Jim James explores Regions of Light and Sound of God
As the snow and the slush continue to pile up, lucky for us so does the reloaded reservoir on our iPods. February produced a healthy amount of solid tracks, ranging from folk to indie rock and all points in between. Plenty of variety to help spice up the last few weeks of winter.
My Morning Jacket band leader Jim James is back in the mix of things with his debut solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God. This record has a stripped-down feel, giving way to a haunting collection of songs. The first single "A New Life" finds James at his bare-bones core, while managing to slowly morph a folk song into a showtune. Look for him in the months to come as his tour makes stops at some bigtime festivals including Bonnaroo, Hangout, and Firefly.
The rest of February's playlist produces a better than average mix, enough to keep the heat going a bit longer as the winter winds down.
Welcome back, folks. Hope everyone had an enjoyable new year's eve. As you can see, there are some slight changes around these parts and there will be more to come as some of the kinks get worked out. Orbit Sound is now here. January's installment will not disappoint, as a surprising amount of quality tracks came blustering in along with the arctic winds.
South Carolina native and chillwave mastermind Chaz Bundick, better known as Toro Y Moi was determined to blend some pop flavor into his latest album Anything In Return. Bundick delivers just what he intended, a synthy, groovy, melodic record complete with even a few radio hooks. On "Say That," he utilizes his light vocals over a bouncy backbone, including his signature synths dancing in and out. A string of dates through Texas is how he will kick off the tour in February, followed by a run up the east coast.
The January Mix is stacked with a bunch of quality early season cuts, ranging from hip-hop to punk rock. The year is off to a good start so far and there will be plenty more to come down the road.
Well, friends, on the last day of 2012 comes the last Playlist of the year. Not only that, it is also the final post under the title "Feerock's World." Don't worry music fans, this site will be back next year under a different name and design with the same concept in mind. It will still have the same goal to recap some of the month's best music and to give insight on a few bands and their new albums.
December handed out plenty of gifts, not to mention a bunch of stocking stuffers in the form of toasty mp3s. British indie quartet Alt-J kicks things off with "Something Good", a slow moving eerie cut off of their 2012 release An Awesome Wave. Another featured song comes from Cincinnati indie rockers Walk The Moon. The band handed us "Tightrope" as the second single and serves as a peppy dance number to get the blood flowing on these cold nights. Scottish indie-folkers Frightened Rabbit deliver the last featured cut of the month in the form of the somber, yet uplifting "Dead Now" which will be on their new 2013 record Pedestrian Verse.
Thanks for reading, folks, it truly was a great year of music like usual. Have a good New Year's Eve and I hope to see you up around the bend.
Check in every month for the latest in alternative/indie music. Please try and support all the great artists on the Monthly Playlists! For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @SteveFerris7
It's hard to believe another year is almost in the books. The feeling is bittersweet as we get to look back on the great year it was and we get to anticipate what lies ahead up the path. Seems like just yesterday the first fresh batch of albums came in and were absorbed into the eardrums. The return of alternative rockstars from the past and a whole bunch of indie dance tracks set the pace for what turned out to be another successful year for alt-nation.
As the year ends, and the heap of music has piled up, it's nice to take a look back at a few of the records that stood out a cut above the rest. With that being said, here are some of the best albums from 2012:
New York jam-rockers moe. have the uncanny ability of making quality studio albums, something that is not the norm for the genre. On their most recent effort What Happened to the La Las the group utilized an outside producer in John Travis (Kid Rock, Social Distortion) and joined up with Sugar Hill Records. Heavy on guitar-shredding and catchy hooks, The La Las is one of this year's most pleasant surprises.
Of all the 90's alternative rockstars that made returns in 2012, only Billy Corgan managed to break through the fold with a solid album. Although they dawn a completely new line-up except for Corgan, Oceania sounds like vintage Pumpkins, in both the production and the song writing. Their classic sound remains true. Welcome back.
Chillwave guru John Jagos aka Brothertiger dropped perhaps the most dance friendly album of the year. Golden Years is Jagos's first major release and it sure does deliver the goods. Blending easy-breezy summertime vocals with blazing hot synths, this album was meant to be played in the heat of the summer. This is definitely not the last we've heard from Brothertiger, and that's a good thing.
It's safe to say Jack White was on a mission in 2012 to prove once again that he should be at the top of the list of the world's baddest musicians. He states his case very well with Blunderbuss, his first solo studio album. This record is filled with a little of everything including gritty guitar, poppy keys, and plenty of White's swagger sprinkled in. Mission accomplished, Jack.
Northern Ireland indie-rockers Two Door Cinema Club made a surge in 2012 stretching to the banks of California and many places in between. This was in part due to Beacon, an impressive collection of arena-sounding, guitar-drenched, dance-worthy rock songs. Frontman Alex Trimble claims this album "Is much more intimate" than their last. That may be true, but it's also more explosive, which is a good thing for music fans.
