Fitz and the Tantrums - "Out Of My League" [single] (2013)

Fitz and the Tantrums' new record, More Than Just A Dream, is upon us and I couldn't help but share this single because it's catchier than mononucleosis.  Maybe it's Fitz's anachronistic hair cut.  Maybe it's their stylish and colorful music videos.  Maybe it's the frenetic way Noelle always shimmies around on-stage while banging a tambourine on her gyrating hips (especially eye-catching when done Tina Turner-style in sequins dresses).  Maybe it's the fact that they were and still are, perhaps, one of the most dynamic live bands I remember seeing at SXSW 2011, let alone at the entire Dangerbird Records showcase.  Maybe it's my fascination with their refusal to feature guitar in their songs, almost as a personal band challenge to separate themselves from every other band on the planet and to find creative ways to fill out their sound.  Or maybe, it's simply all of the above.  "Out Of My league" sounds like a bit of a departure from some of their previous efforts that were dripping wet with retrosexuality and I'm not quite sure about this indie-poppish direction in which they're headed.  Is this a reinvention of sound, image, concept, quality?  Noticeably absent: the blue-eyed neo-soul elements or even a modicum of that brass section I became accustomed to from the "MoneyGrabber" days.  Who knows, but for now I really dig this track.  Not enough to move to Los Angeles and start my own tantrum, but enough to recommend "Out Of My League" to you.

Adele - "Rumour Has It" (single)

Hey QC dudes! Sorry I've been crazy M.I.A. for the last few months ever since I up and left the East and took my longass time getting to the Left Coast... but that doesn't mean I haven't been immersing myself in goodass tunes and shows along the way. I have much to share and post (and I swear I will eventually!), but in the meantime I had to write up a little sumthin' sumthin' on Adele who is utterly awesome and gratuitous in the least annoying way possible in the world of pop music today. There's been much ballyhoo over her latest record's hit single "Rolling In The Deep" which I definitely recognize is a great fiery song and all, but I honestly dig this one so much more particularly due to the percussion and backup vocals. Sing it, sistah.



Oh, and if loving her for the music alone wasn't enough, then there was all that hysterical drama with her lameass ex-boyfriend who feels he's due royalties since their breakup was the inspiration behind her hit songs. I would love to see that argument in a courtroom ;)

Fitz & The Tantrums - "MoneyGrabber" (single)

I learned fairly quickly that when Fitz throws a tantrum, you best stop, drop, and listen. Fresh off the heels of their Songs For A Break Up Vol. 1 EP (still lovin' that album art), I heard "MoneyGrabber" (free mp3) off of their new full-length Pickin' Up The Pieces and instantly dug it... hard. F&TT have this quasi neo indie retro soul thing going on that's utterly refreshing, makes me want to chair-dance and shimmy-shake at my computer, and is such a nice stark contrast against all the downer music that usually rules my wintry airwaves. This single particularly held my interest long enough to want to check out the rest of their LP. To say this shit is Motown-influenced is only partially accurate. I'd rather say it borrows from Motown, but then takes it one step further in another direction adding a little sumthin' sumthin' of their own. Plus, I really love the colors in this stylish music video. It all works and temporarily distracts from Fitz's anachronistic hairstyle.

Upon first listen, two things came to mind. 1) The first thing I said to myself was "Man, these guys must be from L.A. or something." Lo and behold I was right, except this time I didn't half-jokingly roll my eyes like I usually do at the thought of La La Land-based bands. 2) The next thing I thought was how I wanted to immediately share this "new find" with Awmercy because it totally reminded me of something I suspected he especially would go nuts over. I was feeling particularly cocky and it was high-time I recommended something new and awesome to him first for a change (instead of the usual other way around). Much to my consternation, I did a search and, of course, that jerk has already mentioned Fitz a zillion times before on QuickCrit. What was I thinking?! My musical hubris rests indefinitely until next time.

Postscript: If there is a slight chance that this music falls under QuickCrit's ever-exclusive and much ballyhooed "stripper soul" genre, I am not entirely certain. Nightrain, please do feel free to advise.

