Grand Archives

The computer oriented city of Seattle, Washington has a new band under their belt, fronted by Mat Brooke (formally of Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd) along with four other members, who include Jeff Montano, Curtis Hall and Ron lewis.

I'd have to say this is a step in the right direction for Mat, who contributed to penning the songs "St. Augustine" and "I Go To The Barn Because I Like The" on last years Band of Horses debut.

Archives sound is noticeably different than both Band of Horses alt-country, and Carissa's Wierd emotional backbone. All four member contribute to singing, which brings out very pleasant harmonies. My guess is that this is what Mat has been waiting for.

MP3's

Sleepdriving

George Kaminsky

Track of the Week

Red Sea Station - The Streets Are Whispering

Brand New / The Honorary Title

Being a modern day teenager and going through a day of high school is as hard as ever, with all the drama and work that needs to be attended to, there seems to be no self absorbed time. The frame of mind that some might be in, could be to obtain a high GPA, so that they can go into college ready for the challenge of cramming and quizzing. Then there is the other side, parties and drinking, drugs and hanging loose. But no matter what path you decide to take, you can always rely on some bands to get you through it.

When I was in high school my musical mindset was the same as always, I liked to be different and I didn't listen to a band because they are "popular". I wanted to find out the difference between what my musical roots were, and what I intended them to be. I was drawn into the emotional music scene in early high school. It was all because of a girl I met that was from a different state, but not state of mind. She got me into bands and taught me a few things on how to find good, new music.

To do this day, there are emotional bands that I have to say have stayed with me over the years, and affected me in ways unexplainable. I have currently banished the genre as it is, because of the wrong direction it is going in. But who am I to critique?

MP3's

Brand New - Jesus Christ

Brand New - Okay, I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't

The Honorary Title - Snow Day

The Honorary Title - Everything I Once Had

Panda Bear

On Panda Bear (aka: Noah Lennox's) Person Pitch, his third and most successful outing as a soloist, shifting away from the psych/new weird America band Animal Collective, Noah falls for samples and loops to make his way through history on creating one of the more generous sounds of the modern age. Based on works of minimalist techno and Pet Sounds era vocals, this modern day Brian Wilson has created an inevitable sound that we all knew existed somewhere deep within us. He seems to pull the plug on each song at the right time as well as shift from song to song without switching up the song at all, just the natural flow.

"Comfy In Nautica" which happens to be the opener reminds me of a parade of noise that seems to drift and show its flaws yet seems to keep a steady pace until free-falling into the extraordinary "Take Pills". As "I don't want for us to take pills / take pills / take pills" is spoken, it is meant. I read in a recent interview that the song is about the overuse of anti-depressants, and in turn, being able to make it through the day without them.

Now "Bro's" being the first cut I heard off this album (and the song that weaves through the album like thread and holds it together) I have to generally say that it is probably my "God Only Knows" of the album, enough said. "I'm Not" on the other hand reminds me of song a man would write after being drugged up for a long time, and then finding the will and desire to move away to a different part of the world and go forth in a different direction, which is exactly what it is. "Good Girl/Carrots" being the most delicious song on the album, is modest and brilliant from cover to cover, and it would probably even be a good read if translated into book form. "Search For Delicious" which you'd think would be the most delicious song on the album is actually the exact opposite, but still very subtle at times, and the title suits the song very well. The closer "Ponytail" is very vibrant and seems pressured, but carries a poignant being and leaves us wanting more.

Overall, a well received and well deserved album, 9/10.

MP3's

Comfy In Nautica

Take Pills

Bro's

I'm Not

Good Girl/Carrots

Search For Delicious

Ponytail

Mountaineer

It's 2007 and with Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, Feist, LCD Soundsystem, Panda Bear, etc. all releasing new material, it's hard to listen to anything else. But, I have stumbled upon an act that has yet to release anything in 2007, yet I'm stuck on them just as much as any of the acts mentioned above.

The 2006 Sleeper Album of the Year goes to Mountaineer.

Released by Type Recordings on October 17th, When the Air is Bright They Shine is a beautiful record. I must have just overlooked this album because I was either too busy listening to Electric President over and over or I was concentrating on my studies. I'll go with the first one, just because I don't like to front. Now Henning Wandhoff on the other hand, really doesn't like to front. You can tell he doesn't want to go too far of course with his musical structure, or veer into a genre he may not be suitable for. He knows what he wants to bring forth with his prolific songwriting and harmonized voice. Comparisons include, Sam Beam (of the Iron and Wine fame) and Erlend Øye (of the Kings of Convenience fame)

On the song "Morning Mist" Henning croons

"The day is fast / And I am slow / But I walk steadily /
The rain will wash my face / And sand is gonna cover me"

This could possibly be the best chorus written in the year of 2006.
With it's joyus slur, it sounds as if there could be nothing else said in the entire song and it would still be utterly solid. But with this being a repeated chorus, it makes one of the best songs, on one of the most, if not the most underrated album of 2006

MP3's

Morning Mist

A Town Called Ivanhoe

Eliza (A Day For Every Hour)

Radical Face

Ben Cooper is a very talented 24 year old man. Maybe the most talented man recording in the shed behind his parents house. Last year him and Alex Kane put out my favorite album of the year.

This time around he's trying things solo, under the moniker Radical Face. He will be releasing Ghost through Morr Music on March 20th.

Yes, I am very stoked about this album, and yes, it is very critical as to how it is going to match up to Electric President's Self-Titled. But no, I do not have any doubts.

Optimism will prevail and I'm sure Ghost will explore a little more folk, found sound, and different varieties of music that will captivate the listener and keep the timely lyrics and solid instrumentation secure.

MP3's

Radical Face - Glory

Radical Face - Welcome Home

Radical Face - Wrapped In Piano Strings

Last Days of April

Back in 2005 Samantha posted on the Last Days of April. A handful of months have passed, a lot of coffee has been drank, a lot of people have gotten drunk, and a lot of trees have grown and gone.

And now I'll do the same.

Karl Larsson is the main creative figure behind this project, along with his solo work. He and the band are from Stolkholm, Sweden.

MP3's

Last Days of April - The Days That I Recall Being Wonderful

Last Days of April - Will The Violins Be Playing?

Last Days of April - It's On Everything

Last Days of April - Live The End

The Twilight Sad

The Twilight Sad were formed in 2003 and they are from the same geographical location as my way of life. Therefore, nothing. But I will tell you that they touch me in a much different way.

They are currently signed to FatCat records.

MP3's

The Twilight Sad - That Summer, At Home I Had Become The Invisible Boy

The Twilight Sad - And She Would Darken the Memory

The Twilight Sad - 3 Seconds Of Dead Air


Special Thanks To :

Girlpants & The Yellow Stereo