by | December 21, 2020 · 9:25 am

Monday Mixed Bag: Denver Music – by Nick

Denver is one of the biggest cities in the Mountain States, but it has a relative dearth of very popular music. Our biggest band is probably The Fray, but we also have The Lumineers and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, although I’m not entirely positive those bands are as known outside our musical bubble. John Denver liked us enough to use our name as his, so that’s something. The thing is, though, living up in the sky can make you a little weird, and we have a lot of good music because of the lack of oxygen getting to our brains. Let me highlight some good stuff you probably haven’t heard of from right here in Denver, Colorado!

First, we have a band that has one of the weirdest band makeups I’ve ever seen: one lead singer/guitarist and two drummers. I saw it described as music from straight out of the underworld, and that might work. It’s spooky, and angry, and powerful. It makes me want to play guitar or drums very loudly. I could imagine Carmack and Romero listening to this while coding DOOM. It drives and it rocks.

Colfax is the worst street in Colorado. You go there to get stabbed. I would be so scared of going to a Colfax Speed Queen concert, but there’s no denying that the lack of live music during a pandemic is hurting bands like this the most. You can tell they just feed off the energy of the crowd and send it right back out into the audience. It’s good ol’ fashioned psychobilly, and my knowledge of that genre extends about as far as Reverend Horton Heat, but this song makes me get up and just skank all over the room. I’m not even sure I’m supposed to skank to this music, but it makes me FEEL STUFF. Check out one of their live shows on YouTube if you want to see a wild, amazing, and scary concert that you might not survive.

This is the most B-52’s song on this list. Kind of driving surf rock with a wild lead singer. And it gets real weird, with a huge tone shift halfway through the song that takes you out of the dirt and up into the sky. You never come back down. You’re in space now. Welcome to Denver.

Now that we’re up in space, let’s listen to something nice and dreamy. This is more of a synth-pop magical girl theme. mon cher (always lowercase) is floating so far above Colfax that she can’t even smell it, and it really shows the breadth of the kinds of music that living in the mountains can draw out of a person. There’s angry music, and jumping around music, and making dinner music. Denver is the perfect mix of California and Minnesota – you’ve got nature and culture and friendly people and interesting things to see/do. Not a bad place to be. Think I’ll stay a while.

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by | December 7, 2020 · 6:42 am

Monday Mixed Bag: 2020 Bingo Card

I’ll tell you what WAS NOT on my 2020 bingo card: restarting this blog. I had originally let the blog expire because I didn’t have time to keep up with it while making my move to Colorado and other big, positive life changes. 2020 is all about negative life changes, so I decided it would be good to take this time to make something positive! As you probably know, I already have a heathy Patreon and I’ve been thinking of ways to enhance it beyond the normal stuff, so bringing back my music blog actually works really well. I’ve already updated one of the perks to make it so you can request music and I’m going to see how I can give my patrons an early look on music finds, or some extra hits I haven’t posted.

And, now: music.

For those that don’t know, the Monday Mixed Bag’s purpose is to throw a couple different things at you and maybe you’ll like one. It’s really that easy!

First up we have Dan & Drum with what I like to call bedroom hip-hop. Sleepy vocals, lazy guitar, chill vibes. I was surprised by the different levels this song goes to, it sets itself up as gentle rap over basic instrumentals, but like the sun rising it takes new levels and dimensions you may not have expected! It’s a great song to listen to while you lie in bed trying to not drop your phone on your face.

Next, here’s something more in line with what a younger Mumbles would have posted a few years ago! Monster Rally has been described as “tropical pop” and this guy knows how to take thrift store records and turn them into sweet, sweet grooves. I really love how this song does its thing, strings still bouncing along in the background as we jam along to the beats!

And, finally, it’s my favorite band of 2020: Cheekface. I’m a sucker for talky indie music, like the cool Zoomer nephew of Cake. This song is RELEVANT to this year with lyrics about working remotely and trying to make the best of *gestures wildly at the burning garbage fire*. I’ll absolutely showcase some of their other music, especially since Nick and I walk around the house quoting “Dry Heat/Nice Town” like every day.

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by | March 4, 2016 · 12:19 am

Black Canary EP

The last time I listened to music that had a direct connection to a comic book character was my Frank Gorshin Riddler vinyl (which also doubles as PHD in NERRRD). It was a novelty record, a popular trend in the 50’s and 60’s where artists would release funny songs to either be clever or give their career a shot in the arm. In the case of stuff for comic books or cartoons, it’s simply easier to have fun with it because putting out a song based around a comic book character is a big risk. If you try to do it unironically, then you run the risk of failure in both the music AND the comic book. It’s an even bigger risk if your comic book is based around a new iteration of a female character that isn’t Wonder Woman.

