I’ve written about Color of Clouds aplenty here on Knox Road, so it’s with much excitement to provide you with this information. The Brooklyn trio who specialize in sweet, subdued electronic pop are set to digitally release their debut full-length, Satellite of Love, on April 6 along with a record release show at Pianos in [...]]]>

I’ve written about Color of Clouds aplenty here on Knox Road, so it’s with much excitement to provide you with this information. The Brooklyn trio who specialize in sweet, subdued electronic pop are set to digitally release their debut full-length, Satellite of Love, on April 6 along with a record release show at Pianos in NYC on April 8. Check out “Brother”, which was on their EP The Look, but has been remastered for Satellite of Love, below.

Color of Clouds – “Brother” [MP3]

Color of Clouds on MySpace

Satellite of Love Tracklisting:
1. Brother
2. Wonder
3. Satellite of Love
4. Left You
5. Lullysome
6. The Look
7. I Want You
8. Haunts Me
9. Let Go
10. Cinderella
11. Come Back to Me

The Besnard Lakes are, in a way, everything, and their third album, Are the Roaring Night, is an illustration of this. The songs are dreamy and seem to expand outward, forever, carried by waves of atmospherics. Tracks are draped with falsetto vocals and snippets of distorted classic-rock guitar solos. Some songs build to reverb-drenched climaxes; [...]]]>

The Besnard Lakes are, in a way, everything, and their third album, Are the Roaring Night, is an illustration of this. The songs are dreamy and seem to expand outward, forever, carried by waves of atmospherics. Tracks are draped with falsetto vocals and snippets of distorted classic-rock guitar solos. Some songs build to reverb-drenched climaxes; others stick to a (comparatively) more rigid formula.

And actually, before I go on, let me say that’s one of the few problems of the album. Certain songs, like the first track proper “Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent, Pt. 2: The Innocent” (prog!) hover in some mid-tempo purgatory between fast-paced barn-burner and slow-growing ballad. The song never quite takes off enough to be the former, and there’s not enough of a release at the end to qualify as the latter.

But it’s a minor gripe, considering the songs stuck in this tempo trap are all fine. The issue is just that they could be so much more if they committed to an extreme, like, say, the penultimate track “Light Up the Night,” a song that opens up in the last few minutes. And not even into some distortion-fest (thought that would be sooo sick, brah), but into a well-deserved solo and Retribution Gospel Choir-esque soaring vocal finish.

The other songs throughout Are the Roaring Night serve as different facets of the band’s sound. The final song “The Lonely Moan” sticks to its pretty atmosphere and tender female vocals, while “Chicago Train” tends to focus on the strummed electric guitar side of things. There are elements of pop, dreamy shoegaze, hard rock, doo-wop, and more, and still somehow the band fuses them together — maybe under the umbrella of, again, “atmosphere” — exceptionally well. The album is very solid as a result, even if some songs are more brimming with potential than passion. For every game of spot-the-influence you might play while listening to And the Roaring Night, it’s not hard to remember that you’re still listening to something unquestionably The Besnard Lakes.

The Besnard Lakes – “Albatross” [MP3]

The Besnard Lakes – “Chicago Train” [MP3]

Purchase And the Roaring Night here

I love being the resident Swedish reviewer on Knox Road. Because the Swedes know what they’re doing with pop, period. So it comes as no surprise that Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander, the duo behind jj, have delivered a stunningly refreshing work of indie pop on their second full-length album, nº 3. You know how [...]]]>

I love being the resident Swedish reviewer on Knox Road. Because the Swedes know what they’re doing with pop, period. So it comes as no surprise that Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander, the duo behind jj, have delivered a stunningly refreshing work of indie pop on their second full-length album, nº 3. You know how there’s smooth jazz? Well this is smooth electronic pop – it’s electronica without the constant glitches, boinks, doinks, what have you, and every song runs under four minutes.

The sound is drenched in reverb, and may take a bit getting used to, but once you’re in jj’s world, there’s no turning back. It really is mystical/dreamy/insert your own adjective for an imaginative sound. The strong rhythms and bells-meshed beats bring out the fundamental backbone to the lushness. At times I wish there was a little less of an ambient, echoing effect on the vocals, as it takes away from their inherent strength, but I realize that’s what best complements the general hazy atmosphere of the music. The mix of different whistles, strings, and other atypical instruments more than makes up for such shortcomings.

