Fleet Foxes

I love this video from Fleet Foxes. I highly recommend their new (self-titled) album.

Pandora.com

Sarah just turned me on to Pandora.com. It's an online radio station that only plays songs you like. You start with typing in a band you like and then it plays songs from that artist and artists that are similar. Pandora learns more about your taste in music as you rate the songs it plays. For example, I started with Wilco and I've heard artists like Ryan Adams, the Flaming Lips, and Mason Jennings. If you listen to a wide range of music, just create different channels for the different styles. It's a great way to discover new music or just to have playing while you check email. I think you can share channels with your friends but I haven't gotten that far yet.

KOL to the Rescue

Can the Kings of Leon solve our dependence on foreign oil? Overthinkingit.com notes that rock music quality (as judged by songs on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time) is directly correlated with US Oil Production (although they had to take out Alaska to make the numbers work). We need more rock, people!

While this analysis is a great example of the old maxim that correlation doesn't prove causation (take note, Al Gore), I find the list of the greatest rock songs ridiculous. According to rock music snobs, the vast majority of great rock songs were written in the 60's and 70's. Granted, the 80's was a weak decade for rock, but the last two decades have produced rock that has rocked as much as the rock from the golden age of rock. Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Radiohead, the White Stripes? To quote Norm McDonald: "Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous. Can you believe these characters? Way out of line. Way out of line... You know what hurts the most is the lack of respect."

Hat tip Freakonomics.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

I bought the new album from these Montreal rockers last week, hoping that it would be at least in the same league as their masterpiece, Funeral. It is a great album that you will like if you were into Funeral. However, it does pale in comparison to their debut. The songs don't build up to the same intensity as on Funeral and in general, just aren't as good. Win Butler's voice fails to rise above the orchestra, strings, and rumbles on much of the album, in contrast to Funeral. Neon Bible definitely has a more muddled sound to it than their debut. The album grew on me over the weekend, but I didn't have the same emotional reaction to it as Funeral. However, comparisons to Funeral aside (which is one of my favorite albums in the last ten years), this is indie-rock at its finest. The wall of sound created by the 7-8 piece band and Win Butler's lyrics create an album that is interesting, dark, and beautiful. Just don't go into it expecting anthems and you'll enjoy it more.