Behind the Curve: 2006

This is a segment I call "Behind The Curve." Sure, I read up on music press a bit, enough to jump onto some bands when they're buzzing. But sometimes you don't notice something, for a while at least. This is a list of some of my favorite music that I discovered this year that, well, came out last year. Hey, better late than never, right? (For song samples, copy and paste the link into the address bar in your browser of choice, then click the download link on the page and enjoy)


1. Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light

These guys had me at the album packaging. Inside a recycled cardboard jewel case lie a pair of glasses. On the outside they read "Resisting Babylon System One Rainbow At a Time" with some pot leafs on either side. When you put them on, all sources of light give off colorful rainbows while everything else is a bit fogged up. If that alone doesn't give you an idea of what Brightblack Morning Light sound like, then the thick opening Rhodes chords of "Everybody Daylight" should enforce the message. Members "Nabob" and "Rabob" are no fools, as their silly nicknames may suggest. This is prime source material about taking drugs to make music to take drugs to if there ever was. Brightblack operate mostly on one level - hazy. Don't expect a hell of a lot of variety. The songs move at the rate of molasses, but are just as sweet. They make for great easy listening because of this. Working? Folding laundry? Uh, making out? Yeah, throw on "Star Blanket River Child" at any of these moments are surely you won't be disappointed. And of course, it doesn't hurt if you're resisting Babylon at the same time.

Brightblack Morning Light - Everybody Daylight
http://www.sendspace.com/file/45jonf


2. Beach House - Beach House

Beach House are fairly similar to Brightblack in concept, but quite different in delivery. Both bands features a guy on slide guitar and a girl on electric piano playing slow songs. But while BML will move at the pace of the smoke from your mouth, Beach House offer a little more in the way of emotion. Anchored by the stunning voice of Victoria Legrand, their debut album is a collection of well-crafted, delicate pop songs bathed in reverb. "Master of None" is about as "up-tempo" as Beach House gets, but that's plenty alright. Its straightforward drumbeat and persistent keyboards make it some sort of pseudo-anthem, a fist-raiser for those with small wrists. Other highlights include "Childhood," similarly bouncy and playful as its namesake, and "Auburn and Ivory," a luscious and heartfelt waltz for the 21st century.

Beach House - Master of None
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dc63cl


3. Witch - Witch

I remember a friend of mine who listens to a lot of stoner metal saying something about a band called "Witch" and how "they ripped, dude" or something similar. I wasn't really listening, in accordance with standard conversational practice with people who listen to a lot of stoner metal (aww, don't be offended. It's just a joke. I listen to stoner metal, too.....uhm, bro). Sometime later I came across the band again, this time learning that its members included J. Mascis of Dinosaur, Jr. on drums and two dudes from Feathers on guitars. Uh, wait. Reread. J. Mascis on drums, dudes from Feathers on guitars. In a stoner metal band? Well, alright, you got me, I'll listen. And holy shit. The first time I played this album I felt like I was aurally slapped in the face (no homophonic jokes intended, thank you). Fact is, these guys DO rip, whether you've been ripping on something else or not. Opener "Seer" is a headbanger if there ever was one, "Black Saint" has Mascis showing off his chops on the skins, and fuck, there's even a song about Rip Van Winkle. How stoner metal is that?

Witch - Seer
http://www.sendspace.com/file/vqrqmt


4. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House

Sometime or another, I had caught wind of Grizzly Bear's "Knife." Good song and all, but I never really got into the album. This was, of course, until I saw Grizzly Bear live recently. I had gone to the show mainly to see the previously mentioned Beach House, but Grizzly Bear sure caught my attention. They are some seriously good performers. Between their delicate vocal work and rich arrangements, I went home from the show craving Yellow House. And it finally clicked with me. Of course now I'm a bit spoiled and wish for the house-sound drums to kick in during "Lullabye," but even still. "On A Neck, On A Spit" is another highlight, shimmering guitars giving way to rolling drums and soaring vocals, making for some blissful listening. Grizzly Bear also gets props for being the only non-self-titled selection on this list. Alright!

Grizzly Bear - On A Neck, On A Spit
http://www.sendspace.com/file/yw5alj


5. Ladyhawk - Ladyhawk

Ladyhawk are one of about a zillion bands related to the classic-rock-or-bust group Black Mountain. The two share similar attitude to what decades had good music, but where Black Mountain draw more from Brits like the Stones and the Floyd, Ladyhawk reside in the Southern U.S. of A. Like a more indie-friendly Kings of Leon, Ladyhawk craft lighter-raising anthems and boot-stompers. "My Old Jacknife" comes closest to the Kings comparison, sporting some infectious handclaps and sing-along choruses. The real standout, however, is closer "New Joker." A somber acoustic guitar led ballad, "New Joker" is prime tears-in-your-beers material, but with a good fuck-you-too attitude to compliment. The song ends with some crashing glass and messy guitars. I don't think anyone is throwing bottles at these guys, I just think they're a bit too drunk to go on.

Ladyhawk - New Joker
http://www.sendspace.com/file/tht2zz