Posts tagged ‘Kid Harpoon’
Ten albums I quite liked in 2009
In compiling a list of my so-called favorite albums of the last year, I realized that I wasn’t head-over-heels for too many of them. It seems I had a one-track mind when it came to music, I anticipated and eagerly awaited the release of four or five albums and ended up pretty much exclusively listening to those for most of 2009. Whoops? Then, turns out a bunch of other albums I listened to constantly weren’t even released last year. Doh.
This listmaking proved difficult (probably why it took me so long), but I’ve not only managed to narrow it down to 10 albums I can comfortably call my “favorites of the year” but I’ve also got 10 albums I can say I really quite liked and deserve a listen. 20 albums total, if you’re keeping count.
My 10 Favorite Albums of 2009 soon, but for now here are 10 Albums I Quite Liked in 2009 presented in alphabetical order and featuring a favorite track from each one:
Dan Deacon – Broomst
I have always been able to count on Dan Deacon to provide me with a great soundtrack for nights when I’m up till 4am trying to finish writing 10+ page papers. No one knows how to produce frantic video game-like noises and electronic cat meows from synthesizers quite like Deacon. Broomst is a nifty little package of all these crazy sounds I love so dearly that are catchy enough to enjoy but not distract while I’m typing away.
Filthy Dukes – Nonsense in the Dark
Filthy Dukes have done plenty of remixes for bands I like in the past, but I didn’t know they had morphed into a band. To tell the truth, I’m not sure how long it would have taken me to check out Nonsense in the Dark had the first single from the album not been “This Rhythm,” featuring guest vocals from Late of the Pier’s Sam Eastgate. Would I have even bothered to give it a listen at all? I can’t say, but I’m glad it didn’t pan out that way. This record is a fun listen. The first half is for the hyperactive 5 year-old in all of us who wants nothing more than to jump around and dance like a maniac. It’s good times. But by the time you reach the album’s title track “Nonsense in the Dark”, featuring guest vocals from Orlando Weeks and a bit of “William Powers,” things start to calm down a bit and the 20-something in all of us can take a breather and sway along to, dare I say it, calming synth beats and heavy bass lines. I’m not saying the album is groundbreaking or mindblowing, but it’s a fun listen. There’s a ton of djs-turned-”bands” dance, electro shit out there that I can’t stand (I’m looking at you Justice and Deadmau5), so Filthy Dukes being one of those type of bands and not annoying me is kind of a big deal. For me, at least. I can’t find a video of “Poison the Ivy” featuring frYars, so here’s one for “Nonsense in the Dark”:
Folded Light – Folded Light
A whole album of music that made me happy courtesy of Steve Damstra and Jaffe Zinn. Bonus good news: Their second album Kelly is out now!
Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Four years is a really long time to wait between albums, but after the rush to release You Could Have It So Much Better it makes sense that the men of Franz Ferdinand took their time with Tonight. Admittedly, it took a few listens to really appreciate the album (four years had passed, remember?!) but in the end you just realized that Franz Ferdinand will always be Franz Ferdinand and therefore will never truly disappoint. Especially live. Wowza.
Kid Harpoon – Once
It was the long, long, long awaited debut from Kid Harpoon. I wasn’t disappointed in any way, or underwhelmed by any means, but I guess it wasn’t really what I expected. The changes in production took some getting used to, but at the end of the day you can’t deny Tom Hull’s brilliance as a songwriter and musician.
The Lovely Feathers – Fantasy of the Lot
You know how I’m always going on about how much I love happy music? Well, THIS albums is jam packed with happy music. Happy, witty, clever, awesome music. Everything you’ve come to expect from The Lovely Feathers. If you haven’t taken my advice in the past and given them a listen, change that NOW. There need to be more Lovely Feathers videos on Youtube:
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Even if what seems like half the album has been used for 297324794857945 different commercials this year, none of it takes away from the fact that Phoenix have finally caught their stride musically on Wolfgang and have made a great record. Better than It’s Never Been Like That? I don’t know, that’s still up in the air for me.
Slow Club – Yeah, So?
Slow Club’s Charles and Rebecca have squeezed in a little bit of everything into their debut album. From slow acoustic numbers to 50s surf punk influences to sweet piano ballads to, of course, folk bits and bobs. But the best part of the record has to be the rapport between Charles and Rebecca and the beautiful harmonies they create. They are melt-your-heart beautiful.
