Showing posts with label the xx. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the xx. Show all posts
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Uncovered Covers(Holiday Edition): Woods and The XX cover Vince Guaraldi and Wham

So, I had every intention of finding a new cover that was not holiday related. However, almost every cover floating around this week is a holiday cover, so I relented. The question is, which holiday cover to choose? If you are me, you cover them both! Bonus content!

First up, we have Woods covering Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here." Woods obviously make it very, well, woods-y by turning the piano driven track into something more low-fi and psychedelic.

Next up, we have the second greatest Christmas song of all time, Wham!'s "Last Christmas." Now before I tell you about The XX's cover, I have a few things I want to say about this song. One, it is great, don't argue with me on this one, the original is great stuff, seriously. Two, I feel like, looking at the lyrics, George Michael is just asking for the same problem he had the Christmas before. You would think, given what happened to him, he would be way more cautious in giving his heart to someone during the holidays. He basically establishes that he isn't the best judge of character so how do we know if it is really "someone special" this year. Sorry, I am just concerned.

Anyway, The XX's cover is underscores the emotional devastation at the heart of this sad tale, mostly because it is sung by the XX who have made this song much more sparse and icy. All in all, a good cover.
So, there you have it, a holiday edition of "Uncovered Covers." I leave you with this photo of myself, in case you ever wonder what the writers on this site look like. Happy Holidays!


Michael Torsell
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Picking Up The Slack For MTV: The xx

 

The xx has become known for their ultra-minimal production style, a quality that both critics and listeners noticed upon the release of their first, self titled album. And in response to this, for their second album, Co-exist, the trio queued in on this element and went even further with it, stripping down the layers to the bare minimum. The single "Chained" is a great example of this. It's composed of no more than 6 tracks- yet each track, the synth, the baseline, the vocals, the percussion, and the guitar has received a treatment that can be likened to the one a Lamborghini would receive from a reputed auto body shop, the successive sounds coming out out shiny and smooth, finely tuned to the nth degree. The official music video, which was released only several days ago, is a companion to this aesthetic in cinematographic form. Voila- slow motion, blue tint, shafts of light containing rainbows, day time northern lights and the members of the xx jumping into calm, dark bodies of water.


 Jeannette Chin
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Listen to Four Tet's Remix of the xx's "Angels"


Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet has remixed the lead track “Angels” from the xx’s new album, Coexist. The electronic producer previously worked with the band’s material in 2010, remixing the single “VCR” off of their sublime debut record. Debuting last night on BBC Radio One, the remix takes the breathy vocals of Romy Madley Croft and puts them in front of the bright ambience that define much of the producer’s work. Rather than crowding the negative space that defines the original cut, the atmosphere is kept in tact and brightened by the electronic texture that marks the Londoner’s work.



Steven Knapp
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Album Review: The xx - Coexist


What is it about The xx? With just a piece of music, they burrow into the softest emotional space of the heart and pry those feelings to the surface.  It's the "he said, she said," the moment that overcomes when you're sitting next to the person who shared your world and suddenly they're a stranger, or perhaps it's the thoughts that race through the depths of your mind while holding your head in your hands, wondering why. The songs that comprise their debut album, xx, are the anxious nights of discovering love. Their sophomore album Coexist "finds itself on the other side of heartbreak, when the light returns."

In their past productions, the groups heart-sinking lyrics bring up images of scribbles on loose-leaf paper, desperate attempts at salvaging a sinking love. This album, while still sticking to the romantic ups and downs life brings upon us, has a more mature vibe. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim's signature harmonizing duet is unfailing. Jamie Smith helps create instrumentals that are mesmerizing and beautiful. Combined, the tracks create a personal realm that is entirely relative to the listener.

The 'x marks the spot' prismatic rainbow of oil separating from water of their album artwork metaphor represents what the album holds. "I was reading up on oil on water - when you see a puddle on the floor and it’s a rainbow. Oil and water don’t mix, they agree to peacefully coexist," says Croft.

