Thao and the Get Down Stay Down (Adam Thompson on bass, keys and additional guitar, and Willis Thompson on drums and percussion) return with the follow up to their critically lauded album, We Brave Bee Stings and All, the best-selling record of 2008 for Kill Rock Stars. With super-producer and friend Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Bill Frisell, Spoon) again at the helm, Know Better Learn Faster captures the band as their more mature, tastefully raucous, subdued and musically adventurous selves. The new batch of songs spans all genres and influences, all the while staying faithful to their distinct style and enamoring exuberance of their renowned live shows.
The Avett Brothers / Will Your Return So catchy, forlorn, provocative and rakishly charming. It reminds me of touring. I love the cutting sincerity and the charisma of the Avett Brothers. And, totally unrelated, they are the nicest band in the world. Seriously. Ask anyone.
The Drones are a noisy but very interesting group from Melbourne, Australia. They’ve put out four albums. They tour a lot. Some say too much. Well, they say too much, anyway.
The Tammys / Egyptian Shumba When this came out in the late fifties, it must have sounded completely insane, chiefly because it does to this day, still. Three young (presumably innocent) girls screaming, screaming and SCREAMING through this hundred-mile-an-hour freak out about Egyptians or something.
Experimental electronica band, Psapp, have been widely credited with inventing toytronica, ‘a form of electronica made with toys and toy instruments’. They have four albums out — including their latest release, The Camel’s Back — along with the songwriting credits for the main theme — Cosy in the Rocket — on Grey’s Anatomy. Galia Durant has compiled the first four songs of this Playlist, and Carim Clasmann the second.
Lizzy Mercier Descloux / Wawa Edgy discordant chords, minimalist one note guitar riffs, and far too straight drum grooves. But somehow this is irresistible. Whenever I travel around with a box full of records, this one will be surely be in there. Wawawa.
My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website and weekly email publication. We invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs right now. These are their words on the music that inspires them.
