Listen: Daniel Rossen - "Not Coming Back"

It's not really something that comes up that often but one of my favorite things is when an artist releases an old song or demo or unused b-side or musical fragment. It's the rare instance when you get to actually see the artist at work. How a catchy hook blossoms into a whole song or even just a peek into the mind of someone you don't have access to. So of course Daniel Rossen's recent releases of demos have been a complete and utter treat for me. Before he dressed up his songs in a sea of ear-catching arrangements or completely solidified where he wanted to go lyrically. It's take a very secure musician to grant you such access to their unfinished work.

"Not Coming Back" is a track that gestated around the same time many of the tracks from the Silent Hour/Golden Mile EP did although apparently it's function was more as a means to get from point A to point B but surprising functions as a nice little addition to Rossen's rather minuscule collection of tunes. While he's shipped out parts of it to other songs (The EP's "Golden Mile" "Silent Song" and Shields' "Sun in Your Eyes"), it still remains a pretty interesting look at Rossen's process as well as just a great track. Despite it's dissemination, Rossen's proud of it and for good reason. It's catchy as hell and a shimmering example of just how talented he is even when he's not at his best (by his estimations, not mine). It's a track I know I'm going to be  bumping a positively unhealthy amount.

Here's hoping there's more to come in Daniel Rossen's unused b-sides and demos series.
 Not Coming Back by drossenbro

Watch: Young Dreams - "Fog of War"

Young Dreams create music with such an epic far-reaching scope that when they announced the video for "Fog Of War", I was absolutely besides myself with excitement and glee. After discovering the gladiator-themed lyrics of the single, I had foolishly assumed they'd go with something at least partially similar to that. Wrong. If you think you know what the Norwegian orchestral pop group has up it's sleeves, chances are you're not even on the same page. I'm glad they didn't go with a more literal interpretation of the lyrics and the Kristoffer Borgli directed video is more beautiful and wonderfully cinematic than that. Beginning with a monologue spoken by the video's female lead, it foreshadows a darkness that creeps at the video's edges.

Two French teenagers left to their own devices for a time. It's more or less what you might expect: Pot-smoking, alcohol-guzzling, furniture wreckage. But even then your expectations are alluded and/or exceeded. After the young lady established the non-romantic relationship with the man-friend she invites to share her empty family home with, you're looking for romantic entanglements pretty much the whole video. Also there's an established danger that's hinted at but never quite addressed head on. The boy wields a crossbow menacing while the girl solely chuckles, he breaks probably expensive pottery and the girl and her friends follow suit, it's not until the video's end where everything really comes to a head. I won't spoil it but it's not anything you're going to guess.

And yet, as this evasively dark tale unravels, there's the jubilant strains of Young Dreams "Fog of War" which somehow makes it all okay. A pretty excellent pairing.

Pitstop: You Won't

It's a common trope for music-writers, show-goers, and the like to declare a winner of a festival virtually any time there is one. And it's one I've pretty much refrained from doing myself because truth be told there's really no one winner of a festival, maybe not even a handful. Anyone who gets to see a great show put on by a great band is a winner and likewise any band that brings there A game and makes even at least one new fan has already achieved what so many other bands have not. But if I had to pick one of my favorite bands of this year's CMJ, well the choice would have to be Massachusetts folk-pop duo You Won't.

Well, in addition to getting a pair of two incredibly musicians and probably two of the most genial guys you're bound to meet, You Won't accomplished a feat at this year's CMJ that pretty much topped any/every band that played this year regardless of hype, popularity, or even sheer talent. You Won't engaged their audience unlike any other. During their set at I Guess I'm Floating's Floating Fest CMJ showcase, the two-some took to the crowd, entered it, and played. Two beautiful, sparse acoustic songs framed around Josh Arnoudse's gripping vocals with their slight rasp, while multi-instrumentalist Raky Sastri accompanied him first on harmonium and then on floor tom. I knew instantly that no show that week would top it. Maybe even no show this year.

