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Top Tunes Thursday

19 stories

Black-and-white portrait of a man with dark, swept-back hair and a geometric cube-patterned shirt, with a "Will Butler

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Will Butler — PolicyAs the year comes to a close, all us music geeks can finally start openly discussing the “best of” lists that have been taking up valuable storage in our brains.Clark Lamson · Dec 3, 2015

Painted circle of a colorful night sky with a shooting star over a rocky mountain silhouette.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Khruangbin — The Universe Smiles Upon YouWhile I find the majority of instrumentals have a regional style, not always glaring, but almost always present. L.A. jazz, Delta Blues, the sample heavy style of production prevalent in the East coast, generally speaking there’s something you can grab on to. Khruangbin plays like a musical atlas, sending fiery frets to Japan, then Brazil, and back over to Africa. The eighth track, cheekily titled “The Man Who Took My Sunglasses,” almost creates the illusion of needing them. Blinding sun beams reflect off polished surfboards and sparkling fret boards, cutting through swirling cigarette smoke on its way. Four tracks earlier, guitarist Mark Speer cools the jets to a low roar, infusing in its exhaust at first a wiff of the Far East, then an utterly American crashing collapse of guitar, amp, and kit.Clark Lamson · Nov 19, 2015

Photo for “Top Tunes Thursday: Coldplay — Adventure Of A Lifetime”

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Coldplay — Adventure Of A LifetimeThe track is joyful in a resurgent kind of way. Driving leads and a surprisingly groovy rhythm for a pop band (let alone a pop band of such drear and atmosphere) cloud your mind like the smoke from a caterpillar’s hookah. It’s relentless and irresistibly toe tapping. Jam packed into their wooing, if not predictable, brand of pop are notes of Earth Wind & Fire, Phoenix, and fretwork from U2’s The Edge as well as modern pop titans, like Pharell, Justin Timberlake, and Daft Punk, especially the latter, considering their recent poppy-funky love affair. I feel the song chip away at winter’s frost, and as frontman Chris Martin heralds chorus after chorus of “I feel alive again!” I can’t help but agree.Clark Lamson · Nov 12, 2015

Black background with white text reading "Alabama Shakes" and "Joe, Live from Austin City Limits.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Alabama Shakes — JoeStylistically, the track actually falls nicely between the two records, meshing cozy Southern hospitality with smoldering soul. The tune kicks off slow, enchant us with us a gated chrous across shiny pickups. Not long thereafter, the incomparable Brittany Howard welcomes herself to the track. At this point, it borders on the clichéd to talk about the thundering soul machine that are the pipes of Brittany Howard, but the vocal, as is typical for most Alabama Shakes content, truly is the star of the show. Murphy works the crowd like melted ropes of taffy, jumping from croon to croan at the pluck of a string. It’s a joy to listen to her work, and the crowd feels the same.Clark Lamson · Nov 5, 2015

Black-and-white ink illustration of mystical skulls, spirals, and figures framing the word FUZZ at center.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Fuzz — IITy Segal’s Fuzz looks to dustier paragons of noise like Sabbath, Wolfmother, The Hives and The Eagles of Death Metal and says “we’ll take it from here.” The sounds born within the mildewed and crawling horror swamp that is Segal’s musical brain can only be truly appreciated in the context of honestly curious rock exploration. When you’re talking about pushing the guitar to its structural and audial limits, about reaching to the very corners of our musical expectations and poking a finger over the line, Ty Segall is the only one we millennials can claim for our own. Like the artful goofballs of old (Bowie, Reed) Segall is relentlessly catapulting himself from project to project, with no love lost in between.Clark Lamson · Oct 29, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Edge of Daybreak — Eyes of LoveIn 1979, a group of musicians bound by circumstance gathered in earnest to craft their first album.Clark Lamson · Oct 22, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: The Garden — hahaThis week, I stumbled across Orange, California duo, The Garden. Founded by twin brothers Fletcher and Wyatt Shears, The first couple of vexing seconds told me I had found a winner. I wouldn’t describe the clattered natterings of The Garden weird (though you wouldn’t be wrong to do so), so much as unexpected. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing or listening to at the time, The Garden is a non sequitur.Clark Lamson · Oct 15, 2015

Glitched, green-tinted album art of a figure in a red patterned jacket among flying birds under a purple sky.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Denzel Curry — 32 Zel / Planet ShroomsTwo weeks ago, while I was researching the newest Little Simz record (review here) I came across a list of “rappers to watch for.” Little Simz was featured for her E.D.G.E EP and…Clark Lamson · Oct 8, 2015

Gold statue of two nude figures embracing on a pedestal against a starry black background.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Big Grams — Self TitledI’d like to see the “to do list” for this record. It must read something like: “1. Make awesome music. 2. See #1.” Yes, it’s simple, but it’s simply fun. If Big Grams set out to make music to dance/copulate to, I think they hit the nail on the head. Phantogram released their most recent record last year, and the last time OutKast put out new music, I was a Junior in highschool. (Wow, I’m old.) While there doesn’t appear to be any tour dates in Big Grams’ future, I guess you’ll just have to settle for playing this record on repeat.Clark Lamson · Oct 1, 2015

