Pitstop: Avi Buffalo

With song titles like "Summer Cum" and "Five Little Sluts", I didn't really believe all the accolades of California based Avi Buffalo. But upon listening to their bright and summery self-titled debut, I'm willing to admit I was wrong. Take 60s surf rock, add in some newfangled guitar techniques, throw in the subtle majesty of some European twee pop and you'll at least have an idea of what Avi Buffalo sounds like. Surprisingly simple, Avi Buffalo still manages to avoid any definitive genre-labeling. Instead they make music that's just good. In it's own way that's oddly familiar and yet not. Like pure unbridled youth in musical form with light touches of nostalgia and consequence-minded sincerity thrown in for good measure. It's music that doesn't take itself serious. Just is, and manages to resonate with your very core and pop up later in your memory.

Originally starting as a recording project for guitarist/vocalist Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg before turning into a full on four-piece band, after a bunch of shows and festival appearances, the quartet has been reduced to a duo. Here's hoping there's more from Avi Buffalo on the horizon!

Get a taste of Avi Buffalo with the video for "What's In It For?":

S. Carey - All We Grow (2010)

I first found out about S. Carey when he went on tour with Swedish folk singer Kristian Matsson aka The Tallest Man on Earth but what I didn't know is that I had heard S. Carey before. You see, S. Carey is the drummer and supporting vocalist for Bon Iver (one of Justin Vernon's evergrowing stable of musical projects). All We Grow was recorded during the band's initial hiatus in '08 and seems to some degree inspired sonically by Carey's time in Bon Iver. Ambient buzzes give way to stunning vocals and lovely layering that really illustrate Carey's talents as an arranger and multi-instrumentalist. Carey's work wields an abnormally great amount of musical power, his quiet barely-there tenor hits you with the intensity of a freight train while being simultaneously soothing and almost unassuming.

All We Grow is great from start to finish, entrancing with its weaving melodic lines aided in part by Carey's percussive skills. There's a real balance achieved between rhythmic percussion and melodic content that creates inescapably ear-catching pieces. While the use of ostinato could get boring, Carey's use of it (like the mostly percussive piano in "We Fell" and "In the Stream") is inventive enough to survive limitless listens with no complaint.

Adele releases official video for "Rolling in the Deep"

What do a hundreds of glasses of water, burning model buildings, tons of broken dishes, and a contemporary dancing ninja woman have to do with Adele? Well they're all featured in the official video for "Rolling in The Deep". Released last month, the official video trades the playfulness of the compiled studio footage video for a more somber set of seemingly unrelated scenes that connected convey the steamy grit of Adele's vengeful single. The hundreds of glasses rattle and shake with each foreboding pound of the drums, the dancing warrior woman getting more frantic as Adele denounces her lover in the chorus, and the model buildings catching flames as Adele acknowledges the wreck of a her relationship. It's artfully done and really entertaining to watch. Enjoy the video for "Rolling in the Deep":

Freelance Whales reveal video for "Enzymes"

Months ago when Freelance Whales released "Enzymes" for Green Label Sound, they promised a video was soon to follow. Well today, the band made good on their promise. The video co-directed by Chunwoo Kae and Ryan Demler of Neue Films, follows in the footsteps of their video for "Hannah" with mangled faces, scenes of the band performing, and some artsy exploding flowers among other things. Enjoy the video for "Enzymes":

Fanfarlo offer up video for "Atlas"

It's been awhile since I've heard from Fanfarlo. Since being featured on the Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack, touring extensively worldwide, and playing numerous festivals, Fanfarlo took a bit of a break to write for their new album, enjoy the holidays, and just take a bit of a breather. The band is still working on their new album but had time to share the video for their song "Atlas" which appeared on the Eclipse soundtrack. The band had initially teased about its creation in the early fall but now anyone can see the finished product. Shot backstage while on tour in Sydney, the video is simplicity at its best. Instead of a heavily produced video with an artistic vision, you have the band members more-or-less being their quirkily awesome themselves in front of a black painted wall and camera lens, while Simon and Cathy sing along with the track. There's even some fake vampire teeth thrown in for good measure. Enjoy the video for "Atlas":

Lost In The Trees - All Alone In An Empty House (2010)

Nowadays it's not uncommon for an band (especially an indie one) to consist of a wide variety of personnel and instruments but Lost In The Trees manages to set itself apart from them. A veritable folk symphony that frames Ari Picker's dulcet tenor, consists of capable members with the ability to move as an organic whole as simply as one might take a breath. All Alone In An Empty House as a whole is filled with heartbreaking melancholy aptly illustrated by Picker's doleful songwriting. A collective of classical musicians, several times during the album you really get to witness their playing prowess as well as Picker's compositional skills with the instrumental sketches. Skillfully wielding the dramatic power of an orchestra with the intimate narrative of a singer-songwriter, All Alone In An Empty House is bound to be one of your favorite albums due mostly in part to their multi-faceted allure, and surprising strength in performance, writing, and presentation that mask the fact that the album is in fact their debut.

Get a taste of the subtle intensity of Lost In The Trees with the video for "Walk Around the Lake" and if you like what you hear, make sure to see them on their upcoming tour. Tour dates can be found on their website here.

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead (2011)

Occasionally I run into a band that is talked about so favorably that I kind of put them to the side. Unfortunately, one of those bands was The Decemberists. I actually remember watching the video for "The Mariner's Revenge Song" and being really awestruck but for some reason, nothing actually came of it. So when NPR put up their latest album The King is Dead for streaming, I jumped at the opportunity to actually listen to it before I forgot. I can't say too much about how it stacks up to their previous works but I instantly understood why people liked the band less than halfway through first track "Don't Carry It All". After all, its virtually impossible to dislike anything with aptly played harmonica solos which can actually be found practically all throughout the album. Channeling part American roots music (particularly in songs "Rox In The Box" and "All Arise!") and something more rock-like, the album is melodically driven to an almost surprising degree. There is never more than one voice in the spotlight. Whether that be Colin Meloy's vocals, Jenny Conlee's accordion, the aforementioned harmonica solos, or even a little fiddle. I shouldn't be surprised that The Decemberists can combined folksy acoustics with dazzling rock grooves and such into a cohesive album, and yet I am. "This Is Why We Fight" and "Down By The Water" are probably the most "contemporary" and multi-layered tracks on the album and yet fit seamlessly with the more sparse, acoustic-based tracks on the album. Color me impressed. With the catchy memorability resulting from the melodic focus I know I won't forget about The Decemberists ever again.

Give The King Is Dead a listen at NPR here.