American Football - American Football

I didn't discover 90's Emo or Math Rock until a couple years ago, and I was never really into those genres until my friend Shane geeked out over a Cap'n Jazz reunion show. Under the influence of Shane, I acquired Analphabetapolothology, a massive Cap'n Jazz compilation. I was extremely impressed, mostly due to singer and guitarist Mike Kinsella, who I later found out was part of a ton of other bands... including American Football. So, I downloaded American Football's self-titled album and I was instantly obsessed with it. It was on repeat for weeks and it got me through some really lonely times. Any time I'm lost in my thoughts, I put this on and just think. Kinsella has made perfect music for all us introverts out there. I really love all of Kinsella's other projects, too, but American Football is killer. Recommended for anyone who's been let down, in one way or another.

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Some Songs for Summer.

We are well into July, so I figured I'd share a few albums that are essential to my Summers. Here we go:

1. Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit



My favorite part of Summer is the first day I notice the sunshine again, and how it can somehow instantly make me happy. I mean, Winter has always been my favorite season, but there's something about those initial days of Summer where you just feel really free and lighthearted. On those days, I prefer to listen to this album before anything else. The Life Pursuit practically oozes of indie pop positivity. All songs flow with melodic ease to the next, letting each song fit together like a puzzle. There's not one track that feels out of place or irrelevant, giving it a little more polish and cohesiveness than Belle and Sebastian's previous work. If you're looking for music to de-stress or something that will just put a smile on your face, check it out.


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2. Heathers - Here, Not There



Heathers is a folk-acoustic duo consisting of twin sisters from Dublin, Louise and Ellie Macnamara. I discovered Heathers at Crucial Fest '08 in Lexington, Kentucky, only weeks after the release of Here, Not There. I was instantly blown away by the incredible guitar skills of Louise, not to mention the immediacy of both Louise and Ellie's vocals. Their voices compliment and harmonize so well together, you almost can't help but sing along with them. I hear them compared to Tegan and Sara, but I honestly think they have nothing on Heathers. Heathers lyrics are full of wit and relatability, while their voices play off each other perfectly. This album is a great sing-a-long record.

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3. of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping



Before listening to Skeletal Lamping, it's probably best that you know a little bit about Kevin Barnes, the songwriter and vocalist for of Montreal. The band is essentially his brainchild and creative outlet, and he is definitely a demented individual. Skeletal Lamping is a clusterfuck of funk and electronica beats, woven through some indie pop melodies and ridiculous but infectious lyrics. For example, Barns declares "I'm just a black she-male..." in 'Wicked Wisdom', then, in 'An Eluardian Instance', Barns begins the song as a sort of love note to someone he wants to really get to know... writing, "...you should know that I am not just searching for some first time high...", then he ends the song expressing his want to leave the relationship all together. Personally, it took a few listens to even remotely understand and appreciate this album... but as confusing and twisted as the tracks are, it's fun and irrelevant. Guaranteed to get stuck in your head at some point.


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4. Wavves - King of the Beach



Wavves is like the musical incarnation of Summer. They've only been around two years, and they already have a huge following. This album definitely takes some getting used to, though, especially for newcomers to the Lo-Fi scene; but, once you do get past some of the distortion, you’ll find a pretty damn good record, chiefly due to the subject maters of the songs, which are full of nostalgia for such things as Super Soakers, baseball cards, and of course, being the ”King of the Beach”. It’s totally worth checking out if you’re in need of some awesome Noise Pop.

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The Protomen

After first listening to these two albums, I didn’t really know what to think. I initially thought that it was obviously mocking both the huge, overdramatic Rock Operas of the 70s and 80s and the fanaticism that some people have for retro gaming. But after the next few listens, I started to understand that this wasn’t some tongue-in-cheek mockery of either of those things, but rather, an epic retelling of the Mega Man saga, that has better story telling than ninety percent of any other media. Each album is a new act in the adventure, the first being about Mega Man’s first fight against Dr. Willy, while the second record is the larger prequel to the first. And, if you’re like me, you might end up truly caring for a few of the characters.

Act I:
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Act II:
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