Hello Again and welcome back for a new edition of 8 Tracks: Catchin’ On. I’m not sure how many others listen to music, but I know for me it’s a voracious appetite of MP3’s, local rock radio and a barrage of Youtube videos to keep up with the new music that is constantly pouring out. I don’t have a theme like Jeff’s weekly Friday Night Soundtracks, well beyond a list of what I think is worth your ear time. Let’s get at this list, and strike while the Iron is hot….
#1 – “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk w/ Pharrell Williams
This is a track that would have been a great companion to this past week’s FNS. Daft Punk have thrown the clock back to the late 70’s and early 80’s and unleashed a track that could have thrived during Disco’s later years. It does turn a corner and devotes itself back to the electro-robotic feel of the Daft Punk sound.
#2 – “Pretty Lights vs Radiohead vs Nirvana” – Pretty Lights
I came across Pretty Lights as I sat in my office awaiting the live stream of Wu Tang’s closing performance of Week 1 of Coachella and was blown away by what I stumbled across. Apparently Derek Smith (aka Pretty Lights) was here for the 2011 edition of Evolve, and I can only imagine how fun that performance would have been.
#3 – “Stompa” – Serena Ryder
Ok, let me just say this: I was wrong. There, I said it. I scoffed every time she appeared on a lineup around these parts, I scoffed at her solo work and until “Stompa”, I never really got it, until I did. I was 100% completely wrong about her, this lady can rock, and she looks like she’s having the time of her life on stage (go check her 2013 Junos duet with Billy Talent – highlight of the night for me).
#4 – “Stubborn Love” – The Lumineers
This is probably one of my favorite sing-along tunes right now. The OOoooOOooo’s and the AhhhAhhhAhhhs’s are fantastically catchy (so much so my daughter – who is going on 3 will join in). It would be great to see them play here at some point this summer. (#fingerscrossed)
#5 – “Let it Go” – The Neighbourhood
I really enjoyed both lead singles from the forthcoming I Love You, but they were very similar in tonality. “Let it Go” has elements of both “Sweater Weather” and “Female Robbery”, but is a little darker and more alt-rock than the previous moody atmospheric rock tunes. This is a song that deserves your attention.
#6 – “Change” – Churchill
This is a tune that will find itself bopping around your head, as it will get its hooked latched in and you won’t be able to shake this catchy slice of indie pop-rock.
#7 – “Wagon Wheel” – Darius Rucker
“Hootie” as many people think to call Darius Rucker left the pop rock world a few years ago and forged a new career for himself in the folky pop-country genre. If you take one listen to “Wagon Wheel”, you’ll see that it clearly was the right decision. This is a great tune to toss on and have a beer to. Really diggin’ this cover of the Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel”.
#8 – “Long Way to Neverland” – Headstones
http://youtu.be/CnunGSdOGDI
Apparently Hugh and the lads got back together and recorded the forthcoming Love and Fury, which was somewhat unexpected what with Mr. Dillon’s success as an actor (see Flashpoint or Durham County). Of all the 90’s rock acts reforming, this is one that has me somewhat excited as this sounds like an evolution of their sound into a bluesier folk rock sound with bears similarities to Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.
