Just Listening

  Superfan 2020's - current indie rock first song that reeled me in: "Too Tired" CIRCLES, 2021 This artist (also known as KALI) has a few releases to select from, most of them singles and EPs. As such: I will not be breaking down the sound album by album. This will be more of an "Honorable Mention" entry. A memoir of that time I got better acquainted with Superfan.  CIRCLES (2021) & Maltman and Effie (2022)  are this artist's EPs that I found. As individual albums: they are very clear in their voice and sound. When comparing the two to each other, I find that Maltman and Effie has a bit more of an edge to it. It is the cooler older sister to the previous. Effortlessly swish and impossibly cool. CIRCLES is more the album you set in your headphones when you are feeling particularly "thinky". When you take a walk down the sidewalk through downtown and end up at the ice cream shop. (It's sunny out with a gentle, warm breeze - of COURSE your fee...

Little Dragon 2000's - current dance / electronic first song that reeled me in: "Ritual Union" Ritual Union, 2011. Little Dragon / Self-Titled (2007) Another band that hooked me with a 2011 release! And whose first album is a 2007 collection. Already: I am learning things about myself and making connections. It will be interesting to see what percentage of these entries will be based off of 2011 tracks. Anyway: to the album machine! "Twice", this album's first track, is a somber, easy introduction. I am immediately and gladly sucked in by the vocals. The lead singer, Yukimi Nagano, has a voice that has an almost mystical quality. Somewhere between a cat's purr and a tiger's rumbling growl. The sound is instantly comforting while never losing its edge. It feels like she knows plenty - perhaps too much - about the world around us. This wise voice leads us effortlessly throughout the remaining body of work on this album. Dancing smoothly over well-colle...

 So, here's the thing. I love music, I love pondering on it; it makes me think in concepts and metaphors and my boyfriend - who is brilliant, as well as a brilliant music archive - told me he liked the way I described things.  Also: I have this habit of finding a song I absolutely adore / couldn't live without / can't imagine how I even breathed air without it for so many years... and then I never look into the back catalog of songs / albums.  So! For now: the intention of this blog is going to be to take a further peek. Whether it be sifting through my "liked" songs to further explore their entire albums or simply my first impressions of music that was suggested to me by loved ones (or instagram). (...Don't laugh, that's how I heard about The Last Dinner Party! More on them later.) Also, for now: this is just for my boyfriend. So he can have something to read and also stop picking on me for never making a music blog.  Enjoy, babe! <3 

Nurses 2000’s - 2010’s indie rock first song that reeled me in: “Trying to Reach You” Dracula, 2011. Hangin’ on Nothin’ But Our Hands Down (2007) Their first album kicks us off with “And Now the Curse of Marjorie”. The unnatural Radiohead sound (from the music, not the vocals, I assure you) gives way quickly (and somewhat disappointingly) to the music that better matches the previously strained vocals. Everything falls a bit more naturally into place as a classic 2000’s sound takes over altogether. Think: Ludo’s “Love Me Dead”, only more shallow and not as catchy. AFI’s “Miss Murder” comes to mind (don’t come for me, fellow Millennials), only on cheaper equipment. Which I’m sure it was - this is, after all, their first album. And I’m not hating on them or cheap equipment - but there’s a way to camouflage the price tag from the public at large (me, with absolutely no musical training). The rest of the album is a bit of a manic conversion from Ludo to something more akin to The Unicorns...