Mr. Children - Not Found [Japanese pop rock]

Mr. Children is a Japanese pop rock band which formed all the way back in 1988. Well anyway this is "Not Found" from their 2000 album Q. This is a re-recorded version of the song from a 2010 documentary/concert movie that maintains a sense of rawness not found on the album version. I don't know why the drummer keeps yawning though..

Also, if you liked this, you might as well check out this video of the song being performed by a MeowSynth, which was the video that initially led me to the original song.

Pacific UV - Static Waves [dream pop, shoegaze] & Pacific UV - God Is So Tired [shoegaze, post-rock]

Pacific UV is a band from Athens, Georgia. Their style has been said to incorporate features from dream pop, shoegaze, post-rock, and space rock, all with a homely Southern tinge. Their breadth of musical styles is definitely apparent if you give a listen to their eponymous first album from 2003.

Anyway, since I can't make up my mind as to which song to share, I'll link two. I mean since these two songs are slightly different stylistically, I guess it's justifiable... The first song is "Static Waves", which features more dream pop and shoegaze elements (and vocals). The second song is "God Is So Tired", which features more of a shoegaze (at least for the beginning anyway) and post-rock vibe. For the second song, I'd recommend you stay up until 3:00. Oh man, I'm glad I did.

Artist website @ http://www.pacificuv.com/

Pacific UV - Static Waves

Pacific UV - God Is So Tired (will add link later)

The Black Atlantic - Fragile Meadow [acoustic folk]

The Black Atlantic is a Norwegian folk band. They released their first album in 2009, Reverence For Fallen Trees, as a free digital download and have recently followed up that release with the EP Darkling, I Listen (2012). The song below, though, is from their first album and features ...someone dancing. Somehow, I think I could stand to appreciate that art form a little more...

Wanting (曲婉婷) - Admit (承認) [Chinese pop]

Oh hi, my my, it has been quite a while since I've posted. But I've definitely been listening to a lot of new sweet tunes. So, let's get a move on, shall we?

I went to HMV around a month ago just to kill some time and while I was browsing the Pop/Rock section, I bumped into this album with a Chinese girl on it. This was probably the first time I had seen something like this at HMV (other than maybe in the "World" section). Anyway, it was no other than the person in the title, Wanting (or 曲婉婷). Up until this post, I literally thought Wanting was her moniker but it's literally her name Qu Wan Ting. I guess it can still be a play on words...

Anyway, originally coming from China, she went to Canada in her teenage years to study and (from what I can tell, being unable to read any Chinese websites about this) has recently released a few singles and an album Everything In The World (the album cover says Wanting Everything In The World, so I guess that confirms the play on words part).

This is "Admit" (or "承認") from that 2012 album.

Auf der Maur - Out Of Our Minds [rock]

Having been in notable acts such as Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins, Montreal-native Melissa Auf der Maur is no newcomer to the rock scene. She released her first solo album, Auf der Maur, in 2004. Her second album was released back in 2010 entitled Out Of Our Minds. Overall, I found this album much more enjoyable than the first one. The musical breadth/variety (does that make sense?) is more expansive than its somewhat monotonous grunge-influenced predecessor.

This is the second single off the latter album, also entitled "Out Of Our Minds".

惘闻 - 污水塘 [post-rock]

惘闻 (Wang Wen) are a rock/post-rock band from China. Their bios on various sites say that the band began in 1999 with two guitarists with a particular fondness for The Smashing Pumpkins and a drummer, after whom the band was named. This is 污水塘, translated as "Sewage Pond" though idiomatically it's probably more along the lines of "Sewer" or something (perhaps I oughtta consider picking up my semi-mother tongue sometime later), which can be found on their 2008 album IV.

Having Chinese music being completely synonymous to pop music for the entirety of my life, I was very surprised when I first heard Wang Wen's stuff, though I suppose that it seems more of an inevitability with a country with over a billion people. I guess that's what happens when the only Chinese media that I follow comes from a single television channel and a couple of radio stations.

Ioseb - C/O Night [post-rock]

This is "C/O Night" by Ioseb, a Swedish post-rock band whom describe their music as "great ambient atmospheres and beautiful harmonies in which the thin vocals embrace you as warm hands on a frosty December morning". I think that description does a good job of conveying what I felt when I first heard this song. In the context of its album, this song is the calm before the storm: the song prior to this is entitled "The Declaration" and the songs following are titled after various images of war. This is also explains the ending of the song (which is not a glitch on the Youtube video) that consists of an abrupt, distorted ending transitioning immediately into some sort of radio call and sirens, quite frightening really. This song can be found on their 2009 album The Ghost Of Thirty-Three.

Giants - At Last Ashore [post-rock]

I bid welcome once again for I hath returneth from the nether! A great evil had stricken the lands and I had no choice but to do battle. And long was my struggle. But I have come out victorious! Now with Lord Diablo many times slain, the gods have deemed it appropriate that I return to my native realm so that I may continue my worldly affairs. I mean there are a bunch of other reasons for why I had simply abandoned this place in May but let's just keep it simple and blame my lack of self-control when it comes to gaming.

But I digress..

Since my last entry, the vast majority of the music I had been sampling was of the post-rock genre so at least a few of the next entries will be a smattering of that. This is "At Last Ashore" by Giants, an American post-rock band. This song consists of a hopeful cadenced melody set to a slower, laid back tempo. Listening to this song elicits images of a bittersweet victory march following a long, arduous struggle. A sort of victory that one would rather not experience should they have had a choice to avoid the conflict in the first place. The song ends with a fade, signifying a continued pushing forward. This song can be found on their 2008 album Old Stories.

