Archive for September, 2013

By the time I have finished this post it will have only been an hour since I discovered this musical treasure in the suggestions bar of YouTube. And I thank god I did.

After stripping my room of most of its wall decor, I sat down under my naked light bulb, in my naked room, to a computer with an email equipped with a bursting junk mail folder. YouTube was my go to site, as I was researching a not-very-good blues band (naming no names) for this very post. My blog subject quickly changed as I came across… The Growlers.

The only way to describe this band is to say their sound is very American. They sound like the kind of music you’d find played in some crummy holiday themed all-you-can-eat on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Except that this buffet is actually the scenery on a film set, for a film with a tremendous soundtrack.

Half way through the first track, (Someday) something began to stir. But as soon as the last notes of the second track (Naked Kids) played out, I was in love. Not the kind of love that is defined on Wikipedia, but the swaying in my chair, never wanting it to end, wishing I could be frozen in that moment and never forget it kind of love that can leave you singing in the shower for weeks.

I loved Naked Kids so much because the lyrics are absolutely heartbreaking, but the husky voice on the track knocks them down heartlessly, leaving you baffled as to how someone can sing such things with no emotion. But the lack of heart gives the song a new twist, probably better this way than if it was wailed by a soppy teen. At the same time though, the music enhances the singer’s neutral tone, perhaps if it was sung A Capella, it would sound more heartfelt.

Give ’em a listen, and you won’t regret it.

Roseby

Happy Birthday to us!

Posted: September 12, 2013 in Uncategorized

One year ago today, I (Ethan), wrote my first ever post on what was known as ecsindiemusicblog. In this last year I’ve learnt about myself, the music I listen to and improved my literary skills, and I’m sure you will agree. I’m delighted to thank you for being here to be with us for a whole year.

 

Keep subscribing, commenting and following!

Thank you, Ethan.

 

Sound of Silver- LCD Soundsystem

Posted: September 8, 2013 in Uncategorized

Today I’m going to share with you a band who have come and gone, and why a bit of luck can come handy when you accidentally buy an album.

“Though when we’re running out of the drugs
and the conversation’s winding away.
I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision 
for another five years of lies.”

Those lyrics from All My Friends off the album Sound of Silver by the LCD Soundsystem

Slowly strolling across the village-like compact disc palace that is Camden Town, I find yet another stall selling someone’s journey of CD history and embark on an album I’ve been meaning to buy for a number of months. Take note that this CD is in fact not the one I was looking for, but one simply buy the same band. I had known who LCD Soundsystem were, I just only knew them for their one song ‘Drunk Girls’, which I had thought was on this album. Of course I had checked the back of the CD before buying it, but I thought to myself, ‘go on, take a gamble. You’ve heard one of their songs, so you could very well fall in love with this album.’

As the other albums I had just acquired were ones I knew well, this one was the first one I was going to listen to. The first thing I noticed about it was that each song was significantly longer than your average song on your average album. Each song was about five to seven minutes (with exceptions); but was that a good or bad thing? Quite frankly, until I had listened to it I didn’t know. I don’t mind taking a good eight and a half minutes to listen to one piece, but it would take a plentiful sense of concentration.

So, how was it? If you’re wandering whether an eight and a half minute song was too long, I can tell you, as  I expected, it was enjoyable. It even let me discover the song for longer, it stretched out the timespan I had to ponder thoughts I had throughout the song rather than bunching them into (what seems molecular after listening to this song) two or three minutes.  The band pull off a magnificent concoction of electro-indie like Hot Chip and mellow lyrics like Yuck. Something else that stands out in the album is the amount that the USA is talked about, including the two songs ‘North American Scum’, and ‘New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down’.

The track I’d recommend you listen to most is ‘New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down’. It starts off with lead singer James Murphy playing a solo part on the piano, and eventually the drums and bass come in and the song lifts from a very melancholy vibe into a more vivacious and exciting movement. Suddenly we come across an effervescent climax and what we think is the end, but only those of us that wait until the very end of the piece, like that feeling of when we find the hidden track in an album, find one last explosion of sound.

 

If you’d like to subscribe to Juvenile Hearing, you can by clicking on the handy grey button in the bottom right hand corner and entering your email address, or alternatively you could comment on this piece by filling in this form below.

Thanks for reading!

Ethan.