A year of silence

Wow so I guess I really did go a year without writing anything! I think the first day of 2014 is a great time to end my year of music blog silence. I spent the first part of 2013 living in two cities that I didn't like and had a job that was destroying me. After two years of living away, I decided to move back to my home, AUSTIN! I was hoping that when I moved back, I would find the inspiration of writing that I used to have, but just couldn't find it... until now!! Last night was New Years Eve and for the first time ever, I decided to go out rather than stay in or house party it up on NYE. One of my favorite bars in town was hosting a huge party that featured 20 local bands that picked a band from 1994 and did covers. It was really AWESOME! A few of the ands I saw covered Magnetic Fields, Pavement, and Mazzy Star. It's real crazy to think that in 1994 I was 10 and in 4th or 5th grade. I grew up listening to county music and classic rock so in 1994 I had NO idea was alternative/indie rock was nor did I know these bands. It wasn't until college and meeting new people, that I learned about older bands from the '90's. I wish that I could have been in my teams in the '90's so that I can appreciate bands like The Pixies and Sonic Youth a bit more. I think living in the time of the bands hay day really helps understand what their songs mean and the story behind them. I ended the night seeing the Mazzy Star cover band and the last song they played was Fade Into You. I remember hearing that song in 1994 from some movie and I've loved that song since them. I wish I could describe and explain why this song is so infectious, but I can't. The guitar and the beautiful voice make it impossible to not want to singe along and hear n repeat. The song seems to melt into you. A current band that I love, Dum Dum Girls, came out with a song a few years ago and not only does it remind me of Fade Into You, it is one of those songs that allows me to sing and sing hard. Music is forever and sounds/song from years past always reincarnate and surface back in new music.

DUM DUM GIRLS: COMING DOWN from Malia James on Vimeo.

To Dive or not to DIIV...

A few months ago I wrote about when I saw Frankie Rose and another band called Dive. I definitely liked Dive, but didn't give them too much thought. The main man of Dive used to tour with Beach Fossils so I just kind of associated Dive with Beach Fossils. In any case, while seeing Dive I told my friend "Just wait a few months and they will be huge". Well, it's been a few months and they aren't just yet "big", but they are getting tons of well deserved hype. Since the show, they changed their spelling to DIIV... apparently there is some Euro band named Dive. So, after my Beach House "Bloom" obsession died down a bit, I decided to download the new DIIV album. It took me a few listens, but now I'm just as obsessed with this record as I was with the Beach House new album. So much so, that on a recent flight back to Texas I listened to it on repeat for 2 straight hours. I always have a hard time describing what a band sounds like or what I feel like while listening to it, and that's certainly the case with DIIV. I just really, really, really like the album, and the WHOLE album. If you know me, you know that just about any band that sounds low-wave/dark-wave, really any "wave", is going to be a favorite of mine. There's something special about DIIV that I can't quite nail down, I just know I love it. In 2010, my favorite band was Wild Nothing and when they finally came to Austin in early 2011, my little heart was complete. I've been waiting and waiting for another album from Wild Nothing and about a month ago they released a new single. I kept looking at their tour dates and, of course, Atlanta was not listed... BUT a week ago they announced they'd be here with.... DIIV. Perfect line up.... Captured Tracks really knows what they are doing when they add bands to their label. I'm fairly certain that the new Wild Nothing album will be my favorite album of the year, which might be a stretch considering this year has been full of great music. Here's the new WN single: This fall is going to be filled with fantastic music and great shows... can't wait.

