12-Step Program - Mae

"Fuckin' shit, dude, have your heard Mae? They're bitchin'!" "Hot damn, I'm listening to Mae and that is some good ass shit!" "Mae? More like Mae-ke me orgasm!"

If you have ever been bombarded by a bunch of your firends (or just one really zealous friend) who sound like this and want you listen to Mae, I have good news. Today, I introduce my 12-Step Program to get into Mae. See, I give you songs that you might like, and once you get used to their sound, I give you songs you really should have. The way this should be done is as follows: download the first track and listen to it as you read what I have to say about it. Next, download the second track and read what I have to say about it. Continue in this fashion, listening to the songs in order. If you just can't get into them, the band isn't right for you. If you do get into them, visit their myspace, buy their songs, and see them on tour when they come to town.

And now for my first 12-Step program, I present Mae.

Mae is an uplifitng piano pop band from Virginia, who originally worke their way up the label ladder to get signed to Capitol, only to go label-less and devote all of their efforts to charity. They have released three major albums, Destination: Beautiful, The Everglow, and Singularity, along with a b-sides album and a few recent EPs. Their style has shifted from atmospheric to piano pop to rock. For the first step of Mae's 12-Step program, I would like to present "The Everglow".

1) Mae - "The Everglow"

"The Everglow" is an incredibly uplifting song about falling in love. Here you get a taste of Dave Elkin's somewhat unique vocals, the pleasing piano melody, and the effects that Mae use to create music that goes beyond standard instrumentation and creates moods and feelings. The chorus is big and upbeat, with spacey synth keys that make you feel like you're falling into the stars.

2) Mae - "Suspension"

"Suspension," like "The Everglow," is off Mae's second album The Everglow and is a song about falling in love. The song basically has a similar feel to "The Everglow" but with fewer effects to create a more standard, but whole, experience. There is more guitar in "Suspension" than in "The Everglow," but the piano continues to bring a sense of light and happiness to your listening.

3) Mae - "Brink of Disaster"

"Brink of Disaster" displays a change from the innocent, piano-infected mood of The Everglow as we move into the spacy realm of Singularity. The synth present in the intro and choruses of "Brink of Disaster" bring to mind a more outer-space-oriented feel, and might be reminiscent of those used by Motion City Soundtrack. Mae continues with their very ctachy choruses and slightly more subdues choruses in the vein of "Suspension,"but the intrumentation and vocals create grittier, harder feel than The Everglow's softer, more springy sound.

4) Mae - "Just Let Go" (m4a)

"Just Let Go" is a return to the relaxing feel of The Everglow, but what puts it on Singularity is its focus on guitar instead of piano. The lyrics are very relatable and talk about falling in love with a close friend, mirroring the romantic aspect of The Everglow. If you like this softer side of Mae, stick to this song, "Release Me," and "The Ocean".

5) Mae - "Home"

The slow intro to "Home" brings about the atmospheric feeling of floating through space or walking on the moon. This feeling continues with the verses, but the choruses are some of the most energetic Mae has ever created and are reminiscent of those in "Suspension." "Home" reveals Mae's talent in creating spacey atmospheres while still creating catchy hooks and meaningful lyrics.

6) Mae - "Embers and Envelopes (New Version)"

Redone from Destination: Beautiful, "Embers and Envelopes" brings back the atmospheric feeling of Mae's first album Singulairty. What identifies the song as being from D: Beautiful is its intense atmospheric quality which leaves room only for Dave's vocals and an acoustic guitar behind all the production and effects. Nonetheless, this is one of Mae's best songs, and makes the best use of their talent in production and mood creation.

Well, you have just received your 12-Step (6-song) education in Mae. If you like what you hear, please check out their other songs and see them live! If you haven't cought onto Mae yet, they probably aren't for you.

