The Loudest Sound

The Loudest Sound

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…and God knows I’ve had some rough fuckin’ years

July 5th, 2010 · Apple, Bands, Music, Music Industry, Pop Music, Technology, indie rock

I don’t like buying music from iTunes.  Typically a track is 99 cents or more popular cuts from an artist are $1.29 a pop, respectively.  My problem isn’t that; my problem is an album will still run you 10 bucks when in a store most albums will run you anywhere from 10-12 bucks except with the physical product you get full quality audio and a whole booklet with linear notes, lyrics, thank you’s, artwork, essentially the FULL vision the artist had; not just a .jpeg of the cover art you can flip through in iTunes.

Most song quality in iTunes is just alright; better than a few years ago when the standard was sill 128kbps.  Now I believe most songs are standardized at 192kbps (about 5mb for a usual song).  Still, even with that quality boost we’re nowhere near what should be standard for audio.  I always thought as hard drive prices plummeted, consumers wouldn’t mind having a full quality .wav piece of audio (about 40mb for a usual song) taking up space on their now “not so precious hard drive real estate”.  The opposite has occurred; now there’s just MORE room to fit your less than stellar quality on!

Fact is I don’t mind buying singles off of iTunes, and their exclusives are usually great when artists offer them.  After all, iTunes and digital consumption is the future (if it’s not already full blown here); I’m not fighting that.  The only way is to embrace it.  My gripe is in two areas.  One, Apple needs to step up and make people care about the full vision an artist has again.  iTunes being the largest digital retailer of music they have the responsibility.  They offer such things like iTunes LP which gives you all sorts of material including a clunky digitally downloaded booklet in .pdf form which can’t be transferred to one of their portable devices; why even bother?  Apple, charge me 12 bucks for a digital album and give me the record in .wav format, a digital booklet which can be transferred to my Apple portable device (I mean how cool would it be to flip through an artists vision with my finger via my iPhone or iPod Touch!), include the lyrics to be part of every file, and give me the iTunes extras the artist offers.  This is how you win over the hardcore fans of music and their favorite artists; which you’re still missing.  While it’s not a big market and you already have 95% of music listeners, go the extra mile…let me GIVE you MY money!

My second gripe is in the end, I’m being forced out of music retailers.  I’m in a demographic city where the only places you actually buy physical copies of cd’s are Best Buy, FYE, and other evil corporations (like most cities now).  There are no record shops to chat with the clerk about Sufjan Stevens, and The Beach Boys.  I’ve been forced to buy new music through iTunes lately.  GOOD new music, POPULAR new music!  I’ve searched for weeks to buy the new Foxy Shazam record in it’s physical form; still have yet to get my hands on it.  The new Gaslight Anthem, the same thing.  The Cure’s Disintegration re-master, yep, same thing.  I looked for almost two weeks for The Morning Benders record earlier this year; no dice.  Best Coast has a great new record on the horizon being released the 27th of this month; I’m not even going to attempt to find it in a retailer.  Sure, I could order on Amazon and wait a week and half and ruin the excitement of having it on release date, plus pay shipping and handling and get into a physical copy for 15 bucks.  Is it worth it?  Yes.  But my excitement for this music overcomes me and I break down to iTunes 192kbps standard *sigh*, an endless cycle.

The problem I’ve described here isn’t Apples’ fault, nor is it Best Buys’, or the artist.  The blame really comes with the record companies and music distributors.  They have no idea how we want to consume music anymore.  Eminem just sold almost 800,000 copies in his first week! If I go to my Best Buy they have 5…FIVE shelf spaces of his record; but I can’t find a single copy of Foxy Shazam which is a major label, high production release.  We either need to take the plunge and start distributing music digitally with an option for serious consumers and fans or labels and music distributors need to hold off on killing the physical format until technology is ready to adapt.  We’re in an odd grey area right now and I’m looking at major players such as Apple and major labels (or at the very least popular Indie labels) to make us believe the future is here.  Someone, please spearhead a revolution we’re all waiting on.  Until then, I’m still waiting…

Bonus: Below I’m streaming Foxy Shazam’s single Oh Lord.  Enjoy!

Oh Lord

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Making out with the wind…

May 20th, 2010 · Bands, Music, New Music, Pop Music, SPIN, indie rock

Welcome to the new look and feel of theloudestsound.com. Thanks to everyone who’s been visiting and reading and thank you for your patience during the down time. The website has gained enough steam for me to upgrade the server and a few other things. Most of what you the reader will find different is the site should be snappier and also the new and easy ways to share the music and articles here via your social networking. Whether it be Twitter, Facebook, Digg, etc. I’ve installed buttons for all of them. Enjoy and tell your friends!

