DERU – Say Goodbye to Useless [2010]

Post #39.  DERU is Benjamin Wynn of LA.  Say Goodbye to Useless is his recently released third LP.  Wynn samples and reworks sections of old music and frames them with clever electronic production.  Though there are stretches of brilliant ambience, this album is very kinetic and beat heavy.  It seemed to fit the rainy day today as it leans pretty heavily on darker tones.  Check out the first video below to hear Wynn talk a little about how he visualizes and creates his music.

Stream the album at Mush Records.  (You can also download it there for $7.)  This youtube playlist has 7 of the 11 tracks.  Make sure to watch the video to Goodbye.  It is a fan video and quite impressive.

source: dataless

Phosphorescent – Here’s to Taking it Easy [2010]

Post #38. This is the album I have been waiting for most in 2010.  Phosphorescent‘s fifth LP, Here’s to Taking it Easy, follows the styling of his last, To Willie, a tribute album of Willie Nelson songs and songs popularized by him.  Yep, this is country, but it’s honest country.

Matthew Houck is the most sincere artist I have ever seen perform a song.  As he shares his downtrodden spirit in songs about lost love and divorce, he sings with the conviction of a street corner preacher and speaks to the heart of everyone in the room.  There’s just nothing like seeing him live.

Stream the album for a few more days at Spinner.  Please be sure to listen to Hej, Me I’m Light.  That track is the most like the haunting folk sound of his magnificent album Pride.

(live video of Permanently Lonely from To Willie)

source: dataless

Future Islands – In Evening Air (2010)

Post #36. In Evening Air by Future Islands.  I haven’t liked growl singing since the days of Creed.  (Yes, it is true and horrible).  For many years after my conversion to “good” music I have listened to singers with smooth high voices, and only in the last year or two have I become open to rougher voices.  It’s easy to hear the difference between this and Stapp’s grunts, but it still took me a few listens to adjust my ear to the Future Islands singing.  Though the music drew me in, the reason I keep listening now is because of the singing.  Lead singer, Sam Herring, conveys so much emotion and seems to pour all of himself into every word.

Herring’s passion is easily visible in the video of An Apology, below.  But if you listen to one track, listen to Tin Man (free download).  The song builds up to about 2:32, where all instruments drop a bit and Herring croaks “I am the tin man.”  I could listen to him say that over and over.  This album was released today and is available to order here.  5 of the 9 songs are on this youtube playlist.

source: jmac