Lupology

Jesca Hoop, that is! No, its not a typo (attn: kevin!), thats how its spelleded haha. First let me get all the redundant HOOP-la out of the way. She was the nanny to Tom Waits’ kids for a while and he says her music is “like going swimming in a lake at night”, she comes from a hard core Mormon family but decided to not be one of many wives to one man. There’s a LOT of interesting facts out there about her journey, but I gotta say, I don’t care..I’m just glad she is here! She has a full LP out called Kismet (check out songs; Seed of Wonder *my favorite*, Money, Love Is All We Have and Havoc in Heaven). But this blog entry is to focus on her more recent release, The Kismet Acoustic EP. It opens with a new song called, Murder of Birds. I’m guessing this song was the whole reason for the EP. The song is nothing short of amazing! This song will make any Kate Bush fan goose-bumpy.  It features Guy Garvey from Elbow. I love the guitar and the tone of her voice, breathtaking. Lyrically, its a journey, all her songs are. She is quite the story teller. Reminiscent of some of the greatest folk singers. Some people may be turned off by the girl, singer-songwriter, folky, guitar thing. But that’s what you see on the outside. When you listen to her music, you instantly notice, she is SO much more than that. Jesca redefines acoustic/folk/pop. I hate having to describe artists like her in the confines of genres, but that’s how it works, I guess. She is a melodic gymnast, its not unusual to sit in wonder at how she plays with melodies. Sometimes I think she improvises them, but someone who has music just radiate from them the way she does, can do just that and get away with a great finished product. The rest of the EP shines as well! I love the acoustic version of Intelligentactile 101. Some spicy lyrics in that song, OOOOOO ooooo! Its a great intro into Jesca if you don’t wanna jump right into the LP. I say just get both the LP and EP and get all up in it! All in all, she kicks ass…and i hear she is in the beginning stages of a new LP! I hope so!

So after learning of Geike’s departure from Hooverphonic after about 10 years together, I wanted to check on her solo project status. In doing so, I learned that I missed an album of theirs released in 2007!! I was still enjoying their effort before that, No More Sweet Music. Enter; The President of The LSD Golf Club, Hooverphonics latest and I do believe last album with Geike. I instantly went to itunes and purchased it. I love it! Outside of the name of the album there are no Frosted Flake Wood, Pink Fluffy Dinosaurs or Tuna (although all great songs!) song titles. Ive always enjoyed their quirkiness, but believe sometimes it turned people off. It was difficult to take them seriously sometimes. After/around Blue Wonder Power Milk, they really started to involve influences not quite expected of a “trip-hop” group. They really scored with lounge-y more shimmery music heard on songs like Mad About You and The World is Mine. Both highlighting Geike’s range and ability to adapt to different musical styles. The President, I say, is what Long Gone Before Daylight is to The Cardigans.  Showcasing really mature, songwriting abilities and just how strong they are with a ballad. The first single off the album, for obvious reasons, was Expedition Impossible. Its a total Hooverphnic rock song! Although I’m sad about Geike leaving to pursue a solo career, I’m excited to hear what she has in store. Hooverphonic is apparently continuing on with the name and the rest of the band, and are looking (if they haven’t already found) a new lead singer. If youre interested in auditioning go here. They are looking for male or female. Check out the album, my faves so far are Stranger, Expedition Impossible, Circles and Bohemian Laughter. Enjoy!!

Ok, so every year i do actually have a top 10 list. However, i never post it anywhere. This year is different! So here it is…my top 10 albums that were released in 2008. (click on the album picture to go to the artists’ Myspace for a look and a listen)

This album got a LOT of play from me this year. Elsiane has all the elements to go down as one of my all time favorites. Sexy, smooth music/beats pulling from all sorts of genres, complimented by Elsianne’s very unique, captivating vocals. The moment you hear her sing, you stop and listen. Although people try to compare her just to understand, there really is no comparing. They are making some exciting, refreshing music. I had the pleasure of seeing them live with Delerium and they translated just as amazingly live. They create this world that you escape to while listening. Intelligent, different, beautiful and an album you can really sink your ears into.

