Another music-related post on here, and hopefully the first of many to come on this "new" WKPT blog, here's six out-of-the-ordinary songs I think some of you out there may find interesting (in no particular order, natch):
1. The Black Keys - "These Days" (2010)
This ballad from the Akron, Ohio blues-rock-soul duo The Black Keys is one of my favorite "heartfelt, reflective" songs in the last little while, and it serves as a great coda to their latest album, "Brothers". Dan Auerbach's vocals and guitar smoothly careen through some decidedly warm, "retro" production. Patrick Carney's drumming is relaxed and opportune, joining and serving as a great complement to Auerbach's vocals and adding to the reflective nature of the tune. An excellent song by one of the most underrated bands in the mainstream circuit.
2. Fools Gold - "The World Is All There Is" (2009 - studio version not found)
Before I begin, yes, I discovered "The World Is All There Is" while playing 2010 FIFA World Cup, one of my favorite soccer titles of all time. In spite of that, the song is an amazingly energetic, African-inspired jam session that always inspires me to get off my ass and get moving. Its energy and passion is certainly evident in this live version, which combines the auditory energy of the track with a visual manifestation of just how awesome a time the band seems to be having performing the song itself! Truly a "get up and dance" or even a "get up and make yourself useful" type song.
3. The White Stripes - "Jolene" (Live, 2004)
Pardon the expression, but it takes balls for a man to re-record a love song so explicitly intended for a woman to sing. With that being said, Jack and Meg White's interpretation of this Dolly Parton standard is simply spine-tingling in its minimalism and expressiveness. Although this is essentially a depressing country song re-imagined for a rock audience, (Jack) White's vocals breathe new life into the desperation conveyed in the original lyrics, as if White is personally channeling his own life experience into the microphone. It's this raw emotion that defines the music of the Stripes, and is a glimpse into just how important the many talents of Jack White are to the survival of rock in the 21st Century. There's nothing homosexual about this cover, either; if you're mature enough to handle it, it's, if anything, a great interpretation of a country music staple.
4. Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse - "Revenge" (feat. The Flaming Lips) (2009/2010)
A minimalistic, somber and atmospheric song, this track from the long-delayed collaboration between innovative producer Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz "Demon Days", DangerDoom and Broken Bells, among others) and Sparklehorse (whose troubled frontman, Mark Linkous, committed suicide on March 6th, 2010) is simply haunting. Wayne Coyne's lead vocals are double-tracked, delayed and filtered, but match the tone of the music effectively. Furthermore, the lyrics are as dark as the backing track, probably signaling the amount of despair Linkous endured before his untimely suicide. If anything, this song serves at a glimpse inside the mind of a troubled musician, one whose legacy will live through this posthumous release and expose his talents to a wider audience (it worked for me).
5. Broken Bells - The High Road (2010)
Another Danger Mouse production, a collaboration with Shins lead singer James Mercer, Broken Bells caught me by surprise while searching for music for my best friend's sister's college graduation party. I downloaded "The High Road" on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by its heartfelt minimalism and wandering tone. Its mood is equal parts downtempo and uplifting, and its wide range of genres combine experimental, indie, hip-hop, rock and electronic music. Not too bad for a four-minute pop song. It's truly impressive, a song that barely leaves my rotation...hopefully it casts the same impression on you as it did on me.
6. Julian Casablancas - "11th Dimension" (2009)
Ah, JULIAN. The lead singer of The Strokes brought something refreshing and (dare I say) new to the table with his 2009 solo album, "Phrazes For The Young". It's songs like 11th Dimension that display Casablancas's experimental side, one that looks to break away from the free-spirited rock of The Strokes and forge new paths in experimental new-new-wave (if I can call it that). Combining happy rhythms with observant and cynical lyrics, "11th Dimension" is already my "song of the summer" by a wide margin. Its lyrical and musical content combine to give me a song I can call "my own" at the moment, one that I can fully identify with, sing along to and admit I secretly dance to. Wait, what?! Oh, no. Um, move along, you saw nothing. On with life.
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