EPISODE 2: OH, WORD?
Song: Oh Word
Album: To The 5 Boroughs (2003) *****Two words: Fuck cancer.
Song: Disparate Youth
Album: Master of My Make Believe (2012) ***
We here at the Snob Cast love us some Santi. At a point in the scene where some of our favourite artists are releasing terrible follow-up albums (…cough.. Chemical Brothers…cough…), Santigold does just the opposite and comes through with another solid album filled with her unique signature sound. Having been released only a few weeks ago, we've been waiting for this one since she dropped that phenomenal set at Coachella. If you missed it, we've got you covered: http://soundonmars.com/2012/04/20/video-santigolds-full-coachella-set/. Hey Santi, we'll see you in Montreal in a few weeks!
Song:
Album:
Did you know that A+E is this britpop hero's 8th solo album?! Neither did we. We've got some work to do. The sound Coxon has going on this album is a little similar to the later Blur albums, more of a sloppy rock vibe mixed with little bits of electronic elements to add some spice. The bridge on this song just kills me every time I hear it. One of the catchiest parts I've heard in the last little while.
Song: Without Any Doubt
Album: Beak and Claw EP (2012) ***
Three S’s. Sufjan Stevens (singing), Serengetti (rapping), and Sun Lux (producing). And that synthdrum beat that drops on the chorus? Unbelievable. 4 song ep worth checking out. If Soof’s gonna go electro again, this is a way better look than Age of Adz. Nice healthy dose of auto-tune abuse throughout here, too.
Song: Propogation
Album: Nootropics (2012) ***
Don’t remember thinking much of their first album. You know, actually – girl/ boy groups (especially rock ones) often seem to me to have the problem of sounding like the female lead vocalists are just being a ‘female lead vocalist’. Boring, inauthentic, and unmotivated. This is not to say there aren’t a thousand bands out there with male leads who completely lack conviction. The point is that Lower Dens avoids the problem entirely. Whole thing gives off a velvet underground vibe. Not saying Jana Hunter sounds like Nico, but I definitely hear ‘Ocean’ in this track, and Eno everywhere. Refreshingly brooding, deep, dark ambient rock record.
Artist: Future Unlimited
Song: Golden
Album: (Self Titled EP) (2012) ****
If you’re gonna do new wave, do new wave vocals. Big Tears for Fears Influence here, bit of Gary Numan as well. If the band name rings a bell, it's taken from a Cut Copy track. Sounds about right to me. Good EP. Just what you want it to be. Free, too. Check it out!
Song: The Wave
Album: Happy to You (2012) ***Now I, (Bunsen) will be the first to admit, I came late to the Miike Snow party. But I'm glad I made it. What a party it turned out to be. Those Swedes really know how to throw it down. When will North America catch up with Scandenavia when it comes to what's considered mainstream 'pop'. If this is what top 40 sounds like over there…..count us in.
Artist: Santigold Song: L.E.S. Artistes
Album: Self Titled (2008) **
Been hanging onto this track for a long time; here’s a
chance for a double play. Despite the incredible cover art, the rest of the album isn’t to my taste, but I’m not
much of a dancehall fan. When she pulls rock into it, it can be real nice.
Like-a-dis. Did you know Santy (aka T-Gold) wrote a bunch of early aughts
R&B singles for like… who was it… like Brittany Spears or Christina
Aguilera? Fuck… there used to only be two…
Song: Make Up Your Mind
Album: A Different Ship (2012) *****
NIGEL GODERICH PRODUCED THIS ALBUM. The universe is awesome. I’ve been in ANGUISH for like 3 years since hearing the first HWGM record (see Season 2, Episode 13) over the fact that there are people living on earth that don’t own these records. I think the buzz that made me check the first one out was something like ‘the most interesting thing since Radiohead’, and now the news comes out that Thom and Nigel were there beardscratching at early shows, and that the new record is PRODUCED BY NIGEL GODERICH GODDAMMIT. Nigel produces Radiohead. Beck. Bjork. Not incredible, anguish causing indie bands from the US. NOT ONLY THAT. This is album is a CHALLENGE. When was the last time you were CHALLENGED by a good record? I realized after my first listen through that it had been a pretty long time for me –like this anyway. Serious business, and so, so, so good. Front to back. Af’s pick of the month. Here it, and let me know what you think.
NIGEL GODERICH PRODUCED THIS ALBUM. The universe is awesome. I’ve been in ANGUISH for like 3 years since hearing the first HWGM record (see Season 2, Episode 13) over the fact that there are people living on earth that don’t own these records. I think the buzz that made me check the first one out was something like ‘the most interesting thing since Radiohead’, and now the news comes out that Thom and Nigel were there beardscratching at early shows, and that the new record is PRODUCED BY NIGEL GODERICH GODDAMMIT. Nigel produces Radiohead. Beck. Bjork. Not incredible, anguish causing indie bands from the US. NOT ONLY THAT. This is album is a CHALLENGE. When was the last time you were CHALLENGED by a good record? I realized after my first listen through that it had been a pretty long time for me –like this anyway. Serious business, and so, so, so good. Front to back. Af’s pick of the month. Here it, and let me know what you think.
Artist: Jack White
Song: Hypocritical Kiss
Album: Blunderbuss (2012) ****
First time you hear that huge, opening double-tracked honky-tonk piano riff, you know something special’s happening. This track is the one big surprise on the young Nashville guitar god’s solo debut; something that clearly marks the beginning of something bigger than the stripes. Solid record otherwise, too.
First time you hear that huge, opening double-tracked honky-tonk piano riff, you know something special’s happening. This track is the one big surprise on the young Nashville guitar god’s solo debut; something that clearly marks the beginning of something bigger than the stripes. Solid record otherwise, too.
Artist:
Song:
My Poseidon
Album:
My God Is Blue (2012) ****
Seb Tel is back! And although we still hadn't figured out if his new album 'My God is Blue' had officially been released in North America when this podcast went live, we couldn't hold back from playing something off it on this episode. Although I try and never use the term 'epic', I don't think there is any other way to describe this song. It's huge. It'll fill up the room you're standing in. It's THAT good. The rest of the album follows suit, building on the sound he brought to you on his previous release. An album that, as a dude, it's okay to deem as 'sexy'. Don't worry…..we said it was alright.
Seb Tel is back! And although we still hadn't figured out if his new album 'My God is Blue' had officially been released in North America when this podcast went live, we couldn't hold back from playing something off it on this episode. Although I try and never use the term 'epic', I don't think there is any other way to describe this song. It's huge. It'll fill up the room you're standing in. It's THAT good. The rest of the album follows suit, building on the sound he brought to you on his previous release. An album that, as a dude, it's okay to deem as 'sexy'. Don't worry…..we said it was alright.
Artist:
Song:
Album: Francoise Hardy Vol. 1, 1965 - 1968 (2000) (Not Rated or Listened To, GODDAMMIT.)
This song made the cut because it seemed to embody everything the Snob Cast is about. The sound of it, the feel of it, the whole vibe of it really. Not to mention it's in the trailer for the new Wes Anderson movie. Plus who doesn't think Paris in the 60's seemed infinitely cooler than nowadays. Checkmate.
This song made the cut because it seemed to embody everything the Snob Cast is about. The sound of it, the feel of it, the whole vibe of it really. Not to mention it's in the trailer for the new Wes Anderson movie. Plus who doesn't think Paris in the 60's seemed infinitely cooler than nowadays. Checkmate.