Now…on to a little easy listening I’ve been getting into lately.

Free Energy is no new band to me. As a matter of fact I heard about them late last year via the buzz they were getting with SPIN magazine and website. It’s feel good mid-80’s esque throwback music. It makes you want to roll the windows down and take a road trip. The song I have streaming below is simply called the band name Free Energy. It sounds like it could’ve been featured in a Chevy Chase Vacation movie during the rolling credits. Everything from the Les Paul through Marshall stack guitar sounds, brilliantly polished acoustic sounds, mid -range bass guitar, and stadium drums scream at you to hear more.  Complete with a steady cowbell beat and a fantastic hook that’ll stick with you for days: “We are young and still alive“.  Also check out Dream City and Bang Pop on their Myspace for other highly addictive tunes.  I couldn’t be more excited about seeing these guys June 2nd. If you haven’t already heard of Free Energy jump on the bandwagon below and enjoy the musings of one of the best new bands of 2010…

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It's a terrible love that I'm walking with spiders…

May 15th, 2010 · Bands, Lyrics, Music, New Music, Pitchfork, Poetry, Pop Music, indie rock

I’m going to put this simply: The National have created their own personal masterpiece with High Violet, just released this week on 4AD.

Terrible Love kicks off this 48 minute paced epic and from it’s very first moment of pulsating, tremolo guitars The National and Matt Berninger don’t let go of you until the closing string section of Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks; all the while tossing and turning your emotions at every turn this record takes you on.  It’s a ride best listened with the lights low and headphones on.  Instrumentally The National have created a lush evolving record here.  The spacious, reverbial guitars soar as textures, the acoustics set unprecedented mood and tone, the rhythm section paces your emotions, rising and falling as you’d never expect and the string section (present in almost every track) can simply warm your heart or shatter you depending on their context.

Matt’s voice aches and calls to the listener as every word seems like a struggle to tell the story.  Sure, Matt’s voice has one range but I’d have it no other way.  His deep, crooning tone sets this record and these songs apart from anything that’s being created today.  The National have never been so instantly recognizable.  Nowhere does Matt’s vocal tone shine more than in one of the records highlights England when he heavily states “You must be in London, you must be loving your life in the rain”

I would go as far to say that I don’t feel like there’s a single misstep on all of High Violet.  From the lead single Bloodbuzz Ohio (see previous post), the much anticipated Lemonworld (read here a great article the NY Times did on them that revolves around that song), the sure to be follow up single Conversation 16, to how they descend the record with England into the pure string and piano ballad mentioned earlier Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.  There’s no other way to explain the sound, art and songs here other than tragically beautiful.  The National have released what I feel may be the best record I’ve heard so far this year.  Do yourself a favor and buy High Violet.  You won’t be disappointed.  Below you can stream one of my favorites England.

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I'm dreaming in a delirious night…

May 5th, 2010 · Bands, Love, Lyrics, Music, Pitchfork, Pop Music

The Cure.  Wow, what can I say to describe how much Robert Smith and his music means to me.  Arguably The Cure is what really sparked my musical creativity when I was 17 years old.  I was already into music but the first time I heard The Cure it was Close To Me and after 30 seconds of it my life was never the same.  Robert’s voice, how he presented his art sonically and visually, their rhythm, the words, his look…everything about them was perfect; is perfect.  They will forever be my favorite band, a catalyst in my life.  Later this month (May 25th to be exact) Robert and The Cure will be releasing the remaster of my all time favorite album Disintegration.

I’ve been looking forward to this remaster for quite some years now.  I thought it was going to happen in 2009, it being the 20th anniversary of the album and all but instead Robert released 4:13 Dream at the end of 2008 occupying 2009 for him and The Cure; which was by all means was ok with me.  Ever since Robert has started going through The Cure’s catalog and doing remasters it was eventual he would get to this one in the timeline.  Robert has apparently been anticipating this one too.  The final version will see a full 3 disc set.  One one disc the original but remastered Disintegration, the second is a disc made up of entirely rare and previously unreleased material from this time period, and the third is entitled Entreat Plus; a live concert of Disintegration from top to bottom at Wembley Arena.

Disc two is what brings me to my point of this post.  Below is a new previously unreleased song entitled Delirious Night.  New Cure music excites me to no end, but new Cure music from my favorite Cure era!?  I thought I’d never see the day.  Delirious Night was done during the Disintegration sessions and has an Eastern vibe to it over bright acoustics and driving percussion.  Some of The Cure’s best never heard creativity.  The track opens with what is now the wind-chimes on Plainsong (the epic slow burning opener to Disintegration) but apparently it was originally conceived for this song.  It’s things like this that excite me about the remaster.  Finding easter eggs of where ideas began and where they ended up.  Delirious Night is a haunting song with a dark, almost abusive texture.  I could go on and on about The Cure and end up writing a full review of my favorite record that was released 21 years ago but instead I urge you all to listen to the new track and pick up the 3 disc set on May 25th.  It’s all very exciting.

