New Music We Love

Yesterday was an exciting day as the much-anticipated Local Natives album Hummingbird finally came out! As soon as I got to work I plugged in the headphones and pressed play, letting the sweet sounds and my cup of coffee wake me up.  It’s always difficult to follow up a debut album as amazing as 2009’s Gorilla Manor.  Expectations are high, especially when so much time has gone by.  But for Local Natives, that time was clearly spent creating a follow-up album that shoes not only how much they’ve grown but that their music is as beautiful as ever. The opening track, “You & I” immediately sweeps you up on a magic carpet of sound and carries you on a journey of peaceful, thoughtful introspection with uplifting waves that come in tracks like “Breakers” and “Wooly Mammoth.” The album has a maturity to it, where Gorilla Manor was a bit more playful. The album’s somber moments are also some of its most beautiful (listen to the gorgeous “Columbia” right now). My favorite track as of now is still “Heavy Feet.” Kelcey Ayer’s voice as he quietly sings the verses of that song gives me chills. They’re also touring so check out their dates here and see if they’re coming to your hood!

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jim james

You probably know Jim James as the lead singer of the band My Morning Jacket, but he’s also had a number of side projects.  He is one fourth of the “supergroup” Monsters of Folk with M. Ward, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis; In 2009 he released an EP of beautiful George Harrison covers under the name Yim Yames, and next week he will release his first solo full length album titled Regions of Light and Sound of God. My Morning Jacket is one of my favorite bands so I’ve been following them and James for years. He is a fascinating man who can come off as simultaneously goofy and incredibly spiritual.  In concert I’ve heard them cover a range of songs that spans from Erykah Badu’s “Tyrone” and James Brown’s “Cold Sweat” to the Band’s “It Makes No Difference” and Elton John’s “Rocketman.” I’m convinced they can do anything – if you know his band you also know that they’re very experimental, and a lot of that comes from the mind of Jim James.  This album gives us a little bit of insight into that mind, a more personal glimpse at the man behind the music. It was inspired by a book of woodcut art called A God’s Man, which tells the story of an artist’s redemption and lingering demons.  While he didn’t need to redeem himself, Jim James has created a beautiful and personal reflection on himself that fans will surely love, and for those who aren’t familiar with him, it will open up a whole new door. He comes to Philly on February 18th for a show at Johnny Brenda’s that sold out in about 60 seconds, but he’ll be back in April at Union Transfer. Check out his website for more tour dates.

Regions of Light and Sound of God comes out February 5th but you can stream the full album now over on NPR!

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foxygen

Okay, I know I’ve mentioned these guys, Foxygen, before but I had to again because their album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic is now out and I can’t. stop. listening. It’s like someone combined all of my favorite musicians – The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Velvet Underground, The Kinks, and more – into a blender and mixed them into one big musical smoothie.  You can’t recognize the ingredients that went in, but you can taste them here and there. I know it sounds crazy but somehow it totally works.  Listening to songs like “San Francisco” you’ll catch yourself thinking “wait, I’ve heard that before,” but you haven’t. Now that I’ve heard the full album I’m still in love with the song “Shuggie,” but I also can’t get enough of the funky breakdown of “Oh Yeah” that comes around the 1:30 mark, “On Blue Mountain,” and the closing track, a very Beatles-esque “Oh No.” Listen below!

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unknown mortal orchestra

The other band I’m excited about right now is Unknown Mortal Orchestra, a band out of Portland, Oregon whose album II is out next week. Their sound is a really cool indie-meets-R&B that is smooth and oh-so easy on the ears. Funnily enough, they’re going on tour with Foxygen! Both will play at the First Unitarian Church in Philly on March 1st and I can’t wait! Listen to the song “So Good At Being In Trouble” below and stay tuned for their album next week.

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Claire
11 years ago

I know I want a career in the visual arts, specifically in fine arts photography, or digital photography – a career which would allow me use my creative side all the time, and not just following the rules for taking a “perfect shot”. I spend most of my day thinking and daydreaming of places and moments, not even planned moments. I daydream of how I could capture these moments, express and show them visually and emotionally through my editing and every other aspect of taking the picture, what they mean. I’ve been obsessed with this kind of thinking ever since my mom gave me her old Sony camera when I was twelve. Ever since then, I have had this undying passion for taking pictures. But what I really thought was fun and gravitating, was the editing process. I eventually got Photoshop and began manipulating everything about the images. I love to learn… I’m never quite satisfied with my work. I can be happy with it, proud of it, but I always think there is room to improve, learn and move forward with new ideas and other ways of processing. Last year, my AP art teacher introduced me to photo transferring with Wintergreen oil and heat. Naturally, I love anything that combines to make a final product. Putting my photos I edited on paper, then being able to paint, scratch, put my favorite gold leaf or soak the paper in water, was just crazy to me. The thought of physically being able to manipulate my photos on paper really excited me.

I literally take my camera with me everywhere I go. I feel that when you know for a fact you can do something well and and enjoy doing it, what else is there for you to do but to keep pursuing it? For me, photography and photo editing is something that has always always excited me. It’s basically a visual representation of the world in my head. How cool is that! Traveling is one of my absolute favorite things to to. When on my way to my destination, I immediately begin thinking about the photos I will be snapping – on the way there, the time spent there, and on the way back. It’s a never ending adventure for me, my brain, my photos and my editing. It’s the one thing I know I’ll never lose. Everyone has unique passions… photography is mine. I continue to be inspired when I have the opportunity to express myself, discover new methods and ideas, and learn new ways to improve myself and my work. I live a life and will always live a life to express. It’s my goal to make a living off of what I already do every day. Now that would be a dream come true.

sweet pea
11 years ago

Umm thank you Claire.

Anyway – YES…. I am so excited for this new music!!! Thank you for posting and introducing it to people :)

11 years ago

You should check out Austin Psych Fest! The festival is going to be held at a ranch on the Colorado River in Austin, TX. So sweet.

The Black Angels • The Growlers • Black Rebel Motorcycle Club • Warpaint • Deerhunter • Black Mountain • The King Khan and BBQ Show • Clinic • White Fence • moremoremore… austinpsychfest.com!!

Here’s a link from last year – http://blog.freepeople.com/2012/04/playlist-austin-psych-fest/.

11 years ago

Thanks Julia for sharing this! I’m really diggin’ Foxygen. I think I’m a fan. I’m sharing this right away. Thanks again ;)

Ana
11 years ago

So excited about Local Natives new album!!! This album will definitely be on repeat…can’t wait to see them perform at Coachella:)

11 years ago

the song by unknown mortal orchestra is rad! i don’t usually most like new music but that song got me :D

Kirsten
11 years ago

Yea! Go New Zealand! (Ruben from unknown mortal orchestra is a fellow kiwi)
Also, I wish we had Free People stores in New Zealand.
They look magical.

Janis
11 years ago

I just saw the Foxygen/ Unknown Mortal Orchestra concert last night. Can’t wait to go! I have been listening to Foxygen since you have mentioned them last and am now obsessed. Ive just began to listen to the Unknown Mortal Orchestra and love them just as much <3 Im just happy that I have finally found bands that I love that are made out of musicians under the age of 50:) haha

Claire
11 years ago

Haha oh my gosh i am sorry. I was submitting that to an art college…. Im sorry! So random!

10 years ago

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