For those who aren’t familiar with Black Canary, she’s a rough and tumble badass with a messed up past, a siren scream for a super power and a pretty good singing voice. Her comic book is based around her joining a band for some cash while trying to outrun her crazy superhero past (she wasn’t even one of the BIG superheroes in the DC Universe, as she explains at one point). The art is great, it’s a cool comic for people who are wary about superhero stuff and it’s a nice break from the Harley Quinn overload that’s happening right now. You should give it a try if you’re curious.

So, DC Comics put out this EP as a way to promote the book and try something new. It makes sense, since every issue is about this band playing music and there’s really no way to express what it sounds like without pushing it down your earholes. I was skeptical, mostly because I’m skeptical of DC Comics in general, but it’s kind of awesome. It’s no surprise that there’s some clear influence by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Garbage and Metric. What’s nice is that it’s not a complete copy of any of those bands and instead we get a unique grit to Black Canary that’s both neon lights and torn up fishnet stockings.

My favorite song on the EP is “Old World” because it feels so Gotham. Moody, a few decades out of fashion and beautiful in its own way. The other songs are a little more upbeat and showcase the guitar, synth and creativity that was put into this project.

There is no hard hitting rock outs here and I think it works better that way. It makes the music sound timely. Something you’d actually read about on a cool, indie music blog like this one. There’s room for a new attitude that DC Comics seems to be slowly embracing. It fits with the comics, it’s good and definitely not a complete novelty. I hope they make more!

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by | February 24, 2016 · 2:16 am

Oxenfree Soundtrack

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Have you played Oxenfree yet? It’s a cute little indie adventure game about teens and spooky stuff. I actually haven’t been able to get my hands on it, but I did get a free copy of the soundtrack, so I thought to give it a listen. As you guys know, I’m a big fan of game music that can stand on its own. While I do see the merit in music that only really works wrapped up in the game, I like stuff I can listen to while I work out, write or play other video games. And, I think there’s something special about a soundtrack that can stand on its own while working perfectly well with the game itself.

The Oxenfree soundtrack is instrumental and dreamy. None of that catchy Undertale stuff here! But, it makes for amazing writing/working music while still having a nice electronic edge that keeps it from being so background noise that you forget it’s there. A lot of these songs have an old school JRPG feel to them, like you’re discovering your first mysterious cave, walking into the potions shop or exploring a grassy, monster filled area.

But, be warned! Some of these tracks are not what they seem. There are tracks like “Lantern” that end in unexpected, chiptunes creepiness or the ominous “Catbird Station” that has glitched out ghoulies haunting the edges.

I decided to spotlight my favorite stuff for you to check out. If you like what you hear, go to the full music page and get your creepy jam on. First up, we have the super SUPER Metroid track “Kanaloa” which has a nice heavy bass and sweet beats that give you the awesome feeling of exploring an alien cave. You can just imagine the weird spiky aliens scuttling around and the power up waiting for you. Who said the spirit of adventure couldn’t be a little unsettling?

Next we have the dreamy “Epiphany Fields” that might not have lyrics, but the cute little notes dancing across electro waves make up for it. It’s pleasant and actually sounds a lot like college electronic I find on the most indie of indie blogs. Still, there are signs pointing back to old games like the friendly melody and the chillness of a first level. I like how the song starts to strain towards the end, like a kite reaching higher and higher into the sky.

“The Beach, 7am” is my favorite track here. It has the intimacy of someone playing piano in a very quiet room and the gentle beauty of coming out of the wilderness. You know that scene in like every fantasy movie where the heroes escape danger and reflect on the journey so far? That’s this track. It twinkles, sometimes with hesitation or distortion. Sometimes in a hurry, like maybe things didn’t exactly turn out the way you wanted it to.

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by | February 8, 2016 · 8:31 am

Monday Mixed Bag: V-DAY BREAK UP

 

Adult Mom – I Make Boys Cry

Stealth – I Don’t Need Your Love

Nevermen – Mr Mistake

I love Valentine’s Day. That’s mostly because I’m happily married and all that stuff. Gross, right? But, some of the best songs out there are about breaking hearts. Most of us have done that earth shattering heel turn. Sometimes it feels good, sometimes it feels awful, sometimes you don’t feel anything and more typically it’s a really evil mix of all those plus more! So, here’s to you, heartbreakers. Tell Valentine’s Day to go fuck itself with your head held high.