Delirious Night

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I hate all the mistakes that I make…

April 24th, 2010 · Bands, Lyrics, Music, Pitchfork, Pop Music, SPIN, indie rock

I was already excited about Kate Nash’s sophmore release My Best Friend Is You after hearing the first single Do-Wah-Doo and the others that were scattered around the web.  After finally getting a copy of my own to listen to in it’s entirity, I am throughly impressed and excited with this effort.

While the Lady Gaga’s, Keisha’s, and Britney Spears of the world make their jaunts at perfected, auto tuned records that most often times turn out to be cold and detached sounding Kate Nash has made an imperfect record in this “perfect” record pop ecosystem. She yelps, shrills, croons, and often talks over wavering beachy rioting guitar riffs, snotty melodies, and trashy drums. It sounds like an actual record, it lives, breathes and even embraces (dare I say it!) it’s mistakes. It’s not a formulaic piece of music that was carefully constructed in a lab some place as the formerly mentioned artists prefer.  No, this is a record where u can hear the 3am caffeine highs, the frustration, the passion, but all over well constructed pop music. The record is slow when it needs to be slow, upbeat when it needs to be upbeat, lo-fi when it should be lo-fi and produced with crossed t’s and dotted i’s when it’s called for.

There’s been much talk about her Riot Grrrl genre direction on My Best Friend Is You and it’s quite apparent in jams like Kiss That Grrrl, I’ve Got A Secret, I Just Love You More, and espeically in Mansion Song; it’s clear homage to insiprations of the genre before her (The Runaways, Patti Smith, etc.).  In it’s own right however My Best Friend Is You has it’s even better moments in pop tunes like Do-Wah-Doo the first single (see prior post), Later On, Take Me To A Higher Plane, Early Christmas Present (the synth work on this song should be mentioned, we’re talking uber pop) and Pickpocket.  And when the slow jams happen they’re damn near perfect ballads. I’ll go as far to say that Dont You Want To Share The Guilt With Me, You Were So Faraway, and I Hate Seagulls are easily some of the most stand out moments on the record.

Kate Nash has managed to make, what I feel, is one of the strongest pop efforts that’ll come out all year.  My Best Friend Is You has a perfect coalition of danceable pop outfits, snotty riot grrrl garage punk, and ballads in it’s 50min length, better than most records that commit themselves to one of those genres.  Kate Nash is a little crazy, and I love it.

Below I’ve linked Early Christmas Present to stream.  One of the thirteen outstanding tracks.  Enjoy.

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Kate Nash – Early Christmas Present

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Maybe if I try with all of my heart, I can make a brand new start in love with you…

April 11th, 2010 · Bands, Music, Pop Music, SPIN, indie rock

Wow.  I might be late to this native San Francisco band Girls, their debut record simply titled Album came out last September but this week while browsing Coachella’s most anticipated bands I heard their single Lust For Life and immediately bought the record.  It hasn’t stopped playing since.

Think if The Ramones met The Beach Boys and had The Cure type tendencies…then add the most jangle pop band you can think of and make them lo-fi.  You would get something that sounds like Girls.  Christopher Owen fronts the band and from what I can tell by the album credits writes most of the material.  In every word, note, and melody that is crooned, sung, violently or beautifully executed from him there’s some sort of pain that hides beneath even the simplest of lyrics…and that’s before you find out about his tragic childhood.  A brief summary is he was raised in a cult named “Children Of God”, his brother passed away at a very young age due to non medical treatment, his father leaves, then his mom his prostituted by the cult.  He somehow moves to San Fran and gets his heart broken by a woman (I suspect may be named Lauren judging by the records often times revealing lyrics)…Album picks up from all of this.  Most songs seem to be written about love or some form of it but it would be foolish to think his other life tragedies don’t linger in every word.

I could go on about this outfit but to be quite honest Album is a piece of art that is needed to be listened to in it’s entire form on multiple occasions to really understand the true scope of it.  Lust For Life is linked below.  Enjoy.  (Bonus: SPIN has some acoustic videos that are linked below the track.  Definitely worth the view if you dig them).

