Mumford and Sons - Babel

Mumford and Sons - Babel
Released: September 25, 2012 (Canada)

    Such a great album. As soon as I heard the single for the album 'I will wait' I knew I was going to like it. I find their music to be so enlightening and proud. It's almost as though each song is an orchestrated prayer off to the sunrise; It's just that exciting for me. Best part is they balance these loud and powerful songs such as 'I Will Wait' with more mellow and sympathetic songs like 'Ghosts That We Know.' Let me put it this way, it's the Mumford and Sons we first fell in love with no surprises, just new songs and lyrics to fall in love with. They really do do a good job writing music to relate to; I always find myself quiet and just listening to every word when I hear a song of theirs. So far, I'm in love with the first track 'Babel' but I'm sure I'll just be going down the list changing favourites day to day just as I did with 'Sigh No More.' It's exactly what I need right now during this changing of seasons. Good bye summer, and hello fall!

Songs to listen to: Babel, I Will Wait, Below My Feet (Sooooo good!)

TIFF - Picture Day directed by Kate Melville

Tatiana Maslany in Kate Melville's 'Picture Day'

     The other day, Danielle, a music supervisor, asked if I was interested in reviewing the music from the latest TIFF movie selection 'Picture Day'. I said yes.

Here goes nothing!

Danielle forwarded me to the press package which contained two downloadable links to songs from the movie; not my favourites from the film, but decent songs none the less. I personally don't recommend either.

• “FunkBox” by The ElastoCitizens (MP3)
• “Be About It” by Humble The Poet (MP3)

     It's a shame they didn't include this other song from the movie. I mean it wasn't a huge scene or anything but it was a part of the film I found totally relateable. Here's the scene in a nutshell: The main character was at a point where she had no where to go and just zoned out with her music on and walked aimlessly. The song playing through her walk was so easing and it reminded me of the countless times I found myself doing the same thing - Oh the power of good music. :)

Here's that song:



Figs it was The Dodos; They are wonderful live as I discovered at Lollapalooza three years ago. Great stuff and good job Picture Day! Haha.

Now, what about the movies you ask? It was okay. I mean it was really well done but it just didn't peak my interest.  They showed bits of Toronto and Lee's Palace which I loved but as a whole it just wasn't for me. Either way, I had a good time watching it with my sister and would recommend this movie to any girl with a love for music and general confusion with their own life's decisions surrounding love. Yes, this means every girl.

Thanks again Danielle and Picture Day for inviting me out! 

Picture Day
directed by Kate Melville.
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First Aid Kit

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[Left to Right: Johanna and Klara Söderberg]

-Sister duo from Stockholm, Sweden
-Influenced by the music and songwriting of Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom
-Their 2008 YouTube video cover of the song "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" by Fleet Foxes went viral and Fleet Foxes invited them to perform the song with them in a concert in The Netherlands.
-Later that year the duo signed to Rabid Records, a label co-owned by the Swedish electronic duo The Knife.
-After playing a concert in Nashville the duo was approached by Jack White who requested them to record a single for his Third Man Records series.
-In February 2011 the duo collaborated with Bright Eyes during their performance of Lua.
-Playing Newport Folk Festival 2012 and Lollapalooza 2012
-Appeared on Conan


Songs to Listen to: When I grow up, Our own Pretty Ways, and their cover of Fleet Foxes - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. 



Conclusion: It's pretty sweet to see these two swedish sister so beautifully in sync with each other. Their music is simple and yet wonderfuly enchanting. Only really started listening to them today, but I am excited to hear the rest of their songs. Best part is they're coming to Toronto!  So hopefully I'll have a chance to drop by and check out their set... but we'll see. :D

Sea of Bees

Julie Ann Bee

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[Julie Ann Bee]

-From Sacramento, CA
-SOB: “Sidepain” I wrote after I had been in a camping accident because I had a little too much H and H. Interviewer: What’s H and H?
SOB: Cheap ass whiskey.
-Played Glastonbury 2011
-Toured with Jenn Grant
-Cute story by SOB: I started when I was around sixteen. My sister and my cousin invited me to church and I never had any friends. Let me start from the beginning. My mom grew up Catholic and she felt that we needed to go to church because she had been brought up in it. So when I was little my sister, my mom and I would go to the Catholic church. I remember there was a guy named Peter, curly hair, hippie, goatee, smelled like b.o. and he played piano. He sang this one song that always got to me, during all the other songs I was sleeping or punching my sister in the arm because church made me irritable. This song got me and I wanted to learn it and learn music but I never knew how. I stopped going to church after that until I was sixteen and my sister and cousin invited me. They noticed that I was a loaner and said “Hey Jules, we just came to the lord and you should come to our church group.” After saying no a few times I went. I came to the door and there was a girl named Laura who gave me a hug. It was really my first hug, I was sixteen years old and didn’t know how to hug or touch. The hug was so nice and I remember thinking “wow that was so nice, so that’s a friend?” I kept coming back to church for that interaction and shortly after that I saw a girl singing with her brother and thought “that’s really beautiful, she’s really beautiful” and it made me want to play music. She really was beautiful, dark hair, angelic voice. Sometimes during worship when everyone was closing their eyes and then looking around to see who was lifting their hands higher, I would just be standing there watching her. Eventually we became really good friends and she had a cd out so I decided to learn one of the songs on it. I would go out to my parents shed at five in the morning because I had to be at swimming by six, and I would go out there, put on her cd and try to learn this song. I would put my finger on a string until I heard the same note and then I would put my other fingers where I thought they should be. It was three chords E, B, and A. Then I started learning how to sing by mimicking her voice and finally felt like I was getting it. I tried out for the worship team and got denied and I felt humiliated.