There you have it folks, the Best Albums of 2012.
Stay tuned for the December 2012 Playlist as well as some site changes!
For more, follow Steve Ferris on Twitter: @s_ferris
It's safe to say November brought us plenty to be thankful for. Along with all the turkey & mashed potatoes came a feast of great music. This month followed the yearly trend of alternative rock superstars making a triumphant return into the mainstream. As the music world continues to change, it is nice to hear familiar voices from the past hungry to begin their next chapter.
Back with a bang, Seattle grunge-rockers Soundgarden have surged back to the forefront of alternative radio with their first release in 16 years King Animal. According to band leader Chris Cornell, "The album is a story. It has a lot of twists and turns." One of those stories is the heavy-hitting "Non-State Actor" which displays the band's trademark ferocious guitar and Cornell's unmistakable vocals, reminiscent of something out of the 90's. Check them out as their album-supporting tour kicks off in January with a trip up the east coast. Deftones frontman Chino Moreno states he was trying to create an album in the same vein as their epic 2000 release White Pony. On the band's newest offering, Koy No Yokan, they get close but not quite all the way. The Sacramento alternative-metal outfit gave us "Tempest" as a formidable single, which features plenty of tension and release, not to mention a handful of Moreno's screams. Their tour makes a trek through the UK in February.
Changing up the pace a bit, Canadian electronic band Crystal Castles dropped their newest record III on November 12th. Their sound has been described as a mix of icy synth-pop and white hot noise. This would be a fairly accurate description for "Affection" which features frontwoman Alice Glass's soft vocals over a glitchy backdrop.
As we prepare for the snow and the holiday season, this month's Playlist provides a quality mix of tracks to help reminisce on the past, and to look forward to what's in store around the bend. November served up a shmorgus board of fat mp3s, which left us with no room for dessert.
While the ghosts and ghouls were out doing their share of haunting this October, they didn't seem to scare away the fresh mp3s. This month's musical offerings were handed out like candy, which included some well placed tricks and of course a plethora of treats.
English space-rockers Muse are making waves with their new album The 2nd Law, which dropped on the first of the month. While not as explosive as their previous offerings, there are some moments where the band flexes their prog muscles. On "Panic Station", the band follows the lead of a crunchy bassline and finds them right at home in their comfort zone, blending big rock with pop.
If the projections are accurate, London's Mumford & Sons are set to break all sorts of records with their latest album Babel. The indie-folkers handed us "I Will Wait" as the lead single and it has been picking up speed on just about every radio outlet imaginable. Their upcoming tour has them bunkered down across the pond, playing to sold out crowds on a nightly basis.
Guitar virtuoso and Phish frontman Trey Anastasio is back in action with a new release of his own entitled Traveler. This isn't the first time the jamband rocker has tried his name in a solo record, this time he delves into the world of indie-rock summoning the likes of The National and Mates of State as his bandmates. Utilizing his ability to experiment, the cut "Scabbard" seems to be meandering all over the place yet manages to stay in the groove all at once, something that sounds all too natural.
As the days get shorter, and the nights get colder, it is reassuring to know that quality music is still being warmed up on the burner. October's mix features a solid fusion of twisted synths and electric guitar, a blend that is certainly fitting for the cold nights ahead.
It's always refreshing to feel the crisp breezes and to admire autumn's multi-colored backdrop. September sets the perfect stage for looking back on the wild summer
memories, but also for looking forward to what lies ahead in the fall. This month brought us a textured soundscape that includes familiar arena sounds along with a few chillwave beats to keep it fresh on those brisk nights.
California's pop-punk heroes Green Day have launched themselves back into action on the college radio waves with the arrival of their first album in three years Uno! The first of what will eventually be a 3-part trilogy, this one offers up a heavy dose of pop. On "Kill The DJ", the band takes a trip into dance-pop territory receiving mixed results. They will hit Voodoo Festival followed by a west coast run later this season. One of the year's most talked about releases comes from London's The xx. The indie trio delivered Coexist which features a softer, lighter sound and blends in perfectly to our current surroundings. The second single "Chained" is a feathery cut about lovers drifting apart, and exhibits a stumbling beat until it finds its rhythm towards the end. The band will weave through Canada, the U.S., and Europe in support of the new album. Fresh off the heels of Battle Born, alternative rock outfit The Killers are making some noise of their own. The arena-rockers have offered up "Runaways", which finds frontman Brandon Flowers telling a story of wanting someone not to leave them. Check them out as their tour makes stops at some bigtime venues, including Madison Square Garden and Air Canada Centre. Autumn is one of the best times of the year, and also hands out some of the best music. This time was no different as the colorful array of sounds made for smooth accompaniment alongside the picturesque tree lines. As we officially say goodbye to the summer, we gladly throw on our jackets and head out into the cool air to enjoy the fresh scenery, not to mention the crisp music.
