Hem – Departure and Farewell
art by argentinaland
Click here for Hem. Click here to listen to it on my Tumblr.
Typically I like posting music I can give you for free, but Hem is such an interesting band that I think I’m going to make an exception. Since I can’t embed anything on wordpress, I’m just going to give you guys lots of links and tell you what songs to listen to first, okay? I found them while I was just surfing around Rdio and after a few songs in, I realized this album makes a nice compliment to Bioshock Infinite. There’s a lot of great folksy influence, her voice is beautiful and uplifting while maintaining lyrics that are bittersweet and full of Americana fantasy. Hem has a way of showing influence from a lot of different eras of folk music, which, you know, is very Bioshock Infinite as well.
Okay, so I’m posting songs that remind me of the game the most. The first is “The Seed” which sounds a lot like “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” which is a very beautiful Christian hymn. You’ll heard the similarities almost right away. “Jack Pine” reminds me of Booker with lyrics like “You fallen, broken seed. The day returned to you. You dreamt of fire and woke to find it true.” Next is “Traveler’s Song” which I think works well for Booker and Elizabeth in their own special ways. And, finally, “So Long” jesus christ I can’t even handle how beautiful this song is I am dying.
GRiZ – Gettin’ Live
I told myself I wasn’t going to post music until I found something to fly a mech to. One month later or whatever? It’s time. So, my bros, equip your animal themed helmet, your color coded jumpsuit and some sweet catch phrases cause you about to go save the world from a giant glowworm. This song is over seven minutes long, but it’s a fucking grab bag of how electronic shit should sound in our future of flying robots with joysticks.
And, oh man. When the guitar comes in at 4:20 EXACTLY get ready to put your shades on.
Filed under Electronic, Uncategorized
The Lost Fingers – Pump Up The Jam Cover
(Click here for a link to the soundcloud page)
Hey @maxusy3k this is for you. The rest of you? Do you like electro mixed with gypsy punk? Of course you fucking do.
Filed under Covers, Electronic, Music
Kitty Crimes – Find a Penny
“Pussies are for kitty cats. And kitty cats are for criminals.”
You guys know I’m all for hip hop with a sense of humor and Kitty Crimes here knows what’s up. The intro to this video is hilarious and weird, but I wouldn’t post a music video if I didn’t like the song, too. She’s a pretty talented emcee with a hipster swagger I can get behind. Check out her soundcloud! Follow her on twitter! uuhhhh AND ALSO FACEBOOK!
Dark Time Sunshine
Dark Time Sunshine “Never Cry Wolf” ft. Reva DeVito
Dark Time Sunshine “Take My Hand” ft. Swamburger of Solillaquists of Sound & Aesop Rock
It’s stupid early on a Saturday. Time for some spaced out hip hop.
If you’re the kind of person who can’t survive on rapping with only paper thin production under it, no matter how good the emcee is, Dark Time Sunshine is for you. It’s a perfect mix of the direction instrumental hip hop is going and playful, compelling vocals. These guys can’t fool me, I can see the geeky slant to their lyrics and the spaceship beeps and boops bouncing across their tracks. I’ve heard this style of really creative, moving production and risk-taking, underground rapping called “hipster hip hop” but I defy this notion! It’s too sci-fi, too complex. And, everything about these guys is thoughtful, humorous and earnest without being pandering or nerdcore. As your resident dorky music blogger, I’m inviting them to our table. And, we’re just going to ignore that I hang out with the hipsters every Wednesday after school, okay?
Okay. So, you can actually get a couple free tracks from their website here. They’re also doing live shows and junk, so I’d get all about that if you’re in the area.
Filed under Electronic, Hip-Hop, SPPPAAACCEEE
Anna Lena & The Orchids – View Of My Sanity
(Click here for the soundcloud page you flithy mobile device users!)
It’s been a while since I’ve posted (anything! haha) some dark music, so here’s Ana Lena & The Orchids. I’m unusually critical of most dark music because I think it can get too heavy handed or wander into Evanescence territory, but this stuff is just right! Frankly, it’s a lot easier to get on board with something that’s lighthearted, even if the lyrics are decidedly depressing. That said, when it comes to darkity dark songs, my tastes usually fall into two specific categories: Southern Gothic and Urban Grit. Either I want to hear the twang of swamp zombies or in Ana’s case, I want to feel like I’m walking through some endless, fictional city street that’s as unclean as it is wet. In “View of My Sanity” you can practically hear an almost Lovecraft kind of crazy. The piano twinges like rain, her voice haunts and the pace changes in a clockwork waltz.
But, I think what really endears me to this song is that it reminds me a LOT of Jeff Buckley. He had much higher energy, but they both lend themselves to sinking lyrics and sharp guitars. Buckley took a couple listens, but once you understood the pacing of his music, he hooked you in. And, it’s the same thing with this song. I knew I liked it the first time I heard it, but each listen sneaks it further and further under my skin.
Filed under Rock
