New Single: The 1975

I'm baaaaack bitches!!  Sorry I've been gone so long...been traveling around and unable to update.  But, I've heard a band that has inspired me so much that I hate to come out of hiatus to tell you about them.  I'm a little more than obsessed with The 1975.  And, not just because they're named after a year in the most awesome decade to be born in, but because their new song "Sex" is the serious shit. 

It's got everything I love in a song...hooky crunchy guitars and a catchy emo chorus.  This song literally had me at hello (well, you know what I mean).  The 1975 are from Manchester, England and are releasing their second EP this year, also called Sex and available November 19th. Check out the rest of their music on their Soundcloud...it's the bees knees!

New Single: The xx

After releasing the first single from their forthcoming sophomore album, the xx have released another single to further fan the flames of excitement for the September 11th release of Coexist.  I was quite a bit obsessed with "Crystalized" and "Shelter" from their self-titled first record and CAN.NOT.WAIT to hear Coexist in its entirety.  They had me at "Angels" and keep reeling me in.  LOVE. Love. LOVE. love. love. love. that song. September 11th will not be here fast enough!

New (to me) Single: Twin Shadow

I'm more than a little obsessed with this song.  I first heard it a few weeks ago, but have been so busy that I didn't get a chance to share my love with the world.  So, sue me...I might be a little late to the Twin Shadow game.  I'm sure there are hipsters in Silver Lake Echo Park Frogtown Williamsburg somewhere really lowly and ghetto who knew this song in utero.  I'm just not that cool.  Sorry.

"Five Seconds" is a-mazing and it's also one of my new favorite songs.  It hasn't replaced my summer love for "Heaven" by The Walkmen, but holds a different place in my heart....the one left vacant after I burned out on Bloc Party a while ago.  It comes as no surprise that his new album Confess will be released on July 9th by one of my favorite record labels, 4AD...love them.  Definitely my vote for one of my favorite summer songs of 2012.  CAN.NOT.WAIT.

New Music: Alabama Shakes

So far this year, I have loved a lot of bands.  Yes, I know...I'm kind of a music slut.  But, that's just what I do.  I'm a lover.  Of good music.  Not to diminish my feelings for all the others, but I think I'm ready to settle down.  And, the lucky band is Alabama Shakes.  I am so excited about their debut record Boys & Girls (out on ATO Records this week) that I can't stop preaching the Alabama Shakes gospel.   This is definitely my favorite record of the year thus far.  Boys & Girls has something for everyone. It's soulful, it's blues-y, it's rock, it's romantic, it's big, it's Southern.  It's the one record that I feel like I could tell most anyone I know that they will undoubtedly love it and mean it.  Some of the songs were previously released on the band's self-titled debut EP.  That’s only worth mentioning because it just means four less new songs we have to enjoy from the band. 

“Hold On” is the first single from the record and is definitely the one to suck you in and entice you to hear more.  Immediately, you’ll be mesmerized by Brittany Howard’s voice and the sheer soulfulness and maturity it encompasses.  It’s like Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin and anyone with a “Howlin” in front of his name had a baby.  You would think that this 23 year old woman had lived through a thousand years and was here to tell you about it.  “Hold On” has been in my head non-stop for the last week, which has been keeping me in a good mood, but only makes me wish that everyone around me could hear the song as well.  If I had one-tenth of the singing voice of Brittany Howard, I might be able to share it with others.  But, that's not gonna happen.  If it did, they'd also hear me singing “I Found You.”

“This isn't sometimes
Yeah, it’s for always
If I'm gonna love you with all of my heart
And if there is no more time
This always remains
Even as the world spins itself apart

Cuz I remember the day

I waited so patiently 

For God to bring someone

Who's gonna be good to me

And He blessed my soul

Cuz I've traveled a long way

And it took a long time

To find you,

But I finally found you.” 

Makes me want to go out and fall in love, just so I can have someone to share this song with.  Hmmm...I think I just wrote the headline to my Match.com profile.

If that doesn't work out, I can continue obsessing over the rest of the record.  While I love the whole thing, I would be remiss without highlighting "Hang Loose,” “You Ain’t Alone,” “Boys & Girls,” “Be Mine” and “On Your Way.”  I honestly could sit here and name check the entire tracklist of Boys & Girls as my absolute favorite and not be exaggerating at all.  It’s that effing good.  

I have two recommendations for you this Spring: one is to go out and immediately buy Alabama Shakes’ Boys & Girls and the second is to see them live.  Best show I’ve seen in a really long time.  Chills.  Not only will you experience something special, but you’ll be able to tell your friends many years from now that you saw the amazing Alabama Shakes at (insert small venue here) way before they blew up huge.  And, then you can tell them that your friend Jeannie told ya so.

New Band Crush: Tanlines

Don't mind me, I'm just a little obsessed with Tanlines.  I don't mean the things that don't exist on my body since it finally sunk in that the sun tanning my bronzed skin might kill me (whyyy god, whyyy?!).  No, I'm talking about the Brooklyn band Tanlines.  Not only am I in love with their first single "Brothers" from their debut record Mixed Emotions, but they just released the second video from the record, "All of Me," directed by Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh.  "Brothers" made me happy, "All of Me" makes me GIDDY.  Mixed Emotions is an awesome record full of synthy poppy jams that makes me want to dance the night away.  I just can't get enough!

