Jens Lekman - The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love

A great man once told me that a great lyricist will write what they know. For example:

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

When I hear these lyrics from Snow Patrol I don't feel like they've been months or years in the making. They were probably knocked out over ten minutes in front of a keyboard. They're just so broad and wishy washy. By contrast, Jens Lekman sings about beautifully discrete situations. They're so specific that it's near impossible that they're not based on the real experiences of our friend Jens. He has a new song out (it's been three years Jens, how about a new album big guy?). The melody and the lyrics are worthy of high praise.


Jens Lekman - The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love

The track's available as a free download by clicking the below button.

Zack Hemsey - Mind Heist

Stylistically distant from my last post, this track is the theme from the 3rd trailer for the blockbuster Inception (which was excellent). If I were in a band that played hardcore and I were headlining a show I would walk out to this theme. Actually, I'd enjoy it if this track played any time I arrived at a party. Obviously I'd no longer be able to bring vodka cruisers as my beverage of choice, it wouldn't fit my vibe.

Zack Hemsey has never done feature film soundtracks before so for a first bite at the cherry this 'goes alright'. He's even set up a band camp to publicise this track. I would use my normal player but the band camp player always has the highest quality sound. Turn your volume up before listening.

March of the Real Fly

The Blue Mountains are not just a hotspot for Christian engagements and budding teenage photographers, they're also home to some swell musicians. Some of those musicians are in a band called March of the Real Fly. We may never know what they could do with a decent budget and quality gear. What we do know though, is that with a $50 recording program and $2 mics they can make some pretty, simple (not to be confused with pretty simple) tunes. Here's one such.


March of the Real Fly - Morning Man


I find the production endearing but I've always had a crush on lo-fi recording. If you want to download their live EP or the Morning Man single (for free) then click this link. For a little more info scope out their myspace.

Darwin Deez

In 2009 Darwin Deez was the man/band of the hour. He dropped an album called Constellations and everyone went wild! Of course I told myself I wouldn't post about him because he doesn't need the exposure and there's a thousand other blogs where you could read about Darwin Deez but his tracks have been reverberating through my dome since their release. I recently read an article about the problem with music blogs that touched on this exact idea.



In the liner notes of Constellations we read that all songs were performed, produced, arranged, engineered and mixed by Darwin Deez. D.I.Y at it's finest. I like that. Here is a video of his major single, Radar Detector. If you didn't hear this on Triple J in the last 6 months then you weren't listening properly. Or maybe you were listening to FBi or 2ser in which case you just indie one upped me. Ouch.

The Smiles

Summer anthems in the mid-winter, that's appears to be the way of things. Los Angeles band The Smiles released their debut EP Hermosa in May this year (yep, I know that's not American winter but I'm wearing thermals right now. Don't argue with me.) and it's a pretty solid six tracks of surf pop. I can't stop listening to Cala Cola which is the best of the six. It's available as a free download from The Smiles' bandcamp. If you're not ready to take a risk on this free download then you can stream Cala Cola below.

The Smiles - Cala Cola

Hotspa - Kiola Beach

Hotspa are probably going to be a big deal. Remember that time I told you Jinja Safari were going to be big and now they're bigger than U2? ACT LIKE YOU KNOW IT! It'll happen again. I'm making this call on the back of a single song with a film clip. It's a nice film clip though. It's a compilation of clips of people that (I assume) are the band's family and friends doing all sorts of Aussie, summery things. The song rules though. Here is that song.

Hotspa - Kiola Beach


It's available as a free download from Triple J Unearthed. Thanks Triple J, you are a swell guy.

Gypsy and the Cat - Free Download

Gypsy and the Cat's new single 'Time to Wander' has been made available as a free download from the Triple J Website. Get amongst it!

Supergroups are IN.

There's been a swathe of supergroups popping up over the past 6 months so here is a completely inconclusive and subjective guide to a few of them. - Retrospectively, after rereading what I'd written here, I've realised that this is neither subjective nor a guide.

GAYNGS

Noteworthy members:
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)
Joe Westerlund (Megafaun)
Phil Cook (Megafaun)
Brad Cook (Megafaun)
Michael Lewis (Andrew Bird)

Gayngs - The Gaudy side of Town

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MT DESOLATION

Noteworthy members:
Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane)
Jesse Quin (Keane)
John Roderick (The Long Winters)
Tom Fiddle Hobden (Noah and the Whale)
Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers)
Country Winston Marshall (Mumford & Sons)

Mt Desolation - State of Our Affairs

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TIRED PONY

Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol)
Richard Colburn (Belle & Sebastian)
Peter Buck (R.E.M.)

Tired Pony - Point Me at Lost Islands

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MONSTERS OF FOLK

Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band)
Jim James (My Morning Jacket)
Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes)
M. Ward (M. Ward)

Monsters Of Folk - Dear God

Cee-Lo Green - No One's Gonna Love You

Cee-Lo Green (of Gnarls Barkley fame) very recently released this cover of Band of Horses 'No One's Gonna Love You'. I don't love this version but it's always interesting to hear a track I love done by another artist. Also, I'm no film critic but whoever directed this must have pitched it a little like this: "Look, this is what I'm thinking for the video. We have a really nice American road trip style thing. You know, diners, swimming, car scenes, all that crap. But here's our angle. Amid all these scenes we'll make sure we slot in some unnecessary boob action! Guys will love it. They'll be enjoying the scenery when BAM! Breasts! This is going to work. Bigtime."



Just in case you've not heard the original, here it is.