So I guess I'm feeling foreign lately. This week I decided to give a listen to Sigur Rós, an Icelandic band. So they don't sing in English, and the lead singer's voice is pretty high. Wikipedia lists them as a "post-rock" band, which makes sense. Their album, Takk... sounds pretty futuristic, but in a good way!
Their use of xylophones, strings, synthesizers...other unidentifiable instruments makes their album very fascinating and different. However the music is calming and quiet, easy to listen to and is entirely soothing if you play it as you are lying down for a nap. And I don't mean this in a bad way ("This music is so bad it will put you to sleep"), but in a really superb and awesome way.
I first heard of them waay back in the day, when my friend invited me to a Bon Iver and Sigur Rós concert for about 20 bucks. I blew him off with a "pshhh who is that? I have better things to do with my time" but now I seem to be regretting that decision, a lot, as the band announced a hiatus last January. My chance to see them may have passed.
Like I have mentioned before, I am not great with song titles, but I can usually guess if you give me a few minutes to think about it. Howevr, considering all of Sigur Rós' songs are NOT in English, and neither are their names...I can't really discern between them. Glósóli, Hoppípolla, Saeglópur...they all sound the same to me. But the music is great...so check it out. I'm super sleepy, so I'm off to listen to Sigur Rós and go to bed. Sweet dreams all!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Dance Dance Dance
So I don't know if it's pronounced lie-key-lie or licky-lee (that's what I choose to call it) but the most recent album I have tackled is by Lykke Li. Her real name is Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson: she's Swedish. But anyways, despite her name being confusing, her album, Youth Novels, is great.
I'm cheating a little bit, since I didn't actually hear about Lykke Li from my friend who doubled the music on my iPod just before the semester started. I randomly decided to click on her takeaway video on La Blogotheque (yes, La Blogotheque strikes again), and loved it. The song, Dance Dance Dance, is light and cheerful, as is the video. The song is simple, and yet uses a large number of instruments spread out through out the song showing her depth and musical talent.
Most of the other songs on the album are equally artistic and catchy. There are a few songs, I must admit, which are a little weird and probably wouldn't appeal to the general public. Melodies & Desires and The Trumpet in My Head involve some strange music playing in the background while Lykke Li talks softly, saying some nonsense about trumpets in her head and how love is the harmony, and desire is the key.
Alongside her creative indie music, what also appeals to me is her voice. It is definitely different than what you might expect, and very hard to explain in words - you just have to hear it. It isn't the same as your average diva - she doesn't sound like Shakira or Lady Gaga. Her voice is softer, and almost more old-fashioned. Her music is very soothing, great for listening while doing homework or reading a book (not that I ever do that, but I imagine it would be nice). No matter how you pronounce it, Lykke Li is definitely worth checking out!
I'm cheating a little bit, since I didn't actually hear about Lykke Li from my friend who doubled the music on my iPod just before the semester started. I randomly decided to click on her takeaway video on La Blogotheque (yes, La Blogotheque strikes again), and loved it. The song, Dance Dance Dance, is light and cheerful, as is the video. The song is simple, and yet uses a large number of instruments spread out through out the song showing her depth and musical talent.
Most of the other songs on the album are equally artistic and catchy. There are a few songs, I must admit, which are a little weird and probably wouldn't appeal to the general public. Melodies & Desires and The Trumpet in My Head involve some strange music playing in the background while Lykke Li talks softly, saying some nonsense about trumpets in her head and how love is the harmony, and desire is the key.
Alongside her creative indie music, what also appeals to me is her voice. It is definitely different than what you might expect, and very hard to explain in words - you just have to hear it. It isn't the same as your average diva - she doesn't sound like Shakira or Lady Gaga. Her voice is softer, and almost more old-fashioned. Her music is very soothing, great for listening while doing homework or reading a book (not that I ever do that, but I imagine it would be nice). No matter how you pronounce it, Lykke Li is definitely worth checking out!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
My New Favorite Song
About 3 years ago, a friend introduced me to the group Bon Iver, and their album "For Emma, Forever Ago." I immediately fell in love with the entire album (and not just because it contained my name), and particularly one song called Skinny Love. This has been my favorite song ever since, and I never thought anything would top it.
However, I was recently introduced to a new band, Beirut. At first I wasn't so down - my boyfriend of over a year, a few minutes after breaking up with me, told me I should give them a listen. But after a few weeks I decided to try them out. And I hate to admit it, but he was right. They are amazing.
Almost all of Beirut's songs have weird and confusing titles (Gulag Orkestar, Prenzlauerberg, etc) so it was hard for me to distinguish between them. However, one song in particular stood out to me. Something about it caught me off guard, and for weeks on end I couldn't get it out of my head. You would think this would be a bad thing, but it really wasn't. I found the song on Blogotheque, which made it even better, and was listening to it every day, multiple times a day. After much consideration, I have come to accept the fact that Nantes, by Beirut, has become my favorite song.
This isn't to say that the rest of their songs are unmentionable. Every song on the 3ish albums (some EPs) which I have inherited are equally amazing. I highly suggest you take a listen.
However, I was recently introduced to a new band, Beirut. At first I wasn't so down - my boyfriend of over a year, a few minutes after breaking up with me, told me I should give them a listen. But after a few weeks I decided to try them out. And I hate to admit it, but he was right. They are amazing.
Almost all of Beirut's songs have weird and confusing titles (Gulag Orkestar, Prenzlauerberg, etc) so it was hard for me to distinguish between them. However, one song in particular stood out to me. Something about it caught me off guard, and for weeks on end I couldn't get it out of my head. You would think this would be a bad thing, but it really wasn't. I found the song on Blogotheque, which made it even better, and was listening to it every day, multiple times a day. After much consideration, I have come to accept the fact that Nantes, by Beirut, has become my favorite song.
This isn't to say that the rest of their songs are unmentionable. Every song on the 3ish albums (some EPs) which I have inherited are equally amazing. I highly suggest you take a listen.
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