Casiokids - "En Vill Hest"

I'm the farthest thing from a morning person. In fact, my stubborn refusal to ever become a coffee drinker only makes things that much more difficult and grueling sometimes. Perhaps the one thing I don't mind is kicky music for when I crawl out of bed and need help getting through my morning routine with minimal mooditude. Fuck campy morning TV shows, enter Norwegian electro-pop wizards Casiokids with their vintage beats, cheery falsetto vocals, Afro-funky indie pop jams and indecipherable lyrics. Oh yeah, wait, they don't sing in English, so don't even bother trying to sing along. Their tunes straddle the fine line between absurd and adorable, almost like Vampire Weekend hooked up with Boy Eats Drum Machine on uppers while forming a conga line, drawing crowds, getting their dance on, slapping hands and kissing babies during a ticker tape parade through the streets of South Africa. And for QuickCrit's lazier readership, Casiokids is danceable enough to make even mundane tasks like brushing one's teeth that much easier. Half the time, I just stand in front of my bathroom mirror and don't even have to move my hands from side to side... I simply place the brush in my mouth and the music inspires dance moves that kind of do the job for me. Brilliant! These guys give me good vibrations when I need it most and just enough of a decaffeinated jolt to start my day right, with or without the 7 a.m. one-woman conga action.

Holmes - "There'll Be No Christmas Without You"

To be perfectly honest, I loath most Christmas music. I will do the majority of my Christmas shopping online simply because going into stores playing Christmas music on a never-ending loop makes me want to buy everyone earplugs and vodka as gifts. For that reason, I am constantly on the lookout for "acceptable" Christmas tunes. For example, Leon Redbone's album Christmas Island? Fantastic. Julian Casablancas' jam "I Wish It Was Christmas Today"? Solidly listenable. Jessie Baylin's sexy "Mrs. Christmas"? Very nice. Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From The Family"? Legend! Probably the best. I suppose we can now throw Holmes' "There'll Be No Christmas Without You" (mp3) in there. A little sappy, but it sure beats "Jingle Bells" on repeat. You almost forget that it is a Christmas song, which is the way Christmas songs should play out. Any other suggestions?

Crystal Castles - "Not In Love" (featuring Robert Smith)

and we were lovers, now we can't be friends, fascination ends, here we go again. oh oh oh cause it's cold outside, when you coming home. cause it's hot inside, isn't that enough.

I love me some electronica, but I can be incredibly picky about which bands I let into my life. I've never even been the hugest fan of Crystal Castles, nor did I ever anticipate writing a QuickCrit post about them, but I'm pretty sure enlisting the help of Cure front-man Robert Smith for a refurbished "Not In Love" may just be an excellent exception. A depressing song high on uppers, this danceable track sounds like a long lost 80s song that would be perfect for the end credits of a long lost 80s movie. Or, at least one I'd want to watch. It's a melange of 80s downer, new wave, electronica and definitely gets its synth on in all the right places. In fact, it's synthly wonderful. I'm not even sure if I'd love this song as much if Robert Smith didn't lend his earnest vocals meets five seconds away from an emotional breakdown signature that he does so well, but "Not In Love" perfectly complements the gloominess I always feel whenever Indian summer ends, November rain hits and a wintry East Coast is imminent. I am not in love with the aforementioned, but I am in love with "Not In Love."

White Wires - "Be True To Your School (Til You Get Kicked Out)"

I was a bit slow to pick up the White Wires self-titled debut, but loved it when I finally did. So I am pretty stoked to find out that I won't have to wait very long for their new album, WWII, which comes out in November on Portland's Dirtnap Records. Judging from "Be True To Your School (Til You Get Kicked Out)" (mp3) it should be full of ultra catchy power pop and buzzing garage rock. Always a winning combination.

Whitney Avalon - "Clearly Obsessed" (Response to "Fuck You")

I love Cee-Lo's "Fuck You" and I love answer songs, so this is just perfect. As you would expect, there are plenty more responses out there, this is just the standout.