If you prefer their more rock-oriented songs, like "Brink of Disaster," check out "Crazy 8s," "Sometimes I Can't Make It Alone," and "Sic Semper Tyrannis". "For more songs in the poppy vein of "The Everglow," look toaward "Anything," "Cover Me," and "Breakdown". For more spacey rock in the vein of "Home," check out "Rocket" and "On Top". Finally, if you like the atmospheric vibe of "Embers and Envelopes," consider "This Time Is the Last Time (Wave Remix)". I hope have enjoyed today's 12-Step Program!

Awesome - Paper Route

It would be really awesome if I could take high quality hamburgers, sushi, scrambled eggs, pesto, and pad thai and just throw it all in a belnder and create a drink that took all the best of these things and put it into one creamy, delicious milkshake. Unfortunately, if I were to do that in real life, I would waste a ton of money and end up with a bubbling glass of shit.

It doesn't take a genious to figure out where this metaphor is going. Paper Route is me, their song "Carousel" off of their recent album Absence is the blender, and the auditory orgasm I receive after each listen is the milkshake of greatness. But what are the parts that make "Carousel" so delicious?

Paper Route takes the best parts of many great bands and layers (and layers and layers) them until a complex yet whole sound is produced that will blow you away. They take the piano melodies of Coldplay, the electronics of Innerpartysystem, the guitar work of Modest Mouse, and the technical drumming of Saosin and throw it into an indie crockpot that cooks up a delicious gumbo. The vocals are hushed, but as though to say, "Be quiet, so you can hear the explosion!" The chorus is subdued, but the pounding verses and ass-kicking instrumental bridge more than make up for them. With electronics and machine sounds, this is far from your average indie song.

Paper Route may have an aerie-faerie indie name, but don't let that fool you into thinking they are your run-of-the-mill indie band. Their song is a three-and-a-half-minute jizz, caused by downing a giga-milshake in one swallow. Paper Route is the future of good music.

RIYL Coldplay, Innerpartysystem, Edison Glass, Mute Math

Track:

Paper Route - "Carousel"

For Comparison:

Mute Math - "Spotlight" (right click > save as) (not my link)

Innerpartysystem - "Heart that Heals"

Paper Route:

http://www.myspace.com/paperroute

http://www.paperrouteonline.com/absence/

Awesome - The Secret Handshake

The Secret Handshake is Luis Dubuc, a a young dude from Texas who really wants emo kids to party. He makes simple elctronic music and layers it with his own autotuned vocals (T-Pain holla!) and emo lyrics, making him, along with such bands as Owl City and Playradioplay!, one of the pioneers of "emotronica," a genre whose name describes it perfectly: a calming mix of emo and electronica. Nearly always emotronica is made by guys in their basements, and it's unlikely that the tunes will reach the level of true electronica like Justice or Chromeo.

However, on his track "Lately," Luis does just that. Take a Chromeo or Justice track, pour on a big helping of emo, and you have this gem. Most of the songs on Luis' debut One Full Year are slow, introverted tracks that make you want to cry at how pathetic Luis's life is rather than make you dance, but "Lately" is a disco diamond in a coal mine. Sure, the lyrics will probably make you look down at your feet, but you'll notice they're tapping to a pretty hefty beat. The song starts out simple, with just a beat and some sparkly sound effects, but moves into a synthetic bass-fueled disco track, complete with synthetic violins and handclaps. Luis keep it interesting and the 5 minutes speed by, despite his constant repeating of the same depressing lyric. About two-thirds of the way through, Luis comes in with a distorted guitar solo and even more musical layering, and you would swear you were listening to Chromeo if it weren't for Luis's melancholy yet passioned vocals. The beat keeps up till the very end, and you're left wondering why time flies so much when you listen to this song (Hint: it has to do with you having fun).

"Lately" is by no means a club-fresh track. Rather, it brings to mind the industrial, one-story landscape of a Dallas outskirt instead of the skyscrapers of downtown Boston. I'm hesitant to call this song "The Soundtrack to a Night at the Bowling Alley," but with its 70s-inspired disco leanings and moody lyrics, a calm night with your second-best friend at the alley will sound golden.

