progress in production value from And You We're a Crow to Dogs. Get into these guys, get your buddies into them, the band deserves it, and you owe it to yourself.

Little one, how can it be
You hurt yourself but do not see
And everything you're breathing for
Will let you down and leave you sore

We Happy Few - The Calm Blue Sea

 

Good morning, or afternoon, depending on what time I'm finally able to upload this article. The snow has fallen here in NYC and the shoveling has begun. 

If you're looking to escape this bitter cold winter day, grab a pair of headphones, and let The Calm Blue Sea take you away. This four piece mostly instrumental Post Rock group, if you allow them, will let you free your mind and shove your hectic schedule aside momentarily. 

We Happy Few, the first track off their now rereleased debut self-titled album seemed most appropriate to share with you guys, as it was what got well acquainted with the band, and more importantly the genre as a whole. 

I'll let Wikipedia explain: Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock. Post-rock bands are often without vocals.  

We Happy Few is a little over 8 minute cinematic epic that sails over swells and crescendos with a tasteful range of instruments and effects. Beginning with a simple chord progression on guitar, and ending with a monstrous clash of crashing cymbals, reverberant snare, repetitive drones, and thick meaty bass, The Calm Blue Sea creates melodic beautiful chaos. 

For those who are a bit weary of instrumental music as a listenable genre, let these Texans be your gateway. 

If this track works for you, be sure to check out the rest of their 2011 self-titled album, and their new 2012 Arrivals & Departures. However, their first release is actually a score for the 2009 film, Siegfried. 

Grab a cup of coffee, a pair of headphones, some comfy pajamas, and set sail for a journey across The Calm Blue Sea.

Very Busy People - The Limousines

 

Cheers, gentleman and ladies! *Here’s when you can toss some pocket change in the backseat or whatever silly ritual you do for a new blog.*

Welcome to Phonic Fixation—your potentially daily dose of mp3 that has been hand selected by me. Without further adieu, let’s get to business, or lack there of.

I found The Limousines’ Very Busy People a fitting first track to share with y’all. This cynical 4-minute track inspired me to do something with this iPod like a pirate ship, with 50,000 songs I’ve never heard.

Electropop isn’t a genre I can say I’m particularly well versed in, but after being introduced to these guys by my good friend Joanna, I can’t help but sport a shit-eating-grin while listening to these far too relatable lyrics each time I rediscover the track.

 Multi-instrumentalist and producer Giovanni Giusti lays down a super catchy synth-track, while vocalist Eric Victorino half-sings three witty tounge-in-cheek verses over them. The lyrics can’t explain themselves anymore clearly, and therefore need little to any analysis or interpretation. But hey, you’ll never find a catchier way to poke fun at your own generation.

Writing about this track is as difficult as reviewing a stand-up comedy show in terms of not wanting to really give away any punch lines. Share this one with your friends and get a good car sing-a-long going; you’ll probably get cheap laugh or two out of it. If ya want some more, check out their 2011 full length Get Sharp and their 2009 Scrapbook EP.

“that donnie darko DVD


has been repeating for
 a week

 and we know every
single word”