5 Songs You’ve Never Heard Before
Isn’t there something conniving about finding a band and keeping it to yourself? Some people get off on this exclusivity, but I’d assume that most believe in sharing.
I certainly do.
Whatever your case is, maybe you’ll dig some of these tunes. It’s an odd batch of music that’s been spinning in my head lately. I’ll be ecstatic if you recognize these artists, really, I will. They’re fantastic in their every right, which is why I think they deserve the proverbial spotlight, finally.
5. The Most - Mostified - “Fire & Forget”
Gainesville, FL rockers, The Most, have an intriguing story. For a long time, they were thee live band out of the small college town, rocking up local bars and attracting three to four hundred fans a weekend. “Fire & Forget” is addicting and really promotes the central idea of the band, where frontman Charlie Honderick’s vocals ring rough over poppy yet fluffy instrumentation, especially the tight drumming from John Ashenden. Even if the band broke up last month, I still can’t shake this song from my head.
[MySpace]
4. People Safari - TBA - Chamomile
In this one horse band out of Oshkosh, WI, delicate indie rock murmurs. People Safari is all the work of one man, David Fitzpatrick. His work is fragile and melancholy. The song, “Chamomile”, exhibits this softer sound, yet one that should appeal to a more mainstream audience. It isn’t anything new, but the song does have some, dare I say, “cute” melodies. It’s really (what’s the word I’m reaching for here) nice.
[MySpace]
3. Mock Orange - Mind Is Not Brain - “I Keep Saying So Long”
It’s indie, it’s southern rock, it’s alternative, and it’s fucking great. Indiana residents, Mock Orange, are noteworthy songwriters. That much should be said. They’ve been around for a long time (something like 13 years) and still they’ve yet to break it big. This is one of the reasons I’m convinced there is no God. (Okay, it’s Friday, the end of the week. I tend to get a little melodramatic. So, sue me.) Anyhow, if you’ve yet to hear this Midwest classic, be sure to lend your ears. Remember that tail ending to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ballad “Tuesday’s Gone”, complete with the extended solo? It’s very close to that. Check out the twisted music video below:
[MySpace]
2. Astronautalis - the mighty ocean & nine dark theaters - “Meet Me Here Later”
Arguably one of the most exciting independent releases of 2006, Astronautalis’ the mighty ocean & nine dark theaters is an album complete with exciting, far reaching anthems. “Meet Me Here Later” is just one of many exceptional pieces of song work. The very Death Cab-esque piano work and the electronic production is something this Florida artist should be smiling about. Just one listen and it should be no surprise that this guy’s an international sensation. To think, he can actually sing Tom Waits’ “Big in Japan” and mean it. Can you?
[MySpace]
1. Mark Mulcahy - fathering - “Hey Self Defeater”
A long time ago, Nickelodeon actually used to be magical. There were ponies (from commercials, mostly), orange couches, and superheroes named, Artie. If you’re not catching my jive, then I’ll let you in on a celebrated gem, The Adventures of Pete & Pete. The show that made the neighborhood fantastical, the sitcom that lets any twenty-something today feel hungry with nostalgia. One of the reasons the show is still so impacting today is because the music was so great. That compliment goes to Mark Mulcahy, the voice and drive behind the show’s fabled band, Polaris. Opening his 1997 solo record, fathering, “Hey Self Defeater” brings back that essential melody that parallels his work on Polaris. The guitar drenched in reverb remains the same, as do Mulcahy’s vocals, which even Radiohead’s Thom Yorke considers something to look up to. However, unlike Polaris (or even his previous band, Miracle Legion), the song attains a sense of maturity. When he sings, “You’re underrated, so quit looking down, and look up,” one wonders who exactly he’s preaching to. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, I insist on you following it closely… now.
[MySpace]
That’s it. I’m done showing off. Hopefully you’ll take a listen, otherwise, I just wasted five minutes of your time.
And that’s certainly a crime now, isn’t it?
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May 15th, 2009 at 11:00 am
[...] while back, we talked about five songs that no one had ever heard before. One of the bands mentioned on that list were a little known act out of Gainesville, Florida called [...]
Jan 11th, 2009 at 1:12 am
[...] Mark Mulcahy has fans among the CoS staff. We’ve prominently featured Mulcahy’s work in “Five Songs You’ve Never Heard Before,” the television theme song edition of List Em’ Carefully, and in two Miscellaneous Masterpieces [...]