June is here and a flurry of new releases are hitting the sound waves by storm. While heavyweight rockers are adding to their deep discographies, an English electronic duo makes their full length debut and a couple singles really caught our ears. Rock Genius clues you into the most significant lyrics of the week, that belong on any respectable playlist.
-- Spinelli
5. The National "Humiliation"
"Tunnel vision lights my way/
Leave a little life today"
The National's Trouble Will Find Me debuted this week at #3 on the Billboard 200 in a coup d'etat of sorts for the seasoned indie rockers from Ohio. This kind of traction on the charts is rare for a band from the "indie" realm, but as soon as Bryan Devendorf's drums become audible and singer Matt Berninger signature baritone voice enter the track, we're in a trance. Berninger captures the anxiety-filled emotion of walking aimlessly through a city at night with nothing but a jaded outlook to serve as street signs. Coping with being an adult breeds a mature rock album and this track is as polished as they come.
4. Disclosure - "F For U"
"I've been infected with restless whispers and cheats/
That manifested in words and lies that you speak"
The long awaited LP, Settle from UK electronica duo Disclosure is finally upon us and it's a marvelous collection of club bangers and electronicapop (i just made that up). While Howard Lawrence sings of being "infected" with lies from a lover, the listener's ears are infected with one the most well-produced dance beats of the year. Disclosure differentiates themselves by their shear accessibility as compared to the bubble-gum EDM many of us hate. The disco-soul grooves of "F for U" alongside the ambitious vocals set the track apart from what's still a near perfect electronic collection of tracks.
3. Hot Chip - "Dark & Stormy"
"In your room a forest grew/
Walk through and lift your blues"
The band that seemingly never sleeps is taking us on yet another "walk". Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard and company weave an electro tale of lifting one's lover out of a funk. The imagery of a forest growing in one's room creates a world which we ponder throughout the song. The signature pop crescendo into the chorus introduces a handful of keys and whistles that affirm the listener that "Yup...this IS a Hot Chip song." Sadly, there is no plan for 'Dark & Stormy' to be on any upcoming albums, but if we know Hot Chip well enough, this isn't the last trick up their sleeve for the year.
2. Capital Cities feat. Andre 3000 - "Farrah Fawcett Hair"
"Enjoying ceviche in Peru and seeing a double rainbow/
While listening to b**hes Brew as recorded by Miles Davis"
These are a few things that get the creative juices flowing for Capital Cities (according to the well-known voice of NPR, Frank Tavares). This band is just plain fun and they bring in one of the funnest dudes in the world in Andre 3000 to sing about cultural icons like the 'Thriller' album and Farrah Fawcett's style inspiring, lush blonde mane. And really, who doesn't like b**hes Brew, double rainbows and ceviche? As Capital Cities would say, these things are all "good sh**."
1. Queens of the Stone Age "Smooth Sailing"
"I blow my load over the status quo, here we go"
Lyric of the week? More like lyric of the year. Man...No one does the pompous rock and roller act better than lead singer Josh Homme. This guy's got the resume to pull it off too. On their 6th LP, QOTSA bring in Sir Elton John, Dave Grohl and the Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner (et al..) for what most band's 6th LP's don't sound like. The themes haven't changed to mindless happy go lucky ones. There's still very much to be pissed off about, to the point where a song called 'Smooth Sailing' features one of the greatest call outs of "the status quo" in modern rock and roll history.