Author: Aryn Crowley

The exciting conclusion: Day 5 of 5 …

Mike’s Songs

1) ‘Dry Clothes’ by Annuals (Be He Me)

While reviewing the opening track “Brother” awhile back, this track would pop up. I don’t think this song is nearly as perfectly constructed for the whole length, mostly because of the diversion into a fusiony guitar solo reminiscent of a Bruce Hornsby 90s album featuring Pat Metheny. Man does that sort of kill the song for a few bars. But they do sort have that sugary California indie pop sound that sometimes sounds like it could be the Beach Boys or Weezer but then bring out these swelling little burbles of sounds and off key vocal harmonies that are actually fairly memorable. This band is young and could very well be a flash in the pan, but they really have the potential be strong if they stick around.

Greg’s Songs

1) ‘March of the Smallest Feet’ by Tin Hat Trio (Book of Silk)

These guys are great, and suprisingly listenable. I’m not sure how to classify the sound- jazz I guess, since there is a lot of improvisation, but it also borders on non-traditional chamber music. This one starts with accordian chords, violin melody, and some interesting guitar (or banjo?) stabs. The violin sound reminds me a civil war fiddle lament. This would be a good, short, no-lyric filler song in a mix tape. If I rememember right, Tin Hat Trio has a good website with lots of samples tracks for listening. I have no idea how good the other albums are, but this one is quite interesting- I listen to often for background work music.

Aryn’s Songs

1) ‘One and One’ by Miles Davis (On The Corner)

Nice. One from the crazy funky years. This immediatly invokes that emotion of walking through a strange city environment. Who can’t love the growling bass, jingle bells, hi-hats, and crazy sax/trumpet runs. I do like that recorded horn sound from the 70’s, or maybe just the recording practices of the whole record.. Pretty simple but effective production. I think the only thing lacking is a really nice orchestrated bridge that they could all jump in on. If only I was in Mile’s band, I could have set him straight on this thing.. ha! (Amazing album cover too by the way)

Bonus: I know its only supposed to be 5 songs, but Antichrist Television Blues by the Arcade Fire from the album Neon Bible came on next. Wow this is really an awesome song. A nice change from the out-funk I was just listening to. Thats it. If I were a professional reviewer I would give the Neon Bible 4 out of 5 possible Gideon bibles on the Motel sidetable reading scale (note: this scale not commonly used anywhere outside of the States)

Thanks for listening, again feel free to email us at [email protected] or leave comments here if you like. I guess its time to start sifting through the thousands of responses we got to find the best hello.usersubmitted.shuffle!

Day 4 of 5 …

Mike’s Songs

1) ‘You Beautiful Bastard’ by The Sea and Cake (Oui)

Yet again, the segue from the jazz of the last song to this here is a bit too serendipitous to be just random. But it was nice. The Sea and Cake are one of those bands that when I discovered them around 2002 or so instantly clicked as something I loved. Their mixture of rich jazz chords, pop sensibilities and their often electronic approach sounded like something that I envisioned as a genre mixture that The Missing Trio (our band at the time) could accomplish. This song could very easily fit into that style that I was aiming for on our own song “Trio Nocturne.” The Chicago-based supergroup with guys like Sam Prekop, Archer Prewitt and the amazing drummer\multi-instrumentalist\producer extraordinaire John McIntire sometimes doesn’t stray much from their staple subtle and mellow sound, or even Prekop’s vocal cadence, but its those details that are their strengths. A great mellow song.

Greg’s Songs

1) ‘Pyramid Song’ by Radiohead (Amnesiac)

One of my favorites from Radiohead. This song has a great drum sound. I love when Phil comes in with snare roll and ride pattern and then the simple snare-tom triplet entrance to the full beat. I really like this song because it’s such a quietly dark song, not heavy or bashing. The string pulls are perfect to thicken out the peak of the song. How can such a simple vamp be so great?

Aryn’s Songs

1) ‘Walk It Down’ by Talking Heads (Little Creatures)

I think this is one of the crappier Talking heads songs.. Also from one of their albums that I don’t frequent. Complete with syncopation, Byrne vocal runs, choral chorus’ where they change in that all too familiar Talking Heads way. I hope I am not crapping on a classic here.. if it is I apologize, I just don’t find it too classic to me( not sure if it really is or not, but my intuition points to no).

Stay tuned…the exciting conclusion tomorrow. Feel free to email us at [email protected] or leave comments here if you like. Send in your own shuffle playlist, we’ll post the best one.

Day 3 of 5 …

Mike’s Songs

1) ‘Down Time’ by Dave Holland Quintet (Prime Directive)

Having seen the undeniably great Dave Holland Quintet twice, I can very easily say that it is one of the most talented collection of jazz musicians ever. Their skill in deeply layered composition writing with contra-puntal arrangements full of odd time signatures is better than any group out there. But it is when they take those same qualities of composing and apply it to a group improvisation style that allows all those interlocking melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements to converge into a wall of sound that would rival any Phil Spector production. This song seems to be a bit more drawn in than most of their repertoire, but its more of a trombone feature for Robin Eubanks. Its interesting to hear the interplay of trombone, Dave Holland’s bass, and the ocassional drums of Billy Kilson lock into such a straight ahead, yet adventurous groove.

