je s u s ▲ by b <– listen/download on Bandcamp

Butterfly Bones – “♥“

If you listen to KWVA regularly, this synth-pop band may sound familiar, as their delightfully bouncy “xoxo” received quite a bit of airplay last spring. On their “Pretty Feelings” EP, the band employs retro synthesizers to make Cyndi Lauper-inspired pop tunes with light psychedelic touches. Because of this, I often think of Butterfly Bones as a groovier version of Portland’s Starfucker.

Butterfly Bones – “xoxo”

On paper, it seems like it should be easy to dislike this band. A more cynical critic could write a list of complaints without much effort. They have song titles like “xoxo” and “♥.” Their Facebook page lists their location as “San Frandi$co.” And how tired must music critics be of using the phrase “The Eighties” when describing a band’s sound these days? But Butterfly Bones succeeds simply because they lack the condescending snarkiness of many other 80s revivalists. They remind me of Passion Pit because they make cheerful and bittersweet synth-pop without any hints of it being some kind of ironic joke, but they never really delve into the same heart-on-the-sleeve emotionality of Passion Pit. Butterfly Bones just wants to have fun, write love songs, and groove to low-key dance music. What’s wrong with writing happy music for happy people?

Kevin Van Aelst

BEAT CONNECTION

In less than a year, Beat Connection has gone from making laptop music in their You Dub dorm rooms to playing at SXSW and opening for the Go Team in San Francisco on 4/20 (which is arguably the most perfect 4/20 concert headliner since Günther at the EMU on 4/20/08).  On their debut EP, Surf Noir, the duo combines sunny surf-rock vibes with electronic grooves that range from chilled out to funky. Think of it as Dick Dale with a drum machine, or Best Coast produced by JJ in the 90s.  The music has an escapist quality to it, which is probably to be expected when a band from the Pacific Northwest attempts beach party music.  If the constant rain of the past few weeks has turned your thoughts of summer into some distant, hazy memory, then groove to these delightful beats.

“In the Water“

“Sunburn”

“Theme from Yours Truly”

JORDAN HEFFERNAN

Future/current celebrity director Jordan Heffernan has made his debut with a music video for local model-turned-beatmaker Chilly Willy. The video documents a day in the life of Chilly, which apparently includes waking up, eating french fries and bacon, smoking a fat blunt on a bicycle, turning lecture halls into dance parties, grooving on a rooftop, DJing a house party, and leading the least organized arm-waving of a crowd in recorded human history. Critics are calling it the only music video that anyone has ever liked. Roger Ebert gave it an enthusiastic “thumbs,” with no indication of whether they were pointed up or down. Simply put, Jordan Heffernan is making the internet go buck wild right now, and it’s high time to hop on the bandwagon.

“Wayfarers“

TYLER THE CREATOR: YONKERS MUSIC VIDEO BY PRETTY EYES from Josh Kennett on Vimeo.

This is a music video I made from B-movie horror flicks from the 80′s and victoria secret commercials. I hope it entices/repulses you.

See the original music video by Mr. T here

Featuring work from Quinn Robinson, Ginger Chen, and Arthaya Nootecharas. The Show runs March 7-11.

Who the heck knows what ‘good art’ is, but I know what I like. I  like pretty things, pretty things like the photographer/installation artist, Noemie Goudal, makes.

In her 2009 photo series, Goudal explores the concept of escapism by inserting new spaces into others. The effect is dreamlike, where the reality of the new element is clearly impossible, but its presence somehow makes sense.

Goudal’s choice of presenting photographs as the final stage of the series, not the installations, draws attention to the format itself. The installation is dependent on its existence outside of a gallery, so the photographs become reflexive – forcing the viewer to step a degree further into the space.

To me the photos are very ‘Frodo-waking-up-in-the light-filled Rivendell-bedroom after destroying the ring’: They’re just so beautiful and serene you that think you’re still dreaming, but you’re not and that’s nice. DO you feel me?

noemiegoudal.com

My favorites of the series are when people try to make the dull, open mouth baby expression. I’m trying to do it right now…duurrrrrr

http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/

The Thermals, a staple of the Portland indie rock scene, made their way to Eugene last night for some high energy pop-punk.

The show opened with Eugene band The Blimp.  Although I only caught a few of their songs, they seemed wacky and fun…like a pillow fight!  Next, a former Eugenian and currently Portlandian band, Whitefang, took the stage.  Their  in-your-face rowdiness and scorching guitar licks got some of the crowd amped, and a small mosh pit was formed.  It seemed like Whitefang’s idea was to have as much fun as possible on stage and hope it rubbed off on the crowd.  They reminded me of the people who show up to a party way drunker than everyone else, but you’re not really bothered by it because everyone’s having a good time.  I assume the people who didn’t mosh felt otherwise.  The show climaxed with a crowd surfing attempt from the lead singer that ended up being mostly just a tackle from above.  It was very Randy Savage-esque.