Songs to Listen to: Skinnybone, The Gold, and Marmalade



Conclusion: What a wonderful voice! I first heard of Sea of Bees while vintage shipping in London and  it was the perfect soundtrack to feeling comfortable and excited with my surroundings. I mean I  was on vacation surrounded by beautiful vintage clothing and shoes... Sea of Bees was the icing on the cake. Her voice is so fragile and her lyrics are so truthful and beautiful. This is basically the definition of beautiful music. All I can say is that I thank that shopkeeper for having great taste in music.

Tennis

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[Alaina Moore and Patrick]

-American indie pop band from Denver made up of husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley
-They met while studying philosophy in College after returning from a 7 month trip down to the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard.
-Tennis first studio album, Cape Dory is based on the couple's experiences during their sailing trip.
-The second Tennis album Young & Old was released on Fat Possum Records on February 14, 2012, produced by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.
-Tennis, Moore's earliest singing experience was in church choirs during her youth.
-Played Lollapalooza 2011. I was there and it was just wonderful.

Songs to listen to: Origins, Cape Dory and My Better Self.


Conclusion: I'm not going to lie... I didn't fall in love with them from the very beginning. Sorta just thought they were another duo I wouldn't care about (*cough*Best Coast). Turns out a friend mentioned to me that she had been listening to them so I gave it a second listen. Tennis has such a great summer late 60's sound that I'm totally digging. Also the fact they're a husband wife duo has me wrapped with awwww... Either way, the music has me smiling and I figured it was time you took a second listen to this band if you haven't already.

Star Slinger

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-Also known as  Darren Williams
-Hip hop producer based in Manchester, UK
-Was named in the NME's Top 50 Bands of 2011
-Has provided licensed remixes for The Avalanches (forthcoming on their reissue of Since I Left You), Gold Panda amongst many others! (taken from Last FM)
-Curates his own clubnight: http://jetjam.net
-Playing Lollapalooza 2012
-Has been approached for official remix work from some of his longtime favourite bands, including Air France, Toro Y Moi, Gold Panda, Broken Social Scene, The Morning Benders, The Go! Team, Ed Sheeran, Rizzle Kicks, Foster The People, Alex Winston and Childish Gambino.

Songs to listen to: Mornin, and Dutchie Courage (Both below)

(Nicely done with this video. So sick.)

Conclusion: His remixes are cool because they're different. I'm not much of a DJ critic, but I know what I like and this guy has it going on. I also like that he's worked with Gold Panda because he's another DJ I really admire. Either way, this guy is definitely up and coming and I'm excited to see what else he has in store for us.

Alabama Shakes

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[Left to right: Heath Fogg (guitarist) Brittany Howard (vocalist), Zac Cockrell (bassist), Steve Johnson (drummer).] / Ben Tanner on Keys (not in the photo)

-American rock band formed in 2009 in Athens, Alabama
-The band began with Brittany and Zac meeting after school (high school) to write music. Heath (a fellow schoolmate) joined in soon after hearing how great they sounded. Shortly after the trio asked Steve (who at the time worked at their local music store) to join. The rest is history, The Alabama Shakes were born! (Fun fact: They used to be 'The Shakes', but changed it to distinguish themselves from other bands called The Shakes.)
-"The things you haven't worked through... or things you can't really talk about...just put them in a song ...you might know someone and you want to tell them something but you can't cause it'll just make everything really awkward.. so you just write a song about it." - Brittany / I really liked how honest and real what was said was.
-Justin from Aquarium Drunkard blog found The Alabama Shakes and posted on the band and it was only then did the band begin to blow up.
-Covers Led Zepplin's 'How Many More Time', listen here.
-Played Bonnaroo 2012, Coachella 2012, and are expected at Lollapalooza!
-Appeared on Conan O'Brien, and David Letterman.
-Toured with Jack White
-Brittany's dream collaboration as mention on NME's Youtube interview is Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and Jack White (for his 'awesome' guitar work)

Songs to Listen to: Hold on, I Found You, Rise to the Sun



Conclusion: FML, this band is my summer band. FML because I only started to love them now. I feel like I've been missing out hardcore because of this, but none the less I am sooo in love with them. Brittany is just incredible. Her voice is just... I'm awe-stricken. I find myself completely losing my voice trying to keep up with her at home. The lyrics, the simplicity, the Roots feel as a package has me completely on team Alabama Shakes. Band of the summer friends, get into it.