Greg’s Songs

1) ‘I’ve Found A New Baby’ by Django Reinhart (The Gold Collection)

I never get tired of the old French jazz sound. Reminds me of a late spring Saturday morning with the windows open, getting ready for a bike ride down to the coffee shop. Some nice violin on here too, I assume from Stephan Grapelli. Some nice trading fours in here. Just a trio with Django, violin, and backup four-strum guitar. This makes me want to watch The Triplettes of Bellville

Aryn’s Songs

1) ‘I Feel You’ by Depeche Mode (The Singles 86>98)

Interesting start, I heard the screeching and thought what the hell is this? But alas, a few seconds later that thick DModes sound kicks in. Very thick sound all around. Honestly I don’t think I have heard this one before. I like the droning background. Very ballsy guitar, bass and synth sounds to accompany that heroic vocal line. This one also has a pulsating (between L and R channel) that would probably have made for a pretty bad ass club experience back whenever this track was made. Something I would have rocked out to with my friends if I had been old enough to rock out in a converted warehouse artists loft space back in the late eighties/early nineties.

Stay tuned…day four tomorrow. Feel free to email us at [email protected] or leave comments here if you like. Send in your own shuffle playlist, we’ll post the best one.

Day 2 of 5 …

Mike’s Songs

1) ‘De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da’ by The Police (Zenyatta Mondatta)

Must be a pop-inspired shuffle experience. Sometimes I think the iTunes shuffle feature isn’t quite as ‘random’ as we think as I think it can sort similar types of music (and often artists) together. Then perhaps my music on my iPod is curated by my own tastes, that while diverse, are more familiar in connection than I let on. You can’t top the crisp flanged\chorus of Summer’s guitar and the firmly pounded drum beat of Copeland. Oh yeah, and Sting’s groove, voice and songwriting is great on this song. As one of their more radio friendly songs from mid-career Police, the chorus is incredibly catchy — with such inspired refrains as “de do do do, de da da da, is all I want to say to you” — how can you not at some point start to sing along?

Greg’s Songs

1) ‘Faberge Falls for Shuggie’ by Of Montreal (Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?)

I’ve never really gotten into Of Montreal, but this is pretty good. Some nice Rhodes/electric keyboard stuff in the beginning. The high pitch vocals are kind of annoying. The drum loop is interesting, but blah after the first few rounds. Right at three minutes, there’s an “ooh” line that reminds me of a counting song from sesame street. Not too memorable on the whole…

Aryn’s Songs

1) ‘Such Great Heights’ by The Postal Service (Give Up)

Speaking of college, this used to be a mainstay in the late night architecture dance parties. I havent listened to this one in probably a few years, and I think its still pretty great. This album really catapulted Gibbard and company into the mainstream and for good reason. Great beats, great melodies, great harmonization, great overall album. Oh and the video for this one is great too.

Stay tuned…day three tomorrow. Feel free to email us at [email protected] or leave comments here if you like. Send in your own shuffle playlist, we’ll post the best one.

Welcome to day 1 of 5 in our hello.shuffle 2

Mike’s Songs

1) ‘Its Good to Be in Love’ by Frou Frou (Details)

While it might sound funny, and though this is a solid pop confection, the synth electronic pop of the last few years (Frou Frou, Postal Service etc) is starting to sound a bit dated to me. Perhaps its just a bit more bubblegum sounding than what I am looking for right now, but this song is a bit too clean. When I saw Imogen Heap almost exactly a year ago, she took the basic construction of these songs and was able to bring them to life right in front of us. I think that allowed her to develop ideas in a more raw and less calculated way…and it payed off. The songs were livlier and more fresh. The way Imogen’s lilting and resonant voice fits with the flairs of synths and broken beats later in the climax of the song are quite nice. After this and her solo record, I am curious to hear whether she takes a step forward into something more eclectic or at least what she comes up with next.

Greg’s Songs

1) ‘Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out of’ by U2 (All That You Can’t Leave Behind)

I actually really like All That You Can’t Leave Behind, but then again I am a sucker for U2. This particular song is a pretty decent, inspiring, rock ballad. It makes me want to stand up, forget my problems, and solve world poverty!! Oooh… I like this part towards the end, about 3:30 into the song, when they do the falsetto octave harmony. The synth sax sounds are really cheesy, though. They should ditch that.

Aryn’s Songs

1) ‘I See You, You See Me’ by The Magic Numbers (The Magic Numbers)

Never really got into this band, and this album has sit dormant on my iPod for some time now. Its ok, not really my cup of tea, maybe the vocals I just don’t like, or the college rock sound that I am tired of. Or it could be that romantic call and answer between the two singers that grates.. oh well. Dont feel the need to listen to the rest of the album after hearing this one song.

Stay tuned…day two tomorrow. Feel free to email us at [email protected] or leave comments here if you like. Send in your own shuffle playlist, we’ll post the best one.