Kenna - Freetime

Unlike the sun that shines through a crimson sky
I have built these walls so you can't get by
And it's all right, tonight; tonight, it's all right

This past weekend, while at Boston Calling, I heard "Freetime" from Kenna's spectacular 2003 album New Sacred Cow. It really brought me back. In 2003 I was just getting into blogging and, as part of a few regular series I was doing, I posted a review of "I'm Gone" off New Sacred Cow and I made a note to look that up. It's kind of broken, but you can see it here. Pretty cool that Kenna left a comment! Ah, I miss those old days when blogging was just a bunch of nerds with personal sites. I gave New Sacred Cow a listen yesterday and it still holds up. Good stuff, enjoy.

RIYL: Minus The Bear, Badly Drawn Boy, Rx Bandits, Midlake

The Medicine Hat - St. Cecilia

I remember my hometown
And this new one's a let down
When I think of how I used to be
I used to be kind
I used to be kind
Oh St. Cecelia I know you're singing the best song
But these melodies, ecstasies, can only keep it going for so long

Another great Canadian band to close out the week. This time it's experimental pop quartet The Medicine Hat, out of Ontario. Looks like they play all kinds of fun local gigs but aren't quite on the Bands In Town radar yet. Their two debut singles are right up my alley. Hat tip (pun intended) to Spotify for bringing them to my attention. Here's hoping they'll release more music soon. 

RIYL: Flor, Grouplove, Islands, Hannah Georgas

Upcoming Shows

Monogrenade - Ce soir

Ce soir j'te fait danser
J'te jure j'te fait danser
J'tai pas oublié
C'est juste que ça me hante
Que tu me vois étrange
Qu'un jour on se réveille

I've been wanting to share this wonderful song from Montreal's Monogranade for awhile now. They do have an English version of the song, "We Will Be Free" but even though I can't understand a lick of it, I like the original French. Most of their other music has a similar atmospheric and sophisticated feel that's really chill.

The stop-motion video for "Ce soir" is also excellent. Check it out:

RIYL: Editors, Starsailor, Bon Iver, Phosphorescent

Upcoming Shows

Phoenix - J-Boy

Something in the middle of the side of the store
Got your attention when you ask for more
I was excited to be part of your world
To belong, to be lost, to be mostly the two of us
Something I was stealing for no reason at all
They hang me higher than a disco ball
But you talked them into letting me go
It's no Picasso, Michelangelo

New music from Phoenix!!! It's been four long years. Was super excited to see this single drop a few days ago, but it got my hopes up that they'd appear on the ACL lineup released this morning. Womp. Tons of other Most Important artists, though, so still plenty of reason to attend. 

RIYL: Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, Miike Snow, Passion Pit

Upcoming Shows

Satellite Stories - Campfire

It’s 7 AM
And the letters I send
Won’t follow you home
It’s too late to go

Waited all summer to get to you
Campfire outside, we fell and kissed
There were only a few words said to you
Sunshade, this lake, one to cherish
Waited all summer to get to you
Campfire outside, we fell and kissed
There were only a few words said to you
Sun, shade, this lake, one to cherish
There were only a few words said to you
Sunshade, this lake, one to cherish

Another wanted-to-see-but-missed band at SXSW this year was Satellite Stories. They are huge in their native Finland, and getting more renowned throughout Europe, but that was their first appearance in the US. (Although I'm sure they'll catch on soon and be invited back.) This track, "Campfire", was the most blogged about song of 2013, according to Hype Machine, so I picked it as their debut Most Important despite their release of a new single just last week that is every bit as catchy, so have it for a bonus.

RIYL: Coasts, Wolf Gang, Circa Waves

Upcoming Shows