And such creativity and innovation comes to the duo naturally. No intense plotting necessary. This is evident on their debut full length Skeptic Goodbye. Where singer/songwriter sorts might very well be a dime a dozen, You Won't stand out from the crowd. Both for Arnoudse's stellar songcraft both lyrically as well as in composition - his songs filled with clever wit meshed into a perfectly balanced playful cantor along with intensely memorable pop-leaning presentation. For which Sastri, the album's producer, also deserves ample credit as well as his evident talent as drummer (among other things) spicing up his accompaniment with exciting drum beats and unexpected instrumental flourishes. Together the two put a terrific new spin on the age-old wandering troubadour, dressing him up in a slightly newer cloak of rock riffs ("Dance Moves") and catchy pop choruses ("Three Car Garage", "Television"). The end result is an album of peaks and valley solely in mood as the level of talent maintains an almost bewildering high.

So while the concept of winning a festival remains silly and flawed, one thing is most certainly clear. The two times I happened upon You Won't during my adventures, they won my heart. And if you happen to be lucky enough to see them live, they'll win yours too. Their album is stellar but their live set is better. An absolutely incredible band of unfathomable talent.

Get a taste of You Won't with a stream of their debut album Skeptic Goodbye and being plotting your next You Won't live experience.

Watch: ARMS - "Heat & Hot Water"

I have a bit of a confession to make: Since my inaugural listen to ARMS, I've often imagined what a music video for their songs would look like. They're songs are so narrative-driven and yet so notably cinematic that you're sort of led to imagine their scenarios anyway. I had dreams taking place in the Summer Skills universe even. The song were that evocative. So when ARMS announce the filming of their first ever music video, I considered it to be my own dreams coming true. The fact that the director was Andrew Droz Palermo, who did that amazing yet odd White Rabbits video for "Heavy Metal" (among others) made me sure the project would be in good hands.

"Heat & Hot Water" is without question one of my favorite ARMS songs and probably one of the hardest to put to film if we're being totally honest. Unlike "Emily Sue, Cont'd" which would probably have been the easiest, the video ignores the obvious settings that Todd Goldstein's narrative suggests. The tracks itself about the ruin of a couple after a series of supernatural-tinged misadventures, there's heavy referencing to a beast that the couple uses against each other. How would ARMS and Palermo put that to tape? The answer is to not.

Instead of "Heat & Hot Water", the video focuses on a couple that switches from romantic contentment to boredom pretty much at the drop of the hat. When they're together they smile, they have fun, they laugh and then there's sudden a look. An unquestionable gaze appears on the face of the female lead (played by Brooke Underwood) that suggests they're on the outs. She will be left alone and sudden her smile will disappear and her whole mood changes. Then there's the pesky specter of a man played by Todd Goldstein himself that keeps appearing to her. Goldstein has alluded to possible characterization as the Devil but I saw it more as a lingering sense of doubt. Appearing only to the female usually when she is alone to think and right before the video ends when the couple starts to have a serious talk.

The video is subtler than I would've expected, relying more on the talent of the actors (most notably the aforementioned Underwood) to drive the music video's plot than anything else. And it's a gamble that works pretty well. Hopefully the first of a series of Summer Skills related stories, this first video does a remarkably good job of establishing the characters and conflict in a stunningly minimalistic way. Who says you have to spend thousands of dollars to make a good music video? Not. ARMS. Not Andrew Droz Palermo.

Watch ARMS debut music video for "Heat & Hot Water":


(via IFC)

Listen: Fasano - "Muzzle You"/"First Timers"

True to his word, all-around nice guy and former ARMS bassist/keys guru Matty Fasano promised new tunes in the Fall and he's certainly delivered more of his infectious piano pop. However unlike his Living in Armchairs EP, Fasano's new track "Muzzle You" is far more upbeat.