My biggest complaint, however, is that sometimes the album becomes a bit too cute for its own good. Like on “Voi Parlate, lo Gioco”, where Kastlander’s voice is too smooth, and over the top poppy, while the bells and acoustics overtake the simplicity of what most other songs on the album employ. Mind you, it’s still an enjoyable track, but it gets slightly irritating, and the only part I really like is the last 5 seconds with the final strings. But that’s me and strings. Another story entirely. The point is, jj have managed to make an enthralling, enveloping album that stands on its own in the current “dream pop” crowd. Job well done, lady and gent.

jj – “Let Go” [MP3]

jj – “Into The Light” [MP3]

Purchase nº 3

I can’t think of a band that revels in changing genre and tearing apart expectations quite like Liars. Since their 2001 debut, They Threw Us All In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top, the band has seen changes that have taken them from the dance floor to German witch trials to “Mt. Heart [...]]]>

I can’t think of a band that revels in changing genre and tearing apart expectations quite like Liars. Since their 2001 debut, They Threw Us All In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top, the band has seen changes that have taken them from the dance floor to German witch trials to “Mt. Heart Attack,” wherever that is. Their last album, the simply titled Liars, found them in a fist-pounding, foot-stomping madness. And just like an army brat’s parents, they’ve moved yet again.

Sisterworld doesn’t deviate too far from what you might expect from Liars. We have the sometimes droned, sometimes screamed, usually chanted lyrics overtop either sporadic and repetitive or seemingly random and ethereal music. And that’s just what’s normal for them. Unlike the intense, often terrifying worlds they’ve created before, Liars seem to have created this new world, Sisterworld, in which you have wandering curiosity, not-so-intense fear and moments of beautiful serenity. That might not sound too different from the real world, but remember, this is Liars. And as the name might suggest, this is a world very much like our own, but with some stark differences. Weird differences I’m not so sure I’ll ever understand, but that I’ll gladly listen to.

It doesn’t take a lot of instruments or heavy studio work to make a Liars song. On Sisterworld, the band utilizes very basic synth to set up the cosmic, ethereal nature of the songs, then lays down sporadic percussion and simple, wandering guitar lines with droning lyrics that together set up a very loose and honest psychedelia. Unlike the other grandiose psych bands of today, Liars rely on a very stripped-down approach that always looks in before even daring to look out to the listener. You kind of get the feeling that you’re being invited to walk around their personal playground for a hour. That playground just happens to be full of all kinds of strange and wonderful things.

Sisterworld isn’t as strong as some of the other Liars releases. It spends too much time exploring and not enough time showing us what they found. It also lacks some kind of unifying factor that would tie the tracks together better as a more solid unit. But the album still works well and still takes you to the weird places Liars create. But instead of being forced down that road to Sisterworld, as is typical Liars fashion, you’re cordially invited. You can call me a masochist if you want, but I’d rather have the gun at my back.

Liars – “No Barrier Fun” [MP3]

Liars – “Scissor” [MP3]

Buy Sisterworld on Amazon

Every day is a good day to be a Washed Out day! So why not make it today? Ernest Greene’s super amazing project Washed Out has Oood and Ahhhd me at every turn so far, and the simple, untitled track from his tour-only CD-R is no different. Granted, there’s a lot less here to be [...]]]>

Every day is a good day to be a Washed Out day! So why not make it today? Ernest Greene’s super amazing project Washed Out has Oood and Ahhhd me at every turn so far, and the simple, untitled track from his tour-only CD-R is no different. Granted, there’s a lot less here to be amazed at, but you gotta admire a guy who even makes great outtakes. What does Washed Out still owe us? A proper full-length debut. Come on Greene, you clearly don’t have any lack of creative juices or anything.

Washed Out – “Untitled Track #7″ [MP3]

So guess what super-important awards show is on tonight? No, not the TVyNovelas awards, although that is super important. It’s the Oscars, silly! And this year is a really big one, because we all might have the opportunity to see The Blind Side win over, well, good movies in the Best Picture category. It’s thrilling [...]]]>

So guess what super-important awards show is on tonight? No, not the TVyNovelas awards, although that is super important. It’s the Oscars, silly! And this year is a really big one, because we all might have the opportunity to see The Blind Side win over, well, good movies in the Best Picture category. It’s thrilling stuff. So if you were too busy filling out your Oscar pools, you cinephile, you, here’s what you missed this week on Knox Road.