Katy Perry - "Teenage Dream" (single) [2010]

Don't worry, I actually hate myself a little for admitting this to the blogosphere... but I kinda sorta love Katy Perry's new single "Teenage Dream." (See the official video here) With pop music being, for the most part, formulaic, contrived, unimaginative, and just plain annoying, it can be refreshing to come across rare songs like "Teenage Dream" that don't instantly make you reach for the barf bag (see: Selena Gomez), want to bang your head against the wall (see: Rihanna) or kill yourself (see: Ke$ha). I also find this admission super hysterical considering the scathing review I did for her ridiculously awful debut. If it means anything, up until now "Waking Up In Vegas" was the only KP song I actually didn't mind and would sometimes find myself taking the longer way home in my car just to hear it in its entirety (of course, only during moments when I was alone). So it's safe to say "Teenage Dream" just may be a true watershed moment, even though the most intellectually stimulating lyric of the song is "Ima get your heart racing, in my skin-tight jeans, I'll be your teenage dream tonight." But I'm learning that's okay. Sometimes you need something mindless, fun, harmless and not to be taken seriously... especially if it gets your motor running a tad. The song (and its completely literal video) speaks of youthful love, gallivanting on the beach, amorous drives up the coast in a convertible, cheap motel nookie, and all the associated cliche "been there, done that" rites of passage this country was founded upon, except... she chose a boxer guy instead of the typical football jock as her love interest (plus, he's not even cute, really?). If she was gonna go gaga over some muscular video dude, she may as well have commissioned Channing Tatum for the job because isn't he the boxer-type du jour with all the right moves? First Russell Brand, now this guy? I definitely question her taste in men. But at least the song's great and it will make my commute a little brighter until I get home and blast something in my collection that will restore any, if not all, of my music credibility... any suggestions?

Delorean - "Stay Close" (single)

Resident dreamer here, back with your daily dose of music-related fantasy and whimsy. Do you ever look out the window, close your eyes, and pretend you've just been transported to a life of infinite tranquility and beauty on the Balearic Islands of say, I dunno, Majorca? Ibiza, mayhaps? No? Oh... yeah, umm, me neither. In case the cold hand of reality just kicked your ass and perpetually precludes you from jetsetting, thankfully Spanish alternative dance band Delorean makes gorgeous synth pop soundscapes that temporarily delude you into thinking you're already there in your mind everytime you turn up their new [and my current favorite] record, Subiza (2010)... a stunning album that tastes like summer and plays like a neverending sonic dream. I find my affinity to this band hysterical, considering I've never been the discotheque-frequenting type, I don't summer in Europe, and I dislike dancing with anyone anywhere outside of the bedroom. But Delorean makes me want to hop on in, steal Plutonium from some angry Libyans, speed up to 88mph, and kickstart that flux capacitor to transport me back to a mid-'90s all-night house party slash rave off the coast of Spain. Such is the magical power of Delorean for making me nostalgic for a time and place I never even experienced, or thought I'd ever miss. While I absolutely adore the sweet shimmer of "Real Love" and the entrancing beat of "Warmer Places," the euphoric "Stay Close" is, hands-down, my favorite track and I'm utterly beguiled by it, much like I would be with the nonchalant delivery of an unintentional witticism a crush makes when we're talking on the phone. Like those last few bites of a really great dessert, I enjoy slowly savoring the melody of "Stay Close" in my head. I also find myself still remembering how the song makes me feel long after I'm done listening to it. In fact, if I were to make a mix CD for my boy-du-jour, I would strategically place "Stay Close" as the final track... with the hopes that after listening, he too would find himself doing the very same about all things me.

I can't seem to get enough of the official video for "Stay Close." Getting frisky on the beach, swimming, frolicking, cute animals, hues of clear blue water and endless sunshine... it's pretty much a 4:33 long video clip of everything I love in life, set to a killer nostalgic soundtrack. Jump in and get wet:



Awesome live clip here. I'm really digging the colorful stage set-up. Another great live clip from SXSW 2010 here.

Ra Ra Riot - "Boy" [single] (2010)

Ra Ra Riot is always quick to remind me why Barsuk Records has always been home to so many of my favorite indie artists. RRR's new album, The Orchard, comes out on August 24th and this first single does nothing but set my already eager anticipation on fire, like for wow. I'm usually such a sucker for their unabashedly cutesy videos, so I'm curious to see what they do for this delightful and charming little single that makes me want to get up and go... somewhere, anywhere. Earnest, syrupy sweet vocals, infectious and energetic drumming, a punchy bass line, smatterings of well-placed cello and violin, and some of the most adorable guitar licks I've heard this year, "Boy" is just brimming with all the excitement of the drive home after a great date. In short, the perfect palate teaser for what I hope is a stellar sophomore follow-up to that which was/is their solid debut The Rhumb Line. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go listen to "Boy" another 50 times...

