WYEP Music Blog

Michael Franti & Spearhead

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 news songs and share some insight. Today we welcome Josh Walkos of the music blog Owl & Bear

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Josh (plus some bonus songs):

Villagers, “Becoming A Jackal” - The title track to a brilliant and richly orchestrated debut album complete with soaring string arrangements, piano runs and horns. Yet, singer/songwriter and Ireland native Conor O’Brien makes it sound as warm and intimate as a lo-fi bedroom recording. Villagers were recently nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize which is a short list of the best releases of the year in the UK and Ireland. This track  immediately caught my ear with the very deliberate sounding delivery O’Brien employs, its very brooding and elusive and kind of leave you with a sense of nostalgia.

Cut Copy, “Where I’m Going” – An Australian band known for their hypnotic electronic dance tunes, but not so much for their Beach Boy-esque psychedelic rock. Which is precisely what we have with their sneak peak single “Where I’m Going” from the as-of-yet-untitled forthcoming LP. The record was mixed by hot commodity producer Ben Allen, the man behind the mind bending mixing on Animal Collective’s widely acclaimed 2009 release, Merriweather Post Pavillion. If this single is just a warm up then their new album is undoubtedly one of my most anticipated of 2011.

Toro Y Moi, “Leave Everywhere” – Usually known for his hazy synth driven tunes , Toro Y Moi sheds the synths in favor of instruments. The results are a great summer song that keeps conjures the endless summer romantic in all of us. And with summer just about behind us, this song may help you to hang on for just 3 minutes longer.

Tennis, “Marathon” - Husband-and-wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore make up much buzzed about band Tennis. A band that burst onto the national scene with their single “Marathon”. Its a Brian Wilson meets Daniel Johnston lo-fi gem of a song. They just released a 3-song 7-inch on Underwater Peoples that will only serve to wet the appetite of the indie masses until they release their first full length in 2011. They are definitely a band to watch in the coming months.

Mavis Staples, southern soul legend and gospel queen, will release her new album, You Are Not Alone, on September 13. It’s produced by Jeff Tweedy. It’s set to include covers of songs from Randy Newman, The Rev Gary Davis, John Fogerty, and Allen Toussaint (just to name a few).

I hope you enjoy the video of Mavis Staples and Jeff Tweedy

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 Justin Jacobs, contributing writer to Paste Magazine, AOL’s Spinner.com and Pittsburgh’s City Paper

In case you missed it here’s what he played with commentary by Justin (plus some bonus songs):

Lissie, “When I’m Alone” – She started off a folkie, but her debut album Catching a Tiger is pretty rocking. Doesn’t matter her genre, though – Lissie’s got one of the strongest, most beautiful voices I’ve heard in a long time. Bonus trivia: director David Lynch is a huge fan and Tweeted Lissie his phone number. And now they’re friends.

The Thermals, “I Don’t Believe You” – Unshakable proof that all rock’n'roll needs is a few chords, a lot of energy and some lyrics about how much love sucks. Plus, Thermals jams always have lots of ‘Whoa’s and ‘Yeah’s, so singing along is fun and easy. Their new album, Personal Life, is more fun than a winning Pirates game.

Perfume Genius, “Mr. Petersen” – Just one man and a piano, but the whole thing seems haunted by ghosts. This is a song seemingly about an older man introducing our young narrator to Joy Division and smoking pot, as well as some far, far less appropriate things. Beautiful, but scary.

The Love Language, “Brittany’s Back” – This band is all about swooning romantics and the sweeping dramatics. But if you love love, you’ll love The Love Language.

Lost in the Trees, “Love on my Side” – This band is half folk rock, half classical music; several of their songs are simply instrumental movements played by a mini-orchestra. This tune falls way more in the former genre, though, and is a catchy, touching little ditty.