The Dodos Aren't Extinct

Last year Pitchfork raved about a group called The Dodos, saying their album titled Visiter was one of the best albums of the year. Although I don't agree with the way Pitchfork hypes some really terrible bands, I usually check out their "Best New Music" section. I was so impressed with Visiter that I listened to it over and over again last summer. The tracks all ran together so smoothly that I felt I was listening to an entire story rather than individual songs.

The Dodos have returned with a new album titled Time To Die, which actually isn't due out until August 31, but because of how the music world works today, the album has already leaked. While there are some definite differences between Visiter and Time To Die, the new album is just as strong as the last, with Meric Long's soothing voice along with airy percussion driving the songs. While the album doesn't flow as smoothly and perfectly as the last, every song is filled with intricate guitar picking and well written, unique percussion arrangements. After listening to this album, I'm sure pitchfork will be raving about The Dodos again within the next few months.

If you want to find the leak I suggest you look here. In the meantime, check out Fools from The Dodo's previous album.

More Vocoder Please.

There's a certain sense of mysteriousness that surrounds the Pennsylvania based Black Moth Super Rainbow. Maybe it's the fact that it's very rare to find a photo of the group where each member is clearly depicted. Perhaps it's due to no one really knowing what Tobacco's voice sounds like without a vocoder. Finally, maybe it's because no one knows the real names of the band members. Without a doubt, Black Moth Super Rainbow is one of the strangest musical groups around today. However, their abnormality does not hinder them from creating magical sounds.

The groups latest effort, Eating Us has received some mixed reviews. Some love the album, complimenting the bands progression with song writing, while others say they are growing tired of the vocoder's use as the staple component of the band's compositions. Personally, I think Eating Us is a step in the right direction for the group, a perfect illustration of how Black Moth Super Rainbow has progressed over the past four albums.

While listening to the album, it's apparent that the band decided to vary their instrumentation, including guitar and banjo rather than only utilizing the traditional synths. Along with the instrumentation, the band has also progressed with their songwriting, touching on what seem to be more serious issues.

While some may be growing tired of the constant use of the vocoder, I think Eating Us will be considered one of the best releases of 2009 based on the band's ability to balance their original sound with the new.

Listen to Black Moth Super Rainbow here:

http://www.myspace.com/blackmothsuperrainbow

Sorry Microsoft, I'm a Mac

I don't intend for this post to be one of those cliche arguments over which operating system is better, but to enlighten you on how Microsoft is simply becoming desperate. Sure, Microsoft rules the business world and pretty much completely ruled the home computing world in the late 90's and early 00's, but it seems more and more computer users are choosing Macs when their Windows machine finally gives up. It seems Apple has continually boomed since the release of the ipod in 2001.

Apple Inc. started the "Get a Mac" advertising campaign in 2006 with simple commercials featuring Justin Long and John Hodgman, each acting as a different operating system. Each time Justin Long would explain why a mac would be the better choice. The minimalist nature of the commercial was charming, and Long's casual dress during the commercial definitely helped gain the appeal of younger computer users.

It took Microsoft a couple of years to catch on but in 2008 the "I'm a PC" advertising campaign was launched. The campaign featured commercials involving regular people explaining why Windows based computers work better for them at work and home. Often time the commercials make comments regarding the price of Apple computers, as well as the lack of "computing power" Macs offer. The statements about Macs were not an issue, seeing Apple had done something similar in their "Get a Mac" campaign. However, criticism of the Microsoft campaign began when tech savvy internet users discovered that Apple computers had been used in the creation of the commercials. Of course, Microsoft responded by saying that a wide variety of software and hardware was used in the making of the commercials. Things heated up even more when it was reveled that many of the celebrities featured on the Microsoft commercials were actually Mac users who owned iphones, ipods and macbooks. Of course, they are celebrities with plenty of cash, so you can't blame them for wanting the best of both worlds.

I can't say that macs are completely better than windows based computers, but I can say that Microsoft needs to work on their advertising. Openly criticizing Apple products for their "lack of computing power", then using Apple products to create advertisements is pathetic in my opinion.