Sonic Youth – The Eternal
Many bands have tried to be the “new” Sonic Youth but you can’t be the “new” Sonic Youth when SONIC YOUTH are still around and sounding as good as ever. Sorry kids, keep dreaming. (Hey Kim, are you “thurston” for some “moore”? HAR-HAR-HAR. I swear that joke will always be funny to my brother and me. Sad, but true.)
Video Nasties – On All Fours
The album is a bit all over the place and I can see why a song like “Ides Patrol” didn’t make the cut, but when it’s good it’s really good. It’s perfect for waking up, loud and grimey and sweet and catchy. Like I said, all over the place.
How about some songs instead of chocolate?
Today, my roommate gave me her advent calendar chocolate and I ran into Santa and Mrs. Claus at Panera (State St). Oh yes, the magic of Christmas is upon us. And I’ve got an idea!
Advent Calendar-style posts counting down my favorite 25 songs of 2009. Oh snap. Alright, so it’s not exactly the most original idea ever. And yeah, I know I’ve already missed six days of December, but whatevs it just means this post (the first one!) will include six songs instead of one.
The songs I’ve chosen for this 2009 Musical Advent Calendar were the first 25 that came to mind as this whole idea popped into my head, after all it’s a list of “favorite” not “best” songs of the year. I mean I don’t know if you’ve ever tried making a “best of” list, but it’s way more difficult than it seems. How in the world could a person really take inventory of every song they heard this year and decide on the absolute 25 best?? Impossible. Incorporating any type of ranking system would have also proved very time consuming and time is not on my side right now (it’s exam week for this particular blogger), so the songs will be posted daily in no particular order (thank you list randomizer!). However, I have decided there’s a certain song I want to share on the last day of this project, since it’s a song I have honestly listened to at least once everyday since I first heard it this year. Don’t be surprised if I end up posting more than 25 songs, I have a feeling some gems may have slipped my mind as I originally compiled this list.
On the final day of my 2009 Musical Advent Calendar, I will also post the final list of my favorite albums of the year (which I’m still working on).
Whatever, let’s get to the fun stuff, yeah?
December 1st: Phoenix – Lisztomania
You couldn’t really escape Phoenix this year, but it was okay by me. I mean, who would be opposed to happy pop songs written by French fellas? Their sound has obviously evolved since their debut United, but not in a bad way. “Sometimes in the Fall” has always had a tendency to get stuck in my head for days, “Lisztomania” gave it a run for its money this year. For more Phoenix: http://www.myspace.com/wearephoenix
December 2nd: Dead Man’s Bones – Pa Pa Power
Dead Man’s Bones are proof that not all “actors-turned-musicians” are shit and some concept albums can in fact work. “Pa Pa Power” is my favorite song from their self-titled debut and YEAH MAYBE IT DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT SYNTH. Sue me. For more DMB: http://www.myspace.com/deadmansbones
December 3rd: Kid Harpoon – Buried Alive
Absolutely beautiful. Just reminds me of the many reasons I love this man. (More: http://www.myspace.com/kidharpoon)
December 4th: Planet Earth – Bergman Movies
I love Planet Earth. I don’t think the line “in life it’s easy to forget all the things you never wanted to say, like a jumper that you don’t like you just put it away” has escaped my brain since I first heard it. Anyway, you should love Planet Earth too. Seriously:
December 5th: Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension
Deep down inside, I am still that 13 year old girl who fell in love with this random band from NYC called The Strokes and never looked back.
December 6th: Fanfarlo – Drowning Men (BBC 6Music Session)
It seems impossible not to love and appreciate Fanfarlo. If you don’t, maybe you have no soul. Just sayin’.
A cover is a cover is a cover.
A while ago my brother made me listen to some cover song that he promised I would “love” since I was a fan of the original. Yeah, he was wrong.
Covers are tricky business, aren’t they? Bands either cover songs for fun or as a joke (i.e. most of the Live Lounge session tracks) or they seriously commit and take it very seriously. The latter is when things get risky because when the final product sucks there’s really no excuse.
So in the spirit of Halloween and pretending to be someone or something you’re not, here are some cover songs that I personally love and you might enjoy, maybe. I tried to show some self-restraint and only post ten songs. It was tough, there’s probably going to be a part 2:
Florence and the Machine – “Postcards From Italy” (Beirut)
I think it’s impossible for me to talk about Florence and the Machine without mentioning this song. She’s no stranger to covers (from “Girl with One Eye” by Ludes to Lightspeed Champion’s “Galaxy of the Lost Florences” to “Flakes” by Mystery Jets), but her voice is perfectly suited for this song and it absolutely shines. Girl’s got some crazy chords.
