Weightless Artist: Marconi Union Album: Single Released: October 16, 2011 In 2011, with the help of professional sound therapists, the British artist Marconi Union purposely crafted the most relaxing song of all time. The eight-minute ambient track is a conglomerate of perfectly calculated harmonic intervals, designed to induce a[Read More…]
Music
I’ve got a blanket space, baby
It is four moves of the little hand until bedtime. You sit within your blanket fort and glance over your United Plushdom consisting of strategically fortified pillows, stuffed animals, and bed sheets. Your squire, Tedsworth Bear, informs you that the castle provisions of cookies, milk, and video games are healthy,[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Time for an Album-of-the-Year alternative
When Prince announced “Morning Phase, Beck,” as the recipient of the 57th Album of the Year award at the Grammys on Sunday, Feb. 8, the reactions ranged from stumped (the general public) to outrageously excited (Beck’s wife) to frustrated (Kanye West), to total and utter shock from Beck himself. As[Read More…]
Deep cuts – The 10-minute club
“Street Hassle” Length: 11:00 Artist: Lou Reed Album: Street Hassle Released: February, 1978 “Street Hassle” is without a doubt the standout track on the album that bears its name, and perhaps one of Lou Reed’s best, period. It is split into three distinct parts that tell three different stories. The[Read More…]
Grunge that’s not Nirvana
“Touch Me I’m Sick” Artist: Mudhoney Album: Single Released: March, 1988 Mudhoney stands as one of the major—yet completely overshadowed—forerunners of the Seattle Grunge scene. “Touch Me I’m Sick,” their debut single, brought the dirty, fuzzy, bass-driven sound pervading the city’s indie scene to the cultural fore, paving the way[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Musical mutability
A couple of weeks ago, Sufjan Stevens announced that he will be releasing a new album in late March called Carrie & Lowell. The album will be his first studio release—not including Christmas albums—since 2010’s The Age of Adz. The news came shortly after Death Cab For Cutie and Modest[Read More…]
Joshua Radin: The subdued singer beyond Scrubs success
Joshua Radin recently released his new album Onward and Sideways, a heartwarming set of love songs dedicated to a woman in Sweden who happens to be his new girlfriend. “I didn’t expect it to be an album, I expected it to be love letters for her,” Radin said. “This album is[Read More…]
Peer Review: Cult Classic
When listening to the complex, polished, and innovative sounds of Cult Classic’s latest singles, one could be easily forgiven for mistaking the dramatic and trancelike music of self-described “creampop” Montreal band Cult Classic for that of a band with years more experience together. Despite forming just over a year ago,[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: What’s in a name?
Viet Cong’s new self-titled album manages to make me feel excited about guitar-heavy jams despite living in an age where there is a glut of such music. This Calgary four-piece is on the cusp of the almost unobtainable—a career in indie rock. However, what’s up with that name? Is it[Read More…]
Deep Cuts: Time Warp
My Same Artist: Adele Album: 19 Released: January 28, 2008 Adele has made a name for herself with her soulful and powerful voice, bringing new beauty to pop ballads. In “My Same” Adele’s vocal muscles were not flexed as far as on other tracks, but the cool vintage piece highlights[Read More…]