Hear it here, free mp3 download here.

Best Coast - "When I'm With You" [single] (2010)

Ear candy alert! I recently fell in love with L.A. duo Best Coast and when I calm myself down enough to properly process the entire album, I will review it for our lovely readership. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy my current favorite track... the plaintive, sun-soaked, reverb-heavy "When I'm With You." It's a personal reminder that it seems I'm not the only person out there who thinks life is all about biking along the coast, laying around on beaches, holding hands, and driving around with the top down, laughing and shamelessly flirting up a storm all over town. I seriously think I wrote this song (and directed/starred in this video) in a past life. Or at least my past life likes to dream the aforementioned on a similarly lazy, hazy, easy, breezy California day.

Gogol Bordello - "We Comin' Rougher (Immigraniada)" [single]

What the freak-folk-gypsy-punk amalgam? Let me preface this post by saying I'm rather surprised not one QC-er seems to have ever written a post about the gypsy punk intrigue that is otherwise known as Gogol Bordello. It's hard not to like a NYC-based outfit whose name alone is a nod to Russian literature and gentlemen's clubs, let alone a band that actually has a song called "Think Locally, Fuck Globally." Yeah, I'm sad to say there's a shortage of such creative genius in this world.

GB has a new album out, Trans-Continental Hustle, which exudes maniacal instrumentation and boasts a lot of obvious Brazilian musical influence due to the lead singer making it his new home the past few years. I heard "We Comin' Rougher (Immigraniada)" recently and kinda fell in love with its infectious punk energy that reminds me of a throwback to when Rancid used to sing a fraction of their catalog in Spanglish. I never knew why they did that, I just knew that it somehow... worked. If you like this off-the-cuff version of the song, check out the rest of Gogol Bordello's latest and greatest. It's slightly difficult to pin down the essence of their music, but if The Clash and Manu Chao had a tryst behind The Kremlin which later resulted in an illegitimate love child who dropped out of high school to busk around the world, I'm willing to bet his name would be Gogol Bordello. Or more specifically, something that rhymes with Eugene Hütz.

Oh, and here's another, albeit slightly tighter, live performance that truly showcases the accordion if you're looking for something a bit more "polished" ... relatively speaking, of course.

Ted Leo - "The Mighty Sparrow" (single)

Ahh, I love killer first singles off upcoming albums. "The Mighty Sparrow" has plenty of raditude and now I can't wait for the new record. But hey, you don't have to take my word for it. You can listen for yourself to the awesomeness here while I get ready to shoot an obnoxious "I told you so!" in your face. Considering the fact that I usually see Ted Leo about 16 times a year, chances are I'll see you at one of those tour dates. And judging from the track alone, Ted Leo is still very much the fucking man. Has he ever disappointed anyone you know? 'Cuz he sure as hell never disappoints me. Ditto for the Pharmacists.



In honor of this joyous day, here is my Top 5 Ted Leo Tracks for your listening pleasure:
5) "Under The Hedge"
4) "Bridges, Squares"
3) "Counting Down The Hours"
2) "Little Dawn"
1) "Heart Problems"

Honorable mentions: "Dial Up," "Hearts Of Oak," and "Timorous Me."

Ash - The A - Z Series

I like all the innovative approaches bands are taking to stay relevant and fiscally solvent in, and sometimes really take advantage of, the new musical landscape. Ash seems to be looking past the album, for now anyway, by releasing a series of 26 digital downloads. People can either subscribe or buy the tracks individually. And they seem to be having some success with it, given that all the vinyl subscriptions are sold out and they are only up to G. So far I like "Joy Kicks Darkness" and "Arcadia" the best. I don't think I'd mind if all my favorite bands moved towards this format.