Blooming back in action

Sorry blog... I have completely avoided you for months and cannot put into words why I haven't been motivated to keep up with you. My life continues to change and I am happy to say I have survived my first year here in Atlanta. It's been rough, but I hope that the hard days are behind me. As always, music is what keeps me sane and helps me comprehend all the emotions that fill my overanalytical mind. It's really exhausting, but anytime I need to sort my thoughts I just listen to music. Music will either help me sort my thoughts, or just make me accept the way I feel. It's free therapy and I wish I could thank each and every musician that has helped me get through each trying day. So far this year, I've seen a handful of good shows. After a depressing and boring winter, the spring came and brought music back to Atlanta. One of the first few shows I saw this spring were Chairlift and Frankie Rose. I have a strong feeling that this might be the year for female singers. Both shows were pretty incredible. Frankie Rose really is someone to be in awe of. She actually sounds even better live than on the record and has such a playful cute stage personality. And to my suprise, I just so happen to find a live video from her show in Atlanta playing my favorite track on her album: Another great show that I mentioned I saw a few weeks ago was Chairlift. I wasn't too into them when they first came on the scene years ago, but their new record is seriously pretty great. She's got a really great voice and there are lots of good dance worthly songs on the record. Below is my favorite track: Seeing both these lead female singers really makes me question my path in life and why I never took up playing an instrument. I'm totally enamored by their musical ability and talent. It's so stupid. I should make this dream happen somehow. But in the meantime, I will continue to fantasize about this dream and just listen to music. This year hasn't had too many great records to come out so far, but just last week the album that I have been waiting quite a while for came out. Beach House's new album "Bloom" is seriously a dream. Anytime I listen to Beach House I am immediately transported to a different place, where I'm floating on cotton balls and an immediate sense of calm overwhelms me. Even though the lyrics can be quite depressing, it doesn't matter. Again, (especially with them) listening to their songs I'm able to put into words what I'm feeling. They have such a beautiful ability to make the lyrics and the guitar flow so perfectly together that it's impossible to not be overwhelmed. This record is perfect in every way and I feel like it came into my life at the exact time I needed it to. The opening track "Myth" has such a great line in it that is fitting for what I'm going through... "You can't keep hangin' on to all that's dead and gone". I don't exactly know what Victoria means by this, but to me specifically I need to move on from my past life in Austin. Every song on the record is powerful and just flows through my mind, captivating my thoughts. The great thing about Beach House is their sound doesn't change from record to record. Their story just continues, rather than stops. I hope they never change.

Friending

If anyone actually follows this blog, you might have noticed that I disappeared and have been pretty absent to the blogosphere world since moving to Atlanta. I've tried to figure out why I stopped writing when I enjoyed it so much before. I think maybe it's because I just haven't been interested in writing down my thoughts on music and haven't wanted to share it. I should be writing more, but I just haven't wanted to. It's almost as if I feel like nobody would even read it and maybe it makes me feel more alone than I already do. I can't tell you how many people have told me that I should join a church or some other sort of social group, but I think when you move to a city and want to meet people, you have to do it your way otherwise you're not being yourself. And for me, going to see bands is my "social group". Even if some times I don't strike up conversations with people, it's ok. At the end of it, at least I know I'm doing this my way. With all that said, I've actually been having fun and have seen some really great bands... some have been great, and some have sucked. But the good ones... the good ones are well worth the awkwardness of standing in a crowded room alone, staring enviously at people there with friends. Every time I go to a show, I get stronger and feel better about my situation. I'm not sure if any of this even makes sense, but I feel like each time I go to a show alone I'm crossing over 1 more hurdle to self acceptance and each show I go to, I seem to focus more on the music and less on feeling sad for the fact that I'm there alone. I have seen more concerts since I've moved to ATL than I did in the first 4 months of 2011 while living in Austin. I thought going to shows along would be my guaranteed way to meet people, but how is that possible when I won't even talk to anyone? I mean, I do talk to people, I'm just a little hesitant to. In any case, I think I've snapped out of this fog I've been in and hope to start up blogging again, and more importantly "friending" again. So there is that... it's been a strange and difficult transition for me, but I have learned way more about myself than I thought I would. And somehow writing all of this down is helping me make more sense of it all. I'm constantly battling with my self confidence each time I step out of my apartment, but it's getting better every day and I think things can only get better from here. So my friends, this is where I am in life and on that note I'm going to end this overthought blog with a song from a band I'm going to see tomorrow night, Gold Leaves:

FFF... Fantastic Fall Forecast

I have to say this summer there have been some pretty incredible music discoveries for me and fall album previews. And what's even better is most of the music releases that are top on my list are from bands that will be coming to Atlanta in the next few months. It's been a pretty disappointing summer for live music here, but I'm hoping the fall will make up for it.