Pencil sketch of three figures: one crowned, one in a cap, one with a skull design, plus an explicit content label.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Little Simz — A Curious Tale of Trials + PersonsImagine you know someone who wants to be a world renowned rapper.Clark Lamson · Sep 24, 2015

Album cover for Beirut's No No No, with a framed photo of pink blossoming trees on a teal background.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Beirut — No No NoWhen I find a new artist (whether it be a new single, a new album, or by recommendation) if I can, I like to start at the beginning of their discography.Clark Lamson · Sep 17, 2015

Black-and-white portrait of a man with a dark beard exhaling smoke, wearing a leather vest and tattooed arms.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Travis $cott — RodeoWhen your first public appearance has you labeled as a protege of Kanye West, it’s safe to say you travel with heavy expectations on your shoulders. When Travi$ Scott was revealed as one of the top producer’s behind West’s blistering thrash-rap opus, Yeezus, the countdown to his solo album began. While his debut EP Owl Pharaoh failed to impress, his follow-up Days Before Rodeo did much to increase the appetites of Scott’s swelling fanbase. Now, two plus years after the source of his fame, Travi$ Scott has released his highly anticipated solo record, Rodeo. Without giving too much away, it lives up to the name.Clark Lamson · Sep 10, 2015

Bearded man's bare chest under an open denim shirt, with a large turquoise squash blossom necklace and hands gripping it.

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats — Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night SweatsIn the early summer of 2010, my best friend bought me tickets to see one of my favorite performers at the time, Tallest Man on Earth.Clark Lamson · Aug 27, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Teen Daze — Morning WorldThe morning can be rough for some people. Your bones are creaky, your vision foggy. You might be hungry, and you almost definitely have to pee. The whole thing just feels like a hassle. For most of my life, I was one of these people. I don’t know, maybe it comes with age or something, but now some of my earliest moments of the day end up being some of my favorite moments. The sun’s barely awake, and already, people all across the newly glowing portion of the country are getting up to start their day, just like you. That thought and a cup of coffee often gets my days started fairly well. This quiet meditation, and the feelings that surround it, are the thesis of the new Teen Daze record, Morning World. This is Teen Daze’s (who goes by the monomous “Jamison” in professional life) first full length release since 2012’s Glacier.Clark Lamson · Aug 20, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Ultimate Painting —Green LanesFormerly of the bands Mazes and Veronica Falls, respectively, the gentlemen became fast friends when their bands went on tour with each other, Mazes opening for VF. After bonding over musical tastes, as well as those of film and television, the pair began jamming together. It didn’t take long for a friendship to become a partnership, and it would be named Ultimate Painting.Clark Lamson · Aug 13, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Quantic Presents The Western Transient — A New ConstellationThis week, Will “Quantic” Holland released the debut record for a new side project. Holland is a man of many projects, including The Quantic Soul Orchestra, The Limp Twins, Quantic and his Combo Barbaro, as well as numerous one on one collaborations. His latest is called Quantic Presents The Western Transient, and the record, A New Constellation. At seconds under the 3/4 hour mark, the record delivers ten locations for his dream jazz vacation, and is recorded with artists and performers handpicked by the maestro. From balmy Caribbean, to melodic 70’s, A New Constellation is a warm and snuggly love letter to jazz and soul music, with just enough “Quantic” thrown in.Clark Lamson · Aug 6, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Kurt Vile — Pretty PimpinOf all the musical instruments iconic to American music, the paramount would be the guitar. Although blues music originally came in the form of African spirituals and hymnals, it was changed forever when it met it’s six stringed soul mate. Rock n’ roll, arguably the most American genre there is, was built around the glistening tones of the 1957 Gibson ES-350 T. For Kurt Vile, Pennsylvania born indie rocker, the guitar is both the means and the end.Clark Lamson · Jul 30, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Ben Folds — Phone In a Pool / Capable of AnythingIt’s been a long time since I was first introduced to the sonorous sounds of Ben Folds, but he’s still making music. This week, Folds released some of the first new material since his 2008 record, Way To Normal, which was followed with a college a-capella record, and a compilation album. The two singles, titled “Phone in a Pool” and “Capable of Anything” instantly remind me of what I found so appealing as a rolly-polly youngster, and what I still find appealing as a, well, rolly-polly not-so-youngster.Clark Lamson · Jul 23, 2015

MusicTop Tunes Thursday: Ezra Furman — Perpetual Motion PeopleFrenetic and shaky, Furman delivers a parcel of tunes so jam packed of intention it’s hard not to break down in some punk rock convulsion, hunched over your air piano, banging out imaginary chords. While not as feverishly paced as his usual fare, “Lousy Connection,” a lead single, lays the toothy lyrical musings over a groovy doo-wop, shining light on Furman’s sensitive side.Clark Lamson · Jul 16, 2015