Perfume Genius - Slip Away

For symmetry, it's only right to post Perfume Genius. In the No Shape album, Perfume Genius incorporates new elements into his sound. I was really impressed with the instrumentals found on the album's various tracks like "Slip Away". The booming drums and the sludgy bass create a very enjoyable contrast his generally smooth and somewhat soft-spoken vocals. It's mixed really well on the album, but I'm sure it's a bit harder to strike the proper balance live. The music video's fun too.

"Slip Away" by Perfume Genius from his 2017 album No Shape

Alvvays - "Dreams Tonite" and "In Undertow"

New Alvvays album coming out. I've heard two songs out so far ... one without a music video and one with. Out of the two, I like "Dreams Tonite", the one without a video, a bit more. It has a bit more of a dream pop quality to it and I'm generally a sucker for anything like that.

Update 2017/09/13: video for "Dreams Tonite", woot

"Dreams Tonite" by Alvvays from their upcoming 2017 album Antisocialites

"In Undertow" by Alvvays from their upcoming 2017 album Antisocialites

Wolf Alice - Don't Delete The Kisses

Was going to wait a bit until I posted the next installment of Wolf Alice ... you know ... to maintain the variety. But daaayuumm, just heard this song from Visions Of A Life to be released September 2017. Calm, reassurance, energy, and catharsis all in one song. Ok, now I'm really looking forward to this album.

*edit* oh cooool music video as of August 11, sweet deal, link updated

"Don't Delete The Kisses" by Wolf Alice from their upcoming 2017 album Visions Of A Life

Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile

Nope, no previous Wolf Alice entry either.

I think by now it's abundantly clear that I prefer rock-oriented bands with female vocalists. "Moaning Lisa Smile" stayed on active rotation on my iPod for quite a while. New album set for 2017, looking forward to that.

"Moaning Lisa Smile" by Wolf Alice from their 2015 album My Love Is Cool

Alvvays - "Ones Who Love You" and "Archie, Marry Me"

Oh hey, new Alvvays. I was really obsessed with Alvvays back in 2014. Listened the shit out of that album, I'll tell ya h-wut. Oh wait, what the fuck? Did I not post "Marry Me, Archie" 3 years ago?! Eh, whatever, I guess I never really prioritized this thing. Why would I? It's really just to keep a running catalogue of music that passes me by ... that's like what the singles playlist on my iPod's for, amirite?

Ok, well, this is my favourite song from Alvvays's Alvvays album: "Ones That Love You" ... laid back, surfy, dreamy indie pop ... veh nise. Haven't really found a live performance of theirs that I've really liked but ... that's ok for me ... I'm not that snobby. Also "Archie, Marry Me".

"Ones Who Love You" by Alvvays from their eponymous debut 2014 album

"Archie, Mary Me" by Alvvays from their eponymous debut 2014 album

Perfume Genius - Hood

This blog is garbage. It doesn't have any Perfume Genius posts. Shame (ding-ding-a-ling).

I liked "Hood" immediately after listening the first time. It has a very intimate quality to it, complemented immensely by the music video too. That's one thing I think Perfume Genius certainly excels: creating an atmosphere of authentic intimacy. So, I guess it makes sense that I didn't get into the Too Bright album all too much. Anyway, of note, the man opposite to Mike Hadreas is Arpad Miklos, a former gay porn actor whom ultimately had to resort to taking his own life. Depression is no joke.

"Hood" by Perfume Genius from his 2012 album Put Your Back N 2 It

Sky Ferreira - "I Blame Myself" and "Everything Is Embarassing"

Oh, what do we have here ... another bunch of songs, which I've listened the shit out of in the past few years, that was never mentioned on this wonky webpage. How embarrassing.

The first time I ever saw her (picture) was in Sonic Boom, her album Night Time, My Time was up on some display at Sonic Boom. I didn't think much of her ... the album cover gave me the impression she was just some artist that relies more on sexual intrigue. Well, I was wrong ... what's new right. She was naked, ok. Can you blame me??

The first time I ever listened to one of her songs was at some Italian restaurant in 2014 or something. Praise be to Shazam for if not for it my life would be undeniably different. I would be, for example, agonizingly and futilely drafting a post about another song. "Everything Is Embarrassing" was really great, listened to it a lot. Then I listened to the Night Time, My Time album after I had realized my devastation of my hubris, listened to a few of the songs from there, like "I Blame Myself", a lot.

Actually, in going through the various videos and comments in preparation of this post, it seems there may have been a phase around or before Night Time, My Time where she was actively trying to distance herself from this 'qt blonde' pop persona that may have been initially the aim of her label. That would explain the sudden shift to black hair and the overt sexuality in some of her music videos (and the album cover of Night Time, My Time). That would be really cool if that were true. But... I haven't seen much of her interviews so I couldn't really be certain. Let's just pretend it's true and like totally obsess over Sky Ferreira again. Ok, ... ... ... break.

"I Blame Myself" by Sky Ferreira from her 2013 album Night Time, My Time

"Everything Is Embarrassing" by Sky Ferreira from her 2012 EP Ghost

Hurray For The Riff Raff - Living In The City

Have appreciated the soulful sounds of Hurray For The Riff Raff since watching this live set a couple years ago. So, naturally, I was very excited to see them release a new album, The Navigator, earlier this year. "Living In The City" was a song I really liked on the album ... feels like it would be fitting to play during road trip through the dusty roads of a mid-sized city in the American Mid/Southwest. Well, not that I've ever had the pleasure...

