Untogether - Letting Up Despite Great Faults

INDIEPOP, SHOEGAZE

Untogether: By Letting Up Despite Great Defaults

Letting Up Despite Great Faults (LUDGF) is an indiepop/shoegaze band based in Austin, Texas. In Untogether, LUDGF soothes its listeners with pulsing synths and rusty guitars.

The album takes its listeners on a journey through someone's nostalgia. LUDGF manifests this nostalgia with an interesting mixture of synth instruments that make up layers of magic carried by the steady drumbeats.

Members: Mike Lee, Kent Zambrana, Anna Fisette, Daniel Schmidt

Aside from the tracks with warm instrumental segments, there are some tracks, like "Numbered Days" and "Breaking," that give a separate sound from the album. Overall, Untogether sounds heavily influenced by The Postal Service.

The wistful vocals are sung by composer Mike Lee, who also plays piano, bass, and guitar. His lyrics add to the nostalgia.

Genre	Indiepop/Shoegaze
Album	Untogether (2012)
Label	New Words
Source	Radio
Spotify Link	Letting Up Despite Great Faults – Untogether

Vocals and Guitar	Mike Lee
Vocals and Keyboard	Anna Fisette
Bass	Kent Zambrana
Drums	Daniel Schmidt

Track favorites, highlights, and links: 

Ski Mask - Islands

Indie Rock, Indie Pop

Ski Mask: Island's 5th album

In Ski Mask, the Canadian indie rock band Islands gives insight into the thoughts and feelings of heartbreak through inventive snare compositions and expressive lyrics.

Wonderful soft, chill vocals to share sorrowful lyrics that sound like heartbreak poems in a well compiled short book. The clarity of the vocals make it easy to sing along and focus on the meaning of the song which is stressed by the instrumentation.

Members: Evan Gordon, Nick Thornburn, Geordie Gordon

The marimba in the first song is used to simulate island music, as suggested by the band name. BUT the album consists primarily of reverb guitar sounds and creative snare rhythms. Based on the major accompaniment of the piano, the instrument was probably the foundation for the composition process.  The snare parts are what make Islands's music unique.

The whole album sounds as if it was recorded in a large hall since there's a lot of hollow/echo sound from the guitar and the vocals. As a listener, perhaps we're supposed to feel alone stranded on an island while hearing your voice echo poetic lines and reassessing your breakup.

Assumed Genre	Indie Rock, Indie Pop
Album	Ski Mask
Label	Manque
Source	Flyer
Spotify Link	Islands–SkiMask

Vocals and Guitars	Nick Thornburn  aka Nick Diamonds
Keyboards/Guitar	Geordie Gordon
Bass	Evan Gordon
Keyboards/Guitar	Luc Laurent

Track favorites and highlights:

1. Wave Forms" - Sense of rebirth.
2. "Death Drive" - Hip. Strategically placed dissonant piano chords.
3. "Becoming the Gunship" - Pronounced snare action.
4. "Nil" - The most cheery song in the album rhythm wise. Lyrics contrast the instruments and give the song an ironic mood.
5. "Sad Middle" - "lalalala…" More snare action!
6. "Hushed Tones" - 80's tone.
7. "Here Here" - Soft, slow, clean guitar. Sustained syllables in lyrics. Very mellow.
8. "Shotgun Vision" - Sluggish. Almost crawling, still walking.
9. "Of Corpse" - Crescendo into high emotions.
10. "We'll Do It So You Don't Have To" - Interesting moods progression from ponderous to certainty.
11. "Winged Beat Drums" - Vivid imagery.

References: http://www.emusician.com/artists/0767/islands/147772

Album: Future Breeds ; Artist: Hot Hot Heat

Future Breeds: Different than the past breeds.

Assumed Genre	Indie Rock
Album	Future Breeds (2010)
Label	Dine Alone Records
Source	--
Spotify Link	Hot Hot Heat–Future Breeds

Vocals and Keyboards	Steve Bays
Guitar	Luke Paquin
Bass	Louis Hearn
Drums	Paul Hawley

The Canadian band Hot Hot Heat has shifted from a synth genre in 2002 to indie rock as it underwent band members changes. Their 2010 album Future Breeds is different than their past indie rock albums in that there is more synth and raunchy experimentation. Steve Bays has some things to say about the things he's seen and people he's met it seems. The album basically revolve around young adult angst. 

