“Little Bribes” by Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie’s new EP, The Open Door, contains songs that were left off of their last full-length, Narrow Stairs. It also includes a demo version of “Talking Bird,” a track that did make it onto Narrow Stairs.

Click here and launch the audio to listen to the entire EP.

“D.A.R.L.I.N.G” by Beach House

Beach House

I have been listening to Beach House and School of Seven Bells all week. School of Seven Bells inflicts an engulfing and trance-ish type of dream-like state, while Beach House enforces a more relaxing dream-like state. Needless to say, these two bands have put me in a foggy kind of mood all week. I was driving to work this morning, in a surprising amount of traffic considering it is Good Friday, and usually traffice makes me all uptight. Today I was driving along listening to Beach House in a content daze. “D.A.R.L.I.N.G” off of Beach House’s album titled Devotion can be found on itunes.

Beach House - Devotion - D.A.R.L.I.N.G.

“You Can Have What You Want” by Papercuts

I think it is funny when I continuously see the same descriptive words being used by music comentators. While a lot of writers impress me with their terminology and phrasing, others regurgitate what they read. Hey, I’m not passing judgement. After all, I do the same damn thing! You start to run out of adjectives after a while.

Anyway, with that being said the following vocabulary was used in NPR’s All Songs Considered today by writer Michael Katzif: hazzy; oscillating; ghostly; and my favorite, otherworldly. Alex Scully from Beach House gave a hand in the proliferation of this track which makes sense, as these words describe the-beach-house-sound as well.

[audio:Papercuts – You Can Have What You Want.mp3]

“You Can Have What You Want” by Papercuts
Papercuts - You Can Have What You Want (Bonus Track Version) - You Can Have What You Want

Papercuts

Analogy: Music and Cheesecake

Cheesecake

Neil McCormick, colomnist for the British broadsheet, The Telegraph, has this to say regarding the idea that we are reaching a saturation point due to the accessibility of music. He builds on theorist Dr. Steven Pinker’s description of music as “auditory cheesecake.”

“Throughout human history, the sugar and fat (both energy-rich foods) which are the main ingredients of cheesecake were scarce, so a strong desire to eat them evolved. As refined sugar became abundant in the modern age, so obesity and other health-related issues arose. If music also evolved in a period of relative scarcity, what happens when it is so abundant it sates appetites beyond our needs?”

“Beyond Here Lies Nothing” by Bob Dylan

On April 28th Bob Dylan will release his 33rd studio disc, Together Through Life. If you missed the free download have a listen below to “Beyond Here Lies Nothing.”

Bob Dylan

[audio:BobDylan_BeyondHereLiesNothin.mp3]

“Beyong Here Lies Nothin'” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life - Beyond Here Lies Nothin'

“Daniel” by Bat for Lashes

Bat for Lashes’ new album, Two Suns, was released today in the UK and Europe. “Daniel” is featured on Pitchfork’s Best New Tracks along with “Glass” from this album.