RIYL Chromeo, Playradioplay!, Owl City, Justice

Track:

The Secret Handshake - "Lately"

For Comparison:

Chromeo - "Fancy Footwork" (not my link)

The Secret Handshake - "Midnight Movie"

The Secret Handshake:

http://www.myspace.com/thesecrethandshake

http://www.thesecrethandshake.net/

Awesome - Eye Alaska

If you've been following my blog, you know that I like to include sex in my posts. I mean, who wouldn't want sex in every aspect of their lives? Not me! I have sex 16 times a day and use Magnum brand condoms! Yeah! Masculinity rocks!

Today's post also features sex, but in a different way. I've compared songs to masturbation and talked about my lust for a certain spicy frontman, but most of the music I write about really has little to do with sex. So now, I'd like to introduce Eye Alaska, the new soundtrack to your lovemaking. You may be thinking, Great, another deep-voiced large black man to fill the void in my relationship, but this group is composed of 5 skinny white guys from California (holla!). Still, however, the jazz you might be expecting pervades their sound, and to exemplify, I'm recommending their new track, "Walk Like a Gentleman" off their upcoming full-length, Genesis Underground.

The intro to "Walk Like a Gentleman" is filled with a vibrant string section and some hearty bells, and it provides a good presage of the rest of the song. Lead singer Brandon Wronski may look 15, but he has a smooth, seductive voice that starts out very breathy but explodes into a brilliant tenor by the chorus, which contains yet more strings and bells. The emotional yet deep lyrics reveal why Eye Alaska is prominent in the "scene": "We all got problems when it comes to the soul," sings Wronski during the chorus. The instrumentation during the verses is subdued to make room for his lovemaking-inducing vocals, with only a slow beat and some well-placed chimes. It's the bridge, however, where the real emotion lies, as the instensity and darkness increase threefold due to a more prominent string section and Wronski's passionate diction. The final chorus breaks in with gang vocals and horns, and ends with Wronski's seductive whisper.

By now you're probably harder than frozen soup and she's as naked as a sphynx. If you're too emo, racist, or small in the pants to listen to real big-black-man jazz, this is the next best thing. So strap on a Trojan, turn on some Eye Alaska, and quit staring at pictures of their guitarist, oh insecure one; you've got a lady to please.

RIYL Paper Rival, The Bronze Episode, As Tall As Lions, John Legend in skinny jeans

Make Love:

Eye Alaska - "Walk Like a Gentleman" (not my link)

For Comparison:

Eye Alaska - "Cheetah and the Tiger"

There for Tomorrow - "Icebox (Omarion cover)"

Eye Alaska:

http://www.myspace.com/eyealaska

http://www.purevolume.com/eyealaska

Awesome - The Bloody Beetroots

To be honest, I don't really like The Bloody Beetroots. Their electronics are good, but without any vocals I get bored, and usually when they remix songs they don't keep their own good parts and kind of waste their electronic talents on bad songs. Even when they remix artists in the "scene," like the All-American Rejects and FACT, the mixes sound annoying or just bad. However, for some reason, the combination of The Bloody Beetroots with emotronica act The Secret Handshake just seemed to work. They take TSH's big single, "Summer of '98" and remix it into something amazing.

The remix is a good example of accessible fidget house, and can attract those with tastes ranging from Justice to Playradioplay!. Luis, the singer of The Secret Handshake, has clean vocals that aren't too hard on the ears, and his lyrics, while extremely emo in the original version of the song, take on a hopeful tone in the remix. The Bloody Beetroots do a good job of keeping the song from being repetative by being creative with the vocal rangements and having unique yet addictive instrumentation. The beat is strong but not overwhelming, and the energy variations throuhgout the song really do make you want to fidget. Get ready to dance with this one.