Their sound in Future Breeds is energetic and almost calliope-like. Vocals are sincere and raunchy with growls and yelps. A little mad, but honest. Synthesizers provide a dimension of dance.

Hot Hot Heat: Louis, Paul,Luke,Steve

Fun Fact: Hot Hot Heat apparently made an appearance on the Nickelodeon kid's show "Yo Gabba Gabba."

Spotify Playlist Link HERE (recommended for personal listening)

"YVR" (Track 1) is code for Vancouver International Airport. Great opening to the album that prepares the listener for what is to come.

"21@12" (2) Translation: 21 at midnight. Keyboards take the solos in this song.

"Times A Thousand" (3) reminds me a lot of cabaret music - close to The Dresden Dolls.

"Goddess on the Prairie" (5) - Guy just wants someone to love. Liked how he rhymed ridiculous with meticulous.

"Zero Results" (6) - We revisit a cabaret style accompanied with light piano chords and saxophone solos. It has a depressing and dark mood.

"JFK's LSD" (8) - Not sure, but I think it might refer to Mary Pinchot-Meyer, a "mistress" who sold LSD to JFK. Conspiracies! 

"What Is Rational?" (11) screams paranoia. But it's paranoia with rhythm.

On a personal note, I can't believe they did "Middle of Nowhere." I heard it on the radio and never bothered to look it up. I can see why fans were somewhat disappointed with the new 2010 sound.

Bandsite: http://www.hothotheat.com/

Album: The English Riviera ; Artist: Metronomy

The English Riviera: Third Studio Album

Assumed Genre	Electro Pop, Electronic, Indie Pop
Album	The English Riviera
Label	Because
Spotify Link	Metronomy–TheEnglishRiviera
Source	Housemate

Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard	Joseph Mount
Keyboard, Saxophone	Oscar Cash
Drums, Vocals	Anna Prior
Bass	Gbenga Adelekan
Keyboard, Bass	Gabriel Stebbing (until 2009)

Originally the band focused on instrumental music. Vocals were added in 2008 in their Nights Out album.

Metronomy: Oscar, Joseph, Gbenga, Anna

Metronomy has an 80's feel to it due to some of the keyboards. Vocals are combined in some songs by Joseph and Anna.

I listened to The English Riviera when I'm winding down or when I want to warm up for an activity. The catchy melodies make my shoulders dance and head nod.

Spotify Playlist. (Recommended for personal listening)

"Because Everything Goes My Way" focuses female vocals and makes it different than the rest of the album.

"The Look" is the song that had me looking for more Metronomy songs. It's very catchy and although repetitive doesn't get boring.

"The Bay" sounds like a cross between disco and indie rock. Funkeh...

I am a fan of songs titled after girls. Wish I wasn't. But what the hell? 

It gives a stronger subject to the song, I find. Stories are easier told with names SOMETIMES. So "Corinne" is definitely on my favorites list.

The soft piano chords once again make a  progression for a catchy song in "Some Written." The funky keyboard melody is captivating and resonates as the song develops.

The album ends with a haunting mood set by "Love Underlined."

Bandsite: http://www.metronomy.co.uk/

Album: Elastic Summer EP ; Artist: Elastic Summer

Elastic Summer: Elastic Summer EP, 4 tracks

Assumed Genre	Pop, Pop rock
Album	Elastic Summer EP
Label	None
Bandcamp Link	http://elasticsummer.bandcamp.com/

Vocals	Rebecca Arrango
Guitar	Joe Schumacher
Drums	Michael Whalen
Bassist	Bryan Percivall

Elastic Summer is a great band from New York with a summery sound I've been enjoying this June. I stumbled upon this band on youtube doing a Strokes cover song.  A very good one, too.

The Band: Rebecca, Joe, Michael, and Bryan

The percussion choice makes me feel like I'm on an island listening to a local band. Snaps and steel drums successfully compliment the compositions.

The lyrics in all songs are absolutely wonderful through great use of figurative language like alliteration, assonance, and consonance. There's a lot of imagery in the lyrics, too. Here are SOME of my favorite lyrics to say because I love how they roll of my tongue.

"hurry like a hurricane" - "Disaster"

"coconuts and butter and black beans" - "Coconuts"

"sudden drizzle drops in my sugar spoon" - "June Gloom"

And of course, the lead singer Rebecca Arrango sings mellifluously. The quivers when she holds notes make her voice unique. Other singers do the same, but I think she's one of the few who pulls it off.

