| Burgo's Music Blog

Friday Music Roundup – The Dodos, Tokyo Police Club and Bodies of Water

The Dodos – Ashley

The Dodos - Fools
The Dodos have just released new track, “Ashley”

Aah, The Dodos. They look set to become a feature in the Friday Round-up, after appearing in our last round-up here. Yesterday, The Dodos released their new single from the – quite frankly, brilliant – Visiter album. A slow burner of a song, “Ashley” is less manic than their last track featured here, “Fools”, and instead is a wistful song with Nico-like hints here and there. Definitely well-worth a listen.

Tokyo Police Club – In A Cave

Tokyo Police Club

Whoops. My bad. I meant to post this track from Tokyo Police Club a while ago, but you know how things go… anyway, better late than never. Tokyo Police Club have been making big waves in the indie-rock world, and for good reason; singer Dave Monk has that kind of desperate, pleading voice that resonates these days, and with bright, clipped drumming, smooth synthesizers and hook-laden guitars, they have everything they need to make it big. This song, “In A Cave” (from their forthcoming release, “Elephant Shell”, due out April 22), is under 3 minutes long, but – as with most of their tunes – gets their point across pretty quickly.They’ve pretty much mastered the 2 minute pop-synth tune…

Bodies of Water – I Guess We’ll Forget the Sound, I Guess, I Guess

Bodies of Water (image credit: Laura Heffington)

I have no doubt that this track will polarise readers. You’ll either love it or hate, without exception. But the one thing it’s sure to do is intrigue you. I have to be honest, I can’t really stand much of Bodies of Water‘s other stuff. But something about this track, “I Guess We’ll Forget the Sound, I Guess, I Guess“, stands out to me… that swelling, Arcade Fire-like chorus, the unsettling aura about the song, and that moment of release around the 3:10min mark? Man… while it may not be your bag, I really suggest you give it a few spins… it’s a powerful tune.

It almost makes me forget that Bodies of Water once said this. Almost. But if you mess with Wilco, Jeff Buckley and Elvis Costello all in the first breath, you’re on extremely thin ice with me.

Still… it’s a cracking tune.

Friday Music Round-up – The Dodos, Patrick Park and Jason Schwartzman

I’m off down the coast for the weekend, with a lot of things to be sorted out before leaving; so this Friday’s post will be a round-up post. Lazy? Perhaps. Awesome tunes? Definitely.

Here’s a round-up of what’s been heating up our speakers this week:

Patrick Park – Here We Are

Rapidly becoming a firm favourite of ours, Patrick Park has once again been treating our ears this week. With this song, “Here We Are“, Patrick Park opens a new door in his songwriting talents; there’s something about this tune that seems more… sophisticated than his past releases.
It recalls something akin to the Cary Brothers view of pop aesthetics, and combines that with the warmth of a Matt Costa tune. And something about that opening riff just makes me thing about dusty, country roads. And when that coral chorus comes in? Man…

It’s a cracking tune, and is securing Patrick Park’s position as one of the premier songwriters in contemporary music.

Listen: Patrick Park – Here We Are
(From the 2007 release, Everyone’s in Everyone)

Coconut Records (Jason Schwartzman) – West Coast

Jason Schwartzman is a constant as one of my favourite artists, and whenever he releases some solo material it’s cause for excitement. Better known as indie actor (Rushmore, Spin et al), and one-time drummer for “Phantom Planet”, Jason seems to be this never-ending fountain of creativity.

His most recent project is “Coconut Music“; the moniker under which he has released a solo-album, entitled “Nighttiming”. As always with Schwartzman, Coconut Music certainly won’t be for everyone. I hope you give this offering, “West Coast“, a try however, and check out his other tunes on the Coconut Music myspace page.

Listen: Coconut Music – West Coast
(Orders available from http://www.youngbabyrecords.com/)

The Dodos – Fools

Again, I’m not sure this song will be to everyone’s tastes; The Dodos occupy that uncomfortable ground between acoustic troubadours and freak-folk – much like Animal Collective. That said, this tune, “Fools“, has me interested. The frantic strumming of guitarist and lead singer Meric Long’s guitar, coupled with the steady clicking of drummer Logan Kroeber’s beat makes for a steamroller of a song, unrelenting right up to the very last 30 seconds or so.
Take a listen, and let me know what you think.

Oh; and I happen to think the video is pretty sweet as well, so here it is:

And, in mp3 format…

Listen: The Dodos – Fools
(From the “Visiter” album, due out 18 Mar, 2008)