Brooklyn courtesy of Darren McDonald
Yeasayer’s new album Odd Blood has been on high rotation in my car lately and for good reason. The band’s second offering keeps the psychedelic sound-scapes that they are best known for but also brings forth a pop sensibility to the mix. I’ve heard some people right them off for “going commercial” but just because this album includes a few ‘pop’ leaning songs doesn’t mean it isn’t good or original. In fact I think it marks the skill of a band to make songs that stay true to their sound while appealing to a larger audience. The lead single Ambling Alp is a good example of this as is the song ONE, whereas Madder Red and Love Me Girl show off their eccentric side.
Another Brooklyn band I have been enjoying recently is White Rabbits. When their song Percussion Gun first came through iTunes shuffle I was in another room and I actually thought for a minute that it was a Radiohead song – that’s how good it is. The guitar reminds me a lot of their song Reckoner. However when I heard the vocals properly I quickly realised it wasn’t (his voice sounds like a more raspy, masculine version of Cold War Kids – which is a really good thing) and had to see who this track was by. So I got their album It’s Frightening and although the rest of the album didn’t hit me immediately like Percussion Gun did it really grew on me and I am loving it. What also intrigues me about this band is how they would perform live seeing that they are a six piece with two drummers, a bass, two guitars and a piano – I predict it would be fucking awesome.
White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
White Rabbits – Midnight and I
Cheers,
Adso