Some may recognize Leisha Hailey from The MurMurs or more popularly the show The L Word. With an impressive musical resume, enter Camila Grey. She is a multi instrumentalist, was a session vocalist and also a member of the band Mellowdrone. Together they make some delicious music. What catches me about their songs are the melodies. Some disagree, but I hear things reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins in them. The music is electronically sprinkled pop/rock. Ive seen them live a couple times and think they’ve got a ways to go live. Camila is super talented but i feel she lacks the confidence of a front woman, where as Leisha has all the confidence but lacks some of the ability to translate well live from an aural perspective. But I would still say SEE THEM if you get the chance, they have the ability to become quite the powerhouse duo if they decide to stick together and make more music! I hope they do, i thoroughly enjoy this cd and wish for more from them soon!

Ooooooh Portishead! Ok, it may get redundant..but just to show how geeky over music i can be..i’ll admit i teared up while waiting in line at Virgin with this cd in my hand. I, as well as most fans, anxiously awaited almost 11 years for this album. How nervous I was to see if the time was worth it. Normally, Id say NO album is worth 11 years of waiting. But i was very wrong. Although i hope to never wait that long again for a new cd from such an important band(ahem..Massive Attack!!!), Portishead didn’t disappoint. They didn’t go the safe route, they really experimented on this album! You can hear the influence from each individual in the group. With alien, sometimes head tweeking sounds, drones and cold industrial flavored beats and Beth’s vocals and lyrics floating over it all really makes for an interesting juxtaposition. Her more folky influence (like the Rustin Man album) is very audible, especially in songs like The Rip and Deep Water. I would say the stand out tracks are:….but I wont because the whole album is stand out! I will state that The Rip immediately went down as one of my all time favorite songs…not just of Portisheads, but of everything! Myself and my musical partner in crime and best friend Shaun won tickets to see their Coachella “rehearsal/warm up” show at The Mayan and it was legendary. They all seemed happy and surprised by the support, that after so much time the fans still were loyal and supportive. They were all in top form. I sure hope they decide to put music out more regularly, TOGETHER.

What a sigh of relief. Thank you Goldfrapp for this and all your albums. From theremins, haunting soundscapes and an erriness unparralled(Felt Mountain)..to synthy-dance-electro-madness(Black Cherry)..to that again with an even more driving edge(Supernature) to this eclectic, epic, warm end of summer/beginning of fall gem..Seventh Tree! Never disappointing, always brilliant, Goldfrapp delivers again. I could get into specifics..but really..if you don’t know, do yourself a favor and find out! This is a duo that you must follow, they will continue to be influential and fresh. Viva Goldfrapp!

Dont call her M.I.A.!! Although they’re friends and I can hear some similarities, I think the thing they share very closely is ORIGINALITY and rebellion to formula. From the opening, rock siren track “L.E.S. Artistes” to the stompin, you cant NOT groove to this “Creator” , to the haunting “Anne” there’s not a single track to skip over. Compare her to Siouxsie, The Pixies, Sleater Kinney..yaddi yaddi yaddi…yeah i hear it, but she put her own spin on everything. She has worked more behind the scenes on a bunch of other artist’s albums, such as; Res, Lily Allen and Ashlee Simpson. But Im assuming some of the behind the scenes stuff was just to pay the bills, as this woman needs to be upfront and center!

What a way to end an era. No longer recording as Halou, but growing and changing into the exciting Stripmall Architecture.

This album saw them make some of their best work to date. If you listen to the Halou LP discography from We Only Love You to Halou and all the MANY ep’s and things in between they’re growth and poetic brilliance is apparent. Ive been a long standing fan of the Coseboom’s music (they’re a couple, Rebecca and Ryan Coseboom) and am excited to see what they do with Stripmall. This last Halou album features guest artists like cellist and Rasputina, Imogen Heap collaborator Zoe Keating and the legendary Robin Guthrie (cocteau twins). It also holds some of the best Halou tracks ever, such as my favorites Clipped, Sneaky Creatures, It Will All Make Sense in the Morning, Breath Makes Smoke…ok, ok..pretty much the whole album! Haha!…..Dig It!

Thanks to this Ladyhawke, I can call this year 200EIGHTIES! Although it screams influences from the best of the 80’s, even non 80’s fans will dig this album! It has a certain present relevance to it. Honestly, i have no idea how she did it…but this album is genius. The videos for the songs just as so. Please watch the video for Back Of The Van! SO 80’s it hurts, but in the most entertaining kick ass way! Truly a creative mind. Its been a while since an album has had such a cohesive sound theme. A MUST HAVE, especially if you want to impress people with one of those “you haven’t heard of this, but you’ll love it and ill look like i know my schnizz” cds. You’ll be cool again! haha!

