Volume 0.2

“Second Sleep” by The New Pornographers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXykz5m6sak

“Bright Eyes, Black Soul” by The Lovers Key

13 thoughts on “Volume 0.2”

  1. The New Pornographers – If the Brady Bunch was produced today, they probably would have sung this song to win the big contest.

    The Lovers Key – has a little 60’s flair to it, but then it seems a little pop,

    If this was a match-up, I think I would take The Lover’s Key for the win, but not by much.

  2. New Pornographers – Second Sleep
    Been following the band, and main contributor A.C. Newman, for many years and loving his/their work from Zumpano to his solo work and the impressive catalog of this band.
    This track has great, driving beat and the voices as instruments, used to great effect, remind me a little of playing the chorus voice on an early keyboard. It is a sound painting all about how the various instruments weave and interrelate – I simply let it wash over me

    The Lovers Key – Bright Eyes, Black Soul
    This has a 60’s soul vibe that has certainly been back in vogue.

    For me, there are a coupla things that set this apart from some of the others that are revisiting this genre. One, I love the vocals – a little flavor of Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music.
    Two, the percussion and organ work so well together – the bass just pumping along in the background keeping it alive, but almost unnoticeable. [The supporting horns are a nice touch as well – the production rewarding multiple listens.]
    And when it strikes the chord going up (an octave?) – it is invigorating.
    At first I thought it could lose some of the wild synthetic touches at the end, but, with the percussion, it feeds the chaos as it falls apart.

  3. NPs – This one rumbles the speakers, is that Kate Pierson b. vox?
    The thwangy bass you really pick up at the end. Go man go.
    Got a 90s vibe to it. Ok, Probably breaking conventions here but song after really chirping B-52s in the back.
    Back to feature song – I’ve heard that drumbeat before – Ed, Ed, Bueller? Allah, it’s going to bug the crap out of me now.
    I like NPs because whole and parts (AC Newman, Todd Fancey, Neko Case) make sum good music altogether.

    Lovers Key – Album is like a soul revue. Check it out. Won’t disappoint. They’re an offshoot of Miami’s The Postmarks. Visuals…..I see old rekkid player, 45 drops onto turntable, needle hits the groove. Maybe the old yellow Atco records label. A little warp as the giant gray tonearm rides the grooves. Clocks in at a tidy 3:00 ish.
    Or, local TV music show. Kids are bored and done being polite. The folkies replaced the war with the flowers in their hair. Kick them shoes off, let the shirttails out. It’s urban strife time. Here’s the steamy “black music” group from 4th and Hardscrabble, tryna make mama proud and firing up the kids let loose.
    Tambourine guy gets A++, keyboard guy a diamond-studded initials sweat rag. Drippy.

    1. Drum beat for New Ps track is a little reminiscent of TV On the Radio’s Halfway Home, but there’s probably a closer match.

  4. “Second Sleep” by the New Pornographers
    have heard of the band, don’t really know them. Like the trancey vibe, clever choral arrangements and slightly surreal lyrics. But while I kept waiting for this one to move into another gear, I didn’t feel like it really went anywhere

    “Bright Eyes Black Soul” by The Lovers Key.
    hard to resist neo-soul stuff when it’s done this well. great basic track, with an insinuating melody, that engagingly naggy little keyboard bit, and the horns that kick it to the next level on the chorus. demerit for lacking much of a middle part, but a fine time nonetheless

  5. New Pornographers- Full disclosure–I love the NPs (and I’m writing this in my underwear). Saw them on their last two tours and would rank “Crash Years” in the top 10 songs of the decade. The elements that make them delicious are all here. The trebled texture of the bass. The pushing the beat percussion. And the alluring vocals, dappled with Neko Case’s voice; she could make the Three’s Company theme sound enticing. So what I found most interesting and surprising then about this song was that despite all of the elements being in place, the song just did not really work for me. I liked it and all, but I didn’t dig it. It was as if all of the pieces were there but they didn’t fit together well. It was the kind of song that I would not return to listen to again.

    The Lovers Key- They had me at cowbell. This initially tasted a little like the B-52s with some backend notes of The Black Keys. In fact, I had the thought that–given the name of the song and the band that this was some kind of not-so-subtle BK’s side project. Loved the throwback vibe of this. I guess 3 of the 4 songs we have heard so far all had strong 50’s vibes. I guess we could include Bill’s song, though that would be the 1860’s for his. This was a tasty little treat.

  6. Bright Eyes, Black Soul:

    An un-expected like. On first listen I resisted. On each new spin I find I like more and more. Definitely a retro feel (James Bondish) and his voice’s unique vibrato is cool and essential to what pulls this song along.

  7. There was no porn. I was promised porn.
    i found it to have an 80’s new wave pop vibe to it. Interesting voice usage at the beginning.

  8. Bright Eyes, definitely feeling that aforementioned 50’s 60’s vibe.
    love the organ use.

    I like it, so far my favorite of the first 4

  9. Catching up here during Snowpocalypse LCXIX

    On the Canadian Super Group that is New Pornographers:
    Always great pop songs and this track is better than 93% of anything you are likely to hear on a commercial station. That said, this album has been tough for me to get into. Got this track as solid, not spectacular.

    On The Lovers Key:
    Not someone with whom I am familiar. Catchy. Why am I thinking Garland Jeffreys with with the keys? Soul with a bit of ska vibe.

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