RIYL The Bloody Beetroots, Crookers, Justice, The Toxic Avenger

Track:

The Secret Handshake - "Summer of '98 (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)" (right click > save as) (not my link)

For Comparison:

The Bloody Beetroots - "Butter"

Justice - "DVNO (Justice Remix)" (right click > save as) (not my link)

Innerpartysystem - "Last Night in Brooklyn"

↑↑↑FOR GOOD MEASURE

The Bloody Beetroots:

http://www.myspace.com/thebloodybeetroots

Awesome - There for Tomorrow

You've had a taste of There for Tomorrow slowed down, but in today's post you'll hear their true sound, a powerful, ass-kicking rock affair with great hooks, lyrics, instrumentals, and vocals. Their debut album, A Little Faster, blew me away, and the first track, entitled "The Remedy," represents the rest of the album very well.

What There for Tomorrow does so successfully is to combine two oppsing ideas and combine them into a masterpiece, or 11 masterpeices really, as each song is phenominal. They combine pop and post-hardcore, rock sensibilities with power ballad vocals, and powerful hooks with deep lyrics. "The Remedy" begins with a gritty guitar intro which blasts into a rush of energy fueled by guitar riffs and technical drumming. Lead singer Maika Maile is incredibly talented, up there with Saosin's legendary Cove Reber. Verses are fast but subdued, creating a launch for the explosion of each chorus, which, though catchy, bursts like a missile in rock and post-hardcore armor. The bridge is an epic rush of passion, which transitions well into a brief "quiet" period leading up to the final choruses. "The Remedy"'s end is a mammoth blast of force, a grand culmination of a rocket-launch of energy. Guitarist Christian Climer adds his vocals for some appreciated variation, and the instrumentals kick into hyperdrive for the song's intensified outro.

If you are not imagining explosions and earthquakes by the end of this song, the volume isn't loud enough. Nearly all of the fast songs on A Little Faster follow a similar formula to "The Remedy," but when the quality is just as good, if not better, why bother changing it? Download "The Remedy" and please please please buy this album!

RIYL Saosin, Secret & Whisper, Anberlin, Ivoryline

Track:

There for Tomorrow - "The Remedy" (m4a)

For Comparion:

Secret & Whisper - "Spider Besider" (m4a)

Saosin - "Sleepers"

There for Tomorrow:

http://www.myspace.com/therefortomorrow

http://www.purevolume.com/therefortomorrow

See also: Slow It Down - There for Tomorrow

Slow It Down - There for Tomorrow

Today we're slowing it down with an acoustic track by Florida's There for Tomorrow called "Burn the Night Away." There for Tomorrow recently released their debut album, A Little Faster, and it is an amazing album with almost no flaws. Get ready to hear a lot about it. While most of its tracks are very high energy and will kick you in your skinny ass, one of the few exceptions is "Burn the Night Away," a beautiful, heartfelt ballad about being in love.

The songs begins with the lyrics "It's three in the morning and I'm still not sleeping," and that is exactly how the song makes you feel. Lead singer Maika Maile almost whispers the first verse as though it were the dead of night, yet his powerful, clear voice shines through the midnight tones. The chorus is cliche but cute, but when the bridge comes in, you feel Maika's emotion, not as if he were singing the song to you, but as if you were the one singing the song.

One of the greatest aspects of the song for which I applaude There for Tomorrow is its ability to capture the spirit of the night and the singer's feelings perfectly not only lyrically, but sonically as well. The whole song walks the fine line held by memories between real life and dreams: Maika reminisces about a girl and imagines them running away together, while the acoustic guitar drifts between rythmic and atmospheric as though it were on the verge of sleep itself.

Listen to this song to help you get to sleep. If the song's seeming brevity doesn't keep you up, you'll be sleeping a sweet sleep filled with dreams of last summer's memories and star-crossed summer love.

