Music and Decisions and Music Decisions

So there are a lot of albums that have recently come out that are worth note.

First is the new Yeasayer album, Odd Blood. This is a follow-up to their debut album. It is a departure from their first but it does not disappoint. While being a good deal poppier and synth-ier, it still maintains the Yeasayer feel with lyrics both poetic and unique and complicated, fascinating music. Ambling Alp was the single, and it is a very strong song on the album, but others like O.N.E. and Love Me Girl will surely become popular as well. And these are the songs that I would introduce people to the album with. However my current favorite is Rome.

Spoon also put out another album. I wouldn't call it revolutionary, but it's still solid Spoon. A strong album. The transitions between their songs continue to be rough and confusing. I don't know why they insist on ending songs so abruptly but it seems to be a conscious decision as it has featured on at least two albums now.

There is one album I definitely need to put some money down on: Midlake - The courage of others. This is a band out of Denton. The Dallas Observer called this the best album to come out of Denton. I found that to be a bold statement, but after listening to it, I don't know that I'd disagree. It is complicated, beautiful and inspired. It is the perfect soundtrack for sitting on a couch. Or perhaps for the middle part of a long car trip when you have already listened to more aggressive music. Not to say this isn't an aggressive album. It just isn't obviously so. If you pay attention, the unbelievably bold guitar parts are quite exciting but a superficial listen will miss them.

There are a few more recent albums I have to decide if I want to purchase as I have not given them full listens quite yet. Beach House put out Teen Dreams, which is a bit less lo-fi and spacey but still maintains those strong beautiful vocals that Victoria Legrand provides. Jaga Jazzist is a 10-piece out of Norway. Their album A Livingroom Hush is one of my favorite albums of all time and we will see how their new one, One-Armed Bandit, lives up to their past successes. Four Tet also put out a new album (and it features vocals! what?!). There is Love in You, seems like a continuation of Four Tet's complex and beautiful discography of sounds. After one full listen, it does not disappoint but it will need a few more I'm sure.

In my personal world, I am currently deciding between a school in Austin TX and a school in New York. I'll be visiting UT Austin this weekend. The school in New York seems like both the best option for my career and the most exciting option for my life experience. Fortunately, both places are home to very strong Neuroscience programs and are surrounded by world-renowned music scenes and culture. So, my decision will be tough but either option will suit my needs.

Here are some samples of the mentioned albums (enjoy):

Yeasayer - O.N.E.


Spoon - Before Destruction


Midlake - Acts of Man