What I Can't Stop Listening To: December 2008

now playing: Mêlée - Biggest Mistake

Every so often, I come across a few songs that I couldn't stop listening to if I wanted to. I'm sure you know the feeling -- something about them is just so infectious, or just unlike anything you've heard before, or just plain good that you want to play it until the metaphorical grooves wear out. In this monthly article, I'll talk about the top five songs that I couldn't stop listening to if you paid me.

05) Anamanaguchi - Helix Nebula

I owe my knowledge of this band to my friend Doug in Washington, who has a much more interesting musical taste than I. But this is of course my blog, so you'll have to settle. It doesn't show very well in the thumbnail, but the album cover for Anamanaguchi's Power Supply is entirely pixel art, which is fitting considering the four-piece group plays chiptune electro-rock that's one part nostalgia to three parts meticulously constructed tunes that put anything that's appeared on the NES to shame. Half the songs clock in at under three minutes, with the whole album barely 20 minutes long. "Helix Nebula" is all about the drums, and near the end, the key change to kick the main riff up to the next level. You can check out the entire album for free on 8bitpeoples, Anamanaguchi's label.

04) Fall Out Boy - 20 Dollar Nose Bleed

Say what you want about Fall Out Boy, but after the disappointment 2007's Infinity on High brought me, it's refreshing to hear a very strong attempt to evolve the band while still keeping that classic sound with their latest offering, Folie á Deux. True to the title of the album, "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" is a song shared by two, with Brendon Urie from Panic at the Disco joining Patrick Stump on vocals. This ode to amphetamines comes off as a bouncy collaboration between both bands with a disturbingly singable chorus and breakdown. My one complaint with the song is that it goes on for about 30 seconds longer with a non sequitur section with little relation to the rest of the song. You can listen to this track and all of Folie á Deux on Fall Out Boy's MySpace; if you like what you hear, you can buy the deluxe album on iTunes.

03) EAR PWR - taco boat

Here's another band I owe Doug for telling me about. I've never been lucky enough to see a live show with North Carolina's EAR PWR, but I've heard stories of audience members being pulled on stage to dance to the surprisingly minimalistic synthpop songs about tacos and the beach. Not one to mince words, EAR PWR tells us exactly this in their first second EP, i like tacos and beach.. (The period is mandatory.) The lyrics rarely get more complicated than "I like waterslide, wiki wiki waterslide" and it works. "taco boat" exemplifies this, as it's just a list of things you'll need to get aboard the almighty taco boat. This includes a stethoscope, a cowbell, and Ron Weasley. You might not remember everything you need, but you'll be singing the chorus for days. Hear "taco boat" and more by EAR PWR at their MySpace.

02) Fall Out Boy - The (Shipped) Gold Standard

No Fall Out Boy song (except maybe the first few bars of "Grand Theft Autumn") has quite gotten into my head like this one. Maybe it's the pre-chorus, singing about proclaiming love but keeping it secret. Or maybe the chorus, begging for a change in the same old complaints, is what resonates with me. Whatever it is, I can't get this song out of my head and I don't think I want to anytime soon. I'm even willing to put up with the fact that the song's title reminds me of Ron Paul.

01) Miranda Lambert - Gunpowder & Lead

Let me make one thing clear: I do not like country music. I do, however, like songs sung by and about badass girls who can and will kick my ass if I look at them funny. It's for that reason that Miranda Lambert's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is possibly the only country album I will ever own. The third single from this album takes the badass girl and puts her among a powerful chorus and a guitar solo, which are all the ingredients I need for a song that I won't soon forget. You can read more about Miranda Lambert on her website and listen to songs off both her albums on her MySpace.

I'll see you all in the new year with new music and new features. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

New Discoveries 2008

now playing: Orleans - Dance With Me

With the new year upon us, it's appropriate for most people with a music blog to talk about the best albums of 2008, or the best new artists of 2008, or the tastiest sandwich of 2008 (which I would have to say was some sort of terrible multi-tiered concoction that needed support beams to stand upright). I, however, plan to talk about some of the best bands I discovered this year. That's a double-edged sword: I don't have to limit myself to this year in music, but I also run the risk of embarrassing myself if I talk about a band that everybody has known about for ages. That's never stopped me before.

The Sterns

Boston-based band The Sterns hit the music scene in 2005 with Say Goodbye to the Camera and delivered again in 2007 with Sinners Stick Together. I picked up their sophomore album a few months ago and was impressed the whole way through with their ability to take guitar, bass, keyboard, and horns and blend high-energy tracks like "Supreme Girl" (about a love affair between Harriet Miers and George W. Bush) and "Twenty-Three Hours" seamlessly with slower songs along the lines of "Rosemary Cross". The quintet-turned-trio is working on a new EP, due out sometime soon. I had the privilege of seeing The Sterns live at the Baked Fresh Festival in October and was not disappointed with any of their new material. Keep an eye out for updates on their MySpace, or pick up their music on iTunes.

Ghost Hounds

It's a real shame California's Ghost Hounds don't have more publicity. In a musical diaspora filled with imitation band after imitation band, they bring a truly unique sound that just can't be found in modern bands these days. These five guys have a heavy blues/classic rock sound with backing vocals in all the right places, real guitar solos, and just a touch of Hammond organ for taste. You can't get this anywhere else. You can look for Ghost Hounds' first album, Vintage Trouble, to hit stores in February 2009. Until then, keep yourself posted on their MySpace and don't forget to sign up for their mailing list.

Paramore

All right, this one's a bit of a stretch, since I've known about Paramore for a while. I did, however, decide to pick up their live album, The Final Riot!, recorded in Chicago on the last show of their Riot! tour. This is without a doubt one of the best live albums I've ever heard. Singer Hayley Williams commands the crowd in countless callback sections, which are my favorite part of any concert, in songs from Riot! and their debut album All We Know is Falling. Just before doing their (unrelated) song of the same title, the band does a brief cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". By the time the show closes with "Misery Business", the energy is pulsing through the speakers at record amounts and it makes me realize just how much I want to see this band perform live. I don't even care if their brand of power-pop is marketed towards the scene kids. (It helps that Hayley Williams is a bit of a fox.) You can find clips from The Final Riot! and more on their MySpace, and if you like that, feel free to check them out on iTunes.

With that, the first edition of Ombrophilia draws to a close. Until next time, keep your eyes on the skies.

Ombrophilia

ombrophilia (äm'brə-fĭl'ē-ə)
n.

1. An abnormal love of rain.
2. A blog about music.