See them live here:

Wed, Apr 11       Washington, DC           DC9

Thu, Apr 12        New York, NY             Bowery Ballroom

Fri, Apr 13          Philadelphia, PA          Making Time @ Voyeur

Sat, Apr 14          Middleton, CT            Wesleyan University

Mon, Apr 16       Montreal, QC              Il Motore

Tue, Apr 17         Toronto, ON               Wrong Bar

Wed, Apr 18       Cleveland, OH            Grog Shop

Thu, Apr 19        Chicago, IL                 Empty Bottle  

Fri, Apr 20          Minneapolis, MN       7th Street Entry

Mon, Apr 23       Vancouver, BC           Fortune Sound Club

Tue, Apr 24         Seattle, WA                Barboza

Wed, Apr 25       Portland, OR               Doug Fir Lounge

Fri, Apr 27          San Francisco, CA      Rickshaw Stop

Sun, Apr 29        San Diego, CA            Casbah

Mon, Apr 30       Los Angeles, CA        Echo

New Music: Oberhofer

Oberhofer's debut Time Capsules II is probably one of the most appropriately named records I have heard in a long time.  Listening to the record is like stepping in a time capsule and going back to a time when things were easy, fun.  It's not just because the music has a very 60's vibe to it, almost like Pet Sounds or Donovan. Maybe it's because Time Capsules II transports you to that awesome moment when you realize that you're falling in love, whether it's reciprocated or not.  It makes you feel that love, the chance at love, when heart is good, hopeful and happy.  My vote is that it's because of all that dang xylophone.  I love it.  It's got me mesmerized.  Whatever it is, it's working.

The record opens with "HEART" and rolls straight into "Landline," which transports you to a time when people had more than one phone.  "If I don't pick up the phone, call the landline."  "Away Frm U" and "I Could Go" are both so catchy, it hurts.  I could sit here and wax poetic about how every song on the record is my favorite.  It's hard when every song really is your favorite.  Songs like oOoO,""Cruisin' FDR" and "Haus."  LOVE.

Time Capsules II is abundant in melody, harmony and lush orchestration.  It wraps you up in a snuggly blanket and fills you with endorphins of love.  I love that all of the hope and emotion that you hear in the lyrics is perfectly illustrated in the music.  With every tap of the xylophone, a young person in love has their first kiss.  What Time Capsules II does for me is wipe away the bitterness and replace it with loving hopefulness. Maybe I will find love!!  Maybe even today!!

New Band Crush: Walk The Moon

Walk The Moon's "Anna Sun" pretty much had me at hello.  We're talking quick-witted 80's synth beats with lyrics to make you swoon, it's emo, it's indie and the video has some sweet ass dance moves (take note of the dude in the Lakers tank).  Love.  Walk The Moon are a not-so-ragtag group of guys from Cincinnati, OH who performed in competing a capella groups and later formed a band.  Not the most punk rock bio I've read...but they are just way too cute to pass by.  Nerds are in, right?   They're on the road with Kaiser Chiefs now with some headlining shows sprinkled in between (YO, come to LA!).  The Anna Sun EP is available now on iTunes and through their website.  Can't wait to hear more!

An Open Letter to Bob Lefsetz: Alabama Shakes Edition

Dear Bob,

First of all, you're wrong about Alabama Shakes.

I saw them last night at the Troubadour for their (over)sold out show and it was fucking awesome.    Despite what you think, lead singer Brittany Howard is the real deal.  She's got all the passion and soul that comes across in the Alabama Shakes EP that you didn't get.  In fact, she's got enough for the both of you (and me too).  The EP is pretty great, but live?  It's amazing.  And, isn't that what it's about?  The music?  I feel like you always say that.  Maybe you forgot.

From what I gather in reading your letter dated December 26, 2011, you don't think that Alabama Shakes has put in the hard work, that they don't have what it takes.  You left the window open saying you hope that they will be a success, but you doubt that they possess that special something.  Which I'm sure is your defense to all of those who saw them last night and are saying right now that you're an idiot.  Sorry, but you are.

You didn't really give them a chance.  You assumed solely because people were actually excited about them that they must not be good.  You were wrong.  Maybe you were thinking of Lana del Rey.  It was weird how people so quickly took time from their post-Christmas hangover to pile on with you.  Your bashing of them stirred up a shit storm from bands who had "never heard of them" on the road and also from the music industry "elite" of Alabama who couldn't help but draw parallels between your "10,000 hours" letter and the sudden hype around this band.  When I read those responses I couldn't help but think that they were just jealous.  Jealous because people are connecting with Alabama Shakes and really like them.  And jealous because Brittany Howard is going to be a fucking star.  Or, maybe because she already is.  I guess that doesn't fit into your paradigm of how you think things should go.  Well, I guess that's just too bad.

So, Bob, you can go back to listening to your Eagles records.  Rhinofy some John Hiatt.  Maybe throw back a couple of Harvey Wallbangers with your buddy Irving Azoff.  I'll be here.  Checking YouTube to see if anyone else uploaded footage from the show, drinking bootleg Four Loko and anxiously awaiting April 10th when Alabama Shakes' debut record Boys Girls will be released.

LYLAS!

Jeannie



And, here's a video from the Troubadour last night:

New Obsession: Blind Pilot

Even though their record came out in September of last year, I am currently on a non-stop listening frenzy of Blind Pilot.  We Are the Tide is flat out awesome and a little slice of perfection.  I can't get enough of the title track and found this version online and thought it was pretty genius.  The rest of the record is like a soothing cup of tea at the end of a bad day.  It lifts you up and makes you feel so much better...like a nap in a cloud.  Don't worry, I'm not listening to the same ten songs over and over again.  I've also wrangled their brilliant debut record 3 Rounds and a Sound into my fixation of all things Blind Pilot.  I saw them play at Spaceland when their first record came out and can't wait to see them when they come back again.  They aren't at Coachella, which hopefully means they'll be back in LA soon.  Yipppeeee!