RIYL Saosin, Secret & Whisper, Anberlin, Armor for Sleep

Track:

There for Tomorrow - "Burn the Night Away" (m4a)

For Comparison:

The Morning Light - "This Way" (m4a)

Saosin - "Love Maker (Acoustic)"

There for Tomorrow:

http://www.myspace.com/therefortomorrow

http://www.purevolume.com/therefortomorrow

Awesome - The Graduate

The Graduate is perhaps the best thing to come out of Illinois, but you'd swear they were from downtown Boston by their urban, artsy feel. "Anhedonia," one of the best tracks off their record of the same name, captures the frustration with standing out when you want to fit in.

The dark, hazy verses tak about a nightclub where people are dancing, but the narrator can't seem to fit in because of his small-town style and personal discomfort. The choruses are raging and energetic as singer Corey Warning pleads thoughtfully for some hint of emotion. Warning's vocals are very easy to listen to but maintain a slight emotional edge, while the music is catchy with its mix of standard pop-punk instrumentation and atmoshperic electronics.

The Graduate is one of my all time favorite bands and they have many good songs under their belt, so prepare to hear a lot about them in the future. Their blend of accessible alternative rock and urban electronics is what inspired to me to delve into the club vibe of modern music. Absolutely do not pass this one up, and get ready for more.

RIYL The Dangerous Summer, There for Tomorrow, Mae, Innerpartysystem

Track:

The Graduate - "Anhedonia" (m4a)

For Comparison:

The Dangerous Summer - "The Permanent Rain"

Mae - "Embers and Envelopes (New Version)"

The Graduate:

http://www.myspace.com/thegraduate

http://www.purevolume.com/thegraduate

I Want This

Is it shameful that I want my life to be like a Doritos commercial?

Awesome - Justice

Justice has created another work of art with their remix of Klaxon's "As Above So Below". The songs carries a very similar feel to Justice's remix of "Electric Feel," with the same funky feel and smart instrumentation. After hearing the remix, it's hard to imagine the song any other way, as Justice really take the song and make it their own.

The beat is standard but very catchy, and though the instrumentals often repeat the same refrain, the song keeps the listener entertained throughout. This is the kind of song you expect to hear at a slightly hipper bowling alley; there is no urgency or climactic moment in the song, and you can just chill out to it as you bob to the beat. The vocals are pleasant enough, but they suit the song perfectly with their smooth, laid-back delivery. Pick up this song, and listen to it as you drive home from the beach Sunday evening. Chillout, and let the beat do all the moving for you.

RIYL Justice, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, Arcade Fire

Track:

Klaxons - "As Above So Below (Justice Remix)" (not my link)

For Comparison:

Klaxons - "As Above So Below" (right click > save as) (not my link)

Justice - "DVNO" (right click > save as) (not my link)

Klaxons

http://www.myspace.com/klaxons

Justice

http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous

Today's review was short because I would like to plug two blogs that I have recenty been into.

First, http://www.pisforpresas.blogspot.com/ is my friend Michael's blog. His blog features straight, easy downloads of electronic music with no reviews to sift through or words to get in your way. He is very avant-garde in his choice of electronic music, so if you share his love for music and trust his keen sense to pick out a good track, stop on over and click every link you can find. Michael was the primary inspiration for my blog, and he continuously inspires my music taste, so this recommendation is as much a thank you as respect for a fellow music blogger.

Second, http://stutter-something-profound.blogspot.com/ is my friend T's blog. Though mostly a diary, her blog contains some very interesting critiques and points-of-view on the daily life that everyone faces. Read her blog as a story. It's a Catcher in Rye for the 2009 teenager. Also, T knows a thing or two about good music. Hit her up and learn.

Awesome - Ladyhawke

Let me first admit that, at the time of writing, I have not yet had sex. Instead, I have mastered the solo equivalent, man's manipulation of his own pleasure center for his enjoyment. Sure, maybe I'm missing out on something wonderful, maybe my near-daily routine is getting old, but really, for that climax at the end, it's worth it to continue solo and not have to face the undiscovered nether-regions of the female body in favor of the assuredness of an amazing feeling.

Why bring up masturbation and my fear of sex in a review of Innerpartysystem's remix of Ladyhawke's "Paris is Burning"? Well, it's all to set up a grand (but appropriate) metaphor for the structure of this song. For you see, listening to it is very much like my ol' faithful, masturabtion.