Lust For Life

SPIN exclusive acoustic performances

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You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away…

April 8th, 2010 · Bands, Music, Pitchfork, Poetry, Pop Music, indie rock

This is what I would consider one of those musical treasures we all stumble upon once and a while.  Go Outside by Cult is one of those songs and bands that if I woke up tomorrow and they were all over the radio and television I’d be completely disappointed and feel as if the band was taken from me.  We’ve all been there.

When the track jumps off fusing a pop driven glockenspiel and Jim Jones (Jonestown figurehead) propaganda speak in the intro you know there’s no shortage of innovation in this three and a half minute pop tune.  Everything in this song screams pop sensibility.  From the flirty, anthem, harmonized female vocals, the organ arrangement, drum machine parts, reverbial spacious guitar riff…you get the picture.  A melody that will stay and float in your cerebrum for days.  Trust me, within an hour you’ll be humming the lines “You really want to hole up?  You really want to stay inside and sleep the light away?”

In case you’re wondering, Cult is an almost unfindable, unsearchable band (hence no link to their website, myspace, etc.).  It’s a bit of an anomaly, actually. The only info I could gather was that they’re based in New York and are currently film students…and obviously can write a classy pop tune.  Any more info on them?  Drop it in the comments.  But most all…enjoy Go Outside!

“Go Outside”

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Stand up straight at the foot of your love…

April 3rd, 2010 · Bands, English, Love, Lyrics, Music, Pitchfork, Poetry, Pop Music, indie rock

Once and a while I come a across a new piece of music that completely encapsulates and captivates me.  I stumbled across The National’s new single Bloodbuzz Ohio this week and was instantly stopped dead in my tracks to hear in it’s entirety this 5 minute ballad of epic proportions.  Immediately from the drum intro the dark reverbial room sets the stage for a mood that radiates off of the speakers.  Matt Berninger’s voice has never sounded so achingly beautiful.  His low, somber, textured vocal performance yells of a modern Ian McCoullough (Echo and the Bunnymen) or Robert Smith (The Cure).

Lyrically it’s a brilliant piece of writing with an outstanding melody; a piece of poetry that allows the listener to connect in such a way that Matt speaks to everyone when he recites “I never thought about love when I thought about home…the floors are falling out from everybody I know”.  If that doesn’t catch your heart when you hear him echo through your head, you should check your pulse.  The National new record High Violet is set to be released May 11th.  I’m thoroughly excited to see what else they have on this disc.  2010 looks like it could be a great year for music…without further a-due…

“Bloodbuzz Ohio”.

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On your bedroom wall I'll paint your portrait from memory…

March 24th, 2010 · Bands, Lyrics, Music, Pitchfork, Poetry, Pop Music, indie rock

I ran across this little gem below while skimming Pitchfork this afternoon.  Never heard of Andrew Cedermark before or his former native New Jersey punk outfit Titus Andronicus.  This song appropriately titled “From Memory” is appearing on an upcoming Funny/Not Funny release, a split with Drunk Tigers.

The title of the song comes from my favorite lyric of the under 3 minute ballad “…on your bedroom wall I’ll paint your portrait from memory”. Andrew’s understated, low vocal tone makes this a truly intimate experience alongside the bar bones instrumentation; a single clean guitar, distortion guitar, an organ and the ladder half shimmering acoustics (which bears a great allusion to The Beatles arrangement and sonics). It’s art such as this that is a true red letter amongst the sea of what sometimes seems like repetitive and formulaic indie rock.  Listen close to his message of losing someone that’s a true love and the pain that’s conveyed in each word he chooses to drip off of his lips.  It’s a song that’s best listened with the lights down and headphones on.  Enjoy, truly enjoy.

“From Memory”

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Do Wah Doo…

March 21st, 2010 · Bands, Music, Pop Music, SPIN, TV/Video/Movie, indie rock

Kate Nash. Her first album Made Of Bricks was respectable considering she was only about 19 years old when it was released.  Her debut single Foundations was catchy, fun and different enough to stand out.  However, from what I can tell her 3 or 4 years of being in the industry has spawned some major changes…and boy are they for the better.  Below is the official video for her new single Do Wah Doo from her sophomore release that’s still yet to be titled.  The album is slated to be released April 20th and I couldn’t be more excited about the potential it has from hearing this just over two and half minute pop tune.

Do Wah Doo is an excellent example of what pop SHOULD be doing in this current ecosystem and not what it’s actually doing.  Everything from the classy horn section, soaring harmonies, the rhythmic vocal refrains, the scratchy rioting electric riffs and the overall depth the song builds into.  Hell, even the video has the classic vivid colors, throwback dance routines, the whole nine yards.  Listen, take notes, raise your bar for modern pop music, and hopefully April 20th will see the release of one of the best pop efforts all year.  It’s got the potential.

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