Friday, February 04, 2011

ImpOp Music Snob: 20 Tracks To Thaw Winter's Boner



There is snow everywhere and with people huddling indoors, you may need some new music to lift your spirits in gray days. Oh, and all you people saying it's a "Snowmageddon," or it's "Snowzilla" we already have a word for a lot of snow. It's called a blizzard and you don't sound like a 3rd grader who is trying to be creative. Now to the music.

CAKE "Got To Move" Back with a great new album called "Showroom Of Compassion," the sweet sponges don't alter the sound but still deliver unique fun music. Always a good band and the whole album is solid. Rock

OZZY OSBOURNE "Let It Die" I kinda thought the days of decent Ozzy were over but the godfather of metal storms back with Zakk Wylde delivering some epic riffs on this rocking 6+ minute song. This is classic metal the way it should be. All those shitty acts like Papa Roach, (Hed) PE, Buckcherry, Saliva, and Hinder should all take a lesson. Metal

The YOUNG EVILS "One Way Route" This new duo came outta nowhere but has delivered some of the most beautiful harmonies on their new amazing album "Enchanted Chapel." Do not sleep on this great nearly unheard of band. Indie

J RODDY WALSTON & The BUSINESS "Brave Man's Death" This musical style hearkens back to fuzzy speakers and feedback. I love it and Roddy brings a story about a Father punishing his son to make him a man and finding death in an honorable way. Great song. Rock

COLT FORD & JAMEY JOHNSON "Cold Beer" This is your normal country music drinking song but done well as always by Johnson and this new country/rap thing actually done well by Colt. Not my normal thing but I love singing to this one. Country

WAVVES "Take On The World" The new surf sound or low-fi if you prefer is taking a foothold in America and Wavves is helping lead the pack. If you ever wanted a kinda modern day Beach Boys here ya go. Indie

FIRST AID KID "Winter's All Over You" These two young ladies have a very dreary sound and this is a perfect snowy winter song. "When the winter calls to war. When the spring sets in once more. When the summer starts to sing. When the fall comes marching in. You'll leave, you'll leave this world to me." Pop

B.o.B. & RIVERS CUOMO "Magic" Everyone has probably heard this song already but it is so damn catchy and fun that I had to include it. Hip Hop/Rap

THAO & The GET DOWN STAY DOWNS "Bag Of Hammers" Thao Nguyen is the Bjork of America and has such an odd style and phrasing that you become a bit addicted. "Shake, shake, shake, shake the frame of this house, Distress the wood, make it shout, Aha, aha, And as sharp as I sting, as sharp as I sing, It still soothes you, doesn't it? Like a lick of ice cream." Pop

The DECEMBERISTS "All Arise!" The Decemberists returned with a new non-concept album (thank you) and yielded some odd results. Half the album can be thrown away while the other half will be some of the music you will listen to forever. I'll let you make the cuts but "All Arise!" is a taste of the best on "The King Is Dead." "You spit thick and you cross your heart, But the culvert's all undone, From keeping shotgun shy all around, Just be mine tonight!" Rock

HARVEY DANGER "The Show Must NOT Go On" Harvey Danger has called it quits but not before putting out a final CD with this track explaining in their witty as always way. Their final effort makes me think the show should go on. Rock

BLACK DUB "I Believe In You" Jazz is not very strong with me but Daniel Lanois new group with the ultra-sexy and golden voiced Trixie Whitley is solid. Dan's bass line will bob your head while Trixie sings with those "soulful contralto" pipes. Jazz

DOG FASHION DISCO "Baby Satan" Coming in appropriately at 13, DFD who have not broken up despite rumors, rock through a humorous and brutal sound about our little Antichrist.
Metal

CHILDISH GAMBINO & MC CHRIS "The Awesome" Awesome is exactly what this duo is. Donald Glover ( or Troy from the TV show Community) has hooked up with nerdcore's greatest rapper MC Chris to deliver a slurry of new music. Gambino stuff is usually free on the Internet so look around for the best game track today. Hip Hop/Rap

HEY MARSEILLES "Rio" In the same vein of the Decemberists comes HM with their debut album. Very well written with beautiful instrumentation these guys could be a solid band for '11. This is a song about moving on after love and loss. "Drink till the morning becomes yesterday." Rock

The TALLEST MAN ON EARTH "A Lion's Heart" You can tell your friends you found some Bob Dylan that they have never heard of though it is actually Kristian Matsson. The Swede sounds like Dylan and pens insightful lyrics just like Bobby. Folk

MUSE "Uprising" I slept on these boys the 1st time around but this song brought me in. I love this song for its content and slow build as I wish for a revolution to fell the American government that is so mired in politics that nothing can every change again. Rock

The BAND PERRY "If I Die Young" I had never heard of this apparently popular country band and only discovered them through 2010's Mixtape Exchange. It's a very sad tale of early death but so beautiful that you feel happy. Country

TRAMPLED BY TURTLES "Wait So Long" Bluegrass progressive speed style. It has to be heard to be believed and these guys may rival Old Crow Medicine Show as the elite bluegrass of the day. Country

SOCIAL DISTORTION "Diamond In The Rough" Finally, Mike Ness has returned with one of the greatest Honkey Tonk/Punk bands of all time. The new album "Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes" is amazing and this keep hope alive song is the best on the album and one of their best all time!! "There was a time when, I could not say, I got a reason to live another day. Discarded treasure, ya'll passed on by, and I can understand, the reason why." Punk

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