Showing posts with label Noah and the Whale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Noah and the Whale. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Broadcast 2000

I love when my "Take on Me" google alert lead me to strange and wonderful things. First, it was the Muse mash-ups (and my subsequent love of "Starlight") and now this.

Should I explain? Apparently these dudes (well, this one dude, Joe Steer, and his live band) have been known to play "Take on Me" during their live show. According to the review that my google alert alerted me to, Joe handles the challenging vocals of ToM with ease. I wish I could find it, but there appears to be no recording.

But that's ok! That same review also said that they sound nothing like their name, Broadcast 2000, might make you think (which to me could either be some sort of electronic collective or a pop-punk band on Drive-Thru Records (no offense Evan!)). I looked into it, and I really dig what I hear.

They play dreamy, contemplative folk-pop. with a glockenspeil. Like Beirut meets Noah and the Whale. They hail from the UK and have only one release to date, 2008's Building Block (either a long EP, or a mini-album, whichever way you want to look at it). BUT you know their music without realizing it. Their song "Run" is featured in the macbook-is-the-greenest commercial.

Anyway, having heard most of their tunes, I can definitely say that "Get Up and Go" is the stand-out track. Check it ouuuuuut:





I can't even describe this song. It has an ethereal quality. It's another one of those lying-under-the-stars songs, but it's not as pure an simple all that either. It's gorgeous, light, and twinkling but with a lingering darkness. I can't explain what it is about it that I love so much, and it's driving me a little bit crazy. I mean, it's haunting.

So, this is definitely a band I'm going to be keeping tabs on. I don't expect "Get Up and Go" to be leaving my head anytime soon, anyway. Plus Joe Steer is HOT. Check him out:








He has so many feelings. oh baby.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

My Guaranteed Happiness Playlist

The songs that make me happy right now. (links are to some pretty excellent videos)

1. Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
(which is no surprise, since I wrote about this song yesterday)
2. The Who - The Kids Are Alright
3. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
4. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Walking to Do
(starts around 3:30, but is preceded by an equally happiness inducing song)
5. The Apples in Stereo - Sunndal Song
6. Belle & Sebastian - I'm a Cuckoo
7. The Shins - Australia
8. Creaky Boards - The Songs I Didn't Write
(available for download here)
9. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Think I Wanna Die
10. Pixies - Here Comes Your Man


Also, Guaranteed Happiness Picture!!!



Here's the whole thing in the handy imeem format!



What are YOUR happy songs?

Monday, January 26, 2009

My Current Obsession

Noah and the Whale's "5 Years Time"

Catchy without being annoying, sunny without being overly bright, sweet without being cloying, and refreshing without being overly simple. A perfect piece of Pop.

And I'm pretty into that video as well. I think it's the tiny bits of choreography and the yellow and blue outfits that get me. Conceptual, but not too stylized. It really is all about striking the perfect balance with these guys, isn't it?

I look forward to getting to know them better (And I don't hold the fact that this song is in a Saturn commercial against them). If I ever manage to tear myself away from this song, that is.