Fresh Track + Video: Palomino “Ponte Vecchio”
The New England Patriots and their fans are set to infiltrate my turf as they have earned a trip to Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI. My biggest nightmare has turned into a dark reality as Billy Cundiff decided to channel his true, inner Ray Finkle. While it is yet to be seen whether or not Mr. Cundiff goes Louis Einhorn on all of us, I struggle with finding a coping mechanism during these next two weeks. While I will opt to take cover in my downtown apartment to avoid the pain, I have decided to turn to the only thing that can possibly put my soul at ease – music.
It is my best guess that a myriad of residents from this great city will show their support to the Patriots opposition. New York Giants fans will be accepted and embraced by Hoosiers abound. What better way to leverage this new partnership than by using this blog to support the great music that comes from the Big Apple. I introduce you to New York’s Palomino.
Palomino is comprised of Elijah Campbell and Mike Sweeney. The duo is set to drop their self-titled, debut EP on at Ella in NYC on February 17. Their influences consist of Built to Spill, The Clash, and the Replacements. Not a bad set of bands to look to for inspiration. I was impressed when I saw the video for their single “Ponte Vecchio” and hope it is the first of many NYC bands I choose to cover as we lead up to the moment when all eyes are on Indianapolis. I welcome all of our readers to not only listen to Palomino, but use it as an East Coast elixir during times of despair leading up to the big game.
Connect with Palomino via Facebook | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Fresh Track: Esta Vivo “We Do the Skies”
Está Vivo is the project of Chicago native Ryan McMahon. As his former band disintegrated in 2009, McMahon has used Está Vivo as his sounding board. His tropical pop filled guitar riffs look to fight the frigid conditions us Midwesterners are surrounded with right now. Song, “We Do the Skies” allows me to teleport to a sunny solace. As I avoid the brisk winter, I listen to this song while reflecting in my apartment. The brackish stained hardwood floors of my apartment show their winter wear. As I peel back the blinds my imagination takes me south. It feels like a sandy beach replaces the salty streets. Each guitar note in this track allows me to look for my castle in the sky. Hallucination or not, this fantasy is not only accepted, but also mandatory for my raw winter blues. This is a remedy to help me find my rapture. For a moment this song provides me a warming relieve that even my heat vents can’t match. Join my comfort by pressing play. It is your change to let this figment scrape away your slush.
Connect to Está Vivo via Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp
Written by Brett McGrath
Album Review: Chairlift ‘Something’
I am a firm believer that you can tell everything you need to know about a person by what music they listen to. When I meet someone new, I’m not going through your medicine cabinet; I want to see your record collection. I want to see what you listen to when you’re happy, sad, celebrating, and relaxing. I want to hear what you play when you leave work and what song you want to hear on a Saturday night out. A mix tape is not just a collection of songs, it’s really a look into who you are as a person at that moment and time in life. And if you tell me you aren’t that into music, well, we probably won’t have much to talk about.
Chairlift is the type of band I want someone else to know I’m into. Artsy electro pop with a gorgeous female vocal – that’s my style. Something is the first release by Chairlift since 2008’s Does You Inspire You featuring hit “Bruises” which most of America will remember hearing in an Apple commercial. A trio on their first full length, Chairlift is now solely the duo of Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly as original founding member Aaron Pfenning left the group following the end of his relationship with Caroline. And while Caroline’s voice still stands out as piercingly beautiful as on the first record, there is a more polished sound beneath her this time around.
“Sidewalk Safari”
No longer having Aaron’s vocal involved, Caroline’s voice takes on a much larger role in Something. While Aaron’s voice allowed for some back and forth between the two, it also made Chairlift’s sound lack a true identity. “Sidewalk Safari”, the album’s first track, features a wickedly good beat with Caroline assuming the role of a maniacal bloodthirsty woman. With the range in her voice acting like a weapon she leads you on her rampage singing, “I’m going to hunt you down; I’m going to run you down.”
“Amanaemonesia”
The maturity of the subject matter the band explored from the first LP is evident with Caroline’s willingness to dive into her failed relationship with Aaron on tracks “Wrong Opinion”, “I Belong in Your Arms”, and “Take It Out on Me” where she emotionally sings, “Forget forgiveness, forget all the rules. Just please don’t do it here.” “Amanaemonesia” is a faster, more upbeat electro-driven track, armed with a slick little bass beat and a catchy chorus that is ultimately one of the more fun listens on the album. Admittedly, not all is great as I feel the album falls off a bit towards the last three songs with “Turning” being more ambient sound filler than anything else.
“Met Before”
In all, it’s a fantastic album that shows the evolution of two extremely talented individuals. While the wait for this sophomore LP was certainly lengthy, its quality of sound and improvement from the previous album makes it well worth it. Something will be available January 24th, so make sure to get out to your local record store this week to get your copy.
Connect with Chairlift via Facebook | Twitter
Written by Greg Dahman
Thought on Tracks 