Jamie T – “A New England” (Billy Bragg)
Billy Bragg is Billy fucking Bragg, I know. “A New England” is one of his most recognized songs, I know. But Jamie T manages to deliver it beautifully. But maybe I’m just biased since I’ve seen him perform it live and it sends chills down your spine, seriously.
Kid Harpoon – “Keep The Car Running” (Arcade Fire)
I think it’s safe to say that one of Kid Harpoon’s most beloved songs by fans is his version of Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan”. Sweet baby jesus, it’s good. But as you can see, it’s not the song I chose to share. Mr. Harpoon (Mr. Hull, if you want to be legit) is kind of a genius in the art of cover songs. So much so, that last year he took requests straight from his fans and recorded five pretty unique covers. Why did he do all this? Because he’s awesome, that’s why. They were all good (search ‘kid harpoon covers week’ on YouTube and listen for yourself), but his take on Arcade Fire’s “Keep the Car Running” is hands down my favorite because he managed to take that other-worldly, majestic sound that’s signature to Arcade Fire, strip it down to nothing but an acoustic guitar IN HIS SHOWER, and somehow keep that beautiful majestic feeling. So great.
Jeremy Warmsley – “Non, Rien de Rien” (Edith Piaf)
Jeremy Warmsley is also very good at choosing just the right songs to cover, therefore making it difficult to narrow down to just one choice. Here he is singing in French with only a xylophone as accompaniment. Did I mention he’s singing in French? Because he is singing in French.
Mystery Jets – “Pioneers” (Bloc Party)
GENERAL RULE OF THUMB: Always be weary of being covered by Mystery Jets because the chances of their version outshining your original is 99.9%. It’s just kind of a fact. Choosing one song was near impossible, but I can’t even find words to describe what I feel when I listen to this song so I knew it was the one that needed sharing. I’ve never been a fan of Bloc Party. It’s not like I hate them, their music just never made me feel anything. While I understand that it might be unfair, maybe even ridiculously biased, to say Mystery Jets’ version is superior to the original because both bands have very different musical styles, I think it’s safe to say one version definitely tugs at your heartstrings in a way the other just can’t. (For comparison purposes, Bloc Party “Pioneers”)
The Maccabees – “Boom Boom Pow” (Black Eyed Peas)
The Black Eyed Peas really hit a new level on the ‘WTF is this shit?’ scale with “Boom Boom Pow.” They truly outdid themselves and proved to us all that yes they could produce something more annoying and idiotic than “My Humps”. Luckily, The Maccabees have a sense of humor and had some fun with the song on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge. My favorite part of listening to “Boom Boom Pow” is hearing Orlando trying to hold back laughs as he sings lines like “I’m so 3008 you’re so 2000 and late, I got that boom boom boom.” Good times.
The Holloways – “The Sweet Escape” (Gwen Stefani)
This is another Live Lounge gem. As most people know, I love No Doubt. And yeah, I totally love Gwen Stefani. But while I was all over her first solo album, I had to draw the line at solo album #2 after I heard her first single and saw her album cover and almost vomitted. I can proudly sing along to all of Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and thanks to this cover by The Holloways I can sing along to “The Sweet Escape”. Hell, most of the time I forget it’s even a Gwen Stefani song.
Franz Ferdinand – “All My Friends” (LCD Soundsystem)
I was very close to choosing Franz Ferdinand’s cover of Stefani’s “What You Waiting For?” but figured maybe that was too much Stefani and one too many Live Lounge performances, so instead here you have an LCD Soundsystem cover. I love this song because while it remains true to the original, they’ve injected that beautiful Franz Ferdinand quality that just makes you want to get up and dance. Alex Kapranos’ voice doesn’t hurt either. Mmyeah.
The Spinto Band – “Shortnin’ Bread” (Paul Chaplain and a ton of other people)
Oh, Spinto Band. What to choose, what to choose? From ELO to Seal to The Motors, these boys know how to do a damn good cover. It was a toughie, but this is a good one simply for the fact the choice to perform this song during a radio show seems so random yet the song is incredibly recognizable AND it features handclaps. You know I’m a sucker for handclaps. BONUS: Oh Mandy (Throw Some D’s breakdown) – Deep down, this is what I really wanted to share but I don’t think it technically constitutes a “cover” since 99.9999% of the song is a Spinto Band original and only 20 seconds are devoted to a Rich Boy/gangsta breakdown. BUT BUT BUT it is one of the greatest things ever. Seriously, after you’ve heard it this way + seen it live, there’s no going back to the original. Then again, maybe that’s just me. Really, this isn’t even my favorite version but it is the best sound quality version I own, so listen to it!!
