Nick's Song of the Week

Paulson - Voids

Nickasaurus — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:27:42 +0000

Picking one song off All At Once was difficult. Even now, I’m not sure I shouldn’t have given you “Under Crowns” or “Not By a Long Shot” or “What Are You?” instead. But I’m going to go with the first track.

The best part about Paulson is the harmonies, which they have down pat. These aren’t Simon & Garfunkel or CSN harmonies, they sound eerie and unsettling and wonderful. I have been unable to stop listening to this album for the last week.

+/- - Leap Year

Nickasaurus — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:10:09 +0000

+/-’s previous album, You Are Here, contained a track called “Megalomaniac” which, to this day, is one of my favorite picks for this song list. That song was in 5/4; this one is in 7/4. The unusual rhythm is an endearing part of both tracks, but I also just adore the vocals and the double guitars. Speaking specifically of “Leap Year,” I can’t say I’ve ever heard an “arrow striking its target” sound used anywhere before.

This track is beautiful and puts me in a very contented place.

Oh, and they’re playing at Bottom of the Hill tonight (17 November 2006). You should see if you can make it!

Rogue Wave - Love’s Lost Guarantee

Nickasaurus — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 11:51:03 +0000

Their version of this at the Pat Spurgeon benefit was triumphant. Ever since that concert, I’ve been meaning to post this track, but I just kept putting it off. Well, you need wait no longer for this gem! Graphing this track by time vs. intensity would yield a pretty consistent increasing sawtooth, which is one of the things that makes it so satisfying. When they bust into the crescendo after a one beat pause, the fact that the lyrics are literally “Yeah, yeah, yeahyeah” doesn’t matter a whit.

Meric Long - Notes

Nickasaurus — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 02:13:32 +0000

I heard this song earlier this year, forgot about it, and just rediscovered it. I love it! It’s like a more upbeat Iron & Wine. This kid’s got talent. Thank you IPR!!!

The Velvet Teen - The Prize Fighter

Nickasaurus — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:32:45 +0000

I learned about this song from my friends Orb, Carl and Kyle a couple of years ago. Somehow it never made it on to the song of the week, which is a major oversight. This is one of my favorite Velvet Teen songs, with its incredibly catchy piano riff. This is their “Boxing,” but I actually like this one better than Ben’s.

The Frames - Finally

Nickasaurus — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:12:42 +0000

This guy has a normal voice, but this song calls for some operatics. And somehow, that makes the end result even better.

Birdy Nam Nam - Abbesses

Nickasaurus — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:02:56 +0000

This French group consists solely of four DJs. They do their DJ thing and yet somehow manage to make really catchy stuff. Sadly, this is far and away the best song on their album. But it’s worth it.

If you dig this track, you should go check out the video of them performing it. All sorts of fun.

I found out about these guys thanks to Nico, my former roommate. He was French too.

And in case you’re wondering about their name, the Wikipedia page has you covered.

From Monuments to Masses - Deafening

Nickasaurus — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:51:24 +0000

I went to see these guys with Denison Witmer and Saxon Shore. They were outstanding. Such a powerful set! I think this was my favorite song of the ones they played. Definitely go see these guys if they come through your town.

This band owes a lot to the likes of Explosions in the Sky, who I also happen to adore. (Especially The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. Go get that album right now. The whole thing.)

Elbow - Switching Off

Nickasaurus — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:33:04 +0000

The last time I linked to Elbow was 2003. They’ve come a very long way since then, with two excellent albums and a US tour under their belt. This track is from their second album, Cast of Thousands and is a gorgeous meditation on euthanasia. Every time I hear it, it reminds me of The Sea Inside.

If you’re looking for tracks to sample off their latest album, Leaders of the Free World, I recommend “Great Expectations” and “An Imagined Affair.”

Minus the Bear - Drilling

Nickasaurus — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:22:35 +0000

Can’t get enough of this song! I saw these guys at Coachella and they were great. The whole album is worth your time. They tend to sing about partying and drinking and women; this song is about an East coast vacation. All very upper-middle class.