WYEP Music Blog

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Scott Mervis of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Scott:

Vampire Weekend, “Diane Young” – I’m still on the fence about this song because the autotune really is kind of annoying, but I like everything else that goes around it. Despite cribbing from Paul Simon and Talking Heads, this over-hyped band sounded fresh when it first popped up, and two albums later, that feeling remains.

Of Monsters and Men, “Mountain Sound” – Here I am doing my job of breaking new bands on the 9:13 Buzz. Just kidding. There’s almost no way you haven’t heard this band, unless you only listen to talk radio,
in which case you’re probably not reading this anyway. This play was a nod to summer concerts, and this one should be a highlight (Stage AE, June 12, as it’s one of the few bands coming we haven’t seen before. Whether you like Top 40 or indie rock, it’s hard to argue that Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir has a gorgeous voice.

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Andy Mulkerin of Pittsburgh’s City Paper.

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Andy:

Futurebirds, “Serial Bowls” – Nice alt-country-ish tune from the Athens, Ga., group that just released its Fat Possum debut (though the band’s been around a few years and released records elsewhere). It has that crunchy guitar tone I’m known to enjoy.

The Joy Formidable, “This Ladder Is Ours” – I’m a big fan of this Welsh three-piece with the big rock sound. The new record, Wolf’s Law, is a little more upbeat and a little more consistent than the first; some say that makes it inferior, but I tend to disagree.

Every Wednesday at 9:13 am, one of Pittsburgh’s finest music writers joins me (Cindy Howes) on the Morning Mix to play a couple favorite new songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Scott Tady of The Beaver County Times.

In case you missed it here’s what he played (with commentary by Scott).

Escondido, “Evil Girls” – This Nashville duo serves up a spaghetti-western vibe. It’s all good (not bad, or ugly), especially when singer Jessica Maros’ voice comes floating in. She might make you
think of Mazzy Star. They’ve got another song, “Bad Without You,” in which she sings about “In the hills of Pennsylvania, closer to the moon/I’m bad without you.” Well, all right then! Escondido made its national TV debut this month on Conan.

Said the Whale, “I Love You” – The Vancouver alt-rock quintet revs up the fun on a road-trip-worthy, Dandy Warhols-ish single from an EP arriving June 18. Sample lyrics: “You’re kind of sad but I love you/You’re kind of rough but I love you/Maybe I’m broke but I love you/I know it’s stupid but I love you.” Guess that’s what you’d call unconditional love.

In case you missed it, here is what he played with commentary by Justin:

The Features, “This Disorder” – These dudes have been around forever, but they’ve never quite had that breakthrough. Signed to Kings of Leon’s label, this cut is off their latest, self-titled album. It’s the catchiest slice of indie pop I’ve heard all day, and just may give The Features a well-deserved stab at the big leagues.

Portugal. The Man, “Evil Friends” – The first single off of Portugal. The Man’s latest album is a trip, and a great indicator of the record: it’s both the poppiest and most sinister thing they’ve done yet. This band was on an album-a-year streak, but this record took them two. The time off shows, and it’s a creative, wonderfully weird album — and their first with producer Danger Mouse.