Sunday:
Knox Road Radio show + Playlist for 2.28.10

Monday:
Hey guess what the Gorillaz album is streaming or whatever!
Cults
Pill Wonder takes tribal music to the beach on Jungle/Surf
[MP3] Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam – “Choices”
[MP3] Javelin – “Oh! Centra”
Mumford & Sons is coming stateside

Tuesday:
Rogue Wave is flimsy and unaffecting on Permalight
Frightened Rabbit is mature and refined on The Winter of Mixed Drinks
Band of Horses announce new album, tour dates

Wednesday:
[MP3] Hands – “Returning”

Thursday:

Friday:
[Abby's Road] Popularity and Love: Mutually exclusive?
iTunes Mixery (Part 10)
Letting Up Despite Great Faults releases charming teaser for new music video

Saturday:
Phenomenal Video Saturday: Bon Iver does Okkervil River*
Meklit Hadero

*Pick of the Week*
Rawkblog: “Deeper Into Movies: Advance Thoughts on the 2010 Academy Awards” I mean, with all this Oscar hoopla going around, why not read some well-reasoned thoughts on who should win tonight?

Well after talking about everything that ISN’T music, and after having a healthy discussion about the idea of the remix, we got down to playing the tunes you either love, hate or love even more. Happy Birthday to Jon’s mom! This show was for you!

Knox Road Radio 3.7.10 [MP3] (*Note: starts 1:30 in. Available until [...]]]>

Well after talking about everything that ISN’T music, and after having a healthy discussion about the idea of the remix, we got down to playing the tunes you either love, hate or love even more. Happy Birthday to Jon’s mom! This show was for you!

Knox Road Radio 3.7.10 [MP3] (*Note: starts 1:30 in. Available until next Sunday’s show.)

*As a reminder, Knox Road Radio broadcasts live every Sunday afternoon, 12-2 pm ET. Head here and click on WMUC2 in the upper left corner to listen in your media player.

01| Cults – “Go Outside”
02| Frightened Rabbit – “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”
03| Rogue Wave – “Solitary Gun”
04| The Ruby Suns – “Closet Astrologer”
05| The Bitters – “Travelin’ Girl” [MP3]
06| Javelin’ – “Oh! Centra”
07| Titus Andronicus – “A More Perfect Union”
08| Hands – “Returning”
09| Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam – “Choices”
10| Meklit Hadero – “Walk Up”
11| Bear in Heaven – “Lovesick Teenagers”
12| Bear in Heaven – “Lovesick Teenagers (Twin Shadow –Twins In Heaven remix)”
13| Liars – “Scissor”
14| Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – “Even Heroes Have To Die”
15| Morning Benders – “Excuses”
16| Broken Bells – “The High Road”
17| White Hinterland – “No Logic”
18| [Jon's Pick] “Weird Al” Yankovic – “Happy Birthday”
19| [Jamie's Pick] Mando Diao – “Paralyzed”
20| [Lee's Pick] Jose Vanders – “Puppets”

Honestly, I couldn’t think of better music for a Saturday afternoon. You know, it’s that time when we’re either preparing to go out for a night of festivities, getting some unfinished work done around the house, or catching up on some “me” time. We need some laid back, groovy tunes. Don’t tell me you don’t [...]]]>

Honestly, I couldn’t think of better music for a Saturday afternoon. You know, it’s that time when we’re either preparing to go out for a night of festivities, getting some unfinished work done around the house, or catching up on some “me” time. We need some laid back, groovy tunes. Don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about, I know you do.

In that vein comes Meklit Hadero, an Ethiopian born but American raised female singer/songwriter. Currently residing in the diverse arts scene of San Fransisco, Hadero blends elements of smoky jazz and soul with modern pop to create a unique, delectable sound. While the diversity of the sound is welcoming in and of itself, it’s Hadero’s voice that lends the ultimate strength to the music. At once warm and enticing with a sonorous delivery, it can soften even the hardest-skinned folk.

Meklit Hadero – “Walk Up” [MP3]

Her debut album, On A Day Like This…, drops April 20 on Porto Franco Records.

[Photo by Sarah Peel]