Staycation Soundtrack

Kate’s Birthday Summer 2011 Album

Egotistical faux-reviews by Brother TJ

Lucille

1. My Girls – Animal Collective
A great opener to any album as it builds the anticipation and doesn’t let up for six minutes of layered electronic and percussion sounds.

2. The Boy with The Arab Strap – Belle & Sebastian
This folks duo hit the spot with this fun up-beat that keeps the energy up after the animal collective opening. They are a great group playing off of each other in each of their songs.

3. New York is Killing Me – Gil Scott-Heron
A fitting come down from the Animal collective and B & S high that was the first two tracks. The raspy voice and repetitive lyrics of the late great Gil Scott- Heron may drone on but let yourself focus on his words and the catchy hand claps. You’ll be better for the experience

4. Who Knows Who Cares – Local Natives
This track oozes summer nostalgia. Imagine yourself in slow motion running into the lakes and rivers as a little kid. It’s fun.

5. ONE – Yeasayer
Just saw this group in concert in NYC. They have a new sound that is really catchy but you can’t really figure out why. I think they are going to be pretty popular in the near future. The different tempos, and styles in this one song are a summary of everything that makes them great.

6. Radio – Air Waves
Short and sweet. Bendy Guitar licks ‘Nuff said.

7. Modern Man – Arcade Fire
My favorite track from Arcade Fire’s award winning concept album about the American suburbs. Tells a good story, and has a chorus you’ll look forward to every time you listen to the track.

8. Go Outside – Cults
The 2011 indie summer anthem. This group is starting to take off, and this is the hit that is propelling them.

9. Bimini Bay – Tennis
Every song by Tennis is as light as a feather, this one particularly. Its sole purpose is to be listened to on a hot day at the beach when you want your head to be as empty as a split coconut.

10. Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken – Camera Obscura
Because that last track was just too short for us to get our fill of airy bubble gum pop. Like Tennis the vocalist here has a dreamy floozy tone that carries along an ordinary musical score.

11. While You Wait for the Others – Grizzly Bear
In contrast to the last two tracks, this unique lyrical style is complimented by deeper guitar strings and an assortment of complimenting back up singers and instruments.

12. Take Care – Beach House
Coming full circle here, I really enjoy the music here more than the vocals, it contains a sentimentalism that the lyrics can’t do justice. Heavy, but certainly not overpowering

13. Come Talk To Me – Bon Iver
Had to find a way to include Bon Iver (aka Baby Jesus) in the mix. I know you’ve likely heard a lot of his album stuff so I included one of my favorite covers.

14. Barnaby, Hardly Working – Yo La Tengo
In contrast to the last song, this may seem just as easy going but the complex layering of instruments makes your mind focus a bit more on the slow quiet beauty of a hot summer afternoon.

15. Lindisfarne I – James Blake
James Blake is a young kid without much musical talent other than his openness and curiosity to experimenting with his voice as an instrument. He’s been called “new age dub-step” whatever that means. I like it and a fitting end to the first CD. He doesn’t say much but there’s something pure behind all the voice synthesizers and silence.

Lucille 2

1. Too Young – Phoenix
Ditto to the first CD. I like to start with some energy and anticipation. Phoenix makes you wanna shake it like ya mean it. Great to play on the way to a party.

2. When My Time Comes – Dawes
From the first to the last note you don’t want this song to end. Play it loudly and sign the chorus.

3. East Harlem – Beirut
Can you really listen to a an upbeat Beirut song without smiling and moving your feet a bit? I dare you. Once again Zach Condin entertains with brass instruments and a one-of-a-kind voice.

4. Details of the War - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Speaking of interesting voices… These guys are the kings of hipster music. If you can stomach the odd vocals you’ll be in for a treat with this band.

5. Stranger Things (Wallpaper Remix) – Local Natives
Whoever this Wallpaper guy is took an ordinary song and made it go &#*%!!! Be sure you listen to this one all the way through to the end as the final 90 seconds are the closest you can get to ecstasy without having a nasty hangover the next day.

6. Last Night at the Jetty – Panda Bear
This one is a bit strange but similar to the album opener, in fact they share a band member! This is certainly the biggest risk taker of the album but I enjoy it.

7. Holdin On To Black Metal – My Morning Jacket
Keeping with the experimental trend, this one may take a few listens to warm up your ears, but once you do you’ll really appreciate all the sounds going on here. Probs the weakest track of the entire mix here but My Morning Jacket is worth looking into further.

8. Who You Gonna Run To? – Solid Gold
Mpls natives slow it down a bit as the album enters the beginning of the end.

9. Sylvia – Antlers
A haunting but addictive tune by my new favorite band. It comes from a concept album about care giving for a terminally ill patient. (dark…) The subject matter can’t hide the fact that it’s an extremely well done pop-rock song with high highs and low lows. Listen for the horns at the end.

10. No Sweat – Gayngs
Gayngs are a continuing source of inspiration for me. To be a musician no? A poet? Fat chance. No Gayngs make me strive to some day be as bad ass as this collection of artists. They took R&B and put it on it’s head with sexy saxes and emo piano licks and a vocalist with soul.

11. Loft Music – The Weeknd
Don’t play this one with kids around. This 20-somehting kid from Toronto took note from Gayngs and made R&B cool again. His incredibly raunchy lyrics seem to lose their stigma when matched with such a seductive beat behind it. This kid’ll be big, and he’s a big reason why R&B is making such a comeback in the indie music scene.

12. Putting the Dog to Sleep – The Antlers
They’re back and I can’t think of words for this one but I keep coming back to it again and again.

13. Guilty Gubicles – Broken Social Scene
I had to find room for them on this album. This is a track that’ll put you to bed but it’s a small preview into what this band likes to do with their instruments and the mood they can strike up just within the first 30 seconds of the track.

14. Sold Ground – Maps and Atlases
Solid vocals, and a calming acoustic guitar to put this little album to rest.

15. Lindisfarne II – James Blake
A little bonus for making it all the way around, James Blake returns with the finale to his debut album.