Phospherescent: Pride

I don't know where to begin with this one. Phosphorescent is one guy, Mathew Houck, and I think the best word to use to describe his music is sweeping. It's slow, it pleads, and it cascades left and right with rich vocal harmony and slow, plodding guitar strums. It has a lot of space. It's an expiremental approach to folk music, but there are still rich melodies at the surface that keep the songs sounding familiar, but just a little out of reach.

Listen to this one at night, when you're sitting at your computer by yourself. This stuff is like lotion-music. It's a little cold at first, but its thick and creazy, and it feels good once it soaks in.

As for the equation, I'm thinking: Mazzy Star x (Crosby, Stills & Nash + + Will Oldham + a pinch Band of Horses)

LINK: Phospherescent: Pride

The Besnard Lakes: ... are the Dark Horse

Sorry for the delay on posts -- been really busy at work this past week. Here's a great album from 2007 from Canadian outfit The Besnard Lakes. The formula for this one is something along the lines of Steve Miller Band + Sigur Ros + Steppenwolf, with a smidge of Beach Boys thrown in for good measure. It's a solid rock disc, and one of the best debut albums of the year. Check out the track "Devestation" for a sure-fire mix CD opener.

LINK: The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse

Animal Collective: "Peacebone"

"Why again do people like this band?" That's been my primary impression of Animal Collective since purchasing their Here Comes the Indian album on a recommendation. That was both scary, and really really boring. Noise collages just aren't for me.

But, their new album, Strawberry Jam is nice and accessible -- almost campy for a band that has enjoyed most of their success on the predication that they are difficult to listen too, and therefore uniquely hardcore in their own right. Anyway, the new album isn't quite easy listening, but's a real gem of modern psych-rock. There's definitely a quirky, circus-style Beach Boys-thing, with a wall of electronic noise happening throughout the disc.

Here's the first track off the album, called "Peacebone". If you like this song, you will like Strawberry Jam.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

No doubt this one will be included in a future chronicle of worst album covers of all-time. What's inside is pretty interesting though, and about as out-there as the cover art. I suppose I'd describe it as electronic psychedelia, with a little smidge of instrumental hip-hop thrown in for variatino. That's a pretty shitty explanation I realize. Listen for yourself.

LINK:
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder

My favorite album so far in 2007. People say it sounds like E.L.O. They're right about that.

DOWNLOAD:
New Magnetic Wonder (removed by request)

HIGHLIGHTS:
Same Old Drag
Sunndal Song
Play Tough
7 Stars
Open Eyes