I think the show I'm most excited to see is actually in Athens next month- Toro y Moi, Bass Drum of Death, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. You all know how much I love BDD, but Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a band that came into my radar this summer. Foggy, lo-fi at it's greatest, garage rawness to a T. I'm a little in awe of how great this band is. Everytime I listen to them, I feel all fuzzy and warm inside and I always have a smile on face... So, this show is going to be pretty big and I can't wait to see it... not only to see all 3 bands, but to go to Athens for the first time with my dear friend (ERIN) who will be making her ATL debut from NYC.

Yourstru.ly Presents: UMO "How Can You Luv Me" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - 'Ffunny Ffrends' from Bowlegs on Vimeo.

Next on the list of Fall shows to come is Girls. They are finally releasing another full length album in September and will be playing in ATL the day after their album releases... perfect timing I must say. I can't tell you how much I love Girls and Christopher Owens. He's truly a poet, and together with his side kick they really make some incredible music. I honestly believe that Girls will be a band that will be immortalized and just might be the modern day "Led Zeppelin" for me. A few weeks ago they released their new sing, Vomit, and below is the music video:


Of course I've got to throw in some electro/low-wave stuff in the summer mix, so some other bands I've been listening to that will also be coming to ATL in September are Hooray for Earth, Gardens & Villa, and The War on Drugs.

Hooray For Earth - True Loves from Dovecote Records on Vimeo.

The War on Drugs "Baby Missiles" from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

And finally is a show I recently saw, White Fence. I've loved WF for a while now and have always wondered what a live show would be like... and I finally experienced it. I really admire the musicians behind bands such as White Fence/Wild Nothing, because they record their albums as a sort of a one man band by creating most of the sounds themselves, but have a full band backing them up when they play live shows. It's incredible and actually makes the show more interesting because the songs you know and love from their albums sound the same, yet different live. I actually prefer that. To be suprised at a show, and not know what the heck the band will sound like.

I've got high hopes for the album releases in the fall, and more importantly for the shows I'm planning to see in the next few months. I'll say it again as I've said before, there really is no better feeling than seeing a live show and walking away thinking that you just saw greatness from a band you either loved or were just starting to...

Atlanta... it's not Austin

Well I've been in Atlanta for just about 3 months now and it sure has been the most difficult change I've even experienced. Not only do I miss my family and friends, but I miss my old city, Austin. I miss all the little things about it, but mostly I miss the live music. It really is such a unique city and I think that's why so many bands come to play there. Atlanta, well is not Austin. The music scene is seriously lacking, I mean really lacking. I know I know, I'm probably not trying hard enough to get into the local music scene OR finding the right spots, but at this point I'm a little over it. And before you say anything, I am still new to this city so give me a break :)

About a month ago I got up enough courage to go to my first show in Atlanta since I moved here... and it was actually a great show. I saw the Generationals at a venue called the Earl in East Atlanta. The venue was pretty much like The Parish but a little smaller. The crowd wasn't what I was expecting at all... kind of a college, preppy crowd. But the Generationals sound great live and I really like their new album, a lot actually... perfect summer soundtrack. I did like the venue and I know there are several other venues that I'd like, but it seems like the summer here has been a huge dud. None of the bands I've been listening to are coming here.... why???? Oh well... I shouldn't complain, but damn it's hard not to when I used to see so many shows in Austin. God I miss you.

So enough of my pitty party for one. I've been a little out of touch with blogging and sharing what I'm listening to since I moved here. I think it's been a bit hard to find some inspiration to write, maybe because I haven't had a great live show experience in a while. There really is no better way to become an instant fan of a band than the feeling you get after you see them perform live. Unfortunately, I haven't had that feeling in a while in a few months, but there have been a few great albums that came out recently that have been on repeat in my head...

