Joe Corrales Jr. aka Yppah, is back. The young Mexican-American from Texas debuted on Ninja Tune in 2006 with his album, You Are Beautiful At All Times, and now releases his sophomore effort, They Know What Ghost Know. Fashioning a rockier sound than last time out, the album draws on a cultural heritage that took in My Bloody Valentine alongside hip hop and which is heavily influenced by various forms of electronic music, psychedelic soul and rock.
Suicide / Cheree
This is a song I could listen to on repeat for hours. I love the atmospheric drone mixed with Alan Vega’s pleading vocals. There’s not much to the structure, and the melodies are pretty simple, but something about the way it all works together keeps me eternally interested, as if I’m going to hear something that I hadn’t heard before. This is definitely in my Top 5 heartbreak songs. The haunting vocals, the minimal spacey melodies, the driving drums, it’s perfect.
Spacemen 3 / Walking With Jesus (Sound of Confusion)
This song is the creation of a band whose lyrical content mainly focuses on drug problems and trying to find Jesus. I know it sounds kinda lame, but when coupled with the crazy distorted psychedelic guitars and head pounding drums, it creates a great atmosphere for some introspective thought or just something to jam when you’re drunk with your friends and feeling vulnerable (ha ha). The repetitive chant and loop go on for about 6 minutes, but it’s not at all boring if listened to with the volume all the way up.
Hombres / Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)
Countrified psych rock from Memphis, with a laid back feel. The bright twangy guitar riff tied in to those drums and hand claps make it a head-nodder. I like throwing it into DJ sets and having the intro throw people when the dude at the beginning starts talking all that Southern preachiness.
Ride / Like A Day Dream
This is almost the perfect pop song. It starts with the reverse cymbal crash, a slight pause then bam! Right into it. I love that. Though, I’m not usually big on vocals, Andy Bell’s vocal melodies are always right on for me. I like how the song as a whole has a sensitive feel, but still retains some edginess to it. It reminds me of laying under the stars at the beach.
Nick Drake / River Man
I’m not usually into the singer-songwriter spectrum of music, but Nick Drake is definitely one of my few exceptions. I remember the first time hearing his voice, I had pictured this old man strumming on an acoustic, but after doing some research, I found out he was this guy from the UK who died at 26. What a great talent. What a shame. This song is just strictly acoustic guitar and strings. I get goosebumps as the strings swell throughout the song. It feels like the whole song is breathing, like you can almost hear nature in the background.
Broadcast / Man Is Not A Bird
Starting out with just a toms driven drum, this song builds into a full on unexpected laidback-banger. I like that dynamic. It’s like you can get super hyped to it, but it’s not overwhelming. You don’t even expect it, because Trish Keenan’s vocals are so smooth and droney. Then at the end you’ve got the rhythm section locked down with the bass and drums and an endless flow of fills. Awesome.
My Bloody Valentine / Clair
My Bloody Valentine captures the psychedelic sound perfectly on this song. It’s straight-up guitar rock with no frills. Big drum break, loud guitars, and topped off with unimposing vocals. That’s probably what sets this song off so much for me. Pretty noise.
And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead / Another Morning Stoner
After this song came out, it pretty much set the bar for qualities I look for in an indie rock band. That guitar line is incredibly catchy, and Jason Reese’s drumming kills it! I love their epic, swooning song structures. And the fact that they do it on almost every song they make doesn’t bother me a bit. It’s a great formula.
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