Yoni Gordon And The Goods - "Fairytale of New York"

Here's a spirited take on the Pogue's classic barroom singalong, "Fairytale of New York" (mp3), by Yoni Gordon and the Goods with Franz Nicolay and Emilyn Brodsky. Don't worry, even though this is a charity single, they keep the spicy lyrics. The B-side is also available for download on his website.

They are asking people who download the it off of their site to donate five dollars to Feeding America. Feeding America is an organization that partners up with local foodbanks across the country to help feed some of the millions of Americans who are spending the holidays without enough money to put food on their tables. Here is a link that will take you right to the donation page.

Jessie Baylin - "Mrs. Christmas"

Now that I am back home in the currently-arctic NW, I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit, which generally means I crank up Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From The Family." It's my all time favorite Christmas song, but I'm always looking for new hits to add to the mix. Jessie Baylin's newly released "Mrs. Christmas" (mp3) offers a bit more tender approach. It's sweet and classy. Apparently, she wrote it for her Kings of Leon drumming husband. Cool.

OONA - "Tore My Heart"

Full disclosure: Oona Garthwaite is my sister. More full disclosure: she is a total rock star.

If you don't watch So You Think You Can Dance (it's okay, I don't either), you might have missed this song being introduced to the world via the magic that is television. "Tore My Heart" features Oona's powerful and sexy (is it kind of weird to say that about your sister?) voice over rhythm that sounds like tango or some other sultry music. Can't wait to hear what she will do on a full length album.

Here's a video of the song. Didn't want to post the one from SYTYCD, as I imagine Fox will be taking them down soon. So instead you can be treated to a picture of Oona whilst you listen.

Surfer Blood - "Swim" [Single] (2009)

Looking ahead to 2010, Surfer Blood's album Astro Coast is set for a January 19th release date and if advance blog chatter is an indication of an albums potential success, consider Surfer Blood soon to be platinum artists. We all know, however, that hype can be misleading, so I prefer to turn to cold, hard evidence. Exhibit A: Their first single "Swim (To Reach The End)" is the kind of anthemic catchy pop rock that is worth looking forward to. Soaring vocals hover above power pop chords with intermingled riffs that are reminiscent of Vampire Weekend, although the bands shouldn't be directly compared. If "Swim" is representative of what the rest of the album will offer, save a slot on your "summer short list" because I have a feeling the album will be packed with summer jammy-jams. Just think, you could be the first kid on your block rocking these tunes at your late January barbecue. Ultimately, there is good stuff here and if the nine other tracks follow the "Swim" direction, I think that Astro Coast will be one to tap into come 2010.

Alice In Chains - "Check My Brain" [single] (2009)

More like "Alice In Chains," really. One of my favorite 90's alt rock bands is back with a new lead singer who sounds like a watered down Layne Staley (may he rest). Or worse yet... a cheap imitation vocalist because I've heard AIC cover bands (e.g., Dirt) who sound muuuuch better. Their anachronistic single, "Check My Brain" (view it here), is so awful and wrong. It isn't even good enough to be a b-side back in the Jar Of Flies days. All of this just makes me sad. Why the 14-year hiatus? Why a new album? Why try to recapture that which will never come back? I know you guys lost your irreplaceable frontman to a drug overdose, but why come back with a lesser AIC? Isn't it better to burn out at your brightest, than fade away... or worse, come back at half speed? Why didn't they just change their name/start a new band altogether? Why did they even stop recording in the first place? So many unanswered questions! Jerry Cantrell was pretty much the de facto second lead singer during some of their most memorable showcases of vocal harmony (Umm, does anyone else remember the genius that is/was "No Excuses," "Heaven Beside You," and "Down In A Hole"?), why didn't he just step up then and take over? It's not like he didn't have the chops to put out tracks all by his lonesome post-Layne, considering he basically rocked the shit out of one of my all-time favorite Chains songs ever, "Got Me Wrong." Or was he just temporarily distracted with his foray into film? Too bad his cameo career didn't take off.



Point to ponder:
Oh, and for all the Seattle music fans out there... am I the only one in the world who maintains that Alice In Chains: Unplugged blew Nirvana's acoustic set out of the water? And they didn't even have to throw in a Bowie or Meat Puppets cover to achieve that.