Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II

Unknown Mortal Orchestra | II

Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a psych band based in Portland/Auckland. This is their second release titled II, how fitting. This time around, for the most part, instead of making super fast beat, almost punk songs, they’ve slowed down, a lot. Making sexy songs with deep bass grooves. Perfect example is So Good At Being In Trouble. I mean, look at the title. It sounds like it could be a sexy R&B song from the 70’s. They do, however, keep the same psych feel that was on their first album. Overall, this is a really good follow up to their first album. Definitely worth checking out
You can stream it on NPR right now, but albums on there usually don’t stay there for long. It comes out February 5th, by that time you should be able to hear it through Spotify. Or you can just buy it, because it’s really great.

Stream it here.

4.5/5

Fun Fact: I’m seeing them in March and Foxygen is opening up for them!

Where Are We Now? | David Bowie

Today, on David Bowie’s birthday, he announced that he is going to come out with a new album in March called The Next Day, and he released a single! The song is called Where Are We Now? It’s a very gloomy Bowie song, but still very awesome. Check it out for yourself.

Watch the video on his website. 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #3

Perfume Genius: Put Your Back N 2 It

This is the saddest album I’ve heard all year. Perfume Genius plays beautiful, short piano songs. Even though only a few instruments are used, it sounds gigantic. Like a huge orchestra playing with him. Listen to this and sob.

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #4

Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

Fiona Apple is a eerily skinny woman on piano that makes just as eerie music. This is an amazing album. If you really want to hear me go on about it, just read my very first review ever. But just take my advice and listen to it. 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #6

Mount Eerie: Clear Moon

This is one of the most depressing albums of the year. If you enjoy feeling sad, you’ll love this. It’s not the kind of sad where you want to cry, but the kind where everything sucks so much that you can’t really react. But that’s what makes this album so fucking great. That it can evoke such a great feeling (in me, anyway). 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #7

The Music Tapes: Mary’s Voice

The Music Tapes is fronted by Neutral Milk Hotel’s Julian Koster. He plays weird music on weird instruments with weird stories. 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #8

Screaming Females: Ugly

Marissa, lead singer/guitarist, makes some of the coolest sounds from her mouth and guitar you’ll ever hear. I cannot find the right words to describe Screaming Females. They’re definitely punk rock, but there’s more to it. 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #9

Spiritualized: Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

This album is all about how Jason dealt with some sort of kidney disease and taking experimental medication for it. This sounds exactly like that… if you were tripping on acid at the same time.

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #11

Dirty Projectors: Swing Lo Magellan 

I’ve been casually listening to Dirty Projectors for a few years, but I didn’t realize how great they were until I saw them at Pitchfork Music Festival this year. They seriously blew me away. It was by far the best performance the entire festival. After seeing them, I really listened to their new album, and it is so great. Every single person in this band is amazing at singing and harmonizing. 

TOP ALBUMS OF 2012: #12

Ty Segall Band: Slaughterhouse

It should be no surprise to anyone that reads this blog that I loved this album. This is the second of 3 releases put out this year by Ty Segall. This one is a little more abrasive, though. And it ends with a 10 minute noise jam called Fuzz War. A fitting name for it.