Watch the Apple and Microsoft advertisements here:

Pre-historic Daftness

Michael Cera has really been at work over the past few years, however his character never seems to vary, even when he's playing the role of an uncivilized man from biblical times, which was the first of many flaws surrounding this summer's newest comedy, Year One. I'm not sure who would have great expectations for the film, but the few I had were definitely not fulfilled. Sure, poking a little fun at sodomy and Old Testament tales can be entertaining, but it seems a few lines were crossed. I'm not very religious, but I definitely got that sickening, "I'm going to hell" feeling while laughing along with the audience as Abraham and Issac yelped about removing foreskins. Unfortunately, that's the only type of laughing that I found myself doing throughout the film. Jack Black and Michael Cera have some decent talent, why they've wasted their time on ridiculous films like Year One is beyond me.

Note: Do not watch this film with your religious parents.

Quicken The Heart, Slow The Energy

They got me with A Certain Trigger, in fact Apply Some Pressure is one of my all time favorites. I was further impressed with the band's talent upon the release of their cleaner and well produced album entitled, Our Earthly Pleasures. Every song on the album had an effect on me, such an effect that I nearly damaged the disc from too many spins on my walkman. It was at this point that I counted Maximo Park as one of my favorite bands. I raved about them to friends, on forums, and on Last.fm. Naturally, I was extremely excited to hear that they would be releasing a new album in 2009. However, I must admit, that I was disappointed with the band's newest release.

Quicken The Heart clocks in around 38 minutes, with no songs reaching four minutes in length. This is nothing new for the band though, seeing a similar trend on the previous albums. In the past, short songs didn't mean a lack of quality, however the songs included on Quicken The Heart beg to differ. The opening track, Wrathlike opens with a promising guitar riff then quickly loses its energy as the song continues. The rest of the album loosely follows the same formula except for a handful of tracks including A Cloud Of Mystery, In Another World (You'd Have Found Yourself By Now), and Let's Get Clinical.

Although Quicken The Heart is not a horrible album by any means, it seems that Maximo Park did not progress as expected. They began with an attractively unique, raw, and energetic sound that has just disintegrated between albums. A fan can only hope that Maximo Park will focus on what made them such an entertaining act before they progress onto writing new material.

If you've never had the chance to listen to Maximo Park, check out these videos for Apply Some Pressure and Graffiti from their 2005 release, A Certain Trigger.

The National Film Board of Canada

Only a few artists who rely greatly on electronics for their sound, and insist on creating solely instrumental records have an impact on me. I had tried for years to really enjoy and love instrumental bands such as Explosions in the Sky and God Is An Astronaut, however I never found myself able to listen to more than a few tracks consecutively. When I stumbled upon Boards of Canada's Last.fm page last fall, I was not sure how much I would enjoy this instrumental/electronic band.

What I found were beautifully created tunes, with layers and layers of guitar and synths, featuring plenty of filters, delay and reverb. Other than The Album Leaf, Boards of Canada is one of the only instrumental bands I've really enjoyed. I would highly recommend checking out their records, especially Music Has The Right To Children and The Campfire Headphase.

Along with their great records, Boards of Canada uses some of their creativity to compose amazing music videos that are especially enjoyable while under the influence. Check out the videos below to hear Dayvan Cowboy and Everything You Do Is A Balloon. You can hear more Boards Of Canada here.

Beirut

Sometimes you just need a nice vacation to Europe. I myself have never traveled to Europe, but I'm positive that Beirut's newest release, The Flying Club Cup would be the perfect album for the trip. In fact, I can easily imagine myself driving through Eastern Europe in tiny car with this album blasting through my headphones. Everything about this album makes me think Europe; from the presence of the accordion and ukulele, to the random clips of foreign languages being spoken in the background.

Zach Condon, the mastermind behind Beirut, hails from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Oh yeah, and he's only 22, with two albums and three EP's to his name. Though sticking to the ukulele most of time, he also plays a number of other instruments that appear on his albums, such as trumpet, and the accordion. How he can successfully create such a uniquely rich sound with so many European influences, along with his incredibly smooth voice is beyond me. Trumpets, violins, accordion, ukulele, clarinets and an array of percussive instruments... 22 years old and already rivaling veteran bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel and The Decemberists. Truly amazing.

I say you give Beirut a try. You just might get to take that trip to Europe that you've always dreamed of.