A Baker's Dozen : Volume 6

01 - UCLA's Awaken Accapella - "Hide And Seek" (Imogen Heap Cover). Two days ago, this magically appeared in my inbox courtesy of a friend. I don't have a clue about it except to say that it is amazing and gives me pleasant memories of The OC Season 2. | Website | Purchase |

02 - Brilliant Fanzine - "One In 10,000". Lame band name, amazing intro. Who starts songs with "And"? Genius. "And right from the time I met'cha, I couldn't forget'cha". | Website | Myspace |

03 - Pela - "The Trouble With River Cities". Very similar to the Beat Radio stuff and equally good. "And, yeah, there's an undertow, but it ain't got me". | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

04 - Shrag - "Hopelessly Wasted". This one makes me think of Comet Gain. Always a good thing. Our cover stars. | Myspace |

05 - Letters & Colours - "Confrontation". Trust me, once you get over the obvious Interpol and Joy Division leanings, this song still holds up. I was underwhelmed at first and now I'm into it. Ian would hopefully be proud.
| Website | Myspace |

06 - Neatpeople - "Baby I'm Bored". You can always count on a British dandy boy for a catchy tune. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

07 - Ohm - "Follow My Fate". Major change of pace from the other Ohm tune I posted, but this one works as well. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

08 - The Magic Numbers - "You Never Had It". I can't quite weigh in on the new CD yet, but those undeniable Magic Numbers hooks are all over this tune and it's like an old friend coming home. Welcome back. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

09 - Tokyo Police Club - "Box". "Cause I am a fake who sticks to his guns, it's what I know son, and it comes easy to a liar like me...". Autobiograpical moments are rarely this fun. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

10 - The Tyde - "Do It Again Again". The Tyde do for me in a pop way, what Fu Manchu do for me in a rock way. Classic 6Ts surf imagery and quality hooks to boot. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

11 - Aaron Espe - "Settling". Yet another "singer songwriter" who actually delivers the goods. Gorgeous. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

12 - We Are Scientists - "Hoppipolla" (Sigur Ros Cover). When I first heard about it, I scoffed. A Sigur Ros cover? Impossible, I thought. Well, here lies further proof that I can be a real idiot sometimes. This is so insanely impressive. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

13 - Guillemots - "Trains To Brazil" (Acoustic). If I was ever cornered in a back alley by some Pitchfork type with a loaded gun begging me to declare my favorite song ever, I'd (without hesitation) mutter "Trains to Brazil, you idiot" and walk away unscathed. I used to believe in the law of diminishing returns. Not anymore. "And to those of you who moan your lives through one day to the next / well, let them take you next / can't you live and be thankful you're here? / see it could be you tomorrow or next year". If there was one lesson that I could teach my unborn son, it would be just that. I've never heard gratitude phrased so beautifully. | Website | Myspace | Purchase |

The Real Danny Malone

As I've always said before, it's nice sometimes when you get completely thrown for a loop. One minute you are completely against skinny red-headed white-boy singer-songwriters in wifebeaters doing rock star leaps in empty parking lots and then the next minute you cannot (for the life of you) stop listening to the songs of said rock star leaper. It's insane.

Welcome to the Real Danny Malone (I think he primarily goes by 'Danny Malone' but his Myspace page is "The Real Danny Malone" and I think that much more accurately captures this guy's vibe, if you know what I mean).

As any frequent reader here knows, I'm a huge fan of good songwriters and this kid has such a complete knack for stringing a good song together. The techniques he sometimes employs are not always my typical faves (think Ben Folds piano, subdued emo yells, and lots of country action), but in his hands they all work. And his dynamics are so on.

Take "Sweet Annabelle" as a case study...
0:00 : Simple acoustic and vocal intro.
0:33 : Stronger acoustic build (with violins no less).
0:52 : Singing gives way to anguished (don't take me too seriously) yell complete with the occasional falsetto twist (thank you Martin & Buckley).
1:25 : Back to that build, doubled up with the "dah dah dahs".
2:02 : Uh oh, drop out time. Cue the bass drum.
2:07 : Cue the piano.
2:11 : Cue the frenzied violins.
2:25 : Cue the tambourine.
2:35 : Cue the handclaps.
2:45 : Cue other ambiguous percussion.
2:57 : Set the band loose on another noisy ride.
... and on and on... Is that a kids' chorus? How many harmonies can we handle? Did you just yell "hey"? Guitar feedback? A guitar solo? Did you just cut out again? More violins?

On paper it couldn't look more cliche. But in song, he completely pulls it off. I really shouldn't gush like a 14-year-old girl here, but I'm totally into this guy's tunes. Go Texas.

Danny Malone - "Sweet Annabelle".
Danny Malone - "Like A Curse".

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