The first is kind of a cheat since I introduced all of you to Adult Mom a couple weeks ago. I’m really glad everyone seemed to love those songs and I thought perhaps I’d try my luck and share just one more. “I Make Boys Cry” was actually the first thing that I heard from Adult Mom and I related to it immediately. I, too, have made boys cry. It left me feeling regret for hurting someone I care about, mixed with the feeling that I did what was best for me. You gotta do you. Adult Mom explains that perfectly with that friendly, it’s going to be okay, vibe that runs through all her songs.
Stealth’s “I Don’t Need Your Love” is a soulful, slowly swaggering song that is perfect for a breakup with someone who you didn’t have enough chemistry with. We’ve all been there. I can imagine this playing in some poorly lit lounge, surrounded by lonely souls who would rather drink by their own damned selves than waste someone’s time. I like that even though this is a breakup song it is damn sexy. If you can listen to it without snapping your fingers and swaying to the beat, you are a better person than I.
Our final song by Nevermen is dedicated to all kinds of breakups where you know the other person is just an asshole. This is a happy, bouncing song about how someone keeps screwing you over and over and over. Frankly, I think I’ll be listening to this a lot whenever I get sad about Wrestlemania. Yay!

 

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by | January 30, 2016 · 5:25 am

Adult Mom – Momentary Lapse of Happily

 

Do you like dreamy bedroom indie rock? Rilo Kiley vocals, Moldy Peaches lyrics and enough fuzzy guitar to coax you into chilling out? Adult Mom might be for you. Lead singer, Stephanie Knipe writes: “i wrote this record after 3 consecutive breakups that forced me to become a being other than myself, and soon, i was myself again” and yeah that’s what this album feels like. It’s songs about survival, about accepting the bad stuff and still finding the good in little things. There’s an intimacy to her songs that are immediately relatable and cathartic.

I wish I had this album when I was a teenager, especially “Survival” which is about being a terror, trying to figure out a purpose while avoiding heart break. With lyrics like “I clear the pores of my skin, I leave no room for anything,” I can’t help but be transported back to when I was a lot younger and there was so much pressure to have clear pores, to be cool and to not let things get to me. I also really enjoy the stuff she sings about her mom, it reminds me a lot of being a teenage girl with a bad attitude.

“Told Ya So” is a song I want to send my friends when they’re feeling sad, ashamed of themselves or simply out of place. It’s a sort of upbeat song about how she used to be embarrassed for doubting herself or simply feeling the impact of the world and then eventually accepted that it’s part of being human. It’s a short song that stays bobbing above water and it always makes me smile if I’m having a rotten day.

Other songs that really stand out are “Wake” that has great guitar work, “What’s Another Lipstick Mark” which is something you could imagine hearing on a college radio station in the middle of the day and the simple intimacy of “2012.” Each song is pretty short, simple and makes it easy to put the album on and write, play games or work on creative projects. These are the kinds of songs you listen to a month before spring starts, a couple hours before the sun comes up and just as you happen to be getting through some serious heartbreak.

Enjoy, my lovelies, and have a great weekend.

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by | January 26, 2016 · 3:52 am

Draper & Laura Brehm

My process for picking music usually involves a lot of farting around the internet, collecting shiny things like a magpie and then sorting through them until I find something to obsess over. Sometimes I find stuff I can’t stop listening to, though. It gets to the point where I know it makes zero sense to NOT post it on this blog of mine.

To say that I’ve listened to a lot of Draper lately would be an understatement. I have had these two song on repeat nonstop and when I don’t have them on, I wish that I was listening to Draper and Laura Brehm’s beautiful, beautiful music. Like right now! I want to stop writing so I can go back to listening!

The amazing thing about music is that sometimes a song can surprise you. It can start small, then build into something fast, sharp and pointy or sweet and endlessly uplifting. Draper is fantastic at taking you along for a ride that you can’t predict from the first couple of seconds of the song. I loved being surprised by these two songs. They start off with Brehm’s inviting voice and turn into these sing-a-longable anthems. They’re optimistic, loving and leave me absolutely daydreaming. These songs are giftwrapped electro gems that shimmer once you rip through the paper.

