Ok, so I’ve written these guys up before, but this song is new to me and just so f-ing good…
That opening dual guitar part is utter perfection. It’d be great with just one guitar, but I love how the second guitar follows along with the melody.
I have no idea if the Barr Brothers are working on a new album, but I just hope they keep releasing new tunes like this. Keep ’em coming guys!
I’ve been listening to a lot of instrumental tunes lately (as I find it helps my productivity and concentration while working), and I recently came back across some tracks by El Ten Eleven. I’ve been digging their loop-based instrumentals for at least a year or so, but it was good to get a little reminder that they existed.
So, um, get your work groove on…
And here’s a little bonus track, just because…
I was digging this one a bunch last night, and since then, I’ve listened to again probably about four or five more times.
The verse-chorus song portion is solid, but it’s really the improv section that gets me.
Around the six-minute mark, they end the core song structure and head into the more improvisational part of the tune. It just ebbs and flows perfectly from there on out. The mandolin leads us off, then that flows into the six-string acoustic guitar, followed by the dobro, and all capped off by one of the more beautiful, note-perfect banjo solos I’ve ever heard. Although it’s definitely a bluegrass tune, it almost works more like a jazz song with the band hitting on key themes, trading licks, crossing over on specific solo passages, and each band member trading and taking turns with beauty and precision.
Good stuff.
When Music 101 students need a good sound clip for syncopation, they can just check this one out:
Those are some serious JBs-style grooves being laid down….just pure, unabashed funky-jazz improv at its best.
If you dig this sound, definitely check out their other teaser track which they released on Soundcloud:
While I am generally into the projects that Skerik gets involved in, this one is striking me as especially impressive. It seems like he’s really found his band.
Bandalabra’s album is due out on March 13th via Royal Potato Family.
I’m really digging this stomp-worthy track from Dr. Dog’s forthcoming new album, Be the Void:
If you dig this too, I recommend heading over to TeamCoco for the full stream of the entire record. Be the Void officially drops on Feb 7th (on Anti Records).
Artist Website: DrDogMusic.com
I picked up Tycho’s latest album Dive at the end of 2011, but I’m still listening to it constantly in 2012. The title track is one of many standout tracks on the album. Check it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOhGQvdCBg
Tycho’s sound hits on this perfect mellow but moody vibe, and I love the way that the core electronic beats and blips are mixed with more traditional analog guitars and bass.
Support Tycho directly–>TychoMusic.com.
More good stuff from Generationals.
I still like their Trust EP the best, but their full release Astro-Caster is also quite solid. It has been steadily growing on me since I grabbed it a few months back.
Man, what a great song…
Can’t wait to catch the Barr Brothers next time they’re in NYC.
I’m loving this new one from the band’s upcoming album, The Whole Love…
http://youtu.be/IHgWuj9tz-k
It’s called “Born Alone.” I also highly recommend checking out the album in its entirety over on NPR Music. Really solid all around. I especially love that last track.
Wilco starts a two-night stand at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park tonight.
Slave Ambient, by the War on Drugs, was another recent emusic download that took only a couple listens to win me over.
The overall sound of the album is fresh but familiar. The instrumentals are a mix of propulsive rhythms, interesting background synths, and multiple guitars that are layered, sweep-filtered, and perfectly jangle-y. But even with a good amount of experimental, psychedelic haziness, their music is all based in a well-known melodic framework reminiscent of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and even U2. But it’s probably frontman Adam Granduciel’s vocals that really provide the familiar sonic pallete. It’s almost like someone took a little bit of Dylan, Springsteen, Petty and Westerberg and wrapped them all up into a younger, mellower vocal doppelganger.
“Baby Missiles’ is a great cut, but it’s only one of many standout tracks. In fact, I can’t really just choose one “song of the day” for this, so we’re going to include a couple more: Continue Reading…