Cults, "Cults": their full length album just came out a few weeks ago and shit, it's good. I mean, probably the best album I've heard this year. Every song is great and they have such a great sound... very retro and soulful almost. I really admire the girl singer because she is able to change her singing voice from one song to the next. It's a great album and I wish I would have paid more attention to their set when I saw them at Fun Fun Fest last year.
Latest tracks by cultscultscults

Bass Drum of Death: I'll skip writing about them since I wrote about them last month, but definitely my favorite discovery so far this year.

Bon Iver, "Bon Iver": so I have always liked them but never actually got any of there stuff. Their second album came out this week and it's incredible, I mean some of the most beautiful music your ears will hear. Every song tells a different story and although some of the lyrics are a bit hard to make out, I still can't help but feel moved by the music and lyrics. I probably shouldn't listen to it at work, all I end up doing is crying because the music is so beautiful it's hard not to get swept up in it. I have a feeling this album will be on the top of all the 2011 music list picks for a while and it rightly should.


This song isn't from their new album, but I love it, and now I have a crush on Justin Vernon.

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

All these bands have completely different sounds from each other, but I feel like each of these albums can help compliment the emotional roller coaster that has been my life since April. Cults is perfect for listening to when I need to dance around a little bit and listen to some chick rock. Bass Drum of Death, well perfect for when I'm angry and just need to listen to some rock and roll. And then Bon Iver... for a good cry and to help calm me down. The power of music will forever help me get through times in life.. good or bad, sad or happy.

Anyways, that's all I got for now. I'm just waiting for, well I'm not entirely sure but whatever it is, I'm sure it's in a song somewhere.

BTW... aka bands to watch

Here I go again... waiting too long to write and forgetting to log all the bands and songs I'm obsessed with. It's been a little more difficult to keep tabs of new music since I moved. I listen to the radio all day at work and since I moved I can't turn the music up as loud as before. Oh well...

In any case, I've been purchasing lots of new vinyl. And when I say new, I mean vinyl from new/current bands. I just recently upgrade my record player to one that you can convert vinyl to MP3's! Totally awesome! So screw iTunes... I might as well by the vinyl and then convert it to MP3's! More bang for my buck :) So a few new albums I purchased I've been so excited about! Bass Drum of Death is one of them. Of course, I heard then one day listening to xmu and can't get enough. Finally I gave in and purchased their album. Man is it good, especially on vinyl! They are a cross between Ty Segall and Waaves... which are both bands that I love. Incredible garage rock with lots of raw beats. I think this band is from Mississippi or somewhere in the south and you can totally hear the southern 70's garage rock influence.

Find more artists like BASS DRUM OF DEATH at Myspace Music

I think these guys are really going to blow up. They played a show in Atlanta a few weeks ago but I didn't make it out.... I'm sure I will regret it in 3 months when they start to get some buzz.

Another album that I've been obsessing over is the new Kurt Vile. Unfortunately, I only purchased the MP3... I can only imagine how good it would sound on vinyl. I think the reason why this album is so good is the flow of each song into the next and the beautiful piano in each song. This album is pretty folky and sort of Wilco-ish. More acoustic and piano driven than I'm used to hearing from him. Each song is written so well with so much meaning in the lyrics and you can really hear it. Listening to the album all the way through, I find myself feeling so many different emotions and reactions. Some songs make me reminiscent of college, others incredibly happy, but there's one that makes me cry, "On Tour". I think this song sums up how I'm feeling right now in my life. I know I'm totally interpretting the song in my own way, but that's the magic of music. Sometimes a song meaning is what you make of it. Who cares what the song really means, what matters is how it makes you feel and react. I think that's why music means so much to me. Whenever I'm having trouble admitting to myself how good or bad my life is, all I need to do is listen to music, get lost in the beats, and let the feelings and emotions flow through...