The Thermals brought the party with their power-pop-meets-punk sound.  They played new songs, but mostly stuck to classics, much to the nostalgiac delight of former 503 residents.  The mosh pit was rowdy but caring, with everyone hopping and shoving gleefully to songs like “No Culture Icons” and “Here’s Your Future.”  For indie rock fans who would rather sway than mosh at a concert, Thermals shows are often a cathartic experience, allowing fans to joyfully let some aggression out while shouting along with Hutch Harris’ sly biblical references and concerns about the modern political landscape.  By the end of their set, much of the crowd looked like it was ready to pass out, but still worked up the energy to rock out once more to an encore of two classic songs, ending with “Our Trip” from their 2nd album, “Fuckin’ A.”  After that, the crowd took their sweaty bods to the streets, where they were pleasantly welcomed by a balmy 50 degee  night.  Fifty degrees! Can you believe that shit?!   So warm for a January night.

1. Delorean – “Grow”
This song is my number one because I think it’s the most uplifting song of the year. Like many songs on “Subiza” (my favorite album of the year), this song is thick and sweet, like maple syrup. But it’s not a straight sugar-rush kind of song. There is a nostalgic undertone throughout the song that turns it from a feel-good house jam to a bittersweet anthem.

2. Onra – “High Hopes”
Onra takes the “chillwave” approach to a new level that deserves to be taken more seriously than many of the bandwagon-hopping artists who basically are saying, “So, remember the 90s?” (Washed Out and Neon Indian are exempt from this statement). For this track, the Parisian producer slows down an obscure 80s sample, thickens and filters the beat, and adds synths to make a wall of sound. Right now this is probably sounding like typical chillwave. But instead of merely inducing nostalgia, Onra makes a super slick beat that doesn’t sound like anything that could have come out before 2010. On his other tracks, Onra manipulates samples brilliantly and lets the chopped up beats do the talking. But on this vocal-driven track he basically just takes smooth funk to outer space and produces it as if he’s a leftfield hip hop beatmaker. It’s like chillwave without all the shyness. Above all else, it was just a sweet R&B jam I could blast in the Volvo this summer with the windows down.

3. Breakbot – “Baby I’m Yours”
This is just a really awesome disco song. More modern dance producers should realize what Breakbot realizes; Good production and cool sound effects will only get you so far. Good dance music still ultimately relies on good songwriting and melody.

4. Bag Raiders – “Sunlight”
“Sunlight” is an extremely over-the-top and sugary aural assault. This catchy electro-pop song just throws everything it can at you to make you dance. There is a lack of grooviness in this song, which is odd for the Bag Raiders, but the ungrooviness is supplemented by its intensity.

5. Big Boi – “Shutterbugg”
The beat is a wonderful homage to old school funk, from the Soul II Soul “Back to Life” reference to the heavy usage of vocoders (not autotune) in the bassline and also the chorus melody. Roger Troutman would have been proud. The speedy and articulate rapping is very impressive as well. The free associative lyrical style reminds me of “A Milli,” except there’s no room to breathe. It’s more difficult to dissect. If “A Milli” is train-of-thought, “Shutterbugg” is a bullet train.

6. Sleigh Bells – “Kids”
Like most of the album, “Kids” is just a really badass song with a gangsta beat and raunchy guitars. Sleigh Bells is end of the day music because whatever you put on afterwards is going to sound boring by comparison.

7. Flying Lotus – “Computer Face: Pure Being”
This song sounds organic and natural despite being very electronic based. The fried synths tumble and whirl with the beat and keep expanding without the obvious stacking of instruments that many electronic artists succumb to. The synths just seem to grow and tangle like vines.

8. Butterfly Bones – “<3”
You really don’t need a good reason to like a song as fun as this one. For Portlanders, consider this up and coming San Francisco band the less psychedelic version of Starfucker. Why wouldn’t you want to listen to fun 80s teenybopper synth-pop made by white male hipsters in 2010?

9. Earl Sweatshirt – “Earl”
If you are a rap fan and you haven’t checked out Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All yet, you need to. This collective of ten teenagers has come out with 8 albums this year, and as far as I can tell they’re all good. They have a DIY aesthetic and look up to experimental composers and electronic artists more than rappers. And I haven’t been so creeped out by lyrics since I was eight years old and Eminem came out. And that’s when I was eight! Consider OFWGKTA the modern day art-punk version of the Wu Tang Clan. Earl Sweatshirt is only 16 and probably the best rapper of the group. The song’s production overpowers the vocals when listened to on headphones; the rapping is buried deep in a blizzard of sound. And when you turn to the bass down to hear the lyrics better, it’s a completely different experience. The rhymes are super complex and the flow is extremely fluid. Everything about the song can only be described as disorienting. Go to Oddfuture.com and download all their albums.