The spooky repetitive whirring sound effects of "Try" is a fresh sound for the London-based group. The pondering thoughts and soothing bassline accompanied by steel drums in "Reunion" is suddenly silenced about two minutes in and transforms into a more upbeat pace. The imagery in "Sunset" is incredibly powerful and it's clear through their lyrics that the time and experiences between their first album release and now has brought them wisdom. Maturity is understanding and accepting the inevitable estrangement that comes with broken love. "I saw you again, it felt like we had never met, it's like the sunset in your eyes...what have you done, with the one I love," sings Croft. This album is not drowning and gasping for air but is grounded and knowingly acknowledges things will not be the same.

The song that I found the most uplifting and moving comes after nine tracks of somber acceptance. The healing sounds of "Swept Away" and beatific lyrics are the silver lining of the album. Perhaps strategically placed at the end, this song with it's bouncing nature and hi-hats, is the beacon of hope.

Grade: A       



See worldwide who else is sharing the moment.

Alicia Greco
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Top 10 September Album Releases


Here we are, face to face with September and it’s difficult to be upset. In most ways this summer has been incredibly good to us; we should be very grateful. There’ve been a surplus of incredible shows and events to check out in WNY all season long and all of that great momentum just seems to be carrying over into the fall as well. In many ways we perceive Autumn as a season of decline, but it’s also a period of renewal and harvest. While autumn carries a certain nostalgic weight, it is also a chance to start fresh and look ahead to new beginnings. And new music. There's a ton of new music.

10. Rudi Zygadlo - Tragicomedies
Rudi Zygaldo gets the name of his first transfixing single “Melpomene” from the Greek Muse of Singing who later becomes the Muse of Tragedy, often depicted with a mask in one hand and a knife or club in the other. After discovering this, the image itself becomes nicely aligned with said single from his newest release Tragicomedies. The Scotland native’s sound can be attributed to a mix of pop, contemporary electronic, and a touch of dubstep. He has previous released an LP Great Western Laymen from Planet Mu records out of Kent, England. Tragicomedies is due out 9/24. Listen to "Melpomene" below:


9. The xx - Coesist
The xx are a South London quartet who came to prominence in 2009 with their sparse, yet fresh sounding self-titled debut. The xx received raved reviews and their popularity has since skyrocketed, enough to get them the #15 spot on (the predictable) Pitchfork’s People’s List, a recent tally the site undertook to measure their readers’ top 200 albums since the media publication launched in 1996. Yes, you could call them a buzz band, but even if you aren’t blown away by their minimal take on indie-pop, it doesn’t hurt to see what they’re up to 3 years and millions of fans later. I already have a few opinions about the latest single “Angels”, but give it a listen and decide for yourself what you think. Their album Coexist is due out 9/11 via Young Turks.




8. David Byrne and St. Vincent - Love This Giant
In May I had the great opportunity of seeing St. Vincent at Town Ballroom as she set out on her Strange Mercy tour and it was easily one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. In between songs during her outstanding performance she chatted with the audience and told a few stories, and that’s when I first heard that she would be releasing an album with none other than David Byrne, who she claims is one of her greatest influences. The former Talking Heads frontman and her started this project back in 2009 when they met at a benefit concert called Dark Was The Night put on by Red Hot. The two hit it off and after being asked to collaborate for a similar event by Housing Works, the two agreed to make music together. What started as a small undertaking of writing a few songs together, the project blossomed and they quickly agreed it would be a good idea to release a full collaborative album, obviously an amazing idea. The songs are unique in that they center around horn instruments instead of their typical respective guitar ensembles, which you can especially pick up on in the latest single from the album Love This Giant called “Weekend in the Dust”. The album is due out 9/11 via 4AD and can be pre-ordered here.