Whirlwind Heat – “Another One Bites the Dust” (Queen)
I love Whirlwind Heat. Seriously, I LOVE Whirlwind Heat. You should too if you know what’s up. This cover is fun, a little bit crazy, and a whole lot of hot. Swanson’s vocals are spaztic as ever. Listen for the breathing, people. Gene pool style.
Kid Harpoon – “Once” (2009)
It’s crazy to think it’s been four years since I was first introduced to Kid Harpoon. Jerry may have had Dorothy at ‘hello’, but Kid Harpoon had me at ‘bric a brac’. At that point in time, he was one man armed with a guitar, a raw voice, and an arsenal of songs about lost dreams and forgotten faces. He ran in the same musical circles as Mystery Jets, Larrikin Love, Les Incompetents, and The Maccabees –all of whom I had just recently discovered and helped introduce me to a world of music I hadn’t known existed. These young bands were starting to make their mark in the British music scene and since then have released first and second albums and garnered fans worldwide, with the exception of Les Incompetents who parted ways in 2006 and Larrikin Love who split in 2007 after releasing their debut The Freedom Spark.
Somehow, Kid Harpoon fell behind. Sure, he released two highly acclaimed EPs and built a solid fanbase around Britain thanks to his energetic live shows, but he never quite managed to take off in the same manner as his contemporaries. After months of writing and recording, Harpoon scrapped his album and began the process all over again. Now after two years, we finally have his debut album Once. But, is it too little too late?
First single “Stealing Cars” opens the album with its happy, gangly guitars as Harpoon realizes falsetto dreams singing “I feel like I’m alive/ With you as we drive”. The rainbows and sunshine continue with the summery “Back From Beyond”, whose upbeat tempo and catchy hook are enough to make you forget that maybe the song isn’t as happy as it sounds: “Did you see the way that I was when I was down?/All I need is a helping hand/Someone safe to guide my landing back from beyond.” “Flowers by the Shore”, “Hold On”, and “Marianna” keep the joyful party going, all armed with poppy hooks and toe-tapping beats.
But then, sprinkled in between all these lively numbers are songs like “Colours,” “Running Through Tunnels,” “Death of a Rose,” and “Buried Alive.” These songs find Harpoon going back to his roots, so to speak, opting for a more stripped down sound. The almost minimalist approach to these songs highlight Harpoon’s impressive vocal range and bring the focus back to his songwriting and those dark lyrics that had become his signature: “Red is the colour of blood when I cut myself/ And I’m bleeding but that’s not a bad thing/ Red is the colour of poppies and sports cars/ A strong symbol of liveliness”. The addition of strings on “Buried Alive” is probably one of the most genius decisions made on the album, as they catapult the song into the heartwarming tearjerker it was meant to be: “Wandering feet, discovered the world/ Broken and sore, fell in love with a girl who’s now gone”. Once closes with another Harpoon classic, “Childish Dreaming”, a slower, lyrically-sombre number with Harpoon’s sweet, whispered vocals and the sound of his acoustic guitar at the forefront.
Overall, the album doesn’t seem to have a clear direction. It’s almost as if Kid Harpoon combined his debut album and follow-up into one to make up for lost time, switching back and forth between the musician he is today with who he was as an artist in 2005. After all the sunny overproduction and catchy pop hooks scattered throughout the album, there must be a reason Harpoon chose to close the album he worked so hard on with “Childish Dreaming” when it could have just as easily been “Marianna”. Though there’s nothing wrong with writing great songs which have that born-to-be-a-radio-hit quality, perhaps Harpoon felt it necessary to leave listeners with a reminder of why they fell in love with his music in the first place all those years ago: the beautiful simplicity of his voice, his guitar, and his songwriting. The same reasons Harpoon is sure to make new fans.
Kid Harpoon full album preview!
Kid Harpoon‘s debut album Once is released September 28th, but you can listen to it now on his official website for free.
quick thoughts:
1. “Colours” sounds a bit different, but nothing too drastic
2. “Buried Alive” = <3
3. ”Childish Dreaming” is as beautiful as ever.
Full album review coming soon.
New Kid Harpoon video – “Back From Beyond”
I have to admit I’m enjoying this single a lot more right off the bat than “Stealing Cars”, am I alone on this?
“Back From Beyond” is released September 14th on Young Turks, exactly one week before Kid Harpoons debut album Once is officially released. Finally!