On "Muzzle You" and it's b-side "First Timers", Fasano returns with simple, minimalistic yet oddly infectious melodies and tales that form an interesting dichotomy with their rather upbeat dressings. In that way, they're rather unlike the tracks on Fasano's Living in Armchairs EP where the mood of the song was portrayed helpful throughout. Instead on his new single and b-side, Fasano makes you work for his song's meanings. His golden vocals hiding half-told tales of contempt and frustration.

It's an age-old pop trick to dress up negativity in happier-sounding dressings and Fasano does so pretty effortless trading in his know emotive skill for a more neutral narrative voice. It's a bit eyebrow-raising on paper but in practice, it's pretty excellent. And even if you get what he's doing or not, one thing is clear: Fasano writes some darn catchy pop tunes. Enjoyable even if you miss the deeper lyrical implications.

Pitstop: Frankie Broyles

As some of my friends and fellow bloggers set about to recap their CMJ adventures, I began to recall my own CMJ experiences fondly. Despite the fact that I had an inarguably great time at CMJ this year, I can't shake the feeling that last year brought it harder. I only attended two days of CMJ 2011 but what an eventful, discovery-laden two days they were. One of my new music discoveries was the blistering rock of Atlanta's Balkans which have since gone on hiatus. Carrying on however is former front-man Frankie Broyles. One of the most endearing aspects of Balkans amazing set was oddly enough after when I met them and Frankie revealed himself to be ill. Getting over Mono to be exact. Incredible.



While Frankie didn't play CMJ this year, he's certainly been going strong since striking out on his own last  year, playing shows with Atlas Sound, Carnivores, and Lotus Plaza. While the punky jangle of his Balkans days has more or less been stripped due to lack of band members, Broyles still finds a way to recall the classic Strokes-esque cool that drew me to Balkans as well as an understated calm that fits Broyles vocals. The tracks on his  tour cd are all actually a little hard to pin down.


Electronic-based without giving in entirely, Broyles music is about much more than dance-y beats and cool tricks like a multitude of electronica artists and isn't quite raw enough to fit neatly into a singer-songwriter type box. Instead Broyles offers up a less surging, less incendiary form of rock than his Balkans days. It's softer without completely losing it's bite and tracks like "Color Set" and "Capturer" can soundtrack much more than lazy day chill sessions.

Listen: Buke & Gase - "Hard Times"/"Blue Monday" for Hurricane Sandy Relief

You know what's better than a new a single? A new single released not for the benefit of the artist but to help others. Tons of artists have done it and Buke & Gase latest philanthropic efforts puts them in good company. In order to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief after massive damages was wreaked upon Brooklyn, Long Island, and New Jersey, the Brooklyn duo are releasing a single from their upcoming album General Dome with their cover of New Order's "Blue Monday" to directly benefit those effected by the Hurricane in Red Hook, Brooklyn. So if you're fans of the band or even if you want to help out but can't get out to volunteer, throw a couple bones at Buke & Gase. It's great music AND a great cause.

To read more about the RHI Center and/or donate directly go here.

The latest track from the Brooklyn duo "Hard Times" continues in the somewhat more straightforward songwriting and delivery of Riposte and less in the more experimental vein of the Function Falls EP. Which is in itself a rather strange thing to associate with Buke & Gase; straightforwardness and normality aren't really words anyone would use to describe what the duo does but the new track is "normal" for the twosome. The tracks rolls on with a rather heavy, repetitive riff that's sure to be stuff in your head for hours while Arone Dyer's simpering vocals flitter about, occasionally joining forces with the accompaniment.

As far as songwriting is concerned, the track might be the duo's most poppy number to date. Yet still rather unconventional in the sense that it's the DIY experimentalists take on pop. There's more in line with classical composition actually. Melodies transition quickly from the Dyer's vocals into the accompaniment and kind of snowball into this absolutely fearless juggernaut. Thoughts are birthed and combined with other thoughts and yet, each of Buke & Gase's parts are clearly in focus. There's a bit of a busy fizz but it's not quite as overwhelming as you'd expect.