Let’s get back to it. Not often do I dabble in the post-punk genre, but I recently stumbled upon this driving, passive-aggressive throwback from Dirt Dress, an LA band, who has a penchant for sounding loose, when in fact the pieces are very deliberately placed that way. Looking forward to what project is next in store.
Music
CHAPPO – “Mad Magic”
The Brooklyn native rockers of CHAPPO are back at it. This psychedelic shuffle is rooted in the delightful rhythms of the guitar and everyone else seems to follow his lead. Definitely get some David Bowie vibes from this guy’s voice.
Keith Meade – “Polite Refusal”
Cold? Feeling lethargic? Let the carefree musical rays of Keith Meade’s single “Polite Refusal” seep in. The song’s bounciness and playful chord progressions cut right through to that memory of childhood innocence. The upcoming album “Sunday Dinner” comes out on February 23rd.
Christmas Comes But Once a Year
Each family has its idiosyncrasies around Christmas season. Our family happens to partake in a yearly sharing of Christmas music, both old and new. Occasionally, there will be singing. This past weekend, my brother and friends shared our Christmas cheer at the famed McSorleys’ Old Ale House in the East Village (light and dark beer are the only drinks they serve). We partook in some amateur caroling while hoisting our drinks on top of wooden benches and tables…the same tables my Grandfather drank at in the 1960’s.
While Christmas music has its detractors (given the clear commercial exploitation of the season), this time of year always make me nostalgic about those who are no longer with us, but who equally enjoyed these same damn tunes. In that spirit, I have compiled a small list of some of my favorites for your enjoyment, both old and new. Merry Christmas.
FUTURISTIC FRIDAY
In light of “Throwback Thursday or #tbt” which involves posting something that has nostalgic value, we at RunTheMill wanted to turn this popular convention on its head. This weekly posting will share a song that is either ahead of its time or attempts to push us out of our comfort sound zone.
Mariachi El Bronx – “Wildfires” & “High Tide”
Going from hardcore punk rock to Mariachi music is difficult to imagine, but the Mariachi El Bronx have done just that. Most known for their punk band The Bronx, vocalist Matt Caughthran and Co. went a whole different direction in April 2007 under an alter ego, Mariachi El Bronx. The band experiments with electronic and pop undertones along with the classic rhythmic shuffling of mariachi music. It’s whimsical and daring and is this week’s Futuristic Friday.
“Wildfires”
“High Tide”
Time for T- “Long Day Home”
One of the underlying hopes at RunTheMill is to place the often ephemeral spotlight back onto rising artists, who chose a career that often does not provide monetarily as much as the work involved with producing an album. The new Time for T 6-song album was a product of crowdfunding, in which the small group was able to raise $3,500. The small investment resulted in a little bit of magic. Listen to “Long Day Home.”
Check out their campaign which ended last in January 2014:
FUTURISTIC FRIDAY
Plastic Mermaids-“Saturn”
In light of “Throwback Thursday or #tbt” which involves posting something that has nostalgic value, we at RunTheMill wanted to turn this popular convention on its head. This weekly posting will share a song that is either ahead of its time or attempts to push us out of our comfort sound zone.
Our first song, “Saturn,” is by the group Plastic Mermaids, a five piece band from the Isle of Wight. The name alone implicates an interstellar journey into the unknown abyss.
Houndmouth- “For No One”
With its sparse instrumentation of guitar and strings and those echoing whispers of the female singer in the background, you get an aural environment that is lonesome and chilling. Here is the first single off Houndmouth’s sophomore album.
Catching Flies-“Quiet Nights”
Warm & fuzzy, mellow, minimalistic and atmospheric. New song from a relatively unknown, 23-year-old London Producer “Catching Flies” sounds like a mix between Broke for Free and Apparat.
Júníus Meyvant-Color Decay
Following in the likes of Björk and Ásgeir, some more catchy folk-pop from Icelandic newcomer Júníus Meyvant. Check out that hair/beard combo.
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