"Living In The City" by Hurray For The Riff Raff from their 2017 album The Navigator

TOPS - Change Of Heart

What ... I've never made a post about "Change Of Heart" before. Blasphemer, Guilty, Shame.
The retro 80's sound really sold me on this song back in 2014. It still strikes a chord close to the place of my listening preferences to this day. In fact, it was recently bestowed the great honour of being my ringtone (succeeding "Close Chorus" by A Sunny Day In Glasgow). TOPS actually released a new album back in June but I haven't gotten around to getting/listening to yet. Soon, though, I'm sure.

This music video really made me (also presently) want to go on a road trip with friends and eat dipped cones. Well, I can't really do any of that except eat the dipped cone. WAIT, WHAT THE FUCK, IS THAT SEAN NICHOLAS SAVAGE AT 1:16. THEY WERE BOTH WITH ARBUTUS AT THE TIME. UM. OH SHIT.

ANYWAY HERE'S THE SONG THAT I REALLY LIKE.

"Change Of Heart" by TOPS from their 2014 album Picture You Staring

Radiation City - Oil Show

Radiation City released Synesthetica in 2016. I think as far as songs go, this is as upbeat as I'll get without feeling like a cheeseball. I am deeply saddened this music video has less than 10k views.

"Oil Show" by Radiation City from their 2016 album Synesthetica

Ivan & Alyosha - Tears In Your Eyes

Folk band Ivan & Alyosha (no the band does not feature a duo with those names, it's a Dostoyevsky thing, not that I would know) released an album back in 2015: It's All Just Pretend. They're one of the few bands that know how to tug at my heart strings in a totally untrite (sustainable) way. I think the key is its compelling and appropriate instrumentals. My favourite songs off this album were definitely "Tears In Your Eyes" and the titular track "It's All Just Pretend". A description of the songs that I find I like from Ivan & Alyosha would be "subtly optimistic".

A great live performance of "Tears In Your Eyes" by Ivan & Alyosha from their 2016 album It's All Just Pretend

Mint Julep - White Hot Heart

"Aviary" has been a long-time favourite of mine. I had been wondering if Mint Julep would ever release another album since Save Your Season from 2011. The band itself consists of the married duo Hollie and Keith Kenniff. Keith has released music since 2011 under the monikers Helios and Goldmund but I've not really gotten into that stuff yet.

Anyway, I was very happy to see they had released a new album back in 2016: Broken Devotion. I guess one thing I've realized when listening to new albums from bands that I've liked before is to appreciate the differences and the development of sound. It wouldn't be appropriate to approach Broken Devotion hoping to find another Aviary-esque song. That song will always be there and it's important to appreciate the evolution that artists go through over the years. 2011 was 5 years ago when this was released ... Lord knows how much I've changed in that amount of time too.

And, how fortuitous it is, the song that I ended up wanting to share from the album has an official music video. Rejoice!

"White Hot Heart" by Mint Julep from their 2016 album Broken Devotion

Memoryhouse - It Was True

Alas, I am not here to proclaim a new Memoryhouse song. But, songs from their 2016 Soft Hate still have appearances on my singles playlist. Along with "Sarah" and "Laney", "It Was True" is another one of my favourites from that album. Hope that I'll be able to see them live again one day.

"It Was True" by Memoryhouse from their 2016 album Soft Hate

Angharad Drake - "Heaven Knows" and "Carpet"

Australian folk artist Angharad Drake recently released her album Ghost. The single off of it is "Baby" and has its own music video but I found a couple more of her mellow tracks to meld more with my current mindset, specifically "Heaven Knows" and "Carpet". Maybe due in part to the relative simplicity of the instrumentals on those tracks, the clarity and earnestness of her voice really shines through. Good for a rainy/overcast day.

"Heaven Knows" by Angharad Drake from her 2017 album Ghost

"Carpet" by Angharad Drake from her 2017 album Ghost

The Japanese House - Saw You In A Dream

Been floating a lot through everything lately ... lot on my mind ... maybe ... hard to really get into the music ... but lot of things have been sticking out.

Heard "Saw You In A Dream" by The Japanese House and was, more or else, immediately taken in by it. Smooth vocals with smooth instrumentals, easy to sail through. Autotune as an effect rather than some sort of normalization is exercised well ... reminds me slightly of what Caroline Polachek does/did. Not saying one had borne another or anything like that.

Great EP, worth checking out if you want to kick back and let loose.

"Saw You In A Dream" by The Japanese House from their 2017 EP Saw You In A Dream

"I still exist" and Sean Nicholas Savage - Blow Me Away

I still listen to music. I just have no motivation to keep logs anymore. That's what last.fm is for right? Who cares. Pretty much. Apathy has seeded itself irrevocably within the depths of my soul, torpidity abounds.

I've recently been made aware of a few releases by a few familiar names (namely, School of Seven Bells, Mint Julep, and Japanese Breakfast ... also the solo album by Jen Goma has been released since my last entry).

I'll make a more in-depth post but here's a video by Sean Nicholas Savage, because he's having a show in Toronto over August long weekend ... you know ... over one of two long weekends I had to work this year. ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?

"Blow Me Away" by Sean Nicholas Savage from his 2016 album Magnificent Fist