In the past I tried my best not to post more than one song from albums but I think I'll do away with that little rule of mine. There's another good song on that album for which I'll write a post later.

Mint Julep - Aviary [dream pop]

Mint Julep is an indie duo consisting of Hollie and Keith Kenniff (they're married, if you were wondering, and they also release ambient music under the name "Hollie & Keith Kenniff"). This is "Aviary" from their 2011 album Save Your Season. This song itself was linked at /r/shoegaze in Reddit but it's not really shoegazey at all. But anyway, this song, and the rest of the album, were a good listen. Also, Mogwai apparently did a remix of this song (link).

Bloody Red Shoes - 7 Years [alternative, shoegaze]

Whew, it sure has been a while. There's a bit of a back-log of stuff I wanted to post up but I've been putting that off for various reasons. But anyway..

Bloody Red Shoes are an English alternative rock duo featuring Steve Ansell and Laura-Mary Carter. Since their inception in 2004, they have released three albums. This particularly song is "7 Years" from their latest album In Time to Voices (2012). As a shoegaze fan, I definitely enjoyed the distorted guitar and vocal layering of Laura-Mary in this song.

Asobi Seksu - Suzanne [dreamy acoustic]

Second post on a song by Asobi Seksu. From their 2009 album Rewolf, this is "Suzanne", a cover of a song done by Hope Sandoval from 2002. For this song, and the rest Rewolf album, Asobi Seksu seems to have scaled down their shoegazey/dream poppy bells and whistles and have produced songs with a very mellow and introspective atmosphere.

The album version can be found below but there's also a pleasant live version here.

Her Vanished Grace - Desire [alternative, shoegaze]

Her Vanished Grace is an American dream pop band from New York. They describe their music as a "modern mix of '80s post punk and '90s shoegaze with killer hooks and vivid colors" and it definitely sums up this song, "Desire" from their 2011 album See The Moon. Although there are definite hints of the shoegaze style in their instrumentals, that label cannot encapsulate their style, which incorporates strong vocals and upbeat melodies. The entire album was a real pleasure to listen to and can be found (for free!) on their Bandcamp.

Picnic - Woke Me Up Yesterday [dream pop]

Estonian band Picnic describes their music as "flowing guitars mingling with electronic beats" and trace their influences to nineties' shoegaze/dream pop acts like Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, and MBV (you can definitely hear the Cocteau Twins influence in this song). This is "Woke Me Up Yesterday" from their first LP Winter Honey (2012).

Can't wait til summer gets here..

Motorpsycho - Blindfolded [progressive rock]

Motorpsycho is a psychedelic/progressive rock band from Norway. Having formed in the late 80s, their music from then and through the 90s was characterized by a combination of harder rock elements. Beginning in their 2000 album, Let Them Eat Cake, Motorpsycho began producing music with a lighter and jazzier tone. This trend would continue through their next two albums, from one of which the featured song comes. Nevertheless, their much-anticipated double album from 2006, Black Hole/Blank Canvas, signified a return to their psychedelic rock roots.

This song is "Blindfolded" from their 2001 album Phanerothyme.

Plume Giant - Fool Hall [folk]

Plume Giant is a folk trio from New Haven, Connecticut. With their complement of able voices, guitars, and stringed instruments, these guys seem to effortlessly produce a full and round sound on all their tracks. This is "Fool Hall" from their 2010 self-titled EP (which is available for free on their bandcamp). They're currently working on an album, set to be released near the fall.

Harriet Jones - In The Basement [folk, blues]

This is "In The Basement" by English musician Harriet Jones. Although currently unsigned, given her performances at numerous festivals and alongside other more well-known artists, as well as having done some performances for the BBC, I'd hazard a guess to say that it's only a matter of time. This is one of her demos released back in 2010.

Jesse Ruins - Dream Analysis [dream pop]

This is "Dream Analysis" by Jesse Ruins, an ambient/dream-pop act from Tokyo, Japan, I think. I can't find any other information on the band but they've released several singles over the past year. No info on a full-length album yet but hopefully they decide to do it (I really like their sound). This song can be found on their Dream Analysis EP released back in February.

All The Luck In The World - Never [indie rock]

All The Luck In The World is an unsigned band hailing from Ireland. There are a few songs on their Myspace uploaded last year but they don't seem to have released anything official. This is "Never", a relaxing tune with a lo-fi feel.

Memoryhouse - Sleep Patterns [dream pop]

Memoryhouse is a Canadian dream pop group from Guleph. The group itself was not initially meant to be primarily a musical act but one that would combine music with visual mediums such as photography and short films. Their music clearly had potential and after a few tours over both North America and Europe, Memoryhouse signed with Seattle-based Sub Pop in 2010.

After releasing an EP in 2010 and re-releasing an updated version in 2011, they've recently released their first full length album The Slideshow Effect (2012). This is "Sleep Patterns" from their first release of The Years in 2010.

Sea Oleena - Cold White Sheets/Empty Bed [dream pop, electronic]

Sea Oleena is the moniker of Canadian artist Charlotte Oleena. This is "Cold White Sheets/Empty Bed" from her eponymous 2010 album Sea Oleena. I'd describe this song and the rest of this album as acoustic dream pop with a slight electronic twist. It's simply a gorgeous work.

(And here's a link to this album's page on her Bandcamp profile if you want to check out more of her work.)