Old
My Morning Jacket - It's About Twilight Now, off their 1999 album The Tennessee Fire.
Somehow, I just started listening to these guys in the last year, so I'm clearly playing catch-up. I'm working my way chronologically through their catalog, and at this point I honestly haven't heard any mid-to-late 2000s My Morning Jacket. Not knowing where they have since gone musically, this is my unaffected view of a song that I really enjoy. The reverb is turned up to 11, which they like apparently. Makes them seem like they are too far away from the mics, but it's a unique sound. There is a 50's rock style guitar riff that is the backbone for the beginning of the song. It's simple and catchy and doesn't do justice to the guitarist that really rocks out in the solos of other songs. The vocals in this song show the range in octaves that Jim James is capable of, but his full voice doesn't come out. Compared to other songs on this album, It's About Twilight is faster paced and the lyrics don't have as much emotional power behind them. But, I think it showcases their building blocks style-wise and so it speaks to where I am in my appreciation for this band. I am intrigued by the sound and want to explore more but I'm not sure yet which version of them i'm going to like be the best. It's like a My Morning Jacket sampler platter.
New
New
Local Natives - Airplanes, off of their 2009/2010 album Gorilla Manor.
If you like harmonizing and percussion, you will like Local Natives. They have two vocalists that really complement each other. This album was released in the U.S. early last year, and these guys are based in LA. I think they are bound to be a pretty major national band, at least on the indie scene, because they have a style that's all their own, and they put a lot of thought into their lyrics that tell stories most people can associate with. They don't fit neatly into a radio friendly format, so we'll have to see how that plays out with their next album.
I thought this was a good song when I first heard it, but after I heard an interview explaining what it was about, it became a song I associate with very personally. It's about one of the band members who never got to meet his grandfather. He's heard so many good things that he's disappointed that he didn't get to know the man and he's excited to eventually get to meet. My favorite line is "it sounds like we would have had a great deal to say to each other." I get totally wrapped up in this song because I never got to know one of my grandfathers either, and I've always thought that exact thing from what people tell me about him.
The subtle piano chords and guitar riffs are secondary and allow you to focus on the percussion and lyrics, which are the main drivers of the meaning. It's a fantastic song, and after listening to their debut album, Local Natives are one of those bands where I will eagerly anticipate each album release going forward.
If you like harmonizing and percussion, you will like Local Natives. They have two vocalists that really complement each other. This album was released in the U.S. early last year, and these guys are based in LA. I think they are bound to be a pretty major national band, at least on the indie scene, because they have a style that's all their own, and they put a lot of thought into their lyrics that tell stories most people can associate with. They don't fit neatly into a radio friendly format, so we'll have to see how that plays out with their next album.
I thought this was a good song when I first heard it, but after I heard an interview explaining what it was about, it became a song I associate with very personally. It's about one of the band members who never got to meet his grandfather. He's heard so many good things that he's disappointed that he didn't get to know the man and he's excited to eventually get to meet. My favorite line is "it sounds like we would have had a great deal to say to each other." I get totally wrapped up in this song because I never got to know one of my grandfathers either, and I've always thought that exact thing from what people tell me about him.
The subtle piano chords and guitar riffs are secondary and allow you to focus on the percussion and lyrics, which are the main drivers of the meaning. It's a fantastic song, and after listening to their debut album, Local Natives are one of those bands where I will eagerly anticipate each album release going forward.
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