Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

i before e, except after c.

Nothing new here in terms of recent releases, but I wanted to give you a couple of tracks that are truly just amazing.  “Meu Destino” and “Until the Morning” both illustrate why Thievery Corporation are unparallel in the electronic/lounge realm.

Listen to “Meu Destino”

Listen to “Until the Morning“

Chris Martin and all his friends have found the secret to eternal glory.  Somewhere in this world, there is a fountain from which musicians drink that grants them supernatural songwriting abilities.  These artists walk the line between unfathomable fame and modesty, serving simultaneously as everymen and (inter)national heroes.  And so, the anticipation and excitement that stems from the prospect of a new Coldplay album always tingles my senses–each one is a new era for the band and its listeners.  I also grew up with the awkward Brits as they proved their mettle with Parachutes and established themselves as a rock superpower with Rush of Blood To The Head.  I was right beside them when X & Y put Coldplay into the everyday rock icon lexicon.

And now their shortest album yet is their most ambitious.  Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is as moody as Coldplay as have ever been (much of this album review involves superlatives!).  The pounding keyboards of “Violet Hill” are as chilling as the excitement of the electric guitar and Martin’s falsetto.  Indeed, the album is quite dramatic–it’s bombastic and bold, outspoken and concise, much like a mission statement for the band.  The lovingly done “Viva La Vida” possesses the same kind of magic that “Clocks” did, with its high-charged chorus and the achingly sweet strings that would make ELO drool.  “Strawberry Swing” is an unearthly delight, conjuring scents and sounds from a world far away.  The imagery is most vivid in this lounge-rock ditty as ‘It’s such a perfect day’ rings loud and clear.  The percussion-heavy “Lost!” is complemented perfectly with the harmonious organs as Coldplay proves again its prowess with the rock ballad. The twangy, southern comfort of “Yes” starts out as an ominous rock dirge but soon turns into a wonderfully moody rock tune with country and Middle Eastern rhythms (!).

The combination of styles and flavors are appetizing and equally satiating, showing the once timid Brits becoming the stuff of legend.  Indeed, life has been good to Coldplay—Viva La Vida!

Buy your copy of Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends.

Listen to “Strawberry Swing”

Listen to “Death and All His Friends“

Out of Southampton, UK come Delays, formed by brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert.  After two modestly successful albums, Delays have released their third LP Everything’s the Rush and seemed poised for even more success.  Though they have often been likened to the Cocteau Twins, I find them to be similar in style to The Clientele.  You may be familiar with this band from the video I posted last week of their hit single “Hooray” - and it might be the best video of the year!

Everything’s The Rush is not as urgent sounding as the album’s title would suggest.  In fact, ETR is delightfully optimistic and light-hearted (not to mention the exquisite album artwork!).  The anthemic, almost Swedish-sounding “Hooray” is by far  the most cutesy of the songs on ETR, but there’s more to this album that cuteness.  “Jet Lag” is a beautiful, serene song that truly brings to mind The Clientele, while the stringed “One More Lie In” and “Girl’s On Fire” are refined and delicate.  I could go more into the album, but a lack of time urges me to prompt you to explore this album for yourself.

Go and get Everything’s The Rush.

Listen to “Hooray” (5/5)

Listen to “Jet Lag” (4.8/5)

In an age where bands with misplaced exclamation points (The Go! Team, !!!, etc.) rule the indie scene, it takes real courage and willpower to withhold from recklessly throwing !’s everywhere.  I can just imagine how livid Elaine Benes would be at the abundance of Shift+F1’s being used.  Yet The Zutons’ third and newest release, You Can Do Anything, is conspicuously missing the many exclamations it deserves!

The Zutons’ sophomore release Tired of Hanging Around continued to showcase the band’s quirky outlook and knack for catchy riffs.  You Can Do Anything builds on the progress from THA, as the band has found a way to harness its own creativity and seemingly unlimited originality in a way that makes for an incredibly rockin’ album.  What I love most about The Zutons is the self-knowing kitsch–from the album covers to the lyrics to the instrumentation, The Zutons take the music seriously but they don’t puff their own chests.