Unfortunately, I don't think Elastic Summer is still together. I did some research and found out that Arrango is editor for the LA Canvas. (http://www.lacanvas.com/). 

Album: The Dethalbum (I) ; Artist: Dethklok

Dethalbum: Dethklok's first album from the show Metalocalypse

Assumed Genre	Metal, Melodic Death Metal
Album	Dethalbum I
Label	Williams Street
Spotify Link	Metalocalypse:Dethklok–TheDethalbum
Source	Cartoon Network Adult Swim

Vocals	Nathan Explosion
Lead, Rhythm Guitar	Skwisgaar Skwigelf
Rhythm Guitar	Toki Wartooth
Drums	Pickles
Bass	William Murderface

Vocals	Brendon Small
Lead, Rhythm Guitar	Brendon Small
Rhythm Guitar	Brendon Small
Drums	Gene Hoglan
Bass	Brendon Small

Dethklok is a virtual band created by Brendon Small in Cartoon Network's Adult Swim's show Metalocalypse. The show is about the brutal life and times of Dethklok who tends to get into morbidly deadly and comedic situations. Brendon Small writes "all music" for the show after graduating from  Berklee College of Music. Small also voice acts and writes the show. I'd like to take the moment to applaud Small for creating superb metal.

Brendon Small: Check out the Gibson Explorer.

I haven't been able to stop listening to this album after finishing the four seasons of Metalocalypse. The lyrics are comical in that they exaggerate gruesome situations like mermaid murder in "Murmaider" and graduating in "Go Forth and Die." Naturally they make me laugh, but it's difficult to do so when the music itself is sooo good! I find myself head-banging and singing along whenever I play this album.

"Murmaider" was the reason why I started to watch Metalocalypse. It was stuck in my head so often I decided to simply indulge myself in the show.

The chord progressions in "Into the Water" are magnificent! After tuning my guitar to C, I couldn't stop playing the progression when I practiced.

"Awaken" is my top track for this album. Lyrics, according to the show, were taken from a Danish book of necromantic spells. Extremely fun to play.

Since it is the season of graduations, I shared "Go Forth and Die" to fellow graduates. Favorite lyrics from this song: "Move in with your parents/Back into the dark/Landed where you started/Bachelor of Arts."

"Thunderhorse" is featured in Guitar Hero II. I appreciate that the difficulty on the game barely gives it justice.

Pickles the Drummer vocals in "Hatredcopter" paired with Nathan Explosion's (both voiced by Brendon Small) gives the song a different sides of metal vocalists stereotypes.

The London Philharmonic orchestra allegedly contributes to the instrumentation in "Detharmonic."

I can't wait for the rock opera "Metalocalypse: the Doomstar Requiem" in October! Stay tuned for Galaktikon!

Bandsite: Dethklok or Brendon Small

Album: Monomania; Artist: Deerhunter

MONOMANIA: Deerhunter's sixth album

CD Profile

Assumed Genre	Indie Rock,Ambient punk
Album	Monomania
Label	4AD Records

Band Members

Lead Guitar and Vocals	Bradford James Cox
Guitar and Multi-instruments	Lockett Pundt
Drummer and Keyboardist	Moses Archuleta
Guitarist	Frankie Broyles
Bassist	Josh McKay

Playlist 

I surfed the web while listening to this. It's very chill. A lot of foot tapping.

Almost all songs are moderate in tempo (96-132 bpm).

There is an interesting choice of percussion in some songs, like the tambourine. Electronic elements give the music an ambient feel. Distortion to guitars also add to the ambient classification; however, clean acoustic guitars are also used. The lyrics are repetitive and catchy. Vocals are somewhat raspy, which I personally love. There's also a lot of vocal experimentation with audible breathing that adds a touch of reality to the fantastical music.

Bandsite: Click Here

Album: Lejos. No Tan Lejos. ; Artist: Hello Seahorse!

Hello Seahorse! provides a voice so melodic and haunting. Someone must have told the lead singer she sounded what folk legend character La Llorona sounded like because she did a song about her that illustrated perfectly what she might sound like.

I've provided lyrics here: Foreign Lyrics.

This music's very poppy and ambient-like. I can't tire of listening to lead singer Denise's opera-like voice.

I also find most of lyrics to be accusations. And full of self-motivational/proof phrases.

For the next song skip to 5:42 for an acoustic version of Casa Vacia.

Credits to: Ivant-Garde

Update: HELLO

I'm back! Climbed outta the pits. Prepare yourselves, audience.