7. Dum Dum Girls - End of Daze EP
Lo-fi surf-rockers Dum Dum Girls recently set out to develop a cleaner sound on their sophomore record, Only In Dreams, released last year, and now they’re checking in with a 5-track EP, End of Daze due out 9/25. The latest track from the short stack, “Lord Knows”, was featured a couple weeks ago on the blog, citing the track’s full and anthemic tone. Listen to the “Lord Knows” below:


6. Efterklang - Piramida
The opening track of orchestral indie-rock outfit Efterklang’s fourth LP Piramida, is rhythmically captivating, beginning with spacey pings layered with choral harmonies fading in and out, and wild snares running ear to ear. Lead singer Casper Clausens belts a gentle intro, “It’s impossible and over mountain Doka / and I wonder, I wonder, I wonder.” Since their 2010 album Magic Chairs, which first got them on board with 4AD, the group has been busy touring, writing, and even released a collaborative film with Vincent Moon called An Island, which is based around music from Magic Chairs. I highly recommend you download the 48 minute film, which you can do on a name-your-price basis here. What makes Piramida the group’s most compelling release to date is their recording process which consisted of the musicians spending 9 days on the Norwegian island of Spitzbergen taking over 1000 different recordings at the industrial settlement of Piramida, now a ghost town 1000 kilometers from the North Pole. Watch the intriguing trailer for the album below:


5. Chris Cohen - Overgrown Path
Chris Cohen has contributed to a lot of different projects in the last decade or so, including: The Curtains, Cryptacize, and Deerhoof. To add to his resume, Cohen has also toured with the likes of Ariel Pink, Cass McCombs and Danielson. Now, the 37-year-old Vermonter is releasing his very first collection under his own name due out 9/25 entitled Overgrown Path. The debut single from the album, “Caller No. 99”, is a catchy psych-rock ditty with phased-out guitar loops and Ringo-esque percussion. You can download it below: 

  

4. Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
Thee Oh Sees’ debut single off their latest (and 14th) album “Flood’s New Light” deals the cascading tie-died riffs and kick/snare rhythms we’ve come to expect from the San Francisco outfit, but with a slightly more polished approach. Which is just fine, because sonically, it might be their most mature release yet. Even better news is that the group will be headlining a show here in  WNY at Town Ballroom on 9/25. It get’s better: Ty Segall will be opening. Pre-order tickets here. 



3. Cat Power - Sun
Cat Power, otherwise known as Chan Marshall, is releasing new material for the first time in six years with her latest LP Sun, due out 9/4 on Matador. The album is available to stream over at The Guardian, and I’m sure you’ll find it on a few ‘best of 2012’ lists come December. The first single off the new record “Ruin” is an upbeat track (maybe her most cheery to date) with accelerating keys and drums that cross-stitch into a catchy rhythmic motif. Listen below:




2. Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
The New York-via-Baltimore experimental quartet released one of the best records of the past decade in 2009 with Merriweather Post Pavilion, and now 3 years later we are just itching to see how they will follow it up. Their answer: Centipede Hz. If you thought the Collective couldn’t get any freakier, think again. The album has been available to stream for a couple weeks now, and while it might not live up to the impression of its predessessor, it does not dissappoint in the slightest. The albums due out 9/4. Stream the ten song album complete with psychadelic videos here.
1. Grizzly Bear - Shields 
The latest track from Grizzly Bear “Yet Again” off their newest record Shields might be their most gorgeous single to date. Ed Droste takes the reigns on vocals as the listener is drenched with expansive guitar strokes and trademark harmonies, and it seems Grizzly Bear has only gotten better at expanding their sonic bag-of-tricks. And this isn’t very surprising. Since 2009’s Veckatimest, which is easily the Brooklynites’ best record to date, the group has spent sometime touring and working on solo projects with Daniel Rossen releasing his EP Silent Hour/Golden Mile in March of this year and Chris Taylor releasing his record Dreams Come True under his CANT moniker last September. These creative endevors have only pushed this group’s creative potential even further, which is why Shields will be one of the best records of the year. Shields is due out 9/18 on Warp. Pre-order it here.

Tom Dennis
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