Author: David

19 Apr

Posted at 18:13h in Playlists by

This was a hastily put together playlist of mostly older 80s and 90s songs that reflects my current feelings of isolation and frustration, colored with a bit of anger and maybe a dash of optimism. I was inspired to start this while listening to a song by Ought and heard the lyrics, “today, more than any other day, I am excited to go grocery shopping!” That about sums it up. There are plenty of obvious titles here that may be a bit too “on-the-nose,” but they all reflect my current quarantine-inspired mood. Yes, it smells like quarantine spirit! What are the songs that you’re playing right now to get through this? We’ll do a post soon with songs that are more of a soothing balm to this situation, as opposed to a frustrated reaction.

02 Jan

Posted at 20:28h in Album Reviews by

Not the best of years, but certainly not the worst in terms of new music. Here’s my rundown of the records that I listened to the most or that hit me the hardest in 2019. This is a mostly somber and introspective collection of music that sounds more like soundtrack music than indie-pop rockers. One of these actually is a soundtrack. There were some notable exceptions, like French Vanilla and Snapped Ankles – records that made me want to drive fast aimlessly, or maybe just dance while washing the dishes.

Nineteen for Nineteen

  • Cate le Bon – Reward
  • Unloved – Heartbreak
  • DIIV – Deceiver
  • Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
  • William Doyle – Your Wilderness
  • The Limiñanas – Le bel été
  • French Vanilla – How Am I Not Myself
  • Karen O and Danger Mouse – Lux Prima
  • Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow
  • Kevin Morby – Oh My God
  • Raphael Saadiq – Jimmy Lee
  • Toro y Moi – Outer Peace
  • The New Pornographers – In the Morse Code of Break Lights
  • Operators – Radiant Dawn
  • Snapped Ankles – Stunning Luxury
  • The Wedding Present – Marc Riley Sessions Volume 3
  • Oruã – Romã
  • Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen
  • Kim Gordon – No Home Record

08 Feb

Posted at 20:31h in Album Reviews, Videos by

Heartbreak, the second album from Unloved, has finally dropped and it’s a stunner. Like their debut, Guilty of Love (released three years ago!), Heartbreak is another satisfying serving of 60s girl-group sounds, with hints of vintage foreign soundtracks, murky lounge music, and mellow hip-hop. All of these elements work together to propel songwriter Jade Vincent’s songs about “love” (of course) straight into to your heart via your brain. Vincent, whose voice flows out in a seductively languid style demanding to be heard, together with producer/composer Keefus Ciancia, and DJ and producer/composer David Holmes have created what is already on my shortlist of Best Albums of 2019.

28 Dec

Posted at 00:55h in Playlists, Rants + Raves by

Here’s my list of favorite songs of 2018 – an odd collection to say the least. Favorite song of the year? That’d be “Onion” by Shannon and The Clams (pictured above). It was the earworm that just kept burrowing further and further into my brain. The overarching trend here seems to be mellow 60s-influenced pop gems with a few indie head-bangers to break-up the cool vibe. These songs were a soothing balm for the tumultuous and stressful year that was.

06 Dec

Posted at 22:27h in Playlists by

I’ve grown so weary of the same old holiday music played year after year. Even some of the things we used to listen to that were new and novel (Cha-Cha Christmas anyone?) are starting to sound a little long in the tooth. So, I started making a playlist that’s comprised of mostly new songs by more obscure and new indie artists, not just a bunch new takes on classic songs. Here’s the list. Put some whiskey in your nog and give it a listen!

06 Dec

Posted at 01:23h in Album Reviews by

So much music, so little time!

All in all, 2018 was a pretty decent year for music, both on record and on stage. As always, when I look at other year-end lists I discover things I missed, or never even heard before. There are no big surprises on this list – these are the albums that stuck with me the most over the year, so they lean more towards “favorites” that what I think of as “best.” Without further ado, here’s my list of 25 albums of the year in purposely random order. Check ’em out and let me know if you agree, disagree or something in-between.

  • Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt
  • Iceage – Beyondless
  • Fucked Up – Dose
  • Shannon and the Clams – Onion
  • Shame – Songs of Praise
  • Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!
  • Beach House – 7
  • Low – Double Negative
  • Arctic Monkeys – Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
  • Blood Orange – Negro Swan
  • Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Sparkle Hard
  • Ty Segall, White Fence – Joy
  • Gruff Rhys – Babelsberg
  • Young Fathers – Cocoa Sugar
  • Lucy Dacus – Historian
  • Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl
  • MGMT – Little Dark Age
  • Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How
  • Dirty Projectors – Lamp Lit Prose
  • Jah Wobble – Butterfly Effect
  • Field Music – Open Here
  • Interpol – Marauder
  • Julia Holter – Aviary
  • Typhoon – Offerings
  • The Limiñanas – Shadow People

Honorable Mentions:

Richard Swift – The Hex (I only got to listen once as it just came out, sadly posthumously) //  Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Sex & Food //  The Innocence Mission – Sun on the Square // Goat Girl – Goat Girl, Ought – Room Inside the World // Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears // La Luz – Floating Features // Black Moth Super Rainbow – Panic Blooms // Wooden Shjips – V // Laibach – Sound of Music

 

02 Dec

Posted at 19:58h in Live Shows by

For the most part, we get a pretty good range of bands that stop in lil’ old Portland on the way to-and-from Seattle and San Francisco. Heck, sometimes more esoteric bands make this their only West Coast stop. “Why?” you ask. Probably because we have a large and supportive community of open-minded music lovers here. You see, once it starts raining all we have left to do is sit inside, make things, and listen to music! Here’s my list of favorite shows I saw in Portland in 2018 (in date order):

  • Built to Spill at Mississippi Studios (above)
  • Wolf Parade at Crystal Ballroom
  • Destroyer at Wonder Ballroom (featured image)
  • Luna at Wonder Ballroom
  • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Mississippi Studios

  • Shame at Doug Fir (above)
  • Hypersloth at Mission Theater

  • Iceage at Mississippi Studios (above)
  • Belle & Sebastian at the Oregon Zoo
  • Blood Orange at Roseland
  • Parquet Courts at Wonder Ballroom
  • Shannon and the Clams at Wonder Ballroom

  • My Bloody Valentine at Roseland (above)
  • Black Moth Super Rainbow at Wonder Ballroom
  • Gruff Rhys at Doug Fir
  • Fucked Up at Mississippi Studios (updated 12/11!)

All photos ©2018 Smells Like Pop/David Bailey

23 Nov

Posted at 21:45h in Interviews, Videos by

Actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (you may recognize him from his hilarious, high-energy stint as Derek on “The Good Place”) goes shopping at Amoeba Music in Los Angeles and shows you what’s in his bag, including some amazing virtual products. I was amazed by the range and depth of his music suggestions, and I’m looking forward to checking out some of his more obscure (at least to me) recommendations. Bonus points for calling-out both Destroyer and My Bloody Valentine!

23 Nov

Posted at 20:50h in Videos by

Deerhunter has an album track record that’s tough to beat. From “Cryptograms,” their 2007 debut, to the already three-years-old, “Fading Frontier” there’s not a misstep in the bunch. The Atlanta-based band has always challenged the conventions of what makes a great pop-rock record (or art-rock record), so I was excited to see and hear them introduce the first single from their latest record, ‘Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared’ out January 18, 2019 on 4AD. On first listen, I thought Deerhunter had gone mainstream, but repeated plays reveal the dark and beautiful textures under the surface. Lurvely!