First we have “Pressure” that starts with Brehm singing almost alone with blips and buzzes behind her. It builds and builds into a chorus of voices that gave me chills the first time I heard it. The song swoops high and low like this and gives off a feeling of epicness that can be found in your favorite video game climax. And, when the song comes to a close? Her voice glitches out, like a transmission being cut short.

Next we have “All I See” which is a perfect pick for anyone who loves the marriage of pop and electronic like I do. Again we have Brehm’s soft, friendly vocals that take us to a dream about love and wishing for more time. The chorus, again, is fantastic. Bubblegum pop that makes me think of a sci-fi future of smooth surfaces and screens everywhere.

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by | January 18, 2016 · 9:33 am

Monday Mixed Bag: Rainy Days

 

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Moderator – Words Remain

Sampa the Great – Blue Boss

Kath Bloom – I Wanna Love

It’s finally raining in California! We’ve been without any kind of rainstorms for so long that I can’t get grumpy at soggy tennis shoes, wet jackets and bad driving. Rain is one of the most beautiful sounds nature can give us, but it also puts me in the mood to listen to some chill, kinda sweet jams. And, no, this has nothing to do with my new favorite wrestler. Nope.

First up we have “Words Remain” by Moderator. A perfect blend of jazz and hip hop. Beautiful vocals that rise and fall over a constant beat that doesn’t try to hit you over the head. The title of the song mixed with the flow of the music makes me feel like a space hero entering the final act of her story.  This is perfect rainy day writing music.

Sampa the Great is pushing my chill boundaries with “Blue Boss” but the percussion of the song feel like rain on a tin roof. The song simulates a rainy day with a few clouds, a momentary downpour and then that steady, familiar tap, tap, tap of rain on your window.

Finally, a real guilty pleasure of mine on rainy days: singer-songwriter stuff. Kath Bloom is just vocals, guitar and the feeling that maybe the sun will come back out someday. She talks about accepting the pain of love to get the good and isn’t that what rain is all about?

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by | January 16, 2016 · 2:58 am

The Music of Omikron: The Nomad Soul

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First things first! You can get Omikron: The Nomad Soul for free until January 22nd by going here, adding the game to the cart, putting in the code “omikron” and then you’ll get a Steam code. If you love weird old games and want to see where David Cage started getting his freak on, it’s worth checking out. Not to mention the music!

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by | January 11, 2016 · 8:06 am

Monday Mixed Bag: Bowie Covers

Dar Williams – Starman

TV on the Radio – Heroes

Champagne Drip – Modern Love

Ah, crap. Well, I had some other stuff planned for today, but I couldn’t live with myself without doing a Bowie tribute. The funny thing is that Nick was playing Omikron last night and I was thinking about doing a whole post about the rad music in that game. I still might. Bowie week? Why the hell not.

So, okay. David Bowie. To me, he was pure joy, love and affection. He was sci-fi weirdness with some beautiful sadness mixed in. His music was visceral. You could see the things he described in his songs, every little detail and star that was featured. Bowie made me want to be myself while bringing happiness to other people. He was variety while still keeping true to a sound we could all recognize. There’s always songs from Bowie you don’t care for, stuff you love. That’s how it goes.

What are some memories you associate with him? I know a lot of people (myself included) that realized they liked boys after seeing him in Labyrinth. I remember dancing to “Golden Years” with fellow drama geeks to get the anxiousness of performing on stage out. I also met my husband wearing my Bowie shirt and every time I wear it now it makes him really happy.

You’re going to see a lot of Bowie tributes out there, so I hope you like this tiny, spacey music blog’s contributions. And, hey, I understand if it’s too painful to listen to this stuff now. When Joe Strummer died, I couldn’t handle listening to the Clash without bawling my eyes out.

So, here’s the mix! I’m going to make it as weird as I can. The first is from Dar Williams who is an amazing folk artist. One of the best. Her version of “Starman” plays up how the song feels like a sci-fi short story. This is one of the songs that I don’t like a lot of distortion in the covers. The clearer you can hear the lyrics, the better. Next with their cover of “Heroes” is TV on the Radio, who are kind of hit and miss for me. Don’t get me wrong, though, this version is a real hit. They’re more experimental with this song and I think it completely works while keeping that modern indie rock vibe. Champagne Drip gives us an electro and dare I say jazzy version of “Modern Love” that has a killer saxophone solo in the middle. Saxophone might not be as cool as it was back in the day, but I’m glad they kept it. Finally, my favorite track of the day, Phia & Josh with their tweeish cover of “As the World Falls Down.” Probably the first Bowie song I ever really loved brought down to its barebones beauty.

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