Already a legend in my book, Sia released her 3rd studio album, Some People Have Real Problems. Now I have heard of a solo album titled Only See, however can find little information on it. So this could technically be her 4th studio solo album..hmmm..(Mr. Russell any info??).  Well known for her work with Zero 7 and responsible for some of their best songs and biggest hits (in my opinion..zero 7 was a Sia showcase!). She launched, especially stateside, when her song Breathe Me was responsible for probably the best final scene in cable tv history when it closed out the finale of the show 6FEET UNDER. It was so moving and heart wrenching due to this incredible song. The song will give you goose bumps all on its own, its absolutely stunning. I’m sure after hearing it, every artist said at least in their head “wow, wish i wrote that!”. She experienced some label BS and then before you knew it..they were all knocking at her door! Her story is awesome and her future is bright. She is rumored to be working on some really big stuff and I’m sure every pop star who cant write songs is begging her to write for them! She is a must see live, her sense of humor will make you pee and her talent will make you cry. Then you’ll need some water, because that will drain you! She makes you feel like she has been your friend for many years and she is playing for a room full of her favorite buddies! Love this one!

They First got my attention with their song Are You The One? Which was used on SO You Think You Can Dance for a piece Mia Michaels choreographed for the two guy finalists. I had their album Beams, however didn’t give it much attention until that dance number. I listened again, and again and again. Then Apocalypso comes out and I just found a new favorite group. This cd was worlds better than Beams! I still am blasting this album. It contains a few of my favorite songs of the year as well, such as This Boys in Love and Talk Like That! They are poised to be one of the strongest electronic-y acts in a long time. This is their sophomore album, im curious to see if they are just beginning to make such great music and will continue to be so rad! Orrrrr, if this was their highlight and they will be gone in a couple years…we’ve seen it happen…I wont call any names out. However, i hope they will continue to fill my hard drive with songs that drive me crazy for years to come!

QUALITY! Really, that’s the best way to describe this album. Beautiful, bold production and sequencing skills. Ill admit, I am envious of Anthony Gonzalez’s talent. People like to throw them into the Shoegaze genre, but don’t let that turn you off. Some people associate that genre with boring, monotonous music to sulk or fall asleep to. They are very much not that. The music is so strikingly composed, the arrangements guide you through the wonderland that is M83. Songs start and continue to build and sometimes combust putting you into a euphoric, stop and smell the roses inducing trance. My favorite tracks, have got to be Skin of The Night, UP! and Couleurs.

Why wasnt ROBYN in your top 10 Lupo??!!

Because it was released in Europe and the rest of the world between 2005-2007 and I got it around 2006. It was just released here in the states in 2008. I didn’t include it because it was on my list when i first got it, but i could easily say its been a favorite of mine for the past couple years! I do an honorable mentions list, but this album deserves its own lil’ section. It by far her best album and is THE BEST pop album in a long time..long, long time! Because it doesn’t stop at POP, it got some hip-hop, dance, r&b, etc. This woman is an ever growing Empire.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

These two would’ve made my top 10 even more difficult had they come out a couple months earlier. But since they came out in December or I didn’t hear them until then, I haven’t given them enough playtime although i have given them a lot in a short time) for them to fairly make my top 10. They are:

Kelli Ali- Rockinghorse

Juliette Commagere-Queens Die Proudly

Loved these albums, but compared to my top 10 list..they just didn’t get as much play time….

Lykke Li- Youth Novels

Sigur Ros-MED………(not gonna try and spell it all, you wouldn’t be able to pronounce it anyway! haha)

Duffy-Rockferry

Raine Maida-The Hunters Lullaby

The Faint- Fasciinatiion

P!NK- Funhouse

OK LISTEN UP EVERYONE:

I’m a bit miffed that this artist has yet been able to break into the US, last year she came out with a kick ass album called Overpowered. She was the front woman of the band Moloko and has released two solo albums. Both are incredible..She is very ahead of the game, yet goes under the radar especially in the states. I am asking you to look, listen and spread the word…request, post, forward, blog, yap and scream about Roisin Murphy!