Fantastic New Music From Old Favourites

This year is turning out to be a fantastic year for music. In the last two months some of my favourite bands have released new albums. I am always a little nervous to first listen to new albums from beloved favourites, but these ones did not disappoint one bit! 

 

 The Scottish indie rock band, Frightened Rabbit, are one of my all time favourite bands. They create beautifully sad and epic music - which is probably my favourite type of music (and also the reason I love The National so much). "Painting of a Panic Attack" is their 5th studio album and I am totally in love in with it. They didn't try going in a new direction or anything here, but rather did what they do best and created an hour of beautiful indie rock music that I will be listening to again and again. 

Favourite Track: An Otherwise Disappointing Life

  

In other news, the incredibly talented Andrew Bird has a new record out called "Are you Serious". I believe that this is his most accessible record yet as it is a little more "pop-y" and his lyrics are not as cryptic as usual. Andrew's first attempt at a love song is also on this album - a duet with the lovely Fiona Apple. After listening to it a few times I think it is actually becoming my favourite Andrew Bird album. 

Favourite Track: Valleys of the Young. 

 

Beloved Canadian indie rockers, Plants & Animals, have also released a fantastic new record called "Waltzed in From the Rumbling". This one is best listened to loud with no distractions so that you can take it all in. There are horns and strings and gorgeous builds and moments that make me think of Radiohead. A beautiful record. 

Favourite Track: Je Voulais Te Dire

  

Earlier this month, British electronic/r&b/soul/experimental artist James Blake dropped his third, and strongest album yet. It's full of sweeping synths and lovely piano, just oozing heartbreak and best enjoyed on a dark rainy day. The album also features a song with Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. The whole thing is beautiful and I can't wait to listen to it some more. I just love what James Blake is doing with electronic music.  
Favourite Track: Radio Silence

Black Mountain: Live @ The Starlight Room in Edmonton

It has been far too long since I have been to a good rock show, so when I saw that Black Mountain were on tour for their new album IV - which is one of my favourite albums of the year so far - I found myself driving to Edmonton for the night to catch them live.

They played at The Starlight Room - a large capacity grungy brick venue with intense security and sweltering heat. I was lucky that I got to see this show with my best friend who now lives in Edmonton! Unfortunately we just missed the opener, Ashley Shadow (Sister of Black Mountain's Amber Webber) but we still were able to snag a spot right up front!

Black Mountain opened their show with the IV album opener - "Mothers of the Sun" which was dark and eerie before erupting into some killer guitar riffs. Amber Webber's voice sounded great and perfectly complemented the music. It was a wonderful start to two hours of phenomenal heavy psychedelic doom rock. They played a lot from the new record which is really synth-y (not sure if that is actually word) and also a lot of heavy hitters from "In the Future". The song that I most enjoyed live was "Defector", with "Stormy High" a close second. I also really loved Webber's slow burning "Line Them All Up" - which is my favourite song on IV. The only songs I love that they didn't play were "Angels" and "Don't Run Our Hearts Around", but I guess you can't always have it all! Also, Stephen McBean's vocals were not quite loud enough, but he made up for it with his incredible guitar skills. They ended their set with "Space to Bakersfield" which was pretty much a 10 minute guitar solo that makes you feel like you are floating around in outerspace. Overall, it was a fantastic show and day in Edmonton with my bestie - well worth the drive!

Album Obsession: Lucy Dacus - No Burden

It's been a while since I have fallen this hard for an album. This debut by 20 year old Lucy Dacus is probably my favourite record of the year so far. Her voice/delivery reminds me a little of Sharon Van Etten or Daughter but she is a unique force of her own. Lucy Dacus's gorgeous voice sings brutally honest lyrics accompanied by powerful drumming and heavy guitar riffs which all combine into an epic and beautiful album that make me want to crank up the volume, dance, laugh and cry a little at moments. What more could you want from an album? I will be listening to this one a lot this summer.

 

 I thought you'd hit rock bottom

But I'm starting to think that it doesn't exist

Because you've been falling for so long

And you haven't hit anything solid yet.

 If you want to see the world you have to say goodbye

Cause a map does no good hanging on a wall.