Today is a good day to share a beautiful song. Yes, “Breathe Salt” may be old, from 1995 when Should were known as ShiFt. But when it’s this wonderful, who cares?
Landing
Landing’s music-as-ripples-in-a-pond swirls in and out of focus around a riffless guitar and the spaciest of keyboard calls. It’s horribly out of vogue in these times of ballsy beats, retro-rock posturing, and other fashionable music movements. But Marshall McLuhan dubbed the persistence of fashion “The Bore War,” and I’m guessing that if he were around today he wouldn’t be bored at all by these sweet ambient sounds.
Elliott Smith
No explanation needed.
Windsor for the Derby
Waaaaay back in the late ’90s, WFTD built a modest rep on synthy post-rock instrumentals. Now they’ve taken to delicate (still synthy) melodies, narrative lyrics, and generally sounding all grown up. And, holy extreme makeover, does it sound alright to these ears…
The Mendoza Line
I’ve spent the last three days down at 27th Street in Newport Beach, California. Hurricane Howard is much nicer than his East Coast cousin and is brewing up some great waves for us. So between too much sun, some really big waves, and helping a poor soul out of a rip current and onto shore, I’m beat. But 3hive knows no holidays and I’m happy to offer up four fine MP3s as the reality of 9 to 5, or another school year, sets in. If you enjoy The New Pornographers, Bob Dylan, and/or Mazzy Star, or any facsimile thereof, The Mendoza Line is sure to please your punch.
The Album Leaf
Pardon the impending pun, but after many wonderful offerings on a handful of small indie labels, Jimmy LaValle’s (Tristeza) latest solo effort blossoms on a big tree. His minimal pop stylings attracted such fans as Sigur Ros who took him on tour, and invited him to their Icelandic studios to record In A Safe Place. Who you know never hurts.
Summer at Shatter Creek
Armed with not much more than an acoustic guitar, piano, and his voice, Craig Gurwich single-handedly fashions sparse, beautiful, and haunting songs.
Coastal
Coastal’s second full-length album, released this week, shows the gang venturing into new orbits, incorporating more instruments and complex harmonies while remaining hauntingly simple. And beautiful.
Devics
On their site, Devics name-drop Johnny Cash, Arab Strap, Iron and Wine, and Sparklehorse. If those bands float your boat, chances are you’ll be happy you found Devics.
Oceanographer
Was Panda, now Oceanographer. Part New York, part Texas…and by
Texas I mean good Texas. Warm, melodic, deliberate.