There really isn’t a theme that ties all these tracks together, except for the optimistic mantra You Can Do Anything.  Indeed, The Zutons have proven on their third LP that they can do anything.  “Freak” is a comically frightening song about a gigolo - the wordplay is quite entertaining.  “Give Me a Reason” is straight out of a Bon Jovi album, complete with choral and electronic wah-wahs.  “Don’t Get Caught” and “Put a Little Aside” fair on the slower side, showing the band’s skill for rock ballads.  But the real highlights on this album really set it apart from other above-average releases this year.  “What’s Your Problem” is a free-wheelin’, feel good, pop-rock song that complements the piano-bopping rock duet “You Could Make the Four Walls Cry” quite nicely.  So grab those exclamation points and use them wisely - You Can Do Anything!

So what are you waiting for?  Buy You Can Do Anything.

Listen to “You Could make the Four Walls Cry” (4.9/5)

Listen to “What’s Your Problem” (4.8/5)

If you’re at all familiar with Grand Theft Auto IV (i.e. the commercial), you may have heard a bombastic bass line with the lyrics “I came a long way to see you / now I wish you were dead”.  Put aside the dark imagery, because this song was made for GTA IV and essentially sums up the plot line of the video game.  Niko, a Serbian, is convinced by his brother to come to America for unfathomable riches and women.  Niko soon finds out that it was all a lie and that he is a pawn in his brother’s schemes in America.   And so, Chicago natives Greenskeepers aptly sing “another lookout for the amber waves of grain / green lady moved away and changed her name”.  Really wonderful song, through and through.

Purchase Greenskeepers’ most recent album Polo Club.  See CSV’s review here.

Greenskeepers - “Vagabond” (5/5)

I am generally not a fan of bands releasing live content without any unreleased songs.  Though The National’s The Virginia - EP does have a few unreleased songs, it still reeks of a band trying to capitalize on newfound popularity.  But it’s The National, so I’ll let it slide.  That said, I wanted to share with you a few tracks from the album.  The first is “Mansion on the Hill” is a slow-rolling, ‘Ada-esque’ track that will ultimately leave you breathless in the wake of its beauty.  “Tall Saint” is certainly a more urgent and charged piece that reminds you that The National haven’t lost that edge from Alligator.

Buy The Virginia - EP here (comes with a DVD!)

Listen to “Mansion on the Hill” (4.6/5)  Matt Berninger! Matt Berninger!

Listen to “Tall Saint” (4.5/5) Matt Berninger!

Or is it not sexy? The Rapture (whose Pieces of the People We Love is a CSV favorite) and Timbaland (who needs no parenthetical explanation) have joined up to put together a new single “No Sex for Ben”. This track is really just a wonderful amalgamation of styles - the disciplined creative recklessness of Timbaland combined with the unbridled dance-infused rock that has basically become The Rapture’s signature style.

Enjoy.

The Rapture - “No Sex for Ben” (4.8/5)

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UK veteran indie rockers South have put together a seamlessly elegant work of art with their fourth LP You Are Here.  Though the tracks on this album I find a little inconsistent, there are some highlights (including the album cover, which is just gorgeous).  I think it’s the focus on this elaborate elegance that ultimately detracts from the music, but there are also some wonderful tracks that sha’nt be missed.  Listening to the piano-riffed  “Opened Up” is complete ecstasy, and “Better Things” is a fantastic pop rock song.

Check out You Are Here.

Listen to “Opened Up” (4.8/5)

Listen to “Better Things” (4.4/5)

I don’t have much time to post today, but I wanted to leave my fellow internerds with some tracks for the lovely weekend that is upon us.  After some cool temperatures and some hazy conditions in Chicago, the sun has come out (and so has the rain!) to bring 80+ degree temperatures!  Maybe these two tracks by Uh Huh Her will help you cool down as summer bears down on us.  For fans of Client, Uh Huh Her delivers the same kind of high-charged, anthem-like rock.  Check out their album Common Reaction.

Listen to “Covered” (4.8/5)

Listen to “Not A Love Song” (4.3/5)

I just couldn’t keep this video to myself.  Hooray! Hooray!