The song starts out with a slow instrumental intro: this is the foreplay. After about a minute, Ladyhawke's vocals enter and prepare you for what's to come: this is the erection. Soon, a strong beats comes in, and gets stronger with progessively harder levels of energy and instruemtation: accompanied by Ladyhawke's envigorating chanting, this is the fist pumping, getting faster as you get closer and closer to the big shot. Finally, the beats get harder, the notes get higher, and smashing cymbals are added ot the mix just as you get ready to climax, a brief pause, and then SMASH! The orgasm hits you at 4:35, and what's left is a crunchy dance party for the next half a minute before the beat fizzles out and you're left sitting there, reflecting on your momentary bliss.

I won't say this song is perfect; the climax is not mind blowing and the buildup can get repetative, but nonetheless Innerpartysystem did a stellar job remixing it. They make it their own, as if Ladyhawke had intended it that way. The beats could be stronger and the mixing could be a little better, but it would be unreasonable to expect something as beautiful as "Last Night in Brooklyn" again from Innerpartysystem, or any band for that matter. If you want to add a little female-fronted variation to your Club Hopping Playlist, be sure to download this track and relish in it.

RIYL The Ting Tings, Innerpartysystem, Shiny Toy Guns, Feist

Track:

Ladyhawke - "Paris Is Burning (Innerpartysystem Remix)"

For Comparison:

Ladyhawke - "Paris Is Burning"

Playradioplay! - "Loco Commotion"

Innerpartysystem - "Last Night in Brooklyn"

↑↑↑SOFA KING GOOD

Ladyhawke:

http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

http://www.ladyhawkemusic.com/

Innerpartysystem RMX:

http://www.myspace.com/innerpartysystemrmx

Delicious Neon Shit - Cobra Starship

Ah, Mr. Saporta. Imagine all the boys and girls sobbing when you sang "You can ride to the top, but you can't ride on my cock, yeah" in the first song of you're upcoming album. Think of all the teenagers that would love to ride on your cock, as awkward as it would be since you're turning 30 in October. However, as disappointing to many as your opening lyrics are, I'm sure that your fans will be just as happy sucking on this piece of glamorous pop beauty as they would be doing otherwise.

"Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous," the first song released off Cobra Starship's upcoming third record, may have a ridiculous title, and ridiculous lyrics, and even a ridiculously syncopated bridge, but it comes together to form one of the best pop songs of 2009. With catchy beats and infectious choruses, this song could make Cobra big, even if the rest of the album turns out to be shit. The verses are subdued in a somewhat failed attempt to be seductive, but when the choruses crash you can't help but sing along and even dance, if your skinny jeans permit.

So what if when I first heard the lead singer yell his anthem, "I'm not street, but I do what I gotta do," the inner fanboy in me prayed he was saying "straight" rather than "street"? If Gabe hadn't so explicitly expunged people from his penis, I'd probably be on it just as fast as all the 13-year-old fangirls who will know the lyrics to this song by heart. "...We're Famous" is perhaps my favorite song by dance-pop ultra-group Cobra Starship, and that alone is enough to incite my homoerotic bro-love for Mr. Saporta, let alone his 80s retro attire and revealing tight neon jeans. Get ready to blast this baby all over your girl's face, and she'll enjoy it too, because nothing is better than an awesomely crafted pop song.

RIYL Fall Out Boy, Forever the Sickest Kids, Metro Station, Cash Cash

Track:
Cobra Starship - "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous"

For Comparison:
Cobra Starship - "Send My Love to the Dancefloor, I'll See You in Hell" (m4a)

Hit the Lights - "Drop the Girl (The Secret Handshake Remix)"
↑↑↑HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Cobra Starship
http://www.myspace.com/cobrastarship
http://www.cobrastarship.com/
http://www.purevolume.com/cobrastarship

Awesome.