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The CHIRP Blog
SKaiser writesOverlooked Albums of 2014: The Fresh & Onlys’ House of Spirits
The Fresh & Onlys | House of Spirits | Mexican Summer
It doesn't come as much of a surprise that The Fresh & Onlys fourth album, House of Spirits, should evolve to reflect a more matured mood from the quartet. They formed in 2008, and let's not forget the experiences brought from the members. After all, lead vocals Tim Cohen has released albums ranging from hip hop to psychedlic-folk. If you've listened to previous albums by The Fresh & Onlys there are reminiscent tracks on House of Spirits, like "April Fools", to take you back. Otherwise, you're in for a fresh new calm. There's a warm and mysterious atmosphere that brings memories of lazy summer days where you have no place to be. The day is yours. Even from the beginning, the first song "Home is Where" draws introspection. The light piano accompanying Cohen's makes-it-sound-so-easy vocals is a sweet treat. The next couple tracks "Who Let the Devil" and "Bells of Paonia" give the feel of a much-anticipated road trip, picking up steam and filling the void with psychedlic, slightly more aggressive guitar and vocals. There's something very "Misirlou" about the middle of this album: a sexy twang that's classic and undeniable. The final tracks wind down to reach the end - a track called "Madness". This one stays true to the fine quality of any good meditation. It's soft, it's sweet, and most importantly, it brings us back full circle to where we started.
Tim Cohen (vocals) | Wymond Miles (guitar) | Shayde Sartin (bass) | Kyle Gibson (drums)
Patrick Seymour - Dizzy Spells writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2014: Pat Seymour
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from DJ & Assistant Music Director Pat Seymour.
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Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop 25 Christmas Songs of the Last 25 Years: #16 - Sharon Jones, “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects”
It's the holiday season, which means Christmas music. Lots and lots or Christmas music, most of which was written before the people listening to it were even alive. While "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings" are great, and resilient, we're devoting this year to finding the best Christmas song written since 1989. We continue today with #16, and the story of how Santa flaunts municipal building codes from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
SKaiser writesOverlooked Albums of 2014: Drowners
Drowners | Drowners | Frenchkiss Records
Chirp Radio presents our volunteers' choices of the most overlooked albums in 2014. At the top of our list is the post-punk band Drowners self-titled debut album released January 2014. Welsh (guitar + lead vocals + model) Matt Hitt coolly tosses lyrics like "a school boy grin that only goes to show / that I could never have such control" that bounce playfully along their fast-paced sound that's charmingly reminiscent of their ancestors, The Strokes. Bandmates Jack Ridley (guitar), Joe Brodie (drums) and Erik Snyder (bass) make four for the group who released their first EP in February 2013 and started working on Drowners in May of 2013. While no song lasts more than three minutes on the album, the opening track Ways to Phrase a Rejection carries you through with all the right surges and lulls present. It may seem their elements are those we've heard before, but give a listen.
It seems worth mentioning that while Style.com contributor Peter Voelker photographed the band through their fall 2014 tour he must have picked up on their fashion as well. The Band on the Run photo essay describes them as "fashion's favorite new group." Well, what more can we expect with a model for a frontman.
Matt Garman writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2014: Matt Garman
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from DJ, Assistant Music Director and Merchandise Manager Matt Garman.
As much as we want to think we're looking for the newest trend, I've come to accept that for the most part I respond to nostalgia on a regular basis: I like new music that sounds a little bit like old music I love. Indeed, I'm working to fully embrace this fact. In spite of the fact that my favorite albums of 2014 (and 2013, 2012, etc) include new albums by artists I have loved for years, I still tried harder this time around to listen to as much new music as possible than perhaps ever before... I literally made a spreadsheet, attempted (and failed) to create a formula for my personal like-value per album, scanned music criticism sites, dug through all my playlists from 2014, and simply paid attention when anyone anywhere near me was talking about new music. As a result, I considered approximately 100 albums in order to come up with this list of stuff that sounds like stuff I love. Forgive/indulge me. |