posted by John on January 7, 2012
Editor’s note: we’re happy to welcome John M. to our staff. Please rate this post and let us know how you like it.
Days, the sophomore release from Ridgewood, NJ’s Real Estate, follows in the footsteps of their self-titled debut. It’s a familiar sound, but this time around it’s delivered in a tighter, brighter package. Full of chiming guitars, lazy beats, and shimmering arpeggios crashing into each other, the songs are bound together by the beautifully languid vocal melodies of singer and guitarist Martin Courtney, and the band’s laid-back, reverb-soaked vibe.
“It’s Real,” the album’s first single, pulses with the steady drumming of Etienne Pierre Duguay, some “oh, oh, ohs” from Martin, and the chiming guitar lines of Matt Mondale to make it the catchiest track of the bunch, and a perfect entry point for folks just getting to know the band.
The production on Days sounds thick and lush, but the songs themselves are stripped back to the vitals. A quick verse into the chorus, with a little guitar interplay to lock it all together is all that’s needed to deliver a big, warm sound. Even a long song like “All the Same” doesn’t have a wasted note or gratuitous part at over seven minutes in length.
Lyrically, Real Estate keeps things streamlined too. Good vibes, simple times, peace and harmony with a hint of wistful bliss and wonder, are the main topics throughout. Even songs like “Out of Tune,” with its direct, confrontational lyrics, seem to handle a bad situation with a brush aside of the hand, when relinquished with a beautiful vocal melody:
It was all out of tune
You’re entering this town
Yourself a weeping clown
You play along to songs written for you
Days is a solid batch of songs. Breezy pop, great harmonies, and the jangle of the guitars make for a great record to play with the windows down on a summer day, or better yet on a cool night to warm things up.
RIYL: Early 90s Brit Pop, Pysch-Pop, The Thrills, Luna, The Feelies, The La’s
Real Estate – Its Real (Downloaded 333 times)
Real Estate – Easy (Downloaded 316 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Happy • Male vocal • Reverb
(15 votes)
Loading ...posted by Loren on May 6, 2011
If by now one hasn’t noticed by earlier posts, I am a chillwave fan. I enjoy a sound that is gentle and calm during an age when electronic music runs supreme. That’s not to say I completely disregard electro, I just appreciate chillwave a great deal more. That’s why when I first listened to the genteel and floating sound of the High Highs, my mind’s eye instantly saw chillwave, instantly transgressed into a drug-via-music induced state where the music is felt rather than heard.
Their music isn’t entirely predictable, and in some cases, it’s quite intangible. In some instances, their sound has quiet, lurking guitars reminiscent of Band of Horses, but at the same time vocals similar to Small Black. At other times, acoustic rhythms lean towards more of a simple Iron and Wine sound. Save the eclectic beat behind the beauty of “Flowers Bloom,” a song that defines chillwave, with lingering static and reverb unlike no other. But on tracks like “Horses,” the reverb is still there and the tempo held down, but acoustics compliment the vocals so well that the transitions are impeccable. The array of rhythms leaves me lost and unfound, running amuck among the mysticism. Unfortunate as it is, they don’t have many tracks available, but nonetheless they’re worth the listen.
High Highs – Flowers Bloom (Downloaded 956 times)
High Highs – Horses (Downloaded 723 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Chillwave • Floating • Fuzzy • Male vocal • Reverb
(21 votes) Loading ...Flowers Bloom is a treat – thanks for sharing.
posted by Josh on February 7, 2011
Generationals are a New Orleans-based trio with a new track, “Carrying The Torch,” and accompanying video from filmmaker Andrew Stubbs. It’s a wistful tune, as the title suggests, but with a jangling, almost upbeat background. The video, a bit of visual magic, illustrates a story through 12 windows, each of which displays 12 photos per second. That’s 108 images on screen each second, totaling a mind-boggling 18,000 images in a three-minute span. Digital wizardry aside, the video, like the song, tells a simple tale of a round-trip journey through love unrequited. It’s a well-worn story that somehow never gets old.
Generationals have a new album (Actor-Caster) coming at the end of March.
Myspace || Band Camp || Official site
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Generationals – Carrying The Torch (Downloaded 1323 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Male vocal • Reverb • With Bleeps & Blips
(12 votes) Loading ...the link isn’t working for my macbook.
Glass Girl, what link are you referring to? Do you mean you can’t download the song? I will try it on a macbook and see what the issue is.
I love these guys. Hanging out for an album. We play these guys so much on the show! Great write up, you’ve really captured it
posted by Tina on January 28, 2011
What are friends for if they can’t recommend a good band? Someone recently mentioned to me… “I’m really digging Best Coast at the moment.” And so…I checked them out. Album purchased within a few seconds of hearing. And so…I’m passing this band along to my Indieball friends. You know me…can’t get enough of the reverb, and Best Coast sure as hell uses it to their advantage. This trio out of LA brings us music that reminds me of a modern day Beach Boys. Front woman Bethany Cosetino will have you thinking of summer days at the beach or riding in a convertible with the top down. And if any of you are having a winter like I’m having here in NYC, this kind of music is well needed. I’m not sure why some have labeled this music as “gospel” but to me…Best Coast is far from it. The lyrics will catch the girls and the music will catch the guys. “I wish he was my boyfriend, I’ll love him till the very end, he looks at me as just a friend.” Same old story for some of us. Different band. Bethany plugs those ohhhs and ahhhhs in when needed, and leaves them out when it’s appropriate. Their music will bring sunshine back into your thoughts. Long summer days that you don’t want to end. I think Best Coast is just getting started on a long musical journey with many good things in sight.
Best Coast – Boyfriend (Downloaded 547 times)
Best Coast – Each And Every Day (Downloaded 677 times)
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» Meaningless labels: Indie • Reverb • Surf
(13 votes) Loading ...
January 7th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I like these guys, the guitar playing reminds me of Johnny Marr’s.
January 9th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Totally hear the Johnny Marr guitar. Great record, bought it love it!
January 15th, 2012 at 8:54 am
This is great! They sound a lot like a more upbeat version of Husky.