10. Broken Social Scene – “Texico Bitches”
On this song, BSS doesn’t sound like they’re trying to impress anyone. This is one of the only times I could ever use the word “solid” to describe a rock song and mean it as a compliment. It’s just well-made indie rock.

11. Javelin – “Dep”
This song really captures the sticky desperation of a late-summer heatwave. The beat seems to pour of the speakers like it’s melting onto the street.

12. Beat Connection – “In the Water”
This is like the chilled out electronic version of Wavves. It’s surf-rock for laptop owners, and I love it. Kind of reminds me of jj at times, except with more sass.

13. Twin Shadow – “Slow”
I usually hate to resort to reductionism like this, but if you like gothy 80s pop like New Order and Depeche Mode, you’ll probably like this song a lot. It’s got beautiful atmosphere with a dark edge, and a soaring chorus.

14. Crystal Castles – “Vietnam”
The intro to this song is probably the most menacing thing I heard all year. The buzzing drone at the beginning sounds like it came straight from a classic B horror movie, and once the beat kicks in the song is just slick and spooky.

15. The Apples in Stereo – “Told You Once”
This song solidifies the Apples in Stereo as the modern indie ELO. All the cheesey aspects of this song are crammed in perfectly, from the vocoded harmonies on the bridge to the cowbell (cowbell!!!), and it features all the songwriting ingredients to concoct a perfect feel-good springtime jam.

16. Wavves – “Post Acid”
Wavves’ 2010 album was raucously fun so-cal pop punk. If your secret love of Blink-182 isn’t actually a secret at all, this song is for you. I kind of want to use the phrase “slacker anthem” in this mini-review but I would probably sound like a tool if I did.

17. Cee Lo – “Fuck You”
Does anything really need to be said? It was the catchiest song of the year, but it couldn’t be overplayed and thus ruined because no radio station would play a song called “Fuck You.” The perfect hit song for the youtube age.

18. Gorillaz – “On Melancholy Hill”
Damon Albarn is just a genius. Not only does he make sick beatz, he’s a great pop songwriter as well.

19. Mitchell Sumner – “Can You Cee?”

This beautiful psychedelic meditation was my favorite off of Mitch’s debut. It uses repetition perfectly, the main mantra altering enough throughout the song to make sure the structure is built up well. And the breakdowns happen at the perfect spots. Whenever everything comes to a climax, something psychedelic and simple bursts out that keeps the tension.  Support this local Eugene musician.

20. The Jet Age of Tomorrow – “Don’t Tell the Mermaids”
This instrumental album from the OFWGKTA collective shows that the producers in the group are more than just hip hop beat-makers. This jazz-influenced song sounds like it came from another planet. The abrupt ending is the only disappointing aspect of the song. And the title isn’t just some random stoned phrase like many instrumental hip hop songs are. The title totally fits, because listening to this song feels like going on a deep-sea adventure.

21. Kanye West – “Runaway”
When I listened to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” I didn’t really believe the “Kanye’s masterpiece” talk until about halfway through this song. It’s the only song on the album where I can actually empathize with Kanye. It’s the only song where he sounds like a real person. I also think it’s important that rappers of his stature push the boundaries. He’s really doing something different than “sample, beat, rhyming couplets, hook” like most mainstream rappers do. There’s really nothing about this song that makes it hip hop actually. I wouldn’t even call Kanye a rapper anymore, just a musician who doesn’t know how to sing. Anyways, this song is rad. I consider it to be Kanye’s “Purple Rain,” because “Purple Rain” is another rad nine minute epic by a genre-hopping superstar. Even if you don’t care for new Kanye, I’d reccomend this track.

22. Guilty Simpson – “OJ Simpson”
Madlib is one of the best producers in hip hop today, and he usually works with rappers like MF DOOM who share his alternative bent. So it’s cool to hear weird Madlib beats with typical “hard” lyrics over them. Guilty Simpson raps in a gruff voice about how he’s a better MC than you and he isn’t afraid of you and stuff like that. Plus it’s super interesting to hear Madlib’s take on a gangsta rap beat.

23. The Last Electro Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble – “Shades of Phil”
This is not only a cool song (and album), but a cool concept. The Last Electro Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble is one of Madlib’s many jazz bands in which he is the only member. Minus guest performers and live shows, Madlib plays all the instruments in these free jazz tunes. What other hip hop producer does that? Madlib is crazy.

24. The Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)
Nothing much needs to be said about this gorgeous anthem of suburban life. The lyrics are about finding the beauty in living in suburban sprawl, which matches the beautiful sprawl of the fluttering, expansive beat and melody.

25. Lil Wayne – 6’7′

I only heard this song for the first time three days ago, and it has about 20 plays in my itunes already.   The beat is ridiculous, the rhymes are slanted as ever, and the wordplay is hilarious.  “Real Gs move in silence like lasagna” is one of the best rap one-liners I’ve heard in a while.  Man, if all of Lil Wayne’s songs were this good, he really would be